From the Pastor

SATURDAY/SUNDAY SNAPSHOT (The Story Of Grace 12)

The Story Of Grace… (12) Commissioned For Grace

CELEBRATORS… We’re wrapping up THE STORY OF GRACE Series this coming weekend! I pray that at least one of the messages has MESSED YOU UP – like it has me! The final week centers around the idea of… NOW WHAT? Now… that I’ve RECEIVED what I DESERVE the LEAST… GRACE... WHAT NOW… Am I supposed to do with that? Becoming an AGENT OF GRACE isn’t always easy folks… because WE usually have some preconceived ideas as to WHO should be the next RECIPIENT! However… that’s NOT FOR US TO DECIDE! Remember… God’s GRACE includes EVERYONE – therefore the ONLY RESPONSIBILITY we have – is to share HIS GRACE to as MANY PEOPLE as we can! So… How’s that going for ya? Don’t miss the EXCITING CONCLUSION this week – as we take a closer look at HOW to become an AGENT OF GRACE!

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

GRACE must pick a side in the light of day - not just whisper its opinion in the shadows and dark places where we sign our name Anonymous!

Jesus doesn't try to BALANCE… GRACE and TRUTH… (Like we so often want to do!)  He ALWAYS offers a full dose of BOTH! (WOW!)

The Prodigal Son Parable (Luke 15:11-32)... The Father gives the Son precisely what HE DOES NOT DESERVE... GRACE! 

Jesus doesn't care about past BEHAVIOR or PERFORMANCES... He CELEBRATES one thing and one thing only... RESTORED RELATIONSHIPS. 

While WE want to make it about REHABILITATION… GOD is all about RESTORATION!  When you receive HIS GRACE... THE "PARTY" STARTS THEN!

IN GOD’S STORY OF GRACE… YOU… Are the FOCUS of CELEBRATION! (NOT… What You’ve DONE!) YOU. (Period.)

Always Remember… HIS STORY is better than YOUR STORY!

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! – 90+ Total Salvations for the Year!

3. PowerPackCopa.com – Don’t Forget the POWERPACKCOPA “500” Food Drive for our Summer Months! We’re attempting to accumulate… 500… Cans of Tuna – 500…Cans of Chicken – (And…) 500… Small bags of Trail mix! Pick-up some TODAY and bring it over the next 7 weeks!

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!’

SATURDAY/SUNDAY SNAPSHOT (The Story Of Grace 11)

The Story Of Grace… (11) Saved By Grace

CELEBRATORS… I think everyone who calls themselves a “FOLLOWER OF THE WAY” and calls themselves a BORN-AGAIN BELIEVER – is most appreciative for this coming week’s topic… SAVED BY GRACE! Yes… God’s GRACE continues to FORGIVE whenever we SIN… and that’s AWESOME! Yes… God’s GRACE usually shows up at the most INCONVENIENT and INOPPORTUNE Times… and that’s INCREDIBLE! But… if it were not for the initial GRACE that SAVES US at the point of SALVATION – we’d ALL be in for some pretty heavy consequences in ETERNITY! The AMAZING thing about being SAVED BY GRACE is that it’s ALL-INCLUSIVE… it’s for EVERYONE – WHEREVER you might BE and WHATEVER might have DONE – it’s ALWAYS AVAILABLE to SAVE YOU! Don’t miss this week – you might just need to be REMINDED of that!

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

"The Scandalous Mathematics of Grace!"

-FAIRNESS is a Tricky Thing – but God's UNFAIR GRACE always works for YOU!

If FAIR means… I GET WHAT I DESERVE – then I don’t really want God to be FAIR when it comes to my SINS! (Do you?) 

The Thief on the Cross... JESUS TRUMPED JUSTICE as JUSTICE was UNDERSTOOD! He decided to be EXTRAVAGANTLY… UNFAIR! (WOW!)

The Truth about God's Fairness is this folks... It's FAIRER than FAIR... It's GRACE!

CHRIST’S DEATH and RESURRECTION signaled to the WORLD that HEAVEN is NOT RESERVED FOR GOOD PEOPLE… IT'S RESERVED FOR… FORGIVEN PEOPLE!

God's UNFAIR Grace includes EVERYONE...

Good… Forgiven People!

Pretty Good... Forgiven People! (And Even…)

Not So Good… Forgiven People! (TY JESUS!)

GRACE WAS COSTLY… but it was NOT COSTLY TO US! (Is that FAIR?)

NO… IT’S BETTER THAN FAIR… IT’S GRACE!! (WOW!)

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! – 85 Total Salvations for the Year!

3. PowerPackCopa.com – Don’t Forget the POWERPACKCOPA “500” Food Drive for our Summer Months! We’re attempting to accumulate… 500… Cans of Tuna – 500…Cans of Chicken – (And…) 500… Small bags of Trail mix! Pick-up some TODAY and bring it over the next 7 weeks!

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 O