welcome December 24, 2017 this week s issue

Transcription

1 welcome December 24, 2017 this week s issue Worship Church Life God s Word Men s Ministry Women s Ministry Student Ministry Kids Ministry Preschool Ministry Leadership Team

2 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. This evening, please join us between services for refreshments and fellowship.

3 Worship Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11 CHRISTMAS EVE - AM SERVICE O Come All Ye Faithful: Third Day Angels We Have Heard On High: Third Day The Love Of God: North Central University Great Are You Lord: One Sonic Society Oh Holy Night: Traditional Joy To The World (Shout For Joy): Paul Baloche CHRISTMAS EVE - PM SERVICE Tapestry Of Carols: David Clydesdale For To Us A Child Is Born: Joshua Spacht Let Us Adore: Elevation Church All Is Well: Michael W. Smith Behold Our God: Sovereign Grace Music His Love Is All I See: Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir Jesus Your Name: Morris Chapman What A Beautiful Name: Hillsong Christmas Alleluia: Chris Tomlin Joy To The World (Shout For Joy): Paul Baloche

4 Church Life December 31, 2017

5 Make plans now to attend this conference which will both inspire and challenge us as parents, grandparents, or simply concerned adults who desire to influence children and youth for God. What will the next generation look like? That all depends upon how much we will invest in their future. Church Life As a pastor, I have a front row seat to some of the most incredible financial stories you ve ever heard. Over the years, I ve talked to hundreds of people who were in debt or had a negative cash flow, and it just made no sense for them to give money away to a church or a ministry. But somehow, once they scraped up the courage to give it a shot, their lives began to change. Time after time, I ve heard stories of people on the other side of that initial fear of tithing. And consistently they report back that once they started giving, God got involved in their finances. Money arrived unexpectedly. Debt was repaid in a fraction of the time they had projected....these people are living proof that giving can open the door to your heavenly Father s involvement in your finances. From Fields of Gold For additional information about upcoming activities, programs, and events, please visit our website at CC.TODAY.

6 Mission Statement To glorify God by leading others to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Teaching Pastor Schedule December 24, 2017 Royal Palm campus 8:30 AM - Dr. Dale R. Faircloth Acreage campus 5:00 PM - Dr. Dale R. Faircloth 7:00 PM - Dr. Dale R. Faircloth December 31, 2017 Royal Palm campus 9:30 AM - Pastor Josh Sharpe 11:00 AM - Pastor Josh Sharpe Last Week s Attendance & Offering Royal Palm campus 713 Acreage campus 189 TOTAL 902 Offering $ 31, /20 Vision $ Acreage campus 9:30 AM - Pastor Mike Eleveld 11:00 AM - Pastor Duval Madrigal Royal Palm campus 6:00 PM $5.00 per person The meal for the week: Meals will resume January 3rd Photographs contributed by: Dennis Jordan & Gaby Altman

7 God s Word - Time With God Today s SOAP - Pastor Sam Jay Scripture: Luke 2:25-38 Observation: Simeon, a righteous and devout man, was given a revelation from the Holy Spirit. The Old Testament has over 300 Messianic prophecies in it. The Holy Spirit's revelation to Simeon tied into the fulfillment of these Messianic prophecies. Long before Simeon was ever born, the Messianic prophecies were made about the arrival of the Messiah. Simeon was told he would not see death until he saw the Lord's Messiah. There is no doubt in my mind that Simeon looked for the arrival of his Messiah with great anticipation each and every day after he was given the revelation. When Simeon's revelation was realized he addressed the baby Messiah as Master. Simeon also recognized the baby Messiah as the source of salvation for all peoples, both Jew and Gentile. Application: This time of year we celebrate the same thing that Simeon was celebrating. The birth of Christ meant the arrival of our Savior. The celebration of Christ's birth can be seen many places today. We celebrate Christ's birth at church in song with praise, in Scripture with fulfilled Messianic prophecies, in fellowship with a common joy over what Christ's arrival meant for all of us. S.O.A.P. Scripture Observation Application Prayer Grab your Bible, a pen, and a notebook. Get ready to hear from God through His Word! This Week s SOAP The celebration of Christ's birth can be seen as we make our way through neighborhoods, villages and more. There are countless Nativity scenes on display outside of homes, in front of businesses, in city displays and more. The celebration of Christ's birth can be seen in the home. Some families make a birthday cake for Jesus and sing happy birthday to Him on Christmas Day. Some families read Luke 2 before opening Christmas presents on Christmas morning. Some families leave baby Jesus out of the Nativity until Christmas morning reminding them of the importance of the Messiah's arrival. The birth of Christ is being celebrated everywhere! His presence was and still is the greatest present ever given! His presence meant that the present of salvation, forgiveness from sin, grace, and mercy had arrived. Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son! Thank you for the gift of salvation, forgiveness of sins, grace, and mercy. Father help me to share the gift of your Son with all who have not yet come to know Him. May You be glorified as we continue to share the amazing gift of your Son with all peoples who do not yet know Him. M Acts 15:36-39 T Acts 15:40-41 W Acts 16:1-2 Strengthened TH 2 Timothy 1:2-5 F Acts 16:3 S Acts 16:4-5 Main Passage for December 31 Acts 15:36-41; 16:1-5 CSB Memory Verse: Acts 16:5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

8 The Promised One Scripture 25 There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said, 29 Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation. 31 You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel. 33 His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary: Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 and a sword will pierce your own soul that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. 38 At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:25-38 CSB Main Point Jesus is the promised Messiah, the One who provides salvation to all who trust Him. *Notes adapted from Explore the Bible, LifeWay Christian Resources. All Scripture passages from the Christian Standard Bible.

9 Notes Next Steps Consider the history, fulfilled prophecy, and longevity of the story of Jesus and engage your eternal faith in His completed act of incarnation, resurrection, and salvation. Prayerfully place your life in His. Additional Resources Explore the Bible, Leader Guide Acts 13-28, Winter 2018, pgs 43-52; Layman s Bible Book Commentary, Luke Volume 17, Robert J. Dean; The Daily Study Bible Series The Gospel of Luke, William Barclay; The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Luke 1-5, John MacArthur.

10 God s Word - Devoted to Him Love In Action This is how God showed his love among us. He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9 Love isn t just a feeling; love must be expressed in action. If it isn t, we don t have any reason to believe that love to be genuine, no matter how much that person claims it is. Likewise, God s love is not just a vague feeling or sentimental emotion hidden in His heart. God s love is real and we know it because He demonstrated it to us. He put His love into action! Do you want to know if God loves you? Here is the proof: Jesus Christ left Heaven s glory and came down to this sin-infested Earth to die for you. Paul put it this way: Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5: 7 8 Have you been tempted to doubt God s love for you? Don t doubt it any longer, but look instead at Christ and the cross. There you will see God s love poured out for you. From Hope for Each Day Before we decided to look for God, God had already been looking for us. John Stott Genesis 1:31 Psalm 19:1 Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23A Romans 1:25 Proverbs 14:12 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 MEN S STUDY GROUPS Men s Connection Group: Meets on Monday evenings at 7:30 PM on the Royal Palm campus. Contact Edgar Gregory for more information. (edgar.gregory@pw.utc.com) Special pricing until Dec. 31st Christmas Rest Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened. Matthew 11:28 As a boy I delivered newspapers in order to earn money. Since it was a morning newspaper, I was required to get up at 3:00 every morning, 7 days a week, in order to have all 140 of my papers delivered to their appropriate homes by 6:00. Explore the Bible Series Wednesday 7:00 PM Worship Center One to One Discipling will help you grow stronger in your faith walk with Christ. If you would like a mentor, contact Marlon Francis at m4francis@gmail.com or Gene Groat at atgroat619@hotmail.com for more information. Jerry Radder Men s Ministry Director jerryradder@gmail.com But one day each year was different. We would deliver the Christmas morning newspaper on Christmas Eve meaning that Christmas was the only morning of the year I could sleep in and rest like a normal person. Over the years, I came to appreciate Christmas for many reasons, but one that was special in those days was that, unlike any other day of the year, it was a day of rest. At that time, I didn t fully understand the meaning of the true rest that Christmas brings. Christ came so that all who labor under the weight of a law that can never be fulfilled might find rest through the forgiveness Christ offers. Jesus said, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28). In a world that is too much for us to bear alone, Christ has come to bring us into a relationship with Him and give us rest. What burdens would you like the Lord to carry for you? Ask Him today. Our soul finds rest when it rests in God. By Bill Crowder The words of today s passage have been loved and memorized by many: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (v. 28). What more do we need than rest from our difficult and wearying lives? But that rest must be understood in its context. Jesus was speaking to Jewish people in the first century people who had been raised under the assumption that you had to work to earn God s favor or to be in right relationship with Him. It is to those who labor under the burden of keeping the law that Jesus says, Come to me. We come to know and love God by placing our trust in Jesus payment for our sin, and we demonstrate our love for God by doing what He commands (John 14:21).

12 Women s Ministry Ladies, Ministry Your assistance is needed! Volunteer to serve the fair workers on Wednesday morning, January 24th at 9 AM for the birthday bash buffet. Bring a covered dish. Please contact Jamie Gregory at jamiefirstair@gmail.com or to register or for additional information. Rosa Madrigal Women s Ministry Director duviee@bellsouth.net

13 Student Ministry Sunday Mornings Royal Palm campus: Meets in the Activity Center at 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM. Acreage campus: Meets in the Choral and Drama Rooms at 9:30 AM. Sunday Nights Royal Palm & Acreage campuses: High School Students meet on the Royal Palm campus from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. What Is Unique About Christianity Do you know what is unique about Christianity? The most significant unique element to Christianity is what Christians believe about Jesus. Everyone agrees that Jesus existed. But who was He? Some believe Jesus was just a holy man. Some believe Jesus was just a wise teacher. Jesus is more than these things. Christians believe that Jesus is the only way to God. Christians believe that Jesus is God s solution to all the evil and brokenness in the world. Christians believe that Jesus is God. He sacrificed himself on the cross to save all people. Jesus is the center-piece of Christianity. He is the way, the truth and the life for all people. To learn about more unique aspects to Christianity go to and search three reasons Christianity is different. Wednesday Nights All Middle and High School Students meet on the Royal Palm campus in the Activity Center from 7:00 PM to 8:15 PM. Sam Fowler Student Ministry Director sam@cc.today Rachael Fowler Student Ministry Coordinator rachael@cc.today

14 Kids Ministry Kids, Join in the fun tonight! 5:00 PM or 7:00 PM Kids, Don t miss movie night! January 26th 6:00 PM Royal Palm campus. Cindy Tidd Preschool Coordinator cindy@cc.today Rachael Fowler Kids Coordinator rachael@cc.today Sage Gaylord Kids Coordinator sage@cc.today Wendi Bean Awana Coordinator wendi@cc.today Nadine Dillard Awana Coordinator nadine@cc.today

15 Preschool Ministry Circle each answer. Where did Mary place baby Jesus after He was born? The memory verse for this week is from Luke 2:11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Who appeared to the shepherds? Parents, Here s one last tip to make this a Christmas to remember: Throw a Cookie Decorating Party Preschool just for you and your kiddos. Low stress, simple, & fun! You can either make the cookies from scratch or buy them premade. Buy or make icing, sprinkles etc. Lay out a plastic table cloth on the table (maybe even the floor depending on your child s age). Place a selection of sprinkles where they can frost and sprinkle to their heart s content. It s a blast and they will remember it for years to come! When you re done, fold up your table cloth and shake it out outside. Reminder: There will be no Awana on We will have children s activities on Awana will resume on Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Kids Hey Clubbers, We would like to wish you all a blessed and very Merry Christmas! Awana will resume on January 10th as we kick off our Awana Mission Month. Guess what time it is? It's time to start preparing for the AWANA Grand Prix! Derby cars will be available for purchase in the Resource Center and Derby workshops will begin in January. Kids, Join us for fun January 3rd. There will be no Awana that evening, but a lot of fun is still planned for our time together.

16 Leadership Team Dr. Dale R. Faircloth Elder and Lead Pastor Clayton Hutcheson Elder Fred Rogers Elder Mike Eleveld Elder Josh Sharpe Pastor of Ministries Tate Soles Pastor of Students Jimmy Maltese Pastor of Ministries Will Lopes Pastor of Worship Jim Sims Campus Pastor Duval Madrigal Pastor of Ministries Carey Julien Worship Leader Royal Palm campus Okeechobee Boulevard Royal Palm Beach, FL phone cc.today Acreage campus S B C 4601 Seminole Pratt Whitney Rd. Loxahatchee, FL phone cc.today