The GBF children will be attending Camp KIDJAM this summer for the fourth time! We need your help to send a few extra kids that would not have the opportunity to attend! This Sunday we will be taking up a special love offering to raise scholarships for the camp. The camp cost is $255. Our goal would be to send 4 additional students. Any donations would help make this goal possible. For more information regarding the camp or scholarships please contact Mandy Turner at 903-818-7722/ mandy@thegbf.com.
"even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Jesus, Matt 20:28
Our life as Christians is to be a life that follows the example of Jesus to SERVE. The church can many times be approached as a cruise ship, where all of our desires are fulfilled. But we ought to be more like a BATTLESHIP, where we all have a role to fill. (See Romans 12:5-6 and 1 Peter 4:10)
Some time this week, go back and look at Philippians 2:1-8, and really let that text soak in. Jesus is the ultimate servant, looking to the interest of us in obedience to the Father. Our life should be one of obedience to serve others as well and as Philippians 2 tells us, it's about having HIS mind, (the mind of CHRIST) seeking his attitude, not our own, and not the self seeking attitude of this world. Having a servant's heart takes a NEW PERSPECTIVE. One that says: Praise God for the opportunity to SERVE!!
See also, Matt 20:20-28 and Jesus' example of serving in 20:29-33.
Don't forget, it all comes down to "basin theology" : )
Have great week in the Lord Grace Bible Battleship family! We'll see you Sunday, if not before.
Roy
Psalm 38:3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
Sin is so painful to the one whose aim is to please God. We get so frustrated and disappointed in ourselves that it can feel almost unbearable. Many times our sin can hinder us from reading our Bibles or praying because we feel ashamed to meet with God. This of course, is NOT what we need to do. In times when we have sinned are the times when we need to CLOSEST to God through His Word and prayer.
But what about trying to cut sin off before it happens? Part of avoiding sin is identifying when we are most likely to be TEMPTED. There are situations and times in our life when we are more susceptible to sin than others. Here is an acronym that I recently learned to help identify those times and situations:
H.A.L.T. it stands for HUNGRY, ANGRY, LONELY, and TIRED
Think about the times when you struggle most with sin, isn’t it when you are hungry, angry, lonely, tired or a combination of some or all four? Unfortunately, we live in a high speed, fast food, independent, right now, deadline driven, one million and ninety one things to do in a day culture that does not help, right! So we have to make adjustments. Make God our priority, remember, only HE TRULY satisfies.
If we can identify those times and situations we can do our best to avoid them, and then be better prepared to deal with them when they present themselves.
So let’s do our best to H.A.L.T. TEMPTATION…and when we do fall into sin, don’t let it separate you from the Word of God and prayer, do as the psalmist did in Psalm 38, bring it to God and be real about it. He loves, forgives, corrects, enables, and encourages.
What a great time of worship at GBF this Sunday!
This week we talked about what it means to GROW toward Christian maturity. We looked at Psalm 1, 2nd Peter 3:17-18, and then discussed 7 indicators of Christian maturity. Psalm 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
2 Peter 3:17-18...take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 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.
1. Surrendered to God’s supremacy - Whole-heartedly abandoning our will to His (Matthew 16:24; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 2:20)
2. Engaged with Scripture and prayer. - Consistently listening to God speak us through abiding in and applying His Word, as we consistently speak to Him in prayer (John 8:31-32; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Hebrews 5:14; James 1:22)
3. Producing the fruit of the Spirit. - Showing the life and love of Christ in our attitudes and actions in a way that is sacrificial, gracious, truthful, and transparent. (John 13:34-35, 15:12; 1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:1-2; 1 Timothy 1:5)
4. Devoted to what’s good and right. - Making ethical choices that are consistent with our new life in Christ. (Romans 12:1-2, 14:19; Ephesians 5:15-17; Philippians 4:8-9; 1 Thessalonians 5:15-22; 1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:22; Hebrews 12:1-2, 14)
5. Committed to authentic community. - Relating to other believers with authenticity, complete transparency and grace, so that we can be truly known and know others, modeling and reproducing Christ’s lifestyle and influence. (Romans 12:3-21, 14:1-15:13; 1 Corinthians 12:12-30; Galatians 6:2; Ephesians 5:18-21; Hebrews 10:23-25)
6. Serving with all that God has given us, faithful in stewardship and reaching out to others in our sphere of opportunity with works of service. (Matthew 5:16, 25:34-40; James 1:27, 2:14-26, Luke 14:28-30, 33; 1 Corinthians 4:1, 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 9:5-15)
7. Evangelically bold. -Reaching out to others in my sphere of opportunity with the Gospel.(John 3:1-4:42; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:11-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, Ephesians 2:8-9)
I hope your week is one of JOY for you and GLORY for him!!!
Hey folks! Here's some notes and references from this past Sunday's sermon: CONNECT them with Christ: WHO-WHAT-WHEN-WHERE-WHY OF EVANGELISM / MISSIONAL LIVING
Acts 1:7-8
“It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
WHO? YOU – YOU will receive power…God has called each of us to share his message with the world.
John 17: 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
John 17: 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
Matt 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
“You and I are an indispensable link in the chain of redemption.” –John Piper
WHAT? - HIS WITNESSES – we are the walking testimony of the gospel of Christ Jesus, “Witnesses”
Acts 2:32 Peter preached: “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.”
Acts 3:15 Peter preaching says "and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
1. Do people see the gospel in us?
Matt 5:14 “You’re the light of the world”
2. Do people hear the gospel from us?
Rom 10:1 7So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
1 Peter 3:15 always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you
WHEN/HOW? When the Holy Spirit comes upon you…The when is NOW and the Holy Spirit is HOW
1 Cor 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the HolySpirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
2 Tim 1:14 By the HolySpirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
Rom 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes
WHERE – “…Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” For us today that means EVERYWHERE.
WHY-
1. TO BE OBEDIENT TO GOD
Acts 1:8“It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority…”
Matthew 28:18 Allauthorityin heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…
2. BECAUSE IT IS OUR HONOR
2 Cor 5:20 Therefore, we areambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.
We are ambassadors!
Ambassador: a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative
3. AS A REMINDER OF HOW BIG GOD IS
2 Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
Summary verse:
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Maria, Juan, and 18 month old boy Diego, lost their home and all within to a house fire on Main St in Gunter last Thursday. They are currently staying with family here in Gunter. Maria has expressed her immediate needs as being primarily for 18 month old Diego: Clothes sz 2T, Diapers sz 5, age appropriate toys, and blankets While Maria has not requested items for her and Juan, please keep in mind that they lost everything. Something you might prayerfully consider doing to help would be groceries for them and the family that has taken them in and gift cards for them to replace their clothes, household items, and other needs. Please bring items by the GBF office (404 Hwy 289) from 9 to 2pm, M - Th...or to the church (101 West Pecan) on Wednesday night from 5:30 - 8:00pm In Christ, Roy roy@thegbf.com
Hey everyone, I wanted to let you know about a learning opportunity in our area. The very gifted, Rhome Dyck, who has preached and taught here at GBF on several occasions will be teaching a 2 part series on church history at nearby Chase Oaks Church in Plano. This FREE event is open to the public, and sure to be a blessing of enrichment to all who attend!
Here are the details:
What: The History of the Church from Acts until today (two part series)
When: Part 1 - Saturday, February 6th from 7:00 to 9:00 pm
Part 2 - Saturday, February 20th from 7:00 to 9:00 pm
Where: Chase Oaks Church, Legacy Room, 201 Legacy Drive, Plano
Good news GBF!!! We broke the 100 biscuit barrier in our brunch yesterday! You know we try not to be all about numbers, but the fact that we consumed 100 + biscuits yesterday, along who knows how many other brunch items, WOW that’s significant! I wonder how many gallons of gravy we put away? : )
Also, we had to say goodbye (see you later) to the Scales yesterday, sniff...sniff…We hate to see the them go : ( so thankful for them and their time here with us at Grace Bible Fellowship. WE LOVE YOU CHARLOTTE, JONATHAN, HELEN, DOROTHY, AND CLARA!!! WE'LL MISS YOU!!!
Here are some message notes from yesterday:
In leading up to Communion, we looked at 3 different types of eating in the Scriptures:
1.Eating without God – Adam and Eve in the garden, Gen. 3:6-7 “The Fall”
·See also 1 John 2:16
·Romans 5:12
·“…through eating the fruit their eyes would be opened to know good and evil was true, but what Satan did not reveal was that they would have the power to know good and evil without the power to do the good” -Lewis Sperry Chafer
·Ephesians 2:3
·“The doctrine of depravity has to do, not with man’s estimation of man, bit rather with God’s estimation of man…When we measure men by man, we can always find someone who is lower than we are on the moral or ethical scale, and the comparison gives us a feeling of self-satisfaction. But the Scriptures do not measure men by man; they measure men by God who has created them. The creature is measured by the Creator and is found to be wanting.” -J. Dwight Pentecost
2.Eating because of God – God led his people out of Egypt and established The Passover, The Feast of Unleavened Bread
·Exodus 12:1-14
·This of course looks forward to Christ in the New Testament…1 Corinthians 5:7Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed
3.Eating with God – The Last Supper or The Last Passover…
·Matthew 26:26-28
o“This is my body…my blood”-Jesus
·1 Corinthians 11:23-29
oVs. 24“Do this in remembrance…”
oVs. 28 “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup”
Praise God for Communion, AMEN!!!???
What a privilege it is to remember our God’s provision for us through the work of His Son, to examine our lives in relation to Him, and express our sharing in Christ Jesus our
Sundays 9:30am: Childcare during Worship Hour for infant-Kindergarten
Sunday EKG Hour 10:30am: SONKIDS for PreK-3rd Grade and IMPACT for 4th-6th grade
Wednesday Programs run from 6:30-7:45pm
TeamKID: PreK-4th grade
Impact/Area 56: 5th and 6th grade
