Glory of Christ Fellowship

The Lord Will Not Forsake His People 1 Samuel 12:1-25 October 30, 2016 Study Questions 1.   Read 1 Samuel 12:1-25, noting carefully the main points of Samuel’s address to Israel. What was the context for Samuel’s address? What were his major themes? 2.   Throughout this series, Pastor Charlie has said that 1 Samuel 12:22 is the theme verse for all of 1-2 Samuel. Do you agree? If not, why not? What would you consider to be the theme verse? 3.   If so, how so? How does this idea help the entire story to hang together? How does this idea, and the entire story, drive us to look toward Jesus? 4.   What’s are the most important things you have learned from this series in 1-2 Samuel? 5.   How has this series helped you to grow in love for God and others? 6.   What are the most important things Jesus would have you do in light of this series? 

Announcements—October 30,  2016 Student Ministries—Bowling and Game Night on Saturday, November 5 at 6:00 p.m. We will bowl at 6:00 p.m. in St. Michael at Big Al’s and then go over to Feder’s home for game night. APRC Baby Bottles: Anyone that has yet to turn in a baby bottle for Abba, please give them to Susan Fergus. On behalf of everyone at Abba, thank you for giving to the ministry. We are very grateful for your support and prayers. Agape Meal Next Sunday: Next week is Communion Sunday and we will share a meal together after the service. See the back of the announcements for full details about this monthly, all-church meal. Father Daughter Dinner on Saturday, November 12: Fathers and daughters (age 6 & up) mark your calendars for a special night at Rockwoods,, November 12. Tickets will be on sale on30 and November 6 for $10 a couple or household. This will be a great night you won't want to miss! Wednesday Morning Prayer Meeting : Anyone who would lik...

How to Pray for Revival: Part II By Ray Ortlund Last week, I (Pastor Charlie) shared with you that Pastor Kevin, Karen, and I traveled to California to meet with the pastors and leaders of the Treasuring Christ Together Network (TCTN). The TCTN is our family of churches, and the Lord truly blessed our time together. As I was praying for our gathering a couple of weeks ago, my heart was filled with desire to pray for revival for our country and thus last week I shared Part I of a very good article by Ray Ortlund on how to pray for revival. Here’s Part II. Please read it carefully and more importantly, join with me in praying that God will pour out his grace and power upon our land. Ortlund writes… “When Jonathan Edwards described the awakening in his church, he had to use words like ‘surprising,’ ‘extraordinary’ and ‘astonishing.’ The Bible says of the early church that ‘awe came upon every soul’ ( Acts 2:43 ).  We can’t program that into our worship: 10:45 am – Awe comes...

Keep the Charge of the Lord 1 Kings 1:1-2:12 October 23, 2016 Study Questions 1.   Read 1 Kings 1:1-4. Why does the author make a point of saying that, in his old age, David was attended by a beautiful, young woman? What else does the author tell us about David and his relationship with her? Why does this matter? 2.   Read 1 Kings 1:5-10. Use a study Bible and answer: who was Adonijah? Who followed him? Who refused to follow him? Why do you think this was so? 3.   Read 1 Kings 1:11-27. Why were Bathsheba’s and Solomon’s life on the line here? What was Nathan’s plan to save them? 4.   Read 1 Kings 1:28-53. What was David’s response to Nathan and to Bathsheba? What did he instruct his people to do? How did Adonijah respond? What specifically did Solomon do? 5.   Read 1 Kings 2:1-12. What is the heart of David’s charge to Solomon? How does it relate to 2 Samuel 7? How does the news reported in verses 10-12 relate to this charge? 6.   W...

Announcements—October 23, 2016 Frugal Living—Practical Tips for Women Workshop on Saturday, October 29: Come and hear Elysia Larson share experiences from her own life of living frugally. Bring a friend! Saturday, October 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Susan Fergus’ home. Father Daughter Dinner on Saturday, November 12: Fathers and daughters (age 6 & up) mark your calendars for a special night at Rockwoods, November 12. Tickets will be on sale on30 and November 6 for $10 a couple or household. This will be a great night you won't want to miss! 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. Praying for Muslims 2017—A Guide for Effective Intercession : There are a few guides available on the missions table. Please take one if you would be willing to commit to praying in 2017. Next Week’s Fighter Verse Trust in the LORD with all your ...

How to Pray for Revival: Part I By Ray Ortlund After church today, I (Pastor Charlie) will be traveling to California to meet with the pastors of the Treasuring Christ Together Network (TCTN) for a time of retreat, prayer, and strategizing. Pastor Kevin and Karen will be flying out on Tuesday. The TCTN is the family of churches to which we belong and with which we serve, and as I think about our common ministry, my heart longs to pray with you for a revival to break out in our country. In that spirit, I want to share a helpful article over the next two weeks by Ray Ortlund on how to pray for revival. I pray that God will inspire you as you read so that you’ll add this kind of praying to your daily routine. Ortlund writes… “When Jonathan Edwards described the awakening in his church, he had to use words like ‘surprising,’ ‘extraordinary’ and ‘astonishing.’ The Bible says of the early church that ‘awe came upon every soul’ ( Acts 2:43 ). We can’t program that into our worship: ...

In Psalm 102:4-5 we hear the Psalmist say:  My heart is struck down like grass and has withered' I forget to eat my bread. Because of my loud moaning my bones cling to my flesh. What in the world does this mean, that his bones cling to his flesh? Perhaps a better way to think about it is that his flesh clings to his bones, draped over his skeleton like a soft blanket that reveals the jagged frame beneath it. In this case, the writer is describing a situation in which he is so distressed that his physical is paying the price. There are two possibilities: 1. The Psalmist has chosen to stop eating his bread because he is too distressed to eat 2. He has fasted for God's favor to be shown again and his physical condition reveals the desperation he feels in his heart for God I suppose a third option is possible and that is that God is angry with his people and his physical condition is a result of this. Consider Isaiah 10:16 Therefore the Lord God of hosts...

Let Us Fall into the Hand of the Lord 2 Samuel 24:1-25 October 16, 2016 Study Questions 1.   Read 2 Samuel 24:1-3. Why was the Lord angry with Israel? Why did he then incite him to count Israel and Judah? Why was this a problem or a sin? Since 1 Chronicles 21:1 says Satan incited David to do this, who is ultimately responsible for David’s action? 2.   Read 2 Samuel 24:4-9. How long did it take to conduct the census? How many fighting men were there in the nation? Why would it be important to know this? Again, why was it sinful to search out this exact information? 3.  R ead 2 Samuel 24:10-17. What caused David to be struck with grief to the point of repentance? Why did the Lord offer the particular punishments he did? Which did David choose and why? How many died at that time and how? How are we to understand “the angel of the Lord”? 4.   Read 2 Samuel 24:18-25. Why did the prophet Gad command David to go where he went and do what he did? When Davi...

Announcements—October 16,  2016 Respect Life Month—Abba PRC Baby Bottle Boomerang! Just a reminder to return those baby bottles filled with coins, currency, and/or checks to Shelley Herzog by Sunday, October 23 .The donations from these bottles make a huge  difference in the lives of the clients, babies and unborn babies. Thank you for showing God’s love to the ministry of Abba PRC. Fall Women’s Bible Study to Begin this Week on Thursday, October 20 : We will be studying the Sermon on the Mount , using a guide written by Jen Wilkin. Join us at Susan Fergus’ home on Thursday, October 20, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. If you need to order a book, talk with Susan. Frugal Living—Practical Tips for Women Workshop on Saturday, October 29: Come and hear Elysia Larson share experiences from her own life of living frugally. Bring a friend! Saturday, October 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Susan Fergus’ home. Father Daughter Dinner on Saturday, November 12: Fathers and daugh...

Beholding the Glory of God in Christ, Part II By Pastor Charlie Handren      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).      ...

Psalm 101 1 I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will make music. 2 I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; 3 I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. 4 A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. 5 Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. 6 I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me. 7 No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes. 8 Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD. This Psalm ...

Psalm 98 Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for  he has done  marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked  salvation for him. The LORD  has made known  his salvation; he  has revealed  his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered  his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD! Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge  the world with righteousness, and th...

The Lord Has Made an Everlasting Covenant 2 Samuel 23:1-39 October 9, 2016 Study Questions 1.   Read 2 Samuel 23:1-7. What does it mean to say that these are “the last words of David”? Why is David described as he is in verse 1? 2.   David says that the Lord speaks by him? How do we know that this is true? What specifically did the Lord speak in these particular words? 3.   How does the Lord’s “everlasting covenant” with David relate to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-4) and the cross of Christ? What significance does it have for the nations of the earth? For us? 4.   Who did David have in mind when he referred to “worthless men”? To whom does this section of the song ultimately refer (see, for example, Revelation 21:8)? 5.   Read 2 Samuel 23:8-39. What is the author’s intent in providing us with the list of David’s mighty men? Why does he work the short stories into this list? How does this list relate to David’s last words? 6.   What’s the m...

Announcements—October 9, 2016 All-Church Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, October 12: We will gather together for worship and prayer in the Cafeteria starting at 6:30 p.m. All are encouraged to attend. Child care will be provided. Respect Life Month—Abba PRC Baby Bottle Boomerang! Celebrate Respect Life Month and bless Abba Pregnancy Resource Center in Elk River. On Sundays , October 2 and 9 , baby bottles will be available to take home and fill with coins, currency, and/or checks. There will be a sign-up sheet on the Missions table for number of bottles to be checked out. Please return the bottles to Shelley Herzog by October 23 . The donations from these bottles make a huge difference in the lives of the clients, babies and unborn babies. Thank you for showing God’s love to the ministry of Abba PRC. Men’s Retreat: Attention men! The 2016 men’s retreat is scheduled for October 13-15 . Please sign up by filling out a brochure. Make checks payable to GCF and write “Men’s Re...