Dear GEBC Family:

God uses us! God is the one who saves, but he delights in using us to reach others with the message of the gospel. On Sunday, November 13, we began our third EQUIPPING initiative, which is SHARE. Our goal in this effort is to learn to better SHARE our faith with family, friends and strangers.

We want to learn how to better initiative conversation of faith, because we know that eternal destinies will change as people hear the gospel. We also want to learn to better share our faith because we have been told to do so. Christians are a people “sent out.” We have been commissioned to go and make more disciples and we want to be obedient in that effort. Finally, we want to learn to share our faith because it drives the roots of our faith deeper.In the New Testament book of Philemon, Paul writes:

I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.  Philemon 1:6 (NIV)

There is direct link between the activity of sharing our faith, and our knowledge of the good things we have in Christ? We would all welcome a greater understanding of every good thing we have in Christ, but we can also be hesitant to share our faith.  Unfortunately, our hesitancy gets in the way of our more fully understanding every good thing we have in Christ.

And we realize that we are each at different places in the process of learning to share our faith. For that reason, we have identified activities for growth depending upon our level of maturity. Look over the different maturity levels listed below, along with the corresponding activities, and ask God to help you identify the activities that will best help you grow. On Sunday, November 20, we will further explain each of these activities and work together to accomplish them throughout the winter. Note that two of the activities we are asking everyone to be a part in December.

In Christ,

Kelly Brady
Senior Pastor

ACTIVITIES FOR EVERYONE

1. Family-Based Sunday School (11/27/11-12/18/11)
   This four-week class if offered on Sunday mornings, during all three hours (8:30, 9:50 & 11:10 a.m.), and is aimed at helping us learn to cultivate spiritual conversations. Each Sunday morning, participants will sing together two theologically-rich Christmas carols, learn about Jesus' birth and God's plan of salvation, share in a craft or activity, as well as discuss the meaning and application of the passage to our daily lives. Contact Kristen Marquardt, Children's Ministries Director, with questions. Register online. All participants must register.
2. Christmas Unwrapped!
   A multimedia resource offered to help families worship at home on Sunday morning, December 25, this program includes a 15-minute DVD devotional taught by Kelly Brady, Senior Pastor, three Christmas carols, lead by the GEBC Worship Band, and a craft for the family to do together. This is a great way to share your faith with your family and friends this Christmas. To order your copy of Christmas Unwrapped!, click here.

listen to pastor kelly brady's introduction to sharing:

Glen Ellyn Bible Church | 501 Hillside Avenue | Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 | 630.469.2964