Inside Auburn Church

2009-10-24T12:48:00.000-05:00

PART TWO :: PRAY UNTIL PEACE COMES

Have you ever noticed that God seems to get our attention more during the "bumps"of life than when things are going smoothly? During times of national crisis, church attendance skyrockets. During times of personal crisis, the same is true for us - we turn to God.

In the previous session, we said that God is at work even in uncertain times. It is good to know that he is working, but what should we be doing? How should we live in the midst of uncertainty? How can we keep from being overwhelmed by the fears and insecurities that often go hand in hand with uncertainty? God has a plan, and his plan is to replace our anxieties with peace.

See you Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

Bobby

2009-10-13T11:06:00.002-05:00

In light of current economic and social trends, perhaps the best word to describe how a lot of us are feeling right now is uncertain. We are uncertain about our jobs, our ability to pay our bills, and in some cases, our ability to retire. If that isn't enough, there is growing uncertainty about our national economy and the worldwide economy. So how are we supposed to respond to this kind of uncertainty? What are we supposed to do? And how should our faith impact our response? Andy Stanley explores these issues in this 3-part series, He's Still* Got the Whole World in His Hands.

PART ONE :: NOTHING NEW

Uncertainty.

As a society, we live in a world of uncertainty. Uncertain social conditions. Uncertain economic times. Uncertain global developments. Yet uncertainty is nothing new. The characters in the Bible experienced wildly fluctuating levels of uncertainty often feeling as if life was moving backwards or getting worse.

And the questions remain the same. Where's God? Is he going to show up? Is he still in control?

See you Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

Bobby

2009-09-16T15:51:00.002-05:00

Part Two :: Luring Them Into The Open

It grows in the darkness and shrinks from the light. It lodges itself inside your heart and begins to infect all of your relationships. Carrying it with you wherever you go, this creature called guilt becomes a heavy burden. But what can you do? How can you break its power over you? There is a way to gain freedom from the power of guilt and the method will surprise you.

I believe that God can use this one message to help so many people who feel like they are living defeated lives. Remember, we want to partner with you to reach people with the life-changing message of a personal, growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Invite someone this Sunday to come and experience the irresistible environments we are creating for adults and children.

Do what only you can do.

Invest and Invite

We'll do what only we can do.

Create irresistible environments where people are encouraged and equipped to pursue intimacy with God, community with insiders and influence with outsiders.

And we'll all trust God to do what only He can do.

Change lives!

If you missed Part One of "It Came From Within, just click here
and it will take you to our "Online Messages."

Memory Verses for Week One

Matthew 15:18 - "For what comes out of the mouth gets its start in heart."

Proverbs 4:23 - "Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that is where life starts."

See you Sunday for part 2 of "It Came From Within."

Bobby

Imagine That

2009-09-05T19:21:00.000-05:00

We cannot wait for church tomorrow. We welcome back Brett Stanfill and the guys leading worship tomorrow. Waumba Land and UpStreet is ready to partner with our parents as we continue to create irresistible, fun environments for children.

Here's the set list:

The Time Has Come
Glory to God Forever
God of this City
Point of Difference

We also have a great opener, so you will not want to be late. Our lead pastor, Bobby Jones, will be concluding the "Imagine" series. Here's where we are going in part 3.

When you stop to think about it, it's almost impossible to imagine; a fledgling religious movement led by a crucified carpenter in the backwaters of the Roman Empire eventually took hold in the most advanced nations of the world and is still thriving two millennia later. Hard to imagine, but the powerful way Christianity spread across the globe can't be denied.

Don't miss Auburn Church tomorrow. You will also hear about our new partnership with an organization that will help us lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ around the world!

It will be one of our best services to date! See you at 11 a.m.

War Eagle!

Orange Families

2009-07-30T09:27:00.000-05:00

Orange is a color that is actually the combination of two colors, red and yellow. Red and yellow are great, don't get me wrong. But combining red and yellow makes a color, orange, that is more vibrant, interesting, and alive than either of the two colors by themselves.

"Orange Families" is a dream to see parents and the church as powerful partners leading children in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. As the church partners with parents, something amazing can happen. Too often the church doesn't engage parents to be the primary leaders in the development of their child's faith. Too often parents drop their children off at church expecting the church to "fix" them. But at Auburn Church, we want to come together with parents with a common vision and strategy to lead the next generation into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Within the next few days, you will receive an introduction to your child's small group leader in Waumba Land and UpStreet. Our small group leaders are excited for the opportunity to partner with you. Also keep your eyes open for resources like the Refrigerator Door, God Time cards, Family Time Virtue packs and Small Talk cards. Each will help you continue the conversation and lead you child into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Can't go wrong going "ORANGE" in Auburn!

Bobby Jones
Lead Pastor

Staying Love :: Part One :: The "Juno" Dilemma

2009-07-20T07:08:00.004-05:00

Falling in love is easy. Staying in love, being committed to each other, is a bit more difficult. Ever wonder if people can stay together for good...like people in love? Is it even possible for two people to stay happy together forever?

Yesterday, Andy Stanley shared with us that the plan to stay in love was given over 2000 years ago. In John 13:34, Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." If you are not careful, you will miss it. Jesus takes the word "love" that is usually used as a noun and makes it as a verb. Love (verb/action word) one another.

You can watch part one of "Staying in Love" here: The Juno Dilemma

Andy also gave us homework.

1. Read the following verses every day in preparation for part two of "Staying in Love."

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human being, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! -Philippians 2:3-8

2. Answer the following questions (Andy recommended that you work through these questions alone):

What is one thing you can do to show someone close to you that you value him or her above yourself?

What is one specific way you could show interest in the things that are most important to someone you love?

What act of service could you do for someone you love that would come as a shock to him or her?

What emotions surface when you think about acting on these ideas?

What keeps you from making these ideas habits in your relationship?

What would you do differently this week if your goal were to actively love the person you are closest to the way he or she desires?

Making love a verb,

Bobby

2009-07-15T14:53:00.002-05:00

We all know what's required to fall in love.

A pulse.

Falling in love is easy. But staying there? That's something else entirely. With more than 1,500 matchmaker organizations in the United States, finding someone is easier than ever, but staying together seems to get more difficult every day.

So. . . is it possible for two people to fall in love and actually stay there? Absolutely! Find out how in Andy Stanley's 4-part series, "Staying In Love."

See you Sunday at 11 a.m.

Bobby

God & Country :: Part Two :: Law and All

2009-07-11T10:24:00.001-05:00

Hope you have had a great week. Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day at Auburn Church. We are concluding the series "God & Country." Have you figured out who the last president was to pray aloud and/or publish a prayer? Has the question, "What's our national motto?" stumped your friends? Who have you invited to come with you to Auburn Church tomorrow?

Oh...and don't be late or you'll miss our tribute to our small corner of this great country!

See you tomorrow at 11 am!

Bobby

In Search of a Conscience

2009-06-30T11:39:00.004-05:00

You live according to your conscience. It dictates your thinking about what you ought and ought not to do. Likewise, a family has a corporate conscience. An organization has a conscience. A Fortune 500 company has a conscience. But is there such a thing as a national conscience? If so, what governs the national conscience of the United States of America? Popular standards? Or is there something else?

If you would like to listen to part one click here!

What do you think?

Bobby

2009-06-10T13:46:00.002-05:00

Most of us want to spend time with our spouse, but most of us don't spend time with our spouse. When we do get time together, a lot of us experience the classic, "What do you want to do? I don't know, what do you want to do?"

Auburn Church presents the Big 6 Great Date Experiment. "The Big 6" refers to the six essentials of a great marriage:

Trust God
Nurture Romance
Hurry Home
Cultivate Communication
Celebrate Differences
Finish Together

For the next 6 months, once a month, Auburn Church is rolling out a different Great Date based around one of these essentials. Each date is complete, yet you get to choose the options. The first Great Date Experiment will happen on Friday, June 19th at 6:30 p.m. Just show up at Auburn Church, receive your date packet and you are on your way.

Core Values

2009-06-10T13:41:00.002-05:00

Our vision at Auburn Church is to create a church that unchurched people love to attend. Our mission is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. How? By creating irresistible environments that encourage and equip people to pursue three vital relationships: Intimacy with God, community with insiders and influence with outsiders.

But what are the values we hold which form the foundation on which we carry out this vision, mission and strategy? What are the constants for Auburn Church in this ever-changing world? What are our core values? What are the practices we use every day in everything we do?

Our Values
As an organization, we are choosing to value these as we pursue our mission:

Biblical Authority
God has spoken to us through the Bible and we recognize it as the final authority for our lives.

Intimacy with God
God desires an intimate relationship with each of us.

Relevant Environments
Every environment should be designed to effectively connect with its target audience.

Relational Evangelism
God`s message of forgiveness through Christ is most effectively conveyed within the context of personal relationships.

Authentic Community
Accountability, belonging, care and spiritual growth happen best with relationally-connected believers.

Strategic Service
Our spiritual gifts have maximum impact when exercised in support of our strategy.

Intentional Apprenticing
We are responsible to pass along to others the knowledge, skills and opportunities that have been entrusted to us.

2009-06-03T00:38:00.002-05:00

What is Financial Peace University?

FPU is the most important step to changing your financial future. It is your Total Money Makeover Program. It takes the knowledge from God and turns it into real action in our lives through a step-by-step process taught by best-selling author and financial counselor Dave Ramsey.

FPU is a 13-week life-changing program that empowers and teaches you how to make the right money decisions to achieve your financial goals and God's plan for your life. The course includes practical lessons on eliminating debt, building wealth, giving like never before, and much, much more!

Who is Financial Peace University for?

It's for EVERYONE!...from the financially secure to the financially distressed. Over 650,000 families and individuals have attended Financial Peace University.

Applying God's Word radically changes your life. On average, FPU graduates have paid off over $5,300 in debt and saved $2,700 during the 91-day program!

What Will I Learn?

In this life-changing program you will learn:

1. Step-by-Step Cash Flow Planning

Luke 14:28: "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it."
2. Debt Snowball Plan Technique to Eliminating Debt

Proverbs 22:7: "The borrower is slave to the lender."
3. How to Invest Wisely

Ecclesiastes 11:2: "Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land."
Get Started Now

Testimonials

Here's what people just like you are saying about FPU:

"We've actually relieved ourselves of over $50,000 worth of debt in two years just from using these principles." - Russ and Mary Lee

"It made us sit down as a couple and communicate... and it gave us an instant pay raise!" - Paul and Lynesa Benson

It's not too late to sign up! For more information, send an email to info@auburnchurchonline.org.

Bobby

2009-05-28T15:48:00.000-05:00

New Series :: Starts Sunday, May 10, 2009

2009-05-07T15:29:00.003-05:00

In this new two-part series, "Why Is God So Mad?", Clay Scroggins digs into the nature of God. Is he the angry, judgmental God many believe him to be? Or is there another side to him worth investigating?

If you've ever read the Bible, you know that God demonstrates his kindness and compassion in lots of different ways. But there are also parts of the Bible where God comes off outright angry, jealous, and wrathful. While it's easy for us to imagine God in all his love and mercy, it can be hard to make sense of a loving God who demonstrates his anger. That polarity may even cause some to walk away from God. But the reality is that there are times when God expresses his anger. And instead of simply walking away, let's ask the question, "Why is God so mad?"

2009-05-06T16:15:00.003-05:00

Drive 2009 was amazing! Great time with the Auburn Church staff learning and relaxing!

Big news coming in the next few days! Stay tuned!

Bobby

Why Worry :: Part Two :: Homework

2009-04-27T15:39:00.003-05:00

What are you worrying about these days? Most likely, your worry reflects your devotion. In other words, if you want to know what you are most devoted to, look at the things you worry about the most.

Jesus understood the connection between our worries and our devotion. As a result, his approach to overcoming the paralyzing effects of worry starts with challenging not just how we handle our worries, but, more importantly, where we place our devotion. Instead of worrying, Jesus says, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Homework for this week

1. Get alone and make of list of every arena of your life. Include in your list those arenas you worry about and those you do not. (Marriage, finances, education, children, health, etc.)

2. Read Matthew 6:24-34.

3. Pray. Surrender your worry. Surrender it to the God that loves you too much to watch you waste your life worrying about things that are out of your control.

See you Sunday, May 3rd for the conclusion of "Why Worry."

Bobby

Making "Why Worry" Homework Easy

2009-04-20T09:54:00.003-05:00

Carve out some time each day this week to read the following passage. Hear what Jesus had to say about worry. See you Sunday for part two of "Why Worry."

Matthew 6:24-34 (New International Version)

24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

What jumps out at you in Jesus' words about worry?

Bobby

"Why Worry" Homework

2009-04-19T21:36:00.004-05:00

Homework? From church? Really?

Yes! Don't forget that Andy asked all of us to read Matthew 6:24-34 all this week. What a great way to let the words of Jesus on worry sink into our hearts.

If you missed part one of the "Why Worry" series, you can watch it online by clicking right here!

Hoping you have a worry-free week!

Bobby

Does Auburn Need Another Church?

2009-04-14T16:38:00.001-05:00

Here's a video that simply explains the North Point model and why the leaders of Auburn Church want a different kind of church in their town.

NPMi Strategic Partners in Plain English from NPMiPartners on Vimeo.

2009-04-14T10:56:00.001-05:00

It seems we all have a lot to worry about these days . . . perhaps more than ever.

Will I lose my job?
Will my children stay safe?
Will the economy turn around?
What about my health, my 401k, my marriage...?

But then again, what has worry ever done for you? While much has been written about how to cope with worry and stress, some of the most practical insights are found in literature written 2,000 years ago by a couple of gentlemen who had a lot to worry about. Andy Stanley unpacks some of those insights in this 3-part series, Why Worry.

Why Worry :: Part One :: Devotion Emotion

When life results in situations we have not intended, our natural tendency is to worry. Among other things, we worry about our finances, our relationships, and our health. Yet, does worrying add a single hour to our lives? In fact, the stress created by our anxieties may have actually taken a year or so off our life expectancies. There are numerous books written about worrying and stress-free living. Interestingly, many of the insights suggested by modern authors come directly from the pages of Scripture.

See you Sunday at our new location at 11:00 a.m!

1667 Shug Jordan Parkway
Auburn, Alabama 36832

Bobby

Easter Sunday Opener

2009-04-13T21:02:00.001-05:00

Here's a video from a camera we had set up in the back of the room during our run through. The song was "Show Me What I'm Looking For" by Carolina Liar.

Bobby

Easter Sunday at Auburn Church

2009-04-10T21:06:00.002-05:00

Playing God :: Part Four :: The Script

Two thousand years ago Jesus lived and walked upon the earth. And despite the fact that he was the most powerful person in the universe, he never played the God card. He never asserted the rights that were inherently his. Instead he did something completely different, and in doing so left us the ultimate example of what powerful people are to do with their power.

See you Easter Sunday, April 12th at 11:00 a.m. at our new location.

1667 Shug Jordan Parkway
Auburn, Alabama 36830

Click here for directions!

Easter Sunday at Auburn Church

2009-04-10T16:11:00.001-05:00

We've been working tirelessly to get the certificate of occupancy for our new space. Minutes ago, we got the news that we are in! I am so thankful to our incredible group of volunteers that have been serving all hours of the night to make Easter Sunday in our new space a reality.

The new address::

1667 Shug Jordan Parkway
Auburn Alabama 36830

Located right next to Absolute Flooring and near the corner of Shug Jordan Parkway and North Donahue.

You can help us by spreading the word about our Easter Sunday service in our new space. Service time will be at 11:00 a.m. We are looking forward to celebrating our risen Savior with you.

Bobby Jones
Lead Pastor
Auburn Church

Playing God :: Part One :: Intoxicating

2009-03-23T10:32:00.002-05:00

For those of you that missed Auburn Church yesterday, you can watch part one of our new series here!

Each of us has a measure of power or influence over other people during specific stages in our lives. It may be as overt as the organizational power an employer has over an employee. Or it may be more subtle, like the influence a teenager has over his or her younger brother or sister. Power takes many different forms.

Here's a few follow-up questions for after the message:

1. In what areas of your life has God given you power?
2. How are you leveraging the power God has given you?

Next Sunday will be our last Sunday at the Marriott at Grand National. The staff at the Marriott have been very accommodating. We are thankful for our time together and their help in creating irresistible environments!

Join us for part two of "Playing God" on Sunday, March 29th. See you at 11:00 a.m.

Bobby

2009-03-20T13:26:00.001-05:00

You have power.

As a sister, husband, mother, manager, captain, board member, or friend, you wield power in someone's life. The way you use that power is a reflection of who you see as the source of that power. In Part One :: Intoxicated, Andy Stanley examines where all power comes from and the impact that this should have on the way we use it.

See you Sunday at 11:00 a.m. at the Marriott at Grand National as we begin this "powerful" new series.

Bobby