Glory of Christ Fellowship

What is a People Group?  For evangelistic purposes, a people group is the largest group within which the gospel can spread as a church planting movement without encountering barriers of understanding or acceptance. An Unreached People Group is a people group within which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians able to evangelize this people group.  How Many People Groups Are in the World?  World Population: approximately 7.6 billion  People Groups by Language: 10,900  People Groups by Language and Ethnicity: 13,000  People Groups by Language, Ethnicity, and Affinity: 24,000  Unreached People Groups: 7,078 (41.6% of the population)  How Shall We Reach Them? We must proclaim the gospel by the power of God to the nations of the world in the following ways (developed by Dr. Ralph Winter):  What Can We Do?  Pray to the Father in Jesus’ Name  Learn about Global Missions  Educate Oth...

I Have Overcome the World John 16:25-33 May 20, 2018 Questions for Study and Meditation Read John 16:25-28. Why did Jesus speak to his own disciples in figures of speech (see Matthew 13:10-17)? When Jesus ceased to do so, why would this give release to the disciples’ life of prayer? What is the Father’s disposition toward the disciples?  Read John 16:29-33. When the disciples proclaimed their belief in Jesus, Jesus questioned their belief: why? How would the disciples soon treat Jesus and why? Where would this leave Jesus? What was Jesus’ motive in telling his disciples about their own behavior?  Using a study Bible (or Google if you must!), look up the Greek word for “overcome” in verse 33. What is its root meaning? What does this teach us about Jesus “overcoming” the world? How does this relate to the joy his disciples have in him?  What’s the most important thing you learned from the sermon and your personal study?  How has today’s message he...

Sunday School Schedule: Sunday school classes will meet today for the last time this school year. Thank you to all who taught in classes this school year. We’ll resume Sunday school in September.  Celebrating Our Children and Honoring Our Grads: This is an all -church event on Wednesday, May 23 at Otsego Park from 6:00-8:00 p.m. where we will celebrate our children and honor our graduating seniors, the class of 2018. We are thankful for the next generation and our calling to pass on our faith to them. Please come out and support the teachers, parents, and students for their accomplishments in 2018.  Special Pray Guide Available: There are copies at the global missions table of a pray guide to be used during Ramadan—May 15 to June 14. Feel free to take one and pray for many to hear the Good News and be saved!  Transportation Need for New Refugee Family: A family in Elk River who recently arrived from Ukraine needs rides to get to English classes offere...

Excerpt from Pastor John Piper’s sermon Let What You Heard from the Beginning Abide in You, from 1 John 2:18–27   3. Therefore we should let the Word abide in us and we should abide in the Spirit.       In this long text there are only two imperatives. One is in verse 24: "Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you." And the other is in verse 27 at the end: "As his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him."  Let the Word abide in you!  Abide in the Spirit!       I can't help but recall a similar pair of admonitions in Paul's letters:  Colossians 3:16, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you…sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God."  Ephesians 5:18–19, "Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord...

That Your Joy May Be Full John 16:16-24 May 13, 2018 Questions for Study and Meditation Read John 16:16-18. Why were the disciples confused by Jesus’ words? Why did Jesus speak so as to confuse his disciples? How disturbed do you think the disciples felt at that time?  Read John 16:19-22. Why did Jesus let the confusion and concern set in before he addressed their questions? What would cause the disciples to weep and the world to rejoice? Why would the disciples later rejoice? How strong and lasting would their joy be? How does this relate to the world’s joy?  Read John 16:23-24. Why does Jesus want his disciples to prayer to the Father in his name? What does he promise if they will do so? What will be the outcome for his disciples?  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 ...

Sunday School Schedule: All Sunday school classes will meet through May 20. Thank you to all who taught in classes this school year. We’ll resume Sunday school in September.  DoorKeepers Saturday May 19 5:00-8:30 p.m.: All men age 13 and up are invited to a special night of fellowship and learning at the Alecksons’ home in Zimmerman. DoorKeepers, from Psalm 84:10, is a ministry pursuit for men who will be equipped and encouraged to pursue the lasting pleasures that our living God provides rather than the empty deceit of sexual immorality and pornography. We will begin our evening grilling and then have some time for pursuing God together through worship, prayer, and His Word. RSVP by Wednesday, May 16 to Pastor Kevin.  Celebrating Our Children and Honoring Our Grads: This is an all -church event on Wednesday, May 23 at Otsego Park from 6:00-8:00 p.m. where we will celebrate our children and honor our graduating seniors, the class of 2018. We are thankful for the...

A prayer for our fellowship based on Ephesians 4.       Father, we pray that we would walk in a manner worthy of our calling, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love. Help us to be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Remind us often that there is one body and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.       Father, may we receive Christ’s gifts given to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.       Lord, by the power of your Spirit in us, help us to speak the truth in love, to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every j...

The Holy Spirit, Our Teacher John 16:12-15 May 6, 2018 Questions for Study and Meditation Read John 16:12-13. Why did Jesus feel his disciples could not bear more of his teaching at that time? When the Spirit came, what would be his role among the disciples? From where would he get his teaching and authority? What does this teach us about the Trinity?  Read John 16:14-15. According to verse 14, what is the primary role of the Holy Spirit in the world? How does the Holy Spirit glorify Jesus? From whom does Jesus get what belongs to him? How much of the Father’s possessions belong to him? What then does the Holy Spirit declare? What do these verses teach us about the Trinity?  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. Tha...

Agape Meal and Quarterly Business Meeting Today: Join us after the service for our monthly meal together. All are welcome! After the meal, we will have our quarterly business meeting. 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 this Thursday: 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.  DoorKeepers Saturday May 19 5:00-8:30 p.m.: All men age 13 and up are invited to a special night of fellowship and learning at the Alecksons’ home in Zimmerman. DoorKeepers, from Psalm 84:10, is a ministry pursuit for men who will be equipped and encouraged to pursue the lasting pleasures that our living God provides rather than the empty deceit of sexual immorality and pornography. We will begin ...

Abiding in Christ:  50 Days of Prayer and Fasting  from Easter to Pentecost       Romans 12 opens with Paul’s appeal to the local church there in Rome. By the mercies of God, they are to present their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which, he reminds them, is their spiritual worship (v. 1). He then proceeds to give an outline of what this looks like in real-time: Renewal of their minds through transformation and the exercise of their spiritual gifts bestowed on them by grace (v. 2).       From there, Paul makes a quick list (vs. 9-21) to further describe their spiritual service. "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor" (vs. 9-10). In the middle of the list he urges: "Be constant in prayer" (v. 12). CONSTANT. Now, that takes some sacrifice. May we sense Paul’s urging as we pray and fast, knowing...