Hillcrest Church Office
July 3, 2003

LeaderLines is a weekly “e-briefing” providing valuable information and inspiration to those who serve at Hillcrest Baptist Church.

Do you know friends who would appreciate LeaderLines? Just forward this e-mail to them!  Have you subscribed to LeaderLines?  You can subscribe by logging on to Click here and following the instructions.  Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail.

Here is this week’s LeaderLines. . . .

“The God-Oriented Life”
by Tom Goodman

At Hillcrest, how are we doing in the work of helping people orient their lives to God?

Do people walk out of our Bible study classes and worship services...

     Stirred by the greatness of God?

          Moved by the grace of God?

               Expectant for the activity of God?

Are children and teens more likely to take their concerns to God in prayer after spending time around you?  Are young and median adults discovering the biblical secrets of tithing that most senior saints have known all their lives?  Are we learning to trust God in our anxious times?

I’m not just speaking about the work of evangelism.  The commitment to live a “God-oriented life” isn’t a one-time event but a life-long process.  As a Hillcrest leader, how are you helping people progress in this process?

Helping people live the God-oriented life is part of helping people ascend the H.I.L.L.  You were introduced to this acrostic in last week’s LeaderLines.  At Hillcrest, everything we do is aimed at helping people reach four objectives:

     H – Honor the Lord of Life
     I – Invite Your World to Life
     L – Love the Fellowship for Life
     L – Live the Word in Life

That’s our H.I.L.L. to crest!  Hillcrest is more than our name – it’s a destination!

Now, in practical terms, what does someone look like who “Honors the Lord of Life”?  We honor God through worship, stewardship, prayer, and faithful living.

First, we honor God through worship.  Many of you help make worship a special activity for people each Sunday.

Second, we honor God through stewardship.  Too many people see their giving as a way to help the church pay the bills.  Instead, our giving is a vivid act of worship.  In Proverbs 3:9-10 (NIV), the wise man said, “Honor the Lord with your wealth,” and then he added this promise: “Then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”

Third, we honor God through prayer.  Those who live a God-oriented life are those who think of prayer as a “first response” and not a “last resort” in dealing with concerns.

Fourth, we honor God through faithful living.  The Bible says, “Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering” (Romans 12:1, The Message).  An offering is something you give in worship, and this verse says our very lives are to be offerings to God.

Thank you for the part you play at helping people “Honor the Lord of Life.”  It’s one way we help people crest the H.I.L.L.  Take a moment to examine how you’re doing at helping people live a God-oriented life, and then re-commit yourself to pouring your passion and energy into that great work!

Higher,
Tom

P.S.  Help me get the word out regarding LeaderLines.  If you are the chairman of a committee or the director of a program, go ahead and forward the next few editions of LeaderLines to your own team and invite them to subscribe, too.  Also, LeaderLines is not private – ANYONE can receive it!  So make free use of your e-mail program’s “forward” button if you think of someone who needs a particular edition of LeaderLines.