Here's how we've been praying as a church for the last year or so in our corporate times of prayer......
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)...
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 ...
Keep ReadingUpdate 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...
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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 ReadingFor 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...
Keep ReadingThe 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 ReadingAnother 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 ReadingCredit 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 ...
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What songs can Christians sing in troubled times? Here are a few recommendations from members of our music ministry. ...
Keep ReadingFor 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 ReadingWhat 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?...
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