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Church Events

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 03:14:09 GMT

Scholarship Application (2023-2024)

Stones Around the Throne: The Foundation of Discovery

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 17:43:43 GMT

The Becoming of A Disciple

As we journey on this Christian pilgrimage, many face distraction, discouragement, defeat and even destruction, leading them down paths other than the one God desires for us to travel. As I see this and have seen it in my life, I am reminded of Proverbs 14:12: "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death" (NLT).

Pondering on these defeats and discouraging times in my life, I ask a daunting question. Why had I fallen when I knew I had the victory in these areas? My shame and sorrow further guided me to "places" I desired not to go. Instead of confessing my sins and asking God for forgiveness, I chose to and allowed myself to sink deep into waters of weariness where the floods of unforgiveness entangled me and darkness attempted to drown me.

Like a meth user trying to overcome an addiction, I struggled daily with the spiritual insomnia of inconsistently walking in the "light" and "walking in the Spirit." I experienced a growth of weariness from shame and a strong desire to live a holy life pleasing to God.

Without a doubt, I knew then and still know now that Christ lives in me. I also know "those who do what their sinful old selves want to do cannot please God" (Romans 8:8, NLV); however, I came to realize that God had not called me and appointed me to walk in the flesh, but the reality of my failures illuminated to me I was walking in the flesh and not in the Spirit. Yes! I knew Christ lived in my life; however, the realization why I was struggling so much came to light after reading through the book of Romans, especially chapters 6–8.

My ways, my worship, my walk, and my witness were not pleasing to God. As I continued to cry out, I found my answer. I was in a major identity crisis. After all my years of being saved, I DID NOT KNOW WHO I WAS IN CHRIST! My awakening was that in order for me to know who I was in Christ, I had to know who Christ was. Knowing who you are in Christ will not immune you from life's calamities, circumstances, or challenges. However, knowing who you are in Christ will ignite the fire in you; push you to prayer; reveal God's righteousness, lead you to meditate in the Word, and restore an excitement in you to be obedient and spreading the gospel as a disciple of Christ.

It is my hope and prayer that you discover who you are in Christ. It is not enough for someone to share with you about Christ or just read about Him; instead, you must have a personal experience with Him. I believe your time spent in prayer and meditating on the Word of God will ignite a passion in you to stop and "behold" who you are in Christ. As you "be still and know that He is God, " I encourage you to dwell on these three questions:

SGMA: Who are we and why do we exist?

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 07:19:08 GMT

Our collective vision is to “Establish A New Testament Church in every Major City of the Southeast.” When folks think about SGMA, though, I want them to think about a perpetual entity existing to fulfill the collective vision by being personal in our approach with each church, passionate in our externally scheduled activities, and principled in our Board decided actions.

We must be forward and onward focused on the “establishment” of local places of worship, with establishment meaning more than planting. Establishment means providing assistance and advice that enhances the ongoing effective operations of our affiliates.

PERSONAL–(Approach):

Principle: People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.

PASSIONATE– (Activities): " ⁷ It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. ⁸ For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus."

Principle: Effective partnership requires a reciprocal relationship of like desires (passions, urges, emotions).

PRINCIPLED– (Actions): “ ⁹ And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”

Principle: We must base our love on the dual foundation of knowledge and discernment.

What does this passage say?

( Observation )

Paul, accompanied by Timothy, is writing a letter to the church (saints, overseers, and deacons) in Philippi. He encourages them by letting them know that he constantly prays for them and that he is confident they will continue to do good work until Jesus returns.

Paul is thankful they have partnered with him because of their love for him; however, he wants their love based on “knowledge and all discernment” (v. 9). Ultimately, Paul wants the Philippians to praise God and give Him all the glory.

What did it mean to the original hearers? (Interpretation)

Although Paul is in prison, he still cares enough about us to pray for us all the time. Initially, they may have been curious about how Paul knew what was happening, but Paul let them know Timothy was with him. They were likely excited to hear from Paul because they were partners by prayer and finances.

They prayed for Paul and provided for his physical needs, and Paul was mindful and thankful for their faithfulness. The Philippians had to be reassured, knowing they would receive supernatural support from God.

Paul loved them, and they loved Paul, but Paul wanted them to base their love on becoming more discerning by allowing the Holy Spirit to fill them with His fruit so that when others saw them, God would receive the glory and the praise.

What useful ideas emerged from the text for me? (Application)

- God is working in me and through me to complete what He started, and He will continue to enable and empower me to do His work until Jesus returns (v. 6).

- When folks support what I do, I should be thankful — remembering them constantly in prayer (vs. 3, 9).

- The “church” comprises saints, overseers, and deacons (v. 1).

- This passage addresses vital elements of a meaningful relationship: Personal Approach (the personal pronouns), Passionate Activities (vs. 7-8, feel, in my heart, and yearn), and Principled Actions (actions based on knowledge and discernment), all covered in Prayer and leading to perpetuity.

Are there any other sources that confirm my takeaways from the passage?

(Correlation)

Luke 18:1 (ESV) “And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”

Galatians 6:9 (ESV) “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

2 Timothy 1:3 (ESV) I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.

Matthew 23:6-10 (ESV) “ ⁶ and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues ⁷ and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. ⁸ But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. ⁹ And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. ¹⁰ Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ..”

Personal: John 10:3 (ESV) “To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”

Passionate : Luke 9:11 (ESV) “To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”

Principled: Romans 10:2 (ESV) “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.”

Philippians 1:1-11

English Standard Version

1 Paul and Timothy, servants ^[ ^a ^] of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers ^[ ^b ^] and deacons: ^[ ^c ^]

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Thanksgiving and Prayer

³ I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,

⁴ always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,

⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

⁶ And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

⁷ It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, ^[ ^d ^] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

⁸ For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

⁹ And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,

¹⁰ so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Footnotes

1. Philippians 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

2. Philippians 1:1 Or bishops; Greek episkopoi

3. Philippians 1:1 Or servants, or ministers; Greek diakonoi

4. Philippians 1:7 Or you all have fellowship with me in grace

Growing in my prayer life

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 07:19:08 GMT

Prayer is simply talking with God by expressing praise and adoration, thanksgiving, petition, repentance, or interceding for others.

Three Basics Principles On How to Maintain An Effective Prayer Ministry

Establish a Prayer Ministry

Prayer is the essential vessel that we need to abide in Christ. In all four Gospels (Matthew 21:12-17, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-45, and John 2:13-22), we read about Jesus cleansing the temple. In these passages,passages, Jesus declared, "And said unto them, 'It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves .'" If a church is going to connect with God, it must spend time in prayer.

Pray Scripturally

There is power in the Word of God; therefore, we need to pray the Word of God.

Praying scripturally glorifies God. In John 15:7-8, Jesus says, " If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." A scripturally enlightened prayer empowers us to obey God's Word (abide in him) and bear fruit during ministry.

Enlist Others to Pray

You must enlist, engage, and establish a covenant with others to pray with you. Prayer is communicating with each other on the battlefield. As soldiers on the battlefield, communicating with each other concerning the enemy is mandatory, and so must Christians communicate in prayer. We must pray and plead with God to take down the strongholds in our churches and communities. Without prayer, we are powerless to operate as a body of Christ because prayer is dialoguing with God about concerning the battle plan. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Matthew 18:19-20)

Prayer Guides To Assist With Your Growth

Igniting Kingdom Prayer 21 Days of Prayer Guide

Wheaton College Billy Graham Center Launches New Preaching Institute

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 00:05:43 GMT

Wheaton College is honored to receive a grant of one million dollars from Lilly Endowment to help establish the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center Preaching Institute.

Click on this link to read the article:

Here Is Your Opportunity to Get Involved

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 08:19:08 GMT

Medical Missions Trip

Community Bible Chapel

Sis. Rosalyn Thomas’ missions trip to Guatemala May 16-23 is still scheduled. The Lord continues to bless her with generous financial contributions.

Praise God! She has reached her goal of $2700. Any donations over her goal will go towards assisting team mates and purchasing medical supplies to take to the village.

Please make checks payable to North Point Ministries. Please continue to pray for the team members and the Guatemalan people they will encounter.