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NEWSLETTER Monday Edition March 11, 2013 |
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 TOGETHER.
SHARING THE GOSPEL. Everyone should be taking advantage of every opportunity to share the gospel. These occasions are probably passing by more frequently than anyone realizes.
Perhaps we think that sharing the gospel means preaching to people. Little acts of kindness and thoughtfulness could be the seed that would develop into more and more opportunities to open up and actually speak about the good news to others. Most times, actions do speak louder than words.
The Church Staff |
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NEWS TOO GOOD TO KEEP FOR YOURSELF
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Pastor Hansel |
Pastor Hansel Shares His Experience This past Saturday evening was quite significant. In harmony with the theme for the month of March, Sharing the Gospel, Pastor Hansel spoke about it as the "News Too Good to Keep for Yourself." He related his own personal story about the gospel, his being born again, and many interesting details before and after that event.
Initially, he related the biblical story of Zacchaeus, a corrupt, greedy tax collector, who Jesus personally visited at his house. This man's apparent subsequent change of heart resulted from that encounter with Jesus.
Quoting some statistics, one of which is that of an estimated 95% of Christians not having the opportunity to lead someone to Christ, he talked about this challenge the church has with sharing the gospel, with believers showing reluctance to explain their faith to other people.
FEAR, an acronym for False Expectations Appearing Real, was cited as "the one obstacle of sharing the good news." Top among these are fear of lack of knowledge, fear of rejection and fear of failing God. We need to understand that the gospel is for the lost, however, the enemy has a plan for you to be quiet about the gospel, he says. People need to hear you confirm what they may have heard or read in the bible.
He also reminded us that sharing the good news is an explicit command made by Jesus himself, and it is not up to us to exclude anyone from hearing the gospel, Jeffrey Dahmer included (he is the serial killer who lured people to his residence, killed them, kept some of their body parts and even ate them), who apparently received Jesus Christ and was baptized in prison.
Pastor Hansel offered love as the solution for fear, and in sharing his experience stated that "the most effective technique for the average person to share the good news" was to share his or her "personal story with others about (their) relationship with God."
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LION'S DEN LITE
Invited Guests Minister to Attendees 
Yesterday morning's Kingdom Life workshop at the GLC office was another winner! Several guests invited by Pastor Hansel from Upland came and Shawn spoke to the group about the kingdom of heaven being at hand, indicating that believers must rightly take the position of God's sons and daughters on this earth, over which man was created to have dominion and power over.
Shawn stressed the need for a paradigm shift in the believer's thinking about who he or she is in God's kingdom and to do things with the knowledge that spiritual power is theirs including the specific instructions to heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out demons.
At the end of the session he and four other guests who came with him ministered to the group in healing and in prayer.
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THAI BBQ RESTAURANT Monthly Fellowship Dinner Is Next Saturday
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Bernard & Linda Schaefer at a previous monthly dinner. |
Be prepared to stay out longer after church next Saturday evening, March 16. It is the third Saturday of the month so we're having our monthly fund-raising dinner that evening at 7:30 p.m.
We're going back to the Original Thai BBQ Restaurant located in the Seafood City grocery store complex located at the northeast corner of Azusa Avenue and Amar Road.
Please let Johnny Chua know by phone, text or email (909-228-2162; johnchua@earthlink.net) so he can reserve an appropriate number of seats in the same area of the restaurant. At our last dinner at the Minato Japanese Seafood Buffet Restaurant twice as many people showed up, resulting in our group being seated in about three separate areas of the restaurant.
So please give him a call so that the restaurant will know how big a group to expect. The young people are urged to join. Parents, talk to Johnny if you'd like to get a discounted rate for the children you take along with you. |
MARKETPLACE MINISTRY
Unexplainable Power
"I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony." - John 3:11 - When is the last time God did something in your work life that can only be explained as God? Was it yesterday? Was it just last week? A month ago? A year ago? The answer to this question may mean several things. If it has been some time since you saw God's activity in such a way that you know it was His hand, you may not be trusting to a level that requires faith. You may not be risking enough for God to show Himself. - The converts in the early Church changed the world they lived in because of what they saw and heard. It was the power of the gospel that changed lives, not what they learned from mere teaching. This power drew people to Christ. Things happened that could not be explained as anything other than the activity of God. Is that the kind of faith you are experiencing in your life? - Many of us live a wholesome, moral life, but those we associate with do not see this activity as anything that cannot also be achieved by themselves. That is why many are not drawn to our lives. God's power is not evident. - The Lord has been challenging me to trust Him at levels I have never trusted before. This level of trust has placed me in a vulnerable position. However, the blessing of this relationship is that I see the activity of God as never before, and those close to me see it as well. It builds their faith and draws others to investigate. - Sometimes the activity of God comes in unusual ways. God often sets up scenes that appear to be negative on the front end, but God has orchestrated these events for His glory. -Without Pharaoh's pursuit of Israel at the Red Sea, there is no miraculous deliverance.
-Without Lazarus's death, there is no rising to life.
-Without Goliath, there is no underdog story.
-Without Peter stepping out of the boat, there is no miracle on the water.
-Without Judas' betrayal, there is no resurrection.
God wants to show Himself in ways you and I cannot imagine. Let God demonstrate His power in your workplace today. Then, you will see "all men drawn unto Me."
(Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Leaders.)
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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 |
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"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto You" (Matthew 6:33). God, thank You for letting me seek You with all my heart and covering me in the righteousness of Christ.
I know that the things of this earth shall all pass away and only the treasure laid up in heaven will count. Thank You for letting my life count for Your Kingdom and allowing Your spiritual blessings to be poured on me. Thank you, Lord. Amen. |
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