Glory of Christ Fellowship

John Chrysostom (ca. 347-407) was a fourth- and early fifth-century pastor and bishop who sought God with all of his heart for over forty years, and who exercised great influence over the church for many centuries. He was indeed a hero for whom we should be grateful to God, but he was a broken hero. From the time John was young, he was given to extremism which psychologically stems from insecurity, and theologically from a gross misunderstanding of the gospel. On the one hand, John lost his father as a small child and he spent much of his childhood seeking the approval of adults. When he decided to seriously seek after God, his instinct was to go to extremes to gain God’s approval. On the other hand, John’s extreme pursuit of God shows that, in his younger years, he didn’t understand the gospel. For two years he chose to live in a cave where he denied himself all but the sheer necessities of life. He refused even to lay down because he thought this was the only way to obey

Please take a moment to pray along with our friends at Operation World for Afghanistan. And after watching the video, you can learn more about the country here . 

Please consider this quote from Lesslie Newbigin, long-time missionary to India: “Of course, as contemporary history proves, Christians can live and bear witness under any regime, whatever its ideology. But Christians can never seek refuge in a ghetto where their faith is not proclaimed as public truth for all. They can never agree that there is one law for themselves and another for the world. They can never admit that there are areas of human life where the writ of Christ does not run. They can never accept that there are orders of creation of powers or dominions that exist otherwise than to serve Christ. Whatever the institutional relationship between the church and the state—and there are many possible relationships, no one of which is necessarily the right one for all times and places—the church can never cease to remind governments that they are under the rule of Christ and that he alone is the judge of all they do. The church can never accept the thesis that the central

Beyond the Veil - Say Hello conference for women, February 7th. This will be a one-day training to encourage Christian women to bring the hope of Christ to Muslim women through friendship. To learn more about the topics covered at the conference and register, go to the Crescent Project website at www.crescentproject.org. If you want more information from a live person, talk with Carmen Gunderson. "Be Filled" Women’s Retreat: all ladies 12 and older are invited to participate in our conference on March 20-21st at the beautiful Koinonia Retreat Center in South Haven near Annandale. We will explore together what it means to be filled with the knowledge of the will of God. Registration forms are available on the information table. Contact Cheryl Perry with questions. Lunch with the Handrens. Beginning in February, the Handrens will be hosting a lunch at their home on first and third Sundays. Please see the information table for more information and a sign-up sh

John Chrysostom (ca. 347-407) was a fourth- and early fifth-century pastor and bishop who sought God with all of his heart for over forty years, and who exercised great influence over the church for many centuries. He was born in Syrian Antioch (modern-day Turkey) and raised by his mother, Anthusa, for his father, Secundus, had died when he was a small child. Anthusa loved the Lord and taught John to love him as well, but she longed for him to have a successful career of one sort or other, and thus saw that he obtained a classical education and formed connections with prominent people. For a time, John pursued a career in law, but at some point the Lord gripped his heart and he devoted himself instead to the monastic life. This was disappointing to his mother, but John felt that he had to obey the Lord, and obey he did! Not one to be half-hearted, John spent two years living in a cave where he denied himself all but the bare necessities of life. As Robert Payne notes, he “denie

Basil of Caesarea (ca. 330-379) was a fourth-century scholar, bishop, and leader who, along with several other prominent figures, shaped the life and thinking of the church for many generations. His parents were genuine lovers of Jesus who taught him the ways of Jesus, and who also funded a world-class education that both shaped Basil and gave rise to his life-long nemesis: pride. But God was faithful to humble his pride and render Basil useful in his Kingdom, so as we look at his life, what lessons do we learn? Of the many that can be enumerated, I will offer three. First, building a godly heritage in our families matters. At least some of Basil’s grandparents were genuine lovers of Jesus who, in fact, suffered for the sake of his name. Additionally, both of Basil’s parents were genuine lovers of Jesus who sought, day by day, to invest this love into the lives of their children. And because they were faithful to do so, Basil’s sister, Macrina, was well prepared to discern the

“It is surely a fact of inexhaustible significance that what our Lord left behind Him was not a book, nor a creed, nor a system of thought, nor a rule of life, but a visible community [the church]. He committed the entire work of salvation to that community. It was not that a community gathered round an idea, so that the idea was primary and the community secondary. It was that a community called together by the deliberate choice of the Lord Himself, and re-created in Him, gradually sought - and is seeking - to make explicit who He is and what He has done. The actual community is primary; the understanding of what it is comes second.” Lesslie Newbigin, The Household of God (Great Britain: SCM Press), page 20.

Annual Church Meeting: Please join us this evening at 6:30 p.m. at the home of Dave and Susan Fergus for our Annual Business meeting. We will discuss recent events at GCF, cast a vision for 2015, pass a budget for 2015, and elect church officers. Youth Ministry: Please support the   Youth Ministry   SD Mission's Trip   by eating at   Pizza Ranch   on   Monday, January 19 , 2015 from   4:00- 8:30 .  Tips and a percentage of the meals that night will be given to the Youth Ministry to help support their missions trip to Martin, South Dakota in June.  Invite your Bible Study group, men's group, women's group, friends or take your wife out on a date to Pizza Ranch while encouraging the youth as they serve in the community.  If you have any questions, please contact Julie Springfield at   763-607-1253. Beyond the Veil - Say Hello   conference for women,   February 7th .   This will be a one-day training to encourage Christian women to bring the hope of Christ to Muslim

Over the next several months, we will be working our way through the Book of Acts. Below we have provided you with the sermon titles and texts so that you can prepare yourself from week to week to get the most out of God's Word. We encourage you to read, and even study, the text on your own before Sunday morning. May God greatly bless our time in this precious and historic book!  THE BOOK OF ACTS Jan 18, “The Promise of the Father” (Acts 1:1-5) Jan 25, “You Will Receive Power and Be My Witnesses” (Acts 1:6-2:47) Feb 1, “They Did Not Cease Teaching and Preaching” (Acts 3:1-5:42) Feb 8, “He Saw the Glory of God” (Acts 6:1-8:40) Feb 15, “The Word of God Increased and Multiplied” (Acts 9:1-12:25) Feb 22, “Set Apart for Me Barnabas and Saul” (Acts 13:1-14:28) Mar 1, “Christ is the End of the Law” (Acts 15:1-35) Mar 8, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and You Will Be Saved” (Acts 15:36-17:15) Mar 15, “God Commands All People to Repent” (Acts 17:16-18:17) Mar 22, “Miracles, Fear

Basil of Caesarea (ca. 330-379) was a fourth-century scholar, bishop, and leader who, along with several other prominent figures, shaped the life and thinking of the church for many generations. His parents were genuine lovers of Jesus who taught him the ways of Jesus, and who also funded a world-class education that both shaped Basil and gave rise to his life-long nemesis. Perhaps the primary manifestation of brokenness in Basil’s life was his unbearable arrogance. In the course of his studies it became apparent to all that he possessed unusual skills in reason and rhetoric, and this fact was not lost on Basil. Indeed, he was rather impressed with himself and unafraid to flaunt his skills and exalt his grandeur. This kind of brokenness may seem relatively tame to us, but let us remember that Satan himself fell because he turned his eyes from the gracious Creator who had granted him such favor and toward himself as if he was the source of his own beauty, power, and skill. Pride

Several years ago, Josh Reeves, Pastor of Redeemer Church in Round Rock, Texas, developed a resource entitled, “100 Practical Ways to Engage your Neighborhood.” The idea behind this resource is to help Christians add gospel intentionality to everyday life, to help lovers of Christ live as missionaries in their own neighborhoods. Several weeks ago I began the process of posting these ideas 10 at a time. Not every idea will work for everyone, but please pray over each list and ask the Lord to help you identify one thing you can do each week. And if none of the ideas on a given section of the list works for you, then let it inspire you to think of something else. Whatever the case may be, ask Jesus to enable and empower you to join him in the joy-producing, God-exalting quest of seeking and saving the lost in our neighborhoods. Here’s the tenth part of the list: Extended neighborhood – The Regular Spots in your City (continued) 91. When you can, support local businesses

Speaking of the seriousness with which we should approach the Word of God, Basil of Caesarea said, “How earnestly the soul should prepare itself to receive such high lessons! How pure it should be from carnal affections, how unclouded by worldly disquietudes, how active and ardent in its researches, how eager to find in its surroundings an idea of God which may be worthy of Him” ( The Heaemeron , “Homily 1:52”). This short paragraph deserves concerted attention, so let me ask a few probing questions and encourage you to join me in taking some time and searching our hearts:   Do you prepare yourself to receive the Word of God each day? Each week before Sunday worship? Each week before your Community Group or Bible study? How can you better prepare yourself? How will this impact what you “get out of church”? How do other pleasures affect the strength of our pleasure in the Word of God? What specific fleshly and worldly pleasures are impeding your progress in the things of G

January 11, 2015 Sunday School: Sunday School resumes today, January 11, we invite you all to join in the class that works best for you! Fighter Verses: On January 4 we began set 5 of the Fighter Verses. The elders of GCF encourage you to join us in pursuing Scripture memory in 2015. You can find more information on the Information Table, or at www.fighterverses.com. Youth Ministry: Please support the   Youth Ministry   SD Mission's Trip   by eating at   Pizza Ranch   on   Monday, January 19 , 2015 from   4:00- 8:30 .  Tips and a percentage of the meals that night will be given to the Youth Ministry to help support their missions trip to Martin, South Dakota in June.  Invite your Bible Study group, men's group, women's group, friends or take your wife out on a date to Pizza Ranch while encouraging the youth as they serve in the community.  If you have any questions, please contact Julie Springfield at   763-607-1253. Lunch with the Handrens . Begin

We first posted this devotional in early December, but since it’s part one of three I thought it best to repost it this week and then post parts two and three in the coming weeks. With that, here is a brief description of the life and ministry of Basil. Basil of Caesarea (ca. 330-379) was a fourth-century scholar, bishop, and leader who, along with several other prominent figures, shaped the life and thinking of the church for many generations. His father was a well-to-do lawyer but more importantly a passionate follower of Jesus. His mother was the daughter of a well-known Christian martyr, and thus her love for Jesus was neither theoretical nor superficial. She knew what it meant to suffer for the sake of Christ, and along with her husband, taught her many children to take up their cross in the cause of Christ. Basil’s family was wealthy, but more so, they were wealthy toward Christ. It should come as no surprise, then, that Basil was well educated, studying in the most i

Several years ago, Josh Reeves, Pastor of Redeemer Church in Round Rock, Texas, developed a resource entitled, “100 Practical Ways to Engage your Neighborhood.” The idea behind this resource is to help Christians add gospel intentionality to everyday life, to help lovers of Christ live as missionaries in their own neighborhoods. Several weeks ago I began the process of posting these ideas 10 at a time. Not every idea will work for everyone, but please pray over each list and ask the Lord to help you identify one thing you can do each week. And if none of the ideas on a given section of the list works for you, then let it inspire you to think of something else. Whatever the case may be, ask Jesus to enable and empower you to join him in the joy-producing, God-exalting quest of seeking and saving the lost in our neighborhoods. Here’s the ninth part of the list: Extended neighborhood – The Regular Spots in your City (continued) 81. Find your local bank representative and

By Asa Veek (Deacon and Church Treasurer)  I was originally excited to read   Ordinary: How to Turn the World Upside Down . The description, with statements like, "Ordinary is not a call to be more radical. If anything, it is a call to the contrary. The kingdom of God isn’t coming with light shows, and shock and awe, but with lowly acts of service" caught my interest.  When I read it, I was encouraged, inspired, angered, frustrated and disappointed.  Merida makes the argument, quite convincingly, that acts of service aren't optional for the believer.  As a response to, and work of, the Gospel, we believers should be engaged in a lifestyle of caring for the disenfranchised and those without a voice.  We should be serving those who cannot repay, not for the praise, but out of a grateful response to a God who has redeemed us. While I feel Merida makes his point, I was left with two nagging feelings.  First, the book felt like a bit of an overreaction to the h

For January 4, 2015 Agape Meal Today: There will be an agape meal today (January 4) after the worship service. You can find more information on the backside of this sheet. Sunday School: We will not be meeting for Sunday School this week (Agape Meal). Sunday School will resume on January 11. Fighter Verses: We begin set 5 of the Fighter Verses today, January 4. The elders of GCF encourage you to join us in pursuing Scripture memory in 2015. Outreach Vision Meeting: Please join us on January 10 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the church office as we gather to think and pray about how God would have us reach out to Elk River with the love of Jesus this winter and spring. For more information, contact Pastor Charlie (charlie@gcfmn.org). Youth Ministry: Please support the   Youth Ministry   SD Mission's Trip   by eating at   Pizza Ranch   on   Monday, January 19 , 2015 from   4:00- 8:30 .  Tips and a percentage of the meals that night will be given to the Youth Ministry to

When we hear the term "Biblical Counseling", we may only think of it in a formal, "clinical", way.  We may only think of Biblical Counseling as what happens in an office with one person as the professional counselor and the other as the counselee.  That, of course, is an example of Biblical Counseling, but I hope we have a mindset to think of Biblical Counseling in a much broader way as well. We all desire to care for  each other .  And if we give it any thought, we would agree that we desire that our care would be  helpful , that our care would be  hopeful , and that our care would be  fruitful .  For our care to be helpful, hopeful, and fruitful -- it must be  Biblical .  So, in a broader sense, Biblical Counseling is simply caring for  one another  in a way that is helpful, hopeful, and fruitful.  And in this way, we are all Biblical Counselors.  We are all Biblical Counselors that need equipping so that the care that we offer others would be increasingly h

Of the thought of Basil of Caesarea Christopher Hall writes, “Thus, because the text [of the Bible] itself is holy, derived from the work of the Holy Spirit, interpreters of the text must approach it with a reverent disposition. Whatever is said about the ideas of the text must match the exalted nature of its divine source” ( Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers , 87). From this brief quote I draw three simple and ministry-shaping ideas. First, the text of the Bible is holy because its source is holy. It’s not so much that we make a big deal of words and phrases and paragraphs and pages, as we do the infinitely holy Being who inspired these things. Words and such matter, but they matter to the degree that their source matters, and since the Holy Spirit matters to an infinite degree so does the Word he inspired. Second, we must approach the text of the Bible with the same reverence we would show in the presence of God himself. To approach his Word is, in a way, to appro

Several years ago, Josh Reeves, Pastor of Redeemer Church in Round Rock, Texas, developed a resource entitled, “100 Practical Ways to Engage your Neighborhood.” The idea behind this resource is to help Christians add gospel intentionality to everyday life, to help lovers of Christ live as missionaries in their own neighborhoods. Several weeks ago I began the process of posting these ideas 10 at a time. Not every idea will work for everyone, but please pray over each list and ask the Lord to help you identify one thing you can do each week. And if none of the ideas on a given section of the list works for you, then let it inspire you to think of something else. Whatever the case may be, ask Jesus to enable and empower you to join him in the joy-producing, God-exalting quest of seeking and saving the lost in our neighborhoods. Here’s the eighth part of the list: Extended neighborhood – The Regular Spots in your City (continued) 71. Start a Study Group at a local place t