5/26 Praise Update on GCBC Re-Gathering in June
We are very encouraged to share the news that churches may soon begin re-gathering for worship in groups of up to 100!...
Keep Reading"Discipling" - by Huston Swift
This was a testimony of God's grace through the discipling relationships in Huston Swift's (one of our Deacons) lives....
Teach Us to Lament
Last Sunday, we prayed a corporate prayer of lament. Below is slightly edited transcript of that prayer, as a model for how to lament biblically. ...
The Attributes of God - Recommended Reading
A.W. Tozer wrote that “what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us” (Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy). I am convinced that our affections are driven by our understanding of who God is. That’s so important because we attend to those things that we love… we pay more attention to them than anything else....
Land of the Free, Home of the Brave
Whether merely a kind neighbor or someone from a very distant country that you have never heard of (let alone spell), does not our freedom of religion extend to sharing Christ with the world?...
A Bunch of Ways to Pray for Your Church
Here's how we've been praying as a church for the last year or so in our corporate times of prayer......
Providence - God's Pervasive Sovereignty
The providence of God is his purposeful sovereignty by which he will be completely successful in the achievement of his ultimate goal for the universe. (John Piper)...
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Video Welcome for First Outdoor Service - June 7th
Well...here we go! Our first gathering in 3 months! We'll be outside, so here's a little look at where we're we'll be seated, and what to look forward to....
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5/26 Praise Update on GCBC Re-Gathering in June
We are very encouraged to share the news that churches may soon begin re-gathering for worship in groups of up to 100!...
Songs for Troubled Times
What songs can Christians sing in troubled times? Here are a few recommendations from members of our music ministry. ...
Questions on Meeting at God’s House and in Our Homes or Other Places, Part 1
What are the current guidelines for gathering in homes? What is the church’s plan going forward? Will we be able to meet in small groups or come together in larger groups (outdoors)? How should we handle those who respond to the laws differently within the church?...
How to Pray for Political Leaders (by Frank Erb)
It is easy to criticize our government leaders and complain about their decisions. In fact, some of them make it extremely easy for us to do this! However, there is a better way....
Church and State in a Health Crisis, Part 1: Biblical and Historical Notes
Martin Luther practiced civil disobedience by illegally preaching, but saw black plague health restrictions differently...
Joining In A Week of Prayer Together
Praying together from Colossians 1, and for our community and leaders...
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Notes on Regathering - Biblical Principles and further links
Below are some notes with biblical principles discussed on this Elder QA Video GCBC PURPOSE STATEMENT: This church exists by the grace of God, for the glory of God, which shall be the ultimate purpose in all its activities. (Ephesians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 10:31) APPLIED TO "RE-GATHERING* SAFELY, LEGALLY AND IN UNITY FOR GOD'S GLORY":*Re-gathering may be a better biblical ...
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5/23 UPDATE on GCBC Plans Q&A
Update as of 5/22 afternoon: GCBC is thankful for our government's statements today regarding churches as essential. [update: later that day the United States Court of Appeals upheld current CA Law restricting church gatherings. We will track legal developments in a future post].We were already planning Saturday to meet as Elders regarding our regathering plans and to do...
Keep ReadingPersonal or family worship as we await church family worship
Your Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You --Psalm 119:11 (NASB). In our fight against sin, we need to treasure God's Word in our heart, that's the heart behind fighter verses being hidden or stored up in our heart like treasure or riches for ourselves and to be shared with others. Below is the next "fighter verse": Let the word of Christ dwell...
Keep ReadingApplication and Group Discussion Questions for 5/17
For personal or family or group discussion after the message to help apply further the message from May 17th. Click here for sermon audio, video, and full sermon notes Sermon title: Thanking God for Christ's Kingdom Blessings (Colossians 1:12-14) 1st point: Thank God for Christ's inheritance (v. 12) How does giving thanks relate to joy in the end of v. 12? How do...
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Don’t Waste this Time - Pray for What Matters Most Globally (With a Tribute to Joyce Lin)
The one thing I wanted to take time to write this week is much bigger than our church and what's on our minds. There are great concerns about our nation, but let's keep the Great Commission on our mind, and the Glorious Christ's concern for all nations. It's been my burden in these times to keep missions before us, as a pastor but also as a person who grew up on the missio...
Keep ReadingThe Lord will not cast off forever
Another timely devotional from our Fighter Verse for this weekend It begins "Perhaps more than any other time in our generation, the world as a whole has been learning what it means to wait. As we hunker down in our homes in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic, we find ourselves waiting for many things: for churches to gather, for businesses to resume, for stimulus checks...
Keep ReadingFrom Darkness to Light
Credit for this blog comes from Wycliffe Bible Translators. A brother who grew up at GCBC serves with them among a remote tribal people group. Please be in prayer for him and the mission community there as they seek to bring the light of God's Word to places that are often very spiritually dark. This illustration from the mission field helps "shed light" on the next text ...
Keep ReadingSongs for Troubled Times
What songs can Christians sing in troubled times? Here are a few recommendations from members of our music ministry. ...
Keep ReadingApplication and Discussion Points
For personal or family or group discussion after the message to help apply further the message from May 10th Sermon title: How to Pray When Separated from Church (Colossians 1:9-11) 1. From the sermon's opening prayer (or prayer guide from this week) is there something or someone you've been convicted to pray for? Why not pray now 2. For the first point on wisdom and un...
Keep ReadingQuestions on Meeting at God’s House and in Our Homes or Other Places, Part 1
What are the current guidelines for gathering in homes? What is the church’s plan going forward? Will we be able to meet in small groups or come together in larger groups (outdoors)? How should we handle those who respond to the laws differently within the church?...
Keep ReadingHow to Pray for Political Leaders (by Frank Erb)
It is easy to criticize our government leaders and complain about their decisions. In fact, some of them make it extremely easy for us to do this! However, there is a better way....
Keep ReadingChurch and State, Part 2: Civil Disobedience and Constitutional Rights Questions
Click here for Part 1with biblical and historical perspectives from Martin Luther, Charles Spurgeon, and American pastors during the 1918 Spanish Flu (closest parallel). Part 2 below considers modern respected pastors and proponents of religious liberty who weigh in on the 2020 pandemic's restriction of church assemblies. Note: GCBC has participated in a series of meeting...
Keep ReadingChurch and State in a Health Crisis, Part 1: Biblical and Historical Notes
Martin Luther practiced civil disobedience by illegally preaching, but saw black plague health restrictions differently...
Keep ReadingJoining In A Week of Prayer Together
Praying together from Colossians 1, and for our community and leaders...
Keep ReadingWaiting for the Lord
Lamentations 3:25-26, this weekend's fighter verse says "The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly..." The Lamentations 3 passage goes on to say there can be good in bearing a yoke, or sitting alone in silence at times (v. 27-28), as we hope in God as our portion, our sufficiency (v. 24). "Let us test an...
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