Consumed by John 3:16

This Sunday, we enjoyed sweet fellowship and worship together as a church. There is a warm Spirit of real family unity among Torch Community Church. And I truly believe that as long as we continue honoring God by doing church the right way, that He will bless us with the continual presence of His Spirit.

We discussed the simple idea of being overwhelmed and consumed by John 3:16. Being consumed by this verse allows us to Live out our Purpose, Live Theologically, and Live Loved. Being consumed by John 3:16 allows you to be a brightly shining Torch for Christ in you community and transparent and accountable internally. It also helps you to understand God's amazing love for you and the entire world, giving His only Son to die on a cross for the forgiveness of EVERYONE's sin.Finally, I sincerely hope you know yourself loved right now. And that in the midst of life's storms, you can find rest in His love. Real rest for your soul. Be consumed by John 3:16 today.Some Quick Announcements::
Church Fellowship: This Sunday, after the morning Worship service, BJ and Jennifer invite everyone back to their house for lunch! We will grill out hotdogs and hamburgers outside on our back deck, and have the Bengals game on inside. Everyone just bring a dish (side item or dessert) as we take advantage of what may be our last Sunny and warm Sunday before Winter sets in.

Missions:
Operation Christmas Child - For the next 2 Sundays, we will be collecting OCC shoeboxes to be shipped around the world to children who don't get Christmas, creating an opportunity to share God's love practically as well as the Gospel message with these children. You can find out more information, including following your box, at www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC

Hurricane Sandy - This is just a word to get ready. In the coming weeks, as the devastation from Hurricane Sandy is calculated, we at Torch will partner with other Christian organizations and figure out how we can get involved. So if you are interested or able, save those vacation days for work, because we plan not only on giving, but on actually GOING!

Life Groups: Be sure to attend one of our Membership Matters Bible Studies, either on Sunday morning at 9:30 at PeeWee's, or on Tuesday evenings at 7 at Kris Cardosi's house. They are identical studies, so the nights can be interchangeable for your convenience. Our goal is to launch out of this with a few Life Groups to connect with starting the week of November 18th!

Budget update:

October offerings
10/7/2012: 636.00
10/14/2012: 682.00
10/21/2012: 546.00
10/28/2012: 530.00

Pray for me, pray for Torch,
BJ Sanders 

Isaiah 60:1-2
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord shines over you.
For look, darkness covers the earth,
and total darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will shine over you,
and His glory will appear over you.

High and Lifted Up

Torch,
I hope that today finds you overwhelmed and satisfied in Jesus. I know that yesterday, spending time with you over breakfast, into worship, celebrating communion, talking about Jesus; all of that filled my soul. I am ready for the week because of the joy, fellowship, and peace given my soul through the church family I get to call my own at Torch Community Church. If you were there yesterday, you understand what I mean. I have a challenge for you. Everyone who was at Torch yesterday, think about someone who wasn't there, and give them a call to let them know you care and that they were missed! Right now!

Nicodemus had quite a conversation with Jesus. A conversation that contains for us many practical and important spiritual truths. As a reminder from yesterday's message:
 
Through Christ, we encounter a Real Savior.
Nicodemus so filled his life with religion, that in the end he was left empty and desperate for something real. Desperate for God. And there comes a point in all of our lives where empty religion is just too shallow. All the sudden, the churches, religious institutions, and even other Christians have nothing more to say or offer us. There comes a point when nothing but a deep relationship with the real God, the true God, will do. It is in that place that we come like Nicodemus to find God in the middle of the night. Get desperate for God.

Through Christ, we experience Real Life.
The purpose of Jesus’ uplifting, as was the purpose of the uplifting of the bronze serpent in the wilderness, was the salvation (deliverance) of those who believed. By comparing Himself to that serpent Jesus was teaching that whoever trusted in Him and His death would receive eternal life.

What are you doing to experience more life in Christ? To grow in Christ? Three strong suggestions: 
1. Get involved in Life Groups (Come to our Membership Matters Bible Study to discover more on this).
2. Get involved in serving.
3. Get rid of sin. Sin leads to death.

Next week, we will be discussing the incredible and powerful verse of John 3:16. You've seen it in the stands at basketball games, now discover anew for yourself.

If you missed yesterday's message, you can listen to it here.
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Also, if you'd like to become a member at Torch, start here.
And we ask that everyone gets busy nominating Elders and Deacons here.

Pray for me, pray for Torch,
BJ Sanders 

Isaiah 60:1-2
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord shines over you.
For look, darkness covers the earth,
and total darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will shine over you,
and His glory will appear over you.