July 1st - Registration for the New School Year 2023-2024 is open! ALL of our NEXT GEN (1yr old to 12th grade) will need to register to save a space in our Sunday classes for 2023-2024. Please register by July 23rd to help us plan and place every child in their new classes! Please register on our Church Center App OR Click on our QR Code for Next Gen 2023-2024 Registration We want to connect and encourage our Parent Partners, Young Adults, Home Groups, and our GHC Family to sign up and serve with us! We are asking God to provide us 6 Teachers, 2 Subs, and 8 Parent Partners (Parents in NPM) to serve with us! Please contact Ann Yang & let us know you are ready to say YES! And serve with us! [email protected] Interested in NPM - Click on our QR Code July 16th - Our STELLAR VBS decorations will be coming down Bring ladders and get ready to pack away VBS 2023! We will have 2 shifts 11am to 12:30pm and 1pm to 3pm. August 13th – PARENT & CHILD DEDICATION SUNDAY This is a special celebration for parents to gather with family, friends, and church family, making a commitment to raise their child in a Christ-centered home. To celebrate and come along beside you, we conduct two Parent& Child Dedications each year. If you wish to participate in a Parent & Child Dedication, one is coming up on Sunday, August 13, 2023! We ask that you all preregister online. Dear families,
Throughout 2 Chronicles 36, it is easy to see that God is the one who raises up and removes kings and rulers and all who are in authority. But this reality can sometimes shake us in profound ways. It may cause us to ask why. This question is fair considering that we often see rulers who don’t love God making decisions that display their lack of belief in God, and it is hard to imagine that God is the One who placed them in leadership. Why would God allow bad leaders to be in charge? This is a tough question, but Scripture speaks to it in several ways. For one, Romans 13:1-2 remind us to submit to those in authority since they are instituted by God himself. Therefore, to resist authority is to oppose the commands of God, so long as the authority doesn’t demand disobedience to God. Another place we see this principle play out in Scripture is with Daniel. We find Daniel rebelling against the king’s demand to worship something other than God. But we also find Daniel willfully subjecting himself to the king’s leadership in other circumstances that do not demand his disobedience. Further, we find Daniel actually praying to God and confessing that He is the One who changes brings about the rise and fall of leaders. Daniel 2:21 says, “He changes the times and seasons; he removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” The Bible teaches us that God stands sovereign over all things, even the rise and fall of leaders. That includes the most godly of leaders and even those that are most opposed to the things of God. The Lord, in His good purposes may be seeking to wake us up, bring consequence, or refine His people, but His purposes are always good. God is always working in all times and seasons. And though we may wonder about His purposes in certain circumstances, we can trust that they are always ultimately for His glory and our good, even when that is hard to understand or believe. Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities. FAMILY TALKING POINTS CHRIST CONNECTION This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
KEY PASSAGE This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.
** Next week: Every Person Matters (Psalm 139)
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Pre-registration is closed but walk-ins welcome 2 days left til GHC VBS 2023 Thank you for all your help in making GHC VBS 2023 - A STELLAR ADVENTURE! Dear families,
Our hyper-vigilant culture is full of warnings: warnings of what will happen if you take certain medicines, warnings not to use forbidden words in particular places, authoritative warnings against actions deemed inappropriate or illegal, and many more. Though at times these warnings may feel harsh, unnecessary, or far too limiting, they exist to guide people to right decisions that are often best for them and the people around them. The same is true with the warnings we find in the Bible, both those directed toward people in a particular place at a particular time and those generally made for all readers of all times. They exist as God’s reminder to us of what is ultimately for our good. The warnings of Nahum fit this bill as well. These warnings come as stern and even harsh language through the prophet, intended to wake up a group of spiritually sleepy people who had again turned to their wicked ways. Nahum warned of a coming judgment and painful punishment. He warned of devastation and destruction as a consequence for sin. Yet, these warnings stood as God’s gracious gift to rebellious people. Through the prophet Nahum, God told these people of His holiness, their sin, His pending consequences, and the urgency with which they ought to take heed to these warnings. I can imagine that these people could have received these in much the same way that we often receive warnings today: frustrations with the limitations, severity, and apparent inconvenience they present; however, as we see throughout the pages of Scripture, these warnings serve as an invitation to people far from God to turn to Him for hope, joy, and peace that can only be found by His grace. The next time you read the warnings of Scripture, celebrate the hope they bring as they demonstrate His good grace to show us a better way, the way to Him. Remember, God doesn’t desire devastation but true repentance that results in ultimate deliverance. Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities. FAMILY TALKING POINTS CHRIST CONNECTION This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
KEY PASSAGE This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.
** Next week: God’s People Were Taken Captive (2 Chronicles 36) Pre-registration is closed but walk-ins welcome 10 days left til GHC VBS 2023 LAST DAY TO DECORATE - NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 11th! 11:00AM to 12:30PM or 1:00PM to 3:00PM Join us for one shift or both shifts Dear families,
If we spend time contemplating what it means to belong to Jesus, the reality is a mystery. How can we who are sinners be forgiven and redeemed? The more we recognize the depth and darkness of our own sin, the greater we understand the magnitude of God’s gift to us: Through His Son, He reached down to display His great love and mercy. Because of Jesus’ wounds, we can have full and forever forgiveness. The Book of Jonah demonstrates this powerful truth on at least two occasions. One is highlighted in Jonah’s prayer in the midst of his desperation. After running from God and being hurled into the sea, fully expecting to die at the bottom of the ocean, Jonah is swept up and swallowed by a great fish. It is from there that he cries out, “I called to the LORD in my distress, and he answered me” (Jonah 2:2). Jonah, knowing the extent of his own sin and the issue of his own disobedience, cries out in desperation to the Father and finds great comfort in a loving God receiving His desperate plea. Later, in Jonah 3, we find a similar movement of God’s reaching down and bringing about repentance among the people of Nineveh. In His grace, He relented from the looming punishment they deserved in light of their change of heart. In both instances, the mercy and grace of God to withhold punishment due to vile sinners brought hope, and this hope ought to be ours today as well. Isaiah 59:1 says, “Indeed, the LORD’s arm is not too weak to save, and his ear is not too deaf to hear.” Though much has changed in our world since Jonah’s day, the Lord has not changed. He is not too weak nor too distant to save. No matter how far you or someone you know has strayed, no matter how distant the Lord might feel, His arm is not too short to save. His love can reach down to even the darkest and vilest of all sinners. Praise be to God. Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities. FAMILY TALKING POINTS CHRIST CONNECTION This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
KEY PASSAGE This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.
** Next week: Nahum Warned of God’s Judgment (Nahum) Pre-registration is closed but walk-ins welcome Join us for one shift or both shifts on Sunday June 4th or Sunday June 11th! Dear families,
The popularity of true crime shows reveals something interesting about people. Whether it be a television show, a streaming series, or a podcast, audiences love a good thrilling episode that takes you on a journey from the mind-captivating details of a crime, through the exploration of the evidence, to the identification of a suspect, and concluding with the resolution of who did it, how they did it, and whether or not they are found guilty. One shared characteristic between each story is this: there is no case if there is no evidence. Evidence is everything to making a determination about a suspect and building a case. When it comes to repentance, we understand from this biblical word and its contexts throughout Scripture that it requires both an internal and external turning from sin and movement toward God. Repentance is something that takes place inside someone’s heart and mind while also bringing visible evidence of sorrow about sin and the desire to change. Matthew 3 contains a subtle but direct indication that true repentance always produces evidence of change. Matthew 3:10 says, “Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” Just two verses earlier, Matthew warned the Pharisees and Sadducees to produce fruit consistent with repentance. And all of this seems to indicate that there is something that happens in the life of someone who is repentant that is visible to those around him. Where there is true repentance, there is always evidence. We cannot see the thoughts and intentions of the heart; however, we can look for evidence of repentance. What begins in the heart will certainly impact the life of the believer. When this happens, it becomes visible that change has occurred. Take time this week to ask the hard question of whether or not there is fruit, or evidence, of repentance in your own life. Has the change of heart that repentance begins led to visible change in your life? If so, find great confidence in the grace of God that led you to repentance. And if not, ask the Lord to help you understand why. Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities. FAMILY TALKING POINTS CHRIST CONNECTION This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
KEY PASSAGE This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.
** Next week: Jonah Warned of God’s Judgment (Jonah) Pre-registration is closed but walk-ins welcome. Choose to Join us for one shift or both shifts on Sunday June 4th or Sunday June 11th! Dear families,
The Book of Zephaniah serves as a stern rebuke of God’s people and a warning regarding a failure to return to Him faithfully. It also serves as a reminder of God’s expectation of holiness and a description of what that looks like when faithfully lived out among God’s people. Zephaniah 2:3 offers a call to repentance and a promise of hope for this restoration of the faithful. “Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth, who carry out what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be concealed on the day of the LORD’s anger.” Through Zephaniah, the Lord provided a glimmer of hope amidst His stern rebuke and graphic warning. But He didn’t stop there. Zephaniah ended his prophecy with more than a glimmer of hope, a promise that likely warmed the weary souls of God’s people. Beginning with Zephaniah 3:9, we find a beautiful picture of God’s fully-restored people. It’s a remarkable image of faithfulness, satisfaction, joy, and mutual benefit that ignites a desire for this reality. It may even ignite in the reader a desire for what could be called “a return to Eden.” Zephaniah 3 describes an environment of pure speech where all are calling on the name of the Lord. There is also painted a picture of generosity, humility, meekness, joy, singing, celebration, healing, praise, and fortune. Zephaniah also describes an end to failures, arrogance, rebellion, dispersion, lies, wrongdoing, and fear. Following a terrifying warning for God’s people to repent, this wonderful image of restoration leaves the reader with great hope. The Bible is full of stern reminders of God’s expectation of holiness among His people, but it is always chased by a beautiful and redemptive reminder of His promise to restore all things and the hope that this promise offers to those who repent of their wicked ways and hope in Christ. Spend some time today asking God to work out the message of Zephaniah’s prophecy in your own heart, to confront you with His holiness and a rebuke of the sin in your life, and to follow that with a reminder of the hope that belongs to all who trust in Christ for the restoration of their soul—and ultimately, all things in the heavens and the earth. Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities. FAMILY TALKING POINTS CHRIST CONNECTION This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
KEY PASSAGE This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.
** Next week: We Are to Repent of Sin (Matthew 3) GHC VBS 2023 - STELLAR SHINE JESUS' LIGHT See everyone for VBS Week - JUNE 13-16, Tue-Fri, 5:30pm to 8:30pm To Pray for VBS To Donate (for VBS shop supplies & borrow props) To Make (for VBS decor and props) ALL Shop, Make, Bring, and Drop Off before or by June 4th Sunday. If you have time, drop by VBS Table to help MAKE some props - Thank YOU! Dear families,
The judgment of God can be found all through the Bible among people who turned from God to their own ways and sought to make a name for themselves or, at the very least, to satisfy themselves at the cost of their disobedience. In Isaiah 22, we find a warning from God regarding the selfish ambitions and pursuits of God’s people. Though many strong, knee-shaking statements are made by God in this rebuke, one statement captures the heart of the rebellion of God’s people: “You made a reservoir between the walls for the water of the ancient pool, but you did not look to the one who made it or consider the one who created it long ago” (v. 11). God’s people had set their hope in themselves and forgotten the Maker and Sustainer of all the good that had come to them. God was reminding them that every ounce of provision, every victory won, and every bit of directional clarity had come from Him. God was rebuking them for neglecting to remember that He was the one behind it all. We are easily blinded by pride. After all, when we experience great accomplishments, unlikely victories, and significant provisions, it is difficult to not assume our own great work. But, as God reminds in Isaiah 22:23-25, He is the one who raises up and tears down leaders. And in Isaiah 48:11, He will not share His glory with another. Finally, as Isaiah 48:17-18 reminds us, He teaches us the way we should go, if only we would listen. God is the author of all that is good in our lives, God is the giver of all that is good in our lives, and God is the sustainer of all that we need. When we believe the lie that it is any other way, we deceive ourselves. But when we embrace the reality of God’s goodness and provision, we will find great rest and hope. We will walk more humbly and confidently through the mountains and the valleys of life, knowing from whom every good and every perfect gift comes. Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities. FAMILY TALKING POINTS CHRIST CONNECTION This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
KEY PASSAGE This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.
** Next week: Zephaniah Warned God’s People to Repent (Zephaniah) GHC VBS 2023 - STELLAR SHINE JESUS' LIGHT will CLOSE 5/14/2023 ALL 5th graders have the option to either participate or serve for VBS. If they would like to serve please complete the volunteer form below. Deadline to volunteer: May 14th - THIS SUNDAY T-shirt included with pre-registration. Pre-registration deadline May 14th! - THIS SUNDAY Walk-ins welcome but t-shirt is not guaranteed. Dear families,
Judah’s King Joash became king at age 7. He redirected all silver that was given at the temple to the workers rebuilding the temple rather than to the priests, and his servants conspired against him, ultimately killing him while traveling on a road trip. Over his 40-year reign, it seems that both Joash’s experiences and influence were significant. People who do significant things are often remembered for their accomplishments, their victories over powerful enemies, and other prominent moments recorded when people likely stood in awe of their wisdom or greatness. But one incredible detail about King Joash is how he is described in 2 Kings 12:2: “Throughout the time the priest Jehoiada instructed him, Joash did what was right in the LORD’s sight.” Of all of his great feats and brilliant decisions, Joash was faithful when he listened to the counsel that God had put in his life. Isn’t this true of all of us? When we listen to the wisdom of the people God has strategically placed in our lives, we are equipped to make better decisions. When God gives us opportunities to lead, though there may be a temptation to lean on our own insight or abilities alone, we will be far better equipped when we use the peripheral resources that God knows we need and thus has provided. Often, the only thing that would prevent us from listening to and receiving the counsel of those wise people that God has put around us is our own pride. It can be a real shot to our self-reliance to listen to the insight of others as we are navigating different situations in our lives. Especially those that we are seen as the leader. But God has placed those people in our lives for a particular purpose. God doesn’t ever put us in situations without the resources to walk through them. And often the form that those resources take is the wise counsel of those around us. So, look up, see the people whom God has placed around you, and seek their wisdom, trusting that God often speaks to us through other people. Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities. FAMILY TALKING POINTS CHRIST CONNECTION This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
KEY PASSAGE This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.
** Next week: Isaiah Warned of God’s Judgment (Isaiah 22; 48) THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO SAID YES TO VBS! Getting Ready to Launch! GHC VBS 2023 - STELLAR SHINE JESUS' LIGHT will CLOSE 5/14/2023 Dear families,
Many agree that sin is often, if not always, contrived from selfish ambitions. We can see how our actions, thoughts, and words that disregard God’s instructions for our lives develop from our desire for more, better, or different than what we currently have. Our sin is a statement that we believe that our ways are better than God’s and that we ultimately know better than Him. The implications of our selfishness in sin don't stop there. They don’t only disregard God’s instruction, God’s authority, and God’s design for us. They don’t only seek our own pleasure and comfort. Our sinful actions, thoughts, and words also tell a story to those around us of what we believe is most important and where we find direction for our lives. Sin is always problematic and self-serving, but it also has an impact on others far greater than our circumstances often reflect. When we build or follow an idol (something we put in the place of God), we are actually confusing the world around us. Our desire for something else to take the place of God in our lives. Isaiah 44:9 reads, “All who make idols are nothing, and what they treasure benefits no one. Their witnesses do not see or know anything, so they will be put to shame.” Our love of things other than God testifies to the world around us that God is not good enough, that He does not satisfy, and that He won’t do what He says He will do. For an ambassador of Christ, this is not the message the dying world should hear from us. The next time you think that your love of something other than God is just a personal problem, reconsider how it may very well be proclaiming to those around you a gospel of hopelessness. And remember that God does satisfy, He is enough, and He always does what He says He will do. Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities. FAMILY TALKING POINTS CHRIST CONNECTION This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
KEY PASSAGE This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.
** Next week: Joash Wanted to Obey God (2 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 24) THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO SAID YES TO VBS! Getting Ready to Launch! VBS 2023 IS OPEN! Prepare for a Stellar adventure through space and learn how we shine Jesus’ light in the world! Sign-ups for participants and volunteers OPEN Dear families,
Miracles are often found in Scripture as a means of God doing what nature cannot explain to show His own power and authority over all things. This portion of 2 Kings 4–6 is no different. But these miracles don’t just teach us about God; they also demonstrate our human nature—to doubt when circumstances appear to leave us with little to no control. Many of the miracles performed by Elisha in 2 Kings 4–6 come in moments when the human dilemmas of sin, death, fear, worry, and lack are realized and people are overtaken with doubt. Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever felt as if your back was against the wall, your limits had been reached, and there was no way and no reason for hope in a particular situation? If so, you’re not alone. We all have moments when it seems as if we’re done and there’s no way out. The reason we all experience these things is because we are humans. Our limitedness leaves us lacking and in moments where that lack prevents us from saving ourselves, we cannot help but feel doubtful. But God. It is often in these moments that we are reminded of just how self-reliant we tend to be and just how God-dependent we truly are. God in these moments of doubt becomes our only hope, our beacon, our help. And though we ought to have some sense of confidence in this all the time, the reality is that we often lose sight of how deeply we need the Lord until He is our only way out. What if we lived dependent on God to this degree all the time? What if we lived knowing that our only hope was God’s provision, even when it doesn’t feel like we need it? What if we saw that even our own ability to find a way out of a dire situation was a gift from Him? The mystery that God wants to make known to those around us is this: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). Is your confidence so firm in the Lord as provider and sustainer that it demonstrates the hope of Christ to those around you? If not, be reminded today that He isn’t just your help from time to time, but your only hope time and time again. Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities. FAMILY TALKING POINTS CHRIST CONNECTION This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
KEY PASSAGE This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.
** Next week: We Are to Worship God Alone (Isaiah 44) THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO SAID YES TO VBS! Getting Ready to Launch! VBS 2023 IS OPEN! Prepare for a Stellar adventure through space and learn how we shine Jesus’ light in the world! Sign-ups for participants and volunteers OPEN Dear families,
Miracles are often found in Scripture as a means of God doing what nature cannot explain to show His own power and authority over all things. This portion of 2 Kings 4–6 is no different. But these miracles don’t just teach us about God; they also demonstrate our human nature—to doubt when circumstances appear to leave us with little to no control. Many of the miracles performed by Elisha in 2 Kings 4–6 come in moments when the human dilemmas of sin, death, fear, worry, and lack are realized and people are overtaken with doubt. Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever felt as if your back was against the wall, your limits had been reached, and there was no way and no reason for hope in a particular situation? If so, you’re not alone. We all have moments when it seems as if we’re done and there’s no way out. The reason we all experience these things is because we are humans. Our limitedness leaves us lacking and in moments where that lack prevents us from saving ourselves, we cannot help but feel doubtful. But God. It is often in these moments that we are reminded of just how self-reliant we tend to be and just how God-dependent we truly are. God in these moments of doubt becomes our only hope, our beacon, our help. And though we ought to have some sense of confidence in this all the time, the reality is that we often lose sight of how deeply we need the Lord until He is our only way out. What if we lived dependent on God to this degree all the time? What if we lived knowing that our only hope was God’s provision, even when it doesn’t feel like we need it? What if we saw that even our own ability to find a way out of a dire situation was a gift from Him? The mystery that God wants to make known to those around us is this: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). Is your confidence so firm in the Lord as provider and sustainer that it demonstrates the hope of Christ to those around you? If not, be reminded today that He isn’t just your help from time to time, but your only hope time and time again. Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities. FAMILY TALKING POINTS CHRIST CONNECTION This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
KEY PASSAGE This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.
** Next week: We Are to Worship God Alone (Isaiah 44) |
GHC NPMPARTNERING WITH PARENTS Archives
August 2023
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