VBS Revisited!

Just wanted to drop a few of the VBS highlights on the blog.  It was a great week,  the Spirit was at work in some significant ways.

First, I have to commend April and the co-laborers who put it all together – it was well organized and smoothly run.  There were no hitches or snafus.  As someone who watches and observes how systems function, this system worked excellent.

Second, almost half of the VBS kids were visitors or guests from our outreach ministries.  This is a significant development and lets us know that we are reaching outside of our box!

Third, and also worthy of note, there were about 150 teachers and volunteers who made VBS happen each night.  That’s a huge number and a great ratio of kids to volunteers.  This resulted in about 350-370 people here each night! 

Last, and very importantly, we know of eleven children that made decisions to accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.   This is great commission work!

Just a few thoughts to remind us that God is at work at CBC.

The Future Intention of the Lord

The concluding part of the New Year Sermon Series from Isaiah 48.

First: God has a New Word for you: the Lord’s word to you is always fresh and invigorating.

 Second: God has a Unique Word for you: His word to you is specific.

Third: God has a Useful Word for you:  His word to you, while important for you, always benefits his larger kingdom purpose and the greater body of Christ.

Fourth: God has a Timely Word for you:  He is always in-Time and On-Time. His Timing and Opportunity followed by Our Obedience leads to Kingdom Fulfillment 

The Former Involvement of God

In the sermon this past Sunday, I addressed a theme from Isaiah 48 which reminded us that God has been active in our past.  I’m posting here the seven conclusions of the sermon.

1.  A review of our history verifies God has been involved in our journey.

2. The Lord has invested in our past to give us promise for the future.

3.  The incidents of our lives are not coincidental; they are caused by our choices or orchestrated by God.

4. The circumstances we have experienced are not wasted; they contribute to our spiritual character in Christ.

5. The missteps we make do not negate our future.

6. God’s intervention has saved us from unknown results.

7. Thankfully, God is at work in our lives – past, present, and future.

Fifteen Points on Thanksgiving!

Based on the sermon yesterday (11-21-10) here are the fifteen points concerning Thanksgiving.

Why Thanks:

Thanks is an expression of confidence in God – He is in control

Thanks raises your perspective above the circumstance

Thanks changes your focus from the bad to the good

Thanks starts an attitude change process in your heart and mind

Thanks creates hope when desperation seems to prevail

Thanks reminds us of God’s goodness and His provision

Thanks helps us prioritize our wants and desires

Thanks is a command – the Lord is a rewarder of those who are obedient

Thanks is His will – that we should be victorious in all situations

Thanks is the melody of the heart song of gratitude

Thanks is a Victory stand over pervasive Greed

Thanks removes personal satisfaction of prideful accumulation

Thanks results in joy for the smallest things as well as the greatest

Thanks infects others with an attitude of spiritual potential

Thanks promotes a spiritual reaction in the lives of others

Holiday Schedule Notes

This Sunday we’ll start a holiday schedule which will return us to one worship service and one Sunday School for the remainder of the year.  As placed in the bulletin this past Sunday, (and found online in pdf) all the classes have been assigned and provisions have been made for a number of our classes to meet at Providence Christian Academy.  Those groups and classes are: The Youth Department (which will meet in the PCA front building), the Whitefield/Morgan class, the Twenty-Something Class, and the George Class, and the Singles (these groups will meet in the PCA main building).  For the classes meeting at PCA, our Youth Pastor, Mark Smith will be opening the building at approximately 8:30 am.

All Sunday School classes will begin at 9:00 am followed by the thirty minute fellowship time and then 10:30 am worship. 

We look forward to a full and fruitful Sunday.

Mark W. Gregory

Information for the MidTown Building

The Leadership Team has been working consistently to provide the information that we currently have about the MidTown Ministry and the potential of receiving the gift of the church building. We've been able to visit all the Connect Groups, including the Choir, and will be planning on an informational meeting sometime in the next few weeks. In the meantime, there will be new information posted on the Calvary MidTown web page as it becomes available. It is my hope that before the end of the week, we'll have a number of photos, descriptions, and FAQ's on the page. I'll keep you up to date as soon as those hit the website.

As always, feel free to contact me in the church office or by email through our contact page. The email link will be directed to my attention, or you'll find my email address on my personal contact page: Dr. Mark W. Gregory

MidTown Ministry Update

This past Sunday we shared in both worship services the story of the development of the MidTown Ministry. If you were not able to be present, please take time to view the sermon at this link: MidTown Presentation This presentation will provide an excellent overview of how the ministry was initiated and the progress over the last couple of months.

In addition, we will begin spending time in the Connect Groups sharing more details and answering questions. We look forward to hearing from you.