Party on! A great way to share the Christmas story

Posted by Christine Hall

Most of us have a desire to share the Gospel, but we don’t know how. A very easy way to do that is by hosting an evangelistic Christmas Gathering—a holiday party featuring seasonal treats, sharing of Christmas traditions and a brief, non-threatening gospel message.

When I began my walk with Christ I attended a Bible study that came out of a Christmas Gathering. I had never studied the Bible before and the materials were very easy to use. I have since hosted Christmas Gatherings for co-workers, neighbors and mothers at my children’s school. This year my husband and I are hosting one for an apartment complex in our city. I am convinced that hosting a Christmas Gathering is one of the easiest and most effective ways to share my faith.

I will say that I don’t know if sharing my faith is ever comfortable for me. But it is worth it. I’m glad someone took the risk to tell me about Christ. I was very afraid to share Christ with the people I knew. But I had to be willing to risk what other people thought of me if I really cared about them and where they’re spending eternity. Are you willing to risk your reputation for the sake of the gospel?

We provide training, which will be held from 6:15-8:30p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9th at Sonshine Center in Menasha. You will see a demonstration of what actually happens during a Gathering and discuss everything from spiritual preparation to follow up. The cost is $12 and includes a detailed instruction manual.

A trained speaker will be provided for your Gathering (or you can choose your own speaker and have them attend training the same night). Speakers are given a clear presentation of the gospel which they personalize and share at your Gathering.

To register, please call Doris Steinberg at 751-3855 or pick up a brochure at the information station in the CTR lobby.

Rejoice

Matthew 5:11-12  Jesus said,  “count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

Understand that goodness is sometimes appreciated and at other times scorned. You can understand some rejection or persecution as a sign that you are doing the right thing and can therefore rejoice. Sometimes when we are rejected it is because of our sin, foolishness or arrogance. Don’t assume that you are doing right just because you have peoples favor or just because they hate you. But when you suffer for doing good in His name, Rejoice!

Follow Me

Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Remember that we are not just obeying His commands, but walking with the Creator of the universe. He is right in front of us and we are behind Him and coming after. It is a relationship! Stay close! Don’t fall so far behind that you loose sight of Him. Stay in touch. Don’t get out ahead of Him. Let Him lead! Keep you eyes fixed on Him. Don’t be removed from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Him. Let Him make you.  Follow Jesus!

Can you make your career a calling?

For many of us, the daily work grind often feels like we’re striving to get our task lists checked off while breathing a prayer of thanks that we are employed (while many of our brothers and sisters are not).

But is it possible to make our jobs something more significant for God’s glory?

A community opportunity: Octoberfest!

When Appleton throws a party, the downtown is packed with thousands of people.

Hungry people.

Since 1981, Octoberfest has been bringing people to downtown Appleton in the spirit of community pride and celebration, and CTR has been a part of it with a strong presence for the past several years.  Octoberfest is fund raising venue that gives ministries like Crossing (our young adult ministry), and Gardens In The Desert a chance to touch others with a message of hope at this community party.

Amid the loud rock music and polkas, the tasty food and often shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, Octoberfest is fun with a purpose!

Thanks to all of you who volunteered or came out and said hello to those working the booths.

CTR’s Food Pantry takes a new approach

Did you know that CTR’s Food pantry started out the year serving about 16 families each month? The number of people in need of the Food Pantry’s resources is growing, according to staff ministry leader Tracy Komassa. “We have seen an increase in the number of families coming to CTR’s Food Pantry in the summer and now the fall months, and we’re getting many more voice mails requesting food,” she says.

Faces behind the forms

In order to meet people’s physical as well as the spiritual hunger, the Food Pantry team is taking a new approach to how people are served by consolidating the food pickup hours to just one day a week. The idea is to ensure that families and volunteers can meet face to face and begin to develop personal relationships with the families while helping them find community resources they may not know about.

Komassa says many of these families have never been inside our doors before.

“We want them to feel comfortable with us and know that we here to help. By getting to know them, our volunteers are also better able to meet additional practical needs as well as their spiritual needs. We are open to giving them tours of our church and hope they feel welcomed,” Komassa says.

The need

CTR’s Food Pantry Team has almost a dozen volunteers—not nearly enough to handle the influx of food and people in need. Komassa says it would be awesome if more volunteers could be available during the new Food Pantry Hours on Tuesdays from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. or 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

As for food, the pantry can always use donations to help meet the hunger need in the Valley. “Most of us think of canned goods, but what we always run short of is the grains like boxes of breakfast cereal, pastas and rice,” Komassa says.

If you can help, please call 730-8383 ext. 416.

I learned something new

I have always striven for balance. I think that may have been a mistake. Trying to balance ministry and family puts a separation between the two and forces you to weigh one against the other. I heard Jill and Stewart Briscoe say that they tried to blend ministry and family. By doing ministry with family and family with ministry, you bring them together instead of separating them.

Repent

Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

metanoeoœ, to repent, to change any or all of the elements composing one’s life: attitude, thoughts, and behaviors concerning the demands of God for right living.

If you want to enjoy all the benifits of God’s kingdom, you must change your attitude.

Eph. 4:23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

Phil. 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

1Pet. 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

If you want to enjoy the goodness, peace and joy of God’s kingdom, you must change your thoughts.

Mark 7:21 For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery…

Heb. 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

Eph. 4:22-24 put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

If you want to partake of God’s kingdom, you must change your behavior.

Col. 1:21-23 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation — if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.

Repent for the kingdom of God is near!

Love Your Neighbor

Matt. 22:39 ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Show your love for God by being patient and kind to others. If every one would treat each other the way they wanted to be treated, there would so much righteousness, peace and joy in the world. If every one would just do one thing a day to love others as much as they love themselves, there would be so much love in the world.

Phil. 2:1-4 If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Render to Caesar

Matt. 22:19-21 Here, show me the Roman coin used for the tax.” When they handed him the coin, he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God.”

We honor God when we honor the authorities that He has place over us.

Romans 13:1-3 Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God. So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. For the authorities do not frighten people who are doing right, but they frighten those who do wrong. So do what they say, and you will get along well.

We are happier when we show gratitude to God and others.

1Th. 5:18 No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Don’t complain about everything, instead be honest in your dealings with the government and others. Don’t cheat on your taxes! But more importantly, don’t cheat on God. Give Him all He deserves! You are made in His image.

1Cor. 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.