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December 8, 2013

WELCOME!
WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE

We are a group of believers who simply try to follow the Bible as a guide for all we do. Everything done in our worship service is something for which we have a Bible basis. You are welcome to participate as much or as little as you wish. We will sing hymns together and we will observe the Lord's Supper or Communion together. We will also have an opportunity to give to the work of God in this area. This collection is for the members here, and if you are visiting you should not feel and pressure to give. Our lesson time will be divided into two groups. The young children will go to our classroom area in the basement where they will be taught the Bible at a level they can understand. The adults will stay in the auditorium for a lesson at an adult level. We do try to serve the community, and if you have some needs that we can help you with, mention it to one of the members. Thank you for worshipping with us.

FAMILY NEWS

THANKS: To everyone who helped with the Dowagiac Holiday Parade float. We appreciate those who decorated and those who braved the elements to sing and greet the community. This is a great way to advertise the Lord's work to the area, and we appreciate all who helped to do that.

NILES CHRISTMAS POTLUCK: Next Sunday morning after services the Niles congregation has invited us to a potluck and Christmas carol singing. If you would like to go and need transportation, let one of us leading worship know.

FULL-TIME PREACHER ACCOUNT: We have set up an account to hire a full time worker for the congregation. The plan is to build up an account to have full-time support available for someone to be hired. We are planning to put a minimum of $500 a month into this account.

COATS FOR KIDS: We plan to buy coats from the wholesaler this week. We are especially interested in helping kids we know or have contact with so we get the right size. If you know of a child with no winter coat please see Bill or Patty Gibson!

TODAY'S LESSON

ARE YOU MEEK OR WEAK?

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Matthew 5:5

John Clayton

INTRODUCTION
A. What is “Meek”?
1. We tend to equate meek with weak, nerdish.
2. Dictionary: “An attitude of humility toward God and gentleness toward man, springing from a recognition that God is in control. It is strength and courage under control, coupled with kindness” (Nelson's Bible Dictionary).
B. Meek “from praos meaning power under control as in a soothing medicine, a gentle breeze, or a broken colt horse.”
I. THE MEEK ACROSTIC — PSALM 37
Verse 1 — Do not fret.
Verse 3 — Trust in the Lord.
Verse 5 — Commit your way.
Verse 7 — Be still and wait.
Verse 8 — Refrain from anger, turn.
Verse 10 — A little while and wicked end.
II. MEEKNES — FINDING SOLUTIONS TO LIFE'S PROBLEMS.
A. Matthew 11:28-30 — Find rest.
B. Galatians 5:22-26 — Fruit of the Spirit — keep in step.
C. Ephesians 4:1 – 2 — We are all the same — be thankful.
D. Meekness is not giving up power, but using it well.
III. BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF MEEKNESS
A. Abraham — giving Lot first choice of land — Genesis 13:7 – 9.
B. Joseph — positive response to brothers — Genesis 45:3 – 5.
C. Jesus — power over spirits, death — Luke 4:36; John 10:18.
IV. BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF WEAKNESS.
A. Saul — egomaniac — could not handle David or the future.
B. Simon — wrong use of things given by God — Acts 8:9-24.
C. Lot — selfish — Genesis 13.
D. Felix — Acts 24:24 –27 — too weak to act on Truth.
1. It takes strength to be a Christian.
E. Agrippa — Acts 26:27 –29 — Too weak to act
V. MEEKNESS IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
A. Weak — afraid to get involved.
B. Weak — afraid to ask for anything physical or spiritual.
1. “Survival of the fittest” is weakness.
C. Do not be a Felix or an Agrippa.

THE BACK PAGE

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES “FAITH” MAKE?

Does it really matter if you have faith? How does having faith affect our daily lives? These are really important questions and they really do have a bearing on how we live. One of the first considerations is what or who do we have faith in. All people have faith in some thing or someone. Some have faith in money, others have faith in armaments, some have faith in our political system and politicians, some have faith in science and education, etc. It is important to place our faith in something that is real, reliable, helpful, and lasting.

Faith in God is real. There is no other explanation for the origin and order of our universe. Paul declares in Romans 1:20: “For since the creation of the world God's invisible attributes — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (NIV). Denying the existence of God causes one to live under delusion that somehow everything we see has no explanation, no purpose, no meaning. How can anyone make good choices when they are living with inaccurate false information. Atheism leads to bad choices because it is built on a denial of observable proof of supernatural origin for the universe.

Faith in God is helpful — God gives us hope for the future, guidance in the present, and forgiveness for our past. Suicide is a major problem in our area. People take their own lives when they have no hope, when they are overcome with guilt, when they feel abandoned, overwhelmed and alone, when they see no positive future or when their possessions or relationships disappoint them. Faith in the real God of creation will help everyone deal with these deadly perils. Christians do have hope, help, forgiveness, and loving caring relationships. Even death cannot conquer us since Jesus conquered it. Through faith we are victorious people. It does make a difference to have faith.

— John Cooper, Grand Junction, Colorado.