Passover Seder Results

On March 30th, Forest Hills Community Church held its first Passover Seder for the Jewish community. Despite torrential downpours (and Jeremy having a fever of 102 and being hospitalized the night before), a great crowd of Jewish people attended the event eager to see how Christians would celebrate their holiday. By God's providence there was a 1-1 ratio of Jews to Christians, which caused the night to be full of interaction.

Jeremy led the Seder service reading for the traditional Jewish Hagadah, instead of a "Messianic" Hagadah. This was on purpose, as the desire was to reveal Jesus from the Jewish Scriptures, which provide more than enough opportunity to demonstrate Jesus and His NT teachings. This revealing of Jesus from the Jewish Hagadah also caused the Jewish people in attendance to ask questions about Jesus and the Christian church. It was amazing to see the Holy Spirit work so vividly through their questions, and Jeremy's response from both the Old and New Testament. At one point, a Jewish man in the audience simply cried out, "I'm sure I will make it home tonight! God is dealing with me!"

The night lasted over 3 hours and everyone in attendance walked away thrilled with God's "Christian" church in Forest Hills. Several have also attended a Sunday service and/or Bible study. The entire event (the weeks of evangelism beforehand, the event itself, and the follow-up) has been a tremendous success and instrument in the Lord's hand. Plans are already in place to hold High Holiday services in the fall. Please being praying now for these ministries.

Internships

We are currently looking for ministerial interns in NYC. If you are sensing God's call into full-time vocational ministry, then we strongly encourage you to spend your summer with the Sweetens.

This summer our church plant (Forest Hills Community Church) will serve as a training ground for ministry. Students accepted into the program will serve the church in a variety of capacities including: administration, evangelism, and discipleship. No area of the church or its ministry will be "off limits" to the intern.

In conjunction with learning the ministry side of Christian service, interns will also be required to undergo personal growth and development. Weekly classroom settings will take place where students will learn: theology, leadership, servanthood, and character development. These classes will be taught by Jeremy, academic in nature, and highly interactive. Students must come ready to learn and contribute.

Internship classes will limited to 10 students, and applicants must submit their application before May 1st. The cost for this 8-week internship is $3,000.00 which includes room, board, and ministerial materials.

Summer Term: June 1 - July 30
Fall Term: September 1 - October 31

Request an Application

Appreciation

This past week my family and I took a Sabbath in PA. I must say that living in the city is very exotic and a great experience. It also is the only means by which we can fulfill God's call on our lives to reach the City for Jesus. However, with that being said, I must also admit that living in the suburbs is a real treat!

You have no idea how great is was to watch my kids run and play in their own yard, enjoy the peace of knowing that my kids were safe and not under threat from an intruder or predator, and to be able to walk outside the front door into "space" and not someone's conversation or home. Again, we fully appreciate the unique challenges that God's call has placed upon our lives, but it is also great to appreciate the areas where we are not called to live.

Well, today is Saturday; time to head back to the City and preach Jesus. 172,000 people in Forest Hills are counting on my obedience...

Taking a Sabbath

It is way too easy for us as humans living on this side of "the Fall" to ignore God's advice and example of rest. I love working for Jesus and seeing salvation as much as the next guy, but if I ignore Godly wisdom then I really have become a ministerial hypocrite.

After an incredible week proclaiming the Passover, the Atonement and the Resurrection, I am now enjoying the rest each event promised. My kids and my wife are my treasure from God, and I am going to enjoy them.

Results of Easter Week will be posted next week.

Hangin with the Hebrews - Part II

This weekend saw an incredible miracle take place. Spirit-filled Gentiles hit the parks and streets of the neighborhood inviting Jewish people to our upcoming Passover service. That alone is really cool, but what put the icing on the cake was the manner in which the FHCC crew approached the Jewish community, and the overwhelming favor in which they were received. Haredi were actually thanking us for inviting them to our Seder dinner! It was an amazing testimony to the faithfulness and favor of God.

Please pray with us for the upcoming Seder service. While there were many who were grateful for the invite, there were also several who were less than thrilled about the idea of Christians inviting Jews to a Seder meal. We understand that this may not be a "orthodox" practice, but it is biblical. Our soul desire is that of the Torah: to proclaim the saving power of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is who we are celebrating, and it is because of Him we are saved and brought into Covenant. Pray that many in our community will join us for a night of proclaiming the goodness of God over His meal.

PS> Deadline to secure a seat for the Seder Meal is Wednesday, March 24.

Passover Seder
Tuesday, March 30 @ 6:30pm
INSIDE the FHCC Campus (6708 Ingram St)
www.fhcchurch.com

Hanging with the Hebrews - Part I

Many of the FHCC family have been hanging out with the local Hebrew (Jewish) population recently. This is because for the first time our church is holding a Passover Seder meal, and our people are seeking guests. They have many stories and questions as a result of these spiritual interactions, and it is a revealing a lot of what is right and wrong inside the modern church.

For many, this dialogue with Jewish people is the first time they have held a serious conversation about Jesus with someone of another religion. While this may seem odd or a bit of an overstatement, consider your own life. How many times have YOU had a pointed conversation about Jesus with someone who was of another faith? I am not talking about a passing comment on religious affiliation; I am talking about intentional witnessing. Chances are the occurrences are not that many, and here is why...

The fact is that we live in a "PC" world. We are told that certain topics and words are "off limits" due to the feelings of others. Our world has told us that Jesus,and the teachings of Christianity are to be kept private and personal, as they might offend someone who does not know or share this worldview. Whether we cognitively know it or not, the average American Christian has adopted this position as well. We may put up a "Jesus fish" on our bumper or screen saver, but we simply will not engage people on the key elements of Christianity.

While I am all for showing compassion to my fellow man, I can think of no higher offense than not sharing the personhood and teachings of Jesus with another, especially one who is another faith. First of all, Jesus alone is good! Every other religion teaches/relies on human interest and activity. People spend their whole lives trying to create perfection, create justice, ore create love, and all they end up with is rules, disappointment, class-envy and dictatorships. The story of Jesus is the complete opposite. Jesus is no mere man or teacher. He is God incarnate who chose to leave His home in heaven (where He reigns in a place of perfection) to take on the fullness of man. He did this for the sole purpose of dying in the place of all humanity for the offense that all have committed willingly against Him so that all may be brought near to Him in faith alone. There are no classes of people, requirements of works, or intermediaries. Jesus alone saves, and that is very Good News!

Second, to not share Jesus is not only offense to a world stuck in religion and self-disappointment, but it is also highly offensive to Jesus! When we sit silently and do not share the significance of Jesus with others, we are declaring by our silence that Jesus is not worth sharing. People who love baseball always talk about baseball; why? Because they love baseball and believe that it is worth talking about. Grandparents cannot keep quiet about their grandkids. They talk to every person they meet (young, old, married, single) about their grandkids because they love their grandkids and believe firmly that their grandkids are worth talking about. Jesus is greater than baseball and grandkids, yet we consistently sit quietly while the world goes to hell. That is offensive!

We've bitten the apple and have bought into the lie that God is not really God. For many of us, He may be "our" God, but He is not "The" God who rules and reigns over all. We've bought into the lie of political correctness and have used this excuse to hide our own shame, fear and disbelief. We've sinned, and now the world is dying in ignorance as a result.

Brothers and sisters in Jesus, let's get out there and preach! Don't just sit around and chat with fellow believers; be like Jesus and go find someone to whom you can preach. Be a Christian, and live life as a missionary. Be like Jesus, and PREACH because He alone is worth talking about.

God is Faithful, even in the Rain

What an incredible weekend at FHCC. The weather was beyond horrific and never-ending, we lost an hour of sleep,and we discovered a new law banning signs on the street. It was a trying time to say the least; however, despite all the circumstantial setbacks, God spoke and did amazing things in His people.

This weekend, over 1,500 invitations to the Spring Holiday services were handed out, two new families joined the church, and we wrestled with a piece of Scripture that would make your head spin. God has been exceedingly good to us despite all the challenges and shortcomings taking place.

Today is new day. Today the sun is shining, there is a gentle breeze (if any), the temperature is suppose to rest round 60 degrees, and God is still on His throne. If He could use us in miserable conditions, what can He do with these favorable conditions?

I want to encourage all of you to keep allowing God to use you. Swing by the campus today and pick up some more "Invite Cards" for the Holiday services. Read your Bible today for the treasure that it is, not selling the time off to some others temporal pleasure. (Don't be like Esau!) God this day, and every day, for the Glory of God. He desires to do great things in and through your life, but you must obediently treasure Him at all times.

Q - What is God going to do with 55 radical Christians today?...