welcome January 28, 2018 this week s issue A Word From Our Pastor Church Life God s Word Men s Ministry Women s Ministry Student Ministry Kids Ministry Preschool Ministry Leadership Team
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. I love this church because of the spirit of Christ that is evident in our church and the energy of our congregation as it serves our Lord. I serve Jesus with you by teaching in our University of Christian Life (UCL) and serving in a variety of voluntary activities that we sponsor. Today s Worship and Praise Music Royal Palm campus Open Up The Heavens: Vertical Church Great I Am: New Life Worship What A Beautiful Name: Hillsong Holy Spirit: Jesus Culture Glorify You Alone: Gateway Worship Acreage campus This Is Amazing Grace: Phil Wickham Grace: Will Lopes Like Incense: Hillsong Build My Life: Hillsong Jesus: Chris Tomlin Good, Good, Father: Chris Tomlin
A Word From Our Pastor As I studied Acts 18 with you this week, I was struck by the parallel with our church life. Paul was preaching and working as a tentmaker. He was leading spiritually, but was also giving full-time attention to business matters. When Silas and Timothy arrived to support the work in Corinth, Paul was able to then give himself exclusively to spiritual matters. Like Paul in this passage, as your Lead Pastor, I have led both spiritually and administratively for the past 25 years. Recently, however, I asked the Elder Council and Personnel Team to select an Executive Pastor, a trusted and capable pastor to assume the church responsibilities of administration. This position will allow me, as your Lead Pastor, to solely focus on the spiritual vision and oversight of our church family. I look forward to more focused time in prayer and study of the Word, just as we see in Acts 6 when the early church reorganized and assigned the administrative duties to trusted men. Today, as Lead Pastor, I join the Elder Council, along with the Personnel Team, in announcing the new Executive Pastor of Connect Church - Pastor Mike Eleveld. Mike, along with his wife Diane, have spent their adult lives pursuing God s call in ministry. Over his career Mike has served as Missionary, Church Planter, Associate Pastor, Senior Pastor, and Director of Pastoral Ministry in Addiction Recovery. Over the last four years Mike has blessed our church family by serving as an Elder and Teaching Pastor. Effective February 1, he will assume administrative duties as Executive Pastor at Connect Church. Please join me in welcoming Pastor Mike and Diane as he joins our Pastoral Staff. Dr. Dale R. Faircloth Lead Pastor Israel Tour - 2018 If you ve ever desired to visit the Holy Land, this is the year to do so! Connect Church will host a trip to Israel October 31 - November 9, led by Pastor Dale and Alinda. All applications and deposits should be submitted to the church office by February 1st. For additional information about this Promised Land adventure phone 561-793-2475.
Make plans now to attend this conference which will both inspire and challenge us as parents, grandparents, or simply Church Life 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. Tithing - Giving Back To God The book and Academy Award-winning movie Schindler s List chronicles the true story of one man s effort to make the most of a desperate opportunity. As the director of a munitions factory in Nazi Germany, Oskar Schindler decides to leverage his position to save the lives of Jews. By employing them in his factory, Schindler is able to pluck condemned Jews from the gas chambers. But keeping them on is costly. Little by little, he liquidates his personal possessions in order to keep the business productive and underwrite the lives of his employees. At the end of the story, the Nazis are defeated. The full weight of Schindler s efforts is finally revealed as the dead are counted and the living stagger back to freedom. In the midst of this denouement, Oskar Schindler has a startling realization: He could have saved even more. Overwhelmed with horrifying regret, he laments the few goods still in his possession, goods that could have been liquidated to save Jews from death. Oskar Schindler was a hero. He is credited with saving more lives during World War II than any other single person. But interestingly enough, all he could think about was what he didn t do. He wished he had done more. We can learn a powerful lesson about giving from this example. Because in the same way, even generous Christians will probably look back on their lives and wish they had given more. And for those who never sowed at all, imagine the horror of their regret when they have to give an account for their finances in this lifetime. If we allow our fear of poverty to control us now, we ll have even more to fear in the end when we lose everything. But if we apply wisdom and start now to avert the inevitable fear and regret, we ll have nothing to fear in the end. From Fields of Gold For additional information about upcoming activities, programs, and events, please visit our website at CC.TODAY. Acreage campus
Church Life Thinking about joining Connect Church, being baptized, or just want to find out more about the ministries and mission? Please join us for the Church Orientation session. Royal Palm campus 11:00 AM in the Coffee Shop Acreage campus 11:00 AM in the Choral Room. Are you just beginning to visit with us and would like to meet the leadership staff? You are invited to lunch with the pastors and their families. We look forward to meeting you at 12:30 PM in the Activity Center on the Royal Palm campus. University of Christian Life Classes Beginning Soon! Lord, Change My Attitude Acreage campus - Drama Room 02/04-11:00 AM ********* MasterLife Royal Palm campus - Worship Center 02/07-7:00 PM
Mission Statement To glorify God by leading others to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Teaching Pastor Schedule January 28, 2018 Royal Palm campus 9:30 AM - Pastor Josh Sharpe 11:00 AM - Pastor Josh Sharpe Acreage campus 9:30 PM - Pastor Mike Eleveld 11:00 PM - Pastor Mike Eleveld February 4, 2018 Royal Palm campus 9:30 AM - Dr. Dale R. Faircloth 11:00 AM - Dr. Dale R. Faircloth Last Week s Attendance & Offering Royal Palm campus 704 Acreage campus 182 TOTAL 886 Offering $ 21,424.68 20/20 Vision $ Acreage campus 9:30 AM - Pastor Mike Eleveld 11:00 AM - Pastor Jim Sims 437.50 Royal Palm campus 6:00 PM $5.00 per person The meal for the week: Pork, congri, and yucca RESOURCE CENTER Hours Royal Palm campus Sundays 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM Wednesdays 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM Photographs contributed by: Dennis Jordan & Gaby Altman www.royalpalmphotos.com
God s Word - Time With God Today s SOAP - Elder Fred Rogers Scripture: Acts 18:24-28 Observation: A Jew whose home was Alexandria, Egypt (2nd most important city in Rome) but had a Greek name, was a well-spoken man and deftly used the Scriptures to teach people even though his understanding of Jesus redemptive work was limited. Nevertheless, he used what he knew and fervently followed the Spirit s leading and boldly taught in the synagogue. Application: Apollos had several attributes that God could use: he was knowledgeable about Old Testament Scriptures and Jewish culture and therefore could debate and instruct well with the Jewish people in the synagogue. Being a Jew in a cosmopolitan city like Alexandria, a city at the center of Hellenistic culture, also exposed him to other cultures and religions, giving him knowledge and insight which could be used to help with contextual relevance when interacting with both Jews and non-jews in Ephesus. Apollos was eloquent which is often an advantage in being able to convey a message and provided credibility to impact people who were well educated themselves. Apollos was fervent in the Spirit he was not merely a hearer of the Word, but also a doer. Even though Apollos was limited in his understanding (i.e. he understood the need for repentance and was aware of Jesus as Messiah but didn t have full grasp of Christ s redemptive work on our behalf: forgiveness, reconciliation, imputed righteousness, eternal life, indwelling of the Holy Spirit, etc.), he still fervently and boldly moved taught in the synagogue. This has application for me. Whatever my knowledge, skills, and abilities are or are not I should use them for God s glory. I should move forward with what I know now, what I can do now, and where I am now and use them to advance God s kingdom. Surely, I am limited (no, I don t need any top 10 lists of shortcomings from observers!) but my limitations today are not my limitations tomorrow as long as I allow God to continue to transform me. Furthermore, my limitations today are not necessarily a hindrance to God He can use me effectively, like He used Apollos, to bring others to a deeper walk in their faith or to bring them to a saving knowledge of Christ s redemptive work. My responsibility, and my privilege, is to allow God to use me today as He simultaneously transforms me for tomorrow. Prayer: : Lord thank You for Your transformative work in my life - I need it daily. Remind me not to rely upon my abilities, but rather rely upon Your wisdom and strength. Help me to see life from Your perspective, so that I can serve and walk appropriately in love. Thank You for Your patience with me. Amen 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 M Acts 20:22-23 T Acts 20:24 W Acts 20:25-27 TH Acts 20:28-31 F Acts 20:32-34 S Acts 20:35 Delivered Main Passage for February 4 Acts 20:22-35 CSB Memory Verse: Acts 20:35 In every way I ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Incomplete Picture Scripture 24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was competent in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only John s baptism. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately. 27 When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers and sisters wrote to the disciples to welcome him. After he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah. 1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples 2 and asked them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? No, they told him, we haven t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. 3 Into what then were you baptized? he asked them. Into John s baptism, they replied. 4 Paul said, John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in other tongues and to prophesy. 7 Now there were about twelve men in all. Acts 18:24-28; 19:1-7 CSB Main Point God uses believers to help others better understand the gospel. *Notes adapted from Explore the Bible, LifeWay Christian Resources. All Scripture passages from the Christian Standard Bible.
Notes Next Steps Prayerfully, your heart is humble to received Biblical instruction so the Lord can better use you to help others. If the Spirit places any doubt in your mind, seek guidance from a mature believer. Additional Resources Layman s Bible Book Commentary Acts, Robert L. Maddox, Jr.; The Daily Study Bible Series The Acts of the Apostles, William Barclay; The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Acts 13-28, John MacArthur, Jr.; BibleStudyTools.com.
God s Word - Devoted to Him Meet God First And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. Mark 6: 31 The whole Bible and all past history unite to teach that battles are always won before the armies take the field. The critical moment for any army is not the day it engages the foe in actual combat; it is the day before or the month before or the year before. It did not take Moses long to lead the children of Israel out through the Red Sea to deliverance and freedom; but his fittedness to lead them out was the result of years of hard discipline. It took David only a few minutes to dispose of Goliath; but he had beaten the giant long before in the person of the lion and the bear. Christ stood silent in the presence of Pilate and for our sake went calmly out to die. He could endure the anguish of the cross because He had suffered the pains of Gethsemane the night before; there was a direct relationship between the two experiences. One served as a preparation for the other. Preparation is vital. We can seek God today and get prepared to meet temptation tomorrow; but if we meet the enemy without first having met God, the outcome is not conjectural; the issue is already decided. We can only lose. From Tozer On The Almighty God gives unexpected strength when unusual trials come upon us. Genesis 1:31 Psalm 19:1 Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23A Romans 1:25 Proverbs 14:12 Faith s Check Book 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
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) Registration Resource Center or Online $109.00 SIGN UP NOW! Sign up TODAY in the Resource Center on online at CC.Today! 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 We are seeking men to help the Awana clubbers with their derby cars. If you are available to assist please meet us on Feb. 17th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM on the covered driveway on the Royal Palm campus. Move Your Borders in Continual Growth If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has been led by my eyes, or if my hands have been defiled then may others eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted. Job 30:7-8 The ambition of God s man to become like Christ requires aggressively pursuing that ambition. He wants us to constantly stretch the borders of our growth for the duration of our life on earth. Jesus didn t mince words or parse verbs on the whole topic of growth. He said either you are growing or you re dying fruit or no fruit. There is no middle ground. That s why so many men are so incredibly down, they have chosen to coast in their spiritual lives, and then they find they are not coasting but dying! They have stopped abiding in the vine of Christ. Disconnected from his Spirit they have no source of nourishment for their convictions. God s dream for God s man always involves personal growth and fruit. He is increasing, I am decreasing. God s man prays the brave prayers of continual growth. Prayers like Job s emerge when he opens his life up to God s inspection and his Makers freedom to rewire his life. He keeps moving the borders, giving God more and more freedom to change him. Job was naked before God because he wanted growth and spiritual integrity before God. It s a bring it on confession and prayer. Are you willing to go there in your walk with God, a place of full examination? If so, you will experience His dreams and catch His dream for your life. From Every Man Ministries
Women s Ministry As Christians we are commanded in Matthew 28:19a to "go and make disciples of all nations. One to One Discipling establishes nine foundational stones upon which a mentor helps build the Christian faith of a disciple. Want to learn more about being mentored? Or maybe help mentor others? For additional information contact Jodie Schmitz at jodie@cc.today. Rosa Madrigal Women s Ministry Director duviee@bellsouth.net
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 Drama Room 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. 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. The Culture Translator Hey Parents! Have you ever heard your child use a phrase you didn t understand? Or reference a celebrity that you have never heard of? It can be easy to feel out of touch with our kids and the influences which surround them. Yet, it is important that we understand their world the best we can so we can effectively direct them toward following Jesus. We strongly encourage you to check out The Culture Translator at axis.org/ct. It gives you weekly insights into how pop culture, technology, and media are influencing your students. It also gives you ways to use these insights to begin meaningful conversations with your kids. All of this is done with a Christian perspective. Pretty cool, huh? Don t miss out! Sam Fowler Student Ministry Director sam@cc.today Rachael Fowler Student Ministry Coordinator rachael@cc.today
Kids Ministry Remember to learn the memory verse this week to earn a Disciple Dollar next Sunday! Memory Verse: Joshua 1:9b Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Circle True or False to each statement. 1. Jesus is God s Son. 2. The Bible is God s Word. 3. False teachers tell the truth. Kids, today we learned that we should be ready to defend our faith. We also learned about false teachers and how they share wrong teachings about Jesus. Parents, 1) Remember to help your child complete the Kid s S.O.A.P. handout this week. 2) Parents, listen to a podcast on Dealing with Sibling Rivalry on theparentcue.org Cindy Tidd Preschool Coordinator cindy@cc.today Rachael Fowler Kids Coordinator rachael@cc.today Stacy Gatlin Kids Coordinator stacy@cc.today Wendi Bean Awana Coordinator wendi@cc.today
Preschool Ministry Color a hand each time you give a helping hand to someone this week. I helped clean up. The memory verse for this week is from Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. I shared my toys. I obeyed right away. This Sunday we learned about The Good Samaritan. Here s what s happening in Awana Preschool: The lessons for this Wednesday are as follows: 1 s: God made my nose Puggles: God loves me when I m inside Cubbies: Bear Hug 15 Preschool Don t forget the Derby Race is coming up soon! We will have several opportunities available for you to work with your Cubbie on their one of a kind race car! Stay tuned for more information! Awana Grand Prix will be held Saturday April 7th! Cars kits are available in the Resource Center. Our next Derby Work Day is Saturday Feb 17th from 2:00- Kids 4:00 PM. Everyone is welcome to join in the fun and design/race a car. Thank you Awana families! We collected 55 cans of soup in one night for the Church at Gate 5 at the South Florida Fair. Congratulations to Schaffer, Maggie, Molly and Hudson for completing their handbooks last week!
Leadership Team Dr. Dale R. Faircloth Elder and Lead Pastor Clayton Hutcheson Elder Mike Eleveld Executive Pastor Fred Rogers Elder dale@cc.today mike@cc.today Josh Sharpe Pastor of Ministries Will Lopes Pastor of Worship josh@cc.today will@cc.today Tate Soles Pastor of Students Jimmy Maltese Pastor of Ministries tate@cc.today jimmy@cc.today Jim Sims Campus Pastor Duval Madrigal Pastor of Ministries Carey Julien Worship Leader jim@cc.today duval@cc.today carey@cc.today Royal Palm campus 10701 Okeechobee Boulevard Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411 561.793.2475 phone cc.today Acreage campus S B C 4601 Seminole Pratt Whitney Rd. Loxahatchee, FL 33470 561.385.5871 phone cc.today