Our Memory Verse
John 1:1-18

 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

 

6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

 

10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

 

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[d] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' "  16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,who is at the Father's side, has made him known. 
 

ABF - Adult Bible Fellowship
*No ABF Sunday January 18th!

Sunday the 25th we conclude our study on "Statistics in the Christian Church" Presented by Mark Bates
 
This class will explore the many uses of statistics in research and media as they pertain to the Christian church and will examine some ground-breaking surveys and studies.
 
January 25-Conclusion
Our last week will be spent discussing issues that have not been addressed and to answer questions upon which statistics has shed light.
 
Mark Bates is a mathematics professor at Oxnard College where he has taught for the past 10 years.  During his last three years of teaching, he has specialized in the field of statistics.  He and wife, Colleen Hurley-Bates, have attended our church for 20 years and are the parents of Olivia.  Mark has served as a delegate for the Free Methodist General Conference.

 

Coming in February...

"Knowing Scripture"
Presented by Larry Gilbertson
February1-March 1, 2009 (Five Sundays)
9:30 am in the SHIFCO Recreation Room
 
This series on "Knowing Scripture" is designed to equip us to better understand God's Word, help us mine the depths and wisdom of Scripture, and to grow us in both Truth and Spirit.  These classes are based on the DVD series "Knowing Scripture" by R. C. Sproul, who is a noted theologian and Bible scholar. Please join us and learn valuable techniques of Biblical interpretation that will allow us to better know the Word and ultimately to better know God.
 
February 1
This first class will provide the Biblical reasons for Bible study, dispel popular myths associated with the study of God's Word, and will include a video presentation by R. C. Sproul on "Personal Bible Study and Private Interpretation."

February 8
The science of interpreting Scripture (Hermeneutics) will be discussed, including the rules that govern objective interpretation and three major methods of interpretation (Grammatico-Historical, Religious-Historical and Existential methods).  We will also view a video presentation by R. C. Sproul on the "Literal Interpretation of Scripture."
 
February 15
Various "Literary Forms" found in Scripture will be the focus of this class such as the use of hyperbole, metaphor, anthropomorphic language, and personification. 
 
February 22
This week we will discuss how to read the Bible personally, as people who are intimately, personally, and passionately involved with what we are reading.  We will also view an R.C. Sproul video on how we should interpret "Historical Narratives."
 
March 1
Guidelines for interpreting implicit passages and explicit passages will be the subject of this class. We will see how the implied is to be interpreted in light of the explicit, and we will cover problems that arise when we try to draw inferences from implicit passages that violate explicit teaching elsewhere in Scripture.  
 
Larry Gilbertson, a member of our congregation, led an eight-week course on "Knowing Scripture" at the Tuesday night men's Bible study in 2008. Larry is currently a systems analyst at Northrop Grumman, and he has been involved in math and physics in both industry and academic settings during his career. 

2009 Men's Retreat

February 27th-March 1st 

"Rub some dirt on it and get in the game"

 

THE SPEAKER - Brad Mitchell
Brad was the pastor of Men's Ministry, Sports and Prayer (a trifecta for a men's retreat) at Willow Creek in Chicago. He has led a church of 3,800 and has also planted a church in a small town that saw 500 people become followers of Jesus so he brings both perspectives and experiences. Brad has led breakout sessions at the National Coalition for Men's Ministry as well as Willow Creek and Saddleback conferences. He currently is the Lead Pastor at Carolina Forest Community Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Brad and his wife have been married 25 years and have three kids. He is also a ninja and the unknown writer of Hebrews. Congratulations for reading this far.

THE WORSHIP - David Gaulton
David is a fantastic worship leader from Azusa Pacific University. His song "Righteous King" was selected for the SongSeeker worship album for the 2008 Saddleback Worship Conference. David has a true heart for worship as well as an overflow of talent. You can get a sense of his heart for worship at www.davidgaulton.com.

 

THE TOPIC
Our motto this year is "Rub some dirt on it and get in the game". We are talking about getting on the playing field of advancing God's Kingdom in our lives. One of the major themes will be the fact that we cannot do it alone. Another theme is the fact that the retreat for women was called You Glow Girl so unless you want to go to that retreat next year, you had better be at this one. Also, I needed more text in this section to get The Cost section to be its own line.

THE COST
It is less than selling all your possessions and giving them to the poor. The cost is $130 if you register by Feb 1st and $150 if you sign up after that. Paintball, climbing wall are extra and you will sign up for those when you get there.

Women's Stretch & Powerwalk
Saturday Jan. 31st 9-11am 

 

After the holiday treats and new year's resolutions, it's time for a powerwalk! We meet first at 9am for a few warm-up stretches in the upper room led by Tracy Schmidt. We will then leave on 1 of 3 different paths designed for varying levels of abilities to accommodate ALL Walkers!
 
Tracy will lead the walkers' BOOT CAMP which will be the most strenuous, including a walk to the harbor and back with sit-ups and push-ups along the way! Moms with jogging strollers are welcome!
 
Our mid-level will be a self-paced walk from the upper room down Santa Cruz Blvd. through Shoreline Park down the hill to the beach cafe, circling the parking lot kiosk and returning up the hill back to the upper room.
 
Our easy level will be a flat walk, easily do-able for seniors and those who have difficulty walking up and down hills. Cheryl will drive us in her van to one end of Shoreline Park to allow women to walk the length of Shoreline Park and back to the lot and ride back up the hill to the upper room.
 
After our return to the upper room at 10:15am, we will have more stretches with a devotional as well as fellowship with fruit and light breakfast food.
 
Childcare is available if reserved by Sat. Jan. 24th by calling Nelda Nutter at 965-1338x226
 
Join us and bring a Walking friend!

About Free Methodist Church

Our Mission is to win people to Christ, establish them in the faith, and equip them for ministry.

Free Methodist Church
1435 Cliff Drive
Santa Barbara, California 93109
805-965-1338

www.fmcsb.org