Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Family Ministries..Why Do We Do It?



Church is more than an hour a week service. It is a body of believers growing in the Lord and encouraging others along the way.  

This is the first of two posts dealing with the subject of ministering and teaching the younger men and women. May we be encouraged to pray for and be a godly influence in the lives of others.

Here are some ways to minister to a young man in your church, whether he’s a teen or young adult:


  1. Intentionally and strategically pray for him. How many young men in your church have no one praying for them unless they’re in trouble? Break this pattern by choosing to pray for a brother before he makes a mistake.
  2. Work with your student minister to connect to a young man with no other male influence. Broken marriages carry consequences, and teenagers often pay a price for adult decisions. Just a few minutes with an adult Christian male who cares can make a difference for a young guy.  
  3. If he’s married, surprise him and his wife with a gift card to a restaurant. Young men need date nights with their spouses, but sometimes they let financial difficulties get in the way. Help out a young guy by providing a meal. He’ll probably do that later for someone else when he’s financially able.
  4. Take a walk with him. That probably sounds too emotionally driven, but here’s the point: if you’re willing to just hang out with a young man, I’m certain you’ll find somebody who’s been waiting for such an opportunity. Go to a game together. Share a hobby. Take a camping trip. Hike together.
  5. Invite him to a weekly breakfast, and challenge his spiritual walk. You might be the only person who’s ever cared enough to ask about his walk with God.
  6. Help cover the costs for an Internet filter. It’s no secret that many young men struggle with pornography. Help at least one young man win this battle by sharing the cost for a filter and accountability system.
  7. Offer him odd jobs for additional income. Some of the best mentoring relationships I’ve had with young men began when I employed them to cut the yard, help with repair work, or paint a room. They get a few dollars, and both of you get a relationship.
  8. Invite him to help you in ministry. Whatever you do in your church, invite a young man to walk with you, assist you, and learn the role. That seems, in fact, to be a biblical way to raise up new leaders.
  9. Start a 1:3 mentoring program. A “1:3” program is one man (you) investing in three other young men who are friends. You triple your output, and the young men sharpen one another in the process.
  10. Answer the questions you wish someone would have answered for you as a young man. For me, the questions were many (in fact, I've written about those desired conversations). How do I overcome pornography? How do I choose the person to date? What major should I take in college? How do I read the Bible? How do I find a job? Don’t always wait for the question – just address them in the context of a God-given relationship.   

Monday, May 30, 2016

Happy Memorial Day



Happy Memorial Day!  This is a day that is much more than a day off, the beginning of summer or a day for the beach.

While it was originally founded to honor the soldiers who died in the Civil War, today, Memorial Day is a day to honor all of the Americans who have died in military service.

Patriotic Americans should take a moment from their day of celebration and leisure to reflect on the brave sacrifices of those who have given their lives for this great nation. 

As Christians, this is a reminder of the love of our Lord Jesus who gave His life for us, that we may have eternal life. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends “ John 15:13. 

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Senior Recognition Day is Sunday

This Sunday will be the day we recognize our graduating seniors!

We rejoice with them over this accomplishment and as a church family, we support and love them and pray God's blessings and direction for their lives. There will be a breakfast Sunday morning for the graduates and their families.  In the morning service we will recognize each one and present them with a gift from the church.  Congratulations to the Class of 2016!






 















Friday, May 27, 2016

Sunday School Peak!!



This week's Sunday School lesson is based on Acts 12.  Here is a short devotion which fits perfectly with it!

Acts 12:6-7 (NIV) “The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. ‘Quick, get up!’ he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.”


n Acts 12, we find Peter chained between two soldiers in a highly guarded prison cell awaiting his trial and possible execution.
Did you notice in the key verse that Peter was sleeping? The night before his trial? That alone is amazing! Being able to sleep soundly the night before a possible execution? 
But while Peter was sleeping and Herod was waiting, the church was earnestly praying for God to intervene. And God was faithful to send an angel and deposit him right inside the dreadful prison cell where Peter slept.
We can note several things about this divine encounter. 
Now, imagine this happening right before your eyes:
  • When the angel appeared, light flooded the darkness.
  • When the angel spoke, chains fell off of Peter’s wrists.
  • When the angel gave instructions, Peter responded promptly.
  • When the angel moved towards safety, Peter followed precisely.

If we look closely, we can see a connection between God’s rescue of Peter and how God is able to rescue us in our times of great need.
When we’re faced with impossible circumstances, we can always call out to God for help–just like the believers did who were praying for Peter. God heard their prayers and acted on their behalf.
When we’re surrounded by situations that appear dark and hopeless like a prison cell, God’s presence will always flood that darkness with His glorious light.
When we feel chained up by our emotions, the spoken Word of God can release us from tainted feelings, which continuously hold us down.
When God instructs us to move away from dangerous situations, our prompt and obedient response will always lead us towards safety.
What started out as a hopeless situation for Peter turned into a supernatural encounter that was arranged by God. Through earnest prayer, obedience and trust, Peter was ushered out of captivity back into freedom where he belonged.
Let’s not forget this story and let’s make sure we always remember … freedom is where we belong.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Camp Sonrise


The deadline for Camp Sonrise is this Sunday!  Please have applications ready to be turned in.  We are excited about spending time at camp, having fun while learning and growing in God's Word. Please be in prayer for a Jesus filled week of camp!







Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Four Essentials of Joyful Living



From Sunday's sermon...

Who do you think lives the ultimate lifestyle? Millionaires? Celebrities? Executives? Retired people?  The people who are really living the ultimate lifestyle are those people who have joy in their lives.

"Happiness" comes from the word "happenstance" from which we get the word "circumstance". It depends on happenings. Joy is internal. Happiness is external. You have a happy time at Disneyland, you leave and you lose your happiness. Joy is constant, it comes from within. 

Four essentials to living a joy-filled life:

1.  RIGHT PERSPECTIVE:
We all have problems. You brought them here with you this morning. They may be health problems, work problems, family problems, or money problems. It's easy to get discouraged about personal circumstances, or to take unimportant events too seriously. But Paul teaches us that our problems aren't as important as our perspective towards these problems. What is perspective? Perspective is a right evaluation of your circumstances. You need the right perspective in your life.

 God has a purpose in each of my problems. God never wastes a hurt. God has a higher purpose in every problem that you have,  You need this perspective. You need to know that God has a purpose in what you're going through. No matter what it is, God has a purpose for you. God never wastes a hurt. I need a perspective to live from.

2.   THE RIGHT PRIORITIES:
When life gets tough, you need your priorities to be clear.
HERE'S THE LESSON FOR US: We need to focus on what's really important. We need to focus on God's priorities in my life. We need to start living according to God's priorities rather than our own priorities.

3. NEED GOD'S POWER:
We need a power to live on.  God has the power to take care of all your needs.  With God's power, We have everything that We need. With God's power you can maintain your joy, because you know that God will provide everything that you need, just when you need it.

4. NEED A RIGHT PURPOSE:
What's the secret to joy? It's found in having the right purpose. The best use of your life is to invest it in something that will outlast it. If your purpose is to live for Christ, then he gives you a purpose for living that will outlast your life. He gives you significance. He plants within you the ability to accomplish eternally significant. He wipes out all the mistakes and sins of your past. And he gives you the assurance that your life will last for all of eternity.    Joy comes from putting Jesus at the center of my life.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Wednesday Night Meal



The menu for Family Ministries Meal is Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Macaroni & Cheese, Broccoli, Salad & Dessert.  Meal begins at 5:30 PM, ministries for the entire family begin at 6:30 PM.

Monday, May 23, 2016

A Little Late...

This is a little late, but last week was the 15th anniversary of Antioch calling our pastor to serve. We are a blessed congregation to have a leader who loves God and the church and preaches the Word of God.



Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Camp Sonrise

Look how much fun we have at Children's Camp!!  We are excited and getting things lined up for another great year.  Camp applications are read and are due May 29.  Camp is for children finishing grades 2 - 6.  Please begin to pray for a camp that reaches many children for Jesus!










Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Family Ministries Meal

The menu for this week's Family Ministries Meal will be:  Pork and Yellow Rice, Carrots, Acre Peas, Squash Poppers, Salad and Dessert.  Meal begins at 5:30 PM followed by ministries for the entire family.

We are excited to begin our Ladies Bible Study - "Loved By God" by Liz Curtis Higgs.  All ladies are welcome!  We will be meeting for this 7 week study every Wednesday night during Family Ministries. 

Monday, May 16, 2016

Mothers Day

Antioch celebrated Mother's Day last week and our mothers truly felt the love and appreciation!

 Special thanks to our men who prepared and served a delicious breakfast! The morning service brought a sweet gift for each mom along with some beautiful prizes. The morning message gave encouragement and equipped our moms to walk in the Lord and follow His direction and plans. It was a beautiful day!

  
  







Friday, May 13, 2016

VBS is Coming!!

 
 
 
Vacation Bible School will be June 13-17. Please mark the dates, plan to pray for this outreach and bring or invite children!
 
There will be a workers meeting on May 21 at 2:00 PM for anyone interested in helping this year in VBS.

The theme this year is Ocean Commotion...
Welcome to Ocean Commotion! Every day, our kids are challenged to stand for God in their schools, among their friends, in our culture . . . no matter what. And they’re bombarded with the lie that God’s Word isn’t true when it talks about earthly things (rocks, fossils), so it can’t be trusted to tell the truth about spiritual things.

Thursday, May 12, 2016

To Our Graduates



We will be recognizing our graduating seniors on May 29 with a breakfast for their families and also a special time to honor and share their achievements in the morning service.

Each of us probably knows someone who will be a graduate.  If not, be encouraged to think of our church family graduates as they embark on a new journey of life. Our prayers can truly make a difference in their lives. 

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth... Ecclesiastes 12:1


Here is a fantastic list to pray for and remind our young people as they move forward...

Remember your Creator as you head off to college and your professors challenge your faith. Remember that God is always faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9).

Remember that you are never alone, so be strong and courageous (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Remember that you are dearly loved (Jeremiah 31:3).

Remember that you have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 7:23).

Remember that greater is He who is in you than He who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Remember that God has amazing plans for your life (Jeremiah 29:11).

Remember that your past does not determine your future, because you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Remember that our God is a God of grace… and second chances (Hebrews 4:16).

Remember that there is power in Jesus’ name (Luke 10:17).

Remember that there is power in prayer (Mark 9:29).

Remember that God is the giver of all good gifts (James 1:17).

Remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28).

Remember that our God is a God of redemption (Ephesians 1:7).

Remember that God will equip you to what He calls you (Hebrews 13:21).

Remember to focus your life on God (Hebrews 12:2).

Remember your Creator (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Ladies Bible Study Begins May 18



Do you find yourself struggling between wanting to do the right thing and wanting to do your thing?  Between pleasing God and pleasing yourself?  That's where we find Jacob and Esau, Leah and Rachel...and where we'll find answers to the conflicts in our own hearts as well.  According to Liz Curtis Higgs, "Jacob and Leah and perfect examples of God blessing the undeserving and loving the unlovable.  Their story pour forth a generous dose of grace from a place we don't often expect to find it: among the pages of the Old Testament."  

Join us as Liz Curtis Higgs leads this verse-by-verse study of Genesis 25 and 27-29 where we examine the lives of Jacob and Esau, Leah and Rachel. 

Sign up today for our new women's Bible study...LOVED BY GOD...with LIZ CURTIS HIGGS!  (Include schedule, place, leader, etc.)  You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll find that studying the Bible has never been more refreshing!

Liz is an award-winning speaker, author of 21 books, including the best-selling Bad Girls of the Bible and Thorn in My Heart.  She's also an outstanding Bible teacher and radio personality who has inspired audiences worldwide.  Gifted with deep spiritual insights and a generous helping of humor, Liz provides a refreshing experience in personal Bible study for women.   


SEVEN SESSIONS PACKED WITH INSIGHTS

Introduction - WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!-God's Plans for Us Are Bigger Than
  We Can Imagine.  Genesis 25:19-28
Week 1 - SIBLING RIVALRY-God Honors His Promises, Even When We Don't.
Genesis 25:29-34; 26:34-35; 27:1-29
Week 2 - RUNNING FROM GOD-God Knows All About Prodigal Children.
Genesis 27:30-28:9
Week 3 - A DREAM COME TRUE-God's Love Knows No Bounds.
Genesis 28:10-22
Week 4 - BLINDED BY LOVE -Man Looks at the Outward Appearance; God Looks at
the Heart.  Genesis 29:1-20
Week 5 - A DECEIVER DECEIVED-God Disciplines the Ones He Loves.
Genesis 29:21-29
Week 6 - A HEART FOR GOD-God's Love Is Powerful Enough to Change Our Hearts
Genesis 29:30-35

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Family Ministries Meal



This week's menu for Family Ministries Meal will be grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw, chips and dessert. Let's get a head start on summer fun!

Meal begins at 5:30 PM, bring the family for ministries that begin at 6:30 PM!

Monday, May 9, 2016

Ladies Bible Study Beginning Soon!


"What does it mean to be loved by God? Does the Lord love us when we are unlovable? When others reject us, is God’s love enough?"
 Liz Curtis Higgs provides the answers in a unique, heart-changing way, bringing to life the ancient stories of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel verse by verse from Genesis 25 and 27-29 in a 7-week study. 

This study will begin May 18 and will continue on Wednesday nights at 6:30 PM during Family Ministries.  All ladies are welcome!

*Workbooks for daily devotion and deeper study are available, but not required.  They are $14.00 each. Please see Joyce F. if you would like to purchase one. 

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Mother's Day




Sunday is Mother's Day and we have a special day planned at Antioch!  The day will begin at 8:30 AM with a breakfast for moms and the family. Our men will be preparing a delicious full breakfast to honor our moms.

There will be special gifts in the morning service along with an encouraging Word for our ladies.  

Mom, we hope you will plan to come and enjoy the worship and fellowship on this special day.  Your influence and love are so powerful.  You are loved and appreciated!

Friday, May 6, 2016

Senior Adult Day

Last Sunday our church celebrated Senior Adult Day which was a time to show our love and honor to our senior adults. Here are some highlights of the day:

The Senior Choir.  They blessed our worship time!


Lots of sweet fellowship!


Special thanks to our youth group for serving lunch!


Bright and Colorful...that's our ladies!


Our "young ladies" prepared the meal. Thank you!!

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Prayer for National Day of Prayer


  • For the May 5th observances, Dr. Tony Evans, the 2016 Honorary Chairman, wrote a special prayer to be simultaneously read throughout the nation at noon (ET).  This recitation will create a huge wave of prayer, flowing from one coast to the other, illustrating the unity of God’s people and acknowledging His dominion over the circumstances facing us.  Millions of people will gather to pray at thousands of events facilitated by our volunteer coordinators and people just like you! 


Dear heavenly Father, we come to You today as a humble people desperate for Your supernatural intervention on behalf of our beloved nation.  First, we thank You for all the blessings You have bestowed on our land, blessings that have allowed us to bring so much good and benefit to not only our own citizens but also to the rest of the world. The very ideals upon which this country was founded were based on biblical truths, no matter how some try to rewrite history to deny that very fact today.

This is why our hearts are so broken over how You continue to be marginalized and dismissed by both our people and our institutions. We are also saddened by the fact that Your people have contributed greatly to the spiritual apathy that now engulfs us. Our satisfaction in remaining religious without being fully committed to living out the truths of Your Word has caused us to become co-conspirators with the forces of evil that are destroying us as a society.

It is for this reason that we personally and collectively repent of our carnality and recommit ourselves to becoming visible and verbal disciples of Jesus Christ. Enable us, by Your Spirit, to no longer be secret agent Christians but rather to publicly declare and live out Your truth in a spirit of love so that You feel welcome in our country once again.

Thank You for Your promise to hear our prayers when we call to You with hearts of repentance and obedience, which is how we are appealing to You today, Father. On behalf of Your church, we affirm afresh the priority You are to us that You would fill every dimension of our lives as we seek to bring You glory through the advancement of Your kingdom in our personal lives, our family lives, and in the lives of our churches and our government leaders. We confidently invite heaven’s intervention into all the affairs of our nation and we praise You in advance for Your answer.

In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.

by Dr. Tony Evans

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

History of National Day of Prayer



The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of our heritage. Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through our history, including President Lincoln’s proclamation of a day of “humiliation, fasting, and prayer” in 1863. In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual national day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. Last year, all 50 state governors plus the governors of several U.S. territories signed similar proclamations.

The National Day of Prayer has great significance for us as a nation as it enables us to recall and to teach the way in which our founding fathers sought the wisdom of God when faced with critical decisions. It stands as a call for us to humbly come before God, seeking His guidance for our leaders and His grace upon us as a people. The unanimous passage of the bill establishing the National Day of Prayer as an annual event, signifies that prayer is as important to our nation today as it was in the beginning.

Fun Facts...

  • There have been 144 national calls to prayer, humiliation, fasting and thanksgiving by the President of the United States (1789 – 2015).
  • There have been 67 Presidential Proclamations for a National Day of Prayer (1952 – 2015). Gerald R. Ford (1976), George H. Bush (1989 – 91) and Barack H. Obama (2012) are the only U.S. Presidents to sign multiple National Day of Prayer Proclamations in the same year.
  • Every President since 1952 has signed a National Day of Prayer proclamation.
  • 34 of the 44 U.S. Presidents have signed proclamations for National Prayer. Three of the Presidents who did not sign a proclamation died while serving in office. Two Presidents, not included in the count—William Howard Taft and Warren Gamaliel Harding, signed proclamations for Thanksgiving and Prayer.
  • Records indicate there have been 1,419 state and federal calls for national prayer since 1775 and counting.

Monday, May 2, 2016

Grace, Grace




Grace...what a beautiful word for a Christian.  Grace is freely given and cannot be earned or measured. 
We usually think of grace initially as “saving grace.”  there is so much more to God’s grace than just the grace that we need to save us, huge as that is. We also need “sanctifying grace”—grace that transforms us as justified believers into the likeness of Christ; grace that delivers us from the power of sin; grace that gives us the desire and the power to obey God.

“Saving grace,” “sanctifying grace,” and then “serving grace.” We need grace to serve Him. It’s through grace that we are enabled to fulfill what it is that He has called us to do and to worship Him.
We need grace:

  • Saving grace—to make us believers.
  • Sanctifying grace—to transform us into the likeness of Christ.
  • Serving grace—to serve God in an acceptable way with reverence and godly fear.
  • Suffering grace—to forgive those who persecute us. 
To be full of grace is to always be breathing grace in and breathing grace out. 

Sunday, May 1, 2016

2016 National Day of Prayer



The 65th annual National Day of Prayer, May 5, 2016, will have profound significance for our country.  It is an unprecedented opportunity to see the Lord’s healing and renewing power made manifest as we call on citizens to humbly come before His throne.

Our theme for 2016 is Wake Up America, emphasizing the need for individuals, corporately and individually, to return to the God of our Fathers in reverence for His Holy Name. To further highlight our theme, we’ve chosen Isaiah 58:1a as our Scripture for this year:  “Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet.”

At this crucial time for our nation, we can do nothing more important than pray.  Thank you for making this spiritual discipline a personal priority and for standing with us as we encourage others to incorporate prayer in their lives.