GROW: Toward Christian Maturity...

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!!!

CONNECT: Evangelism/Missional Living

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 Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

2 Tim 1:14 By the Holy Spirit 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 All authority in 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 are ambassadors 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.

Gunter Family In Need...

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

FREE Learning Opportunity...

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

• Cost: Free

Sunday Recap...

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 5:7 Cleanse 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

o Vs. 24“Do this in remembrance…”

o Vs. 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

Community Brunch and CommunionTHIS SUNDAY!!!

GBF THIS SUNDAY, COMMUNITY BRUNCH & COMMUNION!!! Bring your favorite dish to share...also, don't forget it's the Scales' Last Sunday :(

Living For the Line...Give

Great day at GBF Sunday, thanks so much for worshiping with us! We spent a second week talking about possession, money, and giving. Here are some notes from our time together.

The picture to the left illustrates all of life. The DOT represents where we are now and the LINE represents eternity. As Christians, we’re to live for the line and not for the dot!

Matt 6:19-21

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all, but whatever I have placed in God’s hands that I still possess.” -Martin Luther

We concentrated on 3 guidelines to giving from 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

1. (VS 6.) GIVE GENEROUSLY

2. (VS 7a) GIVE PURPOSEFULLY

3. (VS 7b) GIVE CHEERFULLY

And then 3 benefits to giving from 2 Corinthians 9: 10-13

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,

1. (VS 10) YOU’LL INCREASE YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

2. (VS 11) YOU’LL BE ENRICHED TO BE GENEROUS

“God prospers us, not to raise our standard of living, but to raise our standard of giving” –Randy Alcorn

3. (VS 13) YOU’LL MULTIPLY GLORY TO GOD

Have a great week in the Lord GBF!

Giving...Treasures In Heaven

GBF!
Enjoyed our time together Sunday! How did you like the new time? Thirty minutes makes a pretty big difference, in a POSITIVE way according to many of you :)

I wanted to first provide you all with the links to the organizations at work in Haiti that Brent Wilkins mentioned yesterday:

1. Joe White with Kanakuk Ministries – GBF men attended Men At the Cross in 09, a ministry that Joe White leads.
Send your checks to Kanakuk Ministries, Attn: Haiti Fund, 1353 Lake Shore Drive, Branson, MO 65616 or donate on-line at https://dlq4.donatelinq.net/qv10/default.aspx?MerchantID=KanakukMinistries and choose Kanakuk Haiti Fund. (All donated funds will go to the relief effort in Haiti.)

2. Crisis Response- EFCA – GBF youth and leaders served with this organization last Spring doing Hurricane relief work in Galveston.
You can give by going to www.efca.org and clicking on the "give now" button.
(Crisis Response)“will be in this for the long term recovery and for proclamation of the Gospel and disciplemaking”

In addition please keep the people of Haiti, the relief work, and the whole situation in your prayers.

Yesterday we talked about earthly treasures verses treasures in Heaven and what the Bible about how that relates to giving of our finances and possessions. Much of what we discussed came from Randy Alcorn’s book, The Treasure Principle, which I highly recommend.

Here are some notes and verse references you might have missed:
The New Testament is FAR from silent on the subject of giving, so it is for GOD'S GLORY that we discuss this topic:
Luke 3: 7-14
o share clothes and food with the poor (v.11)
o Tax collectors shouldn’t take extra $ (v. 13)
o Soldiers should be content with their wages and not try and extort money(v. 14)
See also: Acts 2:45, Acts 4:32-35, Acts 19:19

About 15% of all that Jesus said had to do with possessions and giving. Here are some examples texts:
o Mark 10:21, Luke 6:20, Luke 6:24, Luke 14:33, Luke 18:25, Luke 12:15, Matthew 6:33, Luke 12:33, Luke 19:8-9, Matthew 13:44, Luke 21:1, Luke 12:20-21, Luke 9:58

Also we discuss this for your joy!
o Proverbs 14:21, "Happy is he who is gracious to the poor."
o 1st Timothy 6:9, "Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction."

Our main text on Sunday was Matthew 6:19-21
Matthew6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
YOU CANT TAKE IT WITH YOU….Proverbs 23:4-5 says…
4 Do not toil to acquire wealth (Do not wear yourself out to get rich NIV); be discerning enough to desist. 5 When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.

Matthew6:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
YOU CANT TAKE IT WITH YOU, BUT YOU CAN SEND IT ON AHEAD

Matthew6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
WHERE YOUR GIVING GOES, YOUR HEART WILL FOLLOW
If you give to your local church you’ll be involved in your local church. If you give to missions you’ll be involved in missions. If you want your heart to grow for things like these, things that have eternal value, then give to these things.

Giving your money and possessions is not the ONLY way to store treasures in heaven, but it is A WAY.
Other ways include:
o Doing good works (Eph 6:8 & Romans 2:6,10)
o Persevering under persecution (Luke 6:22-23)
o Showing compassion (Luke 14:13-14)
o Treating our enemies kindly (Luke 6:35)

And remember your FIRST TREASURE and the GREATEST TREASURE BY FAR has to be a person in CHRIST JESUS, resulting in a place for you in heaven. We have to have eternity with Christ established before we try and add treasures to it.

Have a great week!

CONNECT-GROW-SERVE

Great Sunday with the church family at GBF this week!
I'd like to remind you (inform you if you missed) of some changes that we have made.
1. We are changing the start of our worship service time from 9:00am to 9:30am. This, in an effort to make it easier for folks to get there on time so that we can all enjoy worship TOGETHER and also to be sensitive to those that may be with out a church home and seeking one in the area. I know, I know, you don't have to tell me "we'd be there if we had our worship service at 5 am in the snow, because we love JESUS." :) Well you don't have to, 9:30 will be fine, enjoy the 30 minutes of extra snooz :)
2. We will still have second hour small group time following corporate worship, but we will now refer to it as Community Group rather than EKG (Empowering Kingdom Growth). We fear that we were scaring some people by inviting them to an EKG after worship service (YIKES). It was a good name for it, just left too much to be explained.

Our sermon this week was over Ephesians 4:11-16 with emphasis on vs 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. We discussed how a person who is equipped is one who is CONNECTED to Christ and other believers, GROWING in their knowledge and relationship with God, and SERVING with all that God has given them. Here are some notes and references that you might find useful:

CONNECT with Christ - Ephesians 1:18-2:10

“Come As You Are…” Rom 15:7 “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God."

CONNECT with one another – Ephesians 4:15-16, 1 Corinthians 12:12-26, John 13: 35

GROW in our knowledge and relationship with God – Ephesians 4:13-14. Hebrews 5:11-14, Colossian 2:6-7

SERVE with all that God has given - Eph 6:6, Gal 6:10, 1 Thess 5:15, Rom 12:20

CONNECT, GROW, and SERVE

Happy ReNew Year II...

This Sunday was great. Praise team was bringin’ it as always and folks were worshiping The God of Heaven in spirit and truth (John 4:24). In our teaching time was focused on spiritual disciplines as we spent a second week in a 2 part message entitled Happy ReNew Year – be transformed by the renewal of your mind - Romans 12:2.

Small groups didn’t meet with it being a holiday weekend, but it was so cool, and encouraging to me to see so many people hanging out and visiting with one another well after the service was over…gotta love that GBF family!

Here are some notes from Sunday’s message:

1 Tim 4:7-8 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

There are things that the scripture refer to as “silly myths” that we are to “Have nothing to do with”. (See also Psalm 101:3)

Then there are also some thing that are “of some value”. But these things are no substitute for “godliness” which has “value in every way” in the here and now AND in the life to come.

Spiritual disciplines are a great way for us to train ourselves for this valuable godliness available to us.

The Word of God, the Bible is the hub for our spiritual disciplines, we outlined a few ways that we could make use of it.

WEEKLY IN CHURCH – Hebrew 10:24-25

• singing and praising (EPHESIANS 5:1)
• preaching and teaching (2 Timothy 4:2-5)
• Community Groups & Lifeline (Col 3:16)

DAILY QUANTITY OF TIME IN THE WORD – 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20, Matthew 4:4

DAILY QUALITY OF TIME IN THE WORD – Psalm 119:15

MEMORIZE THE WORD GOD- Psalm 119:11

Suggested verses for memorization, maybe one a quarter this year:

1 John 5:11-12

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

John 16:24

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Also, we handed out these ten questions to ask at the start of the New Year:

1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?