This week we start our new series on Ephesians!  Bill will be preaching an introduction message to the series.  We will be in and out of this series for the next 6 months!

In addition, we will review our mission together and hear about our upcoming Rescuing Ambition men's conference.

Finally, we will draw near to God in Christ and sing the following songs.

• Greater Than We Can Imagine
• Great Is the Lord
• As Long As You Are Glorified
• Just To Be With You
• Almighty

Come and join us this Sunday!

1. The students are back!  Each summer our church misses the joy and excitement of our college students, in VFC, as they go home for the summer.  Well, this Sunday marks their return!  So, I am excited about seeing all the students!

2. C.J. Mahaney is preaching. C.J. Mahaney, a well-known speaker and author and President of Sovereign Grace Ministries, will be preaching from the final verses of Jude.  C.J. is a dear friend of our church and is returning for his 3rd Sunday with us this summer!  So, I am excited about seeing C.J. and hearing him proclaim God's Word.

3. A testimony of saving grace.  This week in worship we will hear a testimony from a young man who was saved by grace just 5 months ago!  It will be a joy for us to hear him testify of grace and to remember our own conversions.

4. The privilege of singing praises to Jesus Christ.  Perhaps, most of all  I am excited about us gathering as a church to sing praises to Jesus Christ.  What a privilege!  Here are the songs we've planned to sing:

• Come Thou Fount
• Thank You For the Cross
• The Saving One
• All I Have Is Christ
• Thank You For Saving Me

I hope you share in my excitement for this Sunday.  See you there!

If you are new or have questions, check here for help!

In addition, we will worship God in song.  This week the band will be a bit smaller (and more acoustic!) and we will sing the following songs:

• Thank You For the Cross
• For the Cross
• Unashamed
• Just To Be With You
• All I Have Is Christ

Finally, we will be introduced to some new Care Group leaders, as we the July Care Group break ends next week!

CJ will finish preaching the book of Jude this week.  Since he only got to verse 1b last week, he'll finish by preaching the last 24 verses!  It will be a privilege to have CJ with us again.

In addition, Mark Altrogge, the senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Indiana, PA and an accomplished songwriter, will be leading worship!  Mark has been preaching at the Relay youth retreat ADVANCE this week.  It will be a privilege to have him with us.  We will sing the following songs:

• All Because of Jesus
• The Father's Love
• God over All
• As Long As I Have Breath
• All I Have Is Christ

Most of all, it is privilege to worship God together as a church, as those called, beloved by God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ!

Join us!

In addition, we will be singing the following songs in corporate worship, as we treasure the Risen Savior together:

• My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less
• Happy Day
• The Saving One
• What A Savior
• There Is A Fountain

Join us this Sunday!

In addition, we will celebrate the Lord's Supper together and sing the following songs during corporate worship:

• O For A Thousand Tongues (David Crowder)
• The Saving One (Starfield)
• All I Have Is Christ (Sovereign Grace Music)
• Completely Done (Sovereign Grace Music)
• Behold the Lamb (Keith and Kristyn Getty)
• There Is a Fountain

See you on Sunday morning!

This week we will continue our What Is a Christian series by hearing a message by our senior pastor Bill Kittrell on the role of repentance.  We will also celebrate the goodness and faithfulness of God, as our Rest and our Reward, by singing the following songs:

• Greater Than We Can Imagine
• Almighty
• Great Is the Lord
• My Soul Finds Rest
• In Christ Alone

If you are able, take time to pray with us for our meeting this week!

We will continue our "What Is A Christian" series with a look at growth, discipleship, and accountability.  We will celebrate our mission together, by hearing a testimony from a lady in the church and giving to our monthly mission fund offering.  We will learn more about what God has in store for us with CornerstoneU in July.

We will also have the privilege to worship the living God in song together.  Here are some of the songs we will sing together:

• Forever
• Almighty
• How Great Is Your Faithfulness
• Great Is the Lord
• As Long As You Are Glorified
• Be Thou My Vision

We hope to see you there!

Here are some things you can ponder as you prepare for your CG discussion:

• Notwithstanding the uniqueness of Saul's conversion, what are some things all Christian conversions have in common with Saul's conversion?  How did this message encourage your faith in God to save? 

Pleae note:  This will be the last CG meeting before our yearly July break from CGs.  Enjoy your time together this week!

In addition, as always on Father's Day, we will honor one husband/father with our Redwood Award!

Here are some of the songs we have planned:

• The Father's Love
• This Is How We Know
• God over All
• Oh the Deep, Deep Love
• To the Cross

We look forward to seeing you Sunday!

Interested in a summer camp for the kids? CCK is offering 2 summer camps this year.  Click on one of the links below for more information!

Girls’ Dance Camp
June 22-25 from 10 am - 3 pm

Boys’ Basketball Camp
July 17 & 24 from 9 am-12 pm

Is Memorial Day important to observe?  I think so, and here’s why.

Romans 12 tells us to outdo one another in showing honor.  In so doing, we have opportunity to recognize the things of God and the grace of God at work in each others' lives.

So how do we glorify God on this Memorial Day?

1)  First, remember those who laid down their lives for the good of others, because of the great love that it demonstrates.  Especially remember that this points to that greatest love that Jesus spoke of in John 15.13:  “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.”  Self-sacrifice, in whatever form we see it, should remind us of the Savior.

2)  Second, remember the common grace of God that He has given to us.  Romans 13 tells us that the state exists as God’s instrument to restrain evil.  Let’s remember and be thankful for the times our nation and our military have been God’s instrument of restraining evil, and pray that it would do so again.

Happy Memorial Day!

Finally, we will sing the following songs:

• Come Thou Fount
• Almighty
• It Was Your Grace
• Great Is the Lord
• How Great Is Your Faithfulness

We look forward to seeing you Sunday!

We'll have the opportunity to build together relationally, pursue biblical fellowship, give and receive personal care, and most importantly seek to apply God's Word to our lives.

Sunday's message from James 3:13 - 4:12 was simply outstanding!  If you missed the message for any reason, or if you just want to hear it again, you can download it online through this link.

Here's a question you can ponder to prepare for CG and help you apply the message from James 3:

• Grace changes everything:  Do you typically "thank God for conflict" in your life?  How can this text of Scripture help you benefit from the conflicts in your life so that you view repentance as a delight?

Enjoy your CG meetings!

We will also be singing about God's holiness and his return through the following songs:

• Holy, Holy, Holy
• For You Are Holy
• Almighty (new song by Paul Baloche)
• Sing to the King
• His Name Is Jesus

We look forward to seeing you then!

In addition, during our time of singing, we will celebrate communion together.  We will (Lord willing) sing the following songs:

• This Is How We Know
• The Father's Love
• Oh the Deep Deep Love
• Nothing But the Blood of Jesus
• Jesus Thank You

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

We'll be discussing Bill's message from Sunday on James 2:14-26, entitled "Dead Faith."  The main point from this message is "examine your faith by examining your works." 

Here's a way you can prepare to apply this message -- Ask your roommate, spouse, friend, or CG Leader this question:

• "Is my faith active?  -- Do you see application of God's Word in my life? Am I a doer of the Word?" 

Let's all seek to be doers of God's Word and not hearers only.  Our CG Meetings can be a means of grace this week to help us to that end!

This Sunday we will continue our current series on the book of James!  Bill, our senior pastor, will be preaching from James 2:14-26.  We will have the choir help the worship team lead us in singing!  We will (Lord-willing) sing the following songs:

• A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
• Praise to the Lord
• Glorious and Mighty
• Praise the Name
• He is Jesus
• Beautiful Savior

In addition, we will celebrate Mother's Day and honor the women of CCK by awarding one woman with the annual Red Bud award.  May we all be filled with joy as we show honor to where God is at work! 

You can download all of them here.

Also, we will have an acoustic band and sing some of the following songs:

• Blessed Be Your Name
• As Long As You Are Glorified
• Out of the Depths
• My Soul Finds Rest
• It Is Well
• My Hope Is Built

We look forward to being with you tomorrow!

So, we will begin by singing songs about this mission and praying for the power of the Holy Spirit.  

Afterwards, Steve Teter, our friend and partner in ministry, will be here with us.  Steve is the senior pastor of Living Faith Church in Franklin, WV and is the father of two of our members, Bethany Teter Shipp and Amanda Teter.  Steve will be preaching about the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15.

Join us this Sunday!

Here is some of what we have planned.  We will study Acts 1:1-11 together.  We will hear a bit more about the women's conference.  And we will sing the following songs:

• The Glories of Calvary
• This Is How We Know
• God over All
• To The Cross
• In Christ Alone

Also, if you are new to our church or would like to attend, this is the day for you!  Immediately following the meeting, we have a guest lunch.  It will be all the home-cooked Bar-B-Q you can handle!  Join us!

We will celebrate this by singing together, extolling the worthiness of Christ and celebrating his work, by singing these songs:

• Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
• See, What a Morning
• Happy Day
• I Will Rise
• His Name Is Jesus

We will celebrate this by taking communion together, proclaiming his death through this symbolic meal.

We will celebrate this by hearing from God's Word together.  Bill will be preaching from the resurrection accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  It will be a joy to hear again what God has said in these accounts.

Invite your friends and family to celebrate this unique day on the church calendar with us.

For the 2nd week in a row, we heard a compelling message on Women's Ministry.  We were reminded that "our view of manhood and womanhood is a watershed issue that tests our obedience to the Scriptures" (Wayne Grudem).   

How kind of the Lord to instruct us in the areas of biblical manhood and womanhood!  

Care Groups meet this week, so we'll have the opportunity to discuss these messages with the intent of applying God's Word to our lives.  Whether you are a man or a woman, here's a question to help you prepare for your CG discussion this week:

For the women:  What can you do to grow in applying God’s Word to your life so that you increasingly adorn the gospel through biblical femininity? 

For the men:  How can you serve the women in your family and in our church?

May we all make the gospel attractive as we honor God in living according to His Word!

Next 2010 is a conference for singles, young married couples, and anyone who wants to see the gospel of Christ transferred to the next generation. This year, we’ll look at some of the essential doctrines of the Christian faith, and the difference they make in our lives. We’ll listen to teaching from men like Joshua Harris, D.A. Carson, Kevin DeYoung, and C.J. Mahaney. (We’ll also spend hours in passionate worship, stay up way too late talking with friends, and drink more coffee than anyone should.)

You can get free registration if you’re a single parent, or if you’re a pastor or leader bringing a group of eight or more from your church. Find out more at our website (click on "Register").

Next 2010 will be in Baltimore, Maryland, Memorial Day weekend (May 28–31). Be there.

Have you registered for Next 2010? Early-bird registration will save you $25, but it closes tomorrow night, March 31. Don’t be an April Fool and pay the higher rate—register here.

Next 2010 is a conference for singles, young married couples, and anyone who wants to see the gospel of Christ transferred to the next generation. This year, we’ll look at some of the essential doctrines of the Christian faith, and the difference they make in our lives. We’ll listen to teaching from men like Joshua Harris, D.A. Carson, Kevin DeYoung, and C.J. Mahaney. (We’ll also spend hours in passionate worship, stay up way too late talking with friends, and drink more coffee than anyone should.)

You can get free registration if you’re a single parent, or if you’re a pastor or leader bringing a group of eight or more from your church. Find out more at our website (click on "Register").

Next 2010 will be in Baltimore, Maryland, Memorial Day weekend (May 28–31). Be there.

Songs:

• See What a Morning
• The Father's Love
• You Alone Can Rescue
• In Christ Alone
• His Name is Jesus

Message:   Part 2 of Bill's message on women's ministry.

We are also continuing sign-ups for our upcoming Radical Womanhood Women's Conference.  We might even have a little surprise to encourage you to sign-up.

We can't wait to see you tomorrow.

Matt Mason, a pastor and worship leader at Lakeview Christian Center, will be leading worship tomorrow morning with me.  Along with Cornerstone, Lakeview Christian Center is a part of Sovereign Grace Ministries.  So, it is a joy to have Matt with us!  Some of the songs we will sing are:

• O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing
• The Father's Love
• Beautiful One
• Glorious and Mighty
• Thank You For Saving Me
• To The Cross

In addition, we will learn more about the upcoming women's conference entitled Radical Womanhood and hear a message from Bill about biblical manhood and womanhood.

If you are new to town or haven't visited Cornerstone and are reading this, we would love to have you with us tomorrow!

Care Groups meet this week, so we’ll get the opportunity to hear how God met all the college students during their time together at VQ.

Also, here’s a question to ponder as you prepare to discuss and apply the message from Sunday on 1 Tim. 3:14-17.

How did reviewing the authority, clarity, sufficiency, and necessity of the Word of God inspire your faith and confidence in God’s Word?

May God reveal himself to you as you seek Him in His Word this week!

Volunteers For Christ, our campus ministry, took 170 students to the Gulf of Mexico for five days of teaching, corporate worship, volleyball, fellowship, boogie boarding.  They needed your prayers.

Here are a few things we saw:

God opened up people's hearts to his Word throughout the week!  Through the teaching they were struck by the love of God, by the preciousness of salvation, by a divine perspective on life, and by the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.

God granted salvation to those who did not know Him.  In a group this size, there were bound to be people who did not know God.  God saved them by his grace.

There were wonderful times of biblical fellowship, people met new friends and grew in understanding of the blessings of friendship—in sharing life together.

God granted safe travel—in 2 buses and 6 vans—down to Laguna Beach, FL and back home to Knoxville.

And now please continue to pray that the effect of this week would last longer than just a week—that the teaching would take shape in their daily lives. 

This week will be our last week of the Mission Fund 2010!  These weeks have been unique and it'll be a bit sad to see them go.  So, don't forget to take time this week to carefully think how you can sacrifice for our mission together.

That said, Bill will be preaching this final Mission Fund message.  We were hear several stories of God's salvation.  We will take time to pray for our mission together, to commit to our mission together, and to celebrate and sing of our mission together!

During our corporate worship, we will—Lord-willing—sing the following songs:

• Jesus My Only Hope
• Happy Day
• Oh To See the Dawn
• You Alone Can Rescue
• His Name Is Jesus

In addition, for those of you attending the Exploring Cornerstone Church class, we will be considering the importance of relationships in the church this week.

See you tomorrow!

So, since I listen to music much of the day, I thought I'd pass a few albums on to you.  These are some of the albums I have been listening to recently:

Matt Redman's album We Shall Not Be Shaken is excellent.  Last week, we sang a song called "You Alone Can Rescue" during corporate worship and will probably sing several more off the album. However, though we may not sing every song at church, nearly every song on the album is great and would stir your heart as you go through your day.  You can purchase it here.

Paul Baloche's album Glorious is quite good as well.  I hope to introduce several songs from the album, including "Glorious," "You Have Saved Us," and "To The Cross."  The album has some good songs about the cross, but it also contains a wide variety of topics including suffering, the Lord's discipline, the second coming of Christ, the test of prosperity, and more.  You can purchase it here.

Three albums by Sovereign Grace—Psalms, To Be Like Jesus, and Sons and Daughters—are great as well.  In my personal opinion, the Psalms album is the best yet from Sovereign Grace and definitely worth purchasing.  You can purchase them here or in our church bookstore.

Finally, on lighter note, David Crowder*Band's album Church Music is cool.  You could probably pray/meditate to parts of it and do aerobics to other parts of it!  You can purchase it here.

Hope that helps you sing throughout the day and call your heart to rejoice in God!

Tomorrow, we will intentionally remember that much of what we do now as a church is meant to build for the next generation.  So, we will hear from them in video and we will sing with them—our very own Cornerstone Kids Praise.  We will be singing the following songs:

• Come People of the Risen King
• Greater Than We Can Imagine
• Gotta Wait
• Peace
• The Gospel Song

We look forward to seeing you then!

I trust your soul was fed and that you were inspired to praise the Lord by the vision of His glory, majesty, and goodness in Psalm 8.  "What is man that God is mindful of him?"

"O LORD, our Lord,

  how majestic is your name in all the

         earth!" -- Psalm 8:1;9

Our Care Groups meet this week, and in preparation for those meetings, I would encourage you to think about the following question:

• How have you been a recipient of God's gracious generosity, and how can you turn His blessings into praise?

May we all be filled with gratitude and praise as we continually give to the Lord the thanks due his Name!

Click here to fill out registration to help with Students for Hire. All the info is there and we greatly appreciate your help with our college ministry. The students, as well as the church, most definitely appreciate your help.

We will see a preview of the CCK Mission Fund 2010, hear one of our members recite Psalm 51, study Psalm 10 together, and learn about the Newly Married Seminar!  In addition, we will sing these songs:

• O For a Thousand Tongues
• What a Savior
• Not What My Hands
• Behold the Lamb
• Completely Done

See you then!

• Sunday Celebration service
• Exploring Cornerstone Church class
• Mission Team meeting for Vols For Christ

Though it is a bummer to be unable to gather together tomorrow, it is a great opportunity to gather as a family, or as a couple, or as a few singles to worship God.  You may even want to invite another family from the neighborhood over to worship with you!  There are many different things you could do.  

Try one of these:

Those are just a few suggestions.  However, our prayer is that God would still use this Sunday to build up our church—even though we will be scattered about!

Friday 1/29: Cornerstone Kid's Praise

Friday 1/29: Relay: Age of Opportunity

Saturday 1/30: CCK Choir Practice

Saturday 1/30: Boys' Basketball League

We look forward to seeing you Sunday morning!

You can also give financially to Sovereign Grace Disaster Relief, as they seek to help local churches in Haiti care for those who are suffering and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to them.

It seems like we have a wonderful meeting planned for this week.  Churches across America will be celebrating the Sanctity of Life and so will we.  Bill will be preaching from Psalm 139.  We will dedicate 15 babies.  We will hear some exciting announcements and we will sing the following songs:

• Doxology (Praise God From Who All Blessings Flow)
• Come People of the Risen King
• Greater Than We Can Imagine
• Glorious and Mighty
• How Great Is Our God
• How Good It Is

But, most importantly, we will gather as a church to draw near to the living God through faith in his Son.

If you've never attended Cornerstone, we would love to have you.  Our service starts 10:00am.  All the details are here.

This quote from Matthew Henry is worth repeating as we seek our soul's satisfaction in God alone: "All is well if God be mine."

Our Care Groups meet this week, so in preparation for those meetings, I want to encourage you to take time to consider the following question:

• What do you tend to value more than God and godliness?  What values do you tend to turn on their end as “ladders that lead to nowhere?”

Let's commit to turn from envy and covetousness and together experience the edifying and purifying power of faith in Christ alone!

Here are some of the things that we have planned.  We will be welcoming 19 new members, hear Mike preach from Psalm 73, and sing the following songs...

• O Worship the King
• Everlasting God
• Out of the Depths
• Hungry
• To You, O Lord

See you then!  Pray tonight that God would use this meeting to highlight the grace of God and to build up the church.

Carolyn McCulley is the author of two books, Radical Womanhood: Feminine Faith in a Feminist World (Moody Publishers, 2008) and Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? Trusting God with a Hope Deferred (Crossway, 2004).  She is a frequent conference speaker for women's ministry events and also maintains a blog, Radical Womanhood.

Check the event site for more etails on the conference!

In response to the devastating earthquake that occurred in Haiti on Tuesday, Sovereign Grace Ministries has activated our Disaster Relief fund to help deliver food, medicine, and other needed aid there. We will distribute the funds primarily through existing ministry contacts we have on the island—both in Haiti and the Dominican Republic—who are already involved in relief efforts. 

Individuals who want to join us in our support of these efforts can donate to the Disaster Relief fund on our website or by calling 800.736.2202. If your church would like to make a contribution, you can send us a check designated for Haiti Disaster Relief.

Regardless of your ability to make a donation, please join us in praying that those affected by the earthquake would receive aid quickly, and that despite these hardships the gospel would continue to go forward in that nation.

All members are invitied to attend the Family Night meeting this Friday, January 15, at 7pm. These nights are special times for our church family to celebrate God’s grace in our midst, enjoy rich fellowship together, and hear from our senior pastor on important issues in the church. Of course there will be some great snacks!

On another note, several people have wondered who The Foundry is really for.  My response was: It is for men.  It is designed to address the foundational, Christian disciplines that we—as men—seek to cultivate each day.  It's men to form and shape the everyday areas of our lives.  Yes, young men (ages 12 and up) will be invited and, I trust, will be edified, but it is specifically designed for men.

I hope that helps.  And I hope to see you at The Foundry on January 22nd at 6:45am.

I'll got get breakfast with you afterwards!

There are many things we could take away from the message, but, perhaps, one would be especially helpful for us in thanking God for his providential care of our lives.  

Consider taking some time (15 minutes or so) and writing down all the ways you are prospering under his providential care.  Remember Bill defined providence as God's way of directing and sustaining the heavens and the earth.  

My list included health, a job, a God-fearing wife, and much more.

I hope that helps us not forget Sunday and not forget all that we heard preached from Psalm 23!

After three weeks off, Bill, our senior pastor, will be back in the pulpit and will be preaching from Psalm 23.  I can't wait to study this psalm together!  During our time of singing, one of Care Group leaders, DJ Cimino, will proclaim Psalm 23 to us from memory and Craig will lead us through the following songs:

• Praise to the Lord
• Blessed Be Your Name
• The Lord Is
• I Will Cast My Cares
• Completely Done

In addition, we will learn more about The Foundry—a time of teaching, worship, and prayer for men ages 12 and up that will begin next week!

In Psalm 126, the psalmist describes the joy of the people of God upon their return from exile in Babylon.  What was the true source of their joy?  If true joy is not a product of temperament or personality, but the fruit of the Spirit’s presence in someone’s life, how can that joy be cultivated?

Charles Spurgeon wrote of the people in this psalm, “Doubtless the former pain added to the zest of their pleasure.”  How did remembering their captivity stir up joy in the hearts of God’s people?  What do we have in common with the people described in Psalm 126, and how can we follow their example here?

Psalm 126:3 says, “The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.”  In his message, Mickey said that if we as Christians don’t constantly meditate on the LORD and what He has done for us, we won’t be filled with joy.  What helps you to keep the LORD and the gospel in the fore-front of your heart and mind so that you live in the good of the gospel?

What kinds of things tend to rob you of your joy?  How can you fight for joy in the midst of the difficulties of life?

Why is it important to deal with our sin in the context of redeeming grace?  How can dealing with our sin in the context of redeeming grace increase our joy?

I am excited about gathering together as a church tomorrow.  We have Mickey Connolly from Crossway Church who will be preaching from Psalm 121.  What a joy to have him back with us!

In addition, we will share communion together and sing the following songs:

• Praise the Lord (Psalm 150)
• Hallelujah To My King
• Behold the Lamb (Communion Song)
• Not What My Hands
• Completely Done

Also, if you are reading this and are not a regular attender of Cornerstone, we would love to have you with us tomorrow!

1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

You can read the whole article here.

We have the CCK Choir singing some classic Christmas hymns.  Afterwards, we have "Hot Winter Beverages" to enjoy with your family and friends.  Grab some hot chocolate, meet someone new, and spend some time talking about Christmas.  Also, don't forget its Mission Fund Sunday.  We are going to hear a testimony from one of our college students, Melanie Peggs, of how the gospel came to her thru VFC and how the church has cared for her thru her college years. 

Here's the plan:

Songs:

• O Come All Ye Faithful
• Angels We Have Heard on High
• O Come, O come Emmanuel
• Light of the World
• Silent Night
• After:  Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Text:  Psalm 118: The Song of the Last Supper

Let's prepare our hearts tonight for these important moments that we get to spend together as a church family!

God is the great satisfier of souls and David was confident that God would satisfy his soul (v. 5).  How has God satisfied your soul when you have walked through the wilderness?

Can you identify with David’s thirst for God? (v. 1).  If your soul is dry, what should you do about it?   

David said, “earnestly I seek you” (v. 1).  How can you follow his example in earnestly seeking after God?  How can you take action to increase your thirst and longing for God? 

Matthew Lindsey

Pastor of Church Operations

- Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy)
- Glory Be To God
- Emmanuel, Emmanuel
- Labour of Love (special)
- What Child Is This (traditional)
- When Love Came Down 

- The Campus Initiative Conference is this week, featuring DA Carson (Thursday night, Friday morning), Randy Newman (Friday night) and our own Bill Kittrell (Saturday morning).  You can still sign up at www.campusinitiativeconference.com

- Hot Winter Beverages* -- an annual CCK tradition. Next Sunday, December 20th, enjoy these beverages in the lobby after church.  Great opportunity for fellowship, to catch up with friends, to encourage each other, and maybe just to wish others a Merry Christmas.

*CCK reserves the right to use this copyrighted term in all our winter events.  Just kidding!

"Those who notice providences shall never be long without a providence to notice. It is wise to observe what the Lord does, for He is wonderful in counsel; (he) has given us eyes to see with, and it is foolish to close them when there is most to observe; but we must observe wisely, otherwise we may soon confuse ourselves and others with hasty reflections upon the dealings of the Lord.  In a thousand ways the lovingkindness of the Lord is shown, and if we will but prudently watch,  we shall come to a better understanding of it.  To understand the delightful attribute of lovingkindness is an attainment as pleasant as it is profitable: those who are proficient scholars in this art will be among the sweetest singers to the glory of Jehovah."

- Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, vol. 2 p. 408.

So, what's in store for this Sunday?

Songs (subject to change):

• Praise the Lord
• Our Rock and Salvation
• Out of the Depths
• Completely Done
• Be Thou My Vision

Message from Psalm 107.

Upcoming Events:

• Campus Initiative Conference.  Registration ends this Monday.
• Compassion Christmas Outreach -- don't forget to grab those gifts for the children of inmates of Knox County Jails.  You can still grab names off the tree in the lobby this week.  Gifts are due back next Sunday (Dec. 6th).

Well, as CCK has continued to grow, we are finding that there are more and more events going on, and less time to communicate all the things that God is doing in the church. Also, there are many times when the pastors have something they would love to get out to everyone, but no context to do it.  Articles, encouragements, honoring servants, updates, exhortations, goals, devotional thoughts, scriptures, and the like.  Hence the blog.

So hopefully, here are few things you will find as you visit "the CCK blog":

• Quotes from Sunday mornings.
• After-message thoughts from the pastors (sometimes we wish we had said something differently or need to clarify a point).
• Care group questions.
• Sunday previews (what to expect so that you can prepare for our Sunday meetings).
• Member highlights
• Serving opportunities
• Upcoming events
• Testimonies

Also, feel free to send us some suggestions of things you would love to hear more about.

Hopefully, this blog will serve to keep in the loop of all the things happening around the church.  

To find out more or to register, go to:  http://campusinitiativeconference.com/

"The Campus Initiative Conference is a strategic conference held in order to encourage Christ-centered, church-based college ministry. The Campus Initiative Conference seeks to equip leaders and students to more effectively proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ on college campuses and to encourage college students to faithfully be involved in a healthy, local church.

The Campus Initiative Conference is featuring guest speakers: Dr. D. A. Carson, Randy Newman, and Bill Kittrell. Dr. Carson has a heart for college ministry and is an active guest lecturer in academic and church settings around the world. Randy Newman has served with Campus Crusade for Christ for almost 30 years and has written books specifically on evangelism. Bill Kittrell is the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Church of Knoxville and has been involved in campus ministry for over 25 years."

Registration is open to ALL!