Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Community News - 10/29/13


Fall Family Festival This Thursday, October 31st!
Fall Family Festival week is finally here! Invite your family and join us this Thursday from 5:30 - 8 PM at BCC for a fun-filled night with trunk-or-treat, carnival games, hayrides and more! Make sure to invite your friends, family and co-workers! Read below for some ways you can help make this event happen! 
Donate Candy for Trunk or Treat! 
We need donated candy for Trunk or Treat! We have around a thousand people come through for the Festival so we'll take all the candy we can get! Drop off your candy in one of the donation tubs around the church tomorrow or Thursday!

Help Set Up Tomorrow Evening! 
Come lend a hand tomorrow, October 30th as we set up for the festival from 6:30 - 8 PM! Come eat dinner with us beforehand at 6 PM and then help us set up for the festival afterwards! 
Conversational Evangelism Training Tomorrow Evening!
Don't have a job to do at the Festival but want to be able to mingle with those in the community and share the hope of Jesus Christ with them? Come join us tomorrow in the Blue Room from 6 - 7 PM for a conversational evangelism training with Alan Perry. Dinner will be provided at 6! This training will help you strike up conversations with people at the festival and point them to Jesus Christ! That's what this Festival is all about! 

Men's Breakfast This Saturday, November 2nd!
Attention men! Make plans to attend the Men's Breakfast this Saturday, November 2nd at 7:30 AM in the Student Center. Start your day off right with a time of food, fellowship, and prayer! We'll see you there!

Fall Back This Sunday, November 3rd!
Just a reminder! It's almost Daylight Savings Time again! Set your clocks back an hour this Saturday night and enjoy the extra hour of sleep before joining us for worship this Sunday! 

Friday, October 25, 2013

God's House

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and are God’s household. Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” 
- Ephesians 2:19-22

“And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. But you are a Chosen Race, a royal priesthood, a Holy Nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 
- 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10


As I read these words, I am challenged to examine my life to see if I really believe what God says about me.  Do I really believe that because of the Gospel I am now no longer lost, sinful, hopeless, and separated from God, but that I am now His child, a fellow citizen with His saints, and part of Holy people who are to be the place where He has chosen to allow His glory to dwell. I am also challenged to examine my life to see if I am living out that mighty calling. We are called to be His house His temple, but what does that really mean?

Think about it for a minute. What is a temple built for?

In my travels around the world I’ve seen a couple of different religious temples and all of them have many of the same things in common. Temples are the places people go to looking for God. What people do in them may look a little different depending on the god that is suppose to live there, but everyone I observed was going there looking for God.  They all went there either to worship, pray, offer a sacrifice for sins or for blessings, seek wisdom, fellowship with other worshippers, but ultimately all of them were there to honor and elevate the god they believed lived in that temple.

Another thing temples have in common is that there is usually some sort of image of the particular god that is supposed to dwell there. I remember in Mongolia we visited a Buddhist temple. As we went in we saw a huge, eighty-foot high statue adorned with gold. Surrounding that statue were thousands of smaller little gods crafted by a full time idol maker who worked diligently in his shop off to the side of the big painted one.  It was a strange site to see and honestly really sad to me. I knew that it was just a dead statue covered with gold leaf. It was shiny and impressive (being the largest indoor statue in the world) but God did not live there.

In fact He doesn’t dwell in a temple made by human hands, He lives in one He is building for Himself. According to scripture God lives in us in the Spirit.  We are His temple. The Church is His dwelling place. The Church (not a building but the people) is where people really need to go to find God.  In the Church we worship, we pray, we fellowship, we find wisdom to live by, and ultimately we should be gathering together to elevate and honor the One True Living God of the universe. We are created in the image of our God as well. Sort of like that big statue, we are also supposed to represent our God and make known what He is like to the world. But un-like that big dead pile of plaster and paint, we are fearfully and wonderfully made by Him as living images, created by a Holy, awesome, living God to glorify Him in and through our lives in His creation.

Everything about us should be a representation of the God we belong to. The way we talk, the way we dress, the way we marry or date, the way we keep our word, work at our jobs, abide by laws, respect authority, forgive and show grace, spend money, the choices we make like the way we choose to entertain ourselves, everything we do should be done in the Name of Jesus to the Glory of God. Why? Because we are His temple, the place where He has chosen to let His Glory dwell.

But do we get that?  If a person were to observe our life would they come to the conclusion that God was in our midst? Who are we really representing? Paul asked the Corinthian church the same type of question. After assuring them of their true identity as God’s beloved children through the  Grace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in chapter one (see verses 1-9), he begins to deal with the many sin issues that they were tangled up in. In chapter three he asks this question.  “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” I think that is a pretty good question for us to ask ourselves each day.

Because of the Gospel we are His people, His beloved children, His building that He delights to dwell in and among. We are the bride of His beloved Son. We are the body of Christ. We have grace and peace with God almighty. We are living breathing representatives of Him because He lives in us.

Therefore, today, lets put away everything that hinders our worship, our prayers, our fellowship, and our witness and seek to live Holy lives that glorify our Holy God and Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s encourage one another to live in obedience to the Gospel from our hearts because He loves us and we are His people. And when people come to God’s temple looking for Him, lets be ready to give them the reason for the HOPE that is in us. Better yet when we are out and about in our community like next Thursday night at Fall Family Festival, lets take the temple of God and His presence to them!

Thankfully in Grace,
Shannon Compton
Life Group Pastor

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Community News - 10/22/13


Last MidWeek U Session Tomorrow Evening! 
Don't forget about MidWeek University tomorrow evening! This is the last class of the semester and you don't want to miss it! Classes start at 6:30 PM but join us at 6 PM in the back of the Worship Center for coffee, a light snack and fellowship beforehand! We'll see you tomorrow! 

My Hope with Billy Graham Training This Sunday, October 27th! 
Looking for an opportunity to reach out to your pre-Christian friends and family? Take part in the My Hope With Billy Graham event! It's simple! Identify people in your life that need Jesus and His hope. Invite them to your home for a meal on Thursday, November 7th. Watch the My Hope program with them. Share what Jesus has done in your life and see how the Lord works in their heart! Join us this Sunday from 2-3:30 PM in the Student Center for a time of training and preparation for this incredible opportunity. Childcare will be provided; call Bre at the office (884-5932) to sign up!  


Fall Family Festival Is Just Around the Corner!
Here are a few ways you can get involved: 
Donate Candy for Trunk or Treat! 
We need donated candy for Trunk or Treat! We have around a thousand people come through for the Festival so we'll take all the candy we can get! Drop off your candy in one of the donation tubs around the church any time during the week!
Conversational Evangelism Training!
Don't have a job to do at the Festival but want to be able to mingle with those in the community and share the hope of Jesus Christ with them? Come join us on Wednesday, October 30th in the Blue Room from 6 - 7 PM for a conversational evangelism training with Alan Perry. Dinner will be provided! This training will help you strike up conversations with people at the festival and point them to Jesus Christ! That's what this Festival is all about! 
Help Set Up! 
Come lend a hand on Wednesday, October 30th as we set up for the festival from 6:30 - 8 PM! Dinner will be provided for all serving and we would love to have your help! 
 

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

BCC News 10.15.13




MidWeek U Tomorrow Evening! 
Don't forget about MidWeek University tomorrow evening! Classes start at 6:30 PM but join us at 6 PM in the back of the Worship Center for coffee, a light snack and fellowship beforehand! We'll see you tomorrow! 

Barbecue Dinner and Silent Auction!
This Saturday, October 19 from 12 noon to 5pm in the Worship Center there will be Barbecue available for a suggested donation of $8 a plate and an opportunity to bid on many great prizes.  All of the proceeds will go to help Adrianna Henderson’s treatment for Lyme’s Disease.  Stop by and show your support for this young lady! 

Season of Hope - Opportunities to Serve at BCC!
We have so many great opportunities to live out the mission of BCC that you'll hear about in the next couple weeks! Check them out below and find out more information in the back of the Worship Center this Sunday! 
Fall Family Festival - Thursday, October 31st 
My Hope with Billy Graham - Thursday, November 7th (Training - October 20th and 27th from 2-4)
Operation Christmas Child - November 18th - 25th. 
Christmas Bibles - The Month of December

Fall Family Festival Needs Candy! 
We're gearing up for the Fall Family Festival here at BCC and we're excited to be able to reach the community! We need your help! We need donated candy for Trunk or Treat! We have around a thousand people come through for the Festival so we'll take all the candy we can get! Drop off your candy in one of the donation tubs around the church any time during the week! Thank you! 

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Community News - 10/08/13



MidWeek U Tomorrow Evening! 
Don't forget about MidWeek University tomorrow evening! Classes start at 6:30 PM but join us at 6 PM in the back of the Worship Center for coffee, a light snack and fellowship beforehand! We'll see you tomorrow! 

101 Membership Class This Sunday, October 13th!
Interested in becoming a member of Brevard Community Church? Join us this Sunday at 12:30 in the Worship Center for our Discovering Membership class where you can ask questions about our vision and purpose, and discover if you want to unite yourself to the body of BCC! Lunch and childcare will be provided. Call the church to sign up for childcare at 828-884-5932. 

Season of Hope - Opportunities to Serve at BCC!
We have so many great opportunities to live out the mission of BCC that you'll hear about in the next couple weeks! Check them out below and find out more information in the back of the Worship Center this Sunday! 
Fall Family Festival - Thursday, October 31st 
My Hope with Billy Graham - Thursday, November 7th (Training - October 20th and 27th from 2-4)
Operation Christmas Child - November 18th - 25th. 
Christmas Bibles - The Month of December

Fall Family Festival Needs Candy! 
We're gearing up for the Fall Family Festival here at BCC and we're excited to be able to reach the community! We need your help! We need donated candy for Trunk or Treat! We have around a thousand people come through for the Festival so we'll take all the candy we can get! Drop off your candy in one of the donation tubs around the church any time during the week! Thank you! 

Saturday, October 5, 2013

The Gospel


If you have ever been fortunate enough to wander by the downstairs back hallway at the end of  Wednesday night church, you may have crossed paths with a peculiar sight – a child with a peanut shell on their finger. Hopefully you wouldn’t dismiss this curiosity with a reasonable explanation like, “Well, looks like Chris had the kids doing something weird again,” and move on. If you were to inquire of the child what the peanut shell is about, I think they would be delighted to tell you, “It’s the Gospel in a nut shell!” Inside the emptied peanut shell affixed to their finger by a rubber band, they would pull out a small piece of paper that reminded them of the key pieces of the Gospel, and happily share it with you. Pretty neat little method I thought to share the Good News; don’t you think so too?

I like this activity because it is fun way to get the kids to interact with the Gospel. The included piece of paper contains reminder pictures that represent Heaven, Sin, God, Christ, Faith, and Responding (to the Gospel.) Most would agree these key elements and what you share about them are what one would expect comprises the Gospel.

Over the last weeks at BCC we have talked about Gospel Centered…everything. I believe this is a critical exercise for the Church in America to submit to. I suspect that we have allowed the Gospel to stay inside a nut shell so-to-speak, and have relegated it to just the part of our life that existed in the experiences leading up to an including our redemption. “Ok, I have understood and accepted THE GOSPEL.  Now, what is the next thing to master.”

I agree with JD Greear who wrote, “The gospel, however, is not the diving board off of which we jump into the pool of Christianity; it is the pool itself. It is not only the way we begin in Christ; it is the way we grow in Christ.”

I am compelled to better understand how the Gospel is our life, not just part of it. JD Greear and another author, Milton Vincent, are strong proponents of preaching the Gospel…to yourself! Please, make it a priority to make sense of these teachings we are hearing right now and submit to the Gospel, wherever you are in your relationship with Christ. And, ask if me if I am doing the same.

In His Steps,
Pastor Chris
Childrens Pastor, BCC

Thursday, October 3, 2013

BHS Needs Your Help!


Tomorrow night is homecoming night at Brevard High School and we expect to cheer on the Blue Devils in a packed stadium! BHS needs your help! They are looking for 10 people to volunteer to work the concession stand during tomorrow's game. Bring a friend, or talk to your family or life group and see if you can get people together to serve outside of the church walls. Come meet a need and be a blessing and a light. If you would like to lend a hand tomorrow night, call or email Brent at (828)884-5932 or brent@brevardcommunity.org. Thank you for your willingness to bless and serve others! 

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Community News - 10/01/13



High School Home-schooler Lunch Tomorrow! 
Calling all high school aged home-schooled students! Join us for lunch tomorrow, October 2nd at noon! Come eat, fellowship, and connect with other Switch home-schoolers! We'll see you there! 

MidWeek U Tomorrow Evening! 

Don't forget about MidWeek University tomorrow evening! Classes start at 6:30 PM but join us at 6 PM in the back of the Worship Center for coffee, a light snack and fellowship beforehand! We'll see you tomorrow! 

Men's Breakfast This Saturday, October 5th!
Attention men! Make plans to attend the Men's Breakfast this Saturday, October 5th at 7:30 AM in the Student Center. Start your day off right with a time of food, fellowship, and prayer! We'll see you there!

Baby Dedication Coming Up This Sunday, October 6th! 
Attention parents! Baby Dedication Sunday is coming up this Sunday! If you are interested in participating, contact Breanna before Friday at (828)884-5932 or breanna@brevardcommunity.org and let her know which worship you would like to attend. Church family - come ready to celebrate with these families who are giving their children back to the Lord and trusting Him to provide, guide, and direct their lives and upbringing! What a special time to glorify God through our trust and commitment to Him! See you then!   

Season of Hope - Opportunities to Serve at BCC!
We have so many great opportunities to live out the mission of BCC that you'll hear about in the next couple weeks! Check them out below and find out more information in the back of the Worship Center this Sunday! 
Fall Family Festival - Thursday, October 31st 
My Hope with Billy Graham - Thursday, November 7th (Training - October 20th and 27th from 2-4)
Operation Christmas Child - November 18th - 25th. 
Christmas Bibles - The Month of December