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Message Title ~~SIGNIFICANCE~~ 

 Opening Prayer, Confession of Faith & Worship

 Overview:  When we watch the evening news or drive down the street of an inner city neighborhood, or hear of a natural disaster that devastates a city or a nation, it is so easy to feel helpless to make a difference as ONE person.  It is easy to become lethargic asking: “what can ONE person do?”  As we continue in our series of contemplating the “Power of One,” lets look at the incredible story that is told in the gospels where Jesus fed the multitude of thousands. As we read, let’s consider what the Spirit of God would reveal to us today about the difference one person living by faith can make.

DISCUSSION POINTS:  Read John 6:1-13 aloud before continuing on below.

POINT ONE:  Read Vs 1-2 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.
Discuss why the people followed him.  Talk about the difference between following Jesus because of signs and wonders versus submitting our all to him as disciples who call him Lord and Master.

POINT TWO: Read Vs 3-7 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.7Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”
Read Pastor Terry’s comments below, regarding why Jesus tested Philip, and then discuss how this same truth plays out in our own lives.  Give examples.

“Now, Jesus sets up the miracle by showing us that there were no other options. That’s always the requisite for a miracle. There have to be NO other options. As long as you trust another source you will never fully trust Jesus. As long as you lean on your own strength you will never put your full weight on Jesus. Jesus said, “Go buy food” knowing that there was none and already knowing what He intended to do.”       —Pastor Terry

POINT THREE: Vs 8-9  One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”
Discuss the willingness of the lad to give all that he had to Master, even though he knew that it couldn’t possibly make a dent in feeding the thousands of people who had gathered.  What does that say to us about how we view our resources?

POINT FOUR:  Vs 10-13 Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.”  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
Discuss how Jesus gave thanks for what he had to work with.  What can we learn from that?
Discuss how Jesus was the catalyst for the miracle, but he did it through the willingness of a small boy’s surrender and the disciples obedience and hard work of service.  What does that say to each ONE of us today about how God involves each of us in his miracle working plan to bless the people of the earth with what they need for life.

Taking Action:  In prayer this week, ask the Lord what he wants you to do with your “fishes and loaves.”

Ministry Time

Heart for the World 2010

The Power of One /Part One:  ”Significance”

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 OPENING PRAYER, WORSHIP, COFESSION OF FAITH

History is rarely ever changed by one person
but one person has to act for history to change.
—Pastor Terry Crist

OVERVIEW:
In our Western society, filled with large corporations, mega churches, and masses of people gathered in urban metropolitan areas, it is easy to lose consciousness of the significance that one person’s contribution can have to make an impact. However, as Pastor Terry pointed out over the weekend, “the world is rarely changed by one single action, regardless of how great that action may be. Most of the time the world is changed as a result of hundreds of smaller actions made over a greater period of time. And when those smaller incremental changes reach the tipping point, global change is affected. The problem is that you rarely ever know in advance just what it will take to reach a tipping point. Therefore, every person and every action is indispensable.”

From the Old Testament story of Jonathan’s courageous contribution, and his armor bearers bold willingness to participate, let’s talk in our group tonight about the “Power of One.” 

DISCUSSION POINTS:

Read 1 Samuel 14:1-20 and talk about Jonathan’s courageous faith and bold action.  In a day when so many Christians are shrinking back from engaging the battle, how does Jonathan’s action inspire us today?

Consider the following points:

ONE: There is purpose when we attach to the right cause.
Read Philippians 1:12-14 Talk about how the “cause of Christ” brought about a purpose that transcended Paul’s circumstances and bore fruit in unexpected ways.

TWO:  There are possibilities when we align with the right people.
Read Proverbs 24:5-6 and Hebrews 10:22-25 and talk about the importance of aligning ourselves with the people who have a Biblical world view.
THREE: There is power when we trust in God.
Read the passage below and talk about what is being promised to every person “whose heart is completely God’s.”

For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support

those whose heart is completely His. —2 Chronicles 16:9

TAKING ACTION:  As a church family, we are entering into our outreach focus called “Heart for the World.”  Pastor Terry talked about how everyone in our church community can get involved in one of the following ways:

1. One person can PRAY; 2. One person can GO;  3. One person can GIVE

Talk in your groups about what you can do as individuals and as a group to either Pray, Go, or Give.
Ministry Time

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FEARLESS GIVING 

OVERVIEW:
In Luke chapter six, we see an interesting scene… Jesus had just spent the night on a mountain praying.  When he came down from the mountain, he gathered his many disciples around him and chose from among them the 12 who he designated as “apostles.”  Immediately following this appointing of the 12, Jesus stood and taught his followers through a powerful series of beatitudes, proverbs and parables.  Included in this barrage of fundamental truths, which he imparted to his newly appointed “team,” there was a key proverb about the power of giving.  Jesus said,
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”    –Luke 6:38

In our LifeGroups tonight, lets further unpack the powerful (and often avoided) kingdom principle that Pastor Tom taught on last Sunday in his message: FEARLESS GIVING.

DICSUSSION POINTS:
Sacrificial Giving Gets God’s Attention
As you read Mark 14:1-9, about the woman and the alabaster jar of perfume, consider the lesson Jesus is teaching us through the extravagance of her “generous gesture.” 
1.  Talk about how she is putting Jesus first, pouring out from her resource to bless the one she loved more than herself. 
2,  Consider and discuss verse 8, that says “she did what she could.” Apply that idea to our current reality in the Body of Christ.  What if everyone “did what they could?”  What could God do with that in the local church.
3.  Notice the response of the others who were present, how they saw what the woman did as “wasting” money.  Contrast that with how the world views a believer’s sacrificial giving to the work of God’s kingdom in the earth.

Focused Giving Releases a Blessing
As followers of Christ, we are called to be givers of “alms” to individuals who are in need and to bring our “tithe” into the “storehouse.”  (the storehouse is commonly equated in present day with the local church, from which God distributes his blessing to the nations. 
NOTE: the word alms in the Bible means “to have pity or mercy on, to show mercy.”  The word tithe means “a tenth part.” 
1.  Read Matthew 6:1-4  and talk about “how” Jesus tells us to give our “alms” in response toward others in need.
2. Read Malachi 3:8-12.  Notice four things in verse 10
a. How much of and where God says to bring the tithe.
b. Why we bring the tithe there.
c. That God is challenging, even daring people to obey him in this.
d. And finally, notice the extraordinary promise God offers.
e. Notice the promise of protection in verse 11

Cheerful Giving Touches God’s Heart
Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 and notice that we are encouraged to give from the heart, not under religious compulsion. 
— Notice in verse 7 the heart attitude being encouraged and how it touches God’s heart. 
— Talk about the blessing represented in this passage, for those who give liberally.

ACTION ITEM:  Take time this week in prayer to evaluate the powerful kingdom principles of cultivating, maintaining and exercising a generous spirit.  Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you as you apply these truths to your life and unleash the blessing of living a life of giving.
Ministry Time

Fearless Freedom

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Opening Prayer, Confession of Faith & Worship
 
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”   2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)

OVERVIEW:  Think about that passage of scripture for moment.  Do you notice anything about the ease by which each spirit is manifest?  Notice that the spirit of fear and timidity are reactionary.  They are easy to slip into.  In stark contrast, the attributes of the Spirit God has given us are proactive: power, love and self-discipline.  Rather than being reactionary, these are initiated by faith and some determination.  In our LifeGroups this week, let’s talk about these three characteristics which the Apostle Paul identifies as qualities of the Spirit God has given to his children.   

DISCUSSION POINTS

ONE: You have the power to confront your fears.
In his message last weekend, Pastor Terry noted that there are 365 statements in the Bible that say “fear not” or “do not be afraid.”  That’s one for every day of the year.  The Bible reveals how we can live above our circumstances through Christ. 
Read 1 John 4:4 and talk about the powerful impact it can have if we get a hold of and appropriate this truth in our lives.  Discuss how this realization gives us power in our everyday lives.
Read Jeremiah 17:7-8 and talk about what powerful action is revealed in verse 7 that releases the fearlessness we see in verse 8.  Talk about your personal experience with this truth.

TWO: You have a love that calms your fears.
Read Galatians 5:6 and discuss the symbiotic relationship between faith and love.
Read John 4:18 and discuss how perfect love can only come from God.  How does a realization of God’s “perfect” unconditional love toward his children release us to trust him and conquer our fear of serving him with all our heart?

THREE:  You have a sound mind that takes captive your fears.
According to Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, the word for “self-discipline” in 1 Timothy 1:7 is – Sophronismos – meaning literally a “saving of the mind.”  This is interesting in that it reveals that instead having our minds imprisoned by fear, God gives us a spirit that “saves” and releases our minds from bondage.

Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.  Talk about this proactive exercise the Apostle Paul is encouraging here in order for us to “save our minds.”
Read Philippians 4:8-9.  Talk about how this passage requires the spirit of self-discipline and a sound mind.  Talk about the benefit of exercising this passage.  How does it benefit us?  How does it benefit the people around us? 

TAKING ACTION:  Take three consecutive days this week to meditate on and apply the truth found in 2 Timothy 1:7. 
Day One: do a Bible Study on the power of God (use your concordance). 
Day Two: Determine from the time you get up in the morning until bedtime, to go out of your way to love the people in your life (get creative, don’t forget the strangers you meet that day)
Day Three: Read Philippians 4:8-9 again.  Spend your entire day putting it into practice and watch the difference in your soul and in the people around you.
Ministry Time

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Series: Fearless

Lesson Two: Risky Living 

 Opening Prayer, Confession of Faith & Worship

“Unless there is an element of risk in our exploits for God, there is no need for faith.”
—Hudson Taylor

“We walk by faith and not by sight.”
—Apostle Paul to Christians at Corinth and everywhere

SUMMARY:  Life is full of risks.  Every morning when we get out of bed, we are stepping into a day of multiple risks.  If we carelessly take risks, that is foolish.  Often, however, we try to keep our lives as risk free as possible in order to avoid the unpredictable.  When our desire is to live our lives for God, this learned tendency to avoid risk can cripple our faith and cause hearing loss when it comes to listening to the voice of the Lord when he is challenging us to step out in faith to advance his kingdom in the earth.  This is true whether it involves advancing our own personal life, or stepping out in faith for our family’s sake, or in our career, our neighborhood, our church or in our world.  Today, lets look at some thoughts about fear and faith, and allow the Spirit of God to “build us up in our most holy faith”  —Jude 20

OVERARCHNG STORY:  Read Judges 6:11-15 (NIV).
Talk about how the angel addressed Gideon.  What did the angel see in Gideon that Gideon didn’t see in himself?  Has God ever challenged you by seeming to be more confident in you than you were in yourself?  Talk about your experience, and what fear you have or need to overcome in order to live as difference maker for Christ’s sake.
Contrast verse 14 with verse 15.  What is the problem with Gideon’s argument?

DISCUSSION POINTS:
Things we battle in keeping a strong faith

1) Our faith is weakened by our sin.   Read 1 John 3:20-21 
Talk about the power that condemnation can have on stifling our courage.  What should we do when our heart condemns us?  Talk about the confidence we can have to follow Christ when our hearts are free from condemnation.

2) Our faith can be weakened by our beliefs.  Read Proverbs 23:7 
Talk about the ways that living in this world can influence our thinking in regards to being bold in our faith.

3) Our faith can be weakened by unhealthy relationships. Read Proverbs 13:20 
Discuss this statement: “You cannot get to where God wants to take you by hanging around people who are not going there. “

When we live by faith God things happen…   Discuss examples of the following:

1) We inspire others to greatness.  Read Matthew 5:15-16

2) We increase our own measure of faith.
Discuss how faith builds upon itself as we step out in it and see the faithfulness of God.

3) We defeat the enemies that dominate our families.

Taking Action: This week, prayerfully consider areas of your life that are being held back because of apprehension of the risks involved.  Ask the Lord to give you the faith to follow the path that you believe Jesus is laying out before you.

Ministry Time

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SCARED SENSELESS 

Opening Prayer, Confession of Faith & Worship
 
Summary:  Fear is paralyzing.  Fear is neutralizing.  Fear brings anxiety and stress that can affect our health as well as our capacity to function.  Fear is an emotion that the powers of darkness will exploit, causing us to shrink back from living the full life that Jesus desires to lead us into.  In our LifeGroups this week, let’s take a look at this powerful emotion of “fear” under the light of God’s Word and, in His presence, expose it for what it is: a deterrent to living by faith.

DISCUSSION POINTS:

Webster’s online dictionary defines the verb “fear” this way:

transitive verb
1 archaic : frighten
2 archaic : to feel fear in (oneself)
3 : to have a reverential awe of <fear God>
4 : to be afraid of : expect with alarm <fear the worst> intransitive verb : to be afraid or apprehensive <feared for their lives>
— fear·er noun

There are two categories of fear: One is natural, the other is spiritual.

NATURAL FEAR: 
It is natural and healthy to have a respectful fear in certain circumstances that induces taking wise action to avoid immanent harm.  Give examples in your group of healthy fear (hint: think of having your car stall in a railroad crossing and hearing the train’s whistle growing louder, a healthy fear would induce what kind of action?).

Spiritual fear can be divided into two categories.  Compare #3 and #4 above.

FAITH DRIVEN FEAR
Read Romans 8:12-17 (reread vs 14) and 1 John 4:12-19 (reread vs 19)
Talk about how we need to understand the fear of the Lord in the context of his love for us.

Read Proverbs 9:10, 19:23, 22:4, Isaiah 33:6 and Acts 9:31
Talk about the promise found in each one regarding a faith driven “fear of the Lord.”

FAITH KILLING FEAR
Faith and Fear cannot coexist.  They are like oil and water.  They can be shaken together in the same bottle but will always separate from each other. 

Read James 1:2-8 (reread vs 7&8); Matthew 21:18-21 (reread vs 21&22)
Talk about the overarching message being presented in both of these passages.
Is there anything you would like to share with the group about fear that you want broken in your life?  If so, ask the group to pray for you.

Taking Action:  In your devotional time this week, ask the Lord to reveal to you areas of your life that have been hindered by fear.  Pray for the Lord to release faith and wisdom (James 1) over these areas.  Consider calling a trusted friend and ask them to pray and stand with you as you step out in faith in the area that God reveals to you.
Ministry Time

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 Open in Prayer and / or Worship

SUMMARY:  The message Pastor Judith brought to our church family on January 24 was taught out of the book of Romans on the subject of righteousness.  That is a big religious sounding word.  Simply put, righteousness is the measurement by which we are counted worthy to stand in the presence of God.  A God who is described as “an all consuming fire.”  Are you that righteous?  I know I am not.  In fact, I know none of us are.  Roman 3:23 says that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”  James 2:10 tells us that if we spend our whole life being perfect, except for breaking God’s command just one time, we are equally as guilty as someone who has spent their life in sin.  The message is clear.  We cannot become righteous in our own effort.  The message of the Bible is also clear, that God has made a way where there is no way.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is the “good news” that through the blood of Christ we have become worthy to “approach the throne of grace with boldness.”  In our LifeGroups this week, discuss this miracle of our righteousness in Christ, and talk about the liberty and freedom that it brings to our lives. 

DISCUSSION POINTS:
1. Jesus’ righteousness satisfied God’s demand for relationship.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1,2)

Talk about the difference it makes in our lives to be able to come before God with our failure, knowing he accepts us based on Jesus righteousness and not our own.  Talk about how this reality frustrates the devils attempts to keep us isolated in the guilt of our own shortcomings.

2. Jesus’ righteousness is now on our heavenly court record.
 “However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.” (Romans 4: 5)

Talk about how the eternal hope we have impacts our ability to walk our lives out by grace and not in fear.

3. Jesus’ Righteousness gives you a new identity.  Read Romans 3:21-26 & 8:29-30
“We do righteousness because we have been made righteous not to become righteous.” 
          —Pastor Judith Crist

Talk about the difference it makes in our lives when we see ourselves through our new identity in Christ. 

4. Jesus’ righteousness is an unlimited force of unending, abundant life. 
Read Romans 6:22-23  Talk about the abundant life, and what that means to you in light of this discussion on righteousness.  Talk about the power of living for God out of his supply of righteousness versus striving for a righteousness of our own. 

Taking Action:  In your devotional time this week, consider reading the entire book of Romans, prayerfully asking God to reveal to you fresh insights into the righteousness we have been given through the loving sacrifice of Christ.

Ministry Time

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Stronger  (part 2)  “Unmerited Favor”

Opening Prayer / Worship

Overview:
The lavish grace of God in Christ Jesus is difficult for us to accept, partially because of our deep seeded guilt association with our shortcomings.  Humans tend to feel internally justified if we pay some sort of penalty for our wrong.  While there are consequences to wrong action, there is no justification in God’s eyes for suffering the consequences of our rebellion.  The Bible teaches us that the only thing that can justify us from our sin is the penalty Jesus paid on our behalf when he suffered on the cross and then was raised from the dead, cancelling out the power of sin (past, present and future) over our lives forever.

Today, in your LifeGroup, discuss the message Pastor Terry brought to us over the weekend about God’s free gift of grace and the power that grace brings to the life of a believer.  As you read the scriptures and the comments below, talk about how grace is able to revolutionize our lives, and transform us from striving to thriving in the power of the Spirit of God’s grace and love for his children.

DISCUSSION POINTS

1) Grace means that we don’t have to earn our salvation.

Read Ephesians 2:4-9
Talk about what this passage says about “earning our way to God’s favor” versus receiving it as a gift.  How is this different than you might have once thought?

What does the message of grace really mean?  It simply means that God deals with His people, not on the basis of what they deserve, but according to His goodness, kindness, and generosity.

2) Grace means that we don’t have to fear not being forgiven.
Read 1 John 4:13-19  Talk about what fear has to do with.  Verse 18 says that “fear has to do with ______________??”

3) Grace means that we don’t have to live the Christian life by our own effort.
Read Jude 23-24.  Then read the statement below and discuss the scripture related to the statement.

Now, here’s something to think about. How can the thing that could not save you, keep you from losing your salvation? If good behavior could not save you, good behavior cannot keep you. If discipline and determination could not save you, discipline and determination cannot keep you. We were saved by grace and we are kept by grace.

4) Grace means that we can overcome the weakness that lays claim to us.
Read Titus 2:11   Talk about how grace serves as a teacher, instructor and guide to our lives.

5) Grace means that we can become like Jesus.
Read 2 Peter 3:18 .
Talk about how grace is not a license to sin, but rather it is the power to overcome sin and help us to become more like Jesus.

Taking Action:  In your devotional time this week, consider how great a love God has shown you by his grace in Christ Jesus.  Now, being freshly aware of God’s unmerited grace in your life, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone you need to offer that kind of grace toward.  Pray for them, and consider how you might reach out to them.

Ministry Time

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Big Picture:
God’s love for us transcends our comprehension.  His capacity for loving sinful human beings follows no logic.  As a Holy God, his relentless acceptance of us does not make sense.  The breadth of his love exceeds the human experience.  From Genesis to Revelation, the Word of God presents a love story of God’s passionate pursuit of people.  The Bible uses real life stories to illustrate God’s love.  One of those stories is found in the book of Hosea, which was the sermon text last weekend.  It is the story of the prophet Hosea, whose wife was a prostitute.  Hosea was instructed by God to marry Gomer and keep taking her back in spite of her wonderings.  Hosea eventually ended up buying her off the slave-trading block.  This story was recorded to illustrate God’s love for us.  How he loved us when we were rebellious, and purchased us from slavery by the payment of Jesus blood.

In your LifeGroup discussion this week, read the scriptures and the points below and consider the great love of God in your life.

1) God’s love is unmerited.  Read the scriptures below and talk about how God loved us when we were unlovely, and how that should influence the way we love others.
 6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8
Read 1 John 4:19

2) God’s love is unconditional.
Read Ephesians 2:4-10 and talk about God’s love for us… is it “conditioned” upon our action. If not, then what is based upon.

“Let me be absolutely clear that in our lives as Christ followers, blessing is tied to obedience, but love is tied to God’s character. God blesses us because of our obedience, but, as the story of Hosea illustrates, He loves us even in our rebellion.” 
     –Pastor Terry, January 10 message

3) God’s love is unchangeable.
Read Romans 8:31-39.  Is there anything we can do to undo God’s love for us?  What are the ramifications of this truth of God’s unchangeable love for us.  How does knowing how much God loves us affect our walk of faith?

4) God’s love is unforgettable.
Read Lamentations 3:22-23 and discuss how waking each morning looking for God’s mercies can keep us from experiencing spiritual amnesia.

City of Grace Mission Statement: “Our mission is to love people to life!”
Pastor Terry introduced this new mission statement for our church family.  Talk about how this mission statement is relevant to your LifeGroup as you seek to glorify God through the vision he has given to our Church community.

Taking Action:
Take time this week to pray over this mission statement, and ask God how you can live it out in your own life and in your church.  Remember that this week Pastor Terry has called everyone in the church to fast and pray.  Consider what you can offer up to the Lord in a sacrificial fast as you intercede for our church and your life as the Spirit leads you.
 

Ministry Time

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 OVERVIEW: There are thousands of Churches all over the world, with many different worship styles and strategic mission statements.  The churches that teach Biblical truth and recognize Jesus as the way, truth and life, these are our brothers and sisters with whom we share the greatest exploit known to mankind… to advance the kingdom of God in the earth.  As the Church, the ones betrothed to Christ, we are called to finish the work Jesus began… to demonstrate God’s love to everyone he places in our path or draws to the church’s doorstep.  Please take the following notes from Pastor Terry’s vision message and prayerfully consider your role in building the church here at City of Grace.  Also, please tuck this page in your Bible and use it as a prayer guide throughout 2010.

Guiding Passage: Matthew 16:18 (ESV)
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

ONE: The church belongs to Jesus. “I will build MY church.” The church in the NT is the ekklesia… the community of called out ones.  The church transcends human reason.  Through scripture Jesus is saying: “I am going to teach the world there is a better way to live… and my church will model it. My church will be based on another value system…the value system of an upside down kingdom where the last shall be first and the first shall be last. A kingdom where the greatest of all shall be the servant of all. A kingdom where those who give their lives away shall find a greater life. It’s a kingdom where the best seats at the banquet table are reserved for the least, the last and the lost. This is MY church!”

TWO: He has promised to build the church. “I will BUILD my church.”
The greatest satisfaction you will ever experience is in knowing that you are co-laboring with Jesus to build the house of God in your generation. Everything else you do, regardless of its significance, is temporal; however, what we are building here, together, is eternal!

THREE: The Church will prevail against the powers of darkness.
“The gates of hell will not prevail against it.”
NOTE:…Gates are not offensive weapons. This insight Jesus gives us reveals that it is the Church who is on the offensive as we assult the gates of darkness and allow the Holy Spirit to use us to set the captives free from bondage.

Taking Action: On page two of these notes (back of hard copy), you will find our theme for 2010, our initiatives for the coming year, our dreams and a list of our values as a church community.  There are also three things Pastor Terry is calling our church body to do in 2010.  Please prayerfully read over this information and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart about this call on your live to build a stringer church in the coming year for His glory and purpose.

May God’s richest blessings overshadow you as you seek to live in His purpose for your life in the coming year and beyond.

Looking Forward: Our Theme for 2010 is: “Stronger.” Job 17:9
“The righteous keep moving forward and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger.”

2010 Vision Initiatives
1) Launch third City of Grace campus. (Biltmore Area)
2) Complete our parking lot expansion project (Mesa)
3) Complete SMC and begin expansion of Administrative Offices (Scottsdale)
4) Develop our “Family Wednesdays.”
    a. Move Radial Mesa Service to Wednesdays. 
    b. Move Encounter Service to first Wednesdays.
5) Develop our Sunday morning Spiritual Enrichment Hour.
    a. Begin all church prayer in Chapel from 9:00-9:50 (Mesa).
6) Revitalize our 11:30 worship service and relocate to the Activity Center (Mesa).
7) Launch Internet Campus
8.) Develop Adult Lifestage Ministries

City of Grace Values

Please review the values of our church as stated below.  This is “who we are.”  As Pastor Terry stated over the weekend, values are more important than vision. Vision is fluid. Vision comes and goes, based on the objectives before us, but values last. Vision is the doing part of church life but values is the being part of church life. Who you be is more important than what you do!
As a co-laborer at City of Grace, please prayerfully embrace these values and look for ways to express them in your own unique witness as a partner in ministry.

1) A healthy church family filled with life, laughter, and liberty.
2) A church family that is biblically literate, culturally relevant, and  spiritually sensitive.
3) A church family with effective ministries to the whole family.
4) A church family that is multicultural and multigenerational.
5) A church family that nurtures, trains, and empowers emerging leaders.
6) A church family with an inviting atmosphere that loves and affirms one another.
7) A multi-site church family reproducing new campuses at a healthy rate.
8.) A church family that is willing to take risks for God.
9) A church family committed to excellence in spirit, lifestyle, and ministry practices.
10) A church family committed the transformation of communities, cities, and nations.

Our Dream

Out of these values…We dream of City of Grace thriving as a multi-site church of ten thousand people meeting on seven campuses throughout the city. We dream of reaching the unchurched community around us with the grace and power of Jesus Christ. We dream of young leaders emerging, new churches being planted, and missionaries being sent to the nations. We dream of a new generation of Kingdom leaders being developed and deployed into every sphere of influence in the world around us. We dream of making a lasting impact on our community that cannot be ignored or denied. We dream of us increasingly becoming a City of Grace.

Three things our Pastor has called to take action on in 2010…

ONE:To fast and pray for City of Grace. We have set aside the week of January 10-16 for 1 WEEK of FASTING AND PRAYER.
TWO: To commit to personal evangelism. Bringing our family/friends/co-workers/neighbors to our weekend worship experiences.
THREE:  To get involved beyond the weekend. As exciting as our weekend services are…they are just the front porch of this house. We also have a living room full of groups and classes where you can grow deeper in your relationship with God and each other. And we have a kitchen where our teams serve the church, the community and the world. There are many areas of ministry that need your gifts, talents, and abilities.