Glory of Christ Fellowship

In the most recent issue of  Leadership Journal (Spring 2015) the staff at Lifeway Christian Resources wrote this: “Your groups matter. A lot. Research shows that groups remain one of the most effective tools for learning the habits of faith…We see a deep connection between groups and discipleship, as God uses community that is rooted in Him to mature His people.” The Bible teaches it. Your Pastors at Glory of Christ have labored in love to help you see it for eight years. And now there’s more hard data to prove it. Jesus created and called us to do life together in him, and when we listen and obey him, he works in us. He teaches us his way of life. He transforms us together into his image. He makes of us his Temple, Body, and Bride. He glorifies himself in and through us.  Life in Christ is life together, and I pray that we at Glory of Christ will engage in this life with renewed passion, hope, and joy! 

Great letter High School Seniors and their parents should read.  http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/prepare-to-launch

Here is a helpful link to some helpful information from the Minnesota Family Council http://mfi.convio.net/site/MessageViewer?em_id=3441.0&dlv_id=7441

In his book Teach Me to Pray (Bethany House, 2002; ISBN: 0-7642-2596-0), Andrew Murray writes, “Of all the Christlike traits, none is greater and more glorious than conformity to Him in the work that engages Him without ceasing in the Father’s presence: His all-prevailing intercession. The more we abide in Him and grow in His likeness, the more His priestly life will work in us, and the more our life will become what His is: one that intercedes for others” (6). Amen. The call to join Jesus in the ministry of intercession is, in part, a fruit of the destiny Jesus has fashioned for all who believe in him, namely, to be conformed to his image. We will never be Jesus because he is God and we are not. But by grace through faith we will be like him. This is our destiny. And since the heart of his daily ministry is intercession, one of his chief desires for us is that we would ever grow in the practice of prayer until we learn to ever-intercede for others. To be more specific,...

In light of the sermon I preached this morning, here is an excellent resource to help you grow in your pursuit of humility. You can use this in your home, marriage, or community group. Here is the link: https://www.bethanycommunitychurch.org/resources/docs/1409-the_fifty_fruits_of_pride.pdf God bless, Pastor Kevin

Announcements – August 23, 2015 Baptism Service Today: There will be a picnic and Baptism service today after the worship service. The event will be at Mark and Jill Larson's home in Zimmerman. Please see the back-side of this sheet for more details. Thursday Morning Prayer Meeting : Please join us for an hour of prayer on Thursday 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 honor the Lord by maintaining appropriate boundaries. If you are unable to stop by the church office, feel free to join in wherever you are.        Student Ministries Summer Gathering : The last summer meeting will be Friday, August 28 from 4:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Otsego Park. Dress to get wet with colored water. Bring a snack/dish to share for dinner. Sunday School:  The tentative start date for 2015-2016 Sunday School is Sunday, September 20. This depends on recruiting all of our ...

We love family at GCF and we love the opportunity to disciple children and youth in the truth of Jesus Christ. Our Sunday School programming is scheduled to begin on Sunday, September 20. Here is our vision and our commitments in raising up the next generation. Our Vision: Our vision through Glory Kids is to raise children who walk in Jesus and overflow in thanksgiving to him. Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 Desiring … that children see the Bible as one continuous story that points to Jesus Christ. Aiming …to build a big picture of God’s love through Jesus Christ Believing …God-Centered theology matters in children’s ministry because we want them to be confident in God, not in themselves. Working …to help children to think biblically, to treasure the Bible, and love Jesus. Seeking …to support and...

Here is a marriage exercise taken from a workbook titled "Building Marriages God's Way" designed by Faith Lafayette Church in Indiana. The Exercise: Evaluate the way you you express love to your husband. Circle the ways you are neglecting. Ask your husband to go over the list and put a check mark in front of the ways he would like you to express love. Ask him to add other things to the list. 11. Sen him off to work with a kiss! 12. Put a love note in his sack lunch. 13. Never be his teacher or preacher (1 Peter 3:1). Let God and some man do that.  14. Be loyal to your husband in every area - seek his insight and advice on daily problems and especially on spiritual things.  Don't  show greater spiritual loyalty to another spiritual leader (pastor, man or woman teacher, books, etc.). John 15:13 15. Build loyalty to husband/dad in the children by maintaining a good attitude toward him, by praying for him with the children and by complimenting him in the ch...

Here is a marriage exercise taken from a workbook titled "Building Marriages God's Way" designed by Faith Lafayette Church in Indiana. The Exercise: Evaluate the way you you express love to your wife. Circle the ways you are neglecting. Ask your wife to go over the list and put a check mark in front of the ways she would like you to express love. Ask her to add other things to the list. You may express love to your wife by: 16. Rubbing her back or... 17. Shaving or taking a bath or brushing your teeth before you have sexual relations. 18. Wearing her favorite after-shave lotion. 19. Writing love notes or letter to her. 20. Letting her know you appreciate her and what you appreciate about her. Do this often and for things that are sometimes taken for granted. 21. Doing the dishes while she relaxes or takes a bubble bath. 22. Playing with her; sharing her hobbies and recreational preferences enthusiastically; including her in yours. 23. Seeking to set a good ...

Many are rejoicing in our day about the advances of same-sex marriage. The Supreme Court ruling by a margin of 5-4 now makes it illegal for any state to ban same-sex marriage. Depending on where you land on the spectrum of "tolerance" or rejection of same-sex marriage there are some myths to dis-spell regarding this issue. Before I get to the myths, it is crucial for me to point out that the Bible treats homosexuality as a voluntary act of rebellion against God (Romans 1:26-27). Scripture calls believers to respond to homosexual individuals with kindness, gentleness, and sympathy for their struggle (2 Timothy 2:24-26). However, there is nothing in Scripture that suggests homosexual behavior is natural or a part of God's design nor a part of human flourishing and fulfillment. Therefore, Scripture teaches that the correct response to homosexual inclinations is to repent and trust Jesus for forgiveness and strength (Luke 3:3).  Without further ado, here is the first ...

Baptism Service on August 23: There will be a picnic and Baptism service on Sunday, August 23 after the worship service. The event will be at Mark and Jill Larson's home in Zimmerman. Thursday Morning Prayer Meeting : Please join us for an hour of prayer on Thursday 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 honor the Lord by maintaining appropriate boundaries. If you are unable to stop by the church office, feel free to join in wherever you are. Pastor Charlie's Sabbatical: Pastor Charlie will officially end his sabbatical on Tuesday, August 18 but he will not be returning to the pulpit until Sunday, September 6.     Meeting At Elk River High School : GCF will be meeting in the Little Theatre at Elk River High School on August 16 for its Sunday morning worship services. GCF will return to Handke on August 23.    Student Ministries Summer Gathering : There will no...

According to Edmund Clowney in his book titled The Church, “The Reformation made the gospel, not ecclesiastical organization, the test of the true church. Three marks were defined in distinguishing a true church of Christ: true preaching of the Word; proper observance of the sacraments; and faithful exercise of church discipline.” Nine Marks is a Ministry of Mark Dever and Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington D.C. They outline nine different marks or characteristics of what a healthy church must include. You can read the PDF online. Here is a brief summary of the points: 1. Expositional Preaching: “ This is preaching whose object is to expound what is said in a particular passage of Scripture, carefully explaining its meaning and applying it to the congregation.” 2. Biblical Theology: “ Sound teaching includes a clear commitment to doctrines often neglected yet clearly biblical.” 3. A Biblical Understanding of the Good News: “ All of us as Christians should pray ...

Announcements – August 9, 2015 Baptism Service on August 23: There will be a picnic and Baptism service on Sunday, August 23 after the worship service. The event will be at Mark and Jill Larson’s home in Zimmerman. Please mark your calendars, more details will be available next week.   Women's Ministry Park Date: Ladies are welcome to attend the next park date on August 11 and enjoy fellowship at Otsego Park on the Mississippi river. Moms may bring their children. Bring a lunch and stay as long as you would like. Begins at 10:00 a.m. Boy’s 2T and 3T onesies and clothes needed. There is a Safe Family for Children in Elk River who is caring for a medically fragile 9 month old boy. He is in need of onesies and some clothes. If you are able to donate these items, see Carmen Gunderson or call her at 763.370.2041 . Meeting At Elk River High School: GCF will be meeting in the Little Theatre at Elk River High School next week, August 16 and then returni...

The TCT Network is a partnership of churches that aims to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ by starting new churches. There are currently 14 church members in the network with Glory of Christ Fellowship being one of them. Check out their website for more info—www.tctnetwork.org. Here are two churches to focus on in August: Urban Harvest Fellowship Located in North Little Rock, AR Led by Pastors Jason Vaden and Danny Games Established in 2010 ·        Þ  Pray for Urban Harvest Fellowship, as they seek to create a Cross-centered culture of grace and truth that intersects with the diverse community and impoverished neighborhoods of downtown North Little Rock. ·        Þ  Pray for this fellowship as they finish a series on prayer by looking at the apostolic prayers in the New Testament. ·        Þ   P...

Announcements – August 2, 2015 Quarterly Strategy Meeting This Morning: We will be conducting our quarterly strategy meeting following the worship service this morning in the gymnasium. Members of GCF are expected to attend and everyone is welcome to join the meeting. Women's Ministry Park Date: Ladies are welcome to attend the next park date on August 11 and enjoy fellowship at Otsego Park on the Mississippi river. Moms may bring their children. Bring a lunch and stay as long as you would like. Begins at 10:00 a.m. Boy’s 2T and 3T onesies and clothes needed. There is a Safe Family for Children in Elk River who is caring for a medically fragile 9 month old boy. He is in need of onesies and some clothes. If you are able to donate these items, see Carmen Gunderson or call her at 763.370.2041 . Meeting At Elk River High School: GCF will be meeting in the Little Theatre at Elk River High School on August 9 and 16 for its Sunday morning worship servi...