Canyon Lake Community Church

This Sunday, we begin our new series The Fifth Gospel, Christ in Isaiah. This will be an exciting series as we watch God's plan of redemption unfold with the promise of a coming Messiah. As we study this book, the knowledge and fulfillment of prophecy will deepen your faith.

There are many reasons to throw a party - birthdays, anniversaries, get-togethers and the list can go on. But what about a coming-home party? Have you ever participated in a coming-home party? There is excitement, expectation, emotion and celebration. This Sunday, we celebrate the coming home of the Prodigal Son and see the great joy it brought to the father who longed for his son to come home once again. Our Heavenly Father desires that all of us are at home with Him.

This week in the "Coming Home For Christmas" series, we will be looking at the great love the father showed his prodigal son when he offered the wonderful gift of forgiveness. It is important for each one of us to know that we have a Heavenly Father who is ready to forgive and remove whatever it is that has been keeping us from enjoying a sweet fellowship with Him. We do have a responsibility in this forgiveness process and the prodigal son models it for us.

"Coming Home For Christmas" reminds us of God's extreme love for us by giving the most precious and priceless gift ever - His Son, Jesus Christ. This morning as we look once again at the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), we get excited and rejoice in the homecoming festivities of a wayward son. Because God has called us and made it possible to be at home with Him through Christ, we have the privilege as a church family to participate in a even greater celebration known as Holy Communion. As the father reminded the older brother, "It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found."

Sunday, November 29, is the first Sunday in Advent. (Advent being the four Sundays prior to the celebration of Christ's birth). The theme for the season is entitled, "Come Home For Christmas" based on the parable of the prodigal son recorded in Luke 15:11-32. There is something about Christmas that draws people home. So many people will go through much effort, expense and hassle to get home for Christmas. It's just where one belongs at Christmas. Do you agree? To celebrate Christmas as God intended, God wants us to be at home with Him. In the next four weeks, we are going to unwrap what that looks like and feels like. You won't want to miss these heart-warming messages from God Who has given the invitation to all of us - "Come Home For Christmas."

Thanksgiving is here! It is a great time to gather with family and friends and celebrate that fact that we are a blessed people. God is good! There are many family traditions at Thanksgiving, with one being the opportunity for each person to share why they are thankful. The message today centers around the Old Testament character, Joshua. You are going to be asked to imagine that Joshua is at your Thanksgiving table and you are going to hear what he is thankful for as recorded in Joshua 1:1-11. I know some may be thinking Thanksgiving didn't take place until about 395 years (or so) ago. Let me tell you, that Thanksgiving has always been a theme echoed again and again in the Scriptures. May you all enjoy a Blessed Thanksgiving Day!

This week, we will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ as recorded in Mark 15:40-16:8. What's the good of Christ's resurrection? This: it puts into our hearts and on our lips a song that soars with these joyous words: "Love's redeeming work is done, fought the fight, the battle won; death in vain forbids Him rise, Christ has opened Paradise. Alleluia!" This is victory! This Sunday, we will see what this victory has to offer.

This week in our study of the Gospel of Mark, we are going to focus on the significance of the cross by looking at Mark 15:22-39. Your first reaction may be, "Why are we reading and learning about the crucifixion in October, shouldn't that be reserved for Holy Week in the spring time of the year? As I read the Scripture in preparation for the message, I found myself thinking - this is great - it's the theme all Christians should be focusing on every day of their lives! The cross represents grace, mercy, forgiveness, transformation and the opportunity to walk in a new and holy life. But it is the Christ of the cross that brings value to this well known symbol. The old rugged cross basks in the reflected glory of Christ who there "humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:8) The question is this: Has the cross made a difference for you?

There will be an opportunity for you to have your hearing checked this coming Sunday morning. The outcome of the test will not be determined by whether or not you hear certain sounds and pitches. Rather the test will determine whether you're really hearing God speak! God speaks to us in a very significant way through His Word - the Bible. Do you hear Him? Do you get the message? Are you listening? You'll have a pretty good idea at the end of the message whether you pass or fail your hearing test. God also desires that you listen to Him as He speaks through the celebration of Holy Communion. Read Mark 4:1-20 in preparation for worship this Sunday.