"Three Renovations: Our Heart"
by Tom Goodman
May 30, 2007

My wife can’t get enough of remodeling shows:  Trading Spaces.  Designer’s Challenge.  This Old House.  Hidden Potential.  Surprised by Design.  The list could go on.

I can’t exactly say I share her passion for renovation shows, but I have a passion for renovation.

As I mentioned in last week’s Winning Ways, I believe that when God called me here, he gave me a foreman’s hardhat and put me in charge of renovating three areas: our heart, our program, and our look.  In other words, I believe God put me here to lead Hillcrest to look afresh at our priorities, our activities, and our facilities.

Now, the order of those three “renovations” is important.  If a church makes changes to their activities or facilities without any real attention to their priorities, nothing much happens.  Everything starts with the heart.

And this should be the heart of Hillcrest:  We are to be a congregation where people can find and follow Jesus together.  Some churches are very effective at helping people find Jesus, but they don’t really focus on helping people grow once they’ve come to faith.  Other churches are very effective at helping people follow Jesus, but frankly they’re uncomfortable with the issues and questions that seekers raise.  Our church needs to be where people can come together to meet Jesus and grow in him.

I recently prepared an eight-day devotional guide that will help you understand what it means to be this kind of church.  Pick up the guide at this week’s worship service or download it from our website (click here).  If you’re new to Hillcrest, it will help you “catch up” with what I’ve been saying across the four years I’ve been here.  If you’ve been at Hillcrest a while, the devotional guide will serve as a refresher.

Now, as important as it is to get everyone committed to the same priorities, it’s not the only area to focus on.  To say our hearts are the first thing to renovate does not mean that our hearts are the only thing to renovate.  God called me here to lead Hillcrest to examine not only at our heart, but also our program and our space.

In the next two editions of Winning Ways, we’ll look at the renovation of our program and our space.  It’s an exciting time to be part of Hillcrest!  Pray!  Join!  Bring someone!

—Tom

Interested in Membership?  Spread the word about our next Discover Hillcrest class.  It will be held next Sunday, June 10, right after the morning service.  LUNCH IS PROVIDED!  The class is for those who want to become members, and for those who just want to learn more about Hillcrest.  While I teach the adult class, BJ teaches "Discover Hillcrest Kids" for children ages 8-12, and Jim teaches "Discover Hillcrest Youth" for students in grades 6-12.  Childcare is provided for children under the age of 8.  Pre-registration is encouraged but not required.  You can register by contacting our Ministry Assistant, Jami, at jami@hbcaustin.org.

“Not Your Ordinary” Basketball and Cheerleading Camp!  Starts Monday, June 4, for those who have completed grades 1-5.  Learn more online about the camp.  Learn how you can help by reading BJ’s article.

Links to Your World

Top Ten Religious Moments on 'American Idol'

Ride the Harley hearse to hog heaven.

You've heard of real estate, but what about unreal estate?  Two Honolulu real estate agents are selling property that's expected to rise above sea level in 10,000 years.  Their website here.

A Biblical Theology of the City by Tim Keller.

Rebecca Mead has written on the out-of-control obsession Americans have with the modern wedding ceremony.  Albert Mohler interviewed her on his radio show here.

Do you know someone who's read "The Secret Life of Bees"?  Learn about why a “goddess” figure has become more attractive to some women than the biblical God (here).

Are you a "helicopter parent"?

Music is a very influential medium.  Have you given any thought to how it affects your family dynamics? (here)

Should Christians Surrender the Origins Issue?

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