From the Pastor | Church of Celebration (NEW)

May 24, 2013

SATURDAY/SUNDAY SNAPSHOT (The Story Of Grace 8)

The Story Of Grace… (8) Accepted By Grace

CELEBRATORS… Isn’t it AMAZING that we are ALL… ACCEPTED by God’s Grace? That thought alone is rather spectacular! Don’t miss this weekend at COC – as Pastor Mat talks about HOW Jesus (God-Incarnate) demonstrated(s)/offered(s) GRACE that was (is) “ACCEPTING” to those who were (are) far away from it!

Below is a sneak-peak into a few of the ideas for THE STORY OF GRACE…

Jesus SAID what only God could SAY and then DID what only God could DO… offer ACCEPTING Grace!

GRACE is INVITING to the UNRIGHTEOUS and THREATENING to the SELF-RIGHTEOUS!

Jesus brought DISCOMFORT to the COMFORTABLE and COMFORT to the UNCOMFORTABLE!

Interesting Thought… People who were nothing LIKE Jesus LOVED Him... He actually LIKED people who were NOTHING like Him.

GRACE is God drawing NEAR to people drawn AWAY by Sin! (WOW!)

Prerequisite to God’s “ACCEPTING” Grace... Jesus didn’t come to call those who THINK they are RIGHTEOUS... BUT only those who KNOW they are SINNERS!

See You THIS WEEKEND… Celebrators!!

(Sat) Sequoia Pathways – 5P

(Sun) MHS Performing Arts Center – 9A

ONE MORE THING - Keep those 2013 COC “SUN STAND STILL PRAYERS” going…

1. COC NEW WORSHIP SERVICES! (Sundays / 9a and Saturdays / 5p)

2. 500+ SALVATIONS! – Over 80+ for the Year!

3. PowerPackCopa.com – God is BLOWING THIS MINISTRY UP COC! We’ll be stocking up with both FOOD and CASH through the summer to be ready for the 2013-14 School Year! Thanks for your Generosity Celebrators and PLEASE KEEP “GIVING” and PLEASE KEEP ASKING GOD “WHERE” YOU CAN BE INVOLVED!

4. 25 DNA Small Groups! – Are you IN COMMUNITY somewhere? YOU NEED TO BE… Sign-Up for one this weekend!

5. Increased GENEROSITY! (Time/Talents/Treasures) – Thank You for your INCREASED GENEROSITY Celebrators! Remember the keys to “BALANCE” with your FINANCES… 1. Reference Point (KNOWING where your Money’s GOING!) 2. Keep it BALANCED! (Honoring God with EVERYTHING!) 3. Make Constant Corrections! (1. Debt (Get out of it!) / 2. What Do I Do with my EXTRA? (Be RICH towards GOD FIRST!) / 3. Financial Appetites (Dealing with Discontentment)) 4. Flip Your LIST! (SEEK FIRST… God’s Way in your FINANCES… 1. GIVE (God) 2. SAVE 3. LIVE on the rest!)

6. A Place To Call HOME! (LAND) – Keep Praying Celebrators! Let God know the ‘Desires Of Our Heart!’

Posted by Josh Barrett with

May 17, 2013

SATURDAY/SUNDAY SNAPSHOT (The Story Of Grace 7)

The Story Of Grace… (7) Puzzled By Grace

CELEBRATORS… Happy Birthday COC! Can’t hardly believe that it’s been SEVEN YEARS since COC launched in Maricopa! And now… here we are with over 1000+ people that call COC their ‘Home’ and the most AMAZING NUMBER… close to 600+ people who have CROSSED from DEATH to LIFE! Only by God’s GRACE can we CELEBRATE what HE’S DONE here in this small town! And speaking of GRACE… you DO NOT want to miss the second half of this Series! It’s been AWESOME and we continue this week looking at how PUZZLING God’s Grace is!

Below is a sneak-peak into a few of the ideas for THE STORY OF GRACE…

GRACE IS… PREDICTABLY… UNPREDICTABLE!

JONAH found out the hard way... YOU CAN RUN FROM GOD… BUT YOU CAN’T OUTRUN HIM!

JONAH… The PURPOSE of GOD’S DISCIPLINE was not to PAY HIM BACK … but rather to BRING HIM BACK! (WOW!)

Ck-out Jonah 2:3... DISCIPLINING GRACE is certainly not PLEASANT at the time… but it’s APPRECIATED LATER! To RUN from GOD is to RUN from GRACE!

JONAH found himself caught in a CONFLICT OF GRACE… He was QUICK to ASK FOR IT… but not QUICK to DISPENSE IT!

JONAH wanted JUSTICE… GOD insisted on MERCY! (WOW!)

JONAH wanted JUDGMENT… GOD opted for COMPASSION! (WOW!)

Ask yourself today... WHO ARE THE NINEVITES IN YOUR LIFE?

Are you going to continually be consumed with YOU or THEM?