“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up…” Isaiah 43:19

Hazel Dell family and friends, Already we are sensing excitement for a “new thing” that God is doing in our church. Momentum is building and we look forward to all that God is going to do through us over the next twelve weeks. In reality, it’s not actually a new thing. God has been at this adventure since the beginning and Jesus brought it all to fruition at the cross. Jesus reminded us of the most important thing that He was up to when He told us in Luke 19:10, “I have come to seek and save what is lost.” Today, we have the opportunity to join Him in what He is up to. What a privilege! In this journal are some nuggets of information as we begin to communicate this great effort of expanding our worship space and parking. Most importantly, devotional thoughts are included for each of our weeks in this “Momentum” campaign. Our sincere hope and prayer is that you will Hear From God in this new thing He is doing here at Hazel Dell and that you will ask Him what He would have you do to make this dream come to reality. “As long as there is one person outside these walls who needs Jesus or needs a new church home, we’re willing to grow by one more.” That has been our motivator for many years. Let’s keep proving it as He builds the momentum. Pastor Mark

A Personal Invitation

Hazel Dell Christian Church desires to help people get to know Jesus and live like Him every day.

Because we are focused on this mission, our church is growing and God continues to add to our fellowship those who are being saved.

We are a church that strives to be effective in Kingdom-building. As long as there’s one person outside these walls who needs Jesus or needs a church home, we want to grow by one more.

“As long as there is one

person outside our walls who doesn’t know

Jesus or needs a church home,

we want to grow by one

more.“

The Woodland Springs Christian Church (as we were previously known) began in 1968. Six families committed themselves to be the launch team for the church. Plans for a Bible School, acquisition of a church property, and church building construction were discussed at bi-weekly gatherings in homes where Bible study and prayer marked the character of the new group of Christians.

In July 1968, the first worship services were held in the Woodland Springs Neighborhood Clubhouse in Carmel, with 39 people in attendance. A charter was obtained in October of that year listing 44 people as charter members. As the congregation grew, services were moved to the Orchard Park Elementary School and, later, to Woodbrook Elementary School. Construction of the first church building, on 116th Street in Carmel, was completed in 1971 and we held our first worship service in May of that year.

Mark Wright accepted the invitation to become our Senior Pastor in 1989. The next year, our congregation came alongside God again in what He was doing and took the steps necessary to build a Family Life Center and to remodel the existing building. The expansion spurred growth in many areas.

In 1998, our church family came to another crossroad in our growth. At that time, God led the church to purchase 26 acres on the newly completed Hazel Dell Parkway. This location was perfect as it sat between the four main cities in Hamilton County. In 1999, the church sold the Woodland Springs Christian Church building to the Chinese Community Church in Indianapolis and moved worship services to Mohawk

Trails Elementary School. We had come full circle meeting once again in a school. Construction on the first phase of our campus master plan began that year and we renamed our church, Hazel Dell Christian Church. Our

first worship services on the new Hazel Dell Christian Church campus were held on Palm Sunday, 2000. Our move and transition to Hazel Dell Christian Church in 2000 perfectly placed us to continue and expand God’s kingdom here in Hamilton County and beyond.

“In the past, each time we’ve reached a

crossroad—such as adding pastoral staff or launching

a new ministry—our congregation has

stepped forward in faith and encouraged these

ministries to go forward.”

Pastor Mark, his wife Sarah, and their children: Courtney, Caleb, and Jordan checking out the grounds at Hazel Dell Parkway.

Groundbreaking ceremony at the new

church.

In 1999, we created a master plan for our new 26-acre property on Hazel Dell Parkway. In 2000, we built the first phase of our new church campus. It included a fellowship area connected to the back of our worship center. We built a temporary wall between those two rooms knowing that there would come a day when God would grow us to the point of needing to tear that wall down and expanding our worship space into the fellowship area. In the years following, we completed the second phase of our master plan which included an adult education wing, café, and youth center. Then we built our third phase, the children’s ministry facility and foyer expansion.

Now, here we are, ready to take the next step into the next phase as God continues to bless us with a growing church. Back in 2000, the church envisioned a day when that back wall would come down...and today is that day!

Moved into our first building here at Hazel Dell Parkway.

Completed the 2nd phase of our Master Plan: Education Center/Youth Center Addition.

Built into our 3rd phase: The Children’s Ministry Facility.

Expanded Worship Area, Parking lots, and Women’s Restroom.

Looking forward to what God will do in and through us as we stay faithful to Him!

We are a church that is committed to doing whatever it takes to see God bring the increase. Over the past couple years, we’ve nearly reached our capacity and our growth is beginning to plateau. We’ve recognized three physical barriers that need to be addressed: • Worship Area Seating • Overcrowded Parking Lots • Women’s Restroom Facility

So here is what we believe God is leading us to do: Expand our Worship Area and add parking lots. These two things are our greatest needs that have to be addressed in order for God to continue to grow our church today and in the future. Along with expanding our worship space and parking, we will also be expanding our women’s restroom facility off the main foyer.

In order for us to step forward in what God is asking us to do, we will all need to join together in seeing His dream for Hazel Dell come true. Let’s commit to doing our best as we open our hearts and minds to hear from God.

Worship Area Seating Expanded Worship Area

Parking

The Bible is replete with accounts of special campaigns initiated by God to expand ministry and outreach.

There are five notable campaigns recorded in the Old Testament. They are:

1. The campaign to build the tabernacle.2. The campaign to conquer and settle Canaan.3. The campaign to build the temple.4. The campaign to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.5. The campaign to rebuild the temple.

In each of these, four distinctive things occurred:

1. An entire nation focused their collective attention upon God in seeking His direction.2. People came together in unity, exercising their spiritual gifts to expand God’s work.3. Personal spiritual renewal was realized in the lives of all those who were involved.4. National spiritual revival followed the outpouring of God’s blessing.

Because we are on a journey together, we must seek His leading as it relates to how He would have us be involved in this effort.

An Invitation:Won’t you join us for a journey of a lifetime?!

“O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray

to no one but you. Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait

expectantly.” Psalm 5:1-3 (NLT)

Start your day with a ‘God-Time’We have committed time in our campaign to ask everyone in our church to make a fresh, new commitment to begin your day with a ‘God Time.’ We are encouraging you to pray, read devotions, reflect on questions, and to journal to record reflections and responses.

As we focus on our faithfulness to God, we ask you begin your day with God to gain clarity and focus. To become attuned to God and sensitive to what He would like you to be sensitive to. It is also our desire that what we are beginning during this campaign might become life-long spiritual disciplines. It is also our prayer that God might use the journey upon which we are about to embark, to bring a new unity of purpose to His calling upon each of us. As this unity of purpose affects the calling for our lives it will also affect the life of this church to which He has called us.

The Hearing from God weekly devotional series presented in this booklet will be used for personal study and growth in combination with the following Momentum sermon series topics:

Momentum for the FutureMomentum through Outreach

Momentum through Ministry / ServingMomentum through Giving

Momentum through DiscipleshipMomentum through WorshipMomentum through Prayer

Momentum through Commitment

faith. Hebrews 11:6 proclaims: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Part of faith requires the adventure of following Him. So much of the Old Testament and New Testament narrative is about trusting God. Abraham went out from Ur, not knowing where He was going but trusting God to lead Him. Moses led the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage, through the wilderness and to the border of the Promised Land. Consider Joshua’s daring to conquer and settle the land. Fast forward to the New Testament. Mary conquered her doubts in order to submit herself to the will of God to bring Jesus Christ into the world. Twelve men were willing to abandon all and walk with Christ. Paul’s missionary journeys are filled with adventure.

For many of us, our human nature urges us to seek the secure, the comfortable, the known, and the plainly obvious.Yet, living by faith is an invitation to trust God, embrace His will, believe He will provide, and have confidence that He guides our steps. Now don’t get me wrong. Living by faith is not recklessness. The phrase “leap of faith” never appears in scripture. But “steps of faith” does. Steps of faith are the result of trusting God as we put one foot in front of the other to follow Him and find solid ground beneath our feet. The words of the classic hymn, Living By Faith, declares, “The Lord I know ruleth everything and all my worry is vain.” Our capital campaign is about much more than finances. It’s about living by faith, trusting in God and experiencing the adventure. I once heard a pastor preach a sermon he entitled, “The Thrill of Going Where You’ve Never Been.” I like that. Don’t miss the adventure in the journey.

Scriptural Passage: Psalm 92:1-15

“For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands”

(NASV).

Our spiritual journey is a journey of

Questions for Reflection: • Talk about a particularly thrilling or meaningful event in

your life.• What kind of emotions, concerns or hesitations did you

have going into it?• How did you face your concerns?• What would you have missed if this event hadn’t been

part of your life?• How did trusting God build your faith?

to introduce the unsaved to Christ. And most of us are scared to death to actually follow through on that. There are a multitude of reasons, from fear of not knowing what to say, being asked a question we don’t have an answer to, being rejected or making someone mad, being inadequate and ill-equipped, etc. However, at the end of the day, those are excuses and none of us is exempt as a follower of Christ.

The issue becomes a practical one. In the above verse, Jesus said we have the responsibility to let the light of our Christian witness shine in such a way that it is attractive. The question, in my mind, becomes, “What is an appropriate amount of light?” On a continuum, at one end light can be glaring and overpowering. Some Christians are like that – so strong in their witness, so demanding for an immediate response, so vocal about eternity that they essentially outshine someone. On the other end is light so dim it is ineffective. Too much light. Too little light. How much is enough?

I think the amount of light is determined by the relationship we have with the person to whom we want to introduce Christ. What if we each began to live our daily lives in such an intentional way that we were building bridges to people with the goal of eventually inviting them to church and introducing them to Christ? What about building a genuine relationship with someone, one step at a time? What about going to the same convenience store and meeting the same register attendant and gradually building a friendship? Same bank teller? Same gas station attendant? Same dry cleaner? You get the idea. Each time you meet, build a little deeper until you have an opportunity to invite them to church and possibly be the one who leads them to Christ?

Scriptural Passage: Matthew 5:16

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your

good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (NASV)

We all know we have a responsibility

A little light is a good starting point, but gradually over time, you shine a little more and a little more until relationship, trust and a connection is built allowing you the privilege of letting the full light of your Christian witness to shine.

Questions for Reflection:

• What routines could I begin to live as outlined above?• Who am I forming a relationship with for the purpose

of Christ?• Do I need to ask Christ to give me a burden for the

unsaved?• What act of service can I offer to God today as

worship?

many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” (NASV)

In the message today, faithfulness and ministry are linked together. As we were reminded, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to us.” As we ponder today’s message, we realize the connection between serving and faithfulness. As we practice serving and grow deeper in our faith, the church and community benefit by our ministry and gifts, and the body of Christ reaches its highest potential.

Romans 12:3 notes, “as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” Faith in Jesus Christ releases faith for living, which is demonstrated in the gifts given to each of us listed in the rest of the Romans passage. It is important to note that while God gives each of us gifts, it is our responsibility to develop them to their fullest potential by exercising them accordingly (Romans 12:6).

Faithfulness, then, is assuming responsibility for ourselves and the gifts God has invested in us, to identify them, develop them and use them for the cause of Christ through the local church. Synonyms of faithfulness in today’s language would include such concepts as responsibility, initiative,

through

Scriptural Passage: Romans 12:3-8

“For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have

development, accountability, personal improvement, and active participation, to name a few. As we practice faithfulness by utilizing and participating in the use of our gifts to the body of Christ, faith grows stronger and stronger. Faith and faithfulness demonstrate our partnership with God. As the saying goes, “Without Him we cannot. Without us, He will not.” Interestingly, in our faith development, it is important to note that anything God asks of us is doable. God doesn’t ask something which is beyond us. No, what He asks is well within the realm of our ability.

In our partnership with God, He always gives us the easy part and He always takes the hard part for Himself. He requires us to pray, read the Bible, give our tithes, attend church regularly, find a place to serve, and grow in maturity. All of which we can do. In response, He takes the hard part, such as answering prayer, working supernaturally, opening doors of opportunity, and demonstrating His power. Faithfulness as described above leads to greater faith, trust and confidence in God.

Questions for Reflection:• What are my top three spiritual gifts and where am I

using them in the church?• In the area of gifting, where do I struggle and do I

know people with those gifts who could be a blessing to me?

• List two or three areas where you believe you are gifted and what steps you are taking to develop your gifts.

2 Corinthians 8 is the longest passage in the New Testament on the topic of giving. Paul is raising money to assist the church at Jerusalem, which is facing adversity and struggles. He urges the Corinthians to be generous and uses the example of the Macedonians, who had already sent relief help to Jerusalem, to inspire them. In verse 2 he tells us that the Macedonians were facing trials and poverty of their own, yet they responded with “abundant joy” and “rich generosity” in spite of their own setbacks.

History tells us the Macedonians were experiencing great difficulty during this time period. The local economy was in a recession because Rome had seized control of mining operations necessary for the local economy. Additionally, a series of earthquakes and rainfall causing floods added to their dilemma. Recession, natural disasters, government intervention. Sound familiar? How easy it would have been for the Macedonians to pass on giving during such times. Yet, they didn’t. They responded enthusiastically, joyfully, generously, and willingly!

The key to this kind of biblically dynamic giving is found in verse 5, “but they first gave themselves to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.” They first gave themselves to the Lord. When God truly has us, all of us, without reservation or hesitation, everything else falls into place, including giving. Once the Macedonians had settled that everything about themselves belonged to God, it was easy to give themselves to the church at Jerusalem, including their financial support, in spite of their own struggles, difficulties, recession, and economic downturn.

through

Scriptural Passage: 2 Corinthians 8:1-38 (NIV)

“But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see

that you also excel in this grace of giving.” (v.7)

In 1 Chronicles 29, King David is preparing the offering which will be used for the construction of the Temple. Included in this chapter is one of the most beautiful and inspiring biblical prayers, “Everything we have has come from You, and we give You only what You first gave us.” (vs. 13 New Living Translation). That’s the healthiest, and most biblical, attitude any of us can hold about our possessions. Everything we have comes from God. And giving back to Him through the local church is simply returning part of what He gave you in the first place.

As the old saying goes, “You don’t see a U-Haul behind a hearse.” In eternity, it will not be what we accumulated but what we invested in that God will reward.

Questions for Reflection:• Have I truly given myself and everything about me to

the Lord?• Do I hold a biblical view about money and

possessions?• In my time with God, what is the Lord saying to me

right now?

is spelled “DONE.” Accepting eternal life begins by simply acknowledging that your need for a Savior is satisfied through Jesus Christ. As Romans 10:9 reminds us, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” That singular act makes you a Christian.

Once a Christian, the process of discipleship begins. Discipleship is, most simply, becoming increasingly Christ-like. Discipleship is what John the Baptist proclaimed in John 3:30, “He (Jesus) must increase, I must decrease.” While John was referring to Christ becoming more prominent in ministry as John decreased, becoming less visible and less important, the statement is equally applicable as an act of discipleship.

As this week’s message points out, Christianity is a commencement into a lifestyle of Christlikeness. We leave behind our life before Christ, which was dominated by sin and selfishness and enter into a life of godliness and holiness empowered by the Holy Spirit of God to aid us in that journey. Chiefly and most importantly, discipleship is not a program, or a series of biblical studies, or a class at church. It is a continuing journey of walking in relationship with God.

At its most fundamental essence, discipleship is walking with God. Walking with God is a journey of faith, a pathway of discovery, a road which involves both moving away from something and moving toward something. In discipleship, we are moving away from the fallen human nature and moving toward spiritual maturity in Christ. We are on a journey of faith based on trusting the Lord and His Word.

Scriptural Passage: John 3:30

“He must increase, I must decrease” (NASV)

It’s been said that what makes Christianity different from religion is religion is spelled “DO” while Christianity

We are on a pathway of discovery about ourselves, our God and our relationship to Him. Discipleship is not a stale, drab, out-dated process. It is an exciting, dynamic journey in learning how to live as Jesus lives through us by His Spirit.

Just as an uncultivated, unkempt relationship sours, so our relationship with Christ stagnates unless we continually press on toward maturity in Him, using the spiritual disciplines, engaging in community with others of like faith, and both deepening and broadening not only our understanding of Christ but also how that understanding affects us at a personal level.

Questions for Reflection:• In what specific areas have I grown and matured as a

disciple of Christ?• What areas do I need to focus on that will make me

more Christ-like?• Is my current walk with God vibrant or stale?• Am I as excited now about Jesus Christ as I was the

day I accepted Him as my Savior? If not, what am I going to do to change it?

For many of us, sacrifice is a negative word. It carries the connotation of duty, obligation, or responsibility coupled with joylessness. Typically, when we think of sacrifice, especially in our service to God, it has almost come to be defined by many as “something I have to do, would rather not do, but if I don’t do it, I’m afraid God won’t be pleased with me.” Thus, too often sacrifice implies joyless compulsion.

However, the Old Testament animal sacrifices had to be perfect, spotless, without blemish, the best of the herd or flock. In Malachi 1, the Lord’s issue with the people is they are offering inferior sacrifices. Consider Malachi 1:8 (New Living Translation), “‘When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” That certainly puts it in perspective. If we were to give someone of high esteem a gift (such as a governor), we must put a great deal of thoughtfulness, care, and value in the gift we bring. God asks the same from us.

Let me suggest three ways we can improve our sacrifice of worship (praise) to God.

First, our worship should be our best. As we worship our God and consider the value He places on us in His willingness to give His life for ours, then in return, He deserves our best. It isn’t a true sacrifice of worship when we are exhausted, preoccupied, distracted or less than our best. It’s a sacrifice when in spite of worries, anxieties, concerns, fears and responsibilities, the song in our heart is a jubilant declaration regarding the person of God. It’s a sacrifice of

Scriptural Passage: Hebrews 13:15-16

“Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God,

that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect

doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (NASV)

worship when we can triumphantly declare, “Though He slay me, yet I will trust in Him” (Job 13:15 New King James).

Second, our worship should come from thanksgiving and gratitude, the issues of the heart. During those times when worship is more difficult, start by counting your blessings. As you consider all the goodness and faithfulness of God in your life through the years and express gratitude to Him, your heart warms up in a hurry.

Third, worship should be expressed by serving others. In the above passage, scripture calls “doing good” to and for others a “sacrifice which pleases God.” Acts 10:38 tells us Jesus went about doing good. Having a place of service is vital in our worship of God.

Questions for Reflection:• How has today’s devotion impacted my understanding

of a “sacrifice of praise”?• What do I need to do to improve the quality of my

sacrifice to God?• What act of service can I offer to God today as

worship?

The line from the old hymn, What A Friend We Have in Jesus, describes our “privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.” One of the great joys and opportunities we have is the invitation to dialogue with God. Yet, how easy it is to procrastinate and miss the chance to spend quality time with Him. S. D. Gordon said, “You can do more than pray after you’ve prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.”Our prayer life will become more effective when we acknowledge any personal limitations that prevent us from accomplishing what God has placed in our hearts, whether talent, resources, wisdom, creativity, influence, intelligence, or favor. However, our limitations don’t affect Jesus. He told His disciples, “With Me, nothing is impossible.” So we surrender everything to Him, choosing to depend wholly on our limitless God to accomplish what He has planned. Interestingly enough, Colossians 4:12 tells us that Epaphras was an effective follower of Christ because he was “always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers.” The phrase “laboring earnestly” is the Greek phrase which gives us the English word, “agonizing.” Epaphras was one who agonized with God in prayer. Is it possible that the reason many people spend too much time and energy upset about life is because they have spent too little time agonizing with God in prayer? The same hymn quoted earlier notes, “Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh, what needless grief we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.” Life becomes much easier when we spend time talking with God. Here are just a few of prayer’s benefits:- Strength to keep going- Peace in our hearts- Answers for facing life’s problems

Scriptural Passage: Colossians 4:12

“Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly

for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all

the will of God.” (NASV)

- Wisdom to know what to do- Resources to accomplish God’s will- God’s nearness to keep us company- When you spend time in prayer with God, you can know with assurance, “I talked to God today….and it made a huge difference.”

Questions for Reflection:• What personal obstacles prevent me from praying?• What are some of my answers to prayer?• What other benefits can be gained in prayer?• What is God saying to me at this moment?

What a great journey we have had over these last weeks of discovering the faithfulness of God. All of it culminates in our coming together as a congregation to individually make our financial goal and to collectively see what God has done among us.

This final devotional of Momentum is about the importance of attitude as it relates to serving God. In the above passage, Isaiah tells us that God is looking for us to be willing and obedient. Obedience is the action. Willingness is the attitude. God looks at both. 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us that, “the Lord looks at the heart.” It is possible to walk in obedience with the wrong attitude and still miss the blessings of God upon our lives.

If you tell your teenager to clean her room and she does it while displaying a poor attitude, grumbling about it, dragging their feet, doing it half-heartedly, being disrespectful in her response to you as a parent, she may have obeyed but she still hasn’t pleased you because of her poor attitude. That principle applies at work, in marriage, in relationships and across the board in all of life.

Everything God requests from us in His word is doable. We are capable of responding with obedience to all of God’s written instructions for life as a Christian. Equally true is the fact that all of God’s written directions for us are for our good. God is not out to deprive, prevent, restrict or keep us from a joyful life. Rather, it is His will that we “have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10, New International Version).

Some folks act like serving God is being sentenced to

Scriptural Passage: Isaiah 1:19-20

“‘If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.’ For the

mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (NIV)

dull obligation and joyless drudgery. As a result, their attitude is “I have to…attend church, pay tithes, serve in a ministry, etc.” in order to please God. However, the Christian life is not belaboring what we “have to do” but rather delighting in what we “get to do.” I get to go to church, give offerings, and use my gifts and talents. The difference between “I have to…” and “I get to…” is a game changer. It’s an attitude adjustment. Having an “I get to….” approach to life results in joy in our personal walk with the Lord as well as in having Him pleased with us because both actions and attitudes have aligned to honor Him.

Questions for Reflection:• In what areas of Christian service do I have a tendency

to have a wrong attitude?• Can you see how attitude is as important to God as

action?• What kind of attitude characteristics please God?