Transition Weekend

It’s the beginning of spring and the beginning of a new era as Pastor Robert Emmit of Community Bible Church has handed the ranks to Pastor Ed Newton, officially naming him Lead Pastor. Pastor Robert will still serve with Community Bible Church as Pastor Emeritus. Robert and Ed spoke to the congregation about what all this means!

Transition Weekend

tran·si·tion

tranˈziSH(ə)n,tranˈsiSH(ə)n/

noun

noun: transition; plural noun: transitions

1 1.
the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another."students in transition from one program to another"

2 synonyms:

3 change, passage, move, transformation, conversion, metamorphosis

1. A transition requires one to pass the baton successfully.
1. 4 × 400m Relay
1. The 4 × 400 metres relay or long relay is an athletics track event in which teams consist of four runners who each complete 400 metres or one lap.
2. Relay race runners typically carry a relay baton which they must transfer between teammates. Runners have a 20 m box (usually marked with blue lines) in which to transfer the baton…
1. This prevents confusion and collisions during transfer.
2. The 1st runner doesn't leave after his lap, he stays in the stadium and cheers his teammates on.
3. The first guy has to let go.
4. The next guy has to take hold.
2. Successful Transitions in the Bible
1. John to Jesus
1. Matthew 3:13-17 MSG
1. Jesus then appeared, arriving at the Jordan River from Galilee. He wanted John to baptize him. John objected, "I'm the one who needs to be baptized, not you !" But Jesus insisted. "Do it. God's work, putting things right all these centuries, is coming together right now in this baptism." So John did it. The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and he saw God's Spirit—it looked like a dove—descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: "This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life." 
3. Jesus to the Disciples
1. Matthew 28:18-20 MSG
1. Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age." 
4. Elijah to Elisha
1. Summary
1. This is one of the best examples of intentional mentoring.
2. It tells us much about both the role of the protégé and the mentor.
3. In his first encounter with Elijah, Elisha is willing to let go of his occupation, his family, and the life he had built thus far in order to follow after a man offering his mentorship.
4. Elisha went everywhere with Elijah even when Elijah told him that he didn’t have to.
5. Elisha was patient during the transition
2. 2 Kings 2:15
1. The guild of prophets from Jericho saw the whole thing from where they were standing. They said, "The spirit of Elijah lives in Elisha!" They welcomed and honored him. 
3. Key Points
1. These two men were not alike.
1. Organizational Profit vs. People Profit
2. Don't compare people.
5. Legacy
1. Robert is trusting Ed with his Legacy
6. Pastor Emeritus
1. Depending upon the particular church, the title may have some duties such as serving in an advisory role to the leadership group or to the current pastor.
1. There are no biblically set guidelines other than those of the by-laws of the organization or church conferring the honor. 
2. 1 Timothy 5:17
1. “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching”
7.  Ed’s Tribute to Pastor Robert
1. Righteous
2. Obedient
3. Bold
4. Endurance
5. Reputation
6. Teacher
8.  Paul's Transition
1. Pastor Ed mentioned this scripture and I though it was interesting since he was a “Traveling Evangelist” and now he has a home base
1. Romans 15:20-22
1. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written:“Those who were not told about him will see,    and those who have not heard will understand.” This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you. But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you,  I plan to do so…

No-Stick Anointing

Joel Osteen @ Lakewood Church

No matter how good you are people will always treat you bad and you can choose to carry it around with you and let it ruin your day or you can choose to not let it stick!

Psalm 45:7 NLT

You love justice and hate evil.

Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.

You're never going to please everyone so you might as well be the person that God made you to be.

2 Kings 2:23-24 NLT

Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. "Go away, baldy!" they chanted. "Go away, baldy!" Elisha turned around and looked at them, and he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them.

That teaches you that God will fight your battles!

In 1Samuel 16, Jesse brought all of his sons except David, but he is the one who turned out to be anointed.

In 1 Samuel 17 David brought his brothers lunch and

Don't get caught up in battles that don't matter. Don't be critical of someone who is being critical of me.

People who criticize you are distractions. Go where you are celebrated, not where you are tolerated.

2 Samuel 16:5, 12 NLT

As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul's family...perhaps the LORD will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today."

John 7:5 NLT

For even [Jesus'] brothers didn't believe in him.

Romans 12:18 NLT

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

I'm not responsible for anyone's happiness except my own.

Matthew 10:14 NLT

If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave.

Esther 3:5 NLT

When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage. He had the respect of everyone but because so consumed with one man that he got into a battle he should have never been involved in...Esther 8:7 NLT...Then King Xerxes said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, "I have given Esther the property of Haman, and he has been impaled on a pole because he tried to destroy the Jews.

***********Victoria Osteen************

God is love and when you walk with him for a while you realize that love is everything. If we are going to grow, we have to grow in love.

-Philippians 1:9 NIV

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

There are so many facets of love which means that there are so many areas to grow in.

-1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

-Most days love is a decision.

-You have to discern the situation to decide which facet of love is appropriate.

-Ephesians 4:15 NIV

...speak the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

Sent from the Elders.