CONNECT AND GROW THROUGH CLASSES AND GROUPS
Today I bring to you a brief devotional thought and a clear opportunity.
When you squish grapes, grape juice comes out. When you press apples, apple juice comes out. When you squeeze oranges, orange juice comes out. What is inside something is what comes out under pressure; it’s the only thing that can come out. You can’t get anything else no matter how hard you wish for it.
What’s inside you? What comes out of you under pressure? Is it good? Is it sad? Are you proud of what is inside you? Are you embarrassed and hope no one ever has to see it? Do you regret what comes out of at times? Do you wish that something else would come out? Do you want to change what’s within you to something better?
I was reading the 16th chapter of 1 Samuel today and it contains this familiar and powerful verse, “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Which reminded me of this quote from Jesus to His disciples, “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
I have good news for all of us…we can change what we have stored up inside us. Jesus has sent to us the Holy Spirit and gifted us opportunities to learn and grow and change from bad “trees” to good “trees”. How do we do this? The most common way is learning and applying God’s Word consistently over time in an encouraging group of other Christians like you.
Below there are clear opportunities, please consider them. Deer Flat’s fall classes and groups are about to kick off and you can take part in them; we have more than ever! You can invest in your heart and mind at the same time connecting with other followers of Jesus and encouraging one another.
So, I challenge you to pick one or two and try them out. Most only go for a set number of weeks. Others you can easily come and go at leisure. Either way, meet a few people and learn something new. Store up in your heart the things of God so that those things can spill out of you in the times of pressure that are sure to come.
Connect and Grow with Deer Flat Adult Ministries
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”
Thank You, Jesus. What a great promise.
Pastor Martin
FALL CLASSES AND LIFE GROUPS
GO TO DEERFLAT.ORG/GROUPS FOR DETAILS ON EACH GROUP/CLASS
SUNDAY – FIRST SERVICE
I & II TIMOTHY – Gary & Jackie Andrews
9:15 am in Room 5 (ongoing class)
I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH FAITH TO BE AN ATHEIST – R Vincent Warde
9:15 am in Room 8 (September 17-December 3)
COLLEGE & CAREERS LIFE GROUP – Emily TenHulzen
9:30 am in Room 11 (ongoing class)
MIKE & MONICA WILLIAMSON LIFE GROUP
9 am in Room 26 (ongoing)
SUNDAY – SECOND SERVICE
GOSPEL OF MARK – Joel Radford
10:30 am in Room 5 (ongoing)
GOD HAS A NAME – Jack Duerksen
10:30 am in Room 8 (ongoing)
UNDERSTANDING DEPRESSION – Ginny Noyes & Karen Whittaker
10:45 am in Room 2 (October 22 – November 12)
SHEPHERDING A CHILD’S HEART – Dain Johnson
10:45 am in Room 4 (September 17 – December 3)
REGISTER HERE
THE OLD TESTAMENT LIKE YOU’VE NEVER KNOWN IT – Dave & Jerri McGarrah
10:45 am in Room 65 (September 17 – November 5)
REGISTER HERE
TUESDAYS
MEN’S HURST, HABITS & HANG-UPS STUDY – Celebrate Recovery
7 pm in Room 39 (Beginning September 12)
WOMEN’S HURST, HABITS & HANG-UPS STUDY – Celebrate Recovery
7 pm in Room 4 (Beginning September 12)
“PAUL’S LETTERS” WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – Pauline Andrews
6:30 pm in Greenleaf (Beginning September 12)
REGISTER HERE
WEDNESDAYS
“WHEN YOU PRAY” WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – Roth/Vahsholtz/TenHulzen
10 am in Room 5 (September 13 – November 1)
EMBRACE GRACE – Kelly Brooks
6 pm in Room 8 (September 13 – November 29)
“PAUL’S LETTERS” WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY – Pauline Andrews
6:30 pm in Greenleaf (Beginning September 13)
REGISTER HERE
THURSDAYS
“COVENANT” PRECEPT BIBLE STUDY – Sue Walz
9:30 am in Room 5 (September 7 – November 16)
ADULT SINGLES LIFE GROUP – Bill Addington, Jan Hansen, Kay Wienland
6:30 pm in Room 58 (Sept 14 & 18, Oct 12 & 26, Nov 9 & 30, Dec 14 & 28)
CELEBRATE RECOVERY / THE LANDING / CELEBRATE KIDS
Dinner 6 pm / Large Group 7 pm / Small Groups 8 pm (ongoing)
Room 30 (Ongoing)
SATURDAYS
MEN’S BIBLE STUDY – Phil Whitbeck
8 am in Room 65 (Ongoing)