Study of Isaiah - Sunday Mornings

I’m excited to continue our study in the book of Isaiah this week. On Sunday we will be looking at Isaiah’s calling by God. In preparation of this, I encourage everyone to read Chapter 6 of Isaiah and 2 Chronicles 26 to better understand what was going on in Judah at the time of Isaiah’s call.


Ponderings:

Make a list from Chronicles of phrases that describe King Uzziah for discussion.

What significance do you see in Isaiah’s being in the temple when he sees the vision?

Read 1 Corinthians 7:17. Have you ever pondered your life’s purpose? Is having a “calling” or “purpose” important?

Isaiah asks God, how long . . . have you ever asked God a similar question?

What does it mean to be a “fully devoted follower of Christ?”

Currently the church is urging us to be ‘fully devoted followers of Christ’ and looking on the website, the “Getting Connected” encourages this in summary as: 1) Worship; 2) Life Group; and 3) Service. In response to my question about “service” to the community, Leah asked last week if it is our duty, or isn’t it important that we should show God’s love in the community?

The New Testament is rife with passages about ‘Christian love’ and we are all familiar with 1 Corinthians 13 and words for love, like ‘agape’. What is the importance or impetus for this love? When Jesus was confronted by the religious rulers of his day (Matt 22:34-40) he summed up the law of God as: 1) Love God with your whole being; 2) Love others as you want to be loved. His emphasis was to obey God and not be disruptive to others. Don’t lie, steal, murder, commit adultery, etc. (Exodus 20:1-17). In John 13:34, Jesus commands us to love one another (Christian brothers/sisters), as He has loved us so that all men will know we are His disciples. Other N.T. writers encourage us to be kind and compassionate (James, Galatians 6, and Ephesians 4) but always with the reminder of it being in response to God’s mercy and grace in forgiving our sin through Christ.

As we have opportunity, we are to do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. God’s acts of grace and mercy in our lives demand we respond by living a life of Christian service. But, while we are to do good to all people, it starts with our fellow Christians. We will not help our unbelieving neighbor, if we ignore our own family in Christ. To live for Christ is to serve him--or as we often say, to allow Christ to be Lord of our life. Jesus "went around doing good" (Acts 10:38). He healed the disabled; included the outcasts into his circle; made time for widows and children; took the side of the poor, the underdog, against those who were powerful; fed the hungry; befriended the lonely. He went out of his way to minister to all with compassion, and he taught them about the coming kingdom of God. When we serve, we are simply following in the steps of the Master who became our righteousness and who also gave us what we never deserved. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Jesus always brought the gospel “good news” of God with His service. One of Jesus’ final commands to us is found in Matthew 28: 19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” The impetus for our service to others is God’s desire that all men be saved and come to a knowledge of truth (1Timothy 2:1-4). "Let us not become weary in doing good," says Paul, "for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9) This harvest of doing good, is a harvest of many more receiving the love and the grace of God. What is this harvest promised, guaranteed, by the Lord? Galatians 6:8 says: …the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. When we know deep down that Christ is our only and complete righteousness, then we likewise become gracious and bear true Spiritual fruit. We tell others and show others, without growing weary, the love of God that they too may find rest and inspiration in his grace – and in the end, eternal life.

“and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:19

“Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.”- 2 Corinthians 5:11

So yes Leah, I agree we are to serve our community in love. Something wonderful happens; people are attracted to us and to our God, because of our love, because we are doing good. Because of our love for God, because of His love for us. There is a whole world out there that is desperate for this love, for the grace and for the mercy of God. When they see God’s unconditional love in the church, they respond to God’s mercy in faith. Our service should always be in response to the knowledge that we have been bought with the price of Christ's death and thusly are called to serve not self, but Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Praying for a fresh vision of God’s holiness and forgiveness to kindle your steady obedience to his call.



Robert

1 Corinthians 16:14-14

Trunk or Treat - It's not too late to volunteer

On October 31st CCV will host our annual Trunk or Treat community outreach. CCV will have thousands of children and their parents from our surrounding neighborhood on our campus that are looking for a safe, fun and candy filled Halloween Night.  It is our job to make sure we give them what they are looking for.  This where we all come in.  Take the time to sign up for one of the 89 Trunks we need that night or to bring candy the help with the tens of thousands pieces of candy we will be handing out that night.  If those two oppurtunities do not sound like something you could do, how about volunteering your time.  We need hundreds of volunteers to make this a great outreach event.

Hit this link to go to the CCV web page to sign up today.

http://www.ccvsocal.com/events/trunk-or-treat/registration/

Next Week Study on Doubt. The reliablilty of the Bible

“Reputable scholars now believe that the New Testament account is reliable history.”

Time Magazine

“We account the scriptures of God to be the most sublime philosophy. I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history whatsoever.”

 

Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727)

“Of the many influences that have shaped the United States into a distinctive nation and people, none may be said to be more fundamental and enduring than the Bible.”

-- President Ronald Reagan, (40th U.S. President)

 

Many people have many opinions about Jesus and about the Bible and how relevant it is for our lives today. I know that many people in our groups, even Christians, have doubts about the Bible. Is it really the Word of God? Have men tampered with it and therefore can it be trusted? Some believe that they can pick out parts of the Bible to believe and follow and reject others. Take a moment and click on this link to listen to the video intro from Pastor Jeff

 http://vimeo.com/30330211


Plan on joining us Sunday Morning as we discuss this important issue of the reliablilty of the Bible.

Join us to find the answers to the nonbelievers doubt

The existence of God cannot be proven scientifically. Nor can His hand in creation be scientifically verified. But that’s just the way God wants it. Hebrews 11:1, 3 and 6 tells us that God is pleased when we love Him and seek Him with our faith, not with what we see. 

As the world leans on human knowledge to prove and disprove God’s existence and His handy-work, many without faith have doubts about God. Many of the things the world says don’t support what the Bible says about God and His creation.  Or do they?  

While believers lean on their faith in God, there are plenty of clues; including physical properties, moral laws and absolute truths that indicates He exists and that He is solely responsible for creation. When speaking to the world about God we are able to speak with them on “their grounds” by using these clues to help them consider; and perhaps accept, the truth of God’s Word.   

For 6 weeks we will study and discuss some of the “Doubts” that the world has put in people’s minds about God; and see if we can answer some of the questions a nonbeliever may have.

Sunday we will be studying

“Exclusivity: How can there be just One True Religion?”

Beckie has been busy buying shoes.

As eveyone knows Beckie and Duane work with Bee a Blessing Ministry here at CCV.  They are having a big event this weekend reaching out the Single Moms and Moms in Need in our church and in the community.  Our group donated some money last week for Beckie to buy shoes for the ladies. Below is a nice note from Beckie in reagrds to our donation.

Maranatha, thank you so much for your $55 donation to help purchase shoes for Bee A Blessing! I was able to go to Los Angeles and the Lord led me to a place where I was able to buy 11 pairs of shoes with the $55! After our Bee A Blessing Volunteer meeting we received additional donations totaling $290 which I was able to buy another 39 pairs of shoes! Yes, that gives us 50 pairs of shoes (that includes 20 pairs of boots too!) God is so good and thank you for donating to the cause!

Thanks!

Beckie


Beckie and Duane you really are a blessing to this Ministry and to our group.  We know you are moving on to teaching the SALT Class and are leaving our Life Group but we still hope to see you around church and hopefully at some our social gatherings.  May God continue to Bless you both.

Praise Report - Duane and Beckie are going to be Grandparents.

Here is a a bit of good news from the Vasquez family.  I received this email from Beckie the other day.  I think this was a great way to break the good news.

Hi Paul,

Here is the picture postcard our daughter and her husband mailed out to family members. 

The back of the postcard says:

We've got a bun in the oven! Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated as we move into this next stage in our lives. We can't wait for you to meet our little one!

Patrick, Duana & Baby

Thanks!

Beckie

Bumper Bag Weekend and Bee a Blessing

Two more service opportunities are just around the corner.  First is the monthly Bumper Bag Weekend where you can bless single moms and the unemployed with food stuffs and other staples to help them through another month.  Every month CCV gives us specific item(s) that we can focus on bringing besides the usual canned goods and other foods staples we are providing .  This month they are asking for baked goods.  Lets get behind this monthly service opportunity and show support for it through the sacrificial giving from the members of the Maranatha Life Group.

The other awesome opportunity is near and dear to Beckie and Duane's heart.  That is Bee a Blessing.  On October 1st, this ministry is planning on spoiling hundreds of Single Moms and Moms-in-Need with a day of massages, new hairdo's, make up, manicures and then beautiful photos to document the transformations.  As Beckie shared with us on Sunday morning we can be involved in a couple of ways. The first is by donating new women clothes, sizes 8-20 or woman's shoes sizes 8-11.  The money we collected on Sunday will also be going to purchase some items to be given away. You can also volunteer your time on October 1st between 7:30 am to 3pm to make this day special for all of the ladies that have been invited to be blessed.  These moms are in positions that they would rather not be in but for reasons we don't know they are there living this life everyday.  Lets make them forget about all of that for the day and really Bee a Blessing in their lives.  For more information contact Beckie at the church office or email her.  You all her her contact information on the Group Directory that Hildy keeps us updated with.