One Thing

Posted on February 19, 2019 by mikewindley

So this morning I was praying and thinking, “I have so many people in my church that could use my pastoral care right now. I have so many people in my church that could use my leadership in growing be more like Jesus right now. There is a lost and dying world full of people right around my church that needs to hear the gospel right now. I have a family that needs me to love them and lead them right now. I have a “self” that I have to make sure stays taken care of so I can lead out in all these other ways.” Jesus said to me, “Follow me.”

“But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42 (NKJV)

Posted in Being a Dad, Church in General, Evangelism, Family, Helping Others, Leadership, Making Sense of Faith, Marriage, Missions, Scripture | Leave a comment

The Way of Blessing

Posted on January 2, 2019 by mikewindley

“Blessed is the man…(who’s) delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭1:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

What a promise! Do you want to experience God’s blessing? Then make His Word your delight as you allow it to nourish your soul each day!

http://www.friendshiprva.org/bible

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Starting Off 2019 with a Song

Posted on January 1, 2019 by mikewindley

I somehow stumbled on www.davidhorner.org yesterday. David was the founding pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC. I’m looking forward to learning more from him. His most recent post was this great song to start off the new year. Jesus thank you!

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New Testament Challenge Reading Plan

Posted on January 17, 2018 by mikewindley

Welcome to the New Testament Challenge!  title slide copy 2Have you actually ever read the New Testament?  Most people haven’t.  This is your big chance to read it through and learn more about your faith than ever before!

Over the 9-weeks, beginning January 29th, you will have the opportunity to read through the New Testament in it’s entirety.  Every day you will be reading several chapters from the New Testament (see the reading plan below).  Then, on Sundays @ Friendship the teaching will connect to the readings that you during that week.

Be sure to keep up with your reading and ask God to make Himself known to you during this challenge in new and fresh ways.  If you do – God will change your life!

So, strap in and join the entire Friendship Family on this spiritual adventure as we explore the New Testament together leading up to Easter 2018!

NEW TESTAMENT CHALLENGE SYLLABUS

Monday, January 29 – Sunday, April 1

Week #1: Week of January 29

Day #1 – Monday, January 29 – Read Matthew 1-2, Acts 1-3

Day #2 – Tuesday, January 30 – Read Matthew 3-4, Acts 4-6

Day #3 – Wednesday, January 31 – Read Matthew 5-6, Acts 7-9

Day #4 – Thursday, February 1 – Read Matthew 7-8, Acts 10-12

Day #5 – Friday, February 2 – Read Matthew 9-10, Acts 13-15

Day #6 – Saturday, February 3 – Read Matthew 11-12, Acts 16-18

Day #7 – Sunday, February 4 – Read Matthew 13-14, Acts 19-21

 

Week #2: Week of February 5

Day #8 – Monday, February 5 – Read Matthew 15-16, Acts 22-24

Day #9 – Tuesday, February 6 – Read Matthew 17-18, Acts 25-27

Day #10 – Wednesday, February 7 – Read Matthew 19-20, Acts 28

Day #11 – Thursday, February 8 – Read Matthew 21-22, Romans 1-3

Day #12 – Friday, February 9 – Read Matthew 23-24, Romans 4-6

Day #13 – Saturday, February 10 – Read Matthew 25-26, Romans 7-9

Day #14 – Sunday, February 11 – Read Matthew 27-28, Romans 10-12

 

Week #3: Week of February 12

Day #15 – Monday, February 12 – Read Mark 1-2, Romans 13-15

Day #16 – Tuesday, February 13 – Read Mark 3-4, Romans 16

Day #17 – Wednesday, February 14 – Read Mark 5-6, 1 Corinthians 1-2

Day #18 – Thursday, February 15 – Read Mark 7-8, 1 Corinthians 3-4

Day #19 – Friday, February 16 – Read Mark 9-10, 1 Corinthians 5-7

Day #20 – Saturday, February 17 – Read Mark 11-12, 1 Corinthians 8-10

Day #21 – Sunday, February 18 – Read Mark 13-14, 1 Corinthians 11-13

 

Week #4: Week of February 19

Day #22 – Monday, February 19 – Read Mark 15-16, 1 Corinthians 14-16

Day #23 – Tuesday, February 20 – Read Luke 1-2, 2 Corinthians 1-3

Day #24 – Wednesday, February 21 – Read Luke 3, 2 Corinthians 4-6

Day #25 – Thursday, February 22 – Read Luke 4, 2 Corinthians 7-9

Day #26 – Friday, February 23 – Read Luke 5, 2 Corinthians 10-11

Day #27 – Saturday, February 24 – Read Luke 6, 2 Corinthians 12-13

Day #28 – Sunday, February 25 – Read Luke 7, Galatians 1-3

 

Week #5: Week of February 26

Day #29 – Monday, February 26 – Read Luke 8, Galatians 4-6

Day #30 – Tuesday, February 27 – Read Luke 9, Ephesians 1-3

Day #31 – Wednesday, February 28 – Read Luke 10, Ephesians 4-6

Day #32 – Thursday, March 1 – Read Luke 11, Philippians 1-2

Day #33 – Friday, March 2 – Read Luke 12, Philippians 3-4

Day #34 – Saturday, March 3 – Read Luke 13, Colossians 1-2

Day #35 – Sunday, March 4 – Read Luke 14, Colossians 3-4

 

Week #6: Week of March 5

Day #36 – Monday, March 5 – Read Luke 15, 1 Thessalonians 1-3

Day #37 – Tuesday, March 6 – Read Luke 16, 1 Thessalonians 4-6

Day #38 – Wednesday, March 7 – Read Luke 17, 2 Thessalonians 1-3

Day #39 – Thursday, March 8 – Read Luke 18, 1 Timothy 1-3

Day #40 – Friday, March 9 – Read Luke 19, 1 Timothy 4-6

Day #41 – Saturday, March 10 – Read Luke 20, 2 Timothy 1-2

Day #42 – Sunday, March 11 – Read Luke 21, 2 Timothy 3-4

 

Week #7: Week of March 12

Day #43 – Monday, March 12 – Read Luke 22, Titus 1-3

Day #44 – Tuesday, March 13 – Read Luke 23, Philemon 1

Day #45 – Wednesday, March 14 – Read Luke 24, Hebrews 1-2

Day #46 – Thursday, March 15 – Read John 1-2, Hebrews 3-4

Day #47 – Friday, March 16 – Read John 3-4, Hebrews 5-7

Day #48 – Saturday, March 17 – Read John 5-6, Hebrews 8-10

Day #49 – Sunday, March 18 – Read John 7-8, Hebrews 11-13

 

Week #8: Week of March 19

Day #50 – Monday, March 19 – Read John 9-10

Day #51 – Tuesday, March 20 – Read John 11-12, James 1-3

Day #52 – Wednesday, March 21 – Read John 13-14, James 4-5

Day #53 – Thursday, March 22 – Read John 15-16, 1 Peter 1-2

Day #54 – Friday, March 23 – Read John 17-18, 1 Peter 3-5

Day #55 – Saturday, March 24 – Read John 19-20, 2 Peter 1-3

Day #56 – Sunday, March 25 – 1 John 1-5

 

Week #9: Week of March 26

Day #57 – Monday, March 26 – 2 John 1, 3 John 1, Jude 1

Day #58 – Tuesday, March 27 – Revelation 1-4

Day #59 – Wednesday, March 28 – Revelation 5-8

Day #60 – Thursday, March 29 – Revelation 9-12

Day #61 – Friday, March 30 – Revelation 13-16

Day #62 – Saturday, March 31 – Revelation 16-19

Day #63 – Sunday, April 1 – Revelation 20-22

Posted in Church in General, Making Sense of Faith, Scripture | 3 Comments

Courting Courtney

Posted on December 20, 2017 by mikewindley

I recently shared in one of my sermons at Friendship (new website in 2018, I promise!) about how I “kissed dating goodbye” and surrendered my relational status to God. Instead of dating, I began to employ a version of courtship to relationships in lieu of my failed attempts at honoring Christ through dating. As God often does, not too long after “surrendering” in that area of my life, I met and began the courtship process with my future bride, Courtney. A book that was especially helpful for me was called “Choosing God’s Best” by Don Raunikar. In his book, Raunikar offered this chart that gives a good summary of the process. You will certainly need to zoom in to be able to read it!

 

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Accountability Questions for Men

Posted on December 20, 2017 by mikewindley

Gene Getz has a great book about church leadership structure/governance called “Elders and Leaders: God’s Plan for Leading the Church.” In it he provides a chapter that includes some accountability questions he suggests for use with your church staff. Any men serious about true accountability would do well to use these questions as a guide.

1. How often did you meet with God this week?

2. What has God been saying to you through His Word this week?

3. What sins in your personal or business life did you experience this week that need confession?

4. Are you giving to the Lord’s work regularly and proportionately as God has blessed you? What percentage did you give last month?

5. What movies did you see this past week? Do you feel good about viewing these movies? What about the Internet? Would you be able to tell your fellow Christians in your church what you have seen without being embarrassed?

6. How did you influence your marriage and family this week? How positively? How negatively? What could you do to improve?

7. Did you pray for me/us this week?

8. What challenges or struggles are weighing on your mind?

9. What lives did you influence for Christ this week?

10. Did you just lie to me?

Posted in Being a Dad, Books, Leadership, Men | 1 Comment

On losing your soul 

Posted on March 28, 2017 by mikewindley

“Losing your soul is sort of like losing a credit card. You think it it’s in your wallet so you don’t give it much thought until one day you reach for it and can’t find it. The minute you realize it’s gone, you start scrambling to find it, trying to remember when you last used it or at least had it in your possession. No matter what is going on in your life, you stop and look for it, because otherwise major damage could be done. Oh, that we would feel the same sense of urgency when we become aware that we have lost our souls!” -Ruth Haley Barton

Another analogy might be losing your cat who is your wife’s most precious possession, but that’s another story.

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Helpful Parenting Books

Posted on March 9, 2017 by mikewindley

Here is a list of recommended parenting books I got from the Father/Son retreat at Camp Willow Springs. Jeremy Berger, a student pastor at The Summit, was the camp speaker and provided the list. Next step: buy one of these and start reading!

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Why Jesus Had to Die

Posted on February 22, 2017 by mikewindley

I’ve gotten the question over the years, “Why did Jesus have to die and take our sin? How does his his death absolve MY sin?”

Pastor Greear’s short explanation/illustration here helps.

Posted in Making Sense of Faith, Sermons, Videos | Leave a comment

Everyone is Called

Posted on February 7, 2017 by mikewindley

“Every Christian is called into full-time ministry. Once we step over the line and begin to follow Jesus, everything we do is suppose to be done in his name, representing him, with the goal of advancing his kingdom.” – Larry Osborne

Posted in Evangelism, Making Sense of Faith, Quotables | Leave a comment