Glory of Christ Fellowship

The Lord Ordained It 2 Samuel 17:1-29 August 28, 2016 Study Questions 1.   Read 2 Samuel 17:1-4. What did Ahithophel counsel Absalom to do with regard to his father? Who all thought this counsel was right? 2.  R ead 2 Samuel 17:5-14. Why did Absalom seek Hushai’s counsel? What was his counsel and why? What was Absalom’s decision and what was the ultimate reason behind it? 3.   Read 2 Samuel 17:15-22. When he saw that his counsel was received, what action did Hushai take and why? How did David respond to the news that was delivered to him? 4.   Read 2 Samuel 17:23-29. When he saw that his counsel was not followed, what did Ahithophel do and why? Where did David and Absalom go? How did the Lord show his grace to David? 5.  W hat’s the most important thing you learned from the sermon and your personal study? 6.   How has today’s message helped you to grow in love for God and others? 7.   What is the most important thing Jesus woul...

Announcements—August 28,  2016 All Church Prayer Meeting:   We encourage everyone to attend our night of prayer— Wednesday, August 31 at the Handke Cafeteria from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Childcare will be provided. Sunday School:  If you are interested in serving in the Sunday School ministry this year please contact Pastor Kevin. We have a few needs for Preschool and elementary age classes. Men’s Retreat:   Attention men! The 2016 men’s retreat is scheduled for October 13-15. Please mark your calendars. There will be more information available soon. 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, September 8. 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. Arrive Ministries Needs Cleaning Sup...

God, My Exceeding Joy By Pastor Charlie Last Sunday afternoon through Tuesday, I went on a personal prayer retreat at Charles A. Lindbergh State Park near Little Falls, Minnesota. My heart was simply to spend extended time with the Lord and reflect on my life with him as well as on the upcoming year of ministry at Glory of Christ. On Sunday evening, I read Psalm 43 which was most likely written by King David. He begins by pleading with the Lord for help and vindication against an enemy that’s too strong for him. He has taken refuge in the Lord, but he also feels rejected by the Lord, and so he seeks his face. David cries out in verses 3-4. “Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling [the tabernacle]! Then I will go to the altar of God [the ark of the covenant], to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.” Then he concludes the Psalm by preaching to his soul, “Why are...

The Strange Sovereignty of God 2 Samuel 16:1-23 August 21, 2016 Study Questions 1.   Read 2 Samuel 16:1-4. Who is Ziba? Why did he come to King David? Where were they? What news did he bring to the King? How did the King respond? 2.   Read 2 Samuel 16:5-14. Who was Shimei? Why was he so angry? What specifically did he say to David? How did David respond? What does this reveal to us about David’s heart? Where did David and his people refresh themselves? 3.   Read 2 Samuel 16:15-23. With his father in exile, what did Absalom do? How did Hushai relate to him and why? Who was Ahithophel and why was he so highly esteemed? 4.   What’s the most important thing you learned from the sermon and your personal study? 5.   How has today’s message helped you to grow in love for God and others? 6.   What is the most important thing Jesus would have you do in light of 2 Samuel 16? 7.   Take some time to worship Jesus. Thank him, praise him, ...

Announcements – August 21, 2016 Women’s Ministry and Children’s Fellowship:  The next Women’s ministry fellowship at Elysia Larson’s home will be on Tuesday, August 23 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Ladies are encouraged to attend for fellowship. Children are also invited to come and play. All Church Prayer Meeting:  There will be a prayer meeting on Wednesday, August 31 at the Handke from 6:30-8:00 p.m.  We encourage everyone to attend our night of prayer. Childcare will be provided. Sunday School:  If you are interested in serving in the Sunday School ministry this year please contact Pastor Kevin. We have a few needs for Preschool and elementary age classes. GCF Quarterly Meeting Today:  We will be holding a quarterly meeting after the worship service today. Members of GCF are asked to attend while all attenders of GCF are welcome. Pivot Meeting:  The college age (and beyond) ministry meets on alternating Thursday evenings. 7:00 p.m. at Josiah ...

Give Thanks Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  Psalm 103:1-5 Psalm 103 is a psalm of thanksgiving. The reason why giving thanks and being thankful is so important is because it might be the single most distinctive characteristic of being a Christian. This is most plausible when we look at the way the atheist is described in Romans 1:21  For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God  or give thanks to him .  Thus, if the refusal to give thanks to God marks the atheist, giving thanks ought to mark the believer. And for good reason. The believer, afterall, has good reason to give thanks to God. The believer has good reason and m...

Let the Lord Do What Seems Good 2 Samuel 15:1-37 August 14, 2016 Study Questions 1.   Read 2 Samuel 15:1-12. Having received so much grace from King David, how did Absalom then plot against him? Why did he do this? How long do you suppose this coup was in his heart? Why did the hearts of Israel gravitate toward Absalom? 2.   Read 2 Samuel 15:13-23. How did David find out about Absalom’s conspiracy? Why did he take such drastic and immediate action? Who went with him and why? 3.   Read 2 Samuel 15:24-37. Who were Abiathar and Zadok? Why did they bring the ark of the covenant to David? What did David instruct them to do? How does this reveal his heart for the Lord and his wisdom? What did he instruct these men and Hushai to do? What is the significance of the fact that David ascended the Mount of Olives weeping and mourning? 4.   What’s the most important thing you learned from the sermon and your personal study? 5.   How has today’s message h...

Announcements—August 14, 2016 All-Church Picnic Today at Orono Park after the Service: Bring a picnic lunch and join us for fellowship and to hear more from Catherine Rivard—Bible translator in Papua New Guinea. Women’s Ministry and Children’s Fellowship:  The next Women’s ministry fellowship at Elysia Larson’s home will be on Tuesday, August 16, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. 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, August 25. GCF Quarterly Meeting on August 21:  We will be holding a quarterly meeting on Sunday, August 21 following the worship service. Members of GCF are asked to attend while all attenders of GCF are welcome. Church-Wide Quarterly Prayer Meeting: On Wednesday, August 31 , we will meet together for prayer at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Desiring to be a house of prayer for all natio...

Should Christians Take Vacation? By Pastor Charlie As most of you know, Kim and I returned on Tuesday from a three-week vacation. By God’s grace and your generosity, the vocational pastors of GCF are given four weeks of vacation each year, and for this we are grateful to the Lord and you. When I’m on vacation, I unplug as much as possible from e-mail, phone calls, and social media. Yet, this year I still heard several stories that caused me to ask the question, “Is it right for Christians to take vacation?” The first story was about an Indian Pastor who was bound and beat to death because he refused to stop preaching the gospel. The second story was of a young couple and their three children who were in the final stages of traveling to Japan to serve as career missionaries when their lives were cut short by a car accident. The third story was of some gospel opportunities that have opened up in some restricted countries where Jesus is seldom preached. Again, as I pondered eac...

In Order To Change The Course Of Things 2 Samuel 14:1-33 August 7, 2016 Study Questions 1.    Read 2 Samuel 14:1-11. What was Joab’s plan to persuade David to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem? Why did he do this? Why didn’t he just go talk to David himself? 2.    Read 2 Samuel 14:12-20. How did the woman of Tekoa specifically apply her words to King David? How did David respond to her? How did he know that Joab was behind this? 3.    Read 2 Samuel 14:21-24. What was David’s decree? How did Joab respond to it? What did Joab do? 4.   Read 2 Samuel 14:25-33. What do we learn about Absalom in these verses? What was his life like in Jerusalem and why? Why was David reluctant to bring him into his presence? How did Absalom ultimately reunite with the King? What do you think were his motives? 5.    What’s the most important thing you learned from the sermon and your personal study? 6.    How has today’s message help...

Announcements – August 7, 2016 All Church Picnic/Missionary Meeting Visit: Catherine Rivard, missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Papua New Guinea, will be visiting with us on Sunday, August 14. Catherine will make a brief presentation in the worship service, and then stay for a picnic at Orono Park where we can fellowship together and hear more from Catherine. The picnic is a "bring your own food" event; we'll provide plates, cups, utensils, and water to drink. Women’s Ministry and Children’s Fellowship: The next Women’s ministry fellowship at Elysia Larson’s home will be on Tuesday, August 9 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Ladies are encouraged to attend for fellowship. Children are also invited to come and play. GCF Quarterly Meeting on August 21: We will be holding a quarterly meeting on August 21 following the worship service. Members of GCF are asked to attend while all attenders of GCF are welcome. Pastor Charlie On Vacation: Pastor Charlie will be on ...

Owners of Good – Thoughts on Proverbs 3:27 By Pastor Kevin Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Proverbs 3:27 There is a better way to understand this proverb. The Hebrew more literally reads, “do not withhold good from  its owners .  We know that Proverbs concerns itself with wisdom and folly. Thus, following this teaching puts on the path to pursuing wisdom. Ray Ortlund has this to say about this proverb: …in a culture of life people help each other as much as they can. We cannot do the impossible. We cannot give what we do not have. But when it is in our power to do it, when we have it with us, wisdom says, ‘give it away.’ The grace of Jesus taught the Apostle Paul to say, ‘I am a debtor’ (Romans 1:14). He did not see himself as a demander but a debtor. Nobody owed him a hearing. He won a hearing by loving people the way God loved him—graciously. The amazing insight of Proverbs 3:27...