Glory of Christ Fellowship

Questions for Study and Meditation To whom is John referring when he says that God sent “John”? Why does he not specify which John he has in mind? What do we learn about John in verses 6-8? Who is the “true light of verse 9”? How do you know? What do we learn about the true light in verses 9-11? Why did the world, and even his own people, not receive him? What does he grant to those who do receive him? According to verse 13, how do the children of God become the children of God? What’s the most important thing you learned from today’s sermon? From John 1:6-13? How has this sermon helped you to grow in love for God and others? What’s the most important thing Jesus would have you do in light of this sermon? Take some time to worship Jesus. Thank him, praise him, and ask for his help as you seek to strive with other believers for the faith of the gospel.

Announcements—January 29, 2017 The Reel Hope Project: Kaycee Stanley, from this initiative, is with us this morning. She will be available for conversation and questions following the service. 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. Fellowship Directory: It’s that time again! We are assembling a new pictorial directory. We will take pictures in the gym each Sunday during the month of February. We ask that you would gather your family for a quick photo and to update your contact information. If you would prefer to use a digital picture (jpeg format) that you have, please send it to Melissa Johnson (mmjohnson512@gmail.com) by February 28. Winter Carnival Saturday, February 18: Please mark your calendar for this event, which is the date of our GCF outreach and Haiti mission trip fundraiser. Contact Pastor Kevin for...

Praying Fervently about Everything By Pastor Charlie Last week pondered Jesus’ words from John 15:7-8 and the fact that he invites us to pray with holy fervency; this week we will ponder the fact that he invites us to pray like this about anything and everything. As the Apostle Paul later wrote, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish , and it will be done for you.” And elsewhere, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6, emphasis mine). How can Jesus invite us into such a broad life of prayer? Isn’t he obligating himself to answer prayers he doesn’t want to answer? In other words, isn’t he concerned that we will ask for things that are not glorifying to him and good for us and others? The answer to this question would be “yes,” were it not for the conditions that Jesus laid out in the first part of the verse, namely, “If you abide ...

In the Beginning John 1:1-5 January 22, 2017 Questions for Study and Meditation Why does John begin his Gospel with the words “in the beginning”? Why does John refer to Jesus as “the Word”? What does he then teach us about the Word in these opening verses? What is the relationship between light and life? How does this relate to the theme of creation? What’s the most important thing you learned from today’s sermon? From John 1:1-5? How has this sermon helped you to grow in love for God and others? What’s the most important thing Jesus would have you do in light of this sermon? Take some time to worship Jesus. Thank him, praise him, and ask for his help as you seek to strive with other believers for the faith of the gospel.

Announcements - January 22, 2017 Resources for the Gospel of John Series: In order to help you get the most out of this series, you’ll find three resources on the Information Table: A Brief Introduction to the Gospel of John, by Pastor Charlie, An Introduction to the Gospel of John, by Pastor Charlie, and Gospel of John Sermon Journal , by Mike Mitchell. Winter Carnival Saturday, February 18 : Please mark your calendar for this event, which is the date of our GCF outreach and Haiti mission trip fundraiser . Contact Pastor Kevin for more information. Invite your friends now. Invite cards are available. Sanctity of Human Life Sunday Today: In celebrating life and remembrance of the anniversary of Roe v Wade, Abba will have a display on the Missions Table. Information about the ministry and educational items are available. Thank you for your prayers and support in the “Fight for Life." Biblical Counseling Conference: The conference is sponsored by Faith Lafayette and...

Ask Whatever You Wish and It Will Be Done By Pastor Charlie Handren Jesus said in John 15:7-8, “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. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” The word “ask” in the original language is a strong one. It means to beg, to call for, to crave, to desire, and even to require of the one entreated. That is to say, this word implies great passion, intensity, and fervency in prayer. And indeed, fervency is a necessary aspect of all true praying. Consider these words from the nineteenth-century pastor E. M. Bounds: Prayers must be red hot. It is the fervent prayer that is effectual and that availeth. Coldness of spirit hinders praying; prayer cannot live in a wintry atmosphere. Chilly surroundings freeze out petitioning; and dry up the springs of supplication. It takes fire to ma...

These are popular Christian buzz words. They effectively categorize two very different approaches to life and every single issue within life. They are even used to assess the status of a church and their respective ministries. The “seeker friendly” church might be critiqued as being too man-centered. For the reformed Christian looking for some serious meat to chew on, God-centered all the way. In 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 Paul seems to differentiate between two very different approaches for discerning wisdom. Man-centered wisdom is a human project that relies on the collaborative effort of man to build it's tower from the ground up, trying to reach the heavens. God-centered would refer to man receiving something that God has already created, coming to us out of the heavens and touches the earth. Lets take a look at what Paul says: Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we...

This past weekend I had the privilege of leading our 2017 Winter Retreat at Timber Bay Camp. Ok, maybe it was only mostly great as I found myself sounding like my own father barking at me when I was their age. I would do the same kind of crazy stuff these kids did and I couldn't understand what the big deal was. Yes, I stood in shock as these boys were cracking open cans of Mountain Dew just five minutes before lights out. As I near age 40 I can hardly sniff a Mountain Dew after 1:00 P.M. without it destroying my sleep. Somehow they handle the caffeine and somehow they slam their bloodstream with 70 grams of sugar within minutes of capping z's. Wow! I stand amazed, like watching Aaron Rodgers zip impossible throws to his receivers or watching some kind of magician. I was left wondering, how do they do that? I suppose every teenage boy is like a Houdini of snacking and sleeping, somehow consuming about 3000 calories just five minutes before being sound asleep. That wasn...

The Gospel of John  So that You May Believe  John 20:30-31  January 15, 2017  Study and Meditation Questions How did John know that Jesus did “many other signs” in the presence of his disciples? Why did he choose to highlight only seven of them? Why did John write the Gospel of John? What does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ? What is the reward of believing in Jesus Christ? What’s the most important thing you learned from today’s sermon? From John 20:30-31? How has this sermon helped you to grow in love for God and others? What’s the most important thing Jesus would have you do in light of this sermon? Take some time to worship Jesus. Thank him, praise him, and ask for his help as you seek to strive with other believers for the faith of the gospel.

Announcements - January 15, 2016 GCF Annual Business Meeting Tonight at 6 p.m.: We will meet at the Fergus' home. Members are asked to attend while all attendees are welcome. All Sunday School Classes Resume Today: The Adult Sunday School Class will begin a study on world religions. On February 12,  a membership class will be offered. Resources for the Gospel of John Series: In order to help you get the most out of this series, you’ll find three resources on the Information Table: A Brief Introduction to the Gospel of John, by Pastor Charlie, An Introduction to the Gospel of John, by Pastor Charlie, and Gospel of John Sermon Journal , by Mike Mitchell. Winter Carnival Saturday, February 18 : This is an opportunity for our church to reach out into our community and invite friends as well as raise funds for our Student ministries Haiti missions trip in June. We would like to get as many people involved as possible. Please contact Pastor Kevin for information on how y...

Will We Really Do Greater Works than Jesus? By Pastor Charlie Handren In John 14:12-14 Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” When carefully considered, Jesus’ words are stunning to the point of disbelief. That is, they roll off the tongue with ease but only infiltrate the heart as we meditate, pray, and allow the Holy Spirit to do his work in us. No one had ever done the works Jesus did. He taught with unusual authority. He exercised irresistible power over evil spirits, including Satan himself. He healed the sick and raised the dead. He commanded the winds and waves and other natural things and they obeyed him. Given the extraordinary and regular occurrence of such works in Jesus’ life, what can it possi...

Proverbs 12:1  Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. Today I would like to focus on helping parents raise children to avoid biblical stupidity. In other words, if you read yesterday's entry you will remember that stupid in the Bible refers to a kind of refusal to submit to God's authority and accept correction from him. Living as if God doesn't have this place of authority in your life is what the Bible calls senseless and stupid. Thus, it isn't a put-down in the American application of it as much as it is a warning against those who insist on living in rebellion to God.  The question we can ask today is this: is there anything that parents can do to help their children appreciate authority and appreciate correction in their lives? Yes, I think there is. Assuming we agree that God's authority and our submission to it is reflected in the human relationships we keep, then the way children learn to respond to parents will ...

Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. From my kitchen table I can look out into the backyard where the earth is covered in a blanket of snow. Our Christmas tree, which we plan to burn, occupies our vacant deck. Even though it is lying on the boards horizontally as if dead (actually, it is dead), it is covered in snow and gives the slight feel of being up north where pine after pine is decorated in snow, giving glory to God who dusted them so artistically. This scene has nothing to do with this blog, other than it was the place I was sitting when I read the Bible with my eight year old son this morning. January 12, that means Proverbs 12. So simple, even an eight year old can understand, the tricky part is making the Bible more interesting than any device with the so called retina display. The Bible has retina display, you know. In fact, there is no damage on the retina to read the Bible the old fashioned way. Speaking of tree...

Praying for Boldness Acts 4:23-31 January 8, 2017 Sermon Questions 1. What’s the most important thing you learned from today’s sermon? From Acts 4:23-31? 2. How has this sermon helped you to grow in love for God and others? 3. What’s the most important thing Jesus would have you do in light of this sermon? 4. Take some time to worship Jesus. Thank him, praise him, and ask for his help as you seek to strive with other believers for the faith of the gospel.

January 8, 2017 Agape Meal Today : We will share a meal together after the service. All are welcome! Sunday School Schedule for 2017: We will resume all Sunday school classes on January 15. All-Church Quarterly Prayer Meeting this Wednesday: Join us for our quarterly prayer meeting at the Handke Center from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. We will pray for all Glory of Christ ministries to bear fruit in 2017 and the upcoming trip to Romania for Pastor Charlie and Ethan Larson. Child care will be provided. GCF Annual Business Meeting Sunday, January 15 at 6 p.m.: We will meet at the Fergus' home. Members are asked to attend while all attenders are welcome. 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 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? An...