mckaycaston.com - living all of life in light of the gospel
Tags



September 2, 2010
 

Are You Ready to DiG? Register now — Groups begin next week!

Are You Ready to DiG into the Gospel?
Register online here.

DiG is a twice-monthly gathering in a small group context that stands for "Discipled in Grace."  These in-depth study groups will meet from Sept.-May, with a break in December. Due to the nature and purpose of these groups, attendance is expected for those who register (except for unique, providentially hindering circumstances). 

The Men's DiG Group, led by Lead Pastor McKay Caston, typically will meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 8:00-9:30 p.m. at the church office. However, this month we are beginning on Sept. 8th (which actually is the 2nd Wednesday- but who is really paying attention?). 

The Women's DiG Group, led by Kristy Caston, typically will meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month from 8:00-9:30 p.m. at the church office.

 

Filed under  //   creekstone   dig   discipleship   grace  

Comments [0]

September 1, 2010
 

A Call to Radical Discipleship — Are You In?

via theresurgence.com

This video, by church planter Darrin Patrick, is a call for men to grow up and be men—to live out the radical implications of the gospel in all phases of life... at home and in the community. It is a challenge for us to establish a movement of grace empowered lives in our area that will impact generations for the glory of God. Are you with me?

One way to get on board is to join Creekstone's DiG Group for men. DiG stands for Discipled in Grace, and will meet on alternate Wednesday nights of each month beginning next week, Sept. 8, from 8:00 p.m.–9:30 p.m.

If you are ready, man-up and register here.

There will also be a women's DiG Group meeting at the same time on the other Wednesday nights of each month beginning Sept. 15. Ladies, you may register on the same form on the same link, just click here.

Filed under  //   creekstone   discipleship  

Comments [3]

August 31, 2010
 

The Meaning of Faith

Yesterday, during the twice monthly phone discipleship meeting that Kristy and I have with our mentor, we discussed the meaning of faith.  When we boiled it down, we discovered that faith essentially is a mechanism that receives—a conduit, or feeding tube, of sorts through which the riches of God's grace in the gospel flow to us who believe. Faith is a posture of helplessness and need. It is a confidence that what God promises in the Gospel is true for me. I am forgiven and have no need to make up for my sins. I am declared righteous and have no need to impress anyone. I am a beloved son and have a sovereign, wise, and good Father who loves me dearly and is devoted to my good. I possess the indwelling Holy Spirit, who enables me to do what I could never do in the flesh- things like confess my sins freely and quickly, forgive others gladly and fully, tell the truth when it costs me, listen to someone's pain and really care. The experience of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control... Stuff like that.

So to live by faith is to live by receiving grace upon grace, day by day, moment by moment. Grace that secures us forever and empowers us today. And I think it helps to be reminded that there is an endless supply to the riches of grace... therefore we should never receive sparingly!  

Isaiah 55:1 is the LORD's invitation to feast on the promises of grace in the gospel as if we've been though a famine. He says, "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." AND, PLEASE, WHEN YOU EAT and DRINK, DON'T JUST SIP and NIBBLE. God is the host of the banquet, and bids us to glorify His name as the Great Giver as we feast and believe. 

Filed under  //   faith   feast   isaiah  

Comments [0]

August 30, 2010
 

Deeply Rooted • Eph. 3:14-21 (Audio sermon and handout)

(download)

Comments [0]

August 30, 2010
 

Super Hero Church Planting

via xtranormal.com

Funny video produced by some of my Creekstone comrades. Yes, much of this involves inside jokes. And yes, I love working with these guys!

Filed under  //   creekstone   humor   video  

Comments [0]

August 29, 2010
 

The Creekstone Membership Process

For information on Creekstone's membership process, go to our website, or just click on this link to go directly to the membership page.

Filed under  //   creekstone   membership  

Comments [0]

August 28, 2010
 

When the Gospel Goes Viral

We've all seen YouTube videos that have gone viral. They get forwarded and forwarded and forwarded, until literally millions of people have seen the video. We are praying that the gospel goes viral in Dahlonega and Lumpkin County. One way that will happen is when people who have been deeply affected by the gospel begin forwarding invitations for others to experience the counterintuitive, yet transformative message of God's grace in Jesus. 

So, if you are a Creekstone regular, or have attended a Sunday gathering just once, but plan to return, would you take a mintue today to send an invitation to someone else to join you tomorrow?  Tell them you'll meet them out front and sit with them.  I'll try to be out front, too, and would love to meet your friends. 

Encountering the grace-centerdness of Creekstone's music, and what I think will be a distinctively helpful message for many, just might be a combination that the Spirit uses to help fulfill our mission, which is "to glorify God by helping people come alive to the wonder of the gospel." 

If the life-giving disease of grace is beginning to affect you, help us make it go viral. Forward it to a friend today. 

Creekstone meets Sundays at 10:30 a.m. at the Lumpkin County High School Performing Arts Center. Click here for a map. 

Click here to visit Creektone's website.

Click here to join Creekstone's Facebook page.

Filed under  //   creekstone   evangelism   gospel   mission  

Comments [0]

August 27, 2010
 

K-Group Update (4 groups instead of 3)

After further reflection, we think that there are actually four demographic groups at Creekstone through which we want to do community and mission. Due to our growing numbers, we thought it might be a good idea to create four K-Groups, rather than three. Here is what we are thinking.
  • The Veritas K-Group – Young adults and marrieds w/out kids  
  • The Agape K-Group– Folks with pre-school-age children
  • The Sola Gratia (grah'-tea-uh) K-Group– Folks with school age children
  • The Fides (fee’-days) K-Group – The wild and free empty nesters!
These groups do have overlap. Do you have a 3 year old and a 13 year old? You can participate in either the Agape Group or the Sola Gratia Group, or both. Does that make sense? 

Anyway, we'll explain more as we go along—especially on Sunday morning. We expect these groups to be launching in September. Yes, these are exciting days!

Filed under  //   community   creekstone   fellowship   k groups  

Comments [0]

August 27, 2010
 

Youth Discipleship Handout This Week

(download)

Thanks to Dr. Johnny Long for the Three Foundations graphic.

Filed under  //   creekstone   matthew   youth   youth discipleship  

Comments [2]

August 26, 2010
 

Introducing Creekstone's K-Groups

Creekstone has identified four informal demographic groups through which we plan to facilitate community and mission as we grow in grace together. We call them Koinonia (which is Greek for fellowship), or K-Groups.
  • The Veritas K-Group – Young adults and marrieds w/out kids  
  • The Agape K-Group– Folks with pre-school-age children
  • The Sola Gratia (grah'-tea-uh) K-Group– Folks with school age children
  • The Fides (fee’-days) K-Group – The wild and free empty nesters!
These groups do have overlap. Do you have a 3 year old and a 13 year old? You can participate in both the Agape Group and/or the Sola Gratia Group. Does that make sense? 

Next time, we'll introduce and explain Creekstone's "DiG Groups" (DiG stands for Discipled in Grace). Get ready to dig!

Filed under  //   community   creekstone   fellowship   k groups  

Comments [0]