Ministry Spotlight: YoungLives

Greater Clackamas YoungLives is a local ministry serving pregnant and parenting teen moms, and we have the joy of inviting them into a supportive community and sharing the love of Jesus!

Pastor Jeff sat down with Jenny B. and Elisha C. to talk more in-depth about this vital ministry in Clackamas county.

Listen to this ministry spotlight:

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Renew Oneness in Marriage

Sharing this special marriage event video and audio with you. As a husband and wife team, Kari and I ventured down to Corvallis to speak at the planned Thrive Marriage night hosted by Calvary Corvallis. Months ago when this was originally planned we imagined sharing dinner with a large gathering of people, and instead it was a livestream shared in the presence of very few. This also made it possible for many beyond that place, you included, to join along. Here’s the livestream video of the whole evening, our talk just under an hour with questions and responses included.

Continue reading “Renew Oneness in Marriage”

Renew Women’s Getaway 2020

Signups are open for the Renew Women’s Beach getaway (March 13-15, 2020)

register now

Questions? Email hello@Godrenews

Mark 12:28-34:

The Great Commandment

28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.


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The Second Mile – session three (Renew Women’s getaway)

At the Renew Women’s Beach getaway (May 17-19) Kari Patterson taught three sessions on The Second Mile, following Jesus into freedom when life is unfair.

(Session one here; session two here, session three audio below.)

The Second Mile: The surprising path to superabundant joy

Matthew 5:38-48:

Retaliation

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Love Your Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Listen or download:

Session 3: ONE MILE DEMANDED.

Response: _____________________.

Dealing with our heart’s protest, “________________!”

Essence of this wrong: _________________________________

1 Peter 4:19: “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

    1. Know that ___________________ isn’t the will of God but our _____________________ with it can be.
    1. Entrust your __________________________.
  1. Do ________________.

“But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” —1 Peter 2:20-24

Quotes:

“If you are compelled to go one mile, of your own free will go two, and so defeat the malice of the necessity by voluntarily going it one better… it is found true at even a cursory glance that the sting of compulsion is gone when a man is twice as willing to act as necessity is to make him. When a man must go one mile, the only spirit that can save his soul from bitterness is the willingness to go two.”

“Christianity begins when the sense of privilege in service becomes greater than both rights and duties. For us to be Christian is to be more willing to serve a man than he is to demand it; to go the second mile, to forgive seventy times seven; to pray on our Calvaries for the men who put us there.”

“The penurious moralist stingily expending himself no farther than the law requires, is a pitifully sad fellow, who has never learned that it is hard work serving as a drafted man in a battle you would like to avoid, but it is glorious business fighting as a volunteer for a cause you love.”

“Some men of their duties say, “I must.” Some say, “I ought.” Some say, “I want to, let me at it!” One man is the slave of necessity, the one is a grim moralist doing his duty, the other has an abounding sense of privilege in life, who feels all the blessings large with God’s favor, all trials meaningful with purpose, all duty a glorious prerogative.”

“Only as the voluntary overspreads and saturates the necessary can life cease to be slavery and come to its full meaning of dignity and value.”

—Harry Emerson Fosdick, The Second Mile

“Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.

“When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” —1 Peter 2:23

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. —Isaiah 53:7

I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. —Isaiah 50:6

Third session in The Second Mile
Date: 5/19/19 morning


Audio for this teaching may be played above, and is included in the RENEW Church podcastsubscribe in iTunes here, or Google Play podcasts here, now on Spotify podcasts here, or access the church podcast feed directly here.


(Subscribe below for all new blog posts via email.)

The Second Mile – session two (Renew Women’s getaway)

At the Renew Women’s Beach getaway (May 17-19) Kari Patterson taught three sessions on The Second Mile, following Jesus into freedom when life is unfair.

(Session one here; session two audio below here, session three here.)

The Second Mile: The surprising path to superabundant joy

Matthew 5:38-48:

Retaliation

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Love Your Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Listen or download:

Session 2: ONE ITEM TAKEN.

Response: _____________________.

Dealing with our heart’s protest, “________________!”

Essence of this wrong: _________________________________

3 Reasons why this is hard:

1. You actually _________________________________

2. “It’s the _____________________ of it.” 

4 Levels, as our love grows:

      • V____________________
      • R____________________
      • C____________________
      • L____________________

3. “But is it__________________ good for them?”

      • Settle it, in advance, that you’re _______________________________.
      • Check your _______________.
    • When possible, get _____________________.

“When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” —1 Peter 2:23

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. —Isaiah 53:7

I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. —Isaiah 50:6

Second session in The Second Mile
Date: 5/18/19 evening


Audio for this teaching may be played above, and is included in the RENEW Church podcastsubscribe in iTunes here, or Google Play podcasts here, now on Spotify podcasts here, or access the church podcast feed directly here.


(Subscribe below for all new blog posts via email.)

The Second Mile – session one (Renew Women’s getaway)

At the Renew Women’s Beach getaway (May 17-19) Kari Patterson taught three sessions on The Second Mile, following Jesus into freedom when life is unfair.

(Session one audio below; session two here, session three here.)

The Second Mile: The surprising path to superabundant joy

Matthew 5:38-48:

Retaliation

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Love Your Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Listen or download:

Session 1: ONE SLAP GIVEN.

Response: _____________________.

Dealing with our heart’s protest, “________________!”

Why this matters:

  1. So we are _______________________.
  2. So we are a ______________________.
  3. So we can be ____________________.
  4. So we can know __________________.

Essence of this wrong: ______________________________

How do we live this out?

  1. ___________________
  2. Do them _________________.
  3. Pray for their _________________.
  4. ____________________

If you are in Christ, you are not _____________________.

“When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” —1 Peter 2:23

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. —Isaiah 53:7

I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. —Isaiah 50:6

First session in The Second Mile
Date: 5/18/19 morning


Audio for this teaching may be played above, and is included in the RENEW Church podcastsubscribe in iTunes here, or Google Play podcasts here, now on Spotify podcasts here, or access the church podcast feed directly here.


(Subscribe below for all new blog posts via email.)

Getting Satisfaction: Sexual Wholeness in An Age Thirsty for Integrity (Proverbs 5, 7, 9)

God our Father speaks into every (EVERY!) area of our lives, including our sexuality.

He comes alongside the sexually illiterate and helps us understand the opportunities and dangers long before we need to make a decision. This is “the talk” we all need, on the good path to wholeness and sexual satisfaction. 

Message title » Getting Satisfaction: Sexual Wholeness in An Age Thirsty for Integrity
8th week along The Good Path (Summer Wisdom series)
Scriptures: Proverbs 5, 7, 9, & 6:20-35
Preacher: Jeff Patterson
Date: 8/12/18

Listen to audio:

New City Catechism, question 6:

How can we glorify God?

We glorify God by enjoying him, loving him, trusting him, and by obeying his will, commands, and law.

Notes:

Proverbs 5 is written as a conversation of a father instructing his son, helping him envision life well before he gets into moments of decision.

What I find is that few men have had this type of talk with their Dad, well before they need to rely upon this wisdom, and thus they get caught “out in the street,” caught unawares.

It’s a father taking his sexually-illiterate son on a walk, have a real conversation about wisdom versus folly, life over and against destruction:

  1. It’s time we had a talk.
  2. Here is what I want you to know.
  3. Now you have a decision to make.

God our Father speaks into every (EVERY!) area of our lives, including our sexuality. And this Proverb (5) contrast the two ways we can deploy our sexuality:

  • Either in 1) folly and destruction or 2) in wisdom and satisfaction. Let us consider a key concept at the outset. Are you convinced that the good news of Jesus speaks words of life into your sexuality? Into your mind, body, soul and spirit?

Jesus calls us into both form and freedom, both structure and liberation. (There is no such thing as ‘free sex.’)

  • Conservative people love form and restraint and control, especially in sex, or at least to talk about that publicly.
  • Progressive people love freedom and openness and choices, especially in sex. (Don’t tell me what to do with MY body!)

We cannot pretend! If we don’t have the TALKS (note the ‘s’ for there are many conversations to have), someone else is already having them.

Quote:

“Do not suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused. Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we then prohibit and abolish women? The sun, the moon, and the stars have been worshiped. Shall we then pluck them out of the sky?” —Martin Luther

Proverbs 5:1-23:

Warning Against Adultery

My son, be attentive to my wisdom;
incline your ear to my understanding,
that you may keep discretion,
and your lips may guard knowledge.
For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil,
but in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death;
her steps follow the path to Sheol;
she does not ponder the path of life;
her ways wander, and she does not know it.

And now, O sons, listen to me,
and do not depart from the words of my mouth.
Keep your way far from her,
and do not go near the door of her house,
lest you give your honor to others
and your years to the merciless,
10 lest strangers take their fill of your strength,
and your labors go to the house of a foreigner,
11 and at the end of your life you groan,
when your flesh and body are consumed,
12 and you say, “How I hated discipline,
and my heart despised reproof!
13 I did not listen to the voice of my teachers
or incline my ear to my instructors.
14 I am at the brink of utter ruin
in the assembled congregation.”

15 Drink water from your own cistern,
flowing water from your own well.
16 Should your springs be scattered abroad,
streams of water in the streets?
17 Let them be for yourself alone,
and not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed,
and rejoice in the wife of your youth,
19 a lovely deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight;
be intoxicated always in her love.
20 Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman
and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?
21 For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord,
and he ponders all his paths.
22 The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him,
and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.
23 He dies for lack of discipline,
and because of his great folly he is led astray.

Proverbs 6:20-35:

Warnings Against Adultery

20 My son, keep your father’s commandment,
    and forsake not your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them on your heart always;
    tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will lead you;
    when you lie down, they will watch over you;
    and when you awake, they will talk with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
    and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
24 to preserve you from the evil woman,
    from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart,
    and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes;
26 for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread,
    but a married woman hunts down a precious life.
27 Can a man carry fire next to his chest
    and his clothes not be burned?
28 Or can one walk on hot coals
    and his feet not be scorched?
29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;
    none who touches her will go unpunished.
30 People do not despise a thief if he steals
    to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry,
31 but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold;
    he will give all the goods of his house.
32 He who commits adultery lacks sense;
    he who does it destroys himself.
33 He will get wounds and dishonor,
    and his disgrace will not be wiped away.
34 For jealousy makes a man furious,
    and he will not spare when he takes revenge.
35 He will accept no compensation;
    he will refuse though you multiply gifts.


Audio for this teaching may be played above, and is included in the RENEW Church podcastsubscribe in iTunes here, or Google Play podcasts here, or access the church podcast feed directly here. (Subscribe below for all new blog posts via email.)

Renew Women’s Getaway (May 4th-6th, 2018)

We are so excited to invite you to the Renew Women’s Getaway, Friday evening through Sunday morning (May 4th-6th, 2018) in Lincoln City. Most meals are provided, and your main cost is lodging. We’ll be staying at the Castle at Road’s End (see photos below), a spacious 3,500 SF home with six bedrooms, a spa, sauna and open floor plan. Sign-up!

On a mobile device? Use this form here.

Registration is only $75 a person, and please let us know if you need assistance. We’re happy to accommodate and want to remove any obstacles to you be there! 

Renew will provide Saturday brunch, Saturday dinner, and Sunday breakfast.
Dinner Friday night (before we arrive) and lunch Sunday afternoon (after we leave) are on our own.

Also please feel free to bring any snacks you’d like to share!

Questions?

Email hello@Godrenews.us and we’ll answer your questions.
Womens Disciplemaking

Renew Women’s Getaway (June 3rd–5th)

We are so excited to invite you to the Renew Women’s Getaway, Friday evening through Sunday morning (June 3rd–5th) in Lincoln City. Most meals are provided, and your main cost is lodging. Select your sleeping accommodations and the associated cost below (various based on privacy and comfort). We’ll be staying at the Castle at Road’s End (see photos below), a spacious 3,500 SF home with six bedrooms, a spa, sauna and open floor plan. Sign-up!

Renew will provide Saturday brunch, Saturday dinner, and Sunday breakfast.
Dinner Friday night (before we arrive) and lunch Sunday afternoon (after we leave) are on our own.
Also please feel free to bring any snacks you’d like to share!

Questions?

Email hello@Godrenews.us and we’ll answer your questions.
Womens Disciplemaking

Pause: Loving God 1st in 2015 (Bible reading as a way of life)

We pause to listen in as Kari Patterson shares about the rhythm of seeking Jesus first each day through reading the Bible and prayer.

Listen or download:

Date: 1/4/15

Love God 1st


Audio for this message may be played above, and is included in the RENEW Church podcastsubscribe in iTunes here, or access the church podcast feed directly here.