VBS “ZAPPED” IS ON THE WAY AND YOU’RE INVITED

July 30 – August 3rd | Ages 3yrs – 6th Grade | 9am – Noon

EASTER 2012 – “Death In His Grave”

Begin making plans now to attend and invite your friends and family members to this year’s amazing Easter Sunday presentation, “Death in His Grave”. It all happens on Sunday, April 8th with three identical service options at 8:30am, 10:00am & 11:30am.

In addition to the powerful adult service presentation, there will some stellar stuff for the kids including a LIVE Petting Zoo, Inflatables and an Easter Egg Hunt which will take place at 9:30am & 11:30am. Your child is going to walk away with a pile of candy and a chance to win some amazing prizes. It’s a Sunday you and your family will not want to miss.

I’m a firm believer in the power of principles.  When you put irrefutable truths into practice, the results are deep and lasting-often life-changing.

Proof of this can be found in the life of David.  In 1 Samuel 17, Goliath was threatening everyone.  No one had the courage to fight him.  Now enters David.  He faced and beat Goliath.  How?  In his own strength?  No way!

Verses 45-47 show David’s confession of irrefutable truths that pressed courage and power into his life.  It was his confession in God that enabled David to take down the giant.

In your life you can take down the giants that stalk you. Let me give you 5 beliefs that can strengthen your life this year.  I recommend you state these principles out loud often.

01.  ”I’VE BEEN GIVEN AUTHORITY OVER THE DEVIL.”

1 John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

The devil has far more power than you do, but you have far more authority than he does.  Why?  Because you are born-again and possess the divine nature.

I was watching a copy show the other day with Steven Seagal. They were arresting a guy for getting in a fight. He was a HUGE guy, I mean a very intimidating guy with a deep voice and muscles on top of muscles.  However the policeman who was arresting him was evidently out of shape to say the least.  I was thinking to myself, “this big guy could easily take the policeman down.” Why didn’t he? It’s because he knew that backing up that single police man was an authority that he could never win against.

This is a great example that shows how authority is so much more powerful than personal power. The devil may be stronger than you, but you have the authority of heaven backing up your actions.

 “If the Devil made you do it, you blew it.”

Let me ask you a question. What are areas in your life have we allowed the enemy to run over us? How do you stop him from running you over?

02.  ”I HATE SIN, BUT I LOVE ALL PEOPLE.”

John 8:11: No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Jesus did not endorse this woman’s behavior, but He loved her.  No wonder her life was changed.  Will that still work today?  Absolutely!

The church is often times known for all things it is against, and too little for the people we are called to love.

In the New Zealand churches they don’t ask the question. “How many people have you shared the gospel with?” They instead ask this question. “How many people have you shared the Love of God with today?” Today make a declaration in your life to genuinely love people.

03.  “I HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL MY THOUGHTS.”

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Every temptation begins as a thought.  When that happens allow God’s power to fill you, as the verse says, He will give you both the ability and strategy to control your thought.

04.  “I CAN PRAY ABOUT EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE IN MY LIFE.”

Mark 11:23 I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

Please, do not limit prayer to the “Big things” in life or to merely the “spiritual issues” you face.  Pray about everything!

It was a few years ago that my mom had come to visit our home. It was the last night of her being there and as she was packing up she could not find her glasses. So I offered to help and together with my wife we spend the next hour and a half searching through the home looking for her glasses. I was sweating, I was tired, and a bit irritated the they were lost.

We had all but given up, when my little 5-year-old boy said “Dad, can we pray that God helps us find them?” I looked at him and said, “Yes.” My boy simply said “Jesus, help us find Grandma’s glasses.” Can I tell you, as soon as he finished praying, I saw them sitting on a ledge in the kitchen. God answered the prayer of my little boy.

What is it you need to go to God about today and talk with Him about?

05.  “I’M POISED FOR SUCCESS AND WILL NOT ACCEPT DEFEAT AS FINAL.”

1 John 5:4,5 For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Now let’s be clear–this promise is only for those who have been born of God. Why not pour super-glue on your feet and stand on this verse.

You can be an over comer!

Life Fellowship is excited to announce that beginning February 2012 we’ll be launching two robust ministries that will provide exceptional opportunities for spiritual growth, servant hood, as well as new friendships.

With over 20 different events, outreaches & services already  on the calendar for 2012, you’ll be sure to find a host of opportunities to plug in, have some fun and grow deeper in your walk with Christ. Be looking in the later part of February for a menu providing all the info to the activies planned in these exciting ministries designed just for you.

Here is a snapshot of the heart behind both the men’s and women’s ministries.

01. LIFE FELLOWSHIP WOMEN: DEVOTED TO EMBRACE THEIR FEMININITY, MAXIMIZING THEIR STRENGTHS AND WISELY STEWARDING THEIR INFLUENCE.

Everything you’re looking for is within reach. Are you on a constant quest for finding deep satisfaction and security? One of our goals in Women’s Ministry is to lock arms with others as we figure out life together! No matter where we are on our spiritual journey with God, we still need to be encouraged and challenged to grow. Our Women’s Ministry is designed to help you identify those solutions, and to find ways to do it together!

02. LIFE FELLOWSHIP MEN’S MINISTRY: HELPING MEN TO DISCOVER THEIR UNIQUENESS AS HUSBANDS, FATHERS, BUSINESSMAN, LEADERS AND MEN.

Men’s Ministry at Life Fellowship seeks to provide environments for men to grow in their walk with God and others. Those environments (like our Flag Football League to Mens BBQ & Poker Nights and more) serve as a platform to building relationships with other men both inside and outside our church family. Regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey, we’re eager to assist you in your next step.

Influence and favor isn’t a bad thing. In fact, Jesus was very influential and favored during much of His ministry. He never compromised His character or morals to gain acceptance. These are four challenges to take in the coming days as together we stand in prayer.

01. BE A KIND PERSON: You will never be short on favor and increase.

02. BE EXCELLENT: When you do something, do it with all your might. Excellence brings favor and influence.

03. BE A SERVANT: What you make happen for somebody else God will make happen for you. Ephesians 4:6

04. BE BOLD: Dream big, pray for the impossible, and have the boldness to make the Big Ask. The Bible says “You have not because you do not ask.” Step out in faith. People are drawn to that.

LF LUNCH EVENT
Sunday, January 29th after service | No registration needed

Everyone at Life Fellowship is welcome to come join us as we take over four different restaurants. A mystery staff pastor will be at each location. Come on, you know you’re going to eat after church! So why not hang with us?

CiCi’s Pizza | 204 N Greenville Ave #120 Allen, TX 75002
Mooyah | 190 E Stacy Rd #1714 Allen, TX 75002
Olive Garden | 190 East Stacy Road Bldg. 3100, Allen, TX 75002
Chuy’s | 3408 N. Central Expressway. Plano, TX 75074

Q&A

You ask. We Answer. You Decide.

Behind every vote that is cast in the upcoming election is a deep personal belief and conviction.  Our beliefs determine our future. But “Q & A” is not about politics.  It is about why we believe what we believe as Christ followers.

During these unprecedented Sunday mornings,  Life Fellowship Church is putting you in control. You ask the question you’ve always wanted to ask. Nothing is off limits. We will answer, simply and honestly. And then you decide what you really believe. If you’ve ever been skeptical about God or the Bible, this is for you. Or maybe you have a friend who still has questions that you want to invite.  Nowhere are we told to accept Christianity on blind faith. If it can’t stand up to honest questions, it doesn’t deserve to be relied on.

SPECIAL GUEST | SUNDAY JANUARY 22ND, 10AM:

To kick off this mini-series Pastor, Author and Scholar Dr. Thomas Lindberg will be with us speaking Sunday morning, January 22nd at 10am on the all important subject of End Times.

Q&A LIVE | Your Ring Side Seat Awaits

Sunday, January 22nd, 5:00 pm with Pastor Chris & Dr. Thomas Lindberg

Excitement is building for this first ever event at Life Fellowship. The Q & A LIVE is a night with straight answers to Christianity’s deepest, darkest, hardest, confusing questions. No keynotes. No canned messages. These are the answers you never thought you’d hear. Each attendee will be able to pre-submit their questions for the event via the Life Fellowship Twitter & Facebook account or by emailing us at info@lifefellowship.tv. In addition, that night, you can also submit your questions via Text or with the Q & A forms. Bring your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers out to this fun and exciting night.

Come. Let your voice be heard. And leave knowing what you believe and why. Childcare will be provided.

The Evening’s Schedule

5:00 – 6:30 – Q & A session one.

6:30 – 7:00 – Break with light refreshments.

7:00 – 8:00 - Q & A session two.

Let me tell you a true story, and it’s a great one. A man was flying from Atlanta to Chicago. There was one stop in St. Louis on this flight. The attendant explained there would be a slight delay in St. Louis, so if passengers wanted to get off the aircraft, the plane would reboard in 50 minutes.

Everybody got off the plane but one man. He was blind. Another passenger had noticed him as he walked by and could tell the gentleman was blind because his seeing-eye dog lay quietly underneath the seats in front of him. He could also tell the old man had flown this very flight before because the pilot approached him, calling him by name. “Hey Keith, we’re in St. Louis for almost an hour. Do you want to get off and stretch your legs?”

The blind man replied to the pilot, “No thanks, Bill but I think my dog would like to stretch his legs. Duke doesn’t like these long flights.”

Now picture this: all the passengers from that flight in the gate area came to a complete standstill when they looked up and saw their pilot walk off the plane with a seeing-eye dog! He was also wearing sunglasses. People scattered. They not only tried to change planes, but they even tried to change airlines!

Most of us have lived long enough and are wise enough to know that not everything we read or hear or see it the total truth. With your friends, your family, your neighborhood, at your job, and in our great church, realize there’s always more to the story than you know. Don’t jump to conclusions. Believe the best about people whenever possible (check out 1 Cor 13:4-6). Be a peace-maker and not a trouble maker. And by all means, absolutely refuse to gossip.

Now, ever so often recall this story of the pilot with the seeing-eye dog and sunglasses. Then remember that things aren’t always as they appear. Have a great day and keep the faith.

As 2012 is just around the corner I want to challenge you to get a jumpstart on your New Years Resolutions. Why wait to do what’s right? There is never a better time to start than today.

So with that said, my challenge to you is to take these seven and with Gods help put them into practice in your life today.

01. VOW TO MAINTAIN INTEGRITY: 2 Peter 3:14 (NIV) So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this,make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

02. VOW TO BE A PEACEMAKER: Ephesians 4:3 (NIV) Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

03. VOW TO RELAX AND TRUST GOD: Hebrews 4:11 (NIV) Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

04. VOW TO BE AN ENCOURAGER: Romans 14:19 (NIV) Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

05. VOW NEVER TO STOP GROWING: 2 Peter 1:5 (NIV) For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;

06. VOW TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO HURT YOU: Hebrews 12:14-15 (NIV) Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

07. VOW TO KEEP JESUS IN THE CENTER OF YOUR LIFE: Luke 13:24 (NIV) “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.