COME BACK STRONGER | WEEK 3
“Back to normal.” We’ve all said those words countless times over the last few weeks - but what if God has something more than “normal” for our church? The New Testament tells the story of the early Church and some of its defining characteristics. Despite setbacks - both spiritual and physical - the church was able to thrive and grow. What if this could be true of your family, your marriage, even our church, today? What if challenges and setbacks didn’t allow us to come back “normal”, but come back stronger
Come Back Stronger.
WEEKLY GIVING STATISTICS
(Fiscal Year Began June 1, 2020)
Last Week Weekly Need YTD
$3,499 $2,533 $1,791
OUTDOOR WORSHIP FAMILY SERVICE
AT THE CENTER CHURCH ON SUNDAY, JULY 19 AT 10AM
Join us!
GOOD TO KNOW:
Practice Social Distancing
Bring a mask if you prefer to do so even though we will be meeting outdoors
Hand sanitizer will be provided
At this time we are not be able to facilitate our CenterKids ministry in a physical way;
activity bags will be available
The playground area will be open; parental supervision is required
Restrooms by the main entrance of the building will be accessible (doors propped)
In case of rain: experience The Center Church’s first ever Drive-In Worship Service!
NOT READY TO JOIN US IN PERSON?
WE ARE CONTINUING OUR ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICE ON SUNDAYS, 10:00AM.
WATCH ON centergr.com/live OR centergr.online.church.
HOME CHURCHES:
Interested in getting connected to a Home Church?
Contact office@centergr.com for details.
SMALL GROUPS:
*DUE TO SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES (COVID-19):
PLEASE CHECK OUR ONLINE RESOURCES; SOME OF OUR SMALL GROUPS MAY BE MEETING DIGITALLY.
Visit centergr.com/nextsteps for more info.
CENTER STUDENTS MINISTRY:
NTS CAMP is coming to the CENTER STUDENTS ministry!
When: July 29- August 1, 2020
(Pick up at BCCS at 5pm for Center Students)
Where: Frontline Community Church
Ends: 9pm
(Cost: $48.00 per student- sponsorship may be available)
Have questions or would like to sign up? Please contact lindsey@centergr.com
OPPORTUNITIES
HOPE UNEXPECTED:
The Center Church takes part in the Hope Unexpected Ministry.
Please contact office@centergr.com if you are interested in serving. We’ll get you connected!
HAND2HAND MINISTRY:
Any questions? Please contact office@centergr.com for more info,
or email Jodi at Hand2Hand Byron Center at hand2handbc@gmail.com directly.
JOHN GORVEATTE| LEAD PASTOR
‘Bridges over Barriers’
KEY PASSAGE: Acts 15:1-20 NIV
The Council at Jerusalem
15 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
16 “‘After this I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,
17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’—
18 things known from long ago.
19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.