Glory of Christ Fellowship

In Matthew 22:18-22 we’re told a story about Jesus and his disciples that teaches us something important about receiving answers to prayer, namely, that we must have faith to do so.  Matthew writes, “In the morning, as he [Jesus] was returning to the city, he became hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again!’ And the fig tree withered at once.  “When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, ‘How did the fig tree wither at once?’ And Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, “Be taken up and thrown into the sea,” it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.’”  At first glance, this story seems odd. It presents Jesus as one who is focused on his own hunger and upset when a common fig

The Rock of Escape 1 Samuel 23:1-29 February 28, 2016 Study Questions 1.     Read 1 Samuel 23:1-5. At the beginning of this chapter, David was residing in “the forest of Hereth” where he heard that the Philistines were attacking the people of “Keliah.” Using a study Bible or Google, find these places on a map. 2.        Given that David grew up in Bethlehem, how familiar do you think he was with this area? What was his first action after hearing of the attack on Keliah? How did David’s men react? What did David then do? Did the Lord fulfill his word? 3.       Read 1 Samuel 23:6-14. Who was Abiathar and what important item did he have with him? What did Saul plan to do and why? When David learned of Saul’s plans, what did he do? What did the Lord say and what actions did David therefore take? 4.       For the moment Saul called off the search and David went into the wilderness of Ziph. After that, how often did Saul seek David? How do you suppose this made David feel

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. Women’s Retreat Brochures Available: Ladies of GCF, the annual Women's retreat is April 8 th and 9 th . We invite you to pick up a brochure and sign up now. Contact Susan Fergus, Susan Shannon, Claire Belknap, or Jenny Arant with any questions. Parenting Seminar, March 12: All parents are encouraged to attend an important seminar on Saturday, March 12 at 6:30 p.m. We will be watching an address from Josh McDowell given at Moody Founder’s Week and then talking/praying about how we can be equipped to raise children in an age of internet pornography. Student Ministries: Students grade 6-12 are invited to attend Wednesday nights for Bible study, discussion, and activities. Handke, 6:30-8:45 p.m. Contact Pastor Kevin. Pivot Meeting: The college age (and beyond) ministry meets on alternating Thursday evenings.

Who is So Faithful As David? 1 Samuel 21:1-22:23 February 21, 2016 Study Questions 1.     Read 1 Samuel 21:1-9. Where was Nob and why do you suppose David fled there? Why was Ahimelech the priest afraid of David? How did David respond and what does this tell us about his character and circumstances? 2.       Using a study Bible, what was the purpose of the holy bread? What were the rules about it? Why did Ahimelech give it to him? What did Jesus think about this story (see Luke 6:1-5)? 3.        Who were the Edomites? What was Doeg’s relationship to Saul? Why did David ask for a sword and which one did he acquire? 4.        Read 1 Samuel 21:10-15. Where was Gath and why did David flee there? How did the king think of David? What did David, then, feel and do in response? Why did he not just tell the truth and trust the Lord? 5.        Read 1 Samuel 22:1-5. To what three places did David go in this part of the story? Who gathered to him and why? 6.     Read 1 Samu

Over the last several weeks we’ve been meditating on the question, why must we ask of Jesus in prayer? I have suggested eight answers to this question which you can find on my blog at bornoftheword.blogspot.com. For now, I’d like to turn our attention to the promises Jesus makes to those who will in fact ask of him by faith. We begin this six-week journey with the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:7-11.  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”  The promise Jesus makes in these verses is extreme. The one through whom all things were create

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). Over the last two weeks we have seen that this promise assumes something very basic but extremely important, namely, that we must ask of Christ in prayer or our prayers cannot be answered.  I see at least eight reasons why Jesus commands us to ask of him, five of which I have shared over the last two weeks. Specifically, I have said that we must ask of Jesus in prayer (1) because he commanded us to do so, (2) because we’re in a relationship with him and communication is key to the health of any relationship, (3) because it teaches us childlike dependence upon him, (4) because it teaches us to think, feel, and ask like Jesus, and (5) because it teaches us how to counsel and bless one another. This week I add three more reasons.  Sixth, we m

Show Me the Steadfast Love of the Lord 1 Samuel 19:1-20:42 February 14, 2016 Study Questions 1.       Read 1 Samuel 19:1-7. Why was Saul so keen to kill David? What was Jonathan’s response? What specific words did Saul use when he promised that David would not die and why does that matter? 2.        Read 1 Samuel 19:8-17. After David won yet another victory in battle, what caused Saul to try to kill him again—twice? How does this relate to Saul’s vow in verse 6? 3.     Read 1 Samuel 19:18-24. Why did David flee to Samuel and how did Samuel respond? What happened to Saul’s messengers, and to Saul himself, when they sought David and Samuel? How does this relate to the spirit that was plaguing Saul? 4.        Read 1 Samuel 20:1-11. Why did David then flee to Jonathan? What was David’s disposition and what was his plan? 5.        Read 1 Samuel 20:12-17. What was the heart of Jonathan’s speech to David? Why did he use the specifics words he used? Why did they make anot

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. Purchase tickets February 7, 14, and 21. Women’s Retreat: Ladies and teens of GCF, please mark the weekend of April 8th and 9th on your calendar for our annual women's retreat at the Association Retreat Center in Osceola, Wisconsin. Cost will be $80 for a one-night stay with the option of staying a second night for $109. Our guest speaker will be Kathy Stokes from Bethlehem Baptist Church. Keep an eye out for the brochures, to register. If you have any questions see Susan Fergus, Susan Shannon, Claire Belknap, or Jenny Arant.  Student Ministries: Students grade 6-12 are invited to attend Wednesday nights for Bible study, discussion, and activities. Handke, 6:30-8:45 p.m. Contact Pastor Kevin. Pivot Meeting: The college age (and beyond) ministry meets on alternating Thursday evenings. 7:00 p.m. at Josiah

The Rise of David 1 Samuel 18:1-30 February 7, 2016 Study Questions 1.      Read 1 Samuel 18:1-9. Why did Jonathan have such a profound love for David? What exactly did Jonathan give David and why? Who else respected and admired David and why? 2.     How were the people responding to David and why? How did Saul feel about their response and why? 3.      Read 1 Samuel 18:10-16. Why did God send a harmful spirit to torment Saul? How did this make Saul act? What specifically did he try to do to David? What do you think were his motives? 4.     Why did Saul remove David from his presence? What happened afterward and why? How did this make Saul feel? How did it make the people feel? 5.        Read 1 Samuel 18:17-27a. What was Saul’s next tactic and why? How did David respond to this? Why was he reluctant to be the king’s son-in-law? 6.      How did Saul seek to entice David to become his son-in-law and why? What actually transpired? 7.        Read 1 Samuel 18:27b-3

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 ask of Christ in prayer or our prayers cannot be answered. I see at least eight reasons why Jesus commands us to ask of him, three of which I shared last week.  Specifically, I said that we must ask of Jesus in prayer (1) because he commanded us to do so, (2) because we’re in a relationship with him and communication is key to the health of any relationship, and (3) because it teaches us childlike dependence upon him. This week I will add two more reasons.  Fourth, we must ask of Jesus in prayer because having to form specific requests teaches us how to think, feel, and ask like him. As good and necessary as it is to read, study, a

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. 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. Purchase tickets February 7, 14, and 21. Women’s Ministry Prayer Meeting: Please join the women of GCF for a monthly prayer night on the 2nd Monday of each month from 7-9 pm at Susan Fergus' home (19352 Carson Cr NW, Elk River). This is a great time to build each other up as we seek to become a house of prayer. You are welcome to bring a light snack to share or just bring yourself! If you have any questions, please contact Claire Belknap or Susan Fergus. Women’s Retreat: Ladies and teens of GCF, please mark the weekend of April 8th and 9th on your calendar for our annual women's retreat at the Association Retreat Center in Osceola, Wisconsin. Cost wil