Worship Arts Church Life God s Word Men s Ministry Women s Ministry Student Ministry Awana Ministry Connect Kids Leadership Team

Transcription

1 December 2, 2018 Worship Arts Church Life God s Word Men s Ministry Women s Ministry Student Ministry Awana Ministry Connect Kids Leadership Team

2 Connect Church Welcome to Connect Church If you are visiting with us for the first time, WELCOME! We are glad it was your choice to worship Christ with us today. We hope this time of praise and the study of God s Word will be an encouragement for you. please join us between services for refreshments and fellowship. The Wonder of Christmas is upon us! The shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks the night of Jesus birth. They had no idea their world was about to come to life, in full color, when the glory of the Lord shone all around them. We know the account, but do we honestly understand the wonder of it all? As this new season begins, it s a perfect time to ask the LORD for a renewed sense of His glory. May you enjoy the wonder of who He truly is this Christmas season. I love this church because it really makes me feel that I'm a part of the "family of God." I can be assured I will hear the truth of God's Word, as our pastors and Bible study leaders are dedicated men of God. The caring support, encouragement, and prayers of our "family" are a blessing to myself and my husband, Bill. I serve Jesus with you by assisting with the Pastors Appreciation Lunch at Thanksgiving, and Meet the Pastors Luncheon; participating in Operation Christmas Child, and praying for the needs in our congregation, and in the past, caring for the babies in Moppets.

3 Worship Arts Royal Palm campus Joy To the world: Chris Tomlin How Many Kings: Chris Tomlin O Holy night: Hillsong Worship What a beautiful name: Hillsong Noel: Lauren Daigle Hosanna: Hillsong United acreage campus Do What You Want To: Vertical Church Good Father: Chris Tomlin He Shall Reign Forever: Chris Tomlin You Never Let Go: Matt Redman From the Day: I Am They IT S TIME FOR CHRISTMAS SONGS ONCE AGAIN! Lauren s version of the wonderful classics such as Light of the World, White Christmas, O Holy Night, and more, brightens the Christmas season with joy. Her gifted voice combined with an elegant light jazz tone adds a crisp sound that makes these seasonal songs new to the listener once again. If you would like to add an additional album to your Christmas playlist, consider this impressive one. You will be delighted with this joyful collection of songs.

4 Church Life A Question to Ask God Father, Wall Street or real estate can t touch the eternal returns of investing in Your kingdom. Who could match Your promise of 10,000 percent (a hundredfold return)? So why are my eyes so often focused on temporary, earthly investments with such pitifully small returns? Lord, please broaden my perspective, increase my faith, and expand my eternal investment mentality. Peter answered him, We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us? Jesus said to them. I ll tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:27-29) From The Treasure Principle

5 Church Life Upcoming Events, Meetings, Fellowships, etc. Adult 5 & 6 Fellowship December 7th Access Life Service Project December 8th Student Ministry - Ugly Sweater Christmas Party December 9th Resource Center - Children s Christmas Event December 15th Christmas Eve Services December 24th University of Christian Life Courses begin January 16th Family Movie Night (Kids Connect) January 25th

6 Mission Statement To glorify God by leading others to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. December 2, 2018 December 9, 2018 Royal Palm campus Royal Palm campus Acreage campus Acreage campus Dr. Dale R. Faircloth Pastor Mike Eleveld Dr. Dale R. Faircloth Pastor Jim Sims Teaching Pastor Schedule Royal Palm campus 6:00 PM $5.00 per person The meal for the week: Fried Pork or Sizzling Chicken Fajitas, Rice, and a Salad Connect Church Resource Center Last Week s Attendance & Offering Royal Palm campus 471 Acreage campus 155 TOTAL 626 Offering $ 19, /20 Vision $ Text Your Tithe Royal Palm campus Acreage campus Royal Palm campus Sundays 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM Wednesdays 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM For additional information about all ministry events, visit our website at CC.TODAY. So many amazing Connect Church photos to view! Check them out at

7 God s Word - Time With God This Week s SOAP Not Alone - Main Passage for December 9th - Genesis 28:10-22 CSB Monday - Genesis 28:10-11 Tuesday - Genesis 28:12 Wednesday - Exodus 15:11-17 Thursday - Genesis 28:13-15 Friday - Genesis 28:16-19 Saturday - Genesis 28:20-22 Memory Verse: Genesis 28:15 Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. Scripture: Genesis 27:18-29 Today s SOAP - Pastor Mike Eleveld Scripture - Read the passage of Scripture for the day and allow God to speak to you. Write down a verse which spoke to you. Observation - Write your observation as to what is happening in the text. What do you believe is the point of the passage? Application - Write down how the passage applies to your life today. Prayer - Ask God to help you use this Scripture for greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two-way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out. Observation: Ultimately, this is NOT merely a story of a dysfunctional family of two brothers taking advantage of their father s advanced age trying to position themselves for the greater share of the father s estate. THIS is a story of God s sovereign rule over humankind, and that nothing will thwart His purposes. On the surface of this story we know: Previously, Esau showed disdain for his inheritance by selling his birthright impulsively to Jacob. Later, with Rebekah s urging, Jacob lied and deceived Isaac into giving him the Blessing of the Firstborn. Note: by cultural tradition of the Ancient Near East this blessing was irrevocable regardless of how it was obtained. However, God s purposes were NOT going to be thwarted by all of the posturing, positioning, and plans of this dysfunctional family. God had ordained that Jacob would be the one to receive the blessing and that the Abrahamic Covenant/Messianic Line would continue through him. Gen 25:23, God told Rebekah that of the twin boys in her womb, the older will serve the younger. Ultimately, of the two sons of Isaac, only one could be the inheritor of the Abrahamic Covenant...before the foundations of the world God knew which one would transform into a faithful, godly man! Application: Regardless of the actions of humankind the good, the bad, and the ugly God s purposes cannot be altered! Not by one detail and not by one second! The Lord of Armies himself has planned it; therefore, who can stand in its way? It is his hand that is outstretched, so who can turn it back? (Isaiah 14:27). When the world around us is crashing and imploding we can find solace in this great truth...his sovereign rule of the universe is the bedrock of a peace that surpasses all understanding. Our goal, in the midst of trying circumstances, is to trust the sovereign rule of God, stay faithful to Him, and stay out of the way! Prayer: Dear Lord.help me always to look to You the sovereign ruler of the universe when twists and turns of life happen. I pray that the bedrock truth of your sovereign rule will always provide a peace that passes all understanding in the midst of life s storms.

8 The Deceiver Scripture 18 When he came to his father, he said, My father. And he answered, Here I am. Who are you, my son? 19 Jacob replied to his father, I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may bless me. 20 But Isaac said to his son, How did you ever find it so quickly, my son? He replied, Because the Lord your God made it happen for me. 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, Please come closer so I can touch you, my son. Are you really my son Esau or not? 22 So Jacob came closer to his father Isaac. When he touched him, he said, The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau. 23 He did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him. 24 Again he asked, Are you really my son Esau? And he replied, I am. 25 Then he said, Bring it closer to me, and let me eat some of my son s game so that I can bless you. Jacob brought it closer to him, and he ate; he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, Please come closer and kiss me, my son. 27 So he came closer and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothes, he blessed him and said: Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed. 28 May God give to you from the dew of the sky and from the richness of the land an abundance of grain and new wine. 29 May peoples serve you and nations bow in worship to you. Be master over your relatives; may your mother s sons bow in worship to you. Those who curse you will be cursed, and those who bless you will be blessed. Genesis 27:18-29 CSB Main Point God accomplishes His purposes despite His covenant people s sin. *Notes adapted from Explore the Bible, LifeWay Christian Resources. All Scripture passages from the Christian Standard Bible.

9 Notes Next Steps Our attempts to control may actually insert sin into the process of bringing glory to God. In spite of your personal urge to control the outcome of life circumstances, rest in the Lord Jesus and His sovereignty in all matters. Additional Resources Explore the Bible Genesis 25-50, Chuck Kelley, General Editor; Layman s Bible Book Commentary: Genesis, Sherrill G. Stevens; The Daily Study Bible Series Genesis Volume 2, John C. L. Gibson; MacArthur Bible Studies, Genesis 12-33: The Father of Israel, John Mac Arthur; BibleStudyTools.com.

10 God s Word - Devoted to Him WISE LISTENING Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5 A fairly accurate description of the human race might be furnished one unacquainted with it by taking the Beatitudes, turning them wrong side out and saying, Here is your human race. For the exact opposite of the virtues in the Beatitudes are the very qualities which distinguish human life and conduct. In the world of men we find nothing approaching the virtues of which Jesus spoke in the opening words of the famous Sermon on the Mount. Instead of poverty of spirit we find the rankest kind of pride; instead of mourners we find pleasure seekers; instead of meekness, arrogance; instead of hunger after righteousness we hear men saying, I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing ; instead of mercy we find cruelty; instead of purity of heart, corrupt imaginings; instead of peacemakers we find men quarrelsome and resentful; instead of rejoicing in mistreatment we find them fighting back with every weapon at their command. Into a world like this the sound of Jesus words comes wonderful and strange, a visitation from above. It is well that He spoke, for no one else could have done it as well; and it is good that we listen. His words are the essence of truth. He is not offering an opinion; Jesus never uttered opinions. He never guessed; He knew, and He knows. His words are not as Solomon s were, the sum of sound wisdom or the results of keen observation. He spoke out of the fullness of His Godhead, and His words are very Truth itself. He is the only one who could say blessed with complete authority, for He is the Blessed One come from the world above to confer blessedness upon mankind. And His words were supported by deeds mightier than any performed on tis earth by any other man. It is wisdom for us to listen. A.W. Tozer, In The Pursuit of God "Once in our world, a stable had Genesis 1:31 Psalm 19:1 Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23A Romans 1:25 Proverbs 14:12 something in it that was bigger than our whole world." C.S. Lewis Download the Life Conversation Guide app to your phone. It is a great tool to have on hand as you share Christ with others. Philippians 2:13 Ephesians 2:10 John 3:16A Colossians 2:14 Mark 1:15B Ephesians 2:8-9 Romans 10:9

11 Men s Ministry Surrendering to the Process And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 Surrendering to the process is not a masculine gift. In fact, the Bible is littered with stories of leaders who ran ahead of God because they were impatient. And they paid the price. Both ancient and modern men of faith can relate to the proverb, There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death (Proverbs 13:12). When the timing and means are not as we would have it, or the results feel unjust or unacceptable, we tend to fight the process. Fighting an unjust process is not a bad thing; Fighting God s process of making you the man He created you to be is disastrous. Avoiding that sinkhole takes guts and a belief that God is more capable of deciding what s needed and best for you at any given moment. God s dream of molding us into the image of Christ will involve discomfort, conflict, loss, and pain. Many times we preempt, deflect, or deny entry of these growth opportunities into our lives, missing God s process all together. Eventually, because He loves us, He will corner us through circumstances until the pain exceeds our fear. So many times we wish we had done the hard thing and engaged the conflict or the process earlier. We should have trusted God to work instead of bailing and avoiding. We wish we had willingly volunteered rather than waited to comply. You might be there right now. If you ll surrender and do the exact thing you don t feel like doing, you ll be glad you did. Remember nothing happens to us unless it passes from God to us. And if it comes that way, it comes with a purpose to make us like Christ. Every Man Ministry Women s Ministry 7 Ways to Reclaim Sabbath Rest in Your Schedule (#4) Make Fewer Commitments It s easy to fall into the trap of busyness. When it comes to setting our schedules, however, we need to ask ourselves if our values and priorities are being reflected in the way we spend our time. Too often, the answer to that question is no. We may value spiritual renewal, health, and family togetherness, but we often fill our schedules with activities that work against those priorities (instead of working toward them). An easy way to nip busyness in the bud is simply to set boundaries for yourself. Instead of squeezing as many activities into your day as you can, consider only scheduling one thing per day or, better yet, one or two extra things per week. It may feel daunting when you start trimming your schedule, but it will be worth the effort. Remember that no is a perfectly acceptable answer, and stick with it!

12 Student Ministry So the Christmas season is finally here! What kinds of things are you planning to do this Christmas? Light shows? Presents? Christmas movies? Vacation? Around church everyone has heard the saying "Jesus is the reason for the season." I'm not here to give you another reminder about the true meaning of Christmas. But I do have a suggestion for you. Why not do something very simple and practical this year to help you reflect on Jesus? Take two minutes each day and read the Christmas story in Luke 2:1-20. It is short. It is sweet. But you might just find that if you get this story into your brain each day, you experience Christmas in a fresh way this season. It is a story that grows more mysterious and wonderful the more you read it. Give it a shot! Pastor Sam

13 Awana Ministry This week is BARF Night. Bring A REAL FRIEND for a chance to dig into the BARF bin for a surprise. Parent Information Meeting will take place upstairs in room 201 this Wednesday 12/5 from 6:30-6:45 PM. AWANA Parent Meeting December 5th This is an opportunity for your questions about Awana to be answered, learn about upcoming activities, and to check your child s progress in their handbook.

14 Connect Kids Today we will study Zechariah s prophecy in Luke 1: We will discuss how the world needs Jesus. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:17)7) Partnering with Parents Make a list with your children of the circles your family is a part of: school, work, family, neighborhood, sports teams, etc. Take turns sharing ideas of how your family can be a light for Jesus in these groups. Read John 3:17 and discuss why it seems easier to condemn others than shine the light of Jesus for others. Pick a way your family can be a light for Jesus this week. Eat a meal by candlelight to reflect on how Jesus is the light and how we can be lights, too.

15 Connect Kids The prophet Isaiah reading a passage of Scripture in our new Preschool Children s Church at 9:00 AM on the Royal Palm campus. Next week s lesson: Repenting prepares us for Jesus. Luke 3:7-18 Key Verse: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

16 Leadership Team Dr. Dale R. Faircloth Elder and Lead Pastor Clayton Hutcheson Elder Fred Rogers Elder Marlon Francis Elder Jimmy Maltese Assistant Pastor Duval Madrigal Assistant Pastor Jim Sims Pastoral Care Sam Fowler Pastor of Students Jerry Radder Men s Ministry Director Rosa Madrigal Women s Ministry Director Stacy Gatlin Children s Ministry Director Rachael Fowler Kids Coordinator Royal Palm campus Okeechobee Boulevard Royal Palm Beach, FL phone cc.today Cindy Tidd Preschool Coordinator Mike Eleveld Executive Pastor mike@cc.today Misael Valera Worship Leader Acreage campus Wendi Bean Awana Coordinator Acreage campus S B C 4601 Seminole Pratt Whitney Rd. Loxahatchee, FL phone cc.today