Happy New Year Originators!

Lesson Focus: Go Deep This Year!


“One of the guiding principles in my life is from a parable of Jesus: ‘To whom much is given . . . much will be required.’ In other words, if you have been blessed, it’s your responsibility to bless others with what you have been given. God hasn’t given those gifts just for your own good but for the good of others as well. Early in my football career I recognized the need to give back to the community. I see it as my responsibility, but also my privilege, to be generous with what God has entrusted to me.” – Drew Brees, Coming Back Stronger 


How do you know what has been entrusted to you by God?


How can we become more aware of our opportunities to bless others with what we have been entrusted?

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:14-21 ESV)

“I think a lot about the term calling. Brittany and I felt that when we came to New Orleans. I sensed that God was bringing us here for a reason. Most people think that they’re called somewhere because of what they can do for a community or cause. But to me, it’s also because that community can help you along where you need it. The truth is, as much as Brittany and I have invested in New Orleans in terms of football and the foundation, this city has given it all back to us tenfold. I will always be thankful - the people of this city and to the God who called me here.” – Drew Brees, Coming Back Stronger


Wrap Up: This is the year to stop trying to create new beginnings that require, by definition, and ending to something else. These resolutions anchored in our humanness result in a destructive loop of disappointment. Let us pray to our loving Father to take us where we are, as we are, and strengthen us for His glory. Go in the power of the breadth, length, height, and depth of His love for you. Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas Originators!

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Celebrate the birth of Simple Truth.

The Essence of Christmas (John 1:1-5)

Lesson Focus: “God With Us”

 In the beginning the Word already existed.
      The Word was with God,
      and the Word was God.
 He existed in the beginning with God.
 God created everything through him,
      and nothing was created except through him.
 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
      and his life brought light to everyone.
 The light shines in the darkness,
      and the darkness can never extinguish it. (John 1:1-5)

“As the centuries pass, the evidence is accumulating that, measured by His effect on history, Jesus is the most influential life ever lived on this planet.” – Latourette (Historian)

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets.  And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names. (Hebrews 1:1-4)

Christ as the Word brings grace and truth; but if men will not receive Him, this same Word will come in wrath and judgment.

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords. (Revelation 19:11-16)

The Bible is the written Word of God, and Christ is the living, incarnate Word of God.

Wrap Up:  The very character of or Living God is poured out to us in His Living Word. To know the Word is to know God. There is no greater blessing on earth or in heaven. "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:23)

Essence: Praying For One Another (James 5:16)

a discussion series from the pages of -
Authentic Relationships: Discover the lost art of “one anothering”
by Wayne and Clay Jacobsen
ISBN 978-0-8010-6451-7


Lesson Focus: Praying for one another

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. (James 5:16 NLT)


Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16 KJV)

• How can we be more deliberate, and or creative about praying for each other, and Origins?

“It is for us to pray not for tasks equal to our powers, but for powers equal to our tasks, to go forward with a great desire forever beating at the door of our hearts as we travel toward our distant goal.” – Helen Keller


Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." And he said to them, "When you pray, say:
   "Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 
Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins,
   for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation." (Luke 11:1-4 ESV)


One day he was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, "Master, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." So he said, "When you pray, say,

   Father, 
   Reveal who you are. 
   Set the world right. 
   Keep us alive with three square meals. 
   Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. 
   Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil." (Luke 11:1-4 The Message)


Wrap Up: Pray! “Prayer is as natural an expression of faith as breathing is of life” – Jonathan Edwards

Essence: Comforting One Another (1 Thessalonians 4:18)

a discussion series from the pages of -
Authentic Relationships: Discover the lost art of “one anothering”
by Wayne and Clay Jacobsen
ISBN 978-0-8010-6451-7


Lesson Focus: Comforting one another  


Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:18 NASB)


The Greek word translated “comfort” in this passage is the same word from our passage last week translated “encourage.” Most translations use “encourage” in this passage also. 


The context of the word in 1 Thessalonians 4:18 is best interpreted “to call near.” Context is everything; look back at these comforting, encouraging, inviting, words.


For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 NASB)

• What is so comforting about those words?

Paul and Timothy gave a case study in 2 Corinthians 1:8-10


What comfort does best is to get our eyes off our efforts and limited resources and put them back on God and His power. (p. 93) “to call near”
This comfort is a gift from God to be passed on by those who understand it.  All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. (2 Corinthians 1:3-7 NLT)


That doesn’t sound like mere commiseration with someone’s pain, does it? This comfort enables people on the verge of giving up to set their eyes on God and what He is doing in them. (p. 93)


Ultimately our comfort or restoration comes directly from God.
In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.  All power to him forever! Amen. (1 Peter 5:10-11 NLT)


Wrap Up: The call to “comfort one another” is another challenge to reframe our normal reaction to each other’s pain. Silent prayers, or wondering why a person doesn’t “just trust God more,” are inadequate responses in our call to create a community of faith, love, and hope. Jeremiah shared God’s intentions with a nation we know were at the end of their rope. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLT) Comfort one another with these words.

Life Together

Origins, Simple Church. Life lived together with other believers. It's simple. Easy.

To me, even the word Origins, of course referring to "beginnings" is a good definition of what simple church is all about. When we are together, the beginnings of friendships occur, the beginnings of healing for wounds long inflicted, the beginning of another new step in our individual and collective walks with God.

Thought I'd post a few glimpses of our life from my perspective.

My big kids, Mackenzie and Levi, spent the Thanksgiving holiday away from us. They returned to the airport met by several of our Origins family, including Ray, A.K.A. Cookie Monster. These kids have no doubt whatsoever that they are deeply loved.

Thanksgiving, we gathered together and ate delicious food, cheered on the Saints, and my Origins family opened their arms to my family family. Smiles all around!

Essence: Encouraging One Another (Hebrews 3:13)

a discussion series from the pages of -
Authentic Relationships: Discover the lost art of “one anothering”
by Wayne and Clay Jacobsen
ISBN 978-0-8010-6451-7

Lesson Focus: Encouraging one another  (Cheerleading  – chapter 8 p.89-92)

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:13 NIV)

[parakaleō: exhort: to urge, caution earnestly, or warn] "Encourage" may not convey the original Greek context.

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13 ESV)

You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. (Hebrews 3:13 NLT)

What are some of the ways you are tempted to harden you heart?

1. The unfairness of life in general; why do bad things happen to good people, and vice versa?

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12 NLT)

2. We live in an environment of intolerance. We can easily stop trying as the fear of failure increases.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (Hebrews 12:1-3 ESV)

 “I know God will not give me anything I cannot handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much” - Mother Theresa

We encourage others by saying or doing things that make God more visible to them. The more we know of them, the more valuable our contribution can be. (p. 91)

Wrap Up: God’s word always encourages and supports relationship and community. The whole of Scripture tells us we are in this together. Observing one another with an attitude of “it’s none of my business” is not living in a relationship of truth and love.