Glory of Christ Fellowship

In John 15:7-8, Jesus promised, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (emphasis mine). Last week we saw that this promise assumes something very basic but extremely important, namely, that we must spend time with Christ. For the next few weeks we will meditate on another basic but important assumption, namely, that we must ask of Christ in prayer or our prayers cannot be answered.  In Matthew 6:8 Jesus said, “…your Father knows what you need before you ask him,” which begs the question, Why then must we ask of Jesus in prayer? If the Father already knows what we want and if he is disposed to give us what we want when we ask according to his will, why then doesn’t he just give us what we want? I see at least eight reasons.  First, we must ask of Jesus in prayer because he commanded us to do so. As those who have become his ch

David and Goliath: That All the Earth May Know 1 Samuel 17:1-58 January 31, 2016 Study Questions 1.       Read 1 Samuel 17:1-11. Where exactly did this scene take place (consult a Study Bible or www.blueletterbible.org)? Why do the details about Goliath matter? 2.       Why did Goliath make the particular challenge he made? How did Saul and the Israelites react to it? Why? 3.       Read 1 Samuel 17:12-27. In light of chapter 16, why does the author give us these facts about David? What was David’s position in his family? Why does this matter? 4.       How long did Goliath challenge Israel? What brought David to the battlefield? How did David come to know about Goliath? What question did David ask about him? Why? 5.       Read 1 Samuel 17:28-37. Why was David’s oldest brother upset with him? What did David say and do in response to Eliab? 6.       How did Saul hear about David? How does this square with chapter 16? What was David’s argument for going into battle?

Agape Meal Next Week: We will be enjoying an Agape Meal after the worship service next Sunday. Please see the back side of this sheet for more information. GCF Date Night, February 27: Attention married couples, you are invited to GCF date night on Saturday, February 27. We will be bowling in Saint Michael. 7:00 p.m. Please R.S.V.P. to Pastor Kevin by Wednesday, February 17. Student Ministries: Students grade 6-12 are invited to attend Wednesday nights for Bible study, discussion, and activities. Meets at Handke from 6:30-8:45 p.m. Contact Pastor Kevin for more details. Pivot Meeting: The college age (and beyond) ministry meets on alternating Thursday evenings. 7:00 p.m. at Josiah Lee's house. The next meeting is on February 11. Church Membership Class: There will be a church membership class beginning in the Sunday School hour on Sunday, February 14. Contact Pastor Charlie for more details on this class. Women’s Prayer Meeting: Please join the women of GC

In John 15:7-8, Jesus makes a stunning promise: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (emphasis mine). The call to abide in Christ, to allow his words to abide in us, and to ask for whatever we wish assumes something very basic but extremely important: we must actually spend time with Christ. We must actually speak with him. We must actually ask. Prayer is a vital part of a relationship, and relationships require time and speech. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) received a call to serve as a missionary to China early in his life. Although he didn’t know it, his parents had devoted him to the Lord for this very task but then wisely allowed the Lord to work in his life and clarify the call without their direct intervention. Almost as soon as he received his call from the Lord, Hudson knew that he had to be a man of prayer in order to b

The Lord Looks on the Heart 1 Samuel 16:1-23 January 24, 2016 Study Questions 1.        Read 1 Samuel 16:1-3. Why was Samuel so grieved over Saul? For whom did the Lord provide a king? What was Samuel’s concern in going? What was the Lord’s counsel to him? Was this deceitful? 2.        Read 1 Samuel 16:4-13. Why were the people of Bethlehem frightened of Samuel? How did he put them at ease? 3.        Why did Samuel think that Eliab was to be the king? How did the Lord respond to him? How many sons were passed by to get to David? What was David’s place among his brothers? 4.        What was David’s appearance? Where did Samuel anoint him? What happened to David when he was anointed? 5.        Read 1 Samuel 16:14-23. Why did the Lord remove his Spirit from Saul? Why did he send a tormenting spirit instead? What does this teach us about who the Lord is and how he works? 6.        How did Saul come to choose David to serve him? What more do we learn about David in v

Sanctity Of Human Life: January 17 & 24 is devoted to recognizing the sanctity of human life. Please visit the mission’s table for info on Abba pregnancy resource center. Foundation Builders 1 (parenting Class): There will be a parenting class on Saturday, January 30 from 9:30-11:30. This class is designed to lay out a vision of Godly parenting upon the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.   Student Ministries: Students grade 6-12 are resuming their Wednesday night meetings on Wednesday, January 27 from 6:30-8:45 p.m. Contact Pastor Kevin for more details. Pivot Meeting: The college age (and beyond) ministry meets on alternating Thursday evenings. 7:00 p.m. at Josiah Lee's house. The next meeting is on January 28. Church Membership Class: There will be a church membership class beginning during the Sunday School hour beginning on Sunday, February 14. Contact Pastor Charlie for more details on this class. Wednesday Morning Prayer Meeting : We will be r

One of our primary aims at Glory of Christ Fellowship in 2016 is to become a more fully developed house of prayer for all peoples. To help stoke the fires of this vision and this way of life, we will be providing weekly devotionals on prayer and faith based on, or written by, some of the great prayer warriors of the last couple of centuries. For this week, though, let’s sit at the feet of the Master Intercessor and listen carefully to what he has to say in John 15:7-8. Jesus said to his disciples, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” I see several important aspects of Jesus’ words: · The Promise: Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. · Condition 1: If you abide (or remain) in me. · Condition 2: If my words abide in you. · Purpose 1: The glory of the Father in answered prayer. · Purpose 2: Visible proof that

To Obey is Better than Sacrifice 1 Samuel 15:1-35 January 17, 2016 Study Questions 1.        Read 1 Samuel 15:1-3. Why did Samuel begin his statement by mentioning that he had anointed Saul as king? What specifically did the Lord command king Saul to do? 2.        Why did the Lord command Saul to completely wipe out the Amalekites? Using a study Bible or an online tool like www.blueletterbible.com, look up other places where the names “Amalek,” “Amalekite,” and Amalekites” appear, paying special attention to Exodus 17. How are we to understand the justice and mercy of God in light of this story? 3.        Read 1 Samuel 15:4-9. Was Saul successful in the battle? Why did he spare king Agag? Why did he and the people spare some of the animals? Which ones did they spare? 4.        Read 1 Samuel 15:10-33. The word “regret” in verse 11 more literally means “to feel sorry or to grieve.” With this in mind, what is the Lord revealing about his heart toward Saul? What specifi

Annual Meeting:  The annual meeting for GCF is scheduled for tonight, January 17, 2016 at the Fergus’ home. 6:00 p.m. All Church Event: Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 23. The entire church is invited to enjoy fellowship together by sledding at Highwoods Park in St. Michael. Time is 2:30 p.m. Please R.S.V.P. to Pastor Kevin by January 20. Sanctity Of Human Life: January 17 & 24 is devoted to recognizing the sanctity of human life. Please visit the mission’s table for info on Abba pregnancy resource center. Pivot Meeting: The college age (and beyond) ministry meets on alternating Thursday evenings. 7:00 p.m. at Josiah Lee's house. The next ministry is on January 28. Foundation Builders 1 (parenting Class): There will be a parenting class on Saturday, January 30 from 9:30-11:30. This class is designed to lay out a vision of Godly parenting upon the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.   Student Ministries: Students grade 6-12 are resuming their

In Isaiah 56:7 the Lord said that he would bring the Gentiles into his house of prayer and make them joyful there, for his house is a house of prayer for all peoples. And as we learned last September when we meditated together on the place of prayer in the life of the church, the primary reason God’s house is a house of prayer is because God himself is in a constant state of prayer. The Holy Spirit is ever-interceding for us (Romans 8:26), the Son is ever-interceding for us (Romans 8:34b; Heb 7:25), and thus the Father is ever-receiving their intercession.  Although the details of this inter-Trinitarian conversation changed after creation, and after sin entered creation, this mode of communication is eternal. God has always been and will always be in a constant state of prayer, and to come near to him in Christ is to enter into that eternal conversation; that eternal joy; that eternal way of life.  The privilege of prayer is, thus, beyond comprehension but it is the privileg

By Many or By Few 1 Samuel 14:1-52 January 10, 2016 Study Questions 1.   Read 1 Samuel 14:1-15. Drawing on chapter 13, how bad a situation was Israel in? Who specifically was with Saul at this time? Why is this important? 2.        Given the dire situation and the heart of his father, where do you suppose Jonathan’s faith came from? What was the sign that the Lord was with him and why? Where do you see Jonathan’s humility? How did the situation turn out? 3.     Read 1 Samuel 14:16-23. What caused Saul to rally his troops against the Philistines? Who all joined him in the battle? Was he successful? Who was ultimately responsible for the victory? 4.     Read 1 Samuel 14:24-46. Why did Saul lay such an oath on his men that day? Was he wise or unwise in this? Why did Jonathan eat the honey? How did Saul’s men act when the battle was complete? How did Saul react to them? 5.        How did Saul deal with Jonathan? Why did the people intervene for Jonathan and why did Sa

Annual Meeting: The annual meeting for GCF is scheduled for Sunday, January 17, 2016 at the Fergus’ home. 6:00 p.m. Sunday School: Sunday School will resume this morning. Agape Meal Help Needed/Coffee Help Needed: We are looking for some people looking to help out with either the monthly Agape Meals or the weekly coffee table. If you are interested, please contact Pastor Kevin or Buster and Bunnie Lampman. All Church Event: Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 23 @ 2:30 p.m.. The entire church is invited to enjoy fellowship together by sledding at Highwoods Park in St. Michael. Please R.S.V.P. to Pastor Kevin by January 20. Fighter Verses: Beginning in 2016 we will be starting Set One of the Fighter Verse memory program. The elders of GCF encourage you to participate. Wednesday Morning Prayer Meeting: Please join us for an hour of prayer on Wednesday mornings from 6:00-7:00 a.m. at the church office. Women should bring at least one other person with them so that we can

By Pastor Kevin  In looking at Paul’s prayers there are some priorities that emerge. This list is not exhaustive and could potentially be organized differently. Nonetheless, we begin to see what is and is not important to the Apostle through what he prays.  1. I give thanks for you (Ephesians 1:16; Philemon 4; 2 Thes. 2:13; 1 Corinthians 1:4: Colossians 1:3-4: Romans 1:8-10) 2. Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in knowing God better (Ephesians 1:17; Colossians 1:10) 3. Knowledge/conviction of God’s Love (Ephesians 3:17-19; 2 Thes. 3:5; Colossians 1:11) 4. Knowing the hope, encouragement and riches of the inheritance to which God has called you (Ephesians 1:18; 2 Thes. 2:16; Romans 15:13) 5. Strengthened with God’s power/know the greatness of power toward us who believe (Romans 15:13; Ephesians 1:19; Ephesians 3:16; Colossians 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24) 6. Knowledge of God’s will/fulfill every resolve for good work

Being Enthralled with Christ John 15:1-11 January 3, 2016 Study Questions 1. The vision of Glory of Christ is this: We envision a people enthralled with the glory of Christ who are being transformed into the image of Christ. 2. What does it mean to be enthralled? Enthralled with Christ? What is the ultimate goal of being enthralled with Christ?  3. Read John 15:1-11. How do Jesus’ words connect with the vision of GCF? How do they emerge from Jesus’ own way of life (see John 828)?  4. What specific promise does Jesus make in 15:7? What do you honestly think and feel about the content and extent of this promise?  5. What are the two conditions of this promise? How do they help us understand the nature of the promise?  6. How can a person abide in Christ? How can a person allow Christ’s words to abide in them? Answer these same questions for the church.  7. How might Jesus’ words in John 15:7-9 connect w

Announcements – January 3, 2016 Annual Meeting: The annual meeting for GCF is scheduled for Sunday, January 17, 2016 at the Fergus’ home. 6:00 p.m.  Sunday School: There is no Sunday School today, December 27. We will resume on Sunday, January 10.  Agape Meal Today: We will be enjoying an Agape Meal after the worship service this morning. Please see the back side of this sheet for more information. Fighter Verses: Beginning in 2016 we will be starting Set One of the Fighter Verse memory program. The elders of GCF encourage you to participate.  Wednesday Morning Prayer Meeting: We will be resuming our Wednesday morning prayer meeting on January 6. The prayer time is 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. at the church office. Next Week’s Fighter Verse: “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the comm