So you've decided to take on the Radical Experiment...GREAT DECISION!
OR Maybe you are new to Bay West and wonder what this is about...or you just clicked in the banner because of the goofy looking lady, no problem...read on.
By taking the Radical Experiment, you'll be committing to the following 5 things for the next year...just one year, then it's up to you.
The 5 commitments (click for ideas and helps)
Read through the whole Bible in a year
Pray for the entire world over the next year
Sacrifice my money for a specific God-directed purpose.
Spend time in another context
Commit my life to a multiplying community (ex. Bay West)
Stop relying completely on what everyone says and just know what you say you believe.
Here’s some helps to do that:
- Grow in Christlikedness Reading Plan - This takes you to the current reading plan that FBC as a whole is working through from the SBC. It also tells you a web friendly version that Jim, our campus pastor, uses daily.
- One year Bible online - Daily plan online for reading the Word. Choose which translation and in different languages such as Spanish or Chinese. Read it right there online.
- eWord Today Bible Reading plan - There are several choices of plans on this site, read Chronological (as the events happen) or Historical (in the order the books were written) or several other ways in several translation. This site even has a special Mobile Phone Edition.
- Back to the Bible reading plans - This page has a plan that's based on reading 4 times a week and has several variations, such as Chronological, Historical, etc...
- Biblica Reading Plans - Formerly known as the International Bible Socitey, Biblica has an online tool to create a customized 365 day reading plan for the reader. You pick the version, you pick the day to start and it generates the rest for you.
- www.youversion.com - This Bible is made to work on smartphones (Android & iPhone apps), iPad, computer, etc. Our friends at Life Point Church in Tennessee put together this video explaining how to quickly set it up and get going fast.
Incidentally, Bay West also puts all sermon notes on youversion.com for our messages so you can follow/take notes on your wireless device and email the notes to yourself to store.
One country at a time...seriously, throughout the next year.
- Operation World - A great way to pray for the world over the year is to signup for daily reminder emails from www.operationworld.org. Each day they send you an email with the country's name, specific prayer needs and a video about the country itself, showing it's people what ways to pray for them.
- Printable Prayer Calendar for the World - Download this printable PDF with the names of country's assigned to days of the year, if you are a print it out type of a person. Thanks again to our friends at Life Point Church in Tennessee that have allowed us to use this calendar they put together.
Above and beyond my tithe, which is given to God through the church, I will sacrifice from what God has given me to help meet the needs of those less fortunate than I in an attempt to honor God with my actions. I do this, not only to help meet their needs, but in the hopes that I will point them to the ultimate healer, Jesus.
Click here to give tithes to Bay West
Other possible suggestions to support:
Within Reach Ministries
Mission Melbourne
Dove Bible Clubs
Spreading the Word
Compassion International
Samaritan's Purse
Daily Bread
Adoption - Florida Baptist Children's Homes
Begin praying for God to show you a need around you...whether it's your next door neighbor, one of these organizations or something else. Don't try to limit what God would have of you...just be prepared to get to it when He shows you.
I will step out of my comfort zone to personally help those in another culture or sub culture, preferably in another country. If this is not attainable, then I will look to the less fortunate in my own community by stepping out to help them.
Click here for a list of mission trips sponsored by FBC (Bay West) or call the Melbourne Campus offices of FBC to find out more info on trips that are available to go on.
This is committing to plug in fully to a church that God leads you to. It that's Bay West, then it's as easy as B - A - Y.
B - Be here. Learn to love God
When you are in town, be as consistent with our worship services as possible. Why? Because the songs, Biblical teaching and experiences we plan in that hour are all designed to help you learn to love God more. Hebrews 10:24-25
A - Among friends. Learn to love others
Our small groups, or LifeGroups, are designed for you to get to know friends in our church, people that you know are trying to live for Christ that you can be honest with and through the group, support each other in this tough task. Galatians 6:2
Y - Your part. Learn to serve God by serving the world.
We expect EVERYONE who attends to lend a hand. We believe that like a sponge who soaks up water and is never squeezed out, those who attend church can become sour and bitter if they never learn to put into practice the life-giving truths from God's Word. One way we do that is expecting everyone to lend a hand first in the administration of our church. Here in the training facility of church, you develop your habit of serving the world.
John 13:12-17; Philippians 2: 3-7
Do these commitments make me a Christian and get me to Heaven?
No...alone they do nothing, but inside a relationship with Jesus, God can use them to change the world and your life. How does a relationship with Jesus get going? Click here for more info.
Wonder where all this came from?
It came from a book entitled Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream by David Platt. For the year starting in February of 2011 through 2012, we are committing to these five things as individual members of the campus at Bay West. As a campus at the end of 2010/beginning of 2011, we read the book Radical, discussed it in our Life Groups, around the table, in our homes. It's not the Bible and will never carry the weight of God's Word, but we've taken what God spoke to the writer about to heart and look to follow Jesus through it.
Just found out or new to Bay West...are you left out?
NO WAY! The book is available from Amazon by clicking here (we have no affiliation with Amazon, just trying to help you find a link quick.) Then you can use the resources from the above page to commit to your journey on the Radical experiment.
Incidentally, if the book throws you, no problem, it did most of us as well...feel free to throw it down and walk away (our campus pastor admitted he did), just come back, pick it up and finish at some point...it's worth it.
