Maximizing Easter

I am PUMPED about this weekend at Timber Ridge Church!  We have two great opportunities to help people connect with Jesus through The mEGGa Hunt and our Easter Sunday services.  I am praying that God moves in an incredible way and that we see a ton of people commit their lives to Jesus this weekend!  If you call Timber Ridge your church home, here are three ways you can make an incredible impact and maximize Easter.

1. PRAY. - I mean REALLY pray.  As my friend would say, "Pray your guts out!"  Ask God to move in people's hearts and lives this weekend. Pray that our 3 Easter Worship Experiences would reach people far from God. Pray that The mEGGa Hunt would be effective and successful in showing our community God's love in a practical way.
2. INVITE. - Be A Bringer!  Don't come to church alone on Sunday!  Invite your friends, neighbors, family, and co-workers to join you!  And invite them to The mEGGa Hunt on Saturday for a great morning of free, family fun!
3. SERVE. - You have something to offer!  You can contribute.  If you don't currently serve on a ministry team, this Sunday is a great time to get connected and start serving!  You can also serve at The mEGGa Hunt and have a blast while making an impact in our community.  If you're interested in serving on Saturday or Sunday, email Vanessa at vanessa [at] timberridgechurch [dot] com.

I really believe this weekend is going to be an incredible time for our new church!  I'm excited to see what God is going to do as He works in us and through us this Easter weekend!

Talk About Jesus Without Freaking Out

This past Sunday at Timber Ridge, we talked about how everyone has a story. (You can watch the message online here.) You and I have a story about our life - where we've been, what we've done, what we've learned - it's all a part of our unique story.  And if you are a follower of Jesus, then a major part of your story is how Jesus has changed your life.  Sharing the story of how Jesus has impacted our lives is something every Christian is called to do.

I wanted to follow up yesterday's message with some tips & tactics on how you can get comfortable sharing your story and how you can talk about your faith in Jesus without freaking out.

• Get comfortable sharing your own story.
• You story should include 3 things:  Life before you met Jesus, how you came to a relationship with Jesus, and the difference Jesus has made in your life.
• Make sure you make Jesus the center & hero of your story...because He is!
• Be able to share what Jesus has done in your life in 3 minutes or less.
• Practice sharing the message with a friend so you get comfortable with it.
• Pray for people you know who don't have a relationship with Jesus.
• Always talk to God about your friends & neighbors before you talk to your friends & neighbors about God!
• Invest in relationships with people who don't know Jesus.
• Jesus was accused of being a friend of sinners.  Are you?
• Speak up & share your story.
• All the preparation in the world doesn't matter if you never step out in boldness and tell your friends & neighbors about how Jesus has changed your life & how He wants to impact them as well.

God has given you everything you need to help people connect with Jesus!  Go for it!

The Force Is Strong In This One

This guy has some time on his hands.  

YOU Have A Part

Yesterday at Timber Ridge we kicked off a brand new series called A Place For Everyone.  (More info on the series HERE.) It's a series about how the church should be a place where everyone has a part, everyone has a story, and everyone is welcome.  I'm excited about what God is going to do through this series as we lead up to Easter Sunday.

Yesterday's message was called Everyone Has A Part and we talked about why Jesus asks us to serve others and how we all have something to contribute (you can watch the message HERE).  The truth is this:  We were created to serve God and serve others.  In Ephesians 2, the Bible says that "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works."  In 1 Peter 4, the Bible says that "each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others."  Simply put:  God created YOU and gifted YOU to serve.

God has given every single one of us gifts, talents, abilities, and experiences that we can use to serve others and help people connect with Jesus.  It's so easy to think we have nothing to add or lack something to contribute.  But that's not the case!  God has given YOU a gift and ability to use to make a lasting impact on those around you.  YOU have something to contribute!  YOU have a part in changing the world!

Diggin' Is Fun!

I spent much of the last week away from home, traveling for various work and ministry related things.  So when I got home last Thursday afternoon, I had dedicated the evening to one thing:  having fun with my son.  I promised Hayden that when Dadda got home we would play in the backyard.  We played bubbles, chasing bubbles all around the yard.  We played catch.  Then I had the bright idea to open up a bag of sand laying in the back yard, create a mound of dirt, and get out two essentials to quality guy time with a two year old: shovels & dump trucks.  The picture below is the result.  In the midst of digging and hauling dirt, Hayden looked up at me and said, "Dadda, Diggin' is FUN!"  Yes.  Yes it is.

Relationship Link Love

Throughout the month of February, we've been in a relationship series at Timber Ridge Church called Smokin' Hot. We've been talking about relationships, love, sex, dating, and everything related to these topics.  (You can check out the messages here.)

Whether we're single, dating, married, or single-again, we all are affected by relationships in one way or another.  Below are some great links that can help take your relationships to a whole new level! 

• Marriage:  Pastor Ron Edmondson shares 7 Tips for Healthy Marriage Communication HERE.
• Dating: Pastor Perry Noble shares some great advice on dating relationships HERE.
• Kids: Rachel Jankovic shares 10 Ways To Love Your Kids HERE.
• Single: Pastor Steven Furtick shares great advice for single people HERE.
• Pornography: Find a phenomenal resource for fighting the addiction of porn HERE.

Bottom line:  In some form or fashion, we all deal with relationships.  And, to make those relationships the best they can be, IT TAKES WORK.  Don't settle for mediocre.  Work at making taking your relationships to the next level - because the reward is worth the work!

Why Talk About Money?

Yesterday we kicked off a brand new series at Timber Ridge Church called Dollars and Sense.  It's all about understanding the practical wisdom God gives us in His Word about money and finances.   I believe that we're going to see changed hearts and changed lives over the next few weeks and that really excites me!

But you may be wondering why a church would talk about money?  Let me give you a few brief reasons:

• God's Word talks about money.  Money and finances are mentioned around 800 times in the Bible.  We're called to teach the full counsel of God's Word.
• Jesus talked about money.  Throughout his life and ministry, Jesus taught about money.
• Our view and use of money reveals our hearts.  Jesus taught that where our treasure is, there our hearts will be also.  How we spend and use our money reveals a lot about what we really believe about God.  It's just as the old saying goes: "Show me a man's bank account & I'll show you what's really important in his life."
• We talk about money everywhere else.  We talk about money in our homes, in our jobs, and in our daily lives.  We see commercials and advertisements that tell us how to spend our money.  We are bombarded with messages about money and possessions from our culture.  Why wouldn't we address such a major life issue within the church?

Giving Our Best

I am PUMPED about this Sunday at Timber Ridge Church!  We are participating in our first ever special Christmas offering which we're calling My Best Gift.  We believe that, as Christ followers, God has called us to use everything He's given us to advance the Gospel and message of Jesus.  We're committed to giving God the best of our time, our talents, and our treasure in order to make an eternal impact.

This year 100% of our My Best Gift offering is going toward our mission of reaching the lost, the least, and the lonely through three avenues:

• Church Planting - funding new church plants that will reach those far from God.
• Global Missions - supporting mission work and projects outside of the United States.
• Local Benevolence - helping families in Stephenville & Erath county with practical, physical needs.

You can find out more about the My Best Gift offering by clicking here.  You can also email info[at]timberridgechurch[dot]com with any questions you might have about this special offering.

Whether you attend Timber Ridge regularly, support us from afar, or simply know about what God is doing in and through this new church, I want to ask you to pray for the My Best Gift offering this Sunday.  Pray that God would use it to grow us in our generosity and to advance the Gospel of Jesus through our community, our country, and our world.

At Timber Ridge Church, we believe what the Bible says in Proverbs 11:25, where it reads, "A generous man will prosper.  A man who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."  This Sunday, we have a great opportunity to be generous in a way that will allow us to refresh others and meet real needs throughout the year in 2012...and that PUMPS ME UP!

A Little Christmas Cheer

Why Serving Matters

Yesterday at Timber Ridge Church we did something that is somewhat unusual for a church.  We didn't host weekend services.  Yes, it was Sunday.  Yes, the weekend worship experience is a HUGE focus for us as a church in reaching people.  And yes...we shut the doors.  Instead of having our usual worship experience on Sunday morning, we instead went out into our community and served.  We took the morning to serve together and show God's love in real and practical ways to our community.  We became the hands and feet of Jesus in a very real way.

One of our Core Values at Timber Ridge is that we add value to our community.  We do that by serving.  Our community doesn't exist for us.  We exist for the community - to serve it, bring hope to it, and add value to it.  Serving is a core part of who we are as a young church.  And I believe that serving matters - not just for Timber Ridge - but for every church and every follower of Christ.  And below are some reasons why:

Why Serving Matters

1. We are never more like Jesus than when we serve. Jesus' life mission involved serving others. (Mark 10:45)
2. People in our culture don't need to hear another sermon about how much God loves them.  They need to see people who claim to follow Jesus actually live out his love by serving others.  People who've given up on church and given up on God need to see us actually walk our talk.  (James 2:14-18 & 1 John 3:16-18)
3. The only form of religion that God accepts always involves serving others. (James 1:27 & Isaiah 1:17)
4. Serving allows us to use the spiritual gifts and talents God's given us.  It's spiritual exercise & how we build our spiritual muscles. (1 Peter 4:10-11 & Romans 12:4-8)
5. We were created to serve. (Ephesians 2:10)
6. Serving others blesses us. (Matthew 23:11 & Proverbs 11:25)

I am so proud to pastor a church that puts it's faith in action by serving others.  Timber Ridge, yesterday you WALKED the TALK and I'm so pumped to be on this journey with you.  Somebody serve somebody!

Timber Ridge Christmas Wish List

I've received a couple emails in the past several days from different people who have helped start Timber Ridge Church in our early stage through their generous financial support.  They inquired, as the year is coming to a close, if there were specific needs we have as a church that they could give toward.  That gave me the idea to share a "Christmas Wish List" for Timber Ridge for those who might be interested in giving a year-end gift toward the ministry and work that God is doing with Timber Ridge Church.

Here's our Christmas Wish List:

• Fresh Start Material:  Every time someone commits their life to Jesus Christ or shows interest in trusting Jesus as their Lord and Savior, we offer them a devotional resource that walks them through the basics of a relationship with Jesus.  You can provide a bundle of these materials, which will go into the hands of 6 people, for $15.
• Two Ipads to be used as Giving Kiosks:  We're rolling out online and mobile giving early in 2012 & we'll be including two kiosks to receive tithes & offerings since we live in such a debit card driven society.  Cost per Ipad: $499
• Timber Ridge Kids Curriculum:  We are in constant need of new curriculum for our kids ministry areas.  A gift of $30 sponsors a week of kids curriculum and a gift of $120 covers an entire month.
• Bibles:  We're consistently reaching people who are new to church and thus, who are in need of a Bible.  You can cover the cost of an entire case of Bibles for $48.
• Mailers:  One of the best marketing tools we've discovered for this area to spread the word about Timber Ridge Church is through mailers.  A year-end gift of $1800 allows us to distribute an invite mailer that covers almost the entire city limits.
• Outreach Events:  We're constantly finding new ways to reach out to our community with the love and message of Jesus in practical ways.  We do this through things like Family Movie Nights and block parties.  You can provide a partial sponsorship of an outreach event for $35.  Each outreach event only needs 6 partial sponsorships to be fully funded.
• Invite Cards:  We try to consistently put new, relevant invite cards into the hands of our regular attenders so that they can invite their family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.  A gift of $24 covers an entire box of invite cards so that people can find out about Timber Ridge Church.
• My Best Gift Offering:  This Christmas at Timber Ridge Church we are taking a special offering within the church called My Best Gift.  100% of the offering received for this special offering goes toward our mission of reaching the lost, the least, and the lonely by planting churches, being involved in global missions, and helping local families in need through our benevolence ministry.

These are just a handful of the many ways a year-end gift can make a significant impact and help us continue to see lives changed at Timber Ridge Church.  Every dollar given goes to see lives changed!  If you'd like to make a year-end, tax deductible gift to the ministry of Timber Ridge Church, you can do that in two ways:

• You may give securely online at www.timberridgechurch.com/give.  If you'd like to designate that gift toward one of the specific needs above, please include that in the note section when you give.
• You may mail gifts to Timber Ridge Church, P.O. Box 2574, Stephenville, TX 76401.  To designate your gift to one of the above needs, please include that desire with your gift.

Timber Ridge Church would not exist without the generosity and faithfulness of people from all around the state of Texas and the United States.  Those of you who have generously and faithfully contributed to this ministry are a part of seeing lives changed and God's kingdom grow.  THANK YOU for what you do in supporting the ministry and work God is doing in and through Timber Ridge Church!

5 Christmas Tips for Dad

Christmas time is here again.  Time for dad to get frustrated with house decorating, stress out over how much money is spent on gifts, and have his family overcome with a crazy, chaotic calendar.  But what if it doesn't have to be that way?  We have a unique opportunity at Christmas to create great family memories and lead our families in growing closer to Jesus.  And let's face it:  Our kids grow up way to fast.  So here are some tips for dads to make the most of the holiday season for their families.

1. Check your Cheer - Dad's, don't let the stress and spending of the holidays rob you of your Christmas cheer.  Be joyful.  Be hopeful.  You're family takes their cues from you.
2. Model Generosity - The holidays are a great time to teach your family about giving and generosity. Who are you planning to adopt, bless, and serve this holiday season?
3. Dive In To Decorations - We need to help our wives with decorating the house.  We need to make it a family affair.  We need to take time to drive around and look at Christmas lights with the family.  Embrace the sights and sounds of Christmas and be sure your family is having the complete holiday experience.
4. Make It About Jesus - It's easy for the message of Christmas to get lost in the hype.  Dads need to be leading their families to remember that Christmas is all about Jesus.  Dads need to be leading their families spiritually.  How are you doing with this dad? (For a great Christmas Bible reading plan click here.)
5. Plan A Christmas Calendar - I started planning a Christmas calendar last year and it made the holiday so much better for our family.  Here are 4 things you can do to be successful with this dads: 

• Make sure you're planning family time where memories will be made.
• Create time to build family traditions.
• Check out local events that can make the holidays fun for your family.
• Be wise about what you say yes to and what you say no to.

Dads, let's be intentional in making the most of Christmas for our families this year.  Let's lead well.  Let's model the Christmas spirit for our children & not miss out on a great opportunity to build memories that can last a lifetime!

Irreplaceable Team Members

All of us are on a team at some stage in life.  As kids, we're in teams for things such as sports and band.  As adults it comes in the form of the teams of people we work with in our jobs, the places we serve in the community, and can even appear in working with others on community projects or leadership teams.  Over the years I have worked with tons of teams of various forms, functions, and sizes.  Here's some things I've noticed about team members who excel and make themselves irreplaceable.

1. They are SOLUTION people rather than PROBLEM people.  Anyone can identify the problem.  Anyone can point out what is wrong.  When a problem arises, great team members approach their leaders, not just with the problem, but with a list of possible solutions.
2. They are TEAM focused instead of POSITION focused.  Without fail, if a team of people form for any purpose, there will be people who begin to seek out position and power.  Great team members realize that the good of the TEAM is always more important than any individual credit or credentials.
3. They see other people as a RESOURCE and not COMPETITION.  For many individuals, there is a natural human tendency that exists to see other people as competition on a team.  Great leaders and team members understand that people are their most valuable resource, so the INVEST time building relationships with others
4. They understand VISION and how to FOLLOW well.  Everyone has an opinion about how to do something, how to approach something, or about what they feel is best for a situation.  Great team members understand authority and they follow well, knowing that there are times where the leaders see things they don't see.
5. They never EXPECT others to do what they WON'T.  It amazes me how many people think leadership is gained through POSITION or title.  The truth is, great team members lead by doing the difficult things themselves and modeling for others the expected behavior/standard/action.  They are the first ones to show up.  They work the hardest.  They lead by example.

We all find ourselves on a team from time to time - at work, in school, in the community, at church.  If you want to make yourself irreplaceable but duplicatable follow these five simple suggestions.  Your team or organization will be better because of it.  And after all, isn't that the purpose of a team?

Dig In

Over the past three weeks I've had several people at Timber Ridge ask me about Bible reading plans.  It seems there are a lot of people taking the step to spend time with God in His Word on a daily basis.  And that is a life-changing step to take!

I wanted to share some online resources and reading plans for those of you who might be interested in getting into God's Word each day.  Below you'll find a few resources that can help you as you spend time with God each day.

• 30 Days With Jesus - What better topic to study than the life of Jesus?  This reading plan takes you on an overview of the life and work of Jesus in just one month.
• 30 Days For New Christians - If the Bible and church are a new thing for you, this reading plan is a great option to give you a general, very brief overview of some major topics in the Bible.
• First Steps Reading Plan - This reading plan is designed for people who are new to faith in Jesus.  It's a year long reading plan that covers the Bible basics with a light amount of reading each day.
• The Bible in 90 or New Thru 30 - If you're looking for a more intense, deeper reading plan check out one of these plans.  The Bible in 90 takes you through the entire Bible in just 90 days.  New Thru 30 is a journey through the entire New Testament in just a month.
• YouVersion.com - YouVersion is a great tool to read the Bible online from your computer, phone, or other mobile device.  YouVersion also offers several reading plans to choose from as well.

The key to getting the most out of God's Word is to simply make the commitment to read it and then DO IT.  So pick the plan that's best for where you are right now in life and jump in.  You'll be amazed at how spending time in God's Word each day will change your life!

Are YOU Ready For Some FOOTBALL?

This Sunday (November 6th) we're hosting our first ever Timber Ridge TAILGATE!  The tailgate party will begin immediately following our 10:30am worship service.  I'm pumped up for this & here's 3 reasons why you should be too!

1. Free Food & Fun - We're gonna' be grilling tons of hamburgers and hot dogs and they'll be plenty of food for everyone!  Plus we'll have a blast hanging out together & watching the Cowboy's game.
2. Can you say BIG screen? - We'll be projecting the game on the big screen at The Conference Center so you'll have a great view of the game!
3. Friends, Friends, Friends! - Our church is less than 2 months old...so that means that literally EVERYONE is new!  The tailgate party is a great opportunity to meet new people, connect with others, and make some great friends!

I hope you and your family will make plans to join us Sunday for the 1st ever Timber Ridge TAILGATE!  It's sure to be a blast!

The Weekend Update

It's been a while since I've shared a Weekend Update, but I'm going to get back in the habit starting NOW.  Here's a glimpse into the weekend at the Burleson household.  Check it out:

• Friday evening we had some family fun at the pumpkin patch & hay maze that is sponsored by the Stephenville Christian School.  If you're local to the Stephenville area, you should go check it out.  You can find more info here.
• On Saturday, I ran my first ever 5k!  It was a very cool experience.  I've been training and working out for a couple months now with the goal of being able to finish this 5k by running the entire race...and I did it!  Hayden ran out on the course when I was about 40 yards from the finish line and I even carried him the rest of the way.  It was a big personal accomplishment in my life & I'm already planning to run another race to raise money for charity.

• Sunday was all things Timber Ridge!  Met a lot of new people and we concluded our Paparazzi series.  You can check out the weekend's message here.  
• This weekend we start a new series at Timber Ridge called Worst To First: The Bible's Greatest Comeback Stories.  I was already getting pumped up for it this past Sunday.  It's gonna' be a lot of fun!  You can get a sneak peek here.

A Little Link Love

Today I feel like sharin' the love...So here's a little link love on the blog.  Below you'll find a few things that I've found interesting lately & a few things that just happen to be on my mind.  Check it out:

• A couple weekends ago we talked about Making Monday Morning Matter at Timber Ridge.  It was all about how to use your job to impact the kingdom of God.  I came across a great article today that's full of practical ways to live out your faith at work.  Check it out here.
• We kicked off a brand new series this weekend at Timber Ridge Church.  It's called Paparazzi.  You can catch the message online here.
• My wife is an unbelievably talented photographer...and I don't just say that because I'm married to her.  She's about to kick-off some amazingly affordable sessions called Christmas Minis that are perfect for getting that great family holiday pic.  You can check out her work for yourself here.
• My good friend & fellow church planter Zak White is laying down some LEGIT basic money principles on his blog this week.  He's offering some great practical ways to make the most of your money.  Check it out here.
• Our Creative Arts Pastor & my friend Micah has started a new venture here in the Ville.  If you're looking for anything audio/video/technical/computer/web he is your man!  Check out his new website here.
• Earlier this week Pastor Steven Furtick shared some great insights into how to have a meaningful time with God each day.  Check it out here.
• If you haven't watched this video of the biker in Africa, it is a MUST SEE.  Check it out here.

Move Your Seat & Move Your Feet

This Sunday, October 9th, we're adding a new service at Timber Ridge Church.  We will have two service times, with worship experiences happening at 9 & 10:30 am.  You can read the details as to why we're moving to two services by clicking here, but the short version is that making this move opens up seats and allows us the opportunity to reach more people...and that's what we are all about at Timber Ridge.  

Here are 3 quick, easy ways you can help make this move successful THIS WEEK if you're a part of Timber Ridge.  As your pastor, I want to ask you to make a commitment to reach people this week for the kingdom of God.  Here's some practical ways you can do this:

1. Get The Word Out.  Pass out those invite cards you received on Sunday, use your Facebook account to share about two services & invite your Facebook friends, and personally invite your neighbors & your co-workers to join us this weekend.  There is incredible POWER in a PERSONAL invitation.  Don't come alone this weekend!
2. Move Your Seat.  If you call Timber Ridge your church home, commit to making the move to the 9am service for at least the next month.  That way we have more seats open at 10:30...and you can serve in the second service to help first-time guests connect with God & have a great experience!
3. Move Your Feet.  Meet me this Saturday morning, October 8th, at The Conference Center at The Deluxe Inn to canvass neighborhoods and hand out invite cards letting people know about our new service times.  We're meeting at 9am and everyone will be done between 10 & 10:30am.  It's a small time commitment that can make a HUGE difference in someone's life!

It's all about reaching people who aren't here yet!  And we'll do whatever it takes to reach those far from God with the hope of Christ.  YOU can be a big part of that this week!  Get the word out...move your seat...move your feet...and watch how GOD changes lives because of it all!

Move It!

At Timber Ridge Church we're committed to doing whatever it takes to reach people.  In fact, our goal is to make it hard to get to hell from Stephenville & Erath County.  One of the obstacles that any church that is striving to grow & reach people will eventually face is the obstacle of space.  At some point, you simply have to make more space so more people have an opportunity to come and experience a weekend service.

We have been blessed with great momentum & God has been moving in some big ways from day one at Timber Ridge.  God is changing lives and we want to do everything we can to keep that momentum going & continue to see lives changed.  

That's why beginning Sunday, October 9th we will be adding an additional service on Sunday mornings!  Our new service times will be at 9 & 10:30 am.

Why are we already adding an additional service at such a young stage in our church?  I'm glad you asked!  Here are a few of the reasons why:

• We continue to have new families check out Timber Ridge Church each week.  And our meeting space in our worship center at The Conference Center at The Deluxe Inn where we meet each Sunday is already at about 85% capacity - and that's with already adding a second level of seating at the back.  When new guests come in, typically a few minutes late, the worship area is already pretty full & it is hard for them to find a seat unless they go up to the front row.  
• Because we have had to add the second seating area toward the back of the worship center where our cafe & welcome center are located, we have had some noise issues with our kids ministries.  Due to the fact that the doors of those two rooms join each other, we've asked our kids workers to stay as calm & quiet as possible.  But let's face it:  Kids can be loud...and we want them to be loud & rowdy & crazy because it means that they are having a BLAST learning about Jesus.  If we move to two services we won't have to use the back area for seating and that will allow our kids to have more fun & make more noise without worrying about disturbing what God is doing in the worship center.
• We have a passion to see people use the gifts & talents God's given them to serve others and make a difference!  With two services, everyone at Timber Ridge will have the opportunity to attend a service and serve a service.  This allows people to find a way to plug into serving at Timber Ridge without having to miss out on our weekend worship experience.

So how can YOU and YOUR FAMILY make a difference in this move?  Well, I am glad you asked!  If you consider Timber Ridge Church your church home & are a regular attender, I want to ask you to MOVE IT, MOVE IT!  Seriously.  I want to ask you to MOVE IT in two specific ways.

Move IT!! from Timber Ridge Church on Vimeo.

1. MOVE YOUR SEAT.  I want you to consider attending the 9:00 service with your family.  This helps in two ways.  First of all, it frees up seats at 10:30 which is the most likely time a new guest will check out Timber Ridge.  Second of all, it allows us to start the 9:00 service with a good size crowd & we all know that earlier services are tougher to fill.
2. MOVE YOUR FEET.  I want to ask you to join us on our Street Team to help get the word out about starting this new service.  We will be meeting in the parking lot of the Conference Center at the Deluxe Inn at 6:00pm this Sunday evening, October 2nd & again on Saturday, October 8th at 9:00am to walk neighborhoods in our community & place invite cards on the doors of our friends & neighbors.  It's vital we get the word out & YOU can help by committing to pass out invite cards at one, if not both, of these times.

Every week God is changing lives at Timber Ridge Church.  We're willing to take bold risks & make big moves of faith in order to continue to see God change lives and transform our community!  I hope you'll consider BUSTIN' A MOVE in order to help other people connect with God through Timber Ridge Church!

(Thanks to Micah Petrea - our super-talented Creative Arts Pastor for the killer video!)

5 Ways to Grow Up

Last week I spent a lot of time thinking about how people grow spiritually. At it's very core, what do people need to know in order to grow in their walk with Jesus? The more I've thought about my own personal walk with God & about what I've learned observing some of my mentors in the faith, I think growing spiritually boils down to just a handful of things as basics. Here's five things I think we need to work on in order to grow in our walk with God:

1. Study God's Word. - If you are going to grow in your walk with Jesus, you have to spend time in the Bible. Plain and simple.
2. Pray. - If you want to know God more, you have to communicate with Him.
3. Serve. - Serving is exercising your spiritual muscles. You have to figure out how God's wired you and how you can use that to make a difference in the kingdom.
4. Share. - Growing your faith means sharing your faith. People who really develop maturity in following Jesus are people who share the message of Jesus with others.
5. Find A Mentor. - We all need accountability. We need people to keep us on track. But we need more than that. We need someone to follow. Someone who's been where we want to go and can advise us on the path ahead.

There ya' go. Five things you can do to grow in your walk with Jesus. And we all need to grow.

Because here's the truth: When a baby is learning to eat baby food and drools all over the place people think it's cute. They take pictures and videos of it and share them with their friends. But if the 35 year old dude sitting next to you in Chili's is drooling all over the place as he eats or is still using a bottle, it's really not that cute. It shows that a maturing process hasn't happened.

It's the same when it comes to walking with Jesus. We'll never be perfect. But we can be growing. In fact, we need to be growing. We need to be maturing. We need to be striving to look more like Jesus. That's what following Him is all about.

***If you're in the Stephenville/Erath County area and are interested in learning how to develop these 5 habits of growing with God, I'd love to invite you to our very first Spiritual Growth Group at Timber Ridge Church. It's a small group setting where you can learn how to do the five things listed above. I'd love for you to be our guest. For more info, email me at info [at] timberridgechurch [dot] com.