We started my favorite series yet! “Throwback” is going back to the old days of what we THINK church is supposed to do and looking at what the Bible says church REALLY is supposed to do. Here’s how week one went…

• Best news, two people started a relationship with Christ!
• And guess who preached? I did. But guess who wasn’t there? I wasn’t!
• Yep, thanks again to technology we did video for the sermon for two reasons.
• First – because my wife and I left for vacation toward the end of the first service. We are having a great time looking out of our window at the beach as I type!
• Second – I wanted our first service of “Throwback” to give a good feel of what I think about when I throwback to the old days. So the sermon was preached from the church I grew up in – High Point Baptist Church in Meadowview, VA.
• Check out the video, especially the great intro that our creative director Tyler did: http://www.vimeo.com/13189922
• The big idea: Jesus said HE would build HIS church. Not even all the powers of hell can stop it! That’s what we want OneLife to be a part of: an UNSTOPPABLE force! All of our pre-conceived notions of what should happen at church – be it traditional or modern – are just tools God uses to build his church.
• Apparently I threw back to my old redneck vernacular, too. Words like “holler” and “williab” found their way into the sermon
• The service opened with an awesome video and good ole hymn – Victory in Jesus – by the OneLife Band. It was one of my all-time favorite songs they’ve done because of how different it was without changing the melody. It rocked!
• With all of this in mind, the energy was great. On top of that, attendance was great too! Highest first service attendance since Easter.
• Thanks to our awesome volunteers and OneLifers who keep inviting their friends and family, we’ve said “Goodbye!” to the idea that churches can’t grow and build momentum during the summer.
• Although the video sermon was fun and “worked” I am VERY excited to be back live for the rest of the series.
• Next week is going to be another rockin’ week.
• Rumor has it there might just be a fiddle and Charlie Daniels Band’s version of “I’ll Fly Away” rockin’ out. Can’t confirm or deny that at this time
• Don’t miss it! I promise you’re gonna love this ENTIRE series!