Shannon Chapman

Sunday REwind

Today was a very special day at Ethos.  I don't know about you but do you have those days at church when you just know that God is doing a deep work in you and others.  Well, today was one of those days for me.  There was such a sense of freedom at Ethos today, not because of a song, a good video, or an ok message but because of the Cross of Christ.

Let me say this loud and clear the Ethos worship band is AMAZING!  They have such understanding of what it means to lead others in the presence of God.  I must also admit that todays message was a very personal message to give.  The over all theme today was we can't find our significance in our performance (our work and busyness) but in Christ.  

We looked that the conversation that Jesus had with Martha in the book of Luke.  Martha was using her gifting to serve but her strength became her weakness.  Why you might ask, because the verse says she got distracted.  As I walked out of service today I felt that God really spoke to all of us on how to break the cycle of become a workaholic...REST REFOCUS RELATIONSHIPS!

Next week we will end this series(close encounters) as we look at Jesus and man who had it all.

P.S. Not sure if I should show you yet but here is our next series brand...this series is going to be hardcore!

Sunday REwind

Where do I even start.  You see I thought today was great but the most important question we must answer is did the Holy Spirit draw people to himself?  You see I agree with F. Chan you can have a good band, great creative elements, and a good communicator and a big crowd and  still miss the Holy Spirit.

Today as I walked to my car I felt in my spirit that the holy Spirit was at Ethos today.  I felt that we did more than a really good service.  We invited the H.S. before service to come and change us to be more like Christ today and that he did.

Worship was absolutely on today!  We did these songs: Sing my love (Kim Walker), Amazing Grace, and Run to you.  I am not sure why it is but some weeks you just feel that the music really connects and today was one of those days.  Jonelle O. did our monologue and did a great job. It felt that it really set up what we were going to be talking about. 

The message today was a hard one to give because my heart was heavy.  We looked at how Jesus didn't come to condemn us but he came to give us the opportunity to live in freedom because he is a compassionate Savior.  The issue is we are caught in sin and we don't think we can get out.  Sin is a trap that holds us all back.  Jesus came to forgive us and free us of our past so that we can be FREE!  This message came from John 8:1-11.

One of the most special moments today to me was when the band at the end of the service just played for like 3-5 minutes and the room was full of silence.  God assured me that in that moment he was healing people of their past shame.  Thank you God for extending us grace today, well for that fact every day!  

We were packed today!!!  Next week is friend day and I think we might have to hang people from the ceiling but it will be worth it.  I can't wait to see what God's does at Ethos the rest of this series.  

Sunday REwind

Today was part 3 of our series The Upside to a Downside Economy.  I talked about the question where is God in all this.  Basically I laid out a very simple concept to what the Upside is to all of this.  I said that God uses times like this to do the following:

1. Reveals our hearts
2. Replants our joy in His grace rather than things
3. Revives the church   

 You see there is Upside to all of this but you have to go back and truly believe that God is sovereign.  That some how God is working all this together for good.   Here are the other aspects to this mornings service:

• We took up 2 special offerings to help out those in our community.  We took in right at $1500 total.  I was so encouraged at how well everyone jumped in to help those during this hard time.
• We had some new volunteers getting trained on our production team. 
• We had  a good number of our people downtown this morning during the service at the invisible children rescue event.   I am so happy that the Ethos community is making a impact around the world.
• I felt that my message started very slow but by the end it all came together. 
• Overall I felt that God was glorified today in what we did .  
• Can't wait to finish up our series next week.   
• By the way I am still convinced that we have the best volunteers in the world.  They blow me away every week at their servants heart. 

Sunday REwind

• Arrived at church today at 745a.m.  
• Had some set up to do last minute that I didn't get done last week. 
• The band arrived at 830 or so and started running though the set for today  
• Here was the set for 3.22.09 
• •  Waterdeep, when the cold when blows 
  • The Glorious Unseen, burn in me 
  • The Ember Days, run to you 
  • Kim Walker, How he loves  
• We are still in our series called "Compelled by Love"
• We have covered this so far 
• • The Searching love of the father 
  • The Dying love of Christ 
  • Today was on the Indwelling love of God's Spirit   
• Our Volunteers blow my mind at how they serve every week.
• I felt that my part of the service which today was speaking was pretty week. 
• Mark C. and Blake W. did a great job doing some special reading for us today  
• The music today was amazing in my opinion, it was great to have the entire band back together  
• Before the service we (those involved in the service) took about 15 minutes and just prayed all throughout the Auditorium.  I really think this helped us focus around the theme for today. 
• At the end today we had 8 first time guest stop by our guest relations area and word has it that they had nothing but positive things to say about their experience.  
• Next week we end this series talking about the Identifying love of  the church.  
• But to top the day off we had the biggest attendance EVER today! 
• I am so honored to be apart of Ethos.  I no we miss the mark a lot but we really do strive to be a community of love, faith, and change. 

Sunday REwind

• I am not even sure where to start!
• Today we started our new series called "Compelled By Love" 
• Josh and AJ totally rocked "Your love is strong" by Jon Foreman, no for real they did amazing it really spoke to the topic of love.  
• Our Volunteers were 100% on their game!  It blows me away when I watch people serve others. 
• We had high HIGHEST attendance ever today even if it was cold, snowy, and just a great day to stay in bed.
• We are pulling out a lot of creative elements for this series and I must say they all worked today. 
• I felt like I preached with all heart and soul today. 
• The spiritual intensity of our community is rising and I can't wait to see what God does in and through us. 
• To top it off I got to baptize people today who were going public with their faith. 
• Also, we did our first ever original worship songs with the ethos band and the best thing was not that it sounded great but that people really sang it out.  Can't wait to see what God does with that song. 
• Overall I think the band did the best today they have done in weeks.
• The take away verse today was 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
• This may sound weird but I challenged everyone to be better lovers! 
• As I look to the rest of the month I have huge expectations of what God is going to do at Ethos. 
• We are really just on the verge of what God has in store for our community.  Let's reach the world around us through a heart of love, because love is the most excellent way! 

Sunday REwind

• I spoke at both services today at central - 9:15/11:00
• I must admit only having a 30 minute break in between services is very hard as a speaker 
• We had two great service as we inspired people to Get in the game 
• Jason and his team did a great job of leading worship  
• We did a sports center video today with Ernie R and Jason H to show case some of our volunteers serving - thought it came off great 
• I really felt that I presented the message very clearly of why getting into the game is vital to the health of the local church 
• While all this was going on Mande we preparing to speak at Ethos 
• I must admit I was nervous  not being at ethos today but i want to thank Cheryl K and all the other volunteers that helped make today a success
• We had baptism orientation today at Ethos and we will be baptizing 6 next week - so excited about that!
• Word has it that people were sitting every where at ethos today, I love the fact that people are connecting to our community of love, faith, and change   

As I look at my week coming up there is a lot coming up.  Tomorrow night we have small group at my house.  Then on Thursday due to Chad Johnson from Catalyst I will be going the Catalyst One Day event in GA.  I was so happy when he told me he had 2 tickets for me.  

Also, we must get everything ready for our new series we start next Sunday called - Compelled By Love.  I am really praying that people begin to get a deeper understanding of the Love of God and how that should compel us to reach out.  I am still trying to make connections for our Good Friday service - for the city in the city.  Really going to try to nail this down this week.  Well, thats it for this Sunday REwind!

Sunday REwind

Ok here is how it felt.  I struggled BAD during my message.  I am very sick today and even felt worse on stage.  I was sweating, trying to hold back from coughing non-stop, and could not keep my focus but in the end God still used the whole day to shine His light.

At the end of service a guy came up to me to talk and with tears in his eyes he said,  " today changed his life."  He said he never has felt welcome at church until today.  He said he always felt like they were pointing fingers at him.  I was blown away and reminded again how God works.  What I thought was a bad sermon ended up impacting someone's life instead.  God I am so greatful that you work in spite of how we feel we did.

The music was totally on today.  Ok I might be a little bias but they rock it every week!  We opened up with Lead me to the Cross (Christina J. it was just for you) and then we did Jesus paid it all and Glory in the highest.  I checked today to see if anyone used our family room and there was mom in there feeding her little girl in the highchair.  They loved the fact that they could see the service.  

Our volunteers did a great job today like always.  There just seemed to be a great feeling in the air today.  We are in our second week of small groups and looking forward to anther great week.  Well, there you have it another Sunday REwind