Good morning! I’ve heard from a number of you about how excited you are to be able to attend church in-person again Sunday. I am too! Also, remember, kid’s church is on as well and we’re returning to congregational singing. With all this in mind, I hope you’re making this a great week.
Virtual Concert of Prayer on June 24th!
Join the GBC family in a time of prayer for the youth over the summer and Oasis at 7:30 pm on June 24th! There will be a testimony, Scripture reading, and prayer for the needs of youth during the summer months and for Oasis. Connect details will come out next week.
Join us on Sunday in-person or on our livestream for Faith that Works!
This Sunday at 11am I’ll be continuing our series: “Faith that Works”, a look at the book of James.
This week I’ll be looking at the last part of ch.3 and the issue of wisdom. Is there such a thing as ‘good’ wisdom and ‘bad’ wisdom? How would you know? Find out what I’m talking about on Sunday as we build together a ‘faith that works’.
Remember, you can join us as we gather again in-person or you can connect through our website www.guelphbiblechapel.ca our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE
Thought for the Day: God desires to develop the character already in us
It’s God’s purpose to develop the character within that He’s already planted in us. We read in Proverbs 17: “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart”. Godly character is the result of the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification in every believer. Character, then, in the believer is a consistent manifestation of Jesus in his life. It’s the purity of heart that God gives becoming purity in action. God sometimes uses trials to strengthen character. We’ve been learning this in our study of James and a ‘faith that works’, but the Bible also says: “we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope”. God is pleased when His children grow in character. We read in the Psalms “you test the heart and are pleased with integrity”. God loves when we grow in character!
While its there to be developed and God helps us through the Holy Spirit, we still need to work to develop it. With that in mind, here’s our next tip:
Learn!
Once you become more devoted to Jesus, things should become different. I still remember that vividly in my own life. Christian musician Steven Curtis Chapman says, "What about the difference? What about the change? What about forgiveness? What about a life that's showing I'm undergoing a change?"
In order to see that change take root we need to learn. We learn about God, about his character, his desires for us and what Godly character looks like. We can do that through doing a Bible study, being part of a small group or reading Christian literature. A great resource we have at GBC are our libraries. We have an adult library in the Side Auditorium with amazing resources and an excellent children’s library upstairs in our Children’s Ministry Wing. Now that we’re reopening why not check out some books and use some of your time to learn? When you do, you can’t help but develop of character!
In His grip,
Pastor Chris
Virtual Concert of Prayer on June 24th!
Join the GBC family in a time of prayer for the youth over the summer and Oasis at 7:30 pm on June 24th! There will be a testimony, Scripture reading, and prayer for the needs of youth during the summer months and for Oasis. Connect details will come out next week.
Join us on Sunday in-person or on our livestream for Faith that Works!
This Sunday at 11am I’ll be continuing our series: “Faith that Works”, a look at the book of James.
This week I’ll be looking at the last part of ch.3 and the issue of wisdom. Is there such a thing as ‘good’ wisdom and ‘bad’ wisdom? How would you know? Find out what I’m talking about on Sunday as we build together a ‘faith that works’.
Remember, you can join us as we gather again in-person or you can connect through our website www.guelphbiblechapel.ca our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE
Thought for the Day: God desires to develop the character already in us
It’s God’s purpose to develop the character within that He’s already planted in us. We read in Proverbs 17: “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart”. Godly character is the result of the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification in every believer. Character, then, in the believer is a consistent manifestation of Jesus in his life. It’s the purity of heart that God gives becoming purity in action. God sometimes uses trials to strengthen character. We’ve been learning this in our study of James and a ‘faith that works’, but the Bible also says: “we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope”. God is pleased when His children grow in character. We read in the Psalms “you test the heart and are pleased with integrity”. God loves when we grow in character!
While its there to be developed and God helps us through the Holy Spirit, we still need to work to develop it. With that in mind, here’s our next tip:
Learn!
Once you become more devoted to Jesus, things should become different. I still remember that vividly in my own life. Christian musician Steven Curtis Chapman says, "What about the difference? What about the change? What about forgiveness? What about a life that's showing I'm undergoing a change?"
In order to see that change take root we need to learn. We learn about God, about his character, his desires for us and what Godly character looks like. We can do that through doing a Bible study, being part of a small group or reading Christian literature. A great resource we have at GBC are our libraries. We have an adult library in the Side Auditorium with amazing resources and an excellent children’s library upstairs in our Children’s Ministry Wing. Now that we’re reopening why not check out some books and use some of your time to learn? When you do, you can’t help but develop of character!
In His grip,
Pastor Chris