Glory of Christ Fellowship

Announcements - July 30, 2017 Change in Location for Sunday Worship Services from July 16-August 20: We will be worshiping at Elk River High School July 16 through August 20. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us there! Pastor Charlie on Vacation July 17-August 7: Pastor Charlie is  on vacation until August 7. If you need assistance with anything, please contact Pastor Kevin at kevin@gcfmn.org. Please pray for the Handrens as they draw away with Jesus and seek to refresh their souls in Him together. Youth Camping Trip August 6-9: The youth camping trip is targeted to high school students but junior high students who enjoy hiking and camping are also welcome to attend. This is an adventurous trip designed to use exploration in God's creation as a way to make disciples for the glory of Christ. If you would like to sign up you can do so by submitting $10 payment to Pastor Kevin. Please direct any questions to Pastor Kevin (kevin@gcfmn.org). Quarterly Busine...

Growing in Grace by Praying to God By Pastor Charlie The Apostle Peter drew his second letter to a close with these wise and pastoral words: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18). The word “grow” is an exhortation and a command, and it implies that if we’re to progress in Christ we must play an active role, by the grace of Christ, in building habits that nurture our progress. Therefore, I am offering a series of devotionals this summer on eight essential habits that help us to grow in grace. For today, let’s consider the place of prayer in the Christian life. Paul writes in Colossians 4:2, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” The words “continue steadfastly,” like Peter’s word “grow,” implies that we who love Jesus must put forth effort by the grace of Jesus and learn to talk to him about everything. And this is, of course, the...

Announcements - July 23, 2017 Change in Location for Sunday Worship Services from July 16-August 20: We will be worshiping at Elk River High School July 16 through August 20. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us there! Pastor Charlie on Vacation July 17-August 7: Pastor Charlie is  on vacation until August 7. If you need assistance with anything, please contact Pastor Kevin at kevin@gcfmn.org. Please pray for the Handrens as they draw away with Jesus and seek to refresh their souls in Him together. Kenny Stokes Preaching Today: It is our privilege to have Pastor Kenny Stokes bring the sermon today. Pastor Kenny is the Pastor for Church Planting at Bethlehem Baptist Church, and has been Pastor Charlie’s mentor for the last fourteen years. Youth Camping Trip August 6-9: The youth camping trip is targeted to high school students but junior high students who enjoy hiking and camping are also welcome to attend. This is an adventurous trip designed to use ex...

Growing in Grace by Praising God By Pastor Charlie The Apostle Peter drew his second letter to a close with these wise and pastoral words: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18). The word “grow” is an exhortation and a command, and it implies that if we’re to progress in Christ we must play an active role, by the grace of Christ, in building habits that nurture our progress. Therefore, I am offering a series of devotionals this summer on eight essential habits that help us to grow in grace. For today, let’s consider the place of praise in the Christian life. Paul writes in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” The three clauses in this verse are often quoted in isolation from one another, but they are i...

Is it possible that one of the problems facing our culture today, and particularly our kids and teens, is the lack of boredom? You might be thinking, “this cannot be an issue that we need to give attention to.” In fact, you might be thinking, “I thought getting rid of boredom was a good thing!” Let me explain. Our culture today is on a frantic pace to embrace new and exciting things. On top of this is parents filling up their schedules with loads of extra curricular activities. If you throw in smart phones, tablets, Netflix, Youtube and video games, kids today literally have very little time to be bored with access to screens which demand their attention and provides endless content that promises something new and exciting. However, maybe boredom isn’t inherently bad or a thing to be avoided. As philosopher Blaise Pascal put it, “ I have often said that the sole cause of man’s unhappiness is that he does not know how to stay quietly in his room.” Already we should clar...

This Article is written by Julie Lowe and was originally posted on the CCEF blog.  I highlighted the areas of particular interest. I had already prepared a blogpost on dealing with boredom from a Christian worldview and then came across this. There is much overlap between the two, perhaps this one is more concise while my work attempts to explain the connection between the ability to think and the ability to be happy. You can visit the original blogpost in the link provided below.  https://www.ccef.org/resources/blog/children-say-im-bored   We have a common crisis in our home; it is the calamity of boredom. Our children might even consider it a catastrophe. “I’m bored” is repeated so often it would not be an overstatement to say that these words echo continuously throughout our home especially during any break from school. These are children with limited media time but still children with a Wii and Xbox system, a pool outside our door, multiple games, toy...

Scripture is not schizophrenic, although it may seem as though it might be. One of the most common commands in the Bible is essentially this: “Do not fear.” Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 On the other hand, Scripture is also filled with passages commending and commanding fear: For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; …As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him ....

Rivers of Living Water John 7:37-52 July 16, 2017 Questions for Study and Meditation Read 7:37-39. Given the context of 7:1-36, why did Jesus choose to speak about the Holy Spirit at this time? Why does he compare the Holy Spirit to rivers of living water? What is the connection between the giving of the Spirit and the glorification of Jesus? Read 7:40-44. What did the various groups of people think about Jesus? What does this lead them to want to do? What did they actually do, and why? Read 7:45-52. Why did the officers not bring Jesus to the rulers? What was their response? Why did Nicodemus speak up, and how did they respond? What’s the most important thing you learned from today’s sermon? From John 7:37-52? 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 ...

Announcements - July 16, 2017 Change in Location for Sunday Worship Services from July 16-August 20: We will be worshiping at Elk River High School (in the little theater) July 16 through August 20. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us there! Pastor Charlie on Vacation July 17-August 7: After the service today, Pastor Charlie will be leaving for three week’s vacation. If you need assistance with anything, please contact Pastor Kevin at kevin@gcfmn.org. Please pray for the Handrens as they draw away with Jesus and seek to refresh their souls in Him together. Father Son Quest July 20-23: Please pray for our annual Father Son Quest that takes place July 20-23 at Lamb's Resort on Lake Superior. This is a camping trip filled with adventure and activities for fathers and their sons, designed to pass on a biblical vision of manhood to the next generation. Please be in prayer for our trip. If you have any questions you can direct them to Pastor Kevin (kevin@gcfm...

Growing in Grace by the Word of God By Pastor Charlie The Apostle Peter drew his second letter to a close with these wise and pastoral words: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18). The word “grow” is an exhortation and a command, and it implies that if we’re to progress in Christ we must play an active role, by the grace of Christ, in building habits that nurture our progress. Therefore, I am offering a series of devotionals this summer on eight essential habits that help us to grow in grace. For today, let’s consider the place of the Word in the Christian life. Isaiah wrote, “The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught” (Isaiah 50:4). The longing of our God and Father is to draw near to his children morn...

Authority and Glory John 7:1-36 July 9, 2017 Questions for Study and Meditation Read 7:1-9. Why did Jesus’ brothers encourage him to go to Jerusalem? Why did he decline to do so? Read 7:10-24. Why did Jesus go to Jerusalem when he said he would not go? What is at the heart of Jesus’ teaching to the Jews in these verses? How did the Jews respond to him and why? Read 7:25-36. What did the Jews in Jerusalem think about Jesus? What is at the heart of Jesus’ teaching to the Jews in these verses? How did the Jews respond to him and why? What’s the most important thing you learned from today’s sermon? From John 7:1-36? 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 - July 9, 2017 Church Picnic Today: Join us after the worship service for a church picnic at Otsego Park. As usual, everyone is asked to bring a side dish to share and meat to grill for their own family (or another main course for their family). Charcoal, water, and tableware will be provided. Bring along any yard game that you would like to play. 5-Day Club! July 10-14 from 6 - 7:30 p.m.:   Children ages 5 to 12 are invited to join us for a week of Bible lessons, games, memory verses, a missionary story, skits and a snack. Kids will put on their detective hats and discover new things each day about Jesus. They will see that Jesus loves the lost (parable of the lost sheep), Jesus takes away sin (the story of Bartimaeus), only Jesus satisfies (Jesus feeds the 5,000), Jesus has power over death (raising Lazarus), and they can put their faith in Jesus (healing of the official's son). Club will meet each day at the Perry's home: 13945 Jasmine Way Rogers, ...