Today I have a couple of announcements to share as well as news on Pastor Benji’s book! The release is finally here and copies are en route to newhope Campuses this very moment! I want to share a review from General Superintendent of the Wesleyan Church Dr. JoAnne Lyon on Preaching to Connect Truth to Life.

“More than a “How to” book, this is a WHY book! Preaching to Connect Truth to Life is a one of a kind, brief and compelling journey through church history, that speaks to the styles and impact of preaching in light of the current debate of Expositional, Topical  and Narrative.  Benji articulately blends them all together, adding the dimension of contexualization, with current examples of life transforming results! The prophet Amos describes our current age as, ‘Not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the Words of the Lord.’ This book offers a powerful answer to that famine!”

Wow! Defintiely worth a read for anyone with a voice in the Church or anyone desiring to share the Gospel in relevant ways! So, check out some announcements below and I hope to see you this Sunday at newhope!

YOU’RE INVITED!

This Sunday, May the 20th, at newhope‘s Central Campus at 3:30 pm, Pastor Benji will be signing copies of Preaching to Connect Truth to Life! This will be part of the Party on the Patio Baptism Celebration and Potluck Party on the Grounds. newhope will be sending the Kelley family off for their well-deserved sabbatical this summer, so be sure to get your opportunity to wish them well and get your goodbye hugs! But don’t worry, they’ll be back with us in September!

Join us for an afternoon of good food, fellowship games and best of all, believer baptisms! We kick things off at 3:30 pm with the book signing, dinner is served at 4:00 pm and registration for baptism begins at 4:45 pm! If you would like more info on getting baptized this week, email office@newhopenc.org!

GET YOUR COPY!

You can order from Wesleyan Publishing House here or stop by any newhope Campus Resource Center beginning this weekend to get your copy!

POWERFUL service in the Garden of Gethsemane. Ultimate question about His will & now the will of our lives. #sorrow

St. Anne Church in Jerusalem. She was the mother of Mary. #sundayworship

My good friend, Mishi (Our guide) and I at the pool of Bethesda. #john5
I want to thank @JohnCMaxwell for the connection to Mishi, the best tour guide I have ever experienced in the Holy Land!

Original stone road from Herod’s time, Via Dolorosa. We are quite certain Jesus walked on these stones on His way to the cross!

St. Peter Church, on top of the place where Peter denied Christ 3 times.

Possibly the cave/cell 60 feet beneath a church, where Jesus spent the night before the trial before Pilate/Ciaphas.

The synagogue in Capernaeum, Jesus’ post for most of his ministry!

The cave where the ancient Qumran scrolls were discovered in 1947. #extracanonical

Historic battle site of Masada, the place of King Herod & Jews against Rome.

 Closet thing resembling jar that antiquity teaches Jesus used to change water to wine.

King Herod’s palaces on the north side of Masada. The dude loved the good life.

Today we swim/float in the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the planet #floatinginsalt

  With my bride of 17 years, on the Jesus Boat, on the Sea of Galilee.

 In Caesarea Philippi, where Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ, son of the living God! (Matthew 16)

  Here is my lunch, caught and soon to be cooked by Joseph! This dude is crazy!  :)

Lunch has arrived! Meet the St. Peter Fish, straight from the Sea of Galilee! Get you some of that!

  One of the most beautiful spots in the Holy Land – the place of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Sacred!

 The best archaeological dig/rendition of a boat from Jesus’ day. They found this at the bottom of the Sea of Galilee.

Check out  Dr. Warren Bird’s review:

“This is a must-read book because its author is a must-hear communicator. His preaching style is one reason why thousands have come to the church he leads. Preaching to Connect Truth to Life shows the different elements he’s drawn from the three major approaches to preaching, and how readers can follow a similar path and likewise improve their own particular style.”

Dr. Bird has co-authored 24 books including Better Together: Making Healthy Church Mergers Work.

Be sure to connect on facebook for info on release information! Like the book here.

Archaeological dig at Megiddo, a.k.a. Armageddon, the final battle place between good and evil!

Hey newhope nation, look what we found in Israel? newhope magnet!

Our hotel balcony view, overlooking the Sea of Galilee for the next 3 days! What an awesome site!

King Herod’s Palace on the Mediterranean Sea

An Archaeological dig at Joppa, the port city where Jonah fled from God’s call.

The port of Joppa where Jonah set sail (Jonah 1), with our first hotel in the backdrop.

An evening swim in the Mediterranean Sea– a first for Amy Lynn!

Check out the trailer!

In this series, Pastor Benji and others lead our church through this power-packed book of the Bible and help us discover our new identity in Christ individually, but also as a community of faith. There is nothing quite like pure biblical teaching and Ephesians is as anointed and relevant today, as it was 2,000 years ago when Paul addressed the church in Ephesus.