Monday:

Reading: Romans 12: 6-8, I Cor. 12:8-1, and 1 Peter 4:10-11

Reflecting:

Write down the spiritual gift/gifts God has given you.

Are you exercising the gifts God has given you?

How is God glorified when we use our gifts and abilities?

Wednesday:

Reading: John 13:1-17

Reflecting:

According to John 13:1, Jesus knows the sins we have committed and will commit. Still, he loves us.

How do you respond to that kind of love?

Are you willing to follow Christ’s example of serving?

Who is God calling you to serve today?

Friday:

Reading: Romans 10: 14-15

Reflecting:

According to v. 14, what must be added to our good example in order for the what and the how of the gospel to be shared?

Is God calling you to take a part in making his message known in your community?

SEVEN THINGS TO FOCUS ON

· God has begun a mission in us that’s larger than life! (Phil. 1:6; Eph. 2:10)

· God will build HIS church HIS way! (Matthew 16:18)

· God will join us in the difficult days! (Daniel 3:25)

· God has more in store for us than we know. (Jer. 29:11-13)

· God wants us to stand firm, be courageous, and not back down from what He has called us to do! (1 Cor. 16:13)

· God did not call us because of our greatness but because of HIS greatness! (II Cor. 4:1)

· God has guaranteed us victory. (Romans 8:31-39)

2020 VISION PLAN: SEEING CLEARLY NOW!

The support of our 2020 Vision Plan was overwhelming. I am amped up (and I have not had an energy drink) this morning as I think about the components of our 10-year plan. Over the next decade our efforts will focus on:

· Reaching the students of Jacksonville State University

· Implementing our Growth Track

o Loving God

o Growing Together

o Serving Others

· Adopting an Unreached People Group

· Develop a Great Commission Budget

To get the full details on each of these components, you need to go to the web site and listen to the “2020 Vision” messages, and if you were not in any of our three services yesterday I hope you will pick up a commitment card and join the rest of your church family on what promises to be the journey of a lifetime. We know in the months ahead we are going to have to step out in crazy, insane obedience even before we know how God might pull it off! But, that’s what makes the faith journey so much fun.

PRAISE:

Welcome to the church family:

Megan Mohon

AWANA – Let me tell you what the Lord is doing in AWANA and where you are desperately needed. One of the reasons we purchased our bus was to pick-up children that need the love of Christ. The great news is every Wednesday night we bring in about 25 kids that desperately need our love and care. These are kids in great need. It reminds me of our ministry to the “Lenca” Indians of Honduras. These kids are right here in our backyard! They need AWANA in a major way! And AWANA NEEDS YOU!

We need at least 25 more volunteers with 15 of those being MEN. We need volunteers who can help in the fellowship hall at 5:00 PM when the children arrive and we provide them with a meal. Many of the kids we pick up are very hungry when they arrive. So, we need table hostesses to help us feed them prior to the start of AWANA. We need men that will love on these kids and help them discover Christ through the scriptures. Some of these kids may not have a dad at home and need to know that there are men who can teach boys how to be men.

In short, we need more help as AWANA grows. This is an opportunity for you to serve others in a big way. This is an opportunity for us to fulfill the Great Commission right here at home. This is an opportunity for you to invest your life in little ones who desperately need you. Why? BECAUSE KIDS MATTER TO GOD!!!

World Hunger-We are asking our church family to bring one or more canned good items for the JCOC next Sunday, October 10, to emphasis the need to step up and help feed hungry children here and around the world.