“Plug In!”
by Tom Goodman
March 2, 2005

This Sunday at 10:45 a.m. we’ll continue our study of the Lord’s Prayer with the one line that brings both comfort and conviction:  “Forgive us as we forgive others.”  This Sunday’s study may turn out to be the most life-changing week of the series for you.

In addition to our study of the Lord’s Prayer, here are some more reasons to plug in to Hillcrest this Sunday, March 6:

“Friends Attend Day” in Bible Study.  Class leaders in the adult and youth departments (9:30 a.m.) have been encouraging people to choose between the good plan, the better plan, and the best plan for a successful March 6 attendance.  Good: be sure to attend.  Better: team up with another member of your class to encourage each other to attend.  Best: between you and the member you’ve partnered with, agree to invite together an inactive member or a prospect.

Relational Bible Study.  In addition to the great ongoing efforts of our current Adult Sunday School classes, I’m excited about the new option in Adult Bible Study starting this week: RiBS!  Of course, “ribs” is an Austin favorite in area BBQ joints, and now you can choose RiBS at Hillcrest, too!  Relational Bible Study is a Hillcrest creation, not an import from another church or publishing house.  Host-led small groups will watch a 20-minute Bible lesson via video and then discuss it.  If you liked the host-groups during our Purpose-Driven Life campaign, you’ll like RiBS.  Have a taste this Sunday at 9:30 in the gym.

New for Kids!  Our children’s ministry will help those in Grades 1-4 “experience God full-blast” in G-Force, a new approach to Kids Bible Study taking over the 9:30 a.m. Sunday School slot.  In addition, our fifth-graders will start a study called “Everything You Need to Know to Be a Teenager.”

Baptism.  We already have several scheduled for baptism in the morning service, so if you want to take this important step, contact me right away!

Sunday Night Messages.  Pass the word that we’ve begun a new study series in the 6:30 p.m. service.  It’s called “Twelve Major Truths from Twelve Minor Prophets.”  The last twelve books of the Old Testament are called the “minor prophets” because of their brevity.  We’ll look at one book a week, exploring one major truth from that prophet.

I’m excited about all these opportunities!  Plug in this Sunday, March 6!

—Tom