GOD’S DRAFT:
For NFL fans, this weekend was probably one of interest because of the annual draft. TV analysts, radio talk show hosts and the average fan was anxious to see the results of things such as: who will be the very first pick? What players will my team select? How many players will be drafted from my favorite college team? Have you ever wondered what the odds are of a football player being drafted in the NFL? Think about this: of the 100,000 high school seniors who play football every year, only 215 will ever make an NFL roster. Even of the 9,000 players that make it to the college level, only 310 are invited to the NFL scouting combine, the pool from which the teams make their draft picks. In other words, only 2.4% of college players become NFL players, and only .02% of high school players make it to the NFL.
What’s the lesson? If you’re not really good, and don’t have a natural gift to play football, you probably won’t make it. Thankfully, God’s kingdom is not like this. Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:3-4 “Bless be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. (4) just as he chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” God chooses individuals to be in Him? Yes! On what basis does He do this? Is it on account of how good I am? Does He choose someone on account of his intelligence, career, skin color, appearance, popularity? No! God chooses us through the preaching of the good news Christ. Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2;13-14 “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth (14) to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. This gospel message is extended to everyone (Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 1:16) Regardless of one’s past, outward circumstances, etc., and unlike the NFL draft, God calls everyone to be chosen, the question for us is: who will respond and obey? “And having been perfected, he became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9).
- Dale P.
REFERENCES:
Stats adapted from www.nflpa.org/Faqs/NFL_HopefulsFaq.aspx
WEEKLY BIBLE READING: 2 Kings 23-1 Chronicles 14
News and Notes:
- Friday Night Sing: Thanks to all our members who came. We had over 12 congregations represented from Columbus to West Virginia; with over 90 people in attendance. The food was great, the fellowship was fun and the singing was uplifting.
- 5th Sunday Evening Sing: Tonight. This a great opportunity to learn new songs and be reminded of old one’s from long ago.
- If you would like to cut the grass sometime this year, there is a signup sheet in the back.
FOR THE RECORD:
Sunday
Morning Worship……36
Evening Worship.........14
Wednesday
Bible Class…….…..….13
Contribution............$1,042
A.M. SERMON:
THE CHURCH:
1. DEFINITION OF THE CHURCH:
2. DESIGN OF THE CHURCH:
3. DESIGNER’S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHURCH:
COME WORSHIP WITH US!
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