Cultivating Gratitude
Pulling the weed of Forgetfulness; a drifting disregard. (Past)
Pulling the weed of Complaining; a determined discontentment. (Present)
Pulling the weed of Worry; an anxious distrust. (Future)

Colossians 2:6-7
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Philippians 4:4-9
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Identify the weed. (4:6)

Matthew 6:33-34
33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Concern can lead to a plan for action, a prayer of confidence, or a problem of control.

Philippians 4:4-7
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Replace the weed with prayer and thanksgiving. (4:4–7)

Tend the soil of your thoughts and learn contentment. (4:8-14)

Philippians 4:8-9
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:10-14
10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

In times of abundance, tend the weeds of a drifting disregard and a craving discontentment. In times of need, watch out for complaining and worry. For peace and contentment, your roots must grow deep into the Giver.

Study Questions will be posted on Sunday afternoon.

Every one of the past 18 years around Thanksgiving, we have had the opportunity to put our gratitude into action through our annual Thanksgiving Offering and Food Drop. As we reflect on the goodness of God and all He has entrusted to us, we are reminded that we have been blessed not simply to enjoy His goodness, but also to share it with others. As Scripture reminds us, "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7).
 
Our Food Drop is one way we seek to live out the call to share our blessings with others. Through this project, we will stock the shelves of more than 30 food pantries, shelters, and hot meal programs throughout the Tri-State – providing food and practical help to individuals and families in our community. We collect a monetary offering, then we order the food, and then on December 12, semi truck loads of food will arrive at CFC. Volunteers will come together to unload, organize, and deliver the food to the pantries we are serving.
 
We believe the blessings God has poured into our lives should overflow into the lives of others. This is more than a food drive; it is an opportunity for the church to be the hands and feet of Jesus, demonstrating the love of Christ in a tangible way.
 
If you would like to participate, you can give online HERE (choose Thanksgiving Food Drop) or in person. We encourage you to consider this as an opportunity to give above and beyond your regular giving to CFC as we work together to bless our community. When giving, please be sure to designate your gift as "Thanksgiving Food Drop" so we can ensure that 100% of your contribution goes directly toward purchasing food for this project.
 
We are so thankful that our church family gives generously and looks for opportunities to serve. Let's take what God has graciously given us and use it to bless others!
 
If you want to volunteer on December 12, you can sign up HERE. Please prepare to be blessed as you are being a blessing! As always, church family, let us know if there is anything we can do for you, and we’ll see you on Sunday!

Stay up to date with what's happening at CFC by reading the eBulletin each week.

And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. - Matthew 24:14 
 
When it comes to Global Outreach at CFC, some of our people are sent out to serve in “behind the scenes” positions that prepare the way for those serving on the front lines of God’s global mission. 
 
To make a comparison, we recognize that a number of our U.S. military personnel have roles at “permanent duty stations” in bases around the U.S. These service members live locally, report to duty at a workplace daily, and handle training or administrative work. Even though they are not deployed overseas, their work is strategic to our national defense efforts. In the same way, God calls all of us to different roles in His mission, but we all play a vital role! 
 
Teila Pitts is one of our long-time Global Staff members who, like some others from CFC, serves in both a strategic and stateside role for the global advancement of the gospel. Those being raised up through her work are going near and far, both to this nation and to the whole world. We asked Teila to share more about her background that led her to this role and her sense of calling. She shared about her passion to serve “behind the scenes” from here in Evansville: 
 
As a young student at Butler University, a senior in my sorority house challenged me not to just see our house as a social outlet but to consider it a mission field. That statement resonated with me, and from there God put a desire on my heart for those around me to know Jesus.
 
In August 2001, I headed to Atlanta to join the staff of Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) working in fraternities and sororities, planning conferences and events and hoping to see the mission of winning students to Christ, building them up in their faith, and sending them into the world. After 25 years, I am still passionate about people growing in a relationship with God. Bill Bright (founder of Cru) once said, “Reach the college campus today, reach the world tomorrow.” College students continue to be so strategic in reaching the world for Christ! 
 
All across campuses, students are coming to faith in Christ. Diego is a new intern. When he was working at a student fair, he noticed a young man standing off to the side. Diego approached him and found out the student was intimidated by all the options of ways to get involved. Through a conversation, Diego realized this student was in need of the Gospel. Diego shared his faith with him, and he made a decision to follow Christ right there! 
 
Stories like this remind me why I do what I do. This fall, Cru is celebrating 75 years since the ministry began on the campus of UCLA. After a 24-hour prayer chain, Bill and Vonette Bright took the Gospel to a sorority house where many accepted Christ. From there, the Gospel began to spread on campus. Over the decades, Cru has expanded to 191 countries and multiple ministries including the Jesus Film, Family Life, Inner City, Unto, Athletes in Action, and beyond. The vision is that everyone would know someone who truly follows Jesus. 
 
For the last 15 years, I have been on staff part-time. In 2014, my family moved back to Evansville, and I began working virtually for Cru. Now our kids are in a place where I have more margin, and my passion to do the behind-the-scenes work for the gospel to go forth remains. I will continue to serve in our sending space, onboarding our newest missionaries, training and equipping them for ministry, and coming alongside them as they raise support for the mission. 
 
Thank you to so many of you who have partnered with me over the past 25 years. Your prayers, generous giving, words of encouragement, and heart for the Kingdom have been so appreciated. As I come back on staff full time, I’d like to invite others to join me. I’m currently in the support-raising process and would love to talk to you more about partnering. You can find out more information about joining my team HERE or by emailing me directly at teila.pitts@cru.org.
 
We are enthusiastic about Teila’s passion for “behind-the-scenes” work so that the good news about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world. We recommend her highly to any CFC member or small group who may consider supporting a global staff member from CFC. If you have any questions, you can contact Missions Team Leader Sean Radke. 
 
Thanks for supporting our global staff, CFC Family. 
 
Also, we'd love for you to celebrate the baptisms from a few weeks ago. You can see the 9:15 service HERE and the 10:45 service HERE. If you've not been baptized since coming to faith in Christ, find out more HERE or stop by The Center on Sunday.
 
We’ll see you on Sunday!

Colossians 2:6-7
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

A distinguishing characteristic of a growing disciple of Jesus is thankfulness.

Complaining grows as a resentful discontentment in hardship and a craving discontentment in plenty. What we want to grow is actually an honest exhaustion brought to our Heavenly Father.

Numbers 11:1-3
1 Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the LORD heard everything they said. Then the LORD's anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, and he destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp. 2 Then the people screamed to Moses for help, and when he prayed to the LORD, the fire stopped. 3 After that, the area was known as Taberah (which means “the place of burning”), because fire from the LORD had burned among them there.

Confronting the invasive growth of resentful discontentment.

Numbers 11:20a
"For you have rejected the LORD, who is here among you, and you have whined to him..."

Confronting the false flower of craving discontentment. (11:4-9, 18-20, 34)

Numbers 11:4-9
4 Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed. 5 “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. 6 But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!” 7 The manna looked like small coriander seeds, and it was pale yellow like gum resin. 8 The people would go out and gather it from the ground. They made flour by grinding it with hand mills or pounding it in mortars. Then they boiled it in a pot and made it into flat cakes. These cakes tasted like pastries baked with olive oil. 9 The manna came down on the camp with the dew during the night.

Numbers 11:18-20
18 “And say to the people, ‘Purify yourselves, for tomorrow you will have meat to eat. You were whining, and the LORD heard you when you cried, “Oh, for some meat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the LORD will give you meat, and you will have to eat it. 19 And it won’t be for just a day or two, or for five or ten or even twenty. 20 You will eat it for a whole month until you gag and are sick of it. For you have rejected the LORD, who is here among you, and you have whined to him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”’”

Numbers 11:34
3 So that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah (which means “graves of gluttony”) because there they buried the people who had craved meat from Egypt.

John 6:30-33
30 They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? 31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

Learn the cultivating practice of bringing your deepest and honest appetite to God. (11:10-15, 21-23)

Numbers 11:10-15
10 Moses heard all the families standing in the doorways of their tents whining, and the LORD became extremely angry. Moses was also very aggravated. 11 And Moses said to the LORD, “Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people? 12 Did I give birth to them? Did I bring them into the world? Why did you tell me to carry them in my arms like a mother carries a nursing baby? How can I carry them to the land you swore to give their ancestors? 13 Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people? They keep whining to me, saying, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14 I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! 15 If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!”

Numbers 11:21-23
21 But Moses responded to the LORD, “There are 600,000 foot soldiers here with me, and yet you say, ‘I will give them meat for a whole month!’ 22 Even if we butchered all our flocks and herds, would that satisfy them? Even if we caught all the fish in the sea, would that be enough?”
23 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Has my arm lost its power? Now you will see whether or not my word comes true!”

The Weed of Complaining by Pastor Dale Beaver
Read Colossians 2:6-7; Numbers 11:1-34; and John 6:30-33.

1. Pastor Dale opens the second week of the "Cultivating Gratitude" series by examining the weed of complaining. Read Colossians 2:6-7. Paul explains that thankfulness is the natural overflow of having roots planted deep in Christ. Why is genuine gratitude a distinguishing mark of a growing disciple rather than just polite manners or social etiquette?
2. The sermon identifies two ways the weed of complaining grows: as a resentful discontentment in hardship, and as a craving discontentment in plenty. In what circumstances are you most tempted to slide into resentful discontentment when life is hard, or craving discontentment when you already have everything you need?
3. Read Numbers 11:1-3. Only three days after leaving Mount Sinai—where God guided the Israelites with a cloud by day and fire by night—the people began to complain. Pastor Dale highlights that they grumbled about God in His hearing rather than speaking to Him. How is complaining under our breath an act of rejecting God's presence, and why does it "rile up" the Lord?
4. Pastor Dale shares a story about driving a motor home with two kids from North Carolina to Miami, getting stuck in traffic in Jacksonville, and his wife looking at him saying, "You have got to be kidding me." How do long, exhausting journeys or monotonous routines lower our spiritual guard against complaining?
5. Read Numbers 11:4-9. The "foreign rabble" on the fringes started craving meat, leading all of Israel to complain about manna and nostalgically recall the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic of Egypt. How does a discontent heart distort our memory, making past bondage look better than God's daily grace?
6. The sermon notes that manna was graciously provided every morning and tasted like pastries baked with olive oil, yet Israel grew bored with "bread from heaven." Read John 6:30-33. Jesus reveals that He is the true Bread of Life. What causes believers to become spiritually bored with Christ or His Word, and how can we cultivate a fresh appetite for His presence?
7. Read Numbers 11:18-20, 34. God granted the people's demand for meat, sending quail until they ate for a month and gagged on it, naming the site Kibroth-hattaavah ("graves of gluttony"). Why can getting exactly what our selfish cravings demand sometimes serve as a sobering wake-up call rather than a blessing?
8. Read Numbers 11:10-15. In contrast to the people whining in their tent doorways, Moses brought his raw aggravation and exhaustion straight to God ("Did I give birth to these people?"). What makes honest, unfiltered prayer before God fundamentally different from sinful complaining?
9. Pastor Dale distinguishes between complaining (resentful grumbling) and lament (bringing honest pain and exhaustion to God within a relationship of trust). He recalls how a seminary friend suffering from AIDS told him to "quit whining" over a breakup and learn to lament. How can turning to biblical laments (like Psalm 13) help us process disappointment without falling into sin?
10. Read Numbers 11:21-23. When Moses doubted how God could supply meat for 600,000 foot soldiers, God answered, "Has my arm lost its power?" Pastor Dale emphasizes that just as complaining can spread like a weed through a camp, thanksgiving can spread through a church family (Hebrews 3:12-13). How can we actively encourage one another this week to keep our roots in Christ rather than in "Egypt"?
11. Close in Prayer: Thank the Father for His constant presence and for providing Jesus as the True Bread from Heaven. Ask the Holy Spirit to pull up any weeds of resentful or craving discontentment in your heart, to teach you the language of honest lament, and to fill your home and church with overflowing thankfulness.

_______________________________________
Analogy for Understanding: Complaining versus lament is like muttering insults about a host under your breath at a dinner table versus pulling them aside for an honest heart-to-heart. Complaining grumbles about the menu, forgets how much the host has cared for you, and ruins the meal for everyone around you. Lament, on the other hand, stays at the table and opens up to the host with raw honesty. When we lament, we bring our genuine exhaustion and hunger straight to God—trusting that the One who rescued us from bondage is more than enough to satisfy our souls.

Forgetfulness by Pastor Dale Beaver
Read Colossians 2:6-7; Deuteronomy 8:6-18; Romans 1:18-21; and 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

1. Pastor Dale opens a new series called "Cultivating Gratitude" by defining cultivation as "preparing and nurturing land to grow crops; to foster and develop something with ongoing care and patience." How does viewing gratitude as a crop that requires regular "weeding" change your expectation of how spiritual growth actually happens?
2. Read Colossians 2:6-7. Paul uses both an agricultural metaphor ("roots growing down") and a construction metaphor ("lives built on Him"). Why does overflowing gratitude depend so directly on how deeply rooted our faith is in the person of Jesus, rather than on our current circumstances?
3. Read Romans 1:18-21. The sermon highlights that while thanksgiving is a distinguishing mark of a disciple, ingratitude is a hallmark of suppressing the truth about God. Why is failing to give thanks to God often the first step toward a dark and confused mindset?
4. Read Deuteronomy 8:6-13. Moses warns the Israelites that their greatest spiritual danger wouldn't come while starving in the desert, but when they became full, prosperous, and built fine homes. Why are times of comfort and abundance often more dangerous for our faith than times of hardship or trial?
5. Read Deuteronomy 8:14-18. Pastor Dale clarifies that spiritual "forgetfulness" isn't just a convenient memory slip, but a drifting disregard for God rooted in pride—the temptation to say, "I achieved this wealth with my own strength." Where in your life are you most tempted to take credit for blessings that actually came from God's grace?
6. The sermon contrasts the Israelite who demands to "dig their own well and eat their own cucumbers" with the child of God who relies on manna and water from the rock. How does the illusion of self-sufficiency distort our view of God as the ultimate provider?
7. Pastor Dale cites theologian Jonathan Edwards on the difference between "natural gratitude" (loving God only for the benefits He gives) and "gracious gratitude" (loving God for the beauty and sweetness of who He is). How can you test whether you desire the Giver more than just His gifts and blessings?
8. Consider Pastor Dale's personal illustration of sitting on the carport swing with his grandmother shelling purple hull peas. How does simply being in the presence of someone you love help illustrate the difference between valuing a relationship for its benefits versus valuing the person themselves?
9. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18. The command is to be thankful in all circumstances, not necessarily for all circumstances. Pastor Dale shares the letter written by Sarah Edwards after her husband Jonathan unexpectedly died from a smallpox inoculation complication, where she wrote: "A holy and good God has covered us with a dark cloud... but my God lives and he has my heart." What does her response teach us about practicing "gracious gratitude" in the midst of deep grief?
10. Why is it vital to realize that when our roots grow deep into Christ, we can experience genuine gratitude regardless of political elections, employment status, health challenges, or daily weather?
11. Close in Prayer: Thank the Father for being the ultimate Giver who remains constant across every season of life. Ask the Holy Spirit to expose any weeds of pride or spiritual forgetfulness in your heart, and pray for the grace to develop deep roots in Christ so your life overflows with authentic thanksgiving.

Cultivate: To prepare and nurture land to grow crops; to nurture, foster, and develop something with ongoing care and patience.

Colossians 2:6-7
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

A distinguishing characteristic of a disciple of Jesus is thanksgiving.

Romans 1:18-21
18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. 21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.

The first weed we cultivate in the garden of gratitude is forgetting God and His gracious provision.

Deuteronomy 8:6-13
6 “So obey the commands of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. 7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills. 8 It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey. 9 It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills. 10 When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. 11 “But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the LORD your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. 12 For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, 13 and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful!

Deuteronomy 8:14-18
14 Do not become proud at that time and forget the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. 15 Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! 16 He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. 17 He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ 18 Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.

The tool of cultivation for this weed of ingratitude is remembering the Giver is the true gift.

“In gracious affections, the soul is attracted and engagingly drawn by the sweetness and beauty of the divine object itself; but in natural affections, the soul is only drawn by the benefit…..In natural gratitude, the benefit is the first foundation of the love; in gracious gratitude, the love is the foundation of the gratitude.”
-A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections; Part 2, Section 2 ; J. Edwards (1746)

1 Thessalonians 5:18
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Sinners - Our Stained Reality by Reid Schultheis
Read 1 Peter 1:16; Luke 7:36-50; Romans 14:23; and 1 Corinthians 10:31.

1. Reid opens concluding the series on biblical anthropology—that humans are "embodied souls, uniquely created to be like God, who sin and suffer." noting that while sin is an objective truth, it is also one of the most fiercely denied because while it is easy to admit evil "out there," it is much harder to admit evil "in here." Why is admitting our own internal brokenness so difficult, and how does the Holy Spirit help humble our hearts to hear God's Word?
2. The sermon defines the biblical word for sin through its original context as an archery term meaning "to miss the mark." Read 1 Peter 1:16. What is the true "mark" we are called to aim for, and why does comparing ourselves to other people (like aiming at someone else's target on the range) give us a false sense of righteousness?
3. Reid introduces theologian John Frame's framework showing that sin occurs not just in our outward actions, but across three levels: standard, motive, and goal. He uses a lighthearted story about playing Settlers of Catan to show how a good behavior (filling his brother's coffee) had a selfish motive (preventing him from stealing a game card). Can you think of a time when your outward action looked right according to God's standard, but your underlying motive was not rooted in faith or love?
4. Read Romans 14:23, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, and 1 Corinthians 10:31. The sermon highlights that for any work to truly please God, it must conform to God's standard, be motivated by faith and love, and aim for God's glory. Reid shares how an engaged couple realized that having pure motives didn't justify living together before marriage because "the ends don't justify the means." How can we guard against the trap of assuming that good intentions excuse going against God's clear standards?
5. Read Luke 7:36-40. In this passage, we see two radically different sinners: Simon the Pharisee, who is self-righteous and arrogant, and a sinful woman, who is deeply self-aware of her brokenness. How does Jesus demonstrate His posture toward both types of sinners—drawing near to the Pharisee on his own turf, and staying when the broken woman approaches Him?
6. Read Luke 7:41-47. In the parable of the two debtors, Jesus asks who will love the creditor more—the one forgiven 50 pieces of silver or 500. Reid notes that Jesus loves sinners by being honest about their sin rather than minimizing it. How does realizing the immense size of your own debt before God lead to lavishing Him with love, worship, and generosity?
7. In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus suggests that self-righteous arrogance is actually more dangerous than obvious outward sins. Why is spiritual pride so deceptive, and how does it blind us to our own need for grace?
8. The sermon explores several reasons why we often fail to love others who are caught in sin: self-righteous pride ("how could they do that?"), holding onto our own secret sins, or loving people's acceptance more than loving them. Which of these barriers do you find most challenging when called to speak the truth in love to someone in your life?
9. Reid warns against overemphasizing our stained reality as sinners to the point that it becomes our primary identity, noting that this leads either to despair ("playing whack-a-mole with sin") or to self-righteous legalism. How does keeping your primary identity anchored as a saint in Christ prevent you from falling into despair or self-righteousness when facing personal failure?
10. Citing Martin Luther and a mentor's wisdom, Reid states that "the mark of spiritual maturity is not in how little you sin, but in how quickly you repent." What does a lifestyle of continual, quick repentance look like in practice within a marriage, family, or small group setting?
11. Close in Prayer: Thank the Father for sending Jesus, who never missed the mark, to trade His perfect record for our stained reality. Ask the Holy Spirit to grant you a humble, teachable heart, to free you from self-righteousness, and to empower you to receive God's multifaceted love and reciprocate it to others this week.

_____________________________________
Analogy for Understanding: Understanding our stained reality as sinners is like evaluating our marksmanship against a bullseye target rather than comparing our shot to a neighboring archer who missed the target completely. Comparing ourselves to others creates the illusion that we're hitting the mark. But when measured against God's holiness, we see that every shot falls short—in our outward action (standard), our heart's intent (motive), and our final aim (goal). Jesus doesn't condemn our failure; He steps in, trades His perfect score for our stained record, and sets us free to walk in grace.

Human beings are embodied souls, uniquely created to be like God, who sin and suffer.

1 Peter 1:16 (NLT)
16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

Luke 7:36-40 (NLT)
36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. 37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” 40 Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.

Luke 7:41-50 (NLT)
41 Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” 43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. 47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?” 50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
 
Concluding Charge: Receive God’s multifaceted love for you AND reciprocate that love to others.

God is doing incredible things at Christian Fellowship Church, and we are deeply grateful. We see lives being transformed! Our people are growing in faith, serving one another, and giving generously. As elders, we thank God for His faithfulness and for each person who joyfully serves Jesus and His church.
 
Growth brings new opportunities and responsibilities. Over the past 1 ½ years, the elders have spent significant time praying, listening, and seeking God’s direction for the future of CFC. That work became our strategic plan, which is helping us begin to envision the next chapter of our church’s story. Through this process, one conviction has become clear: We want to be a spiritually unified church where discipleship produces genuine life change.
 
Our Vision Statement remains the same: “Glorifying God by Making Disciples of All People.” We don’t want to simply add programs or stay busy; rather, we want to see people becoming more like Christ, growing in faith, deepening relationships, and living out the gospel. We want growth to mean more than fuller rooms; it should mean deeper faith, stronger relationships, lives changed by the gospel, and more people sent to serve Jesus.  
 
We are asking you to pray with us that God would give us wisdom and unity as we seek God’s direction. Pray that He would help us faithfully steward everything He has entrusted to us – our people, our resources, and our opportunities. Also, pray about how CFC can expand our capacity and reach without losing what matters most, including our commitment to Biblical truth, genuine relationships, spiritual formation, and a unified focus on Jesus.
 
Most importantly, we want the things we are praying for and pursuing to be evident in the life of CFC – not simply words on a page or ideas in a strategic plan. We want them to be reflected in how we live, serve, disciple, lead, worship, and care for one another. We want people to see the fruit of what God is doing among us, not just hear us talk about it. 
 
Ultimately, our prayer is not simply that CFC would become a larger church. Rather, our prayer is that God would continue shaping us into a unified, Spirit-led church where people are growing, serving, giving, reaching others, and experiencing real life change through Jesus. We are grateful for what God has done, excited about what He is doing, and prayerful about what He may choose to do through us in the years ahead.

This weekend, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper or, as we often call it, Communion. We look forward to remembering and honoring Christ’s sacrifice for us.
 
The last time we celebrated Communion, we passed the elements to one another – something we hadn’t done in a long time before that. Why? The way we’d been doing it started as a COVID precaution. However, as time went on, it was easy to continue the routine of grabbing Communion elements on the way in the doors for services. Passing plates takes more time and honestly isn’t as convenient, so why bother? We are used to doing things the most convenient way, whether it’s preparing food, scheduling an appointment, or doing a grocery store pickup. We like things to be quick and easy so that we can move on to the next thing. This mentality often finds itself at home in our churches, too, and neglects to acknowledge that some things exist not to be quick or easy, but rather to teach and sanctify us. 
 
1 Corinthians 10:16 says, “When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ?”
 
The word for “sharing” in that verse is the Greek word koinonia. Koinonia means “fellowship” or “communion.” It refers to something that is done together or in participation with one another. We live in such an individualized society that we often don’t opt for the communal option if we can avoid it. We have so many contactless options these days that we can employ to avoid dealing and interacting with other people. By contrast, like the name of our church implies, we want to live our lives in Christian fellowship.
 
The Christian life is meant to be lived and worked out in Christian koinonia. Christian communion. Christian fellowship. Even as we remember the Lord’s Supper, we are called to do so in community, interacting with and serving one another. The simple act of passing the elements and serving one another helps us to remember that we are many members of one body, and we are called to live, work, and serve the Lord together.
 
As we serve one another this weekend, let us remember what Christ did for us not only through the sacrifice of His death and the victory of His Resurrection, but also how He established His church for His glory and for the benefit of all of us who work, live, and serve together in Christian fellowship.
 
We hope to see you this Sunday!

Sufferers - Our Sad Reality by Reid Schultheis
Read John 16:31-33; Psalm 13:1-6; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; and Genesis 3:1-19.

1. Reid opens by grounding the message in the overarching summary of the series: "Humans are embodied souls, uniquely created to be like God, who sin and suffer." Read John 16:31-33. Jesus tells His disciples plainly that in this world they will have "many trials and sorrows." How does Jesus' honest declaration directly expose the myth of the "prosperity gospel," which promises that true faith brings only health, wealth, and ease?
2. The sermon identifies two common, unhelpful ways people react to suffering: suppressing/denying it (through stoicism, machismo, or over-spiritualizing) or being completely overcome by it (making suffering our primary identity and the "bold text" of our lives). Have you ever caught yourself leaning toward one of these extremes when facing deep pain?
3. Reid introduces the biblical practice of lament, referencing pastor Mark Vroegop's definition: "a prayer in pain that leads to trust." Reid notes that about 40% of the Psalms are laments—like Ford F-150 trucks that are everywhere on the road once you start looking for them. Why do you think we often overlook the song of lament in our churches until trial or sorrow forces us to look for it?
4. Read Psalm 13:1-6. The first element of a biblical lament is calling out to God. The sermon notes that while griping or whining is directed toward ourselves or others to vent and commiserate, a true lament is an act of faith directed specifically to God. What makes taking your honest frustration directly to God an act of faith rather than disrespect?
5. The second element of lament is naming the pain—both internal anguish and external injustice. Reid shares the phrase, "We have to name the pain in order to tame the pain." Just as Adam named the animals in Genesis 2 to exercise God-given stewardship, how does naming our specific pain to God acknowledge His authority and help break suffering's grip on our hearts?
6. Read Psalm 13:3-6. In the third and fourth steps of lament, David asks for God's help—praying for God to "restore the sparkle" to his eyes—and ultimately chooses to trust in God's unfailing love. Notice that David did not start at trust; he moved from feeling forgotten to resting in God's goodness. How does giving yourself permission to process raw emotions before God pave the way for genuine trust?
7. While individual lament before God is essential, Reid points out that processing suffering in isolation is often not enough because pain can distort our view of God, ourselves, and others. How can practicing communal lament—such as sharing heart wounds in a small group or support ministry—help expose the lies we believe in the dark?
8. Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. Apostle Paul calls God the "source of all comfort" who comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort others. Reid warns that if we refuse to face our own suffering and receive God's comfort, we actually rob the people around us of the empathy they need. How have you seen God use someone else's healed wound to bring comfort to your own life?
9. The sermon cautions against making suffering the "bold text" of our lives to the point that we develop a victim mentality or use "hurt people hurt people" as a hall pass for our own sin. Why is it vital to hold on to your primary identity as a saint in Christ while still being honest about your real experiences as a sufferer?
10. The sermon concludes with a two-fold charge: "Lament your own suffering AND listen to others' suffering." Which side of this charge do you find more challenging right now—taking the time to bring your own wounds to God, or staying present to listen patiently to someone else's pain without trying to fix it?
11. Close in Prayer: Thank Jesus for being the "Man of Sorrows" acquainted with grief who understands every trial we face. Ask the Holy Spirit for the courage to name your pain, the vulnerability to lament in community, and the grace to extend God's comfort to those who are suffering around you.

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Analogy for Understanding: Navigating suffering through lament is like using a pressure-relief valve on a steam boiler rather than capping the pipe or letting the vessel rupture. Suppressing pain is like capping the valve—it creates an illusion of control until the pressure inevitably bursts out through unhealthy behaviors, bitterness, or emotional breakdown. On the other hand, letting suffering define your identity is like allowing the steam to flood the entire room until you are completely blind to everything else. Lament is God's ordained pressure-relief valve. It directs the raw heat of our pain straight to the Father, allowing us to safely release our anguish, name our wounds, and regain our footing on the bedrock of His unfailing love.

Humans are embodied souls, uniquely created to be like God, who sin and suffer.

John 16:31-33 (NLT)
31 Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? 32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Psalm 13:1-6 (NLT)
1 O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever?
   How long will you look the other way?
2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
   with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
3 Turn and answer me, O LORD my God!
   Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
4 Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
   Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love.
   I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6 I will sing to the LORD
   because he is good to me.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT)
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

Lament your own suffering AND listen to others’ sufferings.

Humans are embodied souls, uniquely created to be like God, who sin and suffer.

John 1:10-13 (NLT)
10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

Which side of the great divide are you on? Are you endeared to God or His enemy?

Ephesians 1:3-14 (NLT)
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. 9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Hebrews 10:25 (NLT)
25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Rest in your supreme reality and remind other believers about their supreme reality.

Our Supreme Reality by Reid Schultheis
Read John 1:10-13; Ephesians 1:3-14; and Hebrews 10:25.

1. Reid opens by re-stating the series premise that humans are "embodied souls, uniquely created to be like God, who sin and suffer." He highlights that a biblical "saint" isn't an exceptional historical figure or just a kindly neighbor, but anyone who is in Christ. How does defining "saint" as your actual identity in Christ change how you view yourself in your daily life?
2. Read John 1:10-13. Reid speaks of the "great divide" running through humanity—separating those who are enemies of God from those who are endeared to God as His children. How does a person cross this divide from enemy to child through justification and adoption?
3. In discussing justification, Reid references founding pastor David Niednagel’s classic description of justification as "the great swap"—our sin placed on Christ, and His righteousness credited to us. How does remembering this "great swap" give you confidence when you feel unworthy or guilty?
4. Reid shares the story of Michael Reagan, the adopted son of President Ronald Reagan, who had to undergo a long journey of unlearning false stories about being unwanted or unchosen once he entered his new family. What false narratives or past insecurities are you most tempted to believe about yourself instead of what God says is true about you?
5. Read Ephesians 1:3-14. Reid points out that in the original language, Paul wrote this entire passage as one unbroken sentence, overwhelmed with emotion and praise. Which specific spiritual blessing listed in these verses (such as being chosen before creation, adopted with pleasure, redeemed by His blood, or sealed with the Spirit) stands out most to you right now, and why?
6. In verse 4, Paul states that God chose us in Christ to be "holy and without fault in his eyes." Why is there often a gap between what we know factually in Scripture and what we actually believe deep down about how God views us?
7. Read Hebrews 10:25. Reid emphasizes that humans are an incredibly forgetful people who quickly lose sight of who they are, especially during seasons of pain or suffering. How does gathering regularly with your church family help counteract this "spiritual amnesia"?
8. Reid warns against viewing other believers narrowly through a single lens—seeing them only as "sinners" or "sufferers" rather than primarily as "saints." He shares a story of a father who refused to encourage his son because he saw him only as a sinner. How can viewing fellow Christians strictly through the lens of their mistakes damage relationships and community?
9. On the flip side, Reid cautions that we shouldn't handle sin lightly by using our identity as saints to ignore practical repentance or necessary consequences. Why is a balanced approach—treating people as saints, sufferers, and sinners—essential for true spiritual care?
10. The sermon concludes with two charges: "Rest in your supreme reality" and "Remind other believers about their supreme reality." Who in your life or small group needs a gentle, intentional reminder this week of who they are in Christ?
11. Close in Prayer: Thank the Father for adopting us into His family, pouring out His rich grace, and sealing us with the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to help you rest deeply in your supreme reality as a saint and to give you the wisdom and opportunity to encourage others with this truth this week.

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Analogy for Understanding: Resting in our supreme reality is like an adopted child learning to live in a loving home after years in an orphanage. The legal adoption happens in an instant, but unlearning old habits, fears, and false stories of being unwanted takes time. Focusing only on daily failures keeps us living like spiritual orphans, but looking to the Father's declaration in Ephesians 1 reminds us that we are fully chosen, deeply loved, and granted an inheritance that can never be taken away. Our calling as fellow saints is to walk alongside one another in the house, gently pointing out the Father's promises whenever someone forgets who they truly are.

Good morning CFC Family! We're excited to tell you about this event coming to CFC next month. It's a Women's Ministry event, but there is a role for men too.
 
CFC Women’s Ministry has the privilege of kicking off the fall 2026 Hope of Heaven tour featuring Jennifer Rothschild and guest speaker, Ann Voskamp, on Thursday, November 5 at 7PM in our Worship Center. Ladies, you are invited!
 
This will be a wonderful night of worship and Biblical teaching. We will discover what the Bible says about Heaven, laugh together, worship, and release to the Lord the burdens we were never meant to carry.
 
Jennifer is a Christian author, speaker, and podcast host, the founder of Fresh Grounded Faith events for women, and a wife, mom, and grandmom! Blind since 15, Jennifer gives “living by faith and not by sight” a whole new perspective! She has written 20 books and Bible studies, many of which our CFC Women’s ministry has studied.
 
Ann Voskamp lives on a farm in Canada with her family and is an author and blogger. Her One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are is a New York Times bestseller. Ann’s engaging and inspiring teaching will challenge you to embrace the truths of Scripture in new and exciting ways.
 
Use THIS LINK for discounted tickets. Bring your friends, family, small group –- all your people! We will learn, laugh, and lean into the hope of Heaven!
 
MEN: Yes, this is a women’s event, but we need your help to make it happen! We need men for the unloading of their equipment in the morning and loading it back up after the event. Contact Andrée Beaver if you can help with that. If you have a husband, son, friend, etc. who might want to help, please ask them!
 
Have a great weekend! We can't wait to worship with you this Sunday.

Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT)
3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
   the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
   human beings that you should care for them?

Humans are embodied souls, uniquely created to be like God, who sin and suffer.

Genesis 2:7 (NLT)
7 Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.

Genesis 1:26-27 (NLT)
26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” 27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Genesis 3:1-7 (NLT)
The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” 2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” 4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” 6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

Genesis 3:14-19 (NLT)
14 Then the LORD God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this, you are cursed
   more than all animals, domestic and wild.
You will crawl on your belly,
   groveling in the dust as long as you live.
15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman,
   and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
   and you will strike his heel.”
16 Then he said to the woman,
“I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy,
   and in pain you will give birth.
And you will desire to control your husband,
   but he will rule over you.”
17 And to the man he said,
“Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree
   whose fruit I commanded you not to eat,
the ground is cursed because of you.
   All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.
18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you,
   though you will eat of its grains.
19 By the sweat of your brow
   will you have food to eat
until you return to the ground
   from which you were made.
For you were made from dust,
   and to dust you will return.”

To get free articles and book recommendations for further study, please visit the CFC For You Center.

Multifaceted Intro by Reid Schultheis
Read Psalm 8:3-4; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 3:1-7; and Genesis 3:14-19.

1. Reid opens with Psalm 8:3–4 and poses the foundational question: "What does it mean to be human?" How would you contrast the way secular culture answers that question with how Scripture defines human identity and purpose?
2. The sermon uses the children's book Are You My Mother? to illustrate that the baby bird only understood its true identity once it recognized its mother. Why is looking outward to our Creator the key to understanding who we are, rather than looking inward to "find our own truth"?
3. Reid highlights the catastrophic historical consequences of getting human identity wrong—such as reductionist materialism (viewing humans as mere physical atoms), racial supremacy, or utopian ideologies that deny human sinfulness. How does a biblical worldview protect human dignity and establish justice in society?
4. Read Genesis 2:7. Reid emphasizes that humans are "embodied souls"—a unified combination of the physical (dust) and the immaterial (breath of life) that God declared "very good." How can an over-spiritualized mindset lead us to neglect physical care like rest and nourishment, and how does God's gentle response to the exhausted prophet Elijah in 1 Kings illustrate care for the body?
5. Read Genesis 1:26-27. Being made in the Imago Dei (image of God) gives every single person inherent dignity and worth that can never be erased or stripped away. How should this foundational truth shape the way you treat people in your daily life, especially those with whom you disagree?
6. In addition to inherent dignity, Genesis 1 shows that God created humanity with a mandate: to co-rule with Him by subduing and cultivating the earth. How does viewing your daily work, home care, or service through this lens give sacred purpose to routine tasks?
7. Read Genesis 3:1-7. The sermon notes that while culture (and often Christians) use soft euphemisms like "mistakes" or "weaknesses" to describe wrong behavior, Scripture uses direct terms like iniquity, trespass, and evil. Why is calling sin what it truly is essential for genuine gospel healing?
8. When confronted with personal sin, people tend to fall into one of two extremes: denying and excusing it, or being completely paralyzed by guilt and shame. How does the gospel offer a "third way" that allows us to honestly face our sin while remaining secure in our identity as saints in Christ?
9. Read Genesis 3:14-19. The fall introduced multi-layered suffering—relational conflict, painful labor, physical sickness, and death. Why is it important to realize that suffering is an expected reality in a fallen world rather than a sign that God has abandoned us?
10. Reid references counselor Mike Emlet’s framework that believers are simultaneously saints, sufferers, and sinners. When walking alongside a friend or family member in distress, how can discerning which of these three facets needs focus in that moment help you love them more wisely?
11. Close in Prayer: Thank the Father for creating us in His image with sacred worth and eternal purpose. Ask the Holy Spirit to align your view of humanity with God's Word, to grant you honest repentance for sin, to comfort you in seasons of suffering, and to empower you to walk confidently as a saint set apart for His glory.

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Analogy for Understanding: Understanding human identity is like reading a complete architect’s blueprint rather than looking at a single, isolated floor plan. If an engineer only inspects the plumbing (our physical body) while ignoring the electrical system (our soul), or focuses solely on the original design (being made in God's image) without accounting for severe storm damage (sin and suffering), the building cannot be properly maintained. In Christ, God gives us the full blueprint: we are embodied souls created with sacred dignity and purpose, living through the real impacts of sin and suffering, yet restored and declared saints through the finished work of Jesus.

We just finished another fiscal year (September 1, 2025-August 31, 2026), so we would like to take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to all of you for your faithful giving! THANK YOU! God has used your giving in numerous ways throughout the year — from local outreach initiatives to global missions projects to discipleship efforts within our local church body and more.
 
We are reminded of Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 9:11-12, which say, “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”
 
Thanks to your generosity, many lives have been impacted, hope has been renewed, and the gospel has been declared here at home and abroad. It is so special to see how our local body of believers has collaborated to make a true difference!
 
You can find a summary of our Operations Report for this past fiscal year HERE. We share this out of a desire to be forthcoming and transparent with how we have used the resources we have been given, and we want to also praise God for what He has accomplished with your giving! It is our hope that this will provide encouragement to you just as it has for us.
 
Thanks again for partnering with us in ministry! We will continue to strive to faithfully steward all that God entrusts to us so that it can be used for His glory and for the good of others.
 
If you have any questions about the report below, please contact Nathan Hazel or Robert Goedde in the church office.
 
We are thrilled to get to worship with you as we start a new message series called Multifaceted this Sunday! We hope you’ll join us!

Be aware that deception is still the goal of our enemy.

Romans 16:17-20
17 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. 18 Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people. 19 But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

No sins are more dangerous than those accepted and celebrated by society.

Romans 5:1-2
1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

Remember that in the midst of adversity, we are not alone in the struggle for faithfulness.

Romans 16:21-23
21 Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you his greetings, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow Jews. 22 I, Tertius, the one writing this letter for Paul, send my greetings, too, as one of the Lord’s followers. 23 Gaius says hello to you. He is my host and also serves as host to the whole church. Erastus, the city treasurer, sends you his greetings, and so does our brother Quartus.

2 Timothy 4:14-17
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done. 15 Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said. 16 The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death.

Remember that in the midst of spiritual adversity, we will always have reasons for praise and thanksgiving.

Romans 16:25-27
25 Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time. 26 But now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey him. 27 All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen.

Romans 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Romans 11:25
I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.

Ephesians 3:6
And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

Romans 1:5
Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.

For the Glory of God by Pastor Dale Beaver
Read Romans 16:17-27; Romans 5:1-2; 2 Timothy 4:14-17; and Ephesians 3:6.

1. Pastor Dale points out that Paul gives his "second and third goodbyes" in Romans 16, pausing right before the end to deliver a crucial warning. He notes that prevention via a warning is far better than a cure needed without one. Why do we often resist warnings until an "infection" or crisis hits, and how can a preventative mindset protect our spiritual lives?
2. Read Romans 16:17-20. The sermon emphasizes that the enemy’s primary weapon is not always obvious horror, but deception through "smooth talk and glowing words" that cause division and upset people's faith. How can subtle twists on truth be more dangerous to a church’s unity than outright external opposition?
3. Pastor Dale shares transparently about the universal human temptation—especially in careers or ministry—to want to appear "profound" or "distinctive" to secure our significance and standing. How can the drive to pursue novelty or get caught up in endless rabbit trails distract us from the core simplicity of the gospel?
4. The sermon references the classic hymn "Trust and Obey," reminding us that at the core of Christian growth is simple faith and obedience. Is there an area in your life where you have overcomplicated what God is asking of you instead of simply trusting and obeying His clear Word?
5. Read Romans 5:1-2. The sermon notes warn that "no sins are more dangerous than those accepted and celebrated by society". Why is it so easy for believers to gradually normalize cultural sins, and how does remembering our "undeserved privilege" in Christ keep us anchored in truth?
6. Read Romans 16:21-23. Paul lists several specific co-workers, including Erastus, the city treasurer. Pastor Dale highlights that an actual Latin inscription bearing Erastus’s name as a city official was discovered by archaeologists in Corinth in 1929. How does seeing the historical reality of biblical figures strengthen your confidence in the reliability of Scripture?
7. Read 2 Timothy 4:14-17. In contrast to the supportive team surrounding Paul in Romans 16, Paul recalls his trial before the judge where "everyone abandoned me". Yet he declares, "But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength". Have you ever experienced a season of isolation, and how did God demonstrate His personal presence with you?
8. Read Romans 16:25-27. Paul concludes this great letter with a doxology—praising the "only wise God" who establishes us according to the gospel. Why is it vital to remember that the ultimate goal of our salvation is not merely our own benefit, but God’s eternal glory?
9. Read Ephesians 3:6 and Romans 11:25. The "mystery" once kept secret but now revealed is that Gentiles and Jews share equally as one body in Christ. How does the gospel tear down racial, social, and cultural walls in a world that is deeply divided?
10. As Pastor Dale wraps up the series on Romans, he reminds us that Jesus is "the answer for every question you're asking" and that our ultimate response should always be worship. Looking back on the message of Romans, what key truth has most impacted your daily walk with Christ?
11. Close in Prayer: Praise the "only wise God" for the glorious gospel that saves, establishes, and unites us. Ask the Holy Spirit to guard your heart against deception, to keep you rooted in simple trust and obedience, and to empower you to live every day for His glory alone.

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Analogy for Understanding: Living for the glory of God through the pure gospel is like following a steady lighthouse beam through a foggy channel rather than chasing shiny, flashing lights along the shoreline. Deception rarely looks like an obvious shipwreck; it often arrives as smooth, "profound" novelties that tempt us to drift into division and speculation. True spiritual stability doesn't come from discovering new, complicated theories, but from staying anchored to the simple, proven message of Christ—trusting and obeying the One whose light guides us safely home for His eternal glory.

Anytime Dale doesn’t give the message on a Sunday, we get questions asking how he’s doing and if everything is OK. We love that you care so much for our Teaching Pastor! Here is a message from Dale:
 
I wanted to let you know that Andrée and I will be taking some vacation time next month. It will be our privilege to have Reid Schultheis preaching each Sunday in October as he leads us through a four-week sermon series titled "Multifaceted."
 
Reid describes the series this way: "Jesus calls us to love others just as He has loved us. As we explore and experience three ways Christ loves us, we will be primed to love others similarly. Christ loves us by reminding us that in Him we are saints, by sitting and grieving with us in our suffering, and by convicting us when we are caught in sin."
 
This gives Reid the chance not only to craft an entire sermon series, but also to deliver it from start to finish. Please pray for him as he leads us through this study of the ministry of Jesus. Andrée and I would also be grateful for your prayers for us that this will be a time of genuine rest and recreation.
 
We look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday as Dale completes our study in the book of Romans! See you then.

NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to the newest CFC members. We are eager to see how God will continue to grow you and work through your lives! 
 
If you’d like to start the membership process, plan to come to the Intro to CFC Class on October 4 and the Membership Class on November 8. Learn about membership HERE. 

Marcelline Ada Kabre
Anna Cornelius
Thomas Cornelius
Faith Griffin
Cedric & Pulcherie Guissou
Patricia Jackson
Tamika Liebhart
John Martin
Eli Miller
Jamil & Mady Myrick
Willie & Brittany Nelson
Joe & Megan Southwell
Zane & Breilee Springer
Jeff Stein
Ciana Valiant
Jovie Valiant
Adam & Lauren Wadlington
Pat Weathers
Charlie & Kara Wonnell

1. Pastor Dale shares statistics showing that Americans generate 292.4 million tons of trash per year (about 4.9 pounds per person daily) to illustrate our "disposable culture," warning against bringing a single-use, "use and lose" mindset into our relationships. How can a transactional view of people—treating others as commodities to leverage and discard—damage the life of a local church community?
2. Read Romans 16:1-2. Paul commends Phoebe, a deacon in Cenchrea who served as the trusted courier delivering the scroll of Romans and as a financial benefactor (prostatis) to Paul and many others. What does her prominent role teach us about the vital contributions of women and financial partners in gospel ministry?
3. Scholars estimate that producing the scroll of Romans cost around $2,000 in today's currency, requiring significant financial resources, travel expenses, and materials. How does recognizing the practical financial cost of ministry challenge us to be generous with our own resources to support gospel partnerships?
4. Read Romans 16:3-5a and Acts 18:24-26. Priscilla and Aquila were not only tentmaking co-workers who risked their lives for Paul, but they also privately took Apollos aside to explain "the way of God even more accurately". Why is humble, relational discipleship essential for developing strong leaders in the church?
5. Read Romans 16:7. Andronicus and Junia became followers of Christ before Paul did and were imprisoned alongside him. Considering Paul's past as a violent persecutor of the church, why did it require supernatural trust for early believers to overcome suspicion and embrace him as a genuine brother in Christ?
6. Pastor Dale reflects on how Paul's past reputation followed him, comparing it to how people in small towns often remember someone by their high school mistakes. Is there a past mistake or old reputation that you struggle to move past, or that prevents you from seeing how God has transformed someone else?
7. Read Romans 16:13. Paul greets Rufus—whose father, Simon of Cyrene, carried Jesus' cross (Mark 15:21)—and calls Rufus's mother a "mother to me". How does God provide spiritual mothers, fathers, and family members within the local church when earthly family ties are strained or absent?
8. Read Romans 16:10-15. In this list of 27 individual names, Paul addresses slaves, royalty, prominent businesspeople, Jews, Gentiles, men, and women all sharing fellowship together. Read Galatians 3:28. How does the gospel break down societal walls to create true unity across diverse cultural and economic backgrounds?
9. Early believers met in house churches (like the one hosted by Priscilla and Aquila) long before dedicated church buildings existed in the third century. How does gathering in small groups or home settings foster the kind of authentic, non-disposable community Paul describes?
10. The sermon concludes that church unity and gospel partnerships rely on four key pillars: sacrifice, service, security, and support. Which of these four areas is God calling you to invest in more deeply within your local church family right now?
11. Close in Prayer: Thank the Father for adopting us into His family and giving us a permanent place in His body. Ask the Holy Spirit to free your heart from any "disposable" mindset toward relationships, and pray for the grace to serve as a faithful coworker in your church community this week.

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Analogy for Understanding:  Living in gospel community is like treating people as fine family heirlooms at a shared table rather than single-use paper plates. In a disposable culture, relationships are often treated like paper plates or plastic utensils—convenient for a quick transaction, but tossed out the moment they require effort or no longer serve a personal benefit. In contrast, Paul’s list of distinct co-workers in Romans 16 shows that in the local church, every person—whether slave or royalty, business partner or spiritual mother—is priceless and permanent. Rather than "using and losing" people as tools, true gospel partnership requires the intentional, hands-on care of sacrifice, service, security, and support to bind us together as an enduring spiritual family where every member is valued and held secure in Christ.