Glory of Christ Fellowship

When Jonathan Edwards (1703-58) was just twenty years old, he submitted a letter to the Royal Society of London about the common spider. It was a brief summary of scientific observations which he hoped would be published in the prestigious journal, Philosophical Transactions. It was not. However, the letter was preserved and has come to be known as “The Spider Letter.”  Edwards’ scientific observations are not very impressive, but his ability to see the glory of God in such a common insect and to articulate that glory with vividness and joy is impressive indeed. It is inspiring. It is instructive. For example, after cataloguing some of the particular movements of the spider, Edwards notes, “Hence [we see] the exuberant goodness of the Creator, who hath not only provided for all the necessities, but also for the pleasure and recreation of all sorts of creatures, even insects” (John E. Smith, et al., eds., A Jonathan Edwards reader, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1995, pag...

Announcements – October 25, 2015 Agape Meal, November 1: We will be enjoying an Agape Meal after the worship service this morning. Please see the back side of this sheet for more information. Quarterly Strategy Meeting, November 1: Our quarterly strategy meeting will be held on Sunday, November 1 during the Agape Meal. Rake The Town, Saturday, October 31: This is a service opportunity for the whole family. Really, there isn’t an age restriction on this event. Through Faith In Action, our group will be connected with local people within our very own community. Bring a rake to bless a family in need of help with the falling leaves. Sign up by Monday, October 26. Father/Daughter Dinner: Dads and Daughters are invited to a special dinner on Saturday, November 7. Please contact Pastor Kevin (kevin@gcfmn.org) or Julie Springfield (julie.springfield@comcast.net) to sign up. Pivot Meetings : The college age ministry meets on alternating Thursday evenings. 7:00 p.m. a...

Announcements – October 4, 2015 Agape Meal: There will be an agape meal after the worship service. Everyone is invited to attend. Please see the back-side of this sheet for more details. Women’s Ministry:  Ladies Fellowship brunch on October 10 at 9:30 at the house of Susan Fergus (19352 Carson Circle NW, Elk River). Please RSVP by October 7th to Susan (763-441-5827 ). Sunday School: Sunday School will begin on Sunday, October 11. Class distribution will be as follows: Preschool-Kindergarten, Grade 1-4, Grade 5-8, and High School students will be welcomed into the adult class.   Family Registration Forms: Please fill out a 2015-2016 Family Registration form and return to Pastor Kevin for fall planning purposes. Men’s Retreat: The annual Men’s Retreat is scheduled for October 15-17 at Miracle Bible Camp. Be sure to pick up a brochure this morning. Father/Daughter Dinner: Dads and Daughters, mark your calendars for a fun and memorable event on October 24...

Many are rejoicing in our day about the advances of same-sex marriage. The Supreme Court ruling by a margin of 5-4 now makes it illegal for any state to ban same-sex marriage. Depending on where you land on the spectrum of "tolerance" or rejection of same-sex marriage there are some myths to dis-spell regarding this issue. Before I get to the myths, it is crucial for me to point out that the Bible treats homosexuality as a voluntary act of rebellion against God (Romans 1:26-27). Scripture calls believers to respond to homosexual individuals with kindness, gentleness, and sympathy for their struggle (2 Timothy 2:24-26). However, there is nothing in Scripture that suggests homosexual behavior is natural or a part of God's design nor a part of human flourishing and fulfillment. Therefore, Scripture teaches that the correct response to homosexual inclinations is to repent and trust Jesus for forgiveness and strength (Luke 3:3). Myth #5 This has all happened so sud...

“Intercession and the Body of Christ” Hebrews 7:23-28 September 20, 2015 1. Read Hebrews 7:23-28. Last week we saw that God’s house must be a house of prayer. Based on these verses, and Romans 8:26-39, why do you suppose God insists that this be so?  2. What specifically do we learn about Jesus in Hebrews 7:23-28 and what does this have to do with the prayer life of the church? 3. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:9 that those who believe in Jesus are a “royal priesthood.” How does this relate to what we learn about Jesus in Hebrews 1 and 7?  4. What is the main function of priests? How does this relate to the calling of Christ upon our lives?  5. How would you define prayer? Intercession? What small steps can you take today to join Jesus and the church in the ministry of intercession?  6. Take some time for prayer. Praise God for who he is, confess to him the weights and sins in your life, thank him for his grace...

In his book Teach Me to Pray (Bethany House, 2002; ISBN: 0-7642-2596-0), Andrew Murray writes, “Prayer is what we need to be taught. Though in its beginnings prayer is so simple that even a small child can pray, it is at the same time the highest and holiest work to which anyone can rise. It is fellowship with the unseen and most holy One” (12). Indeed, in John 17:3 Jesus defined eternal life as knowing God. Eternal life is not merely life, and it's not merely life that goes on and on, rather eternal life is living in intimate connection to him who is life. Prayer is one of the primary means by which we make this connection, by which we fellowship with and draw from the living God. This is why the Bible makes such outlandish statements as, "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Human beings breathe; Christians pray. For Christians, prayer is not as much an activity for which we set aside time each day as a way of being that characterizes our entire day. We...

Please take a moment to pray along with our friends at Operation World for Costa Rica. And after watching the video, you can learn more about the country  here .