Rebound

Back in July I took a retreat - typical for me - every three months to get away for three days and two nights as I am able.  I do this to hear from the Lord, and for the work of the Lord here at Northside, and in more recent months to plan out preaching for the months to come.  We were in a series on the book of Jonah.  I had brought a book with me called 'I Will' by Thom Rainer that we planned to use for a series and life groups emphasis in the fall.  

I arrived at the camp where I would stay.  I began by reading the book I Will and read it through that first day as I recall.  Later I began to map out the weekends for the remainder of the year.  The Lord led me to the book of Philemon and late one evening that became a four week series called 'Grace from Start to Finish' for the end of summer.  I also had a strong burden for a series called Rebound.  I began to make a list of those in scripture who needed a rebound - and quickly had 8-10 possible individuals for those messages.  

I was led to Luke 2 and the verse that described who was in the manger - Mary, Joseph and Jesus.  'Who's That in The Manger?' would become our Christmas series for 2016.  In addition, He put it on my heart to teach the beatitudes from Matthew 5:1-12 to begin 2017 in a series that will be called 'From Broken to Blessed'.  Upon return to Northside, we began to work on final details of scheduling and length of series.  'I Will' would become a seven-week series.  Rebound would be the next to follow.  

As that series came closer I was searching in my heart before the Lord asking the question 'Where do you even begin with this one?'  He said - start with Peter - and so we did.  If you can rebound from denying you even know the Lord, hours after you said you would die for him, you can rebound from anything.  Week one began with a towel on every chair with the word 'Rebound' on it.  We used a basketball theme to launch the series about getting a second chance - but soon discovered it had much stronger impact, with reminders of the grace of God and rebounding from a myriad of situations.  

Week one was rebounding from denial, the story of Peter.  Week two was rebounding from adultery, the story of David.  Week three was rebounding from anger, the story of Moses.  Week four was rebounding from shame, the story of the woman caught in adultery.  Week five was rebounding from the fall, the story of Adam and Eve.  

Each week we've had homework.  Week 1, I challenged the church to read 1 and 2 Peter - two letters toward the end of the New Testament inspired by God that He chose to use Peter to write.  Week 2 was to read and meditate on Psalm 51, written by David after he had sinned.  It's the story of his rebound.  Week 3 we were challenged to live in Ephesians 4 - particularly verse 26-33.  Week 4 we focused on the gospel prayer and the reminder there is nothing we can do to make Him love us more, and nothing we have done to make Him love us less.  Week 5 we have been challenged to read Romans 5 and see the contrast of the fall because of Adam, and the free gift of salvation because of Jesus.  

During the series, I've heard the stories of people who are experiencing rebounds in their lives.  This morning I spoke with a friend out of town who has been listening each week online.  I also think the Lord is causing Northside to Rebound.  After some seasons of drop in attendance (we averaged 899 for the series 'I Will'), we have averaged 1004 for the series Rebound.  

During the 'I Will' series we discussed Thom Rainer's observations about why churches decline.  We admitted that we were in decline - having peaked at 1300 in 2010 after growing from 82 in 1993.  Rainer says that churches decline because people don't 'Go' anymore - or in other words we aren't intentional.  We forget our Jerusalem and the needs right around us and to the ends of the earth.  I believe it was a defining moment - Go - or die.  

Now we head to Christmas and the new year with the reminder that the gospel is the great love of God beyond measure.  For the sake of every soul at Northside now, and for the 92000 who live within 5 miles and the 440,000 who live in this county, we are going to keep the fire burning!!!  Those numbers are important because every number is a person.  

Perhaps you are facing a situation where you need a rebound.  You are in a place where you never expected to be.  Peter denied Jesus.  David slept with another man's wife and murdered her husband.  Moses lost it -  in anger in front of the people of God - and it cost him greatly.  A woman experienced horrific shame and scorn.  Adam and Eve felt the weight of sin for the first time in their lives because of disobedience.  But Peter was restored.  David was forgiven.  Moses experienced a remarkable rebound.  The woman found salvation and freedom instead of condemnation and Adam and Eve experienced the reality that God pursues those who even try to hide from Him, and will send the Messiah as the cure for our sin.  

Wherever you are today, God has a rebound for you.  Run to Him.  Look to Him.  Trust Him.  It's life's greatest rebound!!!