Welcome to Central Christian Church

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Welcome! to Central Christian Church

• First-time guests - Please stop by the Guest
  Services table on the patio as you leave and
  pick up a information packet
  
• Everyone - Please fill out a Connecting Card
  and place it in the offering plate later in
  the service.

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Stepping Upto Higher Ground
on
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FASTING
focused connecting
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How WouldJESUS Vote?
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W W J D
H W J V
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Jesus said, My kingdom is not of this world. If
it were, my servants would fight to prevent my
arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from
another place. You are a king, then! said
Pilate. Jesus answered, You are right in saying
I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was
born, and for this I came into the world, to
testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of
truth listens to me. John
1836-37
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Ground Rules 1. Follow Biblical truths, not par
tisan politics 2. Present quick overviews of bi
blical principles 3. Respect opinions 4. Attempt
to be objective 5. Take some risks 6. Love thos
e with whom we disagree
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So how would Jesus vote?
H W J V
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1. Vote for Others Therefore I tell you, do not w
orry about your life, what you will eat or drink
or about your body, what you will wear. Is not
life more important than food, and the body more
important than clothes?
Matthew 625 The Spirit of the Lord is on m
e, because he has anointed me to preach good news
to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom
for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the
blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the
year of the Lords favor. Luke 418-19
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2. Vote for Justice Then the word of the LORD Alm
ighty came to me Ask all the people of the
land and the priests, When you fasted and
mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the
past seventy years, was it really for me that you
fasted? And when you were eating and drinking,
were you not just feasting for yourselves?
This is what the LORD Almighty says Administer
true justice show mercy and compassion to one
another. Do not oppress the widow or the
fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your
hearts do not think evil of each other. But
they refused to pay attention stubbornly they
turned their backs and stopped up their ears.
Zechariah 74-11
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2. Vote for Justice a. Justice is not just u
s b. Justice is for all He has showed you,
O man, what is good. And what does the LORD
require of you? To act justly and to love
mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 68
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3. Vote for Compassion Religion that God our Fath
er accepts as pure and faultless is this to
look after orphans and widows in their
distress and
to keep oneself from being
polluted by the world.
James 127
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4. Vote for LIFE consistently pro-life
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4. Vote for LIFE consistently pro-life
But I tell you who hear me Love your enemies, do
good to those who hate you, bless those who
curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If
someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the
other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not
stop him from taking your tunic. Give to
everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what
belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to
others as you would have them do to you. Luke
627-31
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4. Vote for LIFE consistently pro-life
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful
to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,
live at peace with everyone. Do not take
revenge, my friends, but leave room for Gods
wrath, for it is written It is mine to avenge
I will repay, says the Lord. On the contrary
If your enemy is hungry, feed him if he is
thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing
this, you will heap burning coals on his head.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil
with good. Romans 1217-21
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5. Vote for the World
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6. Vote for biblical Relationships
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Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid
and recognized in California.
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6. Vote for biblical Relationships
The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the
ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath
of life, and the man became a living being. . . .
The LORD God said, It is not good for the man
to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for
him. . . . Then the LORD God made a woman from
the rib he had taken out of the man, and he
brought her to the man. The man said, This is
now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh she
shall be called woman, for she was taken out of
man. For this reason a man will leave his
father and mother and be united to his wife, and
they will become one flesh. The man and his
wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Genesis 27-25
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6. Vote for biblical Relationships
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful
lusts. Even their women exchanged natural
relations for unnatural ones. In the same way
the men also abandoned natural relations with
women and were inflamed with lust for one
another. Men committed indecent acts with other
men, and received in themselves the due penalty
for their perversion.
Romans 126-27
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6. Vote for biblical Relationships
a. The unique value of male and female.
1) Same-sex marriage says women or men are
not necessary for the family
2) Same-sex family says kids dont need
either mothers or fathers
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3) Men need women to domesticate
them and channel
their masculine and sexual energy in
socially productive ways
4) A woman needs a man to protect her from
exploitation of other unattached men
5) A man who is permanently committed to one
woman is not a man who is likely to
sexually pressure or even threaten other women
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6. Vote for biblical Relationships
b. Marriage only between a man and a woman is
good for society. 1) It teaches the basic nat
ure of relationships 2) Same-sex marriage su
btly teaches our children that there is no
difference between same-sex and
heterosexual relationships
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6. Vote for biblical Relationships
b. Marriage only between a man and a woman is
good for society. 3) It could lead to same-se
x marriage taught in schools
4) It could even restrict what individuals
are allowed to say and churches are allowed
to teach
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The Bible is clear that Gods design for marriage
is a loving commitment between one man and one
woman for life. The Bible is also clear that we
are to love our neighbors, including those who
disagree with us about basic values. Since we
desire to follow Gods Word, we urge you to
confirm that marriage is only between a man and a
woman by supporting Proposition 8. We believe
that this simple addition to the state
constitution is good for both individuals and for
society as a whole. - Statement from the Elders o
f Central
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Likewise, we urge you to follow the biblical
standards of sexual expression only within
marriage and urge those who are behaving
inappropriately or living together without the
benefit of marriage (of either the same gender or
different genders) to follow the teachings of
Gods Word on this matter. We also strongly urge
all followers of Jesus to show Christ-like love
to people who may disagree or choose to live in
opposition to this viewpoint. - Statement from th
e Elders of Central
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Keep Perspective in Voting 1. This is not a Chr
istian nation 2. You wont make people Christia
ns by making them act like Christians
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Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit
the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived Neither
the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers
nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor
slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom
of God.
And that is what some of you were. But you were
washed, you were sanctified, you were justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the
Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 69-11
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Keep Perspective in Voting 3. All is not lost if
your candidate or bill does not win.
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers
in the world, to abstain from sinful desires,
which war against your soul. Live such good
lives among the pagans that, though they accuse
you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds
and glorify God on the day he visits us.
1 Peter 211-12
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Keep Perspective in Voting 4. Be salt light i
n the world You are the salt of the earth. But i
f the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be
made salty again? It is no longer good for
anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by
men. You are the light of the world. A city on
a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light
a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put
it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone
in the house. In the same way, let your light
shine before men, that they may see your good
deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 513-16
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How Would JESUS Vote?
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• This is your opportunity to have a
• prayer team member pray for you
• Share briefly any prayer need or praise
• Share your decision to follow Jesus
• Share your decision to return to Jesus
• Share your decision to be a part of
  this fellowship

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We share communion each Sunday as an
important part of our worship together.
Bread and grape juice remind us of Jesus love
in dying on the cross for us.
The bread represents the body of Christ the
juice represents the blood of Christ.
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All who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior
are welcome to participate. Please place
your empty cup in the pew rack holder.
If you prefer not to participate, please pass
the trays to the next person.
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Begins Today
Pick up a shoebox at the center table
Bring joy to a child this Christmas!
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Offering is one way to worship God.
Trays are passed for your giving convenience.
Guests please feel no obligation to give.
Everyone, please place your Connecting card in t
he tray
Each man should give what he has
decided in his heart to give,
not reluctantly or under compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 97
see that you also excel in this grace of giving
. 2 Corinthians 87 Whoever sows spar
ingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows generously will also reap
generously. 2 Corinthians 96
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Connecting
Opportunities
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New to Central?
Join us for a brief guest reception
Today at noon in the library
Enjoy a light snack and meet some of the church s
taff and leaders.
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Pray with the Elders
Elders staff will pray for you
You can pray for them others
1st 3rd Tuesdays, 7-8 pm Next session October 7

We will begin close on time!
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Growing
Opportunities
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Growing 201 The Gospel of John
Sunday mornings beginning October 12
This ten-week class will look at the events in
the life of Jesus Christ. It will help you to
understand and appreciate the ministry of Jesus
and his teachings for you life.
Led by Kevin McCauley and Bob Pruitt
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Sharing
Opportunities
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Amazing Grace Piano Concert
Saturday, October 18400 pm - Free
Donations will be accepted to support a
rehabilitation center for former child soldiers
in Uganda.