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Showing posts from May, 2017

The Providence of God and the Work of the Gospel, Part 1, by Pastor Charlie Handren

The Providence of God and the Work of the Gospel, Part I By Pastor Charlie When George Müller was twenty-two years old, he learned of a missionary opportunity in Bucharest, Romania. After a time of prayer, he decided to apply for the position, for despite his weaknesses, he “had a great desire to live wholly for God” (Autobiography of George Müller, Westminster Literature, 23). After receiving the consent of his father and spending some time with him, he returned to Halle [Germany], and now prepared with earnestness for the work of the Lord. I set before me the sufferings which might await me. I counted the cost. And he, who once so fully served Satan, was now willing, constrained by the love of Christ, rather to suffer affliction for the sake of Jesus, ‘than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.’ I also prayed with a degree of earnestness concerning my future work. (23) However, as he prepared himself to go, he encountered an older Christian friend who was about to give

Sermon Questions - May 28, 2017

The Son Can Do Nothing on His Own John 5:19-30 May 28, 2017 Questions for Study and Meditation Read 5:19-23. What is Jesus’ main point? What are his four supporting points? (Hint: look for the word “for.”) Read 5:24-29. What’s the main subject of these verses? What is Jesus’ authority to judge? On what basis will Jesus render judgment? What will be the outcome for those who believe? For those who do not believe? Read 5:30. What is the source of Jesus’ judgment? What is Jesus’ goal in rendering judgment? What’s the most important thing you learned from today’s sermon? From John 5:19-30? 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 - May 28, 2017

Announcements - May 28, 2017 Volunteer Appreciation Sunday Today: We would like to honor and recognize all of the Sunday morning and Wednesday night volunteers who minister in our child and youth discipleship efforts. They are being honored by providing delicious coffee from Dunn Brothers for the whole church to enjoy. Grab some coffee and thank a volunteer! A list of names is available so you can personally thank them for their service. Honoring Our Graduates: We have a special event on Wednesday night, May 31 at Otsego Park from 6:00-8:30 p.m. Anyone who would like to attend a time of worship and celebration is welcome. Pastor Charlie will be speaking and Pastor Kevin will be offering the blessings to the 2017 graduates—Ethan Perry, Robert Gunderson, Annika Morgan. RSVP to Pastor Kevin. Bring a side dish to share and something to grill for your family. Love Somalia Feed My Starving Children Packing Event  Monday, June 5 from 3-6 p.m.: A Glory of Christ Fellowship Team

Sermon Questions - May 21, 2017

My Father is Working John 5:1-18 May 21, 2017 Questions for Study and Meditation Where did this story take place? Why is this place historically important? What would the daily scene have been like in those days? Why did Jesus ask if the man wanted to be healed? How did the man answer? Why did Jesus then act on his behalf? Why were the Jews upset about this healing? What were the biblical roots of their concern? How did they misunderstand the Lord S heart about the Sabbath? Why did Jesus warn the man in verse 14? Does this mean the man was responsible for his illness? Why were the Jews persecuting Jesus to the point of wanting to kill him? What’s the most important thing you learned from today’s sermon? From John 5:1-18? 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

Announcements - May 21, 2017

Announcements - May 21, 2017 Last Week of Sunday School Classes Today: Classes will resume in September. Enjoy the summer break! Volunteer Appreciation Sunday, May 28: We would like to honor and recognize all of the Sunday morning and Wednesday night volunteers who minister in our child and youth discipleship efforts. This includes volunteers who served in the nursery, Sunday school, and Wednesday night programs. We will honor them next Sunday by providing delicious coffee from Dunn Brothers for the whole church to enjoy. Coffee will be available by 8:30 a.m. There will also be a list of names available next Sunday so you can personally thank them for their service. Honoring Our Graduates: We have a special event on Wednesday night, May 31 at Otsego Park from 6:00-8:30 p.m. Anyone who would like to attend a special time of worship and celebration is welcome to attend. Pastor Charlie will be speaking and Pastor Kevin will be offering the blessings to the 2017 graduates—Et

Preaching the Word on Its Own Terms, By Pastor Charlie Handren

Preaching the Word on Its Own Terms By Pastor Charlie George Müller is well known as the founder and director of several orphanages. But did you know that his primary job was to serve as the preaching Pastor of Bethesda Chapel in Bristol, England. As Pastor George read and preached the Bible year after year, he developed the conviction that it should be read and preached from beginning to end over the life of a church. He gives five reasons why this approach is good, right, and God-exalting (from the Autobiography of George Müller , Westminster Literature, page 22). First, reading and preaching the whole Bible throws light upon critical connections between various parts and doctrines, while failing to do so makes “it utterly impossible to ever to understand much of the Scriptures.” Please think about this. If we don’t understand the whole, we cannot understand the parts. This is a critical truth, and one that is getting lost in our evangelical zeal to grow churches. Second

Sermon Questions - May 14, 2017

Mercy and Belief John 4:46-54 May 14, 2017 Questions for Study and Meditation Where did Jesus go in Galilee? Why do you suppose he returned to this particular city? Where was Capernaum and what was happening there? What was happening with the official’s son, and how was God at work in this circumstance? What did the official do and why? Why did Jesus respond as he did in 4:48? How did the official react to his question? What did Jesus decide to do and why? How did the official and his household discover the details of what Jesus had done? How did they respond? What’s the most important thing you learned from today’s sermon? From John 4:46-54? 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 - May 14, 2017

Announcements - May 14, 2017 Last Sunday for Sunday School Classes May 21: Next Sunday will be the last week for all Sunday school classes. Love Somalia Feed My Starving Children Packing Event June 2-5: 6.2 million people in Somalia need assistance with food and water, more than half of the country’s population. This is a critical need. Be a part of the solution! Register online at lovesomalia.org to pack meals. Questions? Talk with David Gunderson. Wednesday Morning Prayer Meeting :  Anyone who would like to join in corporate prayer may do so. The prayer time is from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. at the church office. Next Week’s Fighter Verse And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:24-25

Sermon Questions - May 7, 2017

My Food is to do God’s Will John 4:31-45 May 7, 2017 Questions for Study and Meditation How did the disciples react to Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman? Why were they afraid to say something to him about this? Why did the disciples urge Jesus to eat? How did he turn this conversation toward spiritual things? What is the heart of what Jesus had to say to his disciples? What did Jesus want his disciples to do in light of what he taught them? Why did the Samaritans initially believe in Jesus? What did they do in response? Why did they later believe in Jesus? When Jesus left, where did he go? How did his own people respond to him and why? What’s the most important thing you learned from today’s sermon? From John 4:31-45? 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

Announcements - May 7, 2017

Announcements - May 7, 2017 Agape Meal Today: We will share a meal together after the service. All are welcome! Quarterly Business Meeting Today: Following the Agape Meal we will meet for our quarterly business meeting. Most of the time will be devoted to discussing and voting on whether or not to affiliate with the Southern Baptist Convention. The elders are still recommending this action, and whatever the direction of the discussion we will call for the vote that day. Members of GCF are asked to attend, while all attenders are welcome. Abba Pregnancy Resource Center Fundraising Banquet This Thursday: Come May 11 at 6:30 p.m. to Fountains of Ramsey in Ramsey to hear keynote speaker Reverend John Ensor. You can still RSVP! We have seats available. RSVP via email event@abbaprc.com or phone 763.445.9650 . See Shelley Herzog with any questions. Love Somalia Feed My Starving Children Packing Event June 2-5: 6.2 million people in Somalia need assistance with food and wat

Faith and the Word: Advice from George Müller, by Pastor Charlie Handren

Faith and the Word: Advice from George Müller By Pastor Charlie George Müller is well known as a man of faith and prayer, but did you know that he read the Bible nearly two-hundred times! The reason his faith was strong and his prayers were effective was because his mind was filled with the Word of God and his prayers were shaped by the wisdom of God. For Müller, there’s no way to be a person of faith and fruitfulness without a robust commitment to the Bible, and therefore he offered his readers five pieces of advice for Bible reading ( Autobiography of George Müller , Westminster Literature, 21-22). First, above all, we should settle in our minds that only God can give insight and help us profit from our time in the Word. Therefore, we should seek him before we read, while we read, and after we read. Since Bible reading is a relational exercise, it should be shot through with prayer. Second, we should realize that while the Holy Spirit is our teacher, he teaches us in his