Happy Thanksgiving - Connect Churchcc.today/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/November-18.pdf · Happy...
Transcript of Happy Thanksgiving - Connect Churchcc.today/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/November-18.pdf · Happy...
Happy Thanksgiving
Worship Arts | Church Life | God’s Word
Men’s Ministry | Women’s Ministry
Student Ministry | Awana Ministry
Connect Kids | Leadership Team
November 18, 2018
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.
Connect Church Welcome to
I love this church because the Word of God is preached in love through
the power of the Holy Spirit. I also love this church because members
are encouraged to use their spiritual gifts as ministry partners.
I serve Jesus with you by being a marriage mentor
facilitator, a church orientation participant, and starting
in January my wife, B.J., and I will be teaching Love
and Respect as one of the winter
University of Christian Life courses.
Expressing Your Thanks to God on Thanksgiving Day
Sometimes we can't help pouring out our praise and thanks to God – which brings us to Thanksgiving Day.
What are the requirements for any sort of thanksgiving to happen? Something we're thankful for and somebody to thank. Seems so obvious, but I think I need to say it because it's amazing how many people can say, "I'm thankful for … " without admitting that God is there to hear their thanks. And they're certainly not giving him credit for whatever it is they're enjoying.
So what turns the fourth Thursday of November into Thanksgiving? Turkey? I know one family who doesn't like turkey. Their traditional Thanksgiving meal is Vietnamese carryout. But whatever our food traditions, is that all there is? Not if we plan real thanks into the day.
Maybe we can start by giving someone else a reason to give thanks. It might be by food donations we make ahead of time. It might be through invitations to our table – someone with no relatives nearby, a newly-arrived refugee family, a lonely neighbor.
And then how will we express our thanks to God? Perhaps there's a poster on the wall where anyone during the day can write or draw pictures of what he or she is thanking God for. Perhaps one of the children will make place cards with a verse of thanks on each, to be read sometime during the meal. Maybe this is a good day to pull out the year's journals or photo albums or videos to remind each other of all that God has done in our lives this year. And maybe Dad will begin the meal by reading or singing some words from Scripture. - Noel Piper
Worship Arts
Royal Palm campus
Victory in jesus: Travis Cottrell
Chain breaker: Zach Williams
Grace to grace: Hillsong Worship
Glorify you alone: Gateway Worship
Nobody: Casting Crowns
Jesus: Chris Tomlin
acreage campus
Living HOpe: Phil Wickham
Surrounded: Michael W. Smith
Jesus Paid It All: David Crowder
My Story: Big Daddy Weave
How He Loves: David Crowder
GRAMMY®-Award winning and multi-Platinum selling band Casting Crowns
released the new studio album, Only Jesus, on November 16th.
Nobody” (ft. Matthew West) is available everywhere and is one of six songs
that was released early from this new project.
‘Casting Crowns’ front man Mark Hall asks “What does it look like when Jesus
is our only answer?”
“The theme that continued to come up while working on these new songs was
that I am not the point – it is not about me, it is about pointing to Him,” shares
Hall. “God is already at work in our lives, and He has a plan that He places us
in so that others can know Him. We are here to show the way to God by how
we live, how we react to difficult situations, how we handle trials and troubled
relationships. Our hope is that through these songs, you can see what it looks
like when Jesus is our only source, our only solution and we are pointing to
only Jesus.”
- From Gospel Music Association
A Question to Ask God
If I don’t release my resources now for Your kingdom causes, will I be in danger of becoming more wrapped up in earthly, rather than heavenly, treasure? By postponing giving, will my heart become hardened to Your promptings to give? Will I then leave myself unprepared for eternity? Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19) From The Treasure Principle
Church Life
Upcoming events, mtgs.,fellowships, etc.
Connect Kids Leader Development
November 18th
Women’s Christmas Dinner
December 1st
Adult 5 & 6 Fellowship
December 7th
Access Life Service Project
December 8th
Student Ministry - 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
January 25th
Church Life Connecting
Mission Statement
To glorify God by leading others to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
November 18, 2018
Royal Palm campus Dr. Dale R. Faircloth
Acreage campus Pastor Mike Eleveld
Teaching Pastor
Schedule
Last Week’s Attendance & Offering
Offering $ 21,742.41
20/20 Vision $ 302.00
Royal Palm campus • 6:00 PM • $5.00 per person
The meal for the week:
No Meal This Week
Royal Palm campus 602
Acreage campus 159
TOTAL 761
November 25, 2018
Royal Palm campus Pastor Mike Eleveld
Acreage campus Pastor Jim Sims
Connect Church
Resource Center
Royal Palm campus
Sundays
10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Wednesdays
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Text Your Tithe
Royal Palm campus
561.705.0539
Acreage campus
561.935.6500
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
www.royalpalmphotos.com
God’s Word - Time With God
This Week’s SOAP With Anticipation - Main Passage for November 25th - James 5:7-9,13-20 CSB
Monday - James 5:7-9 Tuesday - James 5:13-15 Wednesday - James 5:16
Thursday - James 5:17-18 Friday - James 5:19-20 Saturday - Psalm 102:1-2
Memory Verse: James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.
The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.”
Scripture: James 4:11 “Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it but sitting in judgement on it.”
Observation: James instructs the church not to slander each other. Slander always damages – it can never edify or encourage. When we slander we in effect become judges not only of the person but also of the law of God.
Application: Slander is defined as making false or inaccurate statements about someone. This can be done explicitly – which is more overt, or it can be done implicitly – which we sometimes justify as being spiritual i.e. ‘I’m concerned about his ____ or ‘let’s add her to our prayer list as she’s dealing with ___’. It can be done verbally but also written in social media, emails, or other avenues (James’ point extends beyond slander to libel also). Since slander is always damaging, it has a corrosive effect on the body of Christ: discouraging people, fracturing relationships, and creating an unhealthy environment. This directly contradicts God’s instruction to us in Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.” I must intentionally guard my tongue by the words I speak or write, because the good God desires is never incidental. This requires that I allow the Holy Spirit to control me – to transform me by the renewing of my mind, because my flesh is weak and will fail frequently.
Prayer: Lord thank You for Your transformative work in my life. Remind me that I am your ambassador – that I represent You here on earth – so my thoughts, words, and deeds should draw people closer to you – not push them away. Help me to see life from Your perspective, so that I can serve and walk appropriately in love. Amen
Today’s SOAP - Elder Fred Rogers
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.
Scripture
Main Point
With Submission
*Notes adapted from Explore the Bible, LifeWay Christian Resources. All Scripture passages from the Christian Standard Bible.
Believers are to be committed to living out God’s will.
6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts,
you double-minded.
9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to
gloom.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
11 Don’t criticize one another, brothers and sisters. Anyone who defames or judges a fellow
believer defames and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a
judge.
12 There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your
neighbor?
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year
there and do business and make a profit.”
14 Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that
appears for a little while, then vanishes.
15 Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
17 So it is sin to know the good and yet not do it.
James 4:6-17 CSB
Notes
Next Steps
Additional Resources “Explore the Bible – Galatians; James”, James Merritt, General Editor; Layman’s Bible Book Commentary, Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, Volume 23;The Daily Study Bible Series – the Letters of James and Peter, William Barclay; The MacArthur New Testament Commentary – James, John Mac Arthur; BibleStudyTools.com.
Allow the Holy Spirit to examine your heart and your actions and communicate to you
if you are living a life of self-sufficient pride or humble dependence on the Lord Jesus.
“I would maintain that thanks are the
highest form of thought;
and that gratitude
is happiness doubled by wonder.” G.K. Chesterton
Download the Life Conversation Guide app to your
phone. It is a great tool to have on hand as you share
Christ with others.
Mark 1:15B Ephesians 2:8-9 Romans 10:9 John 3:16A
Colossians 2:14
Philippians 2:13 Ephesians 2:10
Romans 1:25 Proverbs 14:12
Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23A
Genesis 1:31 Psalm 19:1
God’s Word - Devoted to Him
Let’s Be Grateful If only we could see our situation clearly. Anything less than gratitude? Unthinkable! He owes us nothing. We owe Him everything. The Word of God is a corrective to the spirit of entitlement and ingratitude that’s poisoning our culture, and too often the church as well. We are never grateful for what we think we deserve. On the contrary, we gripe and complain and think God and others are unfair if it doesn’t come to us.
If only we could see our situation clearly—even for a moment. We deserve expulsion; He gives us a diploma. We deserve the electric chair; He gives us a parade. Anything less than overwhelming gratitude should be unthinkable. He owes us nothing. We owe Him everything.
Perhaps parents’ greatest heritage to pass on to their children is the ability to perceive the multitude of God’s daily blessings and to respond with continual gratitude. We should be “abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2: 7). From Seeing the Unseen
Men’s Ministry
Women’s Ministry
7 Ways to Reclaim Sabbath Rest in Your Schedule
(#2)
Infuse Your Day with Quiet Moments.
Throughout your day, find quiet moments during which you can rest
your soul.
For example: slip away from your office at lunch for some alone time.
Visit a park or sit in a cozy corner of your favorite coffee shop. Take
your Bible, a relaxing book, your journal, your favorite hand-sewing project, or anything else that helps you relax.
Turn the radio off while you’re driving your car so your ears can rest from the noise of life. Use that time to pray, thank God
for His blessings, or even to think about nothing important.
Take a longer-than-usual shower if you’re stressed out.
Finding a quiet moment here and there can help you relax and recharge. You’ll handle even the most stressful days better if
you allow yourself space to breathe deeply and regroup throughout your day.
Truth - I am the way the truth and the life. John 14:8
There are two forces alone that shape and influence the hearts of men: truth and lies. Whatever wins that battle for a man’s
heart wins the battle for his character. The character of a man drives his conduct, shaping his blast zone of influence. That
conduct will create health and life or sickness and death for those around him.
That’s why we see Jesus defining Himself as truth and life. Satan is the direct opposite of Jesus: “the father of lies” (John 8:44)
and the one “who holds the power of death” (Hebrew 2:14). And man is caught in the cross fire. The more we live in the truth,
the more freedom we experience with God and people. The more we swallow the lies, the more slavery we experience in our
flesh. This is why Jesus put in to His Father a special request for us before leaving earth. Praying for His present and future
disciples, He asked God to “make them holy — consecrated — with the truth” (John 17:17, MSG). Why did He pray this? He
knew that in the end, a strong relationship with truth on the part of His men would mean an equally adversarial relationship with
evil and the Devil. The battle to be a man of truth is a battle fought on many fronts. He is able to be honest with God — able to
be honest with himself — able to be honest with others — teachable in the face of uncomfortable truth — good with reality, not
afraid of it — good at meeting the demands of reality and changing accordingly — desiring to use truth as a compass for
decision-making — marinating in God’s truth in the Bible.
Truth is the way God says things are; truth is not what fits your feelings, it’s what the bright light shows the situation to be.
Father, you are the navigational source for my life, The North Star is an absolute. EVERY MAN Ministry - Kenny Luck
Student Ministry
I'm not a social media hater, but let's talk for a second about one of the things social media allows us to do that isn't so
great. It allows us to be someone we are not. Don't like the way you look? Use a filter or find that perfect phone angle!
Don't like the way you sound? Think long and hard about what to write so you sound smart! Don't like a characteristic
about yourself? Never talk about it on social media and you don't have to worry about it! The only problem with all of
this is that changing how people view us does
not change who we are. God cares about who
you are, not who people think you are. Don't
get so lost in your social media identity that
you lose sight of who God wants you to be.
He doesn't care what you look like or sound
like. He cares about your soul. He cares that
you feel loved. He cares that you live in the
freedom he wants to give you. The Gospel
requires no filter, just a willingness to bring
who we are before God and to ask him to
fulfill his purpose for us. Pastor Sam
Awana Ministry
We wish all of our Awana families a blessed Thanksgiving.
There is no Awana programming this week. Awana will resume November 28th.
Thanks to all of the families who participated in preparing shoeboxes for
Operation Christmas Child!
Connect Kids
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)
Today we will study Joshua 6:1-27, when God gave the Israelites victory over Jericho. We will learn that God’s power works for good.
Next week’s lesson: “Prophets Foretell Jesus’ Coming” Jeremiah 33:14-16 Key Verse: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’—which means, ‘God with us.’” (Matthew 1:22-23)
“Partnering with Parents”
We’re learning today about God’s
power and how He sometimes
uses His power in unusual ways.
Discuss with your child other
stories in the Bible in which God
uses His power in interesting
ways. Often kids associate
“power” with “strength,” but help
your child to see God’s power can
be displayed in other ways. Then
discuss our key verse today. How
does humility open the door for
God’s power in our lives?
Connect Kids
Royal Palm campus
10701 Okeechobee Boulevard
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411
561.793.2475 phone
cc.today
Leadership Team
Duval Madrigal
Assistant Pastor
Sam Fowler
Pastor of Students
Dr. Dale R. Faircloth
Elder and Lead Pastor
Jim Sims
Pastoral Care
Acreage campus
4601 Seminole Pratt Whitney Rd.
Loxahatchee, FL 33470
561.793.2475 phone
cc.today
Clayton Hutcheson
Elder
Fred Rogers
Elder
Mike Eleveld
Executive Pastor
S
B
C
Jimmy Maltese
Assistant Pastor
Marlon Francis
Elder
Jerry Radder Men’s Ministry
Director jerryradder
@gmail.com
Rosa Madrigal Women’s Ministry
Director duviee
@bellsouth.net
Stacy Gatlin Children’s
Ministry Director stacy
@cc.today
Wendi Bean Awana
Coordinator wendi
@cc.today
Rachael Fowler Kids
Coordinator rachael
@cc.today
Cindy Tidd Preschool
Coordinator cindy
@cc.today
Misael Valera
Worship Leader
Acreage campus