Open Arms Community Church
Insidious Part 3
God tells us we are at war with an unseen enemy in a cosmic battle that is as real as any and with consequences that last an eternity. Who is this enemy, what are they like, how do they work, and how do we defeat them?
Locations & Times
Open Arms Community Church Bradford
1289 E Main St, Bradford, PA 16701, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
WHO ARE WE?
Purpose: Open Arms exists solely to fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandment
Vision: Our vision is to produce transformed lives addressing spiritual needs, relationships, health, finances, education, and leadership.
Mission: “C3”; Community through Cell Groups, Celebrate through Corporate Worship, Care through Compassion.
Core Values:
1. Prayer –We believe that all we do should start, run, and end thoroughly saturated in prayer.
2. Authentic Disciples –We believe the true measure of faith is demonstrated by one’s obedience and that we need to have healthy avenues of accountability in our walk with Jesus.
3. Every member is a Missionary and Minister – We believe God has called every person to proclaim the message of Jesus and serve in team ministry using their God-given resources.
4. Transformation through small groups – We believe the best place to experience life change, meaningful relationships, and effective mission is in small group.
5. People matter to God – We believe in the value of every human being and take seriously the mission of reaching people for Jesus, locally and beyond.
6. Intentional radical acts of kindness – We believe the best way to share the message of Jesus is with intentional and radical acts of kindness done in Jesus name to express his love.
7. Culturally Relevant and Engaging– We believe we should try to reach people in a way they understand and that engages the culture.
8. Whatever It Takes – We believe that Jesus set the example and called us to fulfill our mission whatever it takes, no matter the cost.
Our Method of Evaluation are:
1. Increase in Salvation experiences and Baptisms (Matthew 28:18-20)
2. Increase in the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)
3. Increase in the Gifts of the Spirit (1Cor. 12:7-11,31)
4. Increase in Knowledge of God (John 17:3)
5. Increase in Prayer [talking with God] (Acts 2:42; Colossians 4:2)
6. Increase in Service (Ephesians 4:12-16)
7. Increase in Witness (Matthew 28:18-20; John 15:8)
8. Increase in Giving (Malachi 3:8-11; Proverbs 3:9-10; 2Corinthians 9:6-12; Acts20:35)
Open Arms Community Church is a Free Methodist church.
MINISTRY LEADERSHIP:
✹ Mike McAvoy – Pastor/Local Missions Team Coordinator Bradford
✹ Justin Willoughby – Pastor, Port Allegany
✹ Matt Burt – Pastor, Worship, Assimilation & Discipleship Coordinator
✹ Zoe Hatcher – Children’s Ministry Coordinator Bradford
✹ Alex Davis – Church Administrator/Guest Services Coordinator
✹ Annette Dennison – Custodian Bradford
Vision: Our vision is to produce transformed lives addressing spiritual needs, relationships, health, finances, education, and leadership.
Mission: “C3”; Community through Cell Groups, Celebrate through Corporate Worship, Care through Compassion.
Core Values:
1. Prayer –We believe that all we do should start, run, and end thoroughly saturated in prayer.
2. Authentic Disciples –We believe the true measure of faith is demonstrated by one’s obedience and that we need to have healthy avenues of accountability in our walk with Jesus.
3. Every member is a Missionary and Minister – We believe God has called every person to proclaim the message of Jesus and serve in team ministry using their God-given resources.
4. Transformation through small groups – We believe the best place to experience life change, meaningful relationships, and effective mission is in small group.
5. People matter to God – We believe in the value of every human being and take seriously the mission of reaching people for Jesus, locally and beyond.
6. Intentional radical acts of kindness – We believe the best way to share the message of Jesus is with intentional and radical acts of kindness done in Jesus name to express his love.
7. Culturally Relevant and Engaging– We believe we should try to reach people in a way they understand and that engages the culture.
8. Whatever It Takes – We believe that Jesus set the example and called us to fulfill our mission whatever it takes, no matter the cost.
Our Method of Evaluation are:
1. Increase in Salvation experiences and Baptisms (Matthew 28:18-20)
2. Increase in the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)
3. Increase in the Gifts of the Spirit (1Cor. 12:7-11,31)
4. Increase in Knowledge of God (John 17:3)
5. Increase in Prayer [talking with God] (Acts 2:42; Colossians 4:2)
6. Increase in Service (Ephesians 4:12-16)
7. Increase in Witness (Matthew 28:18-20; John 15:8)
8. Increase in Giving (Malachi 3:8-11; Proverbs 3:9-10; 2Corinthians 9:6-12; Acts20:35)
Open Arms Community Church is a Free Methodist church.
MINISTRY LEADERSHIP:
✹ Mike McAvoy – Pastor/Local Missions Team Coordinator Bradford
✹ Justin Willoughby – Pastor, Port Allegany
✹ Matt Burt – Pastor, Worship, Assimilation & Discipleship Coordinator
✹ Zoe Hatcher – Children’s Ministry Coordinator Bradford
✹ Alex Davis – Church Administrator/Guest Services Coordinator
✹ Annette Dennison – Custodian Bradford
Insidious - proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with ____________ effects. || treacherous; crafty.
There are SPIRITUAL forces that are EVIL at work against us.
4 levels of satanic/demonic activity:
1. _______________ - Hauntings; inhabiting certain geographies and objects. (Hosea 4:12; Matthew 12:43; 1Corinthians 10:18-22; Revelation 18:2)
2. _______________ - External attacks; buffeting, tormenting. (2Corinthians 11:23-12:7)
3. _______________ - Strongholds (mentally or physically); fear, anxiety, depression, addictions, etc. (1Corinthians 10:5; 2Timothy 1:7; Romans 8:15; Mark 5:2-5; Luke 13:10-17)
Ultimately we don’t have a food, drug, drink, sex, language, thought, or attitude issue; we have a _______________ issue.
1. _______________ - Hauntings; inhabiting certain geographies and objects. (Hosea 4:12; Matthew 12:43; 1Corinthians 10:18-22; Revelation 18:2)
2. _______________ - External attacks; buffeting, tormenting. (2Corinthians 11:23-12:7)
3. _______________ - Strongholds (mentally or physically); fear, anxiety, depression, addictions, etc. (1Corinthians 10:5; 2Timothy 1:7; Romans 8:15; Mark 5:2-5; Luke 13:10-17)
Ultimately we don’t have a food, drug, drink, sex, language, thought, or attitude issue; we have a _______________ issue.
The Bible describes this demonic activity manifesting in BOTH natural and supernatural circumstances and events.
______________ Spirituality/Religion - (Hosea 4:12; Acts 16:16-21; 1Corinthians 10:19-22; 1Timothy 4:1-5; Revelation 2:9, 24; 9:20)
________________ (Genesis 3:1-7; Luke 4:1-13; Acts 5:3; 1Corinthians 7:5)
______________ Spirituality/Religion - (Hosea 4:12; Acts 16:16-21; 1Corinthians 10:19-22; 1Timothy 4:1-5; Revelation 2:9, 24; 9:20)
________________ (Genesis 3:1-7; Luke 4:1-13; Acts 5:3; 1Corinthians 7:5)
Natural DISASTERS - (Job 1:12-19)
PERSECUTION - (2Corinthians 12:7-10 ; 1Thessalonians 2:18; 1Peter 5:8-11; Revelations 2:9-10, 13; 11:7)
PHYSICAL Attacks - including acts of violence, persecution, and killing. (1Samuel 19:9-10; Job 1:12-19; 2Corinthians 12:7-10; Acts 19:11-20; Revelation 2:9-10, 13; 9:1-11; 11:7)
WAR (Job 1:12-19; Revelation 12:17; 13:1-7; 17:12-14; 19:19)
Physical ILLNESS (Job 2:7 ; Matthew 9:32; 12:22; Luke 13:10-17; Mark 9:17-27)
MENTAL illness (Mark 5:2-5; 1Samuel 16:14; 2Timothy 1:7)
PERSECUTION - (2Corinthians 12:7-10 ; 1Thessalonians 2:18; 1Peter 5:8-11; Revelations 2:9-10, 13; 11:7)
PHYSICAL Attacks - including acts of violence, persecution, and killing. (1Samuel 19:9-10; Job 1:12-19; 2Corinthians 12:7-10; Acts 19:11-20; Revelation 2:9-10, 13; 9:1-11; 11:7)
WAR (Job 1:12-19; Revelation 12:17; 13:1-7; 17:12-14; 19:19)
Physical ILLNESS (Job 2:7 ; Matthew 9:32; 12:22; Luke 13:10-17; Mark 9:17-27)
MENTAL illness (Mark 5:2-5; 1Samuel 16:14; 2Timothy 1:7)
Supernatural _____________ (Mark 5:2-5; Acts 19:11-20)
Supernatural _____________ (Acts 16:16-21; Revelation 2:24)
Resistance against God’s people and _____________. (Daniel 10:12-13; 1Thessalonians 2:18)
Miraculous _____________ and _____________ (Acts 16:16-21; 2Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 16:14)
Supernatural _____________ (Acts 16:16-21; Revelation 2:24)
Resistance against God’s people and _____________. (Daniel 10:12-13; 1Thessalonians 2:18)
Miraculous _____________ and _____________ (Acts 16:16-21; 2Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 16:14)
Satan will work through good, even CHRISTIAN people. (1Chronicles 21:1-8; Matthew 16:22-23; Acts 5:3; 2Timothy 2:23-26)
Christians are warned not to give satan LEGAL place in their life through intentional or unintentional sin. (John 8:34; Isaiah 59:2; Ephesians 4:27)
Neither ignorance nor unbelief are bliss, pardon, or PROTECTION from satan’s strategies. (Hosea 4:6; Leviticus 4:1-5:6; Job 1:5; 3:25; Matthew 12:43-45)
While all of these are examples of demonic activity, scripture is clear that NOT every circumstance is of demonic origin.
This will require prayerful and SCRIPTURAL discernment, knowing satan’s strategies and also contrasting the attitude and results of a situation with the nature of God. (Galatians 5:22-23; 1Corinthians 13:4-8; Mark 12:30-31; John 14:15; Romans 12:1; Matthew 28:18-20)
Christians are warned not to give satan LEGAL place in their life through intentional or unintentional sin. (John 8:34; Isaiah 59:2; Ephesians 4:27)
Neither ignorance nor unbelief are bliss, pardon, or PROTECTION from satan’s strategies. (Hosea 4:6; Leviticus 4:1-5:6; Job 1:5; 3:25; Matthew 12:43-45)
While all of these are examples of demonic activity, scripture is clear that NOT every circumstance is of demonic origin.
This will require prayerful and SCRIPTURAL discernment, knowing satan’s strategies and also contrasting the attitude and results of a situation with the nature of God. (Galatians 5:22-23; 1Corinthians 13:4-8; Mark 12:30-31; John 14:15; Romans 12:1; Matthew 28:18-20)
Other sources: consequences of free _____________ circumstances of _____________ and God’s _____________. (Proverbs 5:21-23; 19:3; Ephesians 5:6)
Satan is an _____________ of everything; strengths, weaknesses, good, ease, success, trial, failure, and tragedy.
Satan’s _____________: deceive, disappoint, disrupt (diversion), distract, disorient, divide, doubt, depress, deter (discourage), divert (not a detor, but he will settle with that if he can’t divert you), debilitate, dominate (enslave), despair (no confidence, not even hope), destroy.
Satan is an _____________ of everything; strengths, weaknesses, good, ease, success, trial, failure, and tragedy.
Satan’s _____________: deceive, disappoint, disrupt (diversion), distract, disorient, divide, doubt, depress, deter (discourage), divert (not a detor, but he will settle with that if he can’t divert you), debilitate, dominate (enslave), despair (no confidence, not even hope), destroy.
GIVING
Honor the Lord with your tithes and offerings. Tithe by texting "give" to (267) 351-8213, use the link in the YouVersion, download the Tithe.ly app or visit www.openarmsbradford.org.
https://tithe.ly/give?c=75518OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED
Want to get more involved at Open Arms Community Church? Check out the opportunities below.
https://goo.gl/forms/nO6MxEZdHeOBjaWV2GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS
What does Open Arms do well, what can we improve on, and what prayer requests do you have?
https://goo.gl/forms/CjXhL7IOmH8bioo33FYI
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD // We are collecting school supplies for Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan's Purse. For the month of October, we are collecting monetary donations for any needed supplies and to help cover the shipping cost of the shoeboxes, which has increased for the first time since we have been doing this, from $7 to $9 per box. If every family who attends Open Arms will sponsor just one shoebox we will be able to cover the shipping for all our boxes. Next month, we pack!
PRAYER REQUESTS AND PRAYER CHAIN //Contact Eric Eliason at 814-598-5301 or openarmsoffice@gmail.com.
SOLDIERS PRAYER WALL // Submit a photo (no larger than 4x6).
To place an item in the announcements, contact Alex Davis at 814-806-2301 or openarmsoffice@gmail.com.
PRAYER REQUESTS AND PRAYER CHAIN //Contact Eric Eliason at 814-598-5301 or openarmsoffice@gmail.com.
SOLDIERS PRAYER WALL // Submit a photo (no larger than 4x6).
To place an item in the announcements, contact Alex Davis at 814-806-2301 or openarmsoffice@gmail.com.