Day 40 :: Rare Elements

Completely Generous: Giving Indefinitely
Ryan Showalter, Associate Pastor | Family Ministry

Day 39 :: Rare Elements

Completely Generous: Giving Sacrificially
Don Mann, Associate Pastor | Stewardship

Decisions of the heart are different than decisions of the mind. The mind may ask, can I afford to give? The heart will ask, can I afford to withhold?

The passage from verses 6-11 addresses the essentials of generosity for a special need of the church. The appeal to generosity goes beyond the tithe. He calls believers to make a wise decision based upon the principles of generosity.

Briefly outlined they are:

I will reap in proportion to what I sow

I will always have all I need because of God’s abundance

I have been enriched so that I may be generous

Giving to a godly need is an investment in enduring righteousness

Generosity is motivated by and results in thanksgiving to God

When decisions of the heart motivate giving, the reluctant or under-compulsion motivations fade away. Giving a tithe, or 10% of income to the Lord and responding with generosity becomes a lifestyle. The motivation for generous living over ordinary giving is thanksgiving to God for His abundant generosity to me.

Day 38 :: Rare Elements

Completely Generous: Giving Faithfully
Al Fausch, Director | Business Office

Day 37 :: Rare Elements

Completely Generous: Time & Influence
Carmen Menser, Director | Journey Kids' Worship

The other day I was eating lunch at a fast food restaurant with my four kids. One of the women who helped me that afternoon had the sweetest attitude and her energy encouraged me. So I said as much to her and thanked her for her sweet attitude in the midst of what I knew was a crazy day. Before I left a co-worker of hers came and told me that she had shared the things I had said and was amazed at my kindness and that my words had made her day. I was taken aback, I hadn’t said anything amazing or out of the ordinary, but I had said more than thank you. 

Later I was reflecting on that situation and I was struck by the weight of our words and the power they have to influence. Scripture tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. We can choose to give life to those around us, sometimes with just a simple word of thanks. Ephesians 5:15-16 tells us to pay close attention to how we walk, making the most of our time. Our time is valuable but so are our words. What would happen if we used both our time and our words to influence the lives of those around us? What would happen if we gave them both away generously for the glory of God? Today I am challenged to let God use my influence to help move people toward His Mission. What about you?

TWEETABLE QUOTE: “Our time is valuable but so are our words.  What would happen if we used both our time and our words to influence the lives of those around us?”

Day 36 :: Rare Elements

Completely Generous: Giving Myself
Truett Williams, Associate Pastor | Student Ministry

Generous Living: What is it? We are challenged in scripture to live for Christ. Think about it, God designed us, He gives us passions and gifts for different reasons but for one purpose and that is to conform to the image of Christ. Let’s focus on the phrase “give generously.”

What does it mean to live generously? I recently read an article by Jay Link who leads a Stewardship ministry. He suggests three steps that might help you live generously today. First, ask God to help you see needs around you. Have an open mind. Don’t judge people but ask God to help you see people the way God sees people. Second, show compassion, be understanding, pray for the needs of others. Have an open heart. Finally, if you can do something to help, do it! How can you serve others? Maybe financially, maybe by an act of service, maybe by an encouraging word. Have an open hand!

Do you have an open mind, an open heart, and an open hand?

TWEETABLE QUOTE:  If you want to live generously have an open mind, an open heart and an open hand!

Day 35 :: Rare Elements

Daily Worship: Plan-changing
Kent Oviatt, Associate Pastor | Multi-cultural Ministries

Toss out the word “worship” in casual conversation and see what kind of definitions you get. Most likely you will hear words like church, liturgy, music, preaching, and Sunday. For many people, they connect worship to a Sunday event at a local church.  While this definition is not technically wrong, it is incomplete. The New Testament has a much deeper definition.

In John 4, Jesus and the Samaritan woman discuss this. She had just referred to genuine worship as a place, but Jesus told her that true worship must worship in Spirit and in Truth (4:23-34). Our question today: “Am I worshipping God daily?” should involve practicing God’s presence in every moment. Then as we practice this lifestyle of worship, our plans and agenda will more purposefully align with God’s plans and agenda.

Romans 12, affirms this lifestyle of worship. As we surrender our lives to Christ and allow him to transform our minds we participate in worship. Worship must begin in our hearts, before it can genuinely be demonstrated in our actions. Are you worshipping God daily? Is this worship transformational? Are you allowing God to conform you into the image of his Son? Do you notice that as you worship your plans begin to change?

When true worship occurs daily in our hearts, it will then be demonstrated through our actions. Our plans will change as we align around God’s agenda rather than our own. 

Day 34 :: Rare Elements

Daily Worship: Practicing
Gary Byrum, Associate Pastor | Pastoral Care & Sr. Adults

The joy of having a friend – the discipline of mutual accountability.

The joy of being a child in a loving family – the discipline of respect, obedience, and trust.

The joy of being married to Jan – the discipline of sacrificially loving her as Christ loves the church.

The joy of being born again as a Child of God – the discipline of a daily walk, immersed in His Word, accountable to brothers and sisters in community, with a heart that is filled with intentional worship, praise, and thanksgiving.

Joy and discipline are inseparable in healthy, transforming relationships. Yet, in the rush of life, we can overlook the need for discipline in our relationship with Jesus, the need for an intentional, genuine hunger for daily worship of our Savior. Is it any wonder that we sometimes find ourselves drifting and feeling far away? Discipline strengthens our faith in Jesus, even when our feelings tell us the circumstances are overwhelming.

Are you worshiping God daily? Is the word of Christ dwelling in you richly as a result of your time in the Word? Are you growing in community with others, being transparent and accountable to them in confession, fellowship, and prayer? Is praise and thanksgiving a daily experience? Today is a good day to start. Walk in rich relationship with Him.

TWEETABLE QUOTE: Discipline strengthens our faith in Jesus, even when our feelings tell us the circumstances are overwhelming.  #mynext

Day 33 :: Rare Elements

Daily Worship: Participating--An Attitude of Expectation
Larry White, Associate Pastor | Worship

Worship is a verb, but it's more than an outward action. Here in Psalm 95, we see a song of praise to our God. In the first five verses, the writer helps us to see just how great our God is in character and deed. We are reminded that from the highest mountain to the deepest sea, it is all in His hands. Throughout this passage we are directed to see and honor the greatness of our God. Verse six reminds us to kneel before Him.  

The act of kneeling is important here. Not only am I acknowledging who God is by knelling down, but I am taking a place of humility. As a Christ follower, it is important that my attitude be kept in check. Every day I'm given the choice to better know God and to offer Him worship with my life. When I kneel in worship, I'm saying to God and to myself that I am not in control.  When I bow low before the creator, ask for His forgiveness, and request His leading in my day, I rise to live life as a true worshiper. The very kind that Jesus Himself said the Father is seeking in John 4. 

From this humble place, I can recognize the work of God in and around me. I can join the work of God and watch as He is exalted through my availability. Lifestyle worshipers then take on an attitude of expectation as we await all that God will direct in our day and walk through every moment in fellowship with Him!

Prayer/Challenge

Today, will you kneel before the Lord? Will you lay yourself before him? Will you choose to offer him your WHOLE life? Will you go through your day honoring the Lord in all you do? Will you look with expectation throughout your day for how God may be working in your life and join Him? 

TWEETABLE QUOTE: Lifestyle worshipers take on an attitude of expectation and await all that God will direct in their day and walk through every moment in fellowship with Him!

Day 32 :: Rare Elements

1 Thessalonians 5
Daily Worship: Prayerful
Tammy Priest, Executive Assistant | Office of the Pastor

"What is God's will for me?"

How many times have you heard this question? Or asked it? Probably too many times to count. Most people wish there was some place in Scripture that spelled out what God's will is for their lives. 

Actually, there is.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

God's will for you and for me is to rejoice and be thankful and pray no matter what is happening to us or around us. And the only way to develop and maintain a joyful heart and thankful mind is to pray without ceasing. To literally be in conversation with the Creator of the Universe "without intermission, incessantly, without ceasing." To be engaged with Him in such a way that, whether it's a question or a praise or a plea, our thoughts and hearts are continually inclined toward Him.

This is what Jesus was talking about when He said to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22:37). This "Greatest Commandment" calls us to be intentionally connected to the Savior all the time, because that is how we will thrive.

That is God's will for your life: to thrive through continual, prayerful fellowship with Him. The result will be a heart and mind filled with His peace, His perspective and His purpose.

TWEETABLE QUOTE: Following the #GreatestCommandment fills us with God's peace, perspective & purpose. @tammy_priest @Calvary_Now @CalvaryWest  #RareElements

Day 29 :: Rare Elements

2 Timothy 2 

Transformed in Community: Empowered

Steven Ackley, Associate Pastor | College and Young Adults

Are you familiar with the way a jet engine works? I’m far from an expert, but it has been explained to me that there are three primary components that result in the power that these engines produce—air, fuel, and pressure. Air enters an encased engine enabling fuel to be burned, creating a pressure that produces a tremendous amount of power. 

When it comes to empowering people, Paul teaches us a process that is similar to that of a jet engine. The three components are people, the Word of God, and accountability. First, people must be welcomed into your life, family, community. Once brought in close, Paul speaks of entrusting or passing on the message of the gospel that has been given to you, a message that is contained in the Word of God. Alongside of this Paul sets expectations that provide a clear anticipation of accountability.  Community with this type of focus produces an empowerment for Kingdom impact unlike anything that we could craft ourselves.

Who have you welcomed into your life? Are you passing on the message of the gospel to them? Is there meaningful, and grace-filled accountability? Are you empowering these other believers to have significant Kingdom impact for years to come? Whether you are or not, today find great hope in being strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. As you find that strength, may you empower people to further the mission of the Church.

TWEETABLE QUOTE: Empowering people for Kingdom impact begins by welcoming people into your life.

Day 28 :: Rare Elements

Galatians 6 

Transformed in Community: Equipped

Don Schmidt, Associate Pastor | Connections

The New Testament is full of instruction for how we are to do life together as a community of Christ followers. Hebrews 10:24-25 instructs us to “consider how to stir one another up to love and good works.” Hebrews 3:13 instructs us to “exhort one another every day … that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Matthew 18:15-17 gives clear instruction on the process for confronting a believer who has fallen into sin. And Galatians 6:10 admonishes us to “do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

And that doesn’t happen just because a person attends a corporate worship service with 400 or 2,000 other worshipers; this only happens when you and I come together in small groups and experience New Testament community with other believers.

As you prayerfully apply Calvary’s Values and Measures to your own life, can you say you are being transformed through community? And can you say that God is using your life to impact (and transform) another believer’s life in the context of your small group community?

Join me in praying that the people of Calvary will be regularly transformed into the image of Christ as we engage each other for the purpose of New Testament community.

TWEETABLE QUOTE: Can you say that God is using your life to impact (and transform) another believer’s life in the context of your small group community?

Day 27 :: Rare Elements

John 13 

Transformed in Community: Established

Jay McGuirk, Associate Pastor | Discipleship

What is so “new” about this commandment that Jesus gives to his disciples just before he moves to the cross? Moses taught us to love God and love our neighbors. Here, Jesus’ love and teaching deepens and transforms these commands. The newness is that we are to love each other as Jesus has loved his disciples. This happens best when we are established in ongoing community with other believers.

You’ve likely read the stories of Jesus and the disciples. They were not a selfless and spiritually mature group of men during their time with Jesus. They argued about being first in his kingdom, betrayed him, slept when they should have prayed, denied they knew him and even asked to destroy some people who rejected him. Yet, Jesus loved them in spite of their flaws and empowered them to change the world.

You can’t really love someone unless you walk through life with them. When you are around them only occasionally, you see them at their best. It’s when you live your lives together that you find out their moods, weaknesses and annoyances. Jesus lived with his followers day in and day out for three years and he knew them completely—yet he still loved them.

Growing in our faith means really learning to love others as we follow Jesus together. The more we do this, the more we see that this love does not come from anything we create, but from the presence of the Holy Spirit working through us.

TWEETABLE QUOTE: Establish yourself in community so that Jesus’ example and teaching can transform your love for others.

Day 26 :: Rare Elements

Acts 2 

Transformed in Community: Engaged

Karen Malek, Director | Preschool Ministry

The title in my Bible in Acts 2:42-47 refers to this passage as “the fellowship of the believers.” The current term might be “our community;” those with who we are close to, where we share the same beliefs, interests and goals. In the passage in Acts we see the believers together teaching one another, praying, helping those in need, breaking bread, praising God with glad and generous hearts.

We too should have this same community in our life that special group of believers who want to love and serve Jesus, grow in spiritual maturity and support one another. In order to do this we must be engaged in a community, a Bible Fellowship class a place where we can live out Act 2 with one another. Having that group where we can grow, learn and be joyful in what God has blessed us with. There is a longing today for people to be in this kind of community.

Have you found your place, are you fellowshipping with other believers not just on Sunday morning but during the week lifting one another up, encouraging one another. Are you inviting others that long for this kind of fellowship to come and join? Engaging in a community can transform not only those believers in the community but others around us. At the end of the passage in Acts the Bible tells us that “the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” 

Day 25 :: Rare Elements

Matthew 16 

My Next: God-lover

Richard Hardee, Associate Pastor | Head of School

In Matthew 16 Jesus warns of false teaching, Peter confesses that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus predicts His own death and resurrection, and finally He teaches about taking up one's cross to follow Him.

"If anyone" - this is an open invitation, but not all will accept; "wants to come with Me" - to go or come along with implies an enjoyable experience spending time together;  "he must deny himself" - this is surely hard because we are selfish and self-centered beings; "take up his cross" - this sounds difficult and even dangerous; "and follow Me" - this obviously means more than coming along with someone - it is journeying together, trusting the one you follow, regardless of how rough and difficult the terrain.

We must ask ourselves, “whom are we following?” In order to whole-heartedly follow someone, we must know and trust them. And to continuously follow them, or stay the course, we must continue in the process of coming to know and love them fully. To be sure, Jesus is the only One worthy of our complete and total love and allegiance.

Denying one's self, taking up one's cross, and following Him will look different for each of us. Whatever difficulty or suffering we may face for following Him on this side of heaven is only temporary when compared to the joy of being in His presence for all of eternity! Choose to follow Him - we can trust where He leads!

TWEETABLE QUOTE: To be sure, Jesus is the only One worthy of our complete and total love and allegiance.

Day 23 :: Rare Elements

Matthew 16
My Next: Faith Show-er
Dr. Gary Chapman, Sr. Associate Pastor

For the Christian, faith is taking God at His word. It is believing that what God says is true and  deserves my complete devotion. This kind of faith will be shown in how we face life and how we respond to what comes to our path. Some things in life are chosen.  Others things in life come to us unexpectedly. Our choices should demonstrate our faith; they should be made in keeping with God’s word. Our response to the unexpected should also reveal our faith “I know that all things work together for good to those who love God.”

If someone closely examined my life, would they come away with the conclusion that I am a person of faith? That I take God and His word seriously? Do the decisions I have made this week reflect my faith in God? Does my response to the painful things in life reveal that I believe that God is in control and will be with me in “the valley of the shadow of death”? 

All people have faith – they believe something to be true. Christian faith is not blind faith. Rather it is faith based upon God’s revelation of Himself, in nature, through the prophets, and supremely in Christ who walked among us and shared God’s plans for us. Such faith will always “show itself” in how we live life. Am I a ‘faith show-er’? 

TWEETABLE QUOTE:  If someone closely examined my life, would they come away with the conclusion that I am a person of faith?  That I take God and His word seriously?

Day 22 :: Rare Elements

Matthew 16 
My Next: Self-Denier and Self-Giver
Don Mann, Associate Pastor | Stewardship

The optimist says the glass is half full, the pessimist that it’s half empty, but what happens when you add ice? It changes the rules. It becomes full to overflowing.

Jesus predicts His suffering, death and resurrection. Peter only heard suffering and death and reacted only to that fear, not to the truth of the resurrection. Telling Jesus to avoid self-denial and self-giving may have been intended to keep Jesus from harm, yet he was actually telling Him not to fulfill the purposes of God. Jesus countered by telling Peter to give up His own direction and give away his life in following Christ.

The resurrection changes all the rules. In light of it, self-denial and self-giving are not naïve optimism, they are essential to a life full to overflowing. This found life is fulfillment of God’s purposes. Self-denial and self-giving are the daily demonstration of faith; that we believe our Lord was resurrected from death and that we will be also. 

My next may be following Christ and being obedient, even when it involves giving up or giving away. Avoiding self-denial and self-giving is a strategy for seeking temporary gain while avoiding temporary loss. It may seem logical in light of the present, but will not in light of eternity.

Living life in light of the resurrection means self-denial and self-giving for the sake of Christ, whatever the consequences. This is essential to fulfilling God’s purposes and receiving His rewards. Any other strategy is a life misspent.

Day 21 :: Rare Elements

Matthew 16
My Next: Bible Reader and Word-Doer
Karen Malek, Director | Preschool Ministry

Jesus tells us in Matthew 16:24,”If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Deny self, live like Jesus…words that we hear but seldom put into practice in our lives.

While meditating on these words the question that came to mind was, “what is a life coach?” This term we have heard and even may know people who have one so what is it? The Oxford Dictionary defines life coach this way, “a person who counsels and encourages clients on matters having to do with careers or personal challenges.” Jesus tells us in Matthew 16:24-26 that life challenges are about living like Jesus. The Bible is Jesus, our life coach, talking to us and pointing us to the way we should live out our lives. How we should love and serve others, how to tell others about Him, how we should live like Him. Our example to follow, words to live by are found in the Word of God to read, study, meditate on and to guide us on career choices, personal challenges, dealing with others.

The question then would be do I love God’s word, am I daily spending time in His word and growing in spiritual maturity to be like Jesus.  When faced with all the daily decisions and choices in life do I rely on God’s Word to guide and direct me and in doing so living not the way I would want but the way Jesus would live?

Day 20 :: Rare Elements

Day 19 :: Rare Elements

Matthew 9 

Sharing My Story: Margin Creator

Greg Poss, Executive Pastor

Years ago I heard a story about a man who traveled to Germany on a business trip. His close friend and business associate picked him up at the airport and they began to reconnect after being apart for several years. They were engaged in deep conversation until they merged onto the autobahn. The more they accelerated, the slower their conversation became until it completely stopped. When they resumed a slower speed, their conversation picked up again.

Life seems to be like that too. The speed at which we travel through life affects our conversations and relationships and the quality of those connections. The faster we move through life, the busier we are at work, the more we miss opportunities to connect with family and friends and those that God has put in our path. We miss opportunities to tell others about Christ. 

One of our Measures asks the question, “Am I sharing my story with someone this week?” Those of us who have a relationship with Christ have a story of redemption and relationship with Him. While we may not have the same story as those in Matthew 9, we all have a story that can bring hope to those in need of a relationship with Christ.

This week tell someone your story. Christ will bless you and someone else.

TWEETABLE QUOTE: Am I sharing my story with someone this week?

Day 18 :: Rare Elements

Matthew 28 
Sharing My Story: Disciple Maker
Ryan Showalter, Associate Pastor | Family Ministry

When we read the words of Jesus' Great Commission, we implicitly know that storytelling will be part of the process. Teaching with no personal storytelling component is cold and alienating. Personal storytelling with no teaching component is drama that doesn't deliver. When we seek to be obedient to Jesus' command to make disciples of all the nations, we need to marry right teaching with good storytelling.

Ask yourself the question, "When was the last time I shared my story in way that was both relational and relevant?" In ministry we often hear people lament their lack of a "good testimony." This always breaks my heart! If you agree that all people sin and that sin separates us from God and leads to death, but you have trusted Jesus to save you, then you absolutely have a great testimony! 

You have been brought from death to life...You have been adopted into an eternal family...You have been bought back from slavery...You have been rescued from God's enemy Satan...You have been given a new community in the Church...You have been given a hope for the future! Every single person who trusts Christ has an amazing story to share. Yours is a story of love and redemption, of lostness and rescue, of tragedy and triumph...in short, yours is a great story! Will you share it with someone today as you obey Jesus' command to make disciples?

TWEETABLE QUOTE: Christian, the question is not of the quality of your testimony but of your willingness to share it with others!