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Standing Stones Community
Church
 
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What Are Standing Stones? - Joshua 4
(1 When the whole
nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the
LORD said to Joshua, 2
"Choose twelve men from among the people,
one from each tribe, 3
and tell them to take up twelve stones from
the middle of the Jordan..4
So Joshua called together the twelve men
…Each of you is to take up a stone on his
shoulder, according to the number of the
tribes of the Israelites, 6
to serve as a sign among you. In the future,
when your children ask you, 'What do these
stones mean?' 7 tell
them …These
stones are to be a memorial to the people of
Israel forever."
8 So the Israelites did
as Joshua commanded them... 9
Joshua set up the twelve stones... And they
are there to this day.)
1. These stones alert us to the importance
of remembering the wonderful works of God.
Life can be lived in a very fast pace, a
pace that is designed to help us overlook
the amazing things God lets us experience
each day such as a child’s laugh, a bright
rainbow, a butterfly in flight, a beautiful
sunset at day’s end. Let’s not allow
ourselves to forget the wonderful working of
God in each and every day.
2. These stones alert us to our tendency to
forget what God has done.
We can become so preoccupied with the here
and now and our apparent lack of resources
for this moment that we can forget we have a
history. The past is our testimony. We need
to remember we have a tendency to forget.
3. These stones alert us to the importance
of thanksgiving.
It is important for us to have a spirit of
thanksgiving, even in difficult times. When
was the last time you said, "Thank you,
Lord," in the midst of an impossible
situation? We can become so preoccupied with
an impossible situation that we forget God's
grace is sufficient. Let’s lift our hearts
in thanksgiving to the God who is capable of
bringing us through any difficulty.
4. These stones alert us not only to what
God has done for us, but also to what He has
done for others.
Sometimes we become spiritually nearsighted.
We get so preoccupied with our problems that
we don't see the world "out there." God is
not just my God. He is the God of the entire
universe. He is the God who reminds me of
what He has done for others. We are here to
glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Enjoyment
of Him involves obedience in which we reach
out and touch others. In the process, we see
God at work in others.
5. These stones alert us to the privilege of
making provision for future generations.
God didn't put those stones there just for
Joshua's generation. He knew that this
generation would have children and they
would have children and that there would be
grandchildren and great-grandchildren who
would see the Jordan River, forgetting the
miracle in which God held back the
floodwaters and enabled the people to come
across on dry ground. The stones would be
there as a reminder to the future
generations. It was a way of passing on the
faith.
6. These stones alert us to the fact that
memorials can be simple.
They are not necessarily elaborate. Simple
stones out of the riverbed. Memorials need
not be elaborate to be significant.
7. These stones alert us of the corporate
unity that is ours as the people of God.
God told Joshua that He wanted a man from
each of the twelve tribes. He wanted a stone
representing each of the twelve tribes. God
has continued that way all through history.
When He became a man in Jesus, He picked
twelve disciples, a cross-section of
humanity with varying temperaments,
backgrounds and personalities. He treated
women with respect, women with varying
temperaments, personalities and life
experiences. It was then that God told
Joshua to select twelve men and twelve
stones. It is corporate unity that is
demonstrated when we look at these stones.
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Our Core Values
Supporting,
encouraging one another. Worshipping with
our lives not just our words.
* Romans 15:5
“May the God who gives endurance and
encouragement give you a spirit of
unity among yourselves as you follow Christ
Jesus…”
Teaching
the Bible in an understanding and practical
way.
* Matthew 28:20
“....Teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you and surely I am
with you always, to the very end of the
age.”
Outreach:
multiplication of ourselves, having a
“Kingdom” mindset.
* Acts 1:8 “…you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in
all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Nurturing:
sharing, serving and worshipping together as
families to promote growth.
* Deuteronomy
6:6-7 “…These commandments that I give you
today are to be upon your hearts. Impress
them on your children. Talk about them when
you sit at home and when you walk along the
road…”
Evangelism:
believing God loves those who do not know
Him yet.
* Romans 5:8
“…God demonstrates his own love for us in
this: While we were still sinners, Christ
died for us.”
Shepherding:
providing guidance for excellence in
ministry, excellence in attitude.
* Isaiah 40:11
“He tends his flock like a shepherd, he
gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart....”
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Our Statement of Faith
The doctrinal position of The Evangelical
Free Church of America
is summarized in our twelve-article
Statement of Faith.
We Believe:
1.
The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments,
to be the inspired Word of God, without
error in the original writings, the complete
revelation of His will for the salvation of
men and the Divine and final authority for
Christian faith and life.
2.
In one God, Creator of all things,
infinitely perfect and eternally existing in
three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
3.
That Jesus Christ is true God and true man,
having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and
born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross, a sacrifice for our sins
according to the Scriptures. Further, He
arose bodily from the dead, ascended into
heaven, where, at the right hand of the
Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest
and Advocate.
4.
That the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to
glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and, during
this age, to convict men, regenerate the
believing sinner, and indwell, guide,
instruct and empower the believer for godly
living and service.
5.
That man was created in the image of God but
fell into sin and is, therefore, lost, and
only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit
can salvation and spiritual life be
obtained.
6.That
the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His
Resurrection provide the only ground for
justification and salvation for all who
believe, and only such as receive Jesus
Christ are born of the Holy Spirit and, thus
become children of God.
7.
That water baptism and the Lord's Supper are
ordinances to be observed by the Church
during the present age. They are, however,
not to be regarded as means of salvation.
8.
That the true Church is composed of all such
persons who through saving faith in Jesus
Christ have been regenerated by the Holy
Spirit and are united together in the Body
of Christ of which He is the Head.
9.
That only those who are, thus, members of
the true Church shall be eligible for
membership in the local church.
10.
That Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of
the Church and that every local church has
the right, under Christ, to decide and
govern its own affairs.
11.
In the personal and pre-millennial and
imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and
that this "Blessed Hope" has a vital bearing
on the personal life and service of the
believer.
12.
In the bodily resurrection of the dead; of
the believer to everlasting blessedness and
joy with the Lord; of the unbeliever to
judgment and everlasting conscious
punishment.
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History of Standing Stones Community Church:
Standing Stones Community Church was officially
commissioned as a church plant from Shiloh
Community Church on June 26, 2005.
Pastor David Bowen was part of the staff of
Shiloh for nearly four years. As the Executive
Pastor he was responsible for not only
administrative duties but also adult ministries
and small groups. While on staff, he taught
weekly Bible studies which is his passion and
was given the opportunity to preach on a regular
basis.
In the Fall of 2004 Shiloh began a new Saturday
night service with Pastor Dave as the preaching
pastor. The Saturday night service was focused
on families worshipping and is somewhat the
cornerstone for this new church plant.
In March of 2005 Pastor Dave was presented with
an opportunity to leave Shiloh’s staff and to
begin a new work in North East Phoenix. This new
church plant, Standing Stones Community Church,
was introduced to the Shiloh congregation on
Saturday March 19th and Sunday March 20th. With
that announcement a core group quickly formed
and just 22 days later on Sunday April 10, 2005,
in the home of one of the core team members,
Standing Stones Community Church held it’s first
official church service.
Since April 2005 weekly services have moved from
a private home to a 5,000 square foot commercial
building. A typical Sunday morning service is
led by a live worship team, includes a time of
prayer and teaching. A typical worship service
averages 100 people in attendance. Women’s
ministry, men’s ministry, children’s ministry
and small groups are all currently active.
Pastor Dave and the congregation of Standing
Stones Community Church are excited and honored
to be able to serve our Lord and Savior in the
North Phoenix community.
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Standing Stones
Joshua 4:1-4
When the whole nation had finished crossing the
Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, "Choose
twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe,
and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle
of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to
carry them over with you and put them down at the place
where you stay tonight."
So Joshua called together the twelve men …"Each of you
is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the
number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve
as a sign among you. In the future, when your children
ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them
…These
stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel
forever."
So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them...
Joshua set up the twelve stones... And they are there to
this day.
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