Weekly Update | August 30, 2023
Life in Small Groups
Dmitriy Zherebnenkov
We are truly grateful to God for such a strong turnout of church members registering and committing to join a small group! This is definitely God’s mercy that has prompted many to seek out closer, edifying fellowship with the saints. Let’s just rejoice in this and together praise God for such unity and commitment!
There are, however, a couple things we all need to remember:
1. To actually work out the obligations we committed to when we signed up for a group. May the Lord give us grace to remain faithful in attending our group for the next 9 months.
2. The small group must not become a hindrance to attending whole-church meetings. The ministry of small groups adds to them, but does not replace or compete with them. Small groups help us in accountability and in edifying others.
Also, two urgent needs have come up that we should all pray for:
1. We’ve seen that there are more people wishing to join a small group than there are sufficient groups. It’s a good problem to have, albeit it’s still a problem. Let us pray that God would give wisdom to the church leaders to find opportunities for all those willing to join a group.
2. Not all brothers who are capable of leading a group are in this ministry. Each one has his reasons to decline this service, but nevertheless, we understand that God gives gifts not for them to be buried. Please pray that those who are capable and qualified to do this ministry would strive toward applying their gifts for the edification of the church of Jesus Christ.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continue supporting the churches working among the people who have suffered from the war in Ukraine: gfchurch.com/ukraine/
The Scripture memory text
99 The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!
He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
2 The Lord is great in Zion;
he is exalted over all the peoples.
3 Let them praise your great and awesome name!
Holy is he!
4 The King in his might loves justice.
You have established equity;
you have executed justice
and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the Lord our God;
worship at his footstool!
Holy is he!6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
Samuel also was among those who called upon his name.
They called to the Lord, and he answered them.
7 In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them;
they kept his testimonies
and the statute that he gave them.8 O Lord our God, you answered them;
Psalm 99: 1-8
you were a forgiving God to them,
but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
Below are the services and meetings for this weekend:
- Thursday (7:00 PM) – Bible study and prayer meeting
- Saturday (9:00AM) – Women’s Prayer Breakfast
- Sunday services:
- Worship Service in Russian at 9:00 AM
- Worship Service in English at 11:15 AM