Fresh Faith

Ron Moore
Maria Stockman
Ryan Middleton
Denise Middleton

• Ryan grew up with no real church experiences
• Denise was also unchurched for most of her childhood. Christmas Eve kind of attendance.
• Uncle introduced her to a Baptist Church and around 7th grade she was saved. Went to church without parents.
• Once high school hit, she fell away from that
• Ryan’s dad was an alcoholic and it was pretty extreme.
• Not a normal functioning family. Parents separated the summer he turned 9, and came back, then the following year they left.
• As a family they made the decision to leave their dad.
• Ryan always sought a male role model. Grandfather was a really big role model and he passed away when Ryan was 11.
• Ryan’s view of God was that Ryan would be atheist and as he got older it was more agnostic.
• Denise felt like her relationship with God was based on her selfish needs. More fear of God versus the loving God.

• Were you looking for a godly man?

• Denise - no. But once we started our family it really became something that I wanted. But still more of a this is a good moral thing to do.

• One day, Denise says we have to go to church and Ryan says ... ok then go do it! That’s you, not me.

• Ryan’s friend, John Schell has been inviting him to come to TBC and to the Men’s a Thanksgiving breakfast for years. He kept at it.

• Denise is 7.5 months pregnant with second child and Ryan hears a scream.

• Denise is in the bathroom, bleeding very badly. She thought her water had broken but it was blood. Rush her to the hospital.

• Denise is convinced that they had lost the baby while on the way to the hospital.

• Take her into the maternity wing and they can’t find the heartbeat. Finally find the heartbeat. Ryan went to move the car and then the nurses say that the heartbeat was Denise’s not the babies. They eventually find it and took her into surgery for a c section.

• At 12:04 a.m., Ryan hears a cry and it’s the greatest noise they ever heard.

• She was 6 weeks pre-mature and relatively healthy. She didn’t need anything extra. 4lbs 7 oz Madison Rae
• October 4, 2008

• When the nurses from the night Maddison was born came in for their shift the next evening they were talking to them. One nurse said, did anyone talk to you about what happened?

• Nurse said: “Someone was looking after your daughter because she shouldn’t be ok”

• There was an 85% abruption and there shouldn’t have been enough there to sustain life so we were planning to life light her to Children’s and we didn’t think she would make it.

• Ryan, not being a spiritual person just thought, wow, we’re lucky.

• John Schell says, “it has nothing to do with luck”

• Remember this moment very clearly that this is a moment that God was revealing Himself to Ryan.

— break —

• Would you say this is the breaking point for you?

• In hindsight yes, but there was a lot of things that happened in the months leading up to this.

• “God was working in my life but I didn’t recognize that quiet yet.”

• Ryan was going home to get Austin in hopes for some normalcy for him. It stuck with Ryan what the nurse said about someone watching over Madison.

• Ryan laid down and fell asleep on the couch, woke up in a dream. He was in his bedroom and at the foot of the bed was Jesus. Jesus says is there anything else I need to do to show myself to you.

• Ryan immediately wakes up and is in the living room.

• As a non-Christian, this was something Ryan was hesitant to tell Denise.

• Thinking I can’t tell her, but knew I was going to. Denise is in a rocking chair and Maddison was in the incubator.

• Ryan says you won’t believe the dream I had last night and Denise starts crying as Ryan tells her. She said, last night at about 8:45 pm I prayed to God about who was looking out for her. It was crazy because all the timing was right and it was so comforting.


• This moment made Denise even more hopeful that they would start going to church.

• Ryan, what did you feel? Enough to let her know about it but still dismissive.

• John asked about the breakfast so Ryan decided to go to appease John. It was ok, nothing crazy. Then went into the worship center and remember thinking wow this isn’t what church looks like.

• The message is super relevant to me (Ryan). Very different church experiences.
• Heard a gospel presentation and it was the first time I ever heard it. It didn’t sound as far-fetched as I had once placed it.

• As I grew in my faith I became so passionate about sharing the gospel because I knew some people just hadn’t heard about Jesus.

• Ryan started attending church the next day and started going every Sunday after.
• Not saved yet, but very intrigued.

• Denise - hasn’t experienced what Ryan was talking about so I wanted to go, too.
• Building up hope for the long term for the family.

• Ryan - felt like the messages were so personal and relevant to today. This isn’t some archaic book, this is real. It’s not a way to police people.

• Once I heard this relevant info teaching that directly affected my life, it was awesome.

• There wasn’t a moment that I wanted to trust in Christ,

• Sunday, December 28 went to church and when I came home I said to Denise, I gotta get my own bible.

• I need to get one now, today. So we went to Barnes and Noble and found the religion section and that day he got his first Bible.

• That night, went home and went to bed. Maddison has suddenly passed away in the night.

• That was chaotic and scary and traumatic. The pain. There’s just no way to describe it.

• Denise - I can go through that day in slow motion. You never think you will ever have to go through this. The worst feeling. It’s hard to even think about it even now.

• Ryan - Numb. Disbelief. This can’t really be happening. No. It’s not what’s supposed to happen.

• Drove to the church and talked to Mike McCormick. Ryan had felt that was where he could go for comfort.

• Ryan - It took a lot of time to process things. You’re in disbelief for a long time. But over time, I’ve come to be so thankful for her. Sometimes I question why we only had her for 80 days, but now I am so thankful for those precious 80 days we had with her that God gave us.

• “You give and take away”


• My heart will choose to say, blessed be your name. That was our choice to still praise God.

• Ron - we had a grandson that just passed away and he only lived for 7 hours and we thank God for those 7 hours. We have to learn to see it that way.

• This was the moment that I knew I was a believer. I was turning to God and I have questions but I knew the gospel was the truth.

• I was never angry with God, but I wanted to understand Him better.

• Ron - 70% of parents that lose a child, the marriage doesn’t last. You grieve differently. How did that work for you?

• Denise - in the car and late at night because we didn’t want Austin to see the pain. We just jumped straight into everything at church and took every class possible.

• Ryan’s mom, sister, and Denise’s parents started coming to church and that pulled everyone together and became their source of comfort.

• Many run from God, and God just pulled them in closer. They ran towards Him for their comfort.

• Denise - I could physically feel Jesus wrap his arms around me.

• Ryan - Understanding that men and women grieve differently was helpful to us.

• Denise - You recognize that God has been there all along. Everything worked for our healing and for us to be brought to Him.

• People were so kind and compassionate to them the day that she passed.

• Ryan - the day we buried Mandy, it was such a heavy day. New Year’s Eve. I remember thinking I don’t know how we can go on.

• Austin was handing out pretzels to everyone and he just lightened the room and made everyone see that they can go on.

• God provided us with everything that we needed to get through it.

• Ron - You measure life not by years but my impact. Maddy had such a huge impact on your family and their faith.

• Everyone has taken dramatic steps towards the Lord on both sides of our family. It’s impacted close friends and also people who we aren’t close with.

• Ryan - John Schell’s huddle Group kind of adopted me and really showed me what it meant to be a man of God.

• It’s really how Christian community is supposed to happen.

• March 1 - came to church and Mike McCormick said hey you don’t like ok, what’s wrong? I said nothing. (8:45am)

• After church, I took Austin to the mall to play. Had this urge to call my dad who I had been estranged from for 15+ years.

• I got my aunt’s phone number and called her. She says what leads you to call today.

• Aunt Pat says that his dad passed away earlier this morning (8:45am). I’m beating myself up because I should have called sooner.

• I go home and Austin is throwing those magnetic alphabet letters and when I went to grab them the word “God” is spelled out. I’m questioning myself and feeling so guilty. That was the moment that I had complete peace and I knew that this is how it was supposed to be.

• Denise - through the church had been introduced to other women who had lost a child. I clung to them and their comfort.

• Ryan’s new faith had taken off and it inspired me to do the same. I clung to Ryan a lot.

• There was a sense of love and community that we got.

• Ryan - Having people that can relate to you is really key when you walk through that grief and healing.

• In a SIDS support group, Ryan was evangelizing and just energized by being able to tell of what Jesus had done.


• Ron - Talk about ways that people can support those going through a tough time. Help us be better at interacting with those who are hurting.

• We know that on one meant to hurt us.
• The most impactful things that people did weren’t words. Just sitting and being there.
• Acknowledge that you don’t know what to say but I love you.
• Hugs
• A lot of times we think we have to have the right words or they avoid it because they don’t want to remind you. I’m never going to not think about it so that’s not an issue.
• It’s hurtful to not hear from people. They didn’t know how to be there for me, but I needed them.
• We want to talk about her.
• It was hard during the months after when people seemed to move on.

Ron Moore
Maria Stockman
Ryan Middleton
Denise Middleton

• Ryan grew up with no real church experiences
• Denise was also unchurched for most of her childhood. Christmas Eve kind of attendance.
• Uncle introduced her to a Baptist Church and around 7th grade she was saved. Went to church without parents.
• Once high school hit, she fell away from that
• Ryan’s dad was an alcoholic and it was pretty extreme.
• Not a normal functioning family. Parents separated the summer he turned 9, and came back, then the following year they left.
• As a family they made the decision to leave their dad.
• Ryan always sought a male role model. Grandfather was a really big role model and he passed away when Ryan was 11.
• Ryan’s view of God was that Ryan would be atheist and as he got older it was more agnostic.
• Denise felt like her relationship with God was based on her selfish needs. More fear of God versus the loving God.

• Were you looking for a godly man?

• Denise - no. But once we started our family it really became something that I wanted. But still more of a this is a good moral thing to do.

• One day, Denise says we have to go to church and Ryan says ... ok then go do it! That’s you, not me.

• Ryan’s friend, John Schell has been inviting him to come to TBC and to the Men’s a Thanksgiving breakfast for years. He kept at it.

• Denise is 7.5 months pregnant with second child and Ryan hears a scream.

• Denise is in the bathroom, bleeding very badly. She thought her water had broken but it was blood. Rush her to the hospital.

• Denise is convinced that they had lost the baby while on the way to the hospital.

• Take her into the maternity wing and they can’t find the heartbeat. Finally find the heartbeat. Ryan went to move the car and then the nurses say that the heartbeat was Denise’s not the babies. They eventually find it and took her into surgery for a c section.

• At 12:04 a.m., Ryan hears a cry and it’s the greatest noise they ever heard.

• She was 6 weeks pre-mature and relatively healthy. She didn’t need anything extra. 4lbs 7 oz Madison Rae
• October 4, 2008

• When the nurses from the night Maddison was born came in for their shift the next evening they were talking to them. One nurse said, did anyone talk to you about what happened?

• Nurse said: “Someone was looking after your daughter because she shouldn’t be ok”

• There was an 85% abruption and there shouldn’t have been enough there to sustain life so we were planning to life light her to Children’s and we didn’t think she would make it.

• Ryan, not being a spiritual person just thought, wow, we’re lucky.

• John Schell says, “it has nothing to do with luck”

• Remember this moment very clearly that this is a moment that God was revealing Himself to Ryan.

— break —

• Would you say this is the breaking point for you?

• In hindsight yes, but there was a lot of things that happened in the months leading up to this.

• “God was working in my life but I didn’t recognize that quiet yet.”

• Ryan was going home to get Austin in hopes for some normalcy for him. It stuck with Ryan what the nurse said about someone watching over Madison.

• Ryan laid down and fell asleep on the couch, woke up in a dream. He was in his bedroom and at the foot of the bed was Jesus. Jesus says is there anything else I need to do to show myself to you.

• Ryan immediately wakes up and is in the living room.

• As a non-Christian, this was something Ryan was hesitant to tell Denise.

• Thinking I can’t tell her, but knew I was going to. Denise is in a rocking chair and Maddison was in the incubator.

• Ryan says you won’t believe the dream I had last night and Denise starts crying as Ryan tells her. She said, last night at about 8:45 pm I prayed to God about who was looking out for her. It was crazy because all the timing was right and it was so comforting.


• This moment made Denise even more hopeful that they would start going to church.

• Ryan, what did you feel? Enough to let her know about it but still dismissive.

• John asked about the breakfast so Ryan decided to go to appease John. It was ok, nothing crazy. Then went into the worship center and remember thinking wow this isn’t what church looks like.

• The message is super relevant to me (Ryan). Very different church experiences.
• Heard a gospel presentation and it was the first time I ever heard it. It didn’t sound as far-fetched as I had once placed it.

• As I grew in my faith I became so passionate about sharing the gospel because I knew some people just hadn’t heard about Jesus.

• Ryan started attending church the next day and started going every Sunday after.
• Not saved yet, but very intrigued.

• Denise - hasn’t experienced what Ryan was talking about so I wanted to go, too.
• Building up hope for the long term for the family.

• Ryan - felt like the messages were so personal and relevant to today. This isn’t some archaic book, this is real. It’s not a way to police people.

• Once I heard this relevant info teaching that directly affected my life, it was awesome.

• There wasn’t a moment that I wanted to trust in Christ,

• Sunday, December 28 went to church and when I came home I said to Denise, I gotta get my own bible.

• I need to get one now, today. So we went to Barnes and Noble and found the religion section and that day he got his first Bible.

• That night, went home and went to bed. Maddison has suddenly passed away in the night.

• That was chaotic and scary and traumatic. The pain. There’s just no way to describe it.

• Denise - I can go through that day in slow motion. You never think you will ever have to go through this. The worst feeling. It’s hard to even think about it even now.

• Ryan - Numb. Disbelief. This can’t really be happening. No. It’s not what’s supposed to happen.

• Drove to the church and talked to Mike McCormick. Ryan had felt that was where he could go for comfort.

• Ryan - It took a lot of time to process things. You’re in disbelief for a long time. But over time, I’ve come to be so thankful for her. Sometimes I question why we only had her for 80 days, but now I am so thankful for those precious 80 days we had with her that God gave us.

• “You give and take away”


• My heart will choose to say, blessed be your name. That was our choice to still praise God.

• Ron - we had a grandson that just passed away and he only lived for 7 hours and we thank God for those 7 hours. We have to learn to see it that way.

• This was the moment that I knew I was a believer. I was turning to God and I have questions but I knew the gospel was the truth.

• I was never angry with God, but I wanted to understand Him better.

• Ron - 70% of parents that lose a child, the marriage doesn’t last. You grieve differently. How did that work for you?

• Denise - in the car and late at night because we didn’t want Austin to see the pain. We just jumped straight into everything at church and took every class possible.

• Ryan’s mom, sister, and Denise’s parents started coming to church and that pulled everyone together and became their source of comfort.

• Many run from God, and God just pulled them in closer. They ran towards Him for their comfort.

• Denise - I could physically feel Jesus wrap his arms around me.

• Ryan - Understanding that men and women grieve differently was helpful to us.

• Denise - You recognize that God has been there all along. Everything worked for our healing and for us to be brought to Him.

• People were so kind and compassionate to them the day that she passed.

• Ryan - the day we buried Mandy, it was such a heavy day. New Year’s Eve. I remember thinking I don’t know how we can go on.

• Austin was handing out pretzels to everyone and he just lightened the room and made everyone see that they can go on.

• God provided us with everything that we needed to get through it.

• Ron - You measure life not by years but my impact. Maddy had such a huge impact on your family and their faith.

• Everyone has taken dramatic steps towards the Lord on both sides of our family. It’s impacted close friends and also people who we aren’t close with.

• Ryan - John Schell’s huddle Group kind of adopted me and really showed me what it meant to be a man of God.

• It’s really how Christian community is supposed to happen.

• March 1 - came to church and Mike McCormick said hey you don’t like ok, what’s wrong? I said nothing. (8:45am)

• After church, I took Austin to the mall to play. Had this urge to call my dad who I had been estranged from for 15+ years.

• I got my aunt’s phone number and called her. She says what leads you to call today.

• Aunt Pat says that his dad passed away earlier this morning (8:45am). I’m beating myself up because I should have called sooner.

• I go home and Austin is throwing those magnetic alphabet letters and when I went to grab them the word “God” is spelled out. I’m questioning myself and feeling so guilty. That was the moment that I had complete peace and I knew that this is how it was supposed to be.

• Denise - through the church had been introduced to other women who had lost a child. I clung to them and their comfort.

• Ryan’s new faith had taken off and it inspired me to do the same. I clung to Ryan a lot.

• There was a sense of love and community that we got.

• Ryan - Having people that can relate to you is really key when you walk through that grief and healing.

• In a SIDS support group, Ryan was evangelizing and just energized by being able to tell of what Jesus had done.


• Ron - Talk about ways that people can support those going through a tough time. Help us be better at interacting with those who are hurting.

• We know that on one meant to hurt us.
• The most impactful things that people did weren’t words. Just sitting and being there.
• Acknowledge that you don’t know what to say but I love you.
• Hugs
• A lot of times we think we have to have the right words or they avoid it because they don’t want to remind you. I’m never going to not think about it so that’s not an issue.
• It’s hurtful to not hear from people. They didn’t know how to be there for me, but I needed them.
• We want to talk about her.
• It was hard during the months after when people seemed to move on.

Ron Moore
Maria Stockman
Melissa Arabia

Show Notes: http://www.biblechapel.org/the-bible-chapel-blog/service-burnout-survivor/

Ron Moore
Maria Stockman
Lorraine Shipman

Ron Moore
Maria Stockman
Lorraine Shipman

Ron Moore
Maria Stockman

Show Notes can be found at http://www.biblechapel.org/the-bible-chapel-blog/stopping-the-stigma-anxiety-and-christianity/

Ron Moore
Maria Stockman
Nate Edwards

Question:

When a man/woman is in a committed relationship (long time dating, engaged, married), is it appropriate for an opposite gender friendship where personal things are discussed? In other words, is it OK for a man to have a close platonic relationship with a woman other than his wife? What scripture supports the appropriate behavior?

• God created marriage for a man and a woman
• Two should become one and it’s a unique relationship that God has designed
• Genesis 2
• It can be dangerous to have good friends with members of the opposite sex
• Ephesians 5
• All other relationships, opposite gender relationships are off the table. Focus needs to be on your relationship with your spouse
• Emotional intimacy normally leads to physical intimacy
• Emotional intimacy is designed for a marriage and we should protect that and fight for that.
• Marriage relationship is primary after your relationship with the Lord
• We have to be careful with anything we share from our marriage
• You should not bring issues to your parents
• They care for you like no one else and this is not the support you need
• Your spouse has to be your best friend
• We should be chasing depths in our relationships and it has to be with your spouse

Question:

Are there different types of sin? While holding our Living Grounded bible study, my sister had questions concerning physical sin vs spiritual sin. Is there a difference between sins? What scriptures would best help us to discuss this area of our lives?

• 1 Corinthians 6
• Things that we consider not that big of a deal sin versus huge sin, all reveals that we are guilty and in need of a savior.
• Physical sin versus spiritual sin
• Sermon on the Mount
• Physical sin is obvious and outward. Jesus used that to say that the law says don’t commit adultery but if you list after someone then you’ve committed adultery in your heart
• Sin is sin and there is a spiritual aspect of sin that leads to a physical aspect of sin.
• Luke 6 —> Out is the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks
• Physical sins are symptoms and spiritual sins are the roots of the issues
• Target and arrow image from living grounded
• Worldly sorrow is embarrassing that you got caught and godly sorrow is repentance and change through God/Spirit

Ron Moore
Maria Stockman
Brad Rine

Question:

When did the practice of baptizing start, and why did they do it? I know that we use it as symbolism for dying like Christ and rising. John the Baptist was baptizing and even baptized Jesus. Was it going on through the Old Testament times as well?

• Mosaic Law, God talks about a ritual cleansing … Exodus 29
• the Jewish people took this idea and made it part of the process of becoming part of the nation of Israel
• Dead Sea scrolls - that community held to these rituals as well
• John the Baptist may have had a connection to this community
• In the OT it was something you did yourself, but John the Baptist did it and it was tied into a heart issue and sin. It wasn’t just ceremonial.
• Jesus is coming, repent from your sins, and prepare
• Jesus identifies with man and shows us the example with his demonstration
• Why be baptized today?
• Outward demonstration of an inward decision
• Putting a stake in the ground
• Baptism does not make you a Christian
• It doesn’t make you more of a Christian
• It doesn’t complete your faith journey
• TBC links for baptism http://www.biblechapel.org/next-steps/baptism--child-dedications/

Question:

Why don’t we talk about fasting more? Jesus talked about not if but when we fast. When should we fast? How long? How often? How common was it back before Jesus, and afterwards?

• Jesus does say When not If
• Matthew 6:16
• Pharisees used it as a point of pride and misused it
• Can be easily misunderstood or misapplied
• Almost always tied to prayer
• There is a spiritual purpose to fasting
• “Giants of the Faith” in the OT mention fasting and it’s linked to a time of prayer
• It doesn’t sprinkle magic dust on our prayers. It’s personal and between you and God.
• It helps you draw closer to the Lord.
• It’s convicting
• Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline
• Depriving yourself of food to remind yourself to focus on prayer
• There are physical reasons not to fast
• Recovering from illness, pregnancy, diabetic, etc
• Fasting could be a period of time or for a specific prayer
• fasting could be from other things besides food
• There is freedom in fasting because there aren’t set rules
• Fasting is still drinking water, it’s a break from food.
• It’s about focusing your time with the Lord
• Using the hunger as a reminder to keep praying

Ron Moore
Maria Stockman
Zeb Thomas
Dave DiDonato

Question:

In Acts 4:1-4 it says the disciples were put in custody. Did Herod’s temple have jail cells. Also it mentions the captain of the temple... who ran the temple? There were chief priests, high priests, Pharisees, Sadducees...how did all that work? And how to Jews currently believe they’re having their sins atoned for since there are no animal sacrifices today?

o Sanhedrin- Jewish High court
o They controlled the activities as a whole of all the temple
o Chief priests is seen in the New Testament and not the Old Testament.
o Captain of the temple is next in line to become high priest.
o The best interpreter of scripture is scripture.
o Acts 5 —> the apostles are in prison again and (18) put them in a public prison.
o Pharisees believed in resurrection
o Sadducees do not
o Not in practice today, those specific sects.
o Looking for political gain within the Roman Empire.
o Human nature is still sinful
o Human nature is human nature regardless of what “religion” you follow.
o Attrition in legalism because you can’t work yourself to God
o 70 AD, the temple is destroyed.
o Religious center was moved to Jambia
o Psalm 46
o Jesus is the one time for all time sacrifice on the cross
o For 35 years, God allowed the Church to meet in Temple.
o Hebrews Series Sermons
o Israel Trip  http://faithbasedexpeditions.com/tour-view/the-journey-10-day-biblical-encounter-tour-in-isra-381/

Question:

First- in Acts 8 :14-17 , Peter and John went to Samaria to lay hands on the people to receive the Holy Spirit... why did that need to happen? Doesn’t it happen immediately after believing?

• Ephesians 1 - sealed
• Acts is the history of how God started the church
• Not the normative but an accurate account of what happened
• Final authority for life and living
• Not all of acts us prescriptive, it’s just descriptive
• Transition between the OT and NT, it’s a unique time.
• Bible study methods: 1. is it normative? Does it happen over and over again? 2. When you have an unclear or hard passage, interrupt with a passage that is clear.
• Romans 8:9
• 1 Corinthians 12:13
• The body builds the body

Question:


Does the Holy Spirit live within us once we are in heaven.

• Nonnegotiable he’s omnipresent
• When we are in heaven, United with the triune God of love. We aren’t going to dial back with the Holy Spirit
• 1 John 3:2
• John 14:16-17 — FOREVER
• Sealed by the Spirit today
• Beauty or mystery of what God has for us. No fear.
• We will be in a perfect state.
• No temptation for sin.
• The fruit of the spirit will be displayed all the time in our life.
• John 3:3-8
• Revelation 22:17