UNITY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
Church of God in Christ
Sunday, August 9, 2026
Welcome to Unity Christian Fellowship
We are grateful that you have joined us for worship today. Whether you are a member of the Unity family, a returning friend, or worshiping with us for the first time, we pray that today’s fellowship will encourage your heart, strengthen your faith, and draw you closer to God.
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Speaker
Elder Norman Alsuph
Associate Minister
Unity Christian Fellowship Church of God in Christ
Elder Norman Alsuph will bring the message during today’s worship service.
We invite you to open your heart and receive what God has given His servant to share with us today.
WEEKLY ENCOURAGEMENT
August Theme: Renewing the Mind
“Be Renewed in the Spirit of Your Mind”
Ephesians 4:23–24
“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
God bless you, Unity Christian Fellowship family.
As we continue our August emphasis on renewing the mind, we move forward from the foundation established in Romans 12:2.
Romans teaches us that transformation comes through the renewing of our minds. Now Paul takes us further in Ephesians and tells us to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”
Renewing the mind is more than changing a few thoughts. It is allowing God to change the way we see ourselves, the way we see our circumstances, the way we respond to challenges, and ultimately the way we live.
There are patterns of thinking that we develop over time. Some come from our experiences. Some come from disappointments. Some come from things people have said about us. Some come from fears we have carried for years. Sometimes we have thought a certain way for so long that we no longer recognize that our thinking needs to change.
But God does not call us simply to live according to what we have experienced.
He calls us to live according to what He has revealed.
That is why the renewing of the mind is so important.
When God renews your mind, you begin to see possibilities where you once saw limitations.
You begin to see purpose where you once saw only problems.
You begin to understand that what happened yesterday does not have to control what you believe today.
And you begin to recognize that God is still developing you.
Paul says, “Put on the new man.”
That tells us that renewal should eventually become visible in the way we live.
A renewed mind produces a renewed attitude.
A renewed mind changes the way we respond.
A renewed mind helps us make better decisions.
A renewed mind allows us to recognize opportunities that fear might have caused us to overlook.
And a renewed mind reminds us that God is not finished with us.
There may be areas of your life where your circumstances have not changed yet, but your thinking can change before your circumstances do.
You can decide that fear will no longer control your expectations.
You can decide that disappointment will not determine your future.
You can decide that somebody else’s opinion will not become the final definition of who you are.
You can decide that yesterday’s failure will become today’s lesson rather than tomorrow’s limitation.
That is part of what it means to be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
God has given each of us gifts, abilities, experiences, wisdom, creativity, and purpose. But in order to fully use what God has placed within us, sometimes our thinking has to catch up with what God is doing in our lives.
So this week, ask yourself:
What old way of thinking do I need to release?
What has God been trying to show me that I have been unable to see because I have been looking through yesterday’s experiences?
What could God accomplish through me if I stopped allowing fear, disappointment, or limitation to control my thinking?
Do not simply ask God to change what is around you.
Allow Him to change what is happening within you.
Let Him renew your mind.
Let Him renew your expectations.
Let Him renew your vision.
Let Him renew your understanding of what is still possible.
And as your mind is renewed, walk forward in the newness that God is producing in your life.
Today, Elder Norman Alsuph, Associate Minister of Unity Christian Fellowship Church of God in Christ, will bring the message during our worship service.
Let us receive the Word with open hearts and open minds, expecting God to speak to us through His servant.
Come ready to worship.
Come ready to receive.
Come ready to grow.
And come believing that God is still transforming us through the renewing of our minds.
God bless you.
Bishop Gabriel E. McCurtis
Pastor
Unity Christian Fellowship Church of God in Christ
SUNDAY SCHOOL
This Week’s Sunday School
Join us for this week’s Sunday School lesson:
Watch This Week’s Sunday School Lesson
Take time during the week to study, reflect upon the lesson, and allow the Word of God to continue strengthening your spiritual life.
PRAYER OF THE WEEK
This Week’s Prayer
Prayer remains an essential part of our relationship with God. Whatever you are facing this week, remember that you can bring it before the Lord in prayer.
MUSIC OF THE WEEK
“God Is in Charge”
This week’s musical selection reminds us of a truth that remains constant regardless of what may be happening around us:
God is in charge.
UNITY VINTAGE
From the Archives
“Nothing Catches God Unaware”
Speaker: Pastor Gabriel E. McCurtis
Scripture: Ezra 4 and 6
From the Unity Christian Fellowship archives, we revisit the message “Nothing Catches God Unaware.”
Whatever surprises us never surprises God. He sees what we cannot see, knows what we do not know, and remains sovereign over every circumstance.
GIVING
Thank You for Supporting the Ministry
We thank God for every person who faithfully supports the ministry of Unity Christian Fellowship Church of God in Christ.
Your giving helps us continue the work of ministry, share the Gospel, encourage God’s people, and serve others.
Ways to Give
Zelle
805-850-2351
Givelify
Search for:
Unity Christian Fellowship Church of God in Christ
PayPal
Unity Christian Fellowship Church of God in Christ
By Mail
Unity COGIC
P.O. Box 6843
Ventura, CA 93006
Thank you for your faithfulness and generosity.
NEED PRAYER?
We believe in the power of prayer.
If you have a prayer request and would like Unity Christian Fellowship to pray with you, please contact us at:
Your prayer request will be received with care and prayerful concern.
NEED TO SPEAK WITH THE PASTOR?
If you need to speak personally with Bishop Gabriel E. McCurtis, please contact the church at:
THANK YOU FOR WORSHIPING WITH US
On behalf of Unity Christian Fellowship Church of God in Christ, thank you for being a part of today’s worship experience.
We appreciate our members, families, friends, and guests who continue to worship, pray, study, and fellowship with us.
As you go into this week, remember our August emphasis:
RENEWING THE MIND
Do not allow yesterday to control today.
Do not allow circumstances to determine what you believe.
Allow God’s Word to renew your thoughts, strengthen your faith, and shape the direction of your life.
Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
May the Lord bless you, keep you, strengthen you, and guide you throughout this week.
We look forward to worshiping with you again.
Bishop Gabriel E. McCurtis, Pastor
Unity Christian Fellowship Church of God in Christ