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Current Sermon Series

Chazown: A Different Way to See Your Life

based on the book by Craig Groeschel

Vision and Purpose: Dream It, Live It, Attain It

What if there was a different way to live your life? What if you knew the purpose of your life, what you were made for? What if you knew the great calling that you have upon your life? Would you live your life differently?

Every person looks for a great purpose for their life, yet few find and live out their true calling. Living out your calling gives you purpose, courage, endurance, and strength to make it through some of life's toughest battles. God created you and designed you for His great purpose.

Are you ready to find your purpose and live out your calling? If, so, then join us for this sermon series as we find our calling and live life on purpose.

	To visit the description of the Chazown book, written by Craig Groeschel, on Amazon.com, click here.

January 4 ~

Made for This

Big Idea: FIND your calling + LIVE your calling = DISCOVER purpose, passion and peace

January 11 ~

Mission Discovery

Big Idea: God had given you a calling....Your eyes must be open, your heart must be ready to discover the truth.

January 18 ~

One Step at a Time

Big Idea: God's calling begins with your willingness to take the first step

January 25 ~

Living the Dream

Big Idea: God cares about the small stuff...it is here where I live out my calling.

Don't miss...

A complimentary Wednesday evening 5-week session based on this book with Michael Brooks, starting January 14 in room 112 at 6:15pm for one hour.

Upcoming Sermon Series

February 1, 8, 15:

Money, Possessions and Eternity

February 22, March 1, 8:

How to Win at Life

Previous Sermon Series

Wishing For This

It's that time of year when we think about our hopes and dreams for another year, another day, and another season. Christmas time is a magical time in which it almost seems like our hopes, dreams, and wishes can become a reality. Through this sermon series we ask the simple question: What are you wishing for this Christmas? The answer for many is as straight forward as the question. They are looking for Peace, Hope, and most importantly a Christmas Miracle. Does God know our wishes?  Can He make them come true?

December 14 ~ Wishing for Peace

Big Idea – Peace Comes to those Who Seek the Giver of Peace

The Big Idea of this sermon brings us to the first of three major points during this Christmas season. With the state of our economy and the nature of war and natural disasters that have hit this country over the last year, people are in a state of disbelief and a great time of stress. In such a season as the one in which we are now living many people are looking for a little bit of Peace during this holiday season: Peace from War, Peace from a failing & ailing economy, and peace from the stress, depression, and despair that comes with such a time of trial.

Click here for the 12 Prayers of Christmas Booklet

December 21 ~ Wishing for Hope

Big Idea – Hope is Where the Heart is

The Big Idea brings us to the second wish that many people are wishing for this Christmas and that is for something to hold onto in uncertain times, a little wisdom and guidance in unknown territories where they have never been before, and most of all for a hope that would last for more than a mere moment but for a sustaining hope that will give them reassurance that everything will be alright. This hope only come from God and the promise He gives to His children alone, that He will provide and He will never abandon us if we just walk with Him in faithfulness.

December 24 (Christmas Eve Service) ~ Wishing for a Christmas Miracle

Big Idea – Looking for a Miracle, Look to Jesus

This Big Idea is the final wish that we here uttered in the darkest hours of the night by lips that are barely whispering these words and with tear stained eyes that are having trouble seeing past the cloud of uncertainty and the troubled times ahead. The prayer that people are wishing to come true this Christmas is for a true Christmas Miracle to take place and for God to deliver them in their hour of need!

December 28 ~ Celebration Sunday

One combined service at 9:30am.

Middle East Meltdown

Series Memory Verse

Matthew 24:33

Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.

Define and discuss some Biblical signs that point to the Second Coming of Christ. Why is this important knowledge for Christians to discover today?

Through this series begin reading through Revelation and highlight key signs of the coming of Christ. Why is it important for us as Christians to ready our hearts and minds?

November 16 ~ Interpreting the Times

November 23 ~ All Eyes on Israel

December 7 ~ The End of Days

Recommended Resources

What in the World is Going On? 10 Prophetic Clues You Cannot Ignore By Dr. David Jeremiah. Visit Dr. David Jeremiah's website.

Epicenter: Why the Current Rumblings in the Middle East Will Change Your Future by Joel Rosenberg. Visit Joel Rosenberg's website.

November 30

(Thanksgiving Sermon) ~ Thank You God For...

Pastor Doug Wiggers will lead us in this special series as we reflect on what we can be Thankful for during this annual holiday celebration.

How Would Jesus Vote?

October 26 - November 2

Memory Verse

Proverbs 29:2

When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.

Veteran's Day Focus

November 9 - Free meal after service for all attenders!

Memory Verse

Romans 5:7-8

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The Office

For most people, it's a necessity. For some, it's a passion. And for others, it's a four-letter word to be avoided as much as possible. But for all of us, only one perspective on work really matters: God's.

Series Memory Verse:

Colossians 3:23 - Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men...

September 28 ~

Join us as special guest speaker Ray Hilbert from Truth@Work will launch this new series with "I Was Made for This."

Big Idea:

Work is meant to be a Blessing, not a Curse

Join us for a special Saturday Morning "Purpose to Your Work Seminar led by Truth@Work on October 4 - click for details.

October 5 ~ My Boss Will Never Know

How do you deal with unethical practices at work?

Big Idea:

Integrity = One Person in Two Worlds

October 12 - My Career vs. My Calling

Employees want a person worth following. And as bosses or supervisors, we are responsible for the people God has entrusted us. By bringing our Christian values into the workplace and living out our calling, we can create great environments that could change our fellow workers lives.

October 19 ~ Going Public

Christianity is not supposed to be personal and private; we are to be lights in the darkness. Our light shines best when our character is developed to reflect God. People will see that our faith is about a relationship, not a religion.

Big Idea:

Share the Secret...Save a Soul

Shattered

If you could live a life free of worry and anxiety,
would you be interested?

What do you worry about on a daily basis? Do you worry about death, life, war, natural disasters? Lose sleep over your relationship with your spouse or with your children? How about the economy or your finances?

Come and discover a lifestyle that can be grace-driven instead of stress-ridden during the Shattered series Sundays at 8:45 or 10:30a.

September 7 ~ Shattered Lives
September 14 ~ Shattered Families
September 21 ~ Shattered Finances

Series Passage: Psalm 40:1-3 (NIV)

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

Series Question

What if you could live a life free of worry and anxiety, would you be interested?

Series Prayer

Oh, Lord Hear My Cry. Help me turn my worry into Praise of your Holy Name!

Special 7-Week Sunday School Classes

To aid in putting the pieces back together, join a new 7 week Sunday Morning Bible study directly related to the series: Value-Packed Parenting, Maximum Marriage, or Budgeting 101 - click here for details.

August 31 ~ "Labor Day Life"

ONE SERVICE this
Labor Day Holiday weekend
at 9:30am

Youth Pastor Chad Allen delivering the message

Memory verse:  Psalm 145:4

One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.

Disability Awareness Sunday ~

Mephibosheth Ministries presents
"Camp Mephibosheth Worship Service"

August 24, 2008

our disABILITY ministry presents special Guest speaker Tony Wilhelm, Director of Coaches Ministry for the Indiana chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, who will share his testimony from Camp Mephibosheth, conducted at Rainbow Christian Camp in July. Tony is featured at right in red, preparing a camper for the rock climbing wall.

Worship will be led by Friends Unlimited and Ed Moore, our Tuesday night Worship & Fellowship group.

One Month to Live

Losing My Religion

BIG IDEA: It is time to lose your religion and follow Jesus!

Have you ever felt like there was meant to be more to life? You are just drifting, overwhelmed by stress, work, and you are always pressed for time--you find yourself merely going through the motions. You just want FREEDOM! You want to be saved from this hum-drum life you're living. You just want to experience life the way it was meant to be. If this describes you, then we invite you to find the freedom, life, and the answers you are looking for by losing your religion.

July 6 ~

Finding Freedom - Galatians 5:1, 13-14

This message will focus on helping each person discover what it means to trade their sorrow, shame and sin for God's peace, hope, and forgiveness. Satan uses these things against us in our lives to keep us in bondage...but Christ has been sent to free us!

July 13 ~

Finding Jesus - John 6:25-40

This message will focus on the aspect of shedding our religious traditions and forms in order to truly find and live for Jesus Christ in a life-fulfilling way.

July 20 ~

Finding Life - Philippians 1:20-21

This message will focus on the concept of what it means to live a fulfilled life of purpose and mission. We will explore what this statement means: to live is Christ, to die is gain! This is opposite of the world's advise. We'll discover what this means in practical terms.

Fish Tales

Fishing can be fun, but what is someone's life depends upon it? What does it mean to reach the lost in a lost world? This message series will equip with the knowledge and passion to reach the lost.

June 1 ~

We Were All Fish Once

Jesus wants to make His followers fishers of men. God will take and shape the potential of His followers so that they will be perfectly positioned in someone else's life to help them understand how to be a follower of Christ.

click here to see the Casting Crowns "Does Anybody Hear Her" video

June 8 ~

Why Fish?

Why bother to try to convince people to accept Christ? Salvation is found in no one else but the name of Jesus. As followers of Christ, we have to fish, because the message of salvation is not intuitive; it must be shared.

Pastor Ben Radant, our Children's Minister, is presenting the message this week

June 14, Father's Day ~

Fishing Buddies

What's the relationship between building a family upon Christ and being a fisher of men? Come and find out this Sunday.

June 22 ~

Muddy Waters

Becoming a Christian isn't about praying a prayer, attending church, or becoming committed to God. The message of Christ is simple: God loved us enough to give His Son, Jesus, to die for us. All He asks of us is that we place our trust in Him, and He will give us eternal life.

June 29 ~

The One That Got Away

It is easy to become consumed in our Christian world, and forget about those who don't know God. It is our responsibility to go back to those people and share what we've discovered.

Pastor Chad Allen, our Youth Minister, is presenting the message this week

fish graphic image © Babusi Octavian florentin | Dreamstime.com

Desperate Households

We go beneath the surface to consider the struggles that every married couple faces - with love, communication and raising kids.

Mother's Day, May 11 ~

Desperate Housewives

click here for the booklet "Desperate Application for Desperate Households"

May 18 ~

Desperate Communication

May 25 ~

Desperate Parenting

click here for the booklet "Desperate Advice for Deseperate Parents"

Vertical

Taking Prayer to the Next Level

Does it ever seem like your prayers merely hit the ceiling and go no farther? Have you ever longed for a deeper connection with the One the Created you? If so then this series will light your soul on fire as you gain a fresh persepctive on what it means to experience God.

April 27 ~

Why Pray?

May 4 ~

How to Listen to God

Stay after second service for a Spaghetti Luncheon in the family life center.
Your donations will help support the youth mission trip to the Apache nation in Arizona with Dunamis Ministries.

Untouchables

This sermon series will focus on how Christians should respond to the most controversial social and moral issues facing our society today!

Pornography, Divorce, Abortion, Homosexuality...topics that are too hot for many churches to handle. We will explore some of the most important social and moral issues of our time and bring them into the light of God's Word.

March 30 ~ Pornography

click here for the booklet "Pornography Talking Points" made available for this service

April 6 ~ Abortion

click here for the booklet "Abortion: Discussing the Facts of Life" made available for this service

April 13 ~ Divorce
(VERTICAL youth service available for 6th grade and up this week at 10:30am)

April 20 ~ Homosexuality

We encourage families to take advantage of children's programming during this sermon series which will contain content you may want to filter for elementary school and below. Children can attend Sunday School during the 8:45am service, or children's worship at 10:30am.

It's the End of the World as We Know It

And I Feel Fine!

It's the end of the world as we know it. The world is changing all around us. There is an increase in corruption, hatred, racism, war, death, and disease.

Is all hopeless, or is there hope to be found?

One birth, one life, one death marks a tranformational change to our world. Find the Hope you are looking for as we discover more about where our confidence, strength, and security comes from.

This series will focus on helping people gain the confidence of living with strength, surety, and hope in a world that is ever changing and ever declining both morally and socially. Let us be able to respond: It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel FINE.

March 2 ~ A World-Changing Conviction

March 9 ~ A World-Changing Forgiveness

March 16 ~ Palm Sunday ~ A World-Changing Sacrifice

March 23 ~ Easter ~ A World-Changing Victory

Liquid Money

Only when we follow His insight and apply His wisdom to our finances that we can begin to experience financial success and financial freedom.

February 3 ~ The Source

February 10 ~ The Squeeze

February 17 ~ The Flow

February 24 ~ The Overflow

Start the New Year with a Fresh Start

Are you looking for a Fresh Start in your job, marriage, relationships, or life in general?

Starting January 6, 2008, find out how to get what you are looking for as you join us for an unforgettable series that will give you the fresh start that you need.

January 6 ~ Starting with a Fresh Focus

January 13 ~ Finding a Fresh Purpose

January 20 ~ Focusing on a Fresh Practice

January 27 ~ Living a Fresh Life

Our new church identity and our 2008 all-church theme was unveiled on January 27:

December 30, 2007~ Enlarging Your Cup

Becoming a "self-feeder"

Pastor Steven Hancock

One combined service at 9:30am.

Are You the Grinch?

Busyness, Materialism, Selfishness. The Grinch. This mean green creature could easily be described with these three words and many others. Each weekend, you'll experience the antidote of becoming overwhelmed by the busyness and the hectic schedule of the holiday season which ultimately turns you into the Grinch.

December 2 ~ Robbing Your Peace: Busyness

December 9 ~ Robbing Your Hope: Materialism

December 16

Cancelled due to weather

December 23 ~ Christmas Cantata "Shine on Us"

Both services will focus on celebration through song and worship. One combined service at 9:30am.

Pastor Tim will conclude the series with "Is Selfishness Robbing Your Joy?

December 24 - Christmas Eve Service at 7pm

Walking the Path of Praise and Thanksgiving

This sermon series will focus on the different reasons why Christians can praise God on a daily basis even during the midst of times of persecution, trials, tribulations, and times of victory. We will examine what it means to walk the path of praise and thanksgiving and how this relates to true victory found within Jesus Christ. The challenge throughout this series will be for each Christian to bring a prayer of thanksgiving and praise up to God on a daily basis no matter what difficulties they may be facing on that day.

November 4 ~ Reach, Teach, Serve

November 11 ~ Walking the Path of Praise

Annual Harvest Sunday for the Food Pantry ~ Bring All You Can - click here for details.

November 18 ~ Walking the Path of Thanksgiving

Disability Ministry Focus with Ed Moore of Mephibosheth Ministries

November 25 ~ Walking the Path of Worship

Worship & Music Minister Doug Wiggers will deliver the message.

Identity Theft

September 9 - October 28

We're launching our fall quarter with this new series on helping you find your identity, and being confident in who you are.

Devotional Guide

A Devotional Study Guide and a Leader's Guide are available for home fellowships to study in tandem with these sermons. Pick one up at the Home Fellowship table in the hallway on the north side of the foyer, or view/print an adobe acrobat file at the link to the bottom right.

September 9 ~ Being Ordained into Christ

One service at 9:30am featuring an Elder Ordination

You are ordained into Christ

September 16 ~ Day One - Realization Hits

You are not who you want to be

September 23 ~ Day Two - Claiming Your True Identity

You are a child of God

September 30 ~ Let's Serve

Youth Sunday - Message both services by our Youth Minister Chad Allen and worship lead by the "Against the Flow" youth worship band.

October 7 ~ Day Three - Removing the Obstacle of Doubt

You are sealed by God

October 14 ~ Day Four - The Day of Restoration is Here

You are restored by God

October 21 ~ Day Five - Putting on Strength

You are a Spiritual Warrior

Annual Vision Meeting for the congregation at 6:30pm

October 28 ~ Day Six - Living Out Your New Identity

You are the Messenger

Go Deeper: 90 Day Bible Reading Challenge

reading plans for all ages! You can do it! No special Bible needed. Use your own Bible (read from any translation you wish) and follow guide (choose one of four) to complete your challenge.   Start reading September 2 and end by December 2. We will celebrate our accomplishments as a church on December 2 in Sunday morning worship.   Want a better chance at success? Get an accountability partner and encourage each other to stay on plan. Pick up a laminated card of your challenge choice (All - Entire Bible, Selected passages for Teens, Elementary, or Read to Children) in your bulletin, in youth or children's worship, or at the table at the Information Desk in the foyer starting August 26. Start September 2 and end by December 2. We will celebrate our accomplishments on December 2 in Sunday morning worship. Use a wax pencil or crayon to mark your progress on the laminated card, and use the card over and over again. Give a card to a friend and invite them to join the challenge. Catch up: the plan to read the entire Bible offer two "catch up" days; Teen, Elementary and Read to Children plans offer one "catch up" day a week. Access the plan online if you don't have it with you! See below. Requires Adobe Acrobat. Adults & Others! Read the entire Bible in 90 Days ~ click here Teens Select Psalms, Proverbs and New Testament Passages ~ click here Elementary / Young Readers Select Psalms, Proverbs and New Testament Passages ~ click here To Read to Children Select Passages from the Old and New Testament ~ click here		Go Deeper: 90-Day Bible Reading Challenge This sermon series will be focused on helping each person learn the spiritual implications and importance of reading the Word of God on a daily basis. The series challenge will be to partner with one or more fellow believers and participate in the "90 Day Bible Reading Challenge," of reading the Bible per the available reading chart (get yours here or at the church) starting September 9. series dates: August 26 ~ The Most Practical and Wonderful Book September 2 ~ Equipping You for Glory view the webmaster's blog about her journey with the 90 Day Challenge

Experiencing an Awakening

Revival isn't something to watch, it is something to experience!

This sermon series is based on II Chronicles 7:14:

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Prayers that Birth Revival

Pastor Tim encourages you, as part of this series, to pray through the 25 points based on II Chronicles 7:14. If you didn't get a copy of the card, you can view it online here (Life Action Ministries and Pray! Magazine from NavPress)

Series Dates:

July 8 ~ Experiencing an Awakening

Understanding Revival

July 15 ~ Weeping Between the Porch and the Altar

Humility

July 22 ~ Desperate Prayer for Desperate Times

Prayer

July 29 ~ Transforming

Family Sunday ~ Message both services by our Children's Minister Ben Radant. Kids and adults alike won't want to miss the TRANSFORMER "Bumblebee" who will be here! (children ages 4 and above join the corporate worship service at 10:30am. Sunday School will meet as normal at 8:45am)

August 5 ~ Ascending the Hill of the Lord

Seeking the Face of God

August 12 ~ Breaking up the Fallow Ground

Repentance

August 19 ~ Living for the Blessing

The Blessing

How Good is Good Enough?

June 17 (Father's Day)

Portrait of a Father

June 24

How Good is Good Enough?

July 1

Why Should I Become a Christian?

Good Question!

This sermon series is the response to your answers to the question "What is the number one question your non-Christian friend has about Christianity?"

May 20

Do All Religions Lead to Heaven?

May 27

How Does Anyone Know God Really Exists?

June 3

Is the Bible Reliable?

June 10

Why Does God Allow Suffering?

Six Virtues of a Woman of Excellence

May 13 (Mother's Day) - Baby Dedication Day in 10:30 service.

Be sure to fill out the card in your bulletin on the first Sunday of this series and turn it in to receive a "40 Days with Jesus Devotional Guide"   Click here to see the devotional guide in pdf format.

March 18 Extreme Makeover: Soul Edition March 25 Surviving Sorrow April 1 Living on the Inheritance April 8 Building a Bridge April 15 Being Consumed by Passion April 22 Persevering With Peace April 29 Pursuing Purity May 6 Standing for Your Faith

Stewardship University

February 18 Understanding the Basics of Stewardship February 25 Laying Up Treasures in Heaven March 4 Living a Life of Luxury March 11 How Now Shall I Give?   Cicero Christian Church is offering "Financial Peace University" through Family Night Study Summer 2007!
	Dave Ramsey's The Total Money Makeover resource available for $10 - check with Nancy Reed to see if more are available visit Dave Ramsey's website

Making Room for Life

January 14 The Problem: Squeezing the Living Out of Life January 21 The Solution: Restructuring our Relationships and Time January 28 The Obstacles: Overcoming Bad Habits and Myths About Raising Children February 14 The Reality: Practical Steps to Making Room for Life

Responding to Controversy

February 4, 2007

Cultivating Community January 7, 2007 Cultivating Community: One Another, Neighborhood and God is our theme for 2007. This week Pastor Tim will launch the theme and chart the course for 2007 and beyond.

December 3 Shopping for the Reason, or the Season? December 10 Shopping for Majesty in the Midst of the Mundane December 17 Shopping for the Perfect Present December 24 (morning) Shopping for a Little Piece of Heaven December 24 (evening Candlelight Service) The Meaning of the Manger

Setting the Table for Thanksgiving

November 5

Setting the Heart Ablaze

Daniel 3:1-18

November 12

Enlisting for Service - Veterans' Day Emphasis and Meal

II Timothy 2:1-7

November 19

Experiencing a Life of Joy - Friends Unlimited from Mephibosheth Ministries, Inc. will lead us in morning worship. (click for more info on Mephibosheth Ministries)

John 15:9-12

Join us for the All-Church Thanksgiving Meal (5:30p) and Concert by Higher Ground at 6:30p.

November 26

Living of Life of Thanksgiving

Psalm 100:1-5

Living Beyond Myself

October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Discover joy through serving others! One of the greatest realizations of a Christ-follower can make is this: You have been created and equipped to live an abundant life filled with joy and extraordinary fulfillment. And Christ says that to live this pulse-quickening, satisfying life, all that’s needed is to mirror his habit of serving the people around you. But where do you begin?

Pastor Bill will launch the series and Pastor Tim, rejuvenated from his short vacation (hopefully!) will continue and finish the series inspired by the materials of Bill Hybels, author of The Volunteer Revolution: Unleasing the Power of Everybody, and the small group study Living Beyond Myself.

October is the month that we will focus on Team Ministry. Our annual evaluation of team ministry occurs in the fall, and we will have a Team Ministry Fair during morning sessions on Sunday, October 22.

September 17 & 24

Pastor Tim Lueking will continue to explore the theme of Prayer and take us to a deeper level with the subject of Fasting.

In preparation for the series, you may want to read the Personal Guide to Fasting and Prayer by Bill Bright from Campus Crusade for Christ. Click on the graphic to link to this material online.

Suggested reading:  The Beginners Guide to Fasting by Elmer Towns; Fasting for the Spiritual Break-Through by Elmer Towns; 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting & Prayer by Bill Bright.

Cicero Christian Church 1715 Stringtown Pike  Cicero, IN 46034  317.984.4653