Glory of Christ Fellowship

Last Sunday School is Today: Today is our last Sunday School for 2015-2016. Be sure to thank all of the teachers who labored to teach God’s Word. Nursery Volunteer Appreciation: We are honoring the faithful nursery volunteers who served in 2015-2016 this morning. Please enjoy complimentary coffee from Dunn Brothers or juice and be sure to thank the volunteers personally (listed on the back side of this sheet) for their faithfulness to our children. 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 Thursday, May 26. Church Membership Class: Pastor Charlie is currently leading a Sunday School class during the second hour in room 110 on Church Membership. Wednesday Morning Prayer Meeting : Anyone who would like to join in corporate prayer may do so. The prayer time is 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. at the church office. Next Week’s Fighter Verse: Have you not known? Hav

The King of the Tribe of Praise 2 Samuel 2:1-32 May 22, 2016 Study Questions 1.       Read 2 Samuel 2:1-7. What led David to return to Judah? Where precisely did he go? Who went with him? 2.       Why do you think the leaders of Judah anointed David as their king? How does this action relate to the prophecy that is David’s life regarding Jesus? 3.       How did David respond when he heard of what the people of Jabesh-Gilead had done? How else could he have responded? 4.     Read 2 Samuel 2:8-11. Why did Abner make Ish-bosheth king over Israel? Who was he to take such an action? How long did Ish-bosheth reign? How long did David reign over Judah? 5.       Read 2 Samuel 2:12-32. Details aside, why did these men go to battle against one another? What was at stake? What did each of them hope to accomplish? What was the outcome and why did it matter? 6.       What’s the most important thing you learned from the sermon and your personal study? 7.       How has today

“God very frequently acts in grace in such a manner that we can find a parallel in nature. For instance, God says, ‘As the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, even so shall my word be, it shall not return unto me void, it shall accomplish that which I please, it shall prosper in the thing whereto I have sent it.’ “We find him speaking concerning the coming of Christ, ‘He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass, as showers that water the earth.’ We find him liking the covenant of grace to the covenant which he made with Noah concerning the seasons, and with man concerning the different revolutions of the year—‘Seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.’ “We find that the works of creation are very frequently the mirror of the works of grace, and that we can draw figures from the world of Nature to illustrate the great acts of God in the world of his grace toward his people. “But sometimes G

How the Mighty Have Fallen 2 Samuel 1:1-27 May 15, 2016 Study Questions 1.       Read 2 Samuel 1:1-10. In light of 1 Samuel 29-30, what might David have been feeling in the days after his rousing victory against the Amalekites? What was the likely condition of Ziklag at that time? 2.        Who precisely is the young man who comes to David and how does this add tension to the story (see verse 13)? In light of 1 Samuel 31, do you think the young man is lying about the manner in which Saul died? If so, what would be his motive? 3.     Read 2 Samuel 1:11-16. Given all they had been through, why did David and his men react to Saul's death as they did? How did David respond to the young man and why? Was he right to respond in this way? 4.     Read 2 Samuel 1:17-27. Why did David write a song in honor of Saul? Why did he teach it specifically to the people of Judah? What are the major themes of the song? What does it teach you about the nature of anointed leadership?

Last Sunday School is May 22: Our last Sunday School for 2015-2016 will be next Sunday, May 22. Be sure to thank all of the teachers who labored to teach God’s Word. Nursery Appreciation: Next Sunday, May 22, we will be appreciating our Nursery volunteers by offering coffee and juice from Panera Bread for everyone to enjoy. 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 Thursday, May 26. Church Membership Class: Pastor Charlie is currently leading a Sunday School class during the second hour in room 110 on Church Membership. Wednesday Morning Prayer Meeting : Anyone who would like to join in corporate prayer may do so. The prayer time is 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. at the church office. Next Week’s Fighter Verse: Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. Ephesians 4:26

Last week, drawing on Ephesians 5:8, 2 Corinthians 3-4, 1 John 3, and the work of John Owen, we saw that the way Christians transform from darkness into light is by beholding the glory of God in the face of Christ, and this occurs as we seek Christ by his Word and prayer. This leads to Owen’s second bit of counsel: “Secondly, we need to think much about him if we wish to enjoy him fully (1 Peter 1:8). If we are satisfied with vague ideas about him we shall find no transforming power communicated to us. But when we cling whole-heartedly to him and our minds are filled with thoughts of him and we constantly delight ourselves in him, the spiritual power will flow from him to purify our hearts, increase our holiness, strengthen our graces, and sometimes fill us ‘with joy inexpressible and full of glory’” (The Glory of Christ, 115). Here’s one way to summarize what Owen is saying: if you want to behold the glory of Christ, then you must strive to behold the glory of Christ. The sight of Ch

The Death of Saul 1 Samuel 31:1-13 May 8, 2016 Study Questions 1.       Read 1 Samuel 31:1-7 and then skim read 28:3-25. How do these two chapters connect? How do they relate to chapters 26-27 and 29-30? What is the Lord trying to show us in the layout of these chapters? 2.       Google “Mount Gilboa” to find where it was and to see actual pictures of it. Stare at the pictures and take in the geographical context. 3.     Ultimately, why was Israel so badly defeated in this battle? How exactly did Saul, his sons, and his armor-bearer die? How does this connect to previous chapters? Why did Jonathan, who was faithful to the Lord, have to die along with them? 4.       How did the rest of Israel respond to this tragic battle? What was the ultimate outcome? 5.       Read 1 Samuel 31:8-13. Why did the Lord allow Saul’s body to be treated in this way? To whom did the Philistines send the news of his death? 6.     Who were the people of Jabesh-Gilead? What relationship

All-Church Prayer Meeting: Everyone is invited to an all-church prayer meeting on May 11 in the Handke cafeteria from 6:30-8:00 p.m. As GCF seeks to be a house of prayer we encourage everyone to participate. Childcare will be available. Women’s Ministry Prayer Meeting: The all church prayer meeting will take the place of the monthly women’s ministry prayer meeting which normally occurs on the second Monday evening of the month. “Act Like Men” Conference: All men 13 and up are invited to a time of fellowship on Saturday, May 14 at Pastor Kevin’s home (8-11:30 a.m.). There will be a hearty breakfast provided and teaching on biblical manhood. Please R.S.V.P. by Wednesday, May 11. Church Membership Class: Pastor Charlie is currently leading a Sunday School class during the second hour in room 110 on Church Membership. Wednesday Morning Prayer Meeting : Anyone who would like to join in corporate prayer may do so. The prayer time is 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. at the church

Ephesians 5:8 teaches believers that “at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” This is an awesome truth and since it is in the Word of God we believe it, but the question is this: how does this work? In the ebb and flow of daily life, how do believers transform from darkness to light? In brief, here are my answers: (1) We transform from darkness to light by beholding the glory of God in the face of Christ [2 Corinthians 4:6]; (2) We grow in holiness and Christ-likeness by beholding the glory of God in the face of Christ [2 Corinthians 3:18]; and (3) The destiny of every Christian is to be thoroughly and totally transformed by beholding the glory of God in the face of Christ [1 John 3:1-3]. If what I’ve suggested is true, then the question becomes this: How do we behold the glory of God in the face of Christ? There are many important answers to this question, but over the next two weeks I want to offer you two thoughts from John Owen’s The Glory of Ch

Strengthening Ourselves in the Lord 1 Samuel 30:1-31 May 1, 2016 Study Questions 1.   Read 1 Samuel 30:1-6. What was the crisis David and his men were facing? What recent circumstances made this seem unbearable to them? How did David’s men respond? How did David respond? 2.     Read 1 Samuel 30:7-15. Having turned to the Lord, what did David do? How did God specifically guide him? How does this demonstrate the grace of God in his life? 3.       Read 1 Samuel 30:16-20. How did the Lord hand the Amalekites over to David? How does this relate to 1 Samuel 15? 4.       Read 1 Samuel 30:21-25. How did David treat others in light of how the Lord had treated him? To whom did he give glory? 5.     Read 1 Samuel 30:26-31. Why did David send offerings to the leaders of Judah? What was the Lord’s design in these gifts? 6.       What’s the most important thing you learned from the sermon and your personal study? 7.       How has today’s message helped you to grow in love f

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. Quarterly Meeting Today: The quarterly meeting for GCF will held today after the worship service as part of the Agape meal. All Church Prayer Meeting: Everyone is invited to an all church prayer meeting on May 11. As GCF seeks to be a house of prayer, we encourage everyone to participate. Childcare will be available. Handke, 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. “Act Like Men” Conference: All men 13 and up are invited to a time of fellowship on Saturday, May 14 at Pastor Kevin’s home (8-11:30 a.m.). There will be a hearty breakfast provided and teaching on biblical manhood. Please R.S.V.P. by Wednesday, May 11. 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. Church Membership Class: Pastor Charli