GET CONNECTED

Please ll out a Get Connected form and place it in the offering basket after the message. Thanks! Creekstone Church is on Facebook. Join the Creekstone Facebook page for up to date news feeds and special information. Check out Creekstones website, for comprehensive Creekstone info - www.creekstonechurch.com Creekstone teaching is on iTunes. Search Creekstone Church and subscribe for free.

WELCOME!
We are so glad that you are part of the Creekstone Sunday gathering today! It is our prayer that you will nd Creekstone to be a church family with whom you can connect, grow and serve. We really want our Sundays together to be an environment where folks can come as they are to experience heartfelt, God-centered worship and substantive, yet practical grace-centered teaching in the context of authentic community. please ll out a Get Connected form and place it in the offering basket after the message. Wed love to know that you were here!

Welcome to

Creekstone Church
Grace Changes Everything

CREEKSTONES MISSION
"Creekstone Church exists to glorify God by helping people come alive to the wonder of the Gospel."

TEAM LEADERS
McKay Caston, Pastor of Preaching & Leadership mckaycaston@gmail.com Andy Woznicki, Pastor of Community & Discipleship ajwoznicki@gmail.com Matt Stephenson, Administrative Assistant mbstep2055@gmail.com Jay Smorey, Coordinator of Music and Technology creekstonemusicandtech@gmail.com Graham Sibley, Coordinator of Youth Ministries gmsibl7262@northgeorgia.edu Dottie Smorey, Coordinator of Childrens Ministries creekstonechildrensministry@gmail.com Jim Keane, Greeter & Hospitality Team Leader jimandjanetkeane@windstream.net Colt Dyer, Set Up & Facilities Team Leader crdyer3648@northgeorgia.edu James Fitts, Usher Team Leader jctt9563@northgeorgia.edu Dean Legler, Logistics & Transportation Team Leader, dean.legler@gmail.com Larry Charles, Compassion in Action (CIA) Liaison larrycharlespt@yahoo.com Creekstone is a partner with Campus Outreach at UNG. For more information, contact Campus Director, Jeremy Moore at rjmo521@gmail.com.

MEASURING THE MISSION: HOW CAN I

KNOW THAT IM COMING ALIVE TO THE WONDER OF THE GOSPEL? Personal Devotion. The more I embrace Gods devotion to me in Jesus through the cross, the more compelled I am to become a fully devoted follower, or disciple, of Jesus. Practical Ministry. The more I embrace the ministry of Jesus for me in his life, death and resurrection, the more compelled I will be to use the gifts he has given me in practical ministry. Authentic Community. The more I embrace Gods grace to me and love for me in Jesus, the more compelled I will be to share my life with others in authentic community, not wearing a mask of religious moralism or worldly success, but being transparent and real about my true need for a Savior. Enthusiastic Generosity. The more I embrace Gods generosity toward me in Jesus through the cross, the more compelled I am toward enthusiastic generosity for him, where giving is not a burden, but a joy. Organic Outreach. As I come alive to the wonder of the gospel, I begin longing for others to enjoy and be set free by the life revolutionizing grace of God in Jesus. For a summary of our theological orientation, check out our website. For a more in-depth explanation, please see the Westminster Confession of Faith & Catechisms. The Creekstone ofce is located on the Historic Square at 40-B Public Square South just above the Mass Bay Trading Company. The mailing address is PO Box 1234, Dahlonega, GA, 30533.

TODAYS MESSAGE: The Blessing of Low Places Matthew 5:4

Dr. McKay Caston, Pastor of Preaching and Leadership

Message 2 of 8 The Blessing of Low Places

SERIES: THE BLESSED LIFE

STAY IN THE CURRENT

GET CONNECTED The Get Connected form in the bulletin is for you to ll out and place in the offering basket after the message. Let us know you were here! Our offering goes to support the ministry of the gospel locally through Creekstone and Campus Outreach, regionally through our church planting partnerships, and globally thorough the missionary families we support overseas in India and Africa. Your giving is making a difference! TWO SERVICE SUNDAYS If attendance is sustained at our new 9:00 a.m. service, we will continue to offer two services through Sept. 22nd. The services are identical, except that GraceKids will only meet during the second service. The Cafe opens at 10:00 a.m. for the fellowship opportunity between services. Please consider the 9:00 a.m. service in order to create space at 10:45. Thanks! GROUP LINK WEDNESDAY, AUG. 28 Sign up to attend Group Link at the Park and Rec Center on Wednesday, Aug. 28, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. This is your opportunity to get connected in community through our K-Group ministry! Childcare is provided. THE BLESSED LIFE In this 8-week sermon series in the Beatitudes of Jesus from Matthew 5, we are discovering Gods design for the blessed life. Since Jesus description of blessing is so counterintuitive to our common, cultural way of thinking, what we will discover will surprise you, and may change you for the better in ways that you never imagined possible. You really can have a blessed life. STEWARDS OF CHILDREN TRAINING Creekstone will be hosting two opportunities for Stewards of Children training in the church ofces. You may choose to attend Saturday,, Sept. 7th or 14th. Materials will be provided at no cost to Creekstone nursery and childrens ministry volunteers, who all are encouraged to attend one of the Saturday sessions. To register, please contact Kathy Christmas at pruefrock1951@yahoo.com or sign up on the Get Connected form in the bulletin. WELCOME BACK, NORTH GEORGIA STUDENTS! Creekstone is an enthusiastic partner with Campus Outreach at UNG. For more information and/or to get involved, please contact Campus Director, Jeremy Moore, at rjmo521@gmail.com. CREEKSTONE 101 FRIDAY PM & SATURDAY AM, SEPTEMBER 27-28 Sign up on the Get Connected form for our next inquirers seminar, Creekstone 101. This will introduce you to Creekstones history, mission, vision, values, theology, and partnerships, as well as explain our membership process. If you attend you are not required to join. But if you plan to join, C-101 is a prerequisite. So, sign up! CHURCH-WIDE PICNIC SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 Since we will not have access to the high school on Sept. 29, we are making the most of the opportunity and having a church-wide picnic at 11:00 a.m. at Yahoola Creek Park (in the area near the playground and organic garden). Bring yourself, blankets, camp chairs, Frisbees, and a picnic lunch. We may even have a whifeball tournament and other fun games. So, plan to bring the whole family to this special community event! WOMENS MONDAY BIBLE STUDY The Womens Monday Morning Bible Study begins September 9, from 10:00 to 11:30 at the church ofce. We will be studying Tim Keller's book on Galatians. For more information and to register, contact Kathy Christmas at pruefrock1951@yahoo.com. CREEKSTONE YOUTH For more information on Creekstones Youth Discipleship ministry, please contact Youth Coordinator, Graham Sibley, at gmsibl7262@northgeorgia.edu. FACEBOOK: Creekstones Online Community Portal Our Facebook page is Creekstones online portal to the Creekstone community. If youd like to communicate with the church to ask a question, highlight a ministry opportunity, let folks know that you have a lost and found item fro Sunday, provide funeral arrangement information or just say, Hi!, just go to facebook.com/creekstonechurch and post on the wall. Be sure to subscribe to notications so that you will not miss anything!

TODAYS KEY BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. THE BIG IDEA: ____________________________________________________________.

MY NOTES:

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION & DISCUSSION:

1) What event or events have initiated you into the fellowship of suffering? 1) Why do you think we dont want people to know how bad things really are? 2) How can getting busted be a form of grace? How can that low place change how you tell your story? 3) What would it look like for you to cry out to God for mercy at his throne of grace? How does the gospel inform the reply we should expect to receive?

TRY OUT CREEKSTONES NEW MOBILE GIVING APP Now you can give to the work of the Kingdom through Creekstone using your phone! Either scan the QR code and be transferred to our mobile app, Givr, or download Givr at the App Store (or Google Play in a few weeks). You only have to register once to set up an account with Givr, whether you want to give weekly or prefer to set up a recurring giving account. However you give, please know how much we appreciate your participation in the gospel through nancial stewardship at Creekstone!

Past Sunday messages are available on the Creekstone website and as podcasts on iTunes. For all Creekstone events and news, visit www.creekstonechurch.com.