April 4th is Easter!

Bring your family and friends for this special celebration. Join us Easter Sunday at 6:00 pm.

Also coming soon...
Team Xtreme will be at The Avenue on Friday, April 16 at 7:00 pm.
This will be a great time for the whole family. The event is FREE!
Check them out online at www.teamxtremeintl.com.

I am the way...

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."
John 14:6

Is this good news or bad? Of course we know what we are supposed to think. It's good news. Unfortunately, I don't know if our hearts always agree with our heads on this point. We rejoice in our own salvation, yet secretly lament over the exclusivity of heaven. The consequence? Silence. Even if we understand why Jesus is the only way, we've been told so many times it's "intolerant" to think that way that it actually keeps us from speaking up because defending the truth actually makes us feel bad.

Anyone relate to this?

I think the answer is a little more complicated than, "Be bold." I think we need to challenge our perspective and admit it has been tainted by the world. The first step? Perhaps we should consider the context of the original passage. Jesus didn't make this statement to explain who gets left out. He made this statement as a promise of how to get in.

What do you think? How can we change our attitude towards evangelism (sharing the good news of Jesus)?

I am the Light of the World

I mentioned this on Sunday but we didn't read it. John continues the theme of light and dark in his first letter.

"This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."

That was 1 John 1:5-7. There are a few things about this passage that are awesome. It is a warning certainly. We do not have the liberty to walk how we want as followers of Jesus. If he is light, then we must also walk in the light. John is talking about the pattern of our life, not perfection.

The other cool thing this passage brings up is community. Walking in the light means "we have fellowship with one another." For those looking to experience the light of life to the fullest, may I suggest you try doing it in community? If you claim to follow Christ, you are called to fellowship. If you aren't in a fellowship now, find one. There are many great churches in our community. If you are fearful about being welcomed, visit us. I promise you, you are welcome.

Upcoming at The Avenue

Sunday, January 24 - Baptism Celebration
Also, hear about Impact World Tour, an event ministry targeted at teens coming to Greater Cincy in 2010. Learn more about IWT here.

Next Teaching Series
"Jesus: In His Own Words"
Seven times in the book of John, Jesus starts a sentence with, "I am..." We will look at these seven statements, examining how they should shape our understanding of His life and ministry.
Begins January 31 and goes...you guessed it...seven weeks.
First up, "I am the Bread of Life" John 6:35

Life on the Road
The Christian life is a journey, not a destination. Learn more about it at "Life on the Road," an introductory look at Christianity.
This six week study begins Feb. 7 at 4:00 pm.

So what's the difference? Look and see...

Going Bananas

I love Sonic. Their commercials are pretty funny too. Take a look at this parody...



Why are we here? Are we the center of our own universe, or players in a larger picture? If God is indeed our Creator, then I think it is worth considering why He created us. I don't believe everything I see exists for me (although sometimes I act like it does). I believe the Bible when it insists that the world was created by God and for His purpose. This means I can only find my life's fullest meaning when I find my part in God's plan. That's the journey I'm on now. The cool thing is that God wants me to play my part. In fact, He makes it possible.

Where will I be in 24 hours? (watch the video) Hopefully where God wants me. Will I be there? Now that's the real question.

What about you? Does all this talk about purpose have you going bananas?

Welcome!

Welcome to The Avenue blog! In addition to our website, this is the place to visit for news and notes about the ministry of The Avenue Community Church in Covington, KY. While some blogs are primarily about sharing information, our desire is for this site to be used as a hub for conversation about the Bible, the church, and life in general.

Since The Avenue is so new, perhaps the best conversation we can have at this point is discussing our church and what makes it unique. If you are already a part of The Avenue, what do you love about what we do (or hope to do, see our vision)? If you are not familiar with us, what are some of the needs in the community that you wish someone would notice? What about the needs of your family? How can we help you?

Final note: Our first public service will be Sunday night, December 27th at 6:00 pm. Consider yourself invited! We are relaxed and informal. We sing. We pray. We teach the Bible. We keep it simple. Stop by and see us! For more details, please visit our website, www.theavenuecc.org.