Glory of Christ Fellowship

The Holy Spirit, Our Helper John 16:4b-11 April 29, 2018 Questions for Study and Meditation Read John 16:4b-7. Since Jesus knew all along he was going to be with the Father, why didn’t he tell his disciples? What is the point of Jesus’ question in verse 5? Despite their sorrow, why was Jesus’ departure good news for them?  Read John 16:8-11. According to these verses, what is the Spirit’s role in the world? Why will he “convict”? Why will he focus on sin, righteousness, and judgment?  What’s the most important thing you learned from the sermon and your personal study?  How has today’s message helped you to grow in love for God and others?  What is the most important thing Jesus would have you do in light of the message?  Take some time to worship Jesus. Thank him, praise him, and ask for his help as you seek to grow with others in faith, hope, and love. 

5-Day Club Planning Meeting this Monday at 7 p.m.: If you are interested in participating in a summer outreach/kids program, we invite you to come to the training at the Church Office. Notify Pastor Kevin if you plan to attend.  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.  Quarterly Business Meeting Next Sunday: Join us for the quarterly business meeting after the Agape Meal. We will hear an update from the facilities team and an overview of the summer plans for ministry. Members are asked to attend, but all are welcome.  Choosing the Gift of Life Thursday May 10: Reserve a spot now for the Abba Pregnancy Resource Center Fundraising Banquet to be held on May 10 at 6 p.m. at Rockwoods in Otsego. To make reservations, email event@abbaprc.org or call 763.445.9650.  Upcoming Opportunities at CAER El...

Abiding in Christ: 50 Days of Prayer and Fasting      This special emphasis of prayer from Easter to Pentecost will help us to seek the mind and heart of Jesus together as we explore options for the long-term lease or ownership of a property in Elk River. Our desire is to grow in Christ as a local body of believers, knowing more fully what it means to be the temple of the living God (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19-20; Ephesians 4:1-16). Here is the prayer guide for this week: April 29 —Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for sending your Spirit to live in us. 1 John 3:21-24 April 30 —Pray that God will help us to plan Summer discipleship that will be effective and grow people in Christ-likeness. May 1 —Pray for the C12 Group Luncheon scheduled for today, may the business leaders respond in action to the ideas presented. ...

When the Helper Comes John 15:26-16:4a April 22, 2018 Questions for Study and Meditation Read John 15:26-27. What does Jesus teach us here about the nature of the Holy Spirit? What is the primary role of the Holy Spirit on earth? What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit’s witness and the disciples’ witness? Read John 16:1-4a. Why did Jesus teach these things to his disciples (15:18-27)? What does this imply about our daily relationship to his words? What did Jesus say the world would do to his disciples? Why did he say they would do these things?  In what specific ways is the world persecuting Christians in America today? How does Jesus want us to persevere?  What’s the most important thing you learned from the sermon and your personal study?  How has today’s message helped you to grow in love for God and others?  What is the most important thing Jesus would have you do in light of the message?  Take some time to worship Jesus. Thank him...

Youth Baptism Orientation Thursday April 26 at Church Office: Join us at 7 p.m. on the 26th to learn more about youth baptism at GCF. This orientation is for parents only and it does not obligate your son/daughter to be baptized. Notify Pastor Kevin by Tuesday, April 24 if you plan to attend.  5-Day Club Planning Meeting Monday April 30 at 7 p.m.: If you are interested in participating in a summer outreach/kids program, we invite you to come to the training meeting on April 30 at the Church Office. Notify Pastor Kevin if you plan to attend.  Nursery Helpers Needed: If you would like to serve the children and families of GCF, contact Pastor Kevin or Claire Belknap about getting trained to work in the nursery.  Faith Biblical Counseling Conference April 27-28: Pray for those from GCF who will be attending this conference at Grace Church in Eden Prairie. May the Lord fully equip them as they seek to care for the body of Christ. For more information a...

     In order to practice what Jesus is teaching us through John 15-17, Glory of Christ is engaged in a special time of prayer and fasting between Easter and Pentecost called “Abiding in Christ.” We are calling on the Lord to give us wisdom, resources, and power to “take the land” and move from having a presence in Elk River to acquiring a more permanent site of our own. We are also calling on him for one another in a variety of ways, trusting that he will keep the promises he made to us in the Upper Room.      In this spirit, I encourage you to read the following quote from John Calvin on prayer and carefully consider what he’s saying. He writes in an older style and so it will take some work to follow his train of thought but your labor will not be in vain! Indeed, let us follow the path to the throne of God that so many others have discovered through the centuries since Jesus died and rose again.      “To prayer, then, are we indebted...

Gospel of John I Chose You Out of the World John 15:18-25 April 15, 2018 Questions for Study and Meditation Read John 15:18-19. In light of his grace, why does the world hate Jesus? Why does the world hate those who love Jesus? How does Jesus’ choice of the disciples relate to the world’s hatred of them?  Read John 15:20-21. When did Jesus speak this word to his disciples, and why was it relevant to them at that time? Why does the world treat the disciples of Jesus as they treated Jesus? Ultimately, why does the world hate and persecute Jesus and those who love him?  Read John 15:22-25. What role do the words and works of Jesus play in the world’s hatred of the Father, him, and his disciples? From where did Jesus quote in verse 25? Why did that have to be prophesied and fulfilled? What’s the most important thing you learned from the sermon and your personal study?  How has today’s message helped you to grow in love for God and others?  What is th...

Adult Sunday School: We have just begun a six-week class on Christian Hedonism: The Relentless Pursuit of Joy in God. Join us as we grow in our understanding of the joy of God and discuss how we find joy in him. Class meets in the cafeteria.  Youth Baptism Orientation Thursday April 26 at Church Office: Join us at 7 p.m. on the 26th to learn more about youth baptism at Glory of Christ Fellowship. This orientation is for parents only and it does not obligate your son/daughter to be baptized. Notify Pastor Kevin by Tuesday, April 24 if you plan to attend.  Five-Day Club Planning Meeting Monday April 30 at 7 p.m.: If you are interested in participating in a summer outreach/kids program, we invite you to come to the training meeting on April 30 at the Church Office. Notify Pastor Kevin if you plan to attend.  Nursery Helpers Needed: If you would like to serve the children and families of GCF, contact Pastor Kevin or Claire Belknap about getting trained to...

     In the little booklet called “Born to Reproduce” (Navpress, 2005), Dawson Trotman (founder of the Navigators) writes, “Soulwinners are not soulwinners because of what they know, but because of the Person they know, how well they know Him, and how much they long for others to know Him.”      The only word I would add to this quote is “primarily” so that it would read, “Soulwinners are not soulwinners primarily because of what they know…” I agree that the most important thing in soulwinning is knowing Jesus. Indeed, Christianity is not essentially informational but relational. However, what we know about Jesus matters very much, even if it flows from our personal and prior knowledge of him.      For instance, if you were to say that my mother derived from the south of France, stood four-feet-eight-inches tall, and worked most of her life in the textiles industry, I would be quick to tell you that you were not speaking about my mother....

Special Welcome! It is our privilege to welcome Pastor David Livingston to our pulpit today. He has served in a variety of roles at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis since the early 1980s, and now serves as the Pastor for Global Outreach Member Care. He has also been a personal mentor to Pastor Charlie since 1990. David and his wife Karin have four daughters (Sarah, Anna, Krista, and Lydia) and ten grandchildren.  Abiding in Christ - 50 Days of Prayer and Fasting: Make sure to get a copy of the prayer guide. Extra copies of the guide are on the information table. Also, copies of the article on fasting and praying by Bill Bright are available on the table.  All-Church Prayer Meeting at 6:30 p.m. this Wednesday: We will continue our season of prayer together in corporate prayer, seeking the Lord’s will for the long-term lease or ownership of a property in Elk River. All are welcome! Child care will be available.  Adult Sunday School: We will begin...

     Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV) Questions for Meditation and Discussion  Why did Jesus meet with his disciples atop a mountain? Why did some worship but others doubted?  What is the extent of Jesus’ authority? From where did he get his authority? How does this impact the rest of what he said?  What is the mission of the church? What does it mean to “make disciples”? Why do we baptize people in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? How should the church go about teaching “all” that...

Abiding in Christ - 50 Days of Prayer and Fasting: Make sure to get a copy of the prayer guide. Extra copies of the guide are on the information table. Also, copies of the article on fasting and praying by Bill Bright are available on the table.  GOLD Meeting Saturday April 7: If you're a team leader or deacon, join the pastors at the church office for the quarterly Glory of Christ On-going Leadership Development meeting from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. If you have any questions or suggestions for the meeting, please contact Pastor Charlie. All-Church Prayer Meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday April 11: We will continue our season of prayer together in corporate prayer, seeking the Lord’s will for the long-term lease or ownership of a property in Elk River. All are welcome!  Act Like Men - Husbands: If you are a husband or hoping to be a husband someday, GCF will be offering a class outlining the 7 L's of a godly husband. The class is scheduled for Saturday, April...