The Uprising

It’s hard for me to put into words the excitement behind finally going public with what has been on my heart for so long.

Since before we moved to Clarksville, I envisioned an event that reached beyond church walls and boundaries, embraced a crowd that’s often overlooked, and reverberated into eternity. I believe we’re in the beginning stages of being a part of such a movement here in Clarksville, TN.

Last week was the first time I got to share this idea with anyone besides my staff. I met with our ministry leaders and shared my vision for 2012. Our vision is huge and our focus is simple. We’re called to reach this city, so we’re positioning ourselves to do whatever it takes to see as many people as possible come to know Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 1:8 – For from you, the word of the Lord has sounded forth…

We’re turning the volume all the way up on the Gospel!

The Uprising is far bigger than a concert, a gathering, or a one-time event. It’s a movement. I’ve been praying that this movement does 3 things: 1) unites churches around the city, 2) empowers Christians to use their gifts to reach the lost, and 3) impacts eternity as we see many come to Jesus. We’ve gone out of our way to make sure this is not “an Awaken Church event.” We want to make sure to include any church that wants to partner with us. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be connecting with other churches, pastors, and ministries, as we drop the things that divide us and unite under the name of Christ!

Our first-ever Uprising event will take place on the Austin Peay campus (Music/Mass Communications Building) on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 from 7-9pm. Doors open at 6:30, but you’ll want to be there early. It’s FREE and it will be PACKED. Seating is very limited. The night will feature amazing worship, music from HEAD (featuring Brian “Head” Welch, formerly of Korn), as well as an interview with Brian “Head” Welch. The key element of the night is a message about eternity and an invitation for people to give their lives to Jesus. Make no mistake: we’re all about JESUS!

Let me make this clear: this is not a concert for Christians. This is an opportunity to bring friends, coworkers, and classmates to a hear about the hope of Jesus.

There will be much more info coming in the near future as we count down the days to March 14, 2012. In the meantime, here are a few links for you to check out…

Donate HERE.

Website: wearetheuprising.com (more updates coming soon)

Facebook: facebook.com/uprisingevent

Twitter: twitter.com/uprisingevent

You can also find us on Path and Instagram (@uprisingevent).

Spread the word. Join the movement.

Bible In 90 Days 53: 2 THESSALONIANS

Today is day 87 in our journey through the Bible in 90 days.

2 Thessalonians is brief, and is of course, a follow-up to 1 Thessalonians. They’re both about the future, but this one specifically addresses a concern that the Thessalonians church had that they had missed the Rapture somehow!

I have a friend who, as a young Christian, went to church for a small group Bible study one evening. He arrived a little late, and when he walked into the room, no one was there, but all their Bibles were sitting in a circle where their owners had been! He panicked and thought that somehow he had missed the Rapture…then his friends walked in from outside!

Missing the Rapture would obviously be a big deal – much bigger than oversleeping for work or missing a dentist appointment!

Paul fills them in on reality though – he lets them know some basic chronology of what will happen in the end times so that they can be aware.

Some Christians try to stay away from end times stuff (eschatology) because it freaks them out or they just don’t know much about it. It’s important for all Christians to be aware of the events that will take place before the Rapture and return of Christ (which are two separate events, by the way). God lays them out for us in Daniel, 2 Thessalonians, Revelation, and a few other places in Scripture. Only He knows the exact timing of all the events, though, so our job is to BE READY!

And just so they knew Paul meant business, he closed this letter with these words…

“I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:17

Any time the Bible talks about going home to heaven, I get so excited! After all, for us who trust in Christ, it’s the moment we’ve been waiting for and an encouragement to keep going even when times are rough.

Bible in 90 Days 52: 1 THESSALONIANS

Today is day 87 in our journey through the Bible in 90 days.

1 Thessalonians is a very refreshing read, especially after reading 1 Corinthians a couple days ago!

1 & 2 Thessalonians were Paul’s 2nd and 3rd books written. He had visited Thesslonica on his second missionary journey, where they had seen God move so powerfully that the mob who tried to hunt them down described them this way…

“These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also” – Acts 17:6

What a compliment! That’s exactly what Paul had set out to do!

Speaking of compliments, Paul had a lot of great things to say about the Thessalonian church as well. They were faithful, loving, and Christ-centered in all that they did. He said that they “became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia” (1:7). He said they also “received the word of God…and accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers” (2:13). He goes so far as to say…

“For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

Although Paul addressed quite a few things in 1 Thessalonians, the church in Thessalonica was missing two main things:

1) Paul – he wasn’t able to be there in person, so he sent Timothy instead (3:2).

2) Hope after death. That’s a big one!

Paul addresses that issue in Chapter 4 when he writes about the Rapture and the life we live after death. We don’t sorrow like those who have no hope – Jesus overcame death! For the believer, death is the beginning of real life! What a comforting reminder!

On the flip side, however, the return of Christ will be a time of panic and terror for many who have rejected Christ. There is no encouragement for them besides committing their lives to Christ so that they’re guaranteed to have hope at the return of Christ.

One unique things about 1 Thessalonians is that it contains two of the three instances in Scripture where it specifically says “this is God’s will.” (The third is 1 Peter 2:15.)

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification:t that you abstain from sexual immorality” – 1 Thessalonians 4:3

“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Make it a practice to pay attention to God’s will. Not paying attention to God’s will is like not paying attention to your GPS when trying to get to a new location. You won’t arrive safely if you’re not paying attention. God’s will is the GPS for our souls, so listen up!

1 Thessalonians is a refreshing read written to a refreshing church. It gives one of the earliest looks at the New Testament church that was forming around the world. God was doing great things, and if His people would continue to follow His will and expectantly await His return, He would continue to do amazing things! The same is true for us today.