We are a gospel-centered, Bible-based, Spirit-empowered, missional church located in Montgomery County, Maryland. These basic beliefs represent what we hold to be essential elements of biblical teaching. WHAT WE BELIEVE We are a gospel-centered, Bible-based, Spirit-empowered, missional church located in Montgomery County, Maryland. These basic beliefs represent what we hold to be essential elements of biblical teaching. Cedarbrook is a church that “majors in the majors and minors in the minors. Our central tenets are Gospel-centered and clearly supported by Scripture. We do not compromise on theological doctrine as it relates to the salvation of human beings. We are gracious, humble, and inviting toward people who hold secondary theological doctrine different than own into gospel unity, refocusing our identity in Christ toward embracing all of his people. THE BIBLE We believe the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired word of God. We believe that Scripture in its entirety originated with God, given through men chosen by Him. Scripture, thus, at one and the same time, speaks with the authority of God and reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of its human authors. We hold that the Scriptures are infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full, and final authority on all matters of faith and practice; and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God. For purposes of Cedarbrook’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Leadership Team is Cedarbrook’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application. Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21. Because we believe this… We strive to regularly read and study the Bible, privately and corporately, to understand and apply its message. We submit all aspects of our lives and conduct to what the Bible teaches. We must obey what we discover God has commanded. All messages, classes, and Growth Groups offered at Cedarbrook must provide teaching supported by the Bible. We do not accept doctrines – no matter what is claimed as their source – if they do not line up with what the Bible says. GOD We believe that there is one true, holy God, eternally existing in three persons — a Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. God created all things, demonstrating the glory of His power, wisdom, and goodness. By His sovereign power, He continues to sustain His creation. By his providence He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes. Because we believe this… We make knowing and loving God our highest priority in life. We depend on God to be at work in and around us in the daily affairs of life. We cannot agree with any religious group that rejects God’s revelation of himself as Trinity (as is common among most “cult” groups). FATHER God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men. Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isaiah 43:3,15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7. Because we believe this… We trust that God is a loving Father, even when life is at times difficult and tragic. JESUS CHRIST We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal second person of the Trinity who was united forever with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily paid for the sins of all by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where He, the only Mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. He shall come again to earth, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. Genesis 18:1ff.; Psalms 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16,27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18,29; 10:30,38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11; 16:15-16,28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5,20; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8,24-28; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15,24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9; 2 John 7-9; Revelation 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16. Because we believe this… We are Christians because our faith and message is about Jesus Christ – his life, his work, his divinity, and our need to follow him. Any message that does not center on Christ, including his full humanity and divinity, and his forgiveness for all sin is not the gospel. Because our salvation was secured by a perfect sacrifice of a perfect person, we live knowing we are totally and unconditionally forgiven from sin now, rather than hoping we will be forgiven at some future point. We are secure in the grace of God through Christ. Knowing Christ will return someday, we hold the things of this world loosely, investing our lives in the things that are eternal. THE HOLY SPIRIT We believe the essential accompaniment of a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ is a life of holiness and obedience, attained by believers as they submit to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. He was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply to mankind the saving work of Christ. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them recognition of their need of a Savior, and regenerates them. At the point of salvation, He permanently indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength, and wisdom and uniquely endows each believer with gifts for building the body, the church. Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11; 139:7ff.; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10,12; Luke 1:35; 4:1,18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17,39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Romans 8:9-11,14-16,26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11,13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:14; 3:16; Hebrews 9:8,14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Revelation 1:10; 22:17. Because we believe this… As Christ-followers, we are continually striving to be more like the one who saved us; we are not content just to be forgiven; we want to exemplify Christ-like behavior in every area of life. The Christian life is more than just “being good.” We need the Holy Spirit to bear his fruit in us; therefore our daily lives must be yielded to the Spirit in a moment-by-moment surrender. When we share Christ with others, the message we present is effectual, not because of our superior reasoning or irresistible presentation, but because the Spirit is at work through us and in the heart of the person we are talking to; therefore, we depend ultimately on his invisible activity through our limited understanding of what will reach the person. Because the Spirit resides in us, we listen for his promptings, anticipating that he wants to direct us and will do so if we are open to him. HUMANITY We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. We believe all people are created by God in His image, giving every man and woman, born and unborn, great potential, worth, and value. Humankind rebelled against God, falling into sin, marring his likeness to God, and severing his relationship with God. Humans are completely unable to take away or make up for his rebellion against God. Only through faith in Jesus Christ can people obtain the righteousness God requires to restore their relationship with God. Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19,21-22; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11. Because we believe this… •We understand that, among all creation, humans are uniquely made in God’s image. •We see all people, regardless of who they are and what they have done, as precious in God’s sight. This includes humans in all stages of life, from conception to life’s natural end. •We see the gospel of Jesus Christ as the one, true hope for reconciling humanity to God. SALVATION We believe the central purpose of God’s revelation in Scripture is to call all people into fellowship with himself. We believe the only basis for salvation is the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection for all who believe. Only those who receive Jesus Christ by faith, through grace, are justified in God’s sight and born of the Spirit, becoming children of God. Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14,29; 3:3-21,36; 5:24; 10:9,28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Romans 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18,29-39; 10:9-10,13; 13:11-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18,30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1ff.; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8,14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Revelation 3:20; 21:1-22:5. Because we believe this… Our message to those exploring faith contains the call to turn from fruitless attempts to earn God’s favor and cast themselves on the perfect and reliable provision of God in Jesus Christ. We rest secure that the Christian life we live is a “thank you” to God for the salvation he has fully provided. We neither think that our obedience enhances our salvation (as if we could add something to the death of Christ) nor do we treat his grace in a cavalier way (as an excuse to live sinfully). We strive to make the most of every opportunity to share Christ with those who don’t know him. THE CHURCH We believe there is one true church universal, comprised of all those who truly acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. As the body of Christ — His agent and representative — the purpose of the church is to glorify God by accomplishing His work and reflecting His character. The church has the God-given mission of proclaiming Christ to all people and nurturing those who believe to become mature disciples of Christ; the church should also be devoted to teaching God’s word, fellowship, worship, and prayer. The individual believer should develop his or her own gifts and abilities in service to the church and its mission. We believe the church is to be led by elders who are mature men of character, men, who lead eagerly rather than under compulsion, and by example, not by coercion or intimidation. Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3. Because we believe this… We are a non-denominational church, emphasizing that all true believers are one with Christ and each other, regardless of their denominational background. We make personal involvement in the ministry of the church a priority in our lives. We want all believers to discover, develop, and deploy their spiritual gifts in order to strengthen and build up the church. We guard the unity of the church by working through misunderstandings and conflicts in a Christ-honoring way. ORDINANCES (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper) We believe baptism by immersion in water and the Lord’s Supper, or communion, are ordinances to be observed by the church, but not to be regarded as a means of salvation. Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12. Because we believe this… We understand baptism and communion as acts of obedience to the commands of Christ. MARRIAGE We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. We believe that God created marriage to be exclusively the union of one man and one woman, and that intimate sexual union is to occur exclusively within that union. Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; Psalms 127; Psalms 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7. Because we believe this... We pursue lives of sexual purity that honor God. We view marriage as a lifelong, exclusive, and interdependent relationship between a man and woman in which both, sometimes as individuals and sometimes as partners, participate in pursuing God’s mission in this world. We are committed to working through marital struggles with the goal of reconciliation. HUMAN DESTINY We believe death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all mankind, there will be a resurrection of the body and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be separated from God into condemnation (hell). Believers will be received into eternal communion with God (heaven) and will be rewarded for works done in this life. Because we believe this... We recognize that our eternity is infinitely longer and more significant than our 80 or so years on earth, so we order our lives here so they take into account this eternal perspective; we choose our activities and priorities based on God’s Word, recognizing that his approval supersedes every other consideration. The message of the gospel brings life to those who would perish eternally without Christ; we therefore seek to present his saving message as often as we can. As we relate to people throughout life, we see them as the eternal beings they are and accord them due respect; we have never met an average person – everyone matters to God and deserves to be treated lovingly. THE FUTURE We believe in the personal, physical, return of Jesus Christ to the earth to establish His kingdom at the end of the age. We believe all believers will live in God’s presence in a new heaven and new earth. Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; Matthew 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27,30,36,44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40,48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1ff.; 2 Thessalonians 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13. Because we believe this... We have a sure hope for the future. We can face death without fear. We live now with an attitude of expectancy. FAITH AND PRACTICE We believe Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. We recognize that the church cannot and should not bind the conscience of individual Christians in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she alone is ultimately responsible. Because we believe this... We wholeheartedly embrace what Scripture teaches. We submit all of our lives to the authority of God’s Word. We do not take stands on controversial issues about which the Bible is silent; individuals are left to their own consciences before God rather than depending on the church to tell them what to think or do. We believe the Statement of Faith to be an accurate summary of what Scripture teaches. This is our attempt to capture the Bible’s main themes — things that are true for all people at all times in every place. All members shall refrain from advocating doctrines that are not included in the Statement of Faith in such a way as to cause division.

If you’ve been wondering where to find peace this Christmas, we invite you to pause and rediscover what the season is truly about. This Christmas Eve at Cedarbrook, experience a night of hope, reflection, and joy as we focus on the true reason for the season—Jesus. Come and find your focus. Find your peace. Find your song for Christmas. Services will be held at 5:00, 6:30, and 8:00 PM. Christmas Eve at Cedarbrook If you’ve been wondering where to find peace this Christmas, we invite you to pause and rediscover what the season is truly about. Join us this Christmas Eve at Cedarbrook for a candlelight service filled with worship, hope, and reflection. Experience the joy of the season as we celebrate the true reason for Christmas — Jesus. Come and find your focus. Find your peace. Find your song for Christmas. SERVICE TIMES: 5:00, 6:30 & 8:00pm LIVESTREAM : 5:00pm While there won’t be childcare, we encourage you to bring the whole family and celebrate together in the warmth and wonder of Christmas. Invite your family & friends Use either of these images to invite your family and friends to Cedarbrook for Christmas Eve. Share them through text, email, or social media. To save an image on your phone, simply press and hold to copy or save. If you’re on a computer, right-click the image and select “Copy” or “Save Image As,” then share!

Though Jesus is the very Son of God, he did not come to earth to be served by humankind. Instead, he came to serve and put others above his own interests and needs. As disciples of Jesus, we serve others by building up the body of Christ and our surrounding community. SERVE The church is more than a building—it's the people. Every impactful moment we create is made possible by dedicated volunteers. When you offer your time and talents, you move from simply attending church to actively being the church. Our weekend services and weekly programs happen because of individuals like you, eager to be part of God's work in our community. JOIN THE TEAM SIGN UP HERE SIGN UP HERE MINISTRY PARTNERS

On January 21, we're kicking off 7 days of prayer and fasting. For this one week, we want to disconnect from the world through fasting and spend that time praying, connecting with God for three things. For personal revival and a vision of His promises in our lives. For specific opportunities to share the gospel with people in our lives. For our church family and the accomplishment of God’s mission here in the DMV area. GUIDE & JOURNAL PRAYER PROMPTS On February 1, we're kicking off 7 days of prayer and fasting. For this one week, we want to disconnect from the world through fasting and spend that time praying, connecting with God. Prayer is a lifeline. I have tried so hard to make prayer first in every situation. However, I’ve discovered many times that I often act first then want God to rescue me out of a situation, but prayer should be our premier choice, not our last resort. You see, recognizing the value of prayer as a lifeline is not enough. For prayer to become a part of our life, it needs to become something we look forward to doing, something that doesn’t give us a headache or makes us feel bad doing, but something that rejuvenates us, giving us hope and tangible peace. That’s the purpose of this week, and my ultimate prayer and hope for each of us, is that by practicing praying will help us experience what Paul the Apostle spoke of in Ephesians 3:18-19, to know how wide, how long, how high, and how deep God’s love is for you – a lifeline for our daily lives. So whether it’s before the day begins or before you go to bed, whether before you send that text or before you walk into that meeting, whether when bad things happen or before bad things happen, make prayer your lifeline. If you’re a well seasoned Christ follower or need to supercharge your prayers, then add the spiritual discipline of fasting to this week. And as you do so, I’m sure you’ll experience God and his grace for you. I can’t wait to hear the testimonies of all that God is doing and accomplishing in you and through you as you pray and fast. The sections below will guide you through how you can pray or fast, and what we’re praying for each day of this week. I’m praying God moves mightily in your life this week as you take a step of faith in prayer and fasting! Pastor Jonathan P.S. If you want prayer this week, click this link and submit a prayer request so the staff, elders, and other church leaders can pray for you. How Should We Pray? How do we make prayer a part of our everyday life? We can learn from two things that Jesus did in Mark 1:35. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. (Mark 1:35 ESV) We should pray at a CERTAIN TIME . Jesus got up very early in the morning to spend time with His Heavenly Father. For prayer to work, we should do the same. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the morning or evening, but make sure it is a time you can be consistent with praying. Make a daily appointment with God and keep it. We should pray at a CERTAIN PLACE . Jesus had a prayer place. The place Jesus went was desolate on purpose. Your prayer place needs to be an undistracted environment where you can pray aloud and hear from God. Consider finding somewhere distractions can’t find you, or where you can’t access distractions. Maybe have some worship music playing in the background to muffle out the distractions. What Should You Pray? To make the most of your CERTAIN TIME and CERTAIN PLACE , you should go into prayer with a CERTAIN PLAN . Go into your prayer time with a plan. If it changes, that’s fine. For example, when Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He gave His disciples a prayer outline. We call it the Lord’s Prayer. This is our plan this week. We are going to pray a little bit of the Lord’s prayer each day for 7 days. The Lord’s prayer can be found in Luke 11:2-4 and in Matthew 6:9-13. Below is the version from the Gospel of Matthew. 9 Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for yours is the kingdom, the power, and glory forever. Amen.* (Matthew 6:9-13 ESV) Daily Prayer Prompts 01 Our Father in heaven... God loves when we call him, “Our Father...” Look at what the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:15, “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” Speak the Name: Begin your prayer today by simply by saying, "Father." Don't rush past it. Let the reality sink in that the Creator of the Universe invites you to call Him "Dad" (Abba). Give Thanks: You are not an outsider or an employee; you are a child of God. Thank Him for adopting you, for removing the spirit of fear, and for giving you a seat at His table. Go Deeper: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the Father's love to you in a fresh way today. Pray, "Lord, take me from knowing about You to truly knowing Your heart. Show me how to live as a confident child, not a fearful slave." 02 …hallowed be your name… To "hallow" God’s name is to set it apart as holy. It is an act of pure worship. Jesus teaches us that before we ask for anything, we pause to honor who God is. Who has God been to you recently? Read through the names below. Does one jump off the page? Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord Who Provides El Shaddai: The Almighty Sufficient One El Elion: The Most High Ruler Jehovah Nissi: The Lord’s Banner of Victory Jehovah Shalom: The Lord Our Peace Jehovah Mekadesh: The Lord Who Sanctifies Jehovah Rophe: The Lord Who Heals Jehovah Tsikenu: The Lord My Righteousness Jehovah Robi: The Lord My Shepherd First, identify one name that describes how God has already shown up for you and write a prayer of thanks. Second, identify the name you need Him to be today. Call upon that name, trusting He will meet you there. 03 Your kingdom come, your will be done... "Your Kingdom Come" is a dangerous prayer. When we pray this, we are inviting God’s will to take the lead. Our duty is to align our hearts with God’s. These are the priorities of God’s kingdom: Salvation: Intercede for those who do not yet know Jesus. People in Authority: Ask for God's guidance over our leaders in government, school, church, and home. Transformation: Invite God to shape your character and competency to look more like Christ. Jesus says in Luke 12:30-31, “For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.” What personal priority is hardest for you to lay down today? Write a prayer surrendering that specific desire to God, trusting His promise in Luke 12 that when you seek His Kingdom first, He takes care of the rest. 04 Give us this day our daily bread... This petition is about acknowledging our source of life. Just as the Israelites sang on their pilgrimage to Jerusalem, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2 ESV) We must remind ourselves where our help originates. It does not come from our job, our bank account, or our connections. Ask God for exactly what you need today, whether that need is physical, emotional, or financial, once you asked, rest in the knowledge that the One who made the earth is capable of taking care of you. 05 ... and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Forgiveness is a two-way street. We cannot freely receive what we refuse to give. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. —1 John 1:9 (ESV) Ask God to check your heart and motives right now. Is there unconfessed sin or hidden pride? Write it down, then draw a line through it as a symbol of receiving His faithful cleansing. Who has offended you? Whether the wound is fresh or old, holding onto it only hurts you. List the names of those you need to forgive. beside their names, write: "I release you." Decide now to guard your heart against future offenses. Pray, "Lord, I choose to forgive in advance anyone who hurts me today." 06 ... and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Spiritual warfare is rarely a physical fight; but it definitely is a real fight. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12-13: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:12-13 ESV) Our enemy may be real, but so is our armor. Today, identify where you need to stand firm in the gospel. Is it your patience, purity, or peace? See if you can pinpoint the specific lie the enemy is using against you and find Scripture that silences it. Finally, turn that Bible passage into a prayer, inviting God to fight this battle on your behalf. 07 “...For yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever.” Today, we’re sealing our week by making three faith declarations: Yours is the Kingdom - Remind your situation who is in charge. Write a sentence declaring that God rules over your specific circumstances. Yours is the Power - Jeremiah prayed, "Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens... Nothing is too hard for you" (Jeremiah 32:17). Write down the "impossible" thing you are trusting God’s power to handle. Yours is the Glory forever - Faith thanks God before the answer comes. Write a declaration of praise, thanking Him in advance for the victory He is bringing. Look back over your prayers this week. Now, write the biggest one as a declaration of God's capability. Something like, "because God is faithful, I believe that..." What is Fasting? Fasting is withholding from something we want so we can set our attention on God. Food is an important part of life, but Scripture is full of invitations to go without it for a period of time to connect with God and be more mindful of our reliance on him. Types of Fasts: Complete Food Fast In this type of fast, you drink only liquids. Drink a lot of water, and then add in juice and shakes as needed. Partial Food Fast This fast involves abstaining from eating any type of food for a certain period of time each day. For example, you can choose to skip a certain meal or abstain from eating until sunset. Selective Food Fast This type of fast involves removing certain elements from your diet. One example of a selective fast is the Daniel Fast, during which you remove meat, sweets, and bread from your diet and consume water and juice for fluids and fruits and vegetables for food. Soul Fast If you don’t have much experience fasting food, have health (or other) issues that prevent you from fasting food, or if you wish to refocus certain areas of your life that are out of balance, this is a great option for you. For example, you might choose to fast social media or television for the duration and then carefully bring that element back into your life in healthy doses at the conclusion of the fast. How to Journal: W rite down your thoughts in following areas using two sentences or more: Write specifically the things you are grateful to God for. Write specifically the action steps you are going to take today or the next day to address any insights you received from God while you were praying or clinging to God through fasting. Write specifically the things you want to see God do for your own personal revival, opportunities to share the gospel in word and deed to the people around you, or through the church in our area. At the end of the 7 days, you should review your journal entries. In reviewing your journal entries, ask yourself: Are there any patterns in your gratitude toward God? Are there specific action steps that should be incorporated into your everyday routines? Are there any opportunities to minister the gospel in word or in deed that you need to step into?

acb4eaa3-8f24-4b27-8466-aa731ba75967 Follow me: a disciple knows and follows Jesus When we look at the life of Jesus, it is very clear that his mind and his worldview were deeply formed by the Scriptures. As we read the Gospels, we see that he was literate, conversant, and passionate about the Word of God. And he calls his followers to be the same. A disciple of Jesus needs to understand and embrace the essential teachings of the Bible. Each month we will explore an essential doctrine of God’s Word through video and print resources. We hope that you will find these helpful in your discipleship journey. The Doctrine of God the Father BOOKS Knowing God by J. I. Packer The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith ARTICLES God as Father by Gerald Bray What is the Doctrine of the Trinity? by Matt Perman VIDEOS The Doctrine of God by Village Church Resources 3 Minute Theology: What is the Trinity? NOTES COMMENTS head page

be7ce2f8-13a9-489b-9a21-4ba4910edb99 Fishers of men: a disciple is committed to the mission of Jesus A fully-formed disciple of Jesus will live as Jesus lived: loving others as we love ourselves, caring for the marginalized, and sharing the good news of Jesus wherever we are. We do not have to quit our jobs and move to a foreign country to participate in the mission of Jesus. We do it right where we live and work and play. Each month on this page we will offer practical guidance on how to join Jesus in the work he is already doing in the lives of those around us. Incarnational Living BOOKS Analog Church: Why We Need Real Places, People and Things in the Digital Age by Jay Kim Placed for a Purpose by Chris and Elizabeth McKinney ARTICLES Living Incarnationally by Greg Boyd Incarnational Living by Jay Ferguson VIDEOS Sustaining Incarnational Mission by John Tyson Incarnational Mission by Jeff Vanderstelt NOTES COMMENTS hands page

Assist Gaithersburg Help: Call Center - Food/Infant Coordinator Assist Work at home using your phone and computer with Internet access; return calls to schedule clients to receive food or infant needs at our food pantry; phone hours are M-F 9 am to 12 noon; commitment is 6 hours per month. 1 hour monthly Monthly 5

Assist Men's Ministry: Moving Team Assist Help someone in need with a local move 3-4 hours sporadically Sporadically 6

WE ARE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING Our mission to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20) finds its roots in God’s original mission: to go and be a blessing to others (Genesis 12:1-3). Blessing others and helping people come to know and love Jesus are closely linked together. If we build one of the BLESS practices into our lives every day, we will not only look more like Jesus, we will help others find Jesus, too – which is exactly what God calls us to do. Want to be part of the BLESS experience? Text BLESS to 833-237-0443 to sign up and receive weekly encouragement, practical next steps, and simple ways to love the people around you like Jesus. Tap each icon below to learn more. BEGIN WITH PRAYER LISTEN WITH CARE EAT WITH OTHERS SERVE WITH LOVE SHARE YOUR STORY

Join us at Cedarbrook this Easter weekend as we reflect on the cross and celebrate the hope of the resurrection. We’ll begin with our Good Friday service, a meaningful time to slow down and remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Together we’ll reflect on the cross and the truth that Jesus took our place, giving his life so we could be forgiven and welcomed into God’s presence. Then come celebrate the joy of Easter Sunday, when we gather to remember that the tomb is empty and Jesus is alive. His resurrection declares that he is the risen King with authority over life and death, inviting us into the new life he offers. Easter Sunday services will begin with a sunrise service (rain or shine), followed by additional services. Come celebrate the risen King with us! We’d love for you to be part of it. Good Friday Friday, April 3 6:00pm For the Kids Preschool & Younger Easter Sunday, April 5 Sunrise Service 6:30am (rain or shine; indoors if there is rain) 9:30am & 11:15am Livestream at 9:30am For the Kids Promiseland: 9:30 & 11:15am Middle & High School: 11:15am Digital Invites Download and share our Easter invites! Use the Story size for Instagram or Facebook Stories, and the Social Post size for regular posts on Instagram, Facebook, or other platforms. Share them with your friends and invite someone to join you this Easter at Cedarbrook.

Encourage Worship: Lighting Technician Encourage Lighting technician on the A/V production team. 8 hours Monthly, bi-weekly, weekly Monthly, bi-weekly, weekly 4

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 1 REPRODUCE MORE 4 REFINE MORE 2 RECOGNIZE MORE 5 REFLECT MORE 3 RECRUIT MORE 6 RELEASE MORE