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Bixby Knolls Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ) (562) 426-0428
ISSUE 22
NOVEMBER 1, 2016
Dear Church
Ang Lee refuses to play it safe.
Thats what the NPR radio host said. Ang Lee, who directed such movies as Brokeback Mountain, Sense and Sensibility, Life of Pi, and The Revenant, wont agree to
direct a film unless there is something about the film that terrifies him.
I feel that way about the sermons I preach. The gospel is a comfort, but it is also a challenge. The gospel
shakes lives. The gospel rocks the boat. There should be at least a bit of nervousness each time I preach the
gospel. If there isnt, then it means Ive probably watered down the message to make it more safe.
During sermon preparation, when I study a scripture, Ill often ask myself, What about this scripture rattles me? What about it makes me uncomfortable? What about it challenges me to look at things in a different
way? God is always challenging us to look at things in a different way. Thats what the kingdom of God is: it
is an alternative to the way the world currently is.
So, to be a follower of Christ means to accept the challenges and the discomfort that comes from constantly being invited to look at things a new way. To be a follower of Christ means taking the narrow road, the
road less travelled, the road which is more adventurous, more daring.
At Bixby Knolls Christian Church, we are continuing to discern just what our future will look like. For many
of us, our first instinct is to find the safest path to the future. But what if God is calling us to something bigger? What if God is calling us to take a risk, to be bold and daring, and to imagine for ourselves a future thats
even bigger than we could possibly have dreamed?
Perhaps my greatest shortcoming as a pastor and leader of a church: the failure to dream big enough.
Maybe thats our churchs greatest shortcoming. Perhaps if we help each other in this, we can create a vision
for Bixby Knolls Christian Church worthy of the God we serve.
Blessings, Danny
Sunday, Nov. 6
Michael Cole
Lydia Sykes
Earlene Thomas
Ruth Jeglum
narthex table.
Alice Hoffman
Sumbal Sardar
Keri Clark (daughter of M. Lanz)
Grace Kobel
Porter Family, Ruthie Atkin (friends of B. Smith)
Nargis & family in Pakistan (family of Sumbal Sardar)
Keri France (family of A. Hillig)
Venus (friend of A. Hillig)
Chrystal Gay (A. Hilligs sister)
VOTE
www.facebook.com/bixbyknollschurch
website:
www.bixbyknollschurch.blogspot.com
BIXBY KNOLLS
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
(Disciples of Christ)
SUNDAY SCHEDULE:
9:00 a.m. Sunday School for Adults
10:15 a.m. Morning Worship and Childrens Church
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Friday closed
CHURCH STAFF:
BOARD OFFICERS:
Leo Dittemore
Pastor Daniel Bradfield
-Board President
-Minister
Scheri Dubon
Monica Lanz
-Vice President
-Church Secretary
Pat Cohen
Barbara Neal-Peebles
-Secretary
-Music Director/Organist Angela Hillig
Suzie Romero
- Treasurer
- Custodian
Sandy Jeglum
- Financial Secretary
-Church Clerk
Sunday, November 13