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Core Group Meeting
Saturday, February 2
2:00 p.m. at the Office |
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The complex where GL Offices are located. White signage on second level is where the office is located on 1414 S. Azusa Ave., Suites 20-21 in W. Covina |
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Greetings!
Do you realize that you have a spiritual inheritance? Just like an inheritance from your parents, or from some rich relative?
Bill Johnson says, "We have inherited every spiritual blessing in Christ. He wants us to discover the 'spending power' of our inheritance!"
Further, he says that "It's the Lord's desire that the supernatural territory we occupy, the realms of life where we consistently demonstrate His authority, grow larger and more powerful as we pass it on to the next generation.
"A spiritual inheritance...enables the next generation to start where the previous generation left off. It's the intent of the Lord for us to wake up to this, one of the most significant yet overlooked principles in the Christian life. He wants generations to pass on their spiritual inheritances...
"A spiritual inheritance is about making us more effective and efficient in our representation of the King and His Kingdom. It is not for our gratification...it's not simply for personal consumption. It is to open doors so that the King and His Kingdom have influence to more places than before."*
Do you ever let any inheritance from someone you love just lay useless and impotent, or do you use it for good, to add to your worth, and to extend blessings to others? The things of the spirit that you learn, or receive and possess cannot be laid to waste. Your mandate is to make good use of these things to advance God's Kingdom in the places where you operate, in effect passing on to others what you have inherited in the first place so that they start from a higher level than you once did.
Prayerfully think about your spiritual inheritance and put it to good and practical use!
The Church Staff
*Johnson, Eric and Bill Johnson, "Momentum," pp. 97-99. Destiny Image Publishers, Shippensburg, PA., 2011 |
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WHAT THE GOSPEL IS NOT ABOUT The final sermon of the series was delivered last Saturday evening when Pastor John expanded on the topic, "The Gospel Is Not About Detachment from the World." Nowhere in the Bible did Jesus command His followers to be detached or isolated from the world, but rather to engage the world so that they can accomplish a very important job: "Just as Jesus was sent to the world to reveal His Father, Christ's followers are sent to reveal God to humanity through the Gospel." Our mission on earth is expressed, first, in the Great Commission to "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation" (Mark 16:15) and to perform signs and wonders in the process (Mark 16:17-18). This means sharing the Good News with supernatural power. Secondly, we are to transform nations, from within, not apart from it.How do we do it? There are three ways: by corporate impact (as in being the "Light on a Hilltop") - Matthew 5:14-16 "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hillltop, on a light stand - shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." (TMSG) Another way to transform nations is by our personal impact (as "Salt of the Earth") - Matthew 5:13 "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage." (TMSG) Our positional impact (as "Yeast in the Dough") also has a transforming influence. Luke 13:20-21 "Jesus said again, 'What can I compare God's kingdom with? It is like yeast that a woman took and hid in a large tub of flour until it made the dough rise." (NCV) To make this impact for Jesus, we have to affect the seven spheres of influence (the seven mountains) of society: family, arts and entertainment, government and law, media and communication, business and finance, education, and religion and church. The import of Acts 2:42-47 is manifested in teaching (discipleship), fellowship (community), sharing the Gospel with signs and wonders (evangelism) blessing each other and their community (ministry), and joyously praising God together (worship). "To be effective as the corporate church, we need to view the Body of Christ as truly one. We need to stop limiting our understanding of the Christian Church to our congregation or denomination. We will succeed in our mission on earth only as we begin to see ourselves as part of the invisible Body of Christ," Pastor John emphasized. Part of the paradigm shift we have gone through is in recognizing "how Christ's church is to fulfill its mission. Christ has ordained ONLY ONE CHURCH to advance His Kingdom on earth and impact society for transformation. He never intended for His Church's divine mandate to be fulfilled by separate and competing denominations, congregations or ministries. "Christ has only one bride that His Spirit is preparing to meet Him. We are not bachelorettes in some celestial reality show competing for the bachelor's attention and selection. We are one body with one Lord, one Spirit, one life, one hope, one purpose." Pastor John also laid out a strategy for the Kingdom Culture transformation to take place. It includes training leaders for the five-fold ministry and incorporating this in the Kingdom Lifestyle School, in the cell groups, in the community church, in the community school and in the six non-church mountains. His encouragement for everyone comes from 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 "You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all; and you show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts (NRSV); and from 2 Timothy 1:7-8 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord (NLT). |
CORE GROUP MEETING
There will be a Core Group meeting this coming Saturday, February 2, at 2 p.m. It will be held in the GLC office at 1414 S. Azusa Avenue.
Vision casting for the year 2013 will be led by Pastor John. Our operating budget for the year will also be presented for approval. Core Group members, please don't be shy or hesitant about attending this meeting. These meetings keep you abreast of what's going on. In this way, it won't be necessary for you to catch up by asking others what took place, what was discussed, etc. When you don't attend, you begin to wonder why certain actions were taken, or why things weren't done a certain way. Only when you are there to either hear or participate in the discussions can you make valid statements about what should or shouldn't be, otherwise it will be well to hold your peace! |
FIRST SATURDAY
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The sign identifying our church office hangs outside the building where we are located. |
Next Saturday will be our first "First Saturday" church service at 5:00 p.m. The format will essentially be similar to the "First Sunday" services we have had in the past.
To share our stories and our talents is the main purpose of this type of church service once every month, on the first Saturday of each month. Please let Pastor Hansel know when you'd like to get up front and do some sharing. Remember, this is not preaching time, so don't try to get up there to preach a sermon. Try to limit your part to about ten minutes or less. We encourage each Small Group Fellowship to have a representative to share their experiences, their growth and progress, or whatever projects they might have. We will also have our Communion Service next Saturday. Remind your friends and family members, especially if they don't receive or open their e-mails from Gospel Life. |
CHURCH GREETERS
February 2 - Lelit & Tony Luciano
February 9 - Ruby & Ding Dijamco
February 16 - Linda & Danny Santos
February 23 - Vonnie & Tito Cabrera
March 2 - Penny & Conrad Miranda
March 9 - Eunice Alinsod |
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MARKETPLACE MINISTRY Motivations to Call
..."Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Mark 10:49 - Do you recall the circumstances when God first called you into relationship with Him? Were you in need of something? Were you in a crisis situation? Every day God calls someone into relationship with Him through different circumstances. More often than not, the circumstances relate to a need in their life that only God can meet. - Bartimaeus had the need to see again. He was a poor blind beggar, who had heard about Jesus and the miracles He had done. The crowds rebuked him for seeking Jesus, yet he continued to cry out. "Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!'...Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus" (Mk. 10:48,50). That day, Bartimaeus saw for the first time. But more than that, he saw with spiritual eyes for the first time. -
Each workday, we rub shoulders with someone who has not met this Jesus we know personally. God uses needs to draw us to Himself. What need has He placed in a coworker that only Christ can meet? Perhaps you are the instrument He wants to use to introduce that person to Himself. It requires availability and a willingness to look for people with needs, then point them to Christ to meet their needs. Pray for divine appointments today.
- (Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.) |
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Saturday, February 2
2:00 p.m. - Core Group Meeting - Office 4:00 p.m. - Over a Cup of Coffee - Church 5:00 p.m. - First Saturday Service Sunday, February 10 7:30 p.m. - 20 Something Fellowship - Pastor Hansel leads out Saturday, February 16 7:30 p.m. - Monthly Fellowship Dinner and Valentine's Day Fun |
CONTACT US
Office Address: 1414 S. Azusa Ave. Suites 20-21, W. Covina, CA 91791
Church Address: 18901 E. Amar Rd., Walnut, CA 91789
MAILING ADDRESS: 436 Crestwood Lane, Walnut, CA 91789
Telephone: (626) 965-4300
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Dear God, I know You are able -- able to move mountains, to speak creation into existence, to heal the sick, save the lost, to meet every need I have. I commit myself to You.
Thank You for reminding me of all the people around the world, plagued by turmoil, wars, illness, lack of basic needs, insecurity and fear, and addictions that enslave. Lord, You alone know best how to meet these needs and solve these dilemmas. Thank You because I know You would intervene, that people would be drawn to You, and that You would give them rest and healing, safety and security, a sound mind and a hope-filled future.
Thank You for making me see who You want me to minister to today and offer a hand of fellowship, a ray of light, or whatever You would want to offer through me. Thank You, Lord, for meeting my needs. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
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