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Core Group Meeting
Sunday, September 2, 2:00 p.m.
Fellowship Hall |
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Greetings!
Perhaps the most difficult part of a relationship is communication. And yet this is what lacks in most relationships that deteriorate and eventually die.
Rather than hear things through the grapevine, isn't it better to have a relevant dialogue between individuals, or between groups, to foster a better understanding of each other?
Having a courageous conversation with fellow Christians can be truly difficult, but it is helpful in promoting purity, unity and trust. Let's remember to always carry out our responsibility to one another by speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), which is only possible when we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Church Staff |
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Core Group Meeting
Must You Attend?
There is a scheduled Core Group Meeting this coming Sunday, September 2, right after the Fellowship Lunch. It seems like many of our gatherings are centered around food, so why do people slip away when it's time for a Core Group meeting? Will attendance be better if we promise a tableful of desserts after the meeting? Or should we hold the meeting before lunch is served?
It is always discouraging when a lot of people are present for lunch only to find a quarter of the number left behind when meeting time comes. Perhaps that's why people don't know much of what's going on, and they would ask why things are this way as opposed to being that way!
So, the answer to the burning question, Must you attend?, is a definite YES!
Now, people always ask, who are the core group members? 1)All church leaders and members of the church staff; 2) all other managers, coordinators, and leaders in the church, in the church divisions or departments or in the small group fellowships; and 3) all who are actively involved in any church ministry or in the small group fellowships. Simply, almost everyone is a member of the core group, and there seems to be only a handful of exceptions if you read the three categories above.
We try to make it convenient for you by holding the meeting at the Fellowship Hall so you won't have to walk up back to the church. What else could you ask for? Just BE THERE! (Pretty please.) |
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Small Group Fellowship
A Modern Phenom?
It is undisputed that actively replicating small groups contribute immensely to church growth. Some may think this to be a modern phenomenon, but, indeed, this had its beginnings in biblical times when there were no church buildings to speak of but rather people meeting in "house churches" as Paul vividly describes in Romans 16.
Eddie Gibbs, in his book "I Believe in Church Growth," states that he "cannot recall any growing church which does not encourage small groups." At the Berlin Congress of Evangelism Robert Raines called the small group approach "the strategy for our time".
His Magazine, November 1968, reported an in-depth study done by Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship staff in North America on the rate of growth of their various University groups compared to the size of their gatherings. They described the problems found by any group as it grows and how the growth rate invariably slows as size increases. Problems included a drop in personalness, sense of mission and evangelistic work achieved, and an immense rise in demands on leaders. From this they devised an effective strategy which included the following: "The big meeting should serve the small group rather than vice versa."
I wonder if this is what Jesus had in mind when he declared, "Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you" (Matthew 18:20). I used to think he meant, "Even if only a few of you gather I am still there." I now tend to think he meant, "When just two or three gather in my name, I am there in a special kind of way." In other words, the basic building block of the church is the small group in which the members are committed to one another as to Christ. We tend to think of the small group as only being a part of the church. The New Testament does not make this distinction. It is the church.
We always hear it pointed out that small groups should stay small and that when the group tends to grow it should divide so each group can grow even more. This is the place where we can invite friends, neighbors, and unbelieving family members to join and become relaxed in the context of Christian fellowship. It is to be a "safe haven" for its members, where they are free to be who they are.
We need to develop more small group fellowships. All we need is a willing host, who doesn't even have to lead. There are those willing to serve as leaders or teachers for these groups.
The Saddleback Church has about 20,000 members and 5,000 small groups. That's an average of a small group for every 4 persons!
John Stott wrote in One People: Clergy and Laity in God's Church: "I do not think it is an exaggeration to say that small groups, Christian family or fellowship groups, are indispensable for our growth into spiritual maturity."
John A. T. Robinson, in On Being the Church in the World, wrote: "I believe that the theological recovery of this idea of 'the church of the house' is one of the most important tasks of our generation. Whereas the organisation is an optional extra...the cellular structure of the church will be rediscovered as a necessity of its life..."
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Are you a member of a small group? If not, join one, or start one!
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After all, the original small group was Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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Are you listening?
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Courageous
"Honor Begins at Home"
This movie entitled "Courageous," which is the basis of the forthcoming Men's Breakfast Group Retreat (September 21, 22) was the highest grossing movie on the weekend it was released to the movie-going public on September 30, 2011.
It sold the most of that weekend on Fandango, beating out The Lion King 3D, Moneyball, Dolphin Tale and Drive. (Wikipedia)
The movie will be shown on Friday evening, the 21st, and on Saturday morning, for half a day, there will be a bible-based study related to the movie.
In brief, as law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, David Thomson and Shane Fuller are confident and focused. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood.
While they consistently give their best on the job, "good enough" seems to be all they can muster as dads. They quickly discover that their standard is missing the mark. When tragedy hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw closer to God...and to their children?
Those who attend will find themselves laughing, crying and cheering as they are challenged and inspired by everyday heroes who long to be the type of dads that make a lifelong impact on their children.
Make sure every man, young or old, single or married, will attend this retreat. Wives, mothers, aunts, please urge your husbands, sons and nephews to sign up for this spiritual weekend.
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Book and Bible Drive
Last Call 
So many hands have willingly helped the project of the Monday night SGF in gathering their goal of 500 paperback Christian books and bibles so that this number has probably been surpassed by the time this article is written.
This project for the group's prison ministry came about after Chaplain Ed Welsh spoke to the group about this need.
Recently he wrote: "I will be on 'The Word in the World' TV program with Father Mike Manning both on TBN and TCC networks. Times and dates are listed below.
The Word in the World
Sunday, Sep 30, 4:30 am PT on TBN
Tues, Oct 2, 8:30 am PT on TCC
Chaplain Ed Welsh is the Protestant Chaplain Liaison for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Men's Central Jail, the Twin Towers, and the Century Regional Detention Center.
The Monday SGF is coordinated by Ernie and Ruth Jordan. Consider this the last call for you to bring in more Christian books and bibles (soft cover or paperback) for the project.
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Prayer Request
Basic 10 Series
We received an e-mail from Pastor Jessie saying that they are busy with the ministry they are doing in the Philippines.
She requested prayers for the Basic 10 Series that they will conduct for the small group leaders that regularly meet weekly at the Galilee Resort in the province of Bulacan.
This is the group that our senior pastors met through the introduction made by Mr. Virgilio Trillana, the gentleman who quite regularly attends our Sunday services with Nestor and Myrna Aguila. Mr. Trillana usually attends those meetings whenever he is in the Philippines.
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Ministry of Grace Corner
By giving to meet the needs of others, we glorify God, we confess the Gospel of Christ and we experience the surpassing grace of God.
2 Corinthians 9:11-15 (CEV) - You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous. then many people will thank God when we deliver youyr gift. What you are doing is much more than a service that supplies God's people with what they need. It is something that will make many others thank God. the way in which you proved yourselves by this service will bring honor and praise to God. You believed the message about Christ, and you obeyed it by sharing generously with God's people and with everyone else. Now they are praying for you and want to see you, because God used you to bless them so very mcuh. Thank God for his gift that is too wonderful for words!
(From the booklet published by Gospel Life Community, March, 2011, "Christian Principles of Resource Management and Investment.")
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Church Greeters' Schedule
September 2 - Eunice Alinsod
September 9 - Vonnie & Tito Cabrera
September 16 - Penny & Conrad Miranda
September 23 - Linda & Danny Santos
September 30 - Lelit & Tony Luciano
October 7 - Ruby & Ding Dijamco |
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Marketplace Ministry
Being a Person Under Authority
..."I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith." -
Matthew 8:10
The centurion came to Jesus and told Him of his servant who was paralyzed and in terrible suffering. He came to Jesus because he believed He could heal him. He told Jesus of the matter, and Jesus was willing to come with the centurion. But the centurion would not have it. He knew that Jesus, being under the authority of Heaven itself, did not have to see the servant to help him. The centurion understood authority. He understood that he himself had certain rights that his position granted him to have power over situations and people. He also was a man under authority. The centurion understood Jesus' position and what power that position held in Heaven - the power to heal his servant if He chose to exercise that authority.
When Jesus saw that the centurion understood this principle of authority and that He did not have to visit the servant to heal him, He acknowledged the centurion's faith. Jesus knew it took great faith to understand authority and whether He had the authority to do what was being asked.
God has placed a system of authority in our world that requires faith to operate under its boundaries: fathers over sons and daughters, employers over employees, government leaders over the people, church leaders over church members. These are authority structures God has placed in our lives to protect and guide us to His will. Some confuse position with worthiness or qualifications of that position. It is the position that God works through. The fact that an authority may not be a Christian may have no bearing on whether God can work through him as your authority. It is only when that authority counsels against a biblical mandate that we should not follow that person's guidance. The hand of the king is in the hand of God.
Today, we find few who understand this system of authority God has ordained. It requires great faith to operate in this realm. Yet Jesus said that when we understand this, we demonstrate the kind of faith that He rarely sees. Be a person of rare faith. See the authorities placed in your life as those God is using to protect you.
(Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.) |
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MAILING ADDRESS:
436 Crestwood Lane
Walnut, CA 91789
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| Meditation |
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"God, Your Word tells us to love our enemies, to pray for those who spite or persecute us. That's quite a 'tall order' for a human, but through the enabling of your Holy Spirit, I can do it. Thank You for reminding me to pray instead of complaining, to pray instead of getting angry, to pray instead of feeling sorry for myself.
"I pray for all the people I have relationships with in my family, neighborhood, workplace, church, school...wherever I live, work, and play, that You would help them to focus on You. If they do not know You, draw them to You. If they do know You, remind them to think "What would Jesus do?" before they act. Remind me too. Thank You for Your love and patience with us. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen." |
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