When a team is effective there's nothing that can get in the way of accomplishing the vision and goals at hand. Over the next several weeks we will discuss the key components of a great and effective team!
In this episode we address the importance of TRUST amongst the team members. Trust is at the center of all great teams!

We all make decisions everyday, experts say over 35,000 per day! We think nothing about the little decisions, like how much cream in our coffee, but it's the hard decisons that can really cause us to struggle. In this episode Chris discusses  a hard decision he had to make recently and how he went about the process.

Pray -> for wisdom and clarity
Ask -> for advice from friends, counselors and mentors
Act -> on the hard decision with confidence knowing you have the needed wisdom and advice

No one likes criticism yet we all face it whether as leaders in our church, home, work, school or life in general. In this episode Chris talks about a personal situation in which he had to navigate criticism. 

When criticism comes knocking.......ASK:

1. What happened? 

2. What am I feeling? 

3. What is the story I’m telling myself? 

4. What does the gospel say?

 5. What counter-instinctual action is needed?

From - "The Deeply Formed Life" Rich Villodas 

People matter to God. We will love people because we were never intended to do life alone.

Come and See - John 1:29-46

"Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!" Psalm 34:8

Someone INVITED you!

John 1:39a

JESUS INVITATION: COME AND SEE

John 1:39b-46

The goal isn’t to explain some THING but to experience some ONE

Jesus is meant to be EXPERIENCED not EXPLAINED

Time. Talent. Treasure. We will serve well by giving generously of our time, talent, & treasure.

What does it mean to SERVE? 

Forsaking yourself for God and others.

What excuses do we make to not SERVE?

• Ability (Moses) 
• Age (Jeremiah) 
• Attitude (Jonah) 
• Inadequate (Isaiah)

Why we SERVE ?

Serve because Jesus served!

John 13:14-17 ; Matthew 20:27-28 

Serve for Jesus! 

“Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” Col 3:23

Serve for others! 

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Phil 2:4-7

Enjoy this special episode, after the New Year we’ll get back to values conversations.

New Years = Fresh start and newness.

“But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Is 43:18-19

“anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Cor 5:17

A few distinct areas in which you can evaluate and make some New Years adjustments…..

Morning: 

• Get up early on purpose
• Give your first 30 minutes to God
• Right Side Up Journal
• Read - if you read :30 per day you will see tremendous results!!

Schedule:

• Be intentional with what you do with your time
• Passion Planner
• Google Cal
• "Say yes to the best things and know it’s ok to say no to good things."

Sleep:

• Eliminate distractions!
• Covenant Eyes
• Screen Time for Apple
• https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/sleep-facts-statistics

Fitness:

• Physical fitness helps with mental, emotional and spiritual health!
• Peleton

Bring it all together…….

Fast and Pray:

• Starting January 10, 2022 - 21 Day prayer and Daniel Fast 
• Riverbankchurch.com/21days

Have you noticed that so many people are gripped with fear and afraid of pain and suffering? We've all been fairly sheltered from exponential pain and suffering and there are many things that can trigger fear. In this episode we have a conversation with someone who has been dealing with cancer for 20 years and has had to embrace faith over fear. As leaders, we are called to live lives of greater faith and to not be overwhelmed by situation and circumstance outside of our control.

"Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world." 1 Peter 4:12-13