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This is part two of my conversation with Bob Carden who served as the lead pastor of Grace Christian Fellowship for decades before retiring. (The church is now called Align Ministries, led by Garrett Bova.) Continuing on the topic of healing and deliverance from last week, we begin by talking about evil spirits and pornography addiction. Next we spend a good deal of time discussing how Align Ministries enables holy spirit activity during their weekly services. Carden ends with a challenge, saying, "Put yourself out there for God. Don't be afraid to attempt something the Bible says you should be able to do." Listen to this episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts —— Links —— Learn more about Bob Carden at Align Ministries Get Carden's book, One God: The Unfinished Reformation Get the transcript of this episode Support Restitutio by donating here Join our Restitutio Facebook Group and follow Sean Finnegan on Twitter @RestitutioSF Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe with questions or comments and we may play them out on the air Intro music: Good Vibes by MBB Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) Free Download / Stream: Music promoted by Audio Library. Who is Sean Finnegan? Read Sean's bio here
Recently X101’s Mike Eves got the chance to sit down in the studio with Executive Director of CAPCO Greg Richards and Family Development Director with CAPCO Brandy Strauf. Greg and[Read More...] The post CAPCO Hosts Poverty Simulation at Grace Christian Fellowship appeared first on X101 Always Classic - WXHC.com.
Pastoring in a post-Christian context is different. The more counter-cultural our faith becomes, the more important it is to understand that Christian consumerism is deadly and church cooperation is essential. Karl Vaters talks with Dan Nichols about these subjects, including: Negotiating a cultural shift in a longstanding church Partnering with other churches Bridging the big/small church divide And more Dan Nichols is the pastor of Grace Christian Fellowship in Cortland NY, and the founder of Northeast Collaborative. Links: Northeast Collaborative The Bible Project GotQuestions.org Bless App Soularium Sean McDowell YouTube Constable's Notes Everand Bonus Content Karl Vaters talks with Dan Nichols about Creating a Spirit of Generosity in a Local Church. Dan's church takes an offering every year that they give away in its entirety to ministries outside their church. This year it will go to nine other local churches that they work alongside. Karl and Dan talk about how that kind of generosity happens, and what a pastor can do to start moving a church away from fear and toward being outrageously generous. To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Pastoring in a post-Christian context is different. The more counter-cultural our faith becomes, the more important it is to understand that Christian consumerism is deadly and church cooperation is essential. Karl Vaters talks with Dan Nichols about these subjects, including: Negotiating a cultural shift in a longstanding church Partnering with other churches Bridging the big/small church divide And more Dan Nichols is the pastor of Grace Christian Fellowship in Cortland NY, and the founder of Northeast Collaborative. Links: Northeast Collaborative The Bible Project GotQuestions.org Bless App Soularium Sean McDowell YouTube Constable's Notes Everand Bonus Content Karl Vaters talks with Dan Nichols about Creating a Spirit of Generosity in a Local Church. Dan's church takes an offering every year that they give away in its entirety to ministries outside their church. This year it will go to nine other local churches that they work alongside. Karl and Dan talk about how that kind of generosity happens, and what a pastor can do to start moving a church away from fear and toward being outrageously generous. To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Series: A living Hope in a dying worldTitle: Living with the end in mindScripture: 1 Peter 4:1-11; Phil 2:5-8 NIVBottom line: Living with the end in mind requires us to arm ourselves with the attitude of Christ.SERMON OUTLINENOTESDISCUSSION QUESTIONSOUTLINESMAIN REFERENCES USEDSERMON OUTLINEIntroductionThis is a difficult world to live in for everybody. But Christians have additional challenges that come with our faith. For example, recently, a pastor from Pakistan was speaking about the many challenges that they've faced since 2019.COVID-19 & ARC 2020: Not long after this pastor began a formal partnership with the Association of Related Churches (ARC, based here in Charleston), Covid hit. This caused pastors (along with everyone to quarantine and isolate). Christians in the US explained that because churches in America were not meeting they weren't seeing a lot of offerings. As a result, they should not expect a lot of support until Covid settled down. But this pastor pushed back saying, “Didn't Christians in Rome in the first century run into the plague to serve people?” We're not going to isolate ourselves. We might not have the money now but we're going to trust him for it. And $4 million would eventually come in for the pastors and ministries of the Pakistani church.Refugees 2021: Debacle in Kabul, Afghanistan in August ‘21The Taliban stepped in when the US left Afghanistan returning the country to its Shiria law ways. As a result, many Afghanis who'd been supportive of the US presence began to run for their lives running to other countries like Pakistan. Because of the agreements between these governments and the Taliban, when the pastors approached the Pak government to see how they could help the refugees, the Pak gov't denied their existence. Eventually, these pastors found ways to get around this that the govt could accept and ministered to refugees.Massive Flooding 2022: “While some smaller floods occurred post-2020, the most significant event impacting Pakistan was the 2022 monsoon season deluge. Here's a brief summary of its scale:Devastating: One-third of the country submerged, impacting 33 million people.Deadly: Over 1,800 lives lost, making it the world's deadliest flood since 2020 and Pakistan's worst.Economically crippling: $30 billion+ in damages and losses, pushing millions into poverty.Widespread: All provinces affected, causing infrastructure destruction, agricultural losses, and health crises. (145 hospitals destroyed)Remember, this is just a snapshot. The long-term consequences of these floods are still unfolding.” (Bard, 1/14/24)Persecution 2023: Due to zealous, misguided Muslims, Christians became unfairly targeted accused of slandering Muhammad. 25 churches burned400 homes burned or lootedBut…Water mission water treatment unitsBottom line: Living in light of the end requires us to arm ourselves with the attitude of Christ.Relying on David Helms' commentary for this outline and looking back to our previous passage:3 Commitments to be resolved to“Arm yourselves also with this same attitude”Because to be willing to suffer for Christ is to be willing to be done with sin; be holyPhil 2:5-8 mind/attitude of ChristDon't live “for evil human desires” butLive “for the will of God.”Enough already!2 Costs to embraceThey're surprised you're done with the pastThey'll heap abuse on you and slander you for being faithful1 Encouraging conclusion to look forward to—they will have to give an account to GodWho's ready to judge the living and the deadNext we seeThe reign of ChristThe resurrection of ChristThe return of Christ4 ways to be a living hope in a dying world:Be alert and sobermindedWhy?Because it helps us prayMatt 6:33 reminds us that when we “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, all these things (that we tend to worry about) will be given to us” as well. So we pray with this in mind.Love each other deeplyWhy?Because God's love covers a multitude of sinsThe cross (the love of God on display) covered all sins (Rom 5:8)Offer hospitality to one anotherHow?By serving believers in particular (“one another”) but not limited toBy serving people using our spiritual giftsEvery Christian has at least one. No Christian has them all. They're to build up the body of Christ.2 basic categoriesSpeakingServingWithout grumbling (meaning we're tempted to)Serve one another using your spiritual gift(s) (not an exhaustive list)How?As a faithful steward Through speakingThrough serving using your specific giftsWhy?So that in all things God may be praised…ConclusionBarney Reeves was the father of Jimmy Reeves, the founding pastor of our church, Grace Christian Fellowship, Summerville.Barney was a gruff, retired USAF sergeant and he loved God's word and God's church. He was a huge fan of his son being a bi-vocational pastor of our church. But he was also excited when Grace stepped out in faith to hire a full-time pastor. That meant that he and I could talk during the day. Anyway, in Barney's later years, he fought intestinal cancer a long time. This meant he was in and out of hospitals. I remember one time in particular when I was visiting him there and it was just the two of us.He was tearing up as he shared with me how he felt like the Lord was right there in the room with him. It was the glory of the Lord in that place. And it greatly encouraged him as he suffered. I have no doubt that Barney was a great witness to Christ whenever he was in the hospital. But I also believe he needed that glory of encouragement to press on (a phrase he used very often). We need this too. Glory and suffering…Peter gives us a theology of suffering in this letter and links it to the future glory we will enjoy and receive. Our Bottom Line today is that we can live in light of the end but it requires us to arm ourselves with the attitude of Christ himself. An attitude that is so willing to serve people that it's willing to suffer and serve people “To bring them to God.” (3:18)And we know that God wants to do this in and through us. Let's follow Pete's advice as we embrace the suffering in our lives as an instrument of glory for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.PrayQ. What do I want them to know?A. How to live in light of the end.Q. Why do I want them to know it?A. Because it helps us deal with suffering that comes to every Christian.Q. What do I want them to do about it?A. Live as Peter describes and calls us to.Q. Why do I want them to do it?A. Because this will empower us to show people what God's love looks like.Q. How can they begin to do this?A. ByStaying alert and sobermindedLoving one another deeplyOffering hospitality to one another without grumblingServing one another in the power of the Holy SpiritNOTESDISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process:Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really God's word, what changes would I have to make in my life?Who am I going to tell about this?Final Questions (optional or in place of above)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastOUTLINESNIV Study Bible brief outlineAfter the opening (1:1-2), the letter has three main sections:1: Peter first tells his readers to be holy in all you do. As Gentiles they once lived in ignorance (they did not know the ways of God). But they are now a holy nation, part of God's own people, and are called to a new way of life.2: Peter then explains how this way of life will impress those who might accuse and persecute them without just cause.3: Peter acknowledges that his readers are suffering for their faith, but he explains that this is only to be expected. The Messiah himself suffered, and believers all over the world are facing the same challenge. The followers of Jesus are waiting for the day God will visit them, and even in their suffering they can show they belong to God.The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.“Their ultimate enemy, that roaring lion, stands ready to devour them, but they have the conquering, suffering Shepherd at their side.” - P Schreiner 0. Elect exiles (1:1-2)Hope as Exiles - The church has hope amidst trials because of their new future and new family. (1-2)New future - Their new birth grants them an inheritance that can never be taken away. (1:3-12)New family (and new calling) - Their new birth grants them the rights and responsibilities of God's people. (1:13-2:10)Exile Identity - In the midst of the world, they are to live as chosen exiles. (2-4)Submit - They are to submit to authority figures because this is how Christ acted. (2:11-3:7)Suffer well - Like Christ, they are to suffer for good because suffering leads to life. (3:8-4:11)Stand Firm - To keep their exile identity, they must stand firm to the end. (4-5)Suffer joyfully - They are to entrust themselves to God while doing good. (4:12-4:19)Resist the devil - The elders should shepherd the people, recognizing the danger they are in. (5:1-11)In Babylon (5:12-24)MAIN REFERENCES USED“1 - 2 Peter and Jude,” by David Helm, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes“1 & 2 Peter ” by RC Sproul“1 & 2 Peter and Jude” by Thomas Schreiner“The Message of 1 Peter” by Edmund Clowney“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner (VW)“1 Peter: A living hope in Christ”, Jen Wilkin Bible study“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)Willmington's Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)ChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgptAnswerThePublic.comWikipedia.com
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Aug. 13, 2023 - When You Are Down - Guest Speaker: Brett Sweet from Grace Christian Fellowship, Central (gcfcentralspokane.org) - cpcspokane.org
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Pastor Ben tells about the angels and the Seven Trumpets mentioned in Revelation chapters 8-11. Support the show
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Jonathan Horton gives more insight into the 7 churches John writes the book of Revelation to in Asia. Support the show
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Are you more excited about the big game or the new commercials? We think there's something meaningful we can learn from those ads. See for yourself during 30-Second Theology! Support the show
When you think about the future, what excites you? What things do you look forward to? What things do you hope to happen in the years ahead? Today we are looking at God's vision for our lives and how we can trust in God with our future. Support the show
Have hundreds of Facebook friends but feeling lonely? Looking for a place to belong with people who really care? Us too. Part 4 of our A NEW BEGINNING series is designed particularly for you...and we saved a spot for you! Join us Sunday at 10:00 AM! Support the show
Life can sometimes feel like a continual war, but you don't have to go through the battle, trial or difficulty alone. This week in our NEW BEGINNING series, we'll discover the power of a word from God. It provides PURPOSE, PROMISE, and the PRESENCE of God in our lives. Come to church or join us online Sunday at 10:00 AM for A New Beginning and get practical tips for how you can change your life. Support the show
Feeling weak, need an influx of power and encouragement? This week in our NEW BEGINNING series, you'll discover the power of prayer and understand you have the authority and position to ask God for anything -- and He wants to answer your prayers! Come to church or join us online this weekend Sunday at 10:00 AM for A New Beginning and plug into your power source. Support the show
Beat the censors, sign-up for our newsletter: https://firstfreedoms.ca/call_to_action_pages/stay_informed/ David Ripley pastors the Grace Christian Fellowship (https://www.crestongracefellowship.org/) in Creston, British Columbia, Canada. During the COVID-19 Pandemic he kept his church open as a place of prayer and reflection. He called the Mayor, the fire chief and the RCMP and all agreed that his understanding of the Provincial Health Order allowed him to open his church for this limited purpose. However, later he was fined $2,300 for violating the Provincial Health Order. After 12 preliminary court appearances by his JCCF lawyers (www.jccf.ca) the Crown directed a stay of proceedings on the charges in late 2022. Pastor Ripley shares with Barry his experience and the exciting news that attendance has increased as a result. Please note the views expressed by the individual(s) in this video are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or principles of the First Freedoms Foundation.
Join us Sunday at 10:00 AM as we take a look back at all God did at Grace in 2022, and talk about some of the things that are in store for 2023. Support the show
When you look back at last year, did you achieve what you wanted? Were you focused on what really matters? As we begin this new year, are you itching for a “do over?” a reset for your life that signals a new beginning? If so, you'll want to join us for our new series, A NEW BEGINNING that starts January 1st! As we kick off this series, we will explain how to restart your life, erase what's been and start fresh. Come to church or join us online Sunday at 10:00 AM and start your year off strong by joining us this weekend for A New Beginning! Support the show
This week, one of my dearest friends, Robin Ruonala, joins us to talk about her story of how God helped her through one of the most challenging times of her life - the tragic loss of her first husband. Be encouraged today that no matter what you've been through or walking through right now, it isn't the end of your story. In Word, and in song, Robin's desire is to impart a transparent expression of hope and freedom; in Christ - to this, and future generations. Residing on the coastland, she and her Husband Rick Ruonala serve as Associate Pastors, at their home church; Grace Christian Fellowship, in Little River South Carolina. “My tongue is the pen of a ready writer, overflowing with the goodness of my King”. Psalms 45:1 Find Robin on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/robin.delap. To learn more about Susan and her ministry, She Rises, visit https://www.sherisesmn.org/. You can find Susan on Facebook and Instagram at Susan Vandenheuvel.
Growing up as a pastor's kid, Dan Nichols had firsthand knowledge of the uglier sides of the church. Because of the hurtful things he'd witnessed throughout his childhood, he went into college disdainful of the church and its imperfections. Thankfully, the Lord used the book of Acts and healthier ministry experiences to change his outlook, eventually leading him to plant a church in Pennsylvania. These days, Dan is the lead pastor at Grace Christian Fellowship in Cortland, New York. He's also played an integral role in founding The Northeast Collaborative, an organization that provides tools and resources for pastors to lead and launch healthy churches. He has a tremendous heart for seeking the lost, particularly in the Northeast area, which is considered the most unchurched corner of the nation.In this episode, Dan shares with us his timely and wise thoughts on why he thinks our nation is moving into a post-Christian culture, how God is trying to get our attention, and what we can do moving forward to build healthy churches and make disciples. Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/overcoming-obstacles-and-embracing-gods-design-for-his-church-w-dan-nichols-episode-124/Support the show
Join us this week as we hear from this week's guest speaker, Pastor Nick Dunn of Grace Christian Fellowship.
Join us this week as we hear from this week's guest speaker, Pastor Dan Nichols of Grace Christian Fellowship, about how Jesus sends found people to find people.
Join us as we hear from a special guest speaker, Pastor Nick Dunn of Grace Christian Fellowship!
Bill Farley, Pastor of Preaching at Grace Christian Fellowship in Spokane, WA is filling the pulpit this week. He explores what true biblical fatherhood looks like, and offers some practical applications.
Bill Farley, Pastor of Preaching at Grace Christian Fellowship in Spokane, WA is filling the pulpit this week. He explores what true biblical fatherhood looks like, and offers some practical applications.