Ways to Give at GSPOnline Giving

At GSP, we pledge to continue to be good soil for your generosity. We exist to seethose far from God raised to life in Christ and we would love for you to join us in thatmission. Over 60% of our church gives online. It’s simple and secure.

Givelify 

The Givelify mobile giving app pinpoints your location and intelligently identifies theGSP worship service you’re attending, effectively eliminating the need to search forit. Mark GSP as your home church so that you can easily find and make mobiledonations as frequently and as generously as you’d like, even when you arethousands of miles away. Givelify lets you easily see your complete history ofdonations. You can also accurately track your donations for your taxes withoutneeding to hunt down receipts, bank statements, or acknowledgement letters.Givelify is available on the App Store and Google Play, and it costs nothing todownload or use.

Smart Giving

Smart Giving is a fast and safe way to give at GSP. Simply text GSPBC to the phonenumber 71441. You will get an instant response on your phone with a link toinformation about our church and a donation page. There you can donate with acredit or debit card easily and securely. Simply follow the sign up link, enter yourcredit or debit card information, and submit. It’s that simple. Smart Giving usesindustry‐leading security to protect your personal information and save your cardinfo so you can now give on the go. Smart Giving is never charged to your phone billand your phone number is safe with us.

Weekend Worship Experiences

Place your check or cash in the offering during any weekend worship experience. Foryour convenience, offering envelopes are available for your gift. You can place cashor checks (payable to Greater St. Paul Church) in one of these envelopes and put it inthe offering during any weekend worship experience, or mail it to Greater St. PaulChurch and we will apply your gift. If you would like offering envelopes, contact ourFinance Office at finance@gspbc.org call (510) 452‐0803, or mail to us at 1918Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland, CA 94612.

Automatic Bank Pay

This is an easy and effective way to systematically give through your checking orsavings account. Simply log onto your individual bank account and follow your bank’sinstructions to set up GSP as a new payee.

/gspbc/joseph.e.simmons1

@gspbc5star@josephsimmons5 @gspbc

individual members who are committed to being in right relationship with Him andmaking His identity known to others by sharing the Gospel. I encourage each of youto put knowing Christ more intimately and sharing the Gospel at the top of your listof goals for 2016. John, the beloved disciple, wrote: “And this is eternal life, thatthey know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent”(John17:3). Jesus wanted each person He encountered to understand His suprememission: to glorify God by drawing people to Himself. He provided for people’simmediate and physical needs, but also prepared them to see their spiritual needs.He delivered the people from the enemy, but also directed them to the Father. Theapostles had seen the resurrected Christ, and because of this, they turned the worldupside down. If we stand together, we can do the same. Thank you for partneringwith me in ministry in 2015. Happy New Year! – Bishop Joseph E. Simmons

“Making Impact for the Kingdom”

“ In essence, all  that we do should be to know Christ and 

make Him known.”

As we enter 2016 and carry out our plans to makeGreater St. Paul a church that impacts the Kingdom,there are two things that are critical for us toremember: 1) how vital it is for us to be in rightrelationship to Jesus Christ – to know Himintimately – in order to be able to unveil Him to thenonbeliever, and 2) how vital it is for us, asChristians, to understand Jesus’ appointment asSavior of the World in such a way that making Hisidentity known to others is second nature to us. Inessence, all that we do should be “to know Christand make Him known”. These simple words are atthe heart of effective evangelism, which is what“Making Impact for the Kingdom”, our 2016Ministry Theme, is all about. Becoming a church ofimpact begins with becoming a congregation of

Christian Growth

HelplessnessA man once asked Dwight L. Moody, “How can you accept the Bible with all Itsmysteries and contradictions, you with your fine mind?” Moody replied, “I don’tunderstand it. I don’t make anything of it. I simply believe it.” In his classic bookentitled Prayer, Dr. O. Hallesby echoed this attitude. He wrote, “Prayer andhelplessness are inseparable. Only he who is helpless can truly pray…Prayer(therefore) consists simply in telling God day by day in what ways we feel helpless.We are moved to pray every time the Spirit of God, which is the Spirit of Prayer,emphasizes anew to us our helplessness, and we realize how impotent we are bynature to believe, to love, to hope, to serve, to sacrifice, to suffer, to read the Bible,to pray, and to struggle against our sinful desires.” God is not looking for ourperfection and strength today. He’s looking for us to trust His perfection andstrength. Prayer requires that we stand in God’s presence, proclaiming to ourselvesand others that without God we can do nothing.

Reminders

We’re glad you have joined us for worship today! You can visit the AdministrationOffice to learn more about any of the programs and events you see highlightedhere. If you are a first‐time guest, we encourage you to fill out the guest card youreceive from our Greeters. Turn it in when requested during the CelebrationService, and get the special gift we have for you. Restrooms are located in the MainLobby. Parents, please use the restrooms for feeding and changing your infantchild. Please don’t bring food, gum, or drink into the Main Sanctuary. Allworshipers should remain in their seats during prayer, Scripture reading, thesermon, the offering, and the altar call. In case of an emergency, please exit usingthe doors in back of the Sanctuary. Please silence all phones and other electronicdevices, and refrain from using flash photography or videotaping in the MainSanctuary. Please Note: Live streaming and videotaping of our Worship CelebrationServices include images of the audience. If you do not wish to be seen on camera,please advise an usher, so you may be escorted to an area not generally included inthe live streaming and videotaping of our Worship Celebration Services.

Stop by the Pastor’s Café for coffee, juice, pastries, and other breakfast goodies after the 8:00am Service!

The GSP Kidz Nursery opens every Sunday at 11:00am  for children 6 months to 5 years old.

Sunday School classes for all ages begin at 9:45am every Sunday.

Connect and Serve!  We need volunteers in every area of ministry.  There’s  something that only YOU can do.  Become a volunteer today!

Please make sure your contact information is up‐to‐date in the Administration Office, so that you don’t miss communications from GSP.

Our Greeters and Ushers are here to assist you in finding items lost while attend‐ing our Worship Celebration Services.

Don’t miss a Worship Celebration! Cd’s and DVD’s of today’s Services are available inthe Administration Office. Live streaming can be viewed every Sunday at 8:00am and11:00am at: http://media2.thechurchonline.com/greaterstpaul Video‐on‐demandreplays are also available on the site.

If you choose not to come forward… At the end of our Worship Celebration, you willbe given an opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. While weencourage you to come to the altar at that time, if you choose not to come to thealtar and you would like someone to pray with you privately, please inform one ofour Ushers or Greeters.

You are the “social” in “social media”! There’s a lot happening on the GSP Facebook,Twitter, and Instagram pages. Daily ministry updates, inspirational posts, self‐improvement tips, photos, video clips and more can be found on our social mediapages. Please follow us and let us know you’re there by sending your comments.Thank you so, so much to those who follow us regularly, share our posts, and send yourcomments!!

Outreach/Evangelism

C L O T H I N G   D R I V E

Our Outreach Team has started collecting coats, scarves, hats, and gloves for thechildren who are in need in our community and we need your help! Please bringyour donations of these items, if you haven’t done so already. We need coats, hats,and gloves in all sizes and for both genders from infants through teens. Scarves arealso needed for both genders. Take advantage of the after‐Christmas sales and pickup a couple of coats and other items to keep our children warm as the days growcolder. Monetary donations are always appreciated. For more information, contactthe GSP Administration Office at 510.452.0803.

Mark Your Calendar…

January 6         Life Elevation Bible Study Resumes @ 7:00 PMJanuary 24      Super Sunday

February 6      Progressive District Winter Board MeetingFebruary 7      Men’s Super Bowl Sunday FellowshipFebruary 14    Marriage Vows Renewal Celebration @ 11:00 AMFebruary 28    Church Anniversary/Homecoming Celebration

**Black History Celebrations All Month**

Prayer

Prayer/Sick & Shut‐In ListPlease pray for those on our Prayer/Sick & Shut‐In List: Damita Barbee, Eluise Bell,Novella Benton, Helen Berry, Doris Burrell, Walter Hill, Julia Jackson, Vina Jackson,Carrie Johnson, Lenard Keith, Mae Ella Lockhart, Vera Miles, Lottie Parrott, ErnestPierce, Anna Sampson, Luevida Shepherd, Elma Smith, Kirk Thomas, and MildredWilliams.

The greatest privilege God gives to us is the freedom to approach Him at any time.We approach Him collectively on the GSP Prayer Line.

GSP Prayer Line

JOIN US FOR CORPORATE PRAYER6:00AM & 6:00PM – Every Mon., Wed,. & Fri.

Dial Toll‐Free: 712.432.8399  Access Code: 379099

Giving

As we move forward in “Making Impact for the Kingdom”, we have to addresstithing. The subject of tithing is hotly debated, and most of us must confess that wehave not always been faithful in giving a tenth or more to the work of the Lord.Research demonstrates that not only do the vast majority of Christians not titheregularly, but many give little or nothing at all. Thus, while addressing this questionis incredibly convicting, it also is increasingly crucial.

Randy Alcorn, in his book, Money, Possessions, and Eternity, has well said thattithing may well be regarded as the training wheels of giving. As such, tithing is asimportant today as it has ever been. We all need to learn what it is to stride free andunfettered down the path of Christian stewardship. For in learning to give, we alsoare learning to lean more heavily upon our heavenly Father and less heavily uponourselves. Those who have traveled the Calvary road for any length of time surelycan testify to the truth that God is ever faithful. Not only so, but as we weekly setaside our tithes and offerings we are reminded that all we are, or ever hope to be, isa gift from God.

Furthermore, as Moses communicated to the children of Israel, we tithe “so that[we] may learn to revere the Lord [our] God always” (Deuteronomy 14:23). As we allknow, learning to reverence the name of God is a timeless principle—as crucialtoday as in the days of Moses. Long before Moses, the Bible records Jacob’s promiseto God: “Of all that you give me I will give you a tenth” (Genesis 28:22). Long afterMoses, Jesus reaffirmed the practice of tithing (Matthew 23:23)—not for outwardappearances but as an outward expression of an inward reality. Additionally, in thefourth century the great church father Jerome echoed the words of Malachi whointimated that failing to pay tithes and offerings was tantamount to “robbing”God—a prescription for financial ruin (Malachi 3:8).

Is the Tithe for Today?

Finally, it should be noted that tithing in the Old Testament not only prepared God’speople to become hilarious givers but produced a temple of unparalleled splendor.The Israelites who pined for the pleasures and protection of pagan Egypt more thanfor the One who had miraculously parted the Red Sea had been transformed intojoyful givers. The Bible chronicles the prayer of David as he thanked God for the veryprivilege of being able to give to the work of the Lord: “But who am I, and who aremy people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comesfrom you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand . . . and now Ihave seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you” (1Chronicles 29:14, 17).

There is no telling what can be accomplished in our generation if we, too, may butcatch the joy of contagious giving. Not only would we be empowered to spread thegospel around the globe, but we would be enabled to feed the hungry, clothe thenaked, and care for the sick. Like our forefathers who founded great centers ofChristian education, established countless hospitals, and funded myriad relieforganizations, we might yet leave an indelible mark on our generation. For onlywhen the training wheels of tithing come off will the world of free will givingbecome our playground.

We are grateful to Hank Hanegraaff (Christian Research Institute)for the content of this article.

Super Sunday is a special time of sacrificial, public giving when we show our love forGod, and our obedience to Him by cheerfully giving our finances to support theKingdom‐building assignment God has set before Greater St. Paul Church. SuperSunday occurs in the first quarter of every year, and we endeavor to raise 1/2 of thechurch operating budget for the fiscal year. Our total church operating budget for2016 is $3,000,000.00. Every member of our congregation is challenged to make asacrificial offering above their regular tithes and offerings on Super Sunday.

What is the Biblical model for Super Sunday giving? ‐ The Biblical model for SuperSunday is found in 1 Chronicles, Chapter 2 9. “Moreover, because I have set myaffection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over andabove all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold andsilver: “ (verse 3) These are the words of David, the man God described as beingafter His own heart. Why would David be so extravagant? Why did he do this? Theanswer is simple: because of his "delight in the house of my God." His delight wasnot in his own wealth, his own house, his own entertainment, or his own pleasure.His delight was in the House of his God! David was intentional in his giving and hegave publically. David not only gave his personal wealth toward the building of God’sHouse, he challenged the entire assembly to give also.

*****Commitment cards  on  which you can outline your total giving for 2016 are available from the Ushers, in the Administration Office, and downloadable at www.gspbc.org.

What is Super Sunday?