Bulletin - April 29, 2012

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. 

-           5^th 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!

Bulletin - April 22, 2012

LIVE IN THE MOMENT?

     In the news recently, the L.A. Times reported a Chinese teenager sold one of his kidneys in order to by an iPhone and an iPad.  I was shocked when I first read this.  Why would someone do such a thing?  An iPhone or iPad are both things that in our day and age are only going to be useful at best for 4-5 years. Yet your kidney is something you need for the rest of your life. 

     This teen’s foolish act can be a great lesson for us.  Clearly his decision to get rid of something so valuable, for objects that are short-term is a decision based on the here and now.  His immediate desires and interests were of greater value than the long term. As Christians, we can be guilty of this when we give into temptation. James 1:13 “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.  (14) But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  (15) Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, brings for the death.”

     Notice again in verse 13: God cannot be tempted.  Why? 1. God is Spirit:  temptation is an appeal through the flesh.   Fleshly appeal has no appeal if something is not fleshly.  2. God is eternal: temptation by its very nature is an earthly or in the moment desire.   

     What better way to consider temptation: To see it through the eyes of God!  I’m not saying that temptation will no longer have any appeal to us, or we will no longer be troubled by the devil;   but if we can view temptation from the eternal eyes of God, temptation is not as appealing. In other words, if we can live our lives focused on spiritual things and things eternal, we are more apt to overcome in the hour of daily temptation. 

-Dale P.    

WEEKLY BIBLE READING:  2 Kings 4-22

News and Notes:  

-          Our Annual Friday Night Sing:  Friday, April 27, from 7:00-9:00.  We refreshments will be provided after the service. Finger foods, drinks and deserts will be needed.

-          If you would like to cut the grass sometime this year, there is a sign up sheet in the back.   

-          Ladies Bible Study:  This Thursday

For the Record

Sunday

Morning Worship……53

Evening Worship.........16

Wednesday

Bible Class…….…..….15

Contribution............$1,042

MORNING SERMON:

JOSIAH: GOD’S RIGHTEOUS KING

2 Kings 22-23

I. A RIGHTEOUS KING:

His  Description of Righteousness…  (2 Kings 22:2)

1.

2.

3.

Was Righteous in spite of his family tree…

1.

2.

II.  RIGHT RESPONSE TOWARD’S GOD’S WORD:

A.  He tore his clothes  because he:  __________________________

B. He ______________________________________________

C.  He ______________________________________________

D.  He ______________________________________________

COME WORSHIP WITH US!

Bulletin - April 8, 2012

SPRING CLEAN

NEXT SATURDAY!

8:00 – 12:00

WEEKLY BIBLE READING:    2 Samuel 13-1 Kings 7

News and Notes:  

-Men’s Business Meeting:  Sunday, April 15, after evening services.

-Spring Cleaning Day:  Saturday, April 14.  Sign up sheet is in the back including a to do list. 

- Secret Sister Luncheon: is going to be rescheduled for a later date.

- Our Annual Friday Night Sing:  Friday, April 27, from 7:00-9:00.  We will need refreshments for the fellowship after the service. 

- Ladies Bible Study:  This Thursday

FOR THE RECORD:

Sunday

Morning Worship……47

Evening Worship.........12

Wednesday

Bible Class…….…..….14

Contribution............$913

Those Serving Today:

Announcements: Steve Dupler

Song Leader: Dale Parsley

Lord’s Table: Lester Waldren

Assisting: Brian Dupler, Mike Morgan

Sermon: Dale Parsley

Next Week:

Announcements: Steve Dupler

Song Leader: Dick Morgan

Lord’s Table: Mike Morgan

Assisting: Tom Ogle, Jack Waldren

Sermon: Dale Parsley

MORNING SERMON:

What the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Christ Means  To Me – Acts 2

I. CONVINCED that Jesus Christ is the Son of God: 

Evidence for the resurrection…

A. Fulfilled Prophecy (Acts 2:25-28)

B.  The Empty Tomb (Acts 2:29-31)

C. The Apostles were Witnesses (Acts 2:32)

II.  CONVICTED of My Sins:

A. God’s Plan(Acts 2:23) –  B.  Man’s  Response (Acts 2:37)

III.  COMMITTED to the Cause of Christ:

What did they do?  

1. Verse 38 - Came to Christ  

2. Verse 42 -  Continued to learn

3. Verse 42, 44, 46 -  Came together as a family

4. Verse 42 - Continually partaking of the Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7)

5. Verse 42  - Continued in prayer

6. Verse 43 - Continued to grow in faith

7. Verses 44-45 - Cared for one another benevolently.

8. Verse 46 - Converted others

9. Verse 47 - Continued to praise God

Bulletin - April 1, 2012

“The Laws of Morality Don’t Apply To Me”

     It was said of Napoleon that he “always advocated the sanctity of the home and the obligation of public worship – for others.  Of himself he said, ‘I am not a man like other men.  The laws of morality do not apply to me.’”(William Barclay, The Letters to the Corinthians, p. 121) 

     We could say that Napoleon had a “do as I say, not as I do” policy.  The kind of thinking when someone says: “It’s wrong for someone to do this…except me.” Or “It’s good that everyone does this…but I don’t have to.”  This hypocritical thinking is something that any Christian can do.  For instance, if we are busy focusing on all the sins of others, yet neglect to examine ourselves, we’re applying the laws of God to other men, but not to ourselves.  Matthew 7:1-5 teaches us that the standard of judgment (and hopefully that’s the Bible) that we apply to others should first be applied to ourselves.  Sometimes we’ll discover that we not only have the same problem, but even worse. 

    There are two people who are in danger of this:  me and you.      

     ME: Preachers are one’s who can easily fall into the trap of looking at the problems of the congregation and not looking within first.  Each week I prepare and preach at least two sermons to other people on how to live the Christian life.  I constantly must be aware that I’m a sinner saved by God’s grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9), and still deal with sin in my life; but as I seek to walk in the light, the blood of Christ continues to cleanse me of my sins (1 John 1:7).  The sermon applies just as much to me as it does anyone else.  

     YOU: I’m sure every preacher has had his share of frustration when services are over and as people are heading out the door, someone says, “that was a great sermon, ‘so and so’ really needed to hear that.”  Sometimes I want to ask, “Well, what about you?” “The fact is, we all probably needed to hear it.”  As Christians, we’re here to help one another go to heaven.  May we avoid being the Pharisees in Jesus’ day (Luke 18:9-14). 

-Dale P.

News and Notes:  

-           We want to extend our sympathy to the Hartman family.  Gerry’s father, Jack England passed away last week.  Funeral arrangements are as follows:  Visitation: Monday, 6-8; Funeral: Tuesday, 11:00 - at the Leavitt Funeral Home in Belpre, Ohio. 

-           Community Food Bank:  The one scheduled for this coming Saturday has been cancelled due to the holiday weekend. 

-          Men’s Business Meeting:  Sunday, has been moved to April 15.

-          Brief VBS Meeting:  Sunday, April 8 after morning services to decide on the theme. 

-          Spring Cleaning Day:  Saturday, April 14. 

-           Secret Sister Luncheon: Saturday, April 21. 

-           Our Annual Friday Night Sing:  Friday, April 27, from 7:00-9:00.  We will need refreshments for the fellowship after the service. 

-           Ladies Bible Study:  This Thursday

WEEKLY BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 18-2 Samuel 12

FOR THE RECORD:

Sunday

Morning Worship……47

Evening Worship.........12

Wednesday

Bible Class…….…..….14

Contribution............$913

MORNING SERMON:

WARNING SIGNS OF A FOOL: How to be a Fool-Proof Christian

WHAT IS A FOOL? 

I.  THE BELIEFS OF A FOOL:  (Psalm 14:1)

He doesn’t _____________________ in God

He doesn’t _____________________ .  

II.  THE WAY OF LIFE OF A FOOL:

He believes in God, but ______________ as if there is no God (Ps. 14:1)

He is not _________________ to ______________ God (Prov. 10:8).

What he __________________ of himself (Prov. 12:15). 

How he _________________. 

1. When he is given _______________ (Prov. 12:15; 18:2; 15:5). 

2.  When he is ______________________  (Prov. 17:10).  

3.  When he makes ___________________ (Prov. 26:11)

III.  THE SPEEACH OF A FOOL: 

His tongue has no _______________ (Prov. 29:11). 

His tongue gets him into ___________________ (Prov. 18:6-7)

He is ___________________ (Prov. 19:1).

He repeats __________________ (Prov. 10:18). 

 

 "the churches of Christ greet you..."  Romans 16:16

Bulletin - March 18, 2012

ANNUAL INDIA MISSIONS CONTRIBUTION

TODAY!

Support the preaching and spreading of the gospel through brother Keith Ball to lost souls in India. 

WEEKLY BIBLE READING: Judges 1-18

News and Notes: 

-          Annual India Missions contribution TODAY!     Keep in mind, anyone who is not able to give the full amount today can pledge what they are willing to give. 

-          Congratulations to Sierra and Roy Storms!  Avalyn and Sierra are doing well. 

-           Ladies Bible Study:  will resume this Thursday.

-          Gift Box:  for Bruce Messer (Dale’s cousin), who is currently in Afghanistan.  Box is on the back  pew , items requested are listed on the bulletin board.

-          Visit the churches new  blog/website. at: www.southloganchurchofchrist.blogspot.com

-          Business meeting minutes are now available in the back.

                                         For the Record:

Sunday

Morning Worship……52

Evening Worship.........17

Wednesday

Bible Class…….…..….17

Contribution............$1,032

A.M. SERMON:

THE SINS OF SAMSON:

1.  HIS REASON FOR LIVING: 

2.  HE RESISTED HIS DIVINE BOUNDARIES:

3.  HE REJECTED GODLY GUIDANCE

4.  HIS RELATIONSIP ISSUES WITH WOMEN

COME WORSHIP WITH US!

Bulletin - March 11, 2012

ANNUAL INDIA MISSIONS CONTRIBUTION

Next Sunday!

Support the preaching and spreading of the gospel through brother Keith Ball to lost and dying souls in India. 

WEEKLY BIBLE READING: Joshua 1-24

News and Notes:  

- We want to welcome brother Keith Ball with us today!  Keith will be speaking to us about the mission work in India during Bible class and morning worship. 

 - POTLUCK:  After morning services.

- Dale is preaching for the church of Christ in Delaware this morning.

- Men’s Business Meeting:  Tonight after evening services.

- Annual India Missions contribution the 3^rd Sunday in March. 

- Ladies Bible Study:  will resume this Thursday.

- Gift Box:  for Bruce Messer (Dale’s cousin), who is currently in Afghanistan.  Box is on the back  pew , items requested are listed on the bulletin board.

- Visit the churches new  blog/website. at: www.southloganchurchofchrist.blogspot.com

FOR THE RECORD:

Sunday

Morning Worship……52

Evening Worship.........

Wednesday

Bible Class…….…..….11

Contribution............$1,101

Love Grows Up
     “When I was a child I spake as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man I put away childish things” (1 Cor. 13:12).
Life brings no greater blessing than a child, but it is a heartbreaking tragedy when the child never develops, physically or mentally. And some people never mature. Several characteristics of little children are:
(1) Children become very upset over any personal hurt. If pins prick the flesh they cry as if deadly wounded. They are not concerned about the suffering of others, but weep mostly for themselves.
(2) Children want to be the center of attention. They are jealous of others about them. They are willing to play if they can choose the game. They demand applause and appreciation.
(3) Children have to be taught to be thankful. Gratitude does not come naturally for them. They take the blessings of life as a matter of course, as somehow deserved.
(4) Children owe nobody anything. They desire to get all they can, but they feel little obligation to others. They rarely think of what they owe  parents, or the world they live in.
(5) Children are self-centered. They live in a world that revolves around them.
When one grows up and puts away childish things it does not mean tears never come to his eyes. It means that tears are reserved for causes that deserve them. A mature person can and does weep over his personal hurts, but more often the tears of love are for hurts of others.
When one grows up he still appreciates approval from others, but goes on living, working, and serving even when unrecognized by others. Gratitude and appreciation are the flowers of mature love. Love is always glad to say thank you. Love feels a deep sense of obligation to others. Mature love is “a debtor to Greeks and barbarians, both to wise and unwise” (Rom. 1:14). Love feels its obligation to serve (Gal. 5:13). Love puts away childish things. It grows up.

– Tom Kelton, http://www.bulletingold.com/goldvol12_1.html

 

Bulletin - March 4, 2012

What Really Changed Paul's Life?

    All of Jerusalem was disturbed (Acts 21:30). Paul had been seized, dragged out of the temple, almost beaten to death, and falsely charged with desecrating the temple (Acts 21:30-32, 35).
    Of interest, when he was finally allowed to defend himself, he talked about—of all things—his conversion.  He spoke of

His “education” at the feet of Gamaliel (22:1-3)

His “convictions” relative to the strictness of the law (22:3)

His “dedication” as a zealot, persecuting the church (22:3-5)

His “immersion” for the remission of sins (22:16); and

His “commission” as one sent to the Gentiles (22:17-21).

    Question: What really changed Paul’s life? What turned him from one religion to another? What directed his energies? Why was he converted?
    Answer: He saw Jesus! On the road to Damascus his associates saw the same light Paul encountered, but only Paul was temporarily blinded.  Why? Paul was the only one actually to see the Lord in His glory, and it changed his life forever (Acts 22:6-9; 9:7).
    Even so, when you and I study the Old Testament, we are encouraged to anticipate a Savior.  When we study the New Testament, we are introduced to Jesus as that Savior.  If we are baptized into Him (Galatians 3:26-27) and allow Him to live in us (Galatians 2:20) like Paul, it will make all the difference in our lives…and our eternity.
- Dan Winkler, Huntington, Tenn., via THE SOWER, found at: http://bulletingold.com/goldvol11_12.html

WEEKLY BIBLE READING:   Deuteronomy 17- 34

For The Record:

Sunday

Morning Worship……51

Evening Worship.........20

Wednesday

Bible Class…….…..….11

Contribution............$1,187

NEWS AND NOTES:
- Gift Box:  for Bruce Messer (Dale’s cousin), who is currently in Afghanistan.  Box is on the back  pew , items requested are listed on the bulletin board.

- Keith Ball is planning to be with us on Sunday, March 11 for Bible class and morning worship to give his report on the mission work in India. 

- Annual India Missions contribution the 3^rd Sunday in March. 

- Ladies Bible Study:  is cancelled for this Thursday.

- Visit the churches new blog/website at: www.southloganchurchofchrist.blogspot.com

- The Parsley’s are out of town this week.  Kevin will be preaching this morning and Mike will have a devotional tonight. 

- Men’s Business Meeting:  Next Sunday after evening services.

“I Like Your Christ, But Not Your Christians”

 The statement is attributed to Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948). Actually, the statement in full reads: “I like your Christ. I don’t like your Christians; because your Christians are not like your Christ.” Although Gandhi’s religion is a false one, his tireless efforts to help the down-trodden and his wise sayings are legendary, especially among the Indian people. Even though we cannot agree with his religious teachings, there is much truth in many of the things he said-among them, this statement.
     What is a “Christian?” He is a follower of Christ. Christ is his leader (I Pet. 2:21), and he is His follower. Some 16 times in the gospel records Jesus made the statement (either to an individual or to a group), “follow Me.” Paul commanded the Corinthians to “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (I Cor. 11:1). Among the statements Jesus made, He stated, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mk. 8:34). One who follows another as Christ commands us to follow Him will become like his leader. One who is truly a Christian, then, talks as Jesus talked, acts as Jesus acted and lives as Jesus lived. Unlike Jesus, however, we will make mistakes, we will sin (I Pet. 2:22). That being true, we will also seek always to walk in the light of His word (I Jn. 1:7), seeking forgiveness of our wrongs (I Jn. 1:9) and the kingdom of God first (Mt. 6:33).
     One who claims to be a Christian, yet whose life is not patterned after His is a hypocrite, a word from the Greek hupokriteis, meaning “an actor under an assumed character” (Strong’s). That is, he is one thing in name and quite another in action. As one on a stage assumes a role that is not truly himself, so it is with one who plays the role of a follower of Christ on occasion, but not consistently. Jesus revealed that every follower of His must “take up his cross daily” (Lk. 9:23). He cannot be “double minded” and, thus, “unstable in all his ways” (Jas. 1:8). The church at Sardis portrays such an individual. They had “a name that thou livest, and art dead” (Rev. 3:1). Their reputation among men did not equal their character with God.
     Gandhi was/is not the only one to notice that many who claim to be Christians
are not actually followers of Christ. Could that be said of you? Are you “one person” on Sunday, but “another person” every other day of the week? Are you “an actor under an assumed character” (a hypocrite)? The Lord had condemning words for the hypocrites of His day (cf. Mt. 22:18; 23:13-27; etc.). His words will be no less condemnatory on the Day of Judgment for those who merely play-act at being His followers (Lk. 13:23-28). If you are not a faithful Christian every day, you are not a faithful Christian any day; and you are not like Christ.

-Eddy Gilpin, found at: http://bulletingold.com/goldvol11_12.html

Come Worship with us!