New Study Series Begins July 17th!

Beginning July 17th, we will start a series of studies based on Max Lucado’s book Outlive Your Life, http://www.maxlucado.com/outliveyourlife/.  "What if we rocked the world with hope? Infiltrated all corners with God's love and life? We are created by a great God to do great works. He invites us to outlive our lives, not just in heaven, but here on earth.  It’s not enough to do well. We want to do good. We want our lives to matter. So, let's live our lives in such a way that the world will be glad we did.", says Max Lacado.  Whose life will YOU change? 

Sunday, June 26, 2011 - Thore Family Reception

Reception in honor of Pastor Chris Thore and his family - during the Sunday school hour (9:45-10:45) on June 26th - no Anchors in Christ Sunday School class that day!  If you are interested, you may provide a love offering gift for their family on your own.

Anchors in Christ Regular Class to Resume on May 8th

The Anchors in Christ Class will resume meeting in its regular classroom on Sunday, May 8th (Mother's Day!).  Mark and Jan Portis will conclude the series they have been teaching to the combined classes on Sunday, May 1st with a lesson on Apologizing.  Please join the Portises on May 1st and then be ready to kick off a new series on May 8th!

Lenten Series with Mark & Jan Portis

The Anchors in Christ Class will join with the Spiritual Growth Class in A201 for a six week study during Lent as a follow up on Bishop Goodpastor's sermon on loving your enemy.  Mark and Jan Portis will lead this series for the two groups using "Love as a Way of Life" by Gary Chapman!  The Anchors in Christ class will then continue with the Experiencing God series after Easter.

Experiencing God ~ Lesson Notes February 6, 2011

From “Experiencing God” Session 4:  Love and God’s Invitation

1)     Know God

a.    Know God more intimately as He reveals Himself to us through our experiences with Him.

b.    Who is God to us, i.e. Advocate, Comforter, Hope, Judge, Redeemer,….other?

2)    Worship God

a.    To worship is to reverence and honor God, to acknowledge Him as worthy of your praise.

b.    Ways to worship God are blessing His name, rejoicing in His name, calling on His name, declaring His name,….others?

3)    Love God

a.    If we love Him, we will obey Him.

b.    If we have an obedience problem, we have a love problem!

4)    God invites us to join Him

a.    When we see the Father at work around us, that is our invitation to adjust our life to Him and join Him in that work.

b.    God must take the initiative to open our spiritual eyes so that we can see what He is doing.

c.    We must have our intimate and personal relationship with God in order for us to have our eyes opened!

Experiencing God ~ Lesson Notes January 16, 2011

Looking to God

Bible Verse - "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."  Psalm 20:7

Self-Centered vs God-Centered

To live a God-centered life, one must focus on God's purposes, not our own plans.  We must seek to view situations from God's perspective rather than from our own distorted human outlook.  When God starts to do something in the world, He takes the initiative to reveal His will to people.

To know and do God's will, we must deny self and return to a God-centered life.

God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.  

If God has a great task for you, he will expand your character to match the assignment. 

Experiencing God ~ Lesson Notes January 9, 2011

Scripture ~ John 15:5

I am the vine, you are the branches.  If a man remains in me, and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Two different ways to approach the Lord and His plan for us: “Lord, tell me everything.” or “Lord, just go with me and direct me.”

Don’t ask God about tomorrow, but, instead, ask about today.

Phillips 2:5-8  (God’s Word Translation)

            ⁵Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

       ⁶Although he was in the form of God and equal with God,
        he did not take advantage of this equality.
       ⁷Instead, he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant, by becoming like other humans, by having a human appearance.
       ⁸He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, death on a cross.

Being a servant of God is serving in God in order to serve one’s fellow man.

The Potter shapes the clay.  We have to be open to be molded,   and open to be used.