Home

Worship Services

Sermons and Classes

Location

Contacts

Bulletins

Links
Bulletin cover

December 31, 2017

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

TONIGHT: We will have our normal class with some singing. This will be followed by refreshments, some game playing and fellowship as we celebrate New Year's Eve with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Bring some finger food, etc., and plan to stay and join us in welcoming in the new year! (This was cancelled due to the weather in our area.)

POTLUCK AND TIMBERS NEXT SUNDAY: Bring a dish and enjoy fellowship. Stay for the congregational meeting. Spend 30 minutes with the seniors at Timbers. Make it a day of service to God!

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING JANUARY 7: It has been a long time since we have had a congregational meeting. We each need to know where we are financially, what is being done with our money, how those ministries are doing and whether we want to continue them. We have a proposal to make to the congregation about a special event to be held in June to reach out to our neighborhood and to the community of Dowagiac (see The Back Page below). Please plan to be here for the potluck that will be held that day, and then plan to stay over for the congregational meeting. It will not last too long, because we also go to Timbers that day


TODAY'S LESSON

THREE RESOLUTIONS
FOR A GODLY NEW YEAR

 Sound on icon

John Clayton
INTRODUCTION
A. Have you made some New Year's resolutions? Cliches say a lot about us.
B. We joke, but there are some we need to make.
RESOLUTION Number 1 — Be a person of your word because you are a person IN the
....Word — Matthew 5:13 – 22!
A. There are three kinds of oaths or swearing.
B. Number 1 — Omumi — swear, make a serious commitment to
1. Matthew 23:13 – 22 — What was the issue?
2. A complete commitment to legalism (verses 23 – 24)
3. ISSUES can be good, but not spiritual.
4. Matthew 23:23
C. Number 2 — Epiorkeo — slander, speak badly of.
1. 1 Timothy 5:19 – 22
2. Matthew 18:15
D. Number 3 — Horkos — A promise, a commitment
1. Matthew 5:36 – 37
2. James 5:12
3. Matthew 5:34 – 37 — Avoid frivolous promises.
RESOLUTION Number 2 — Do not get even and be the aggressor — Matthew 5:38 – 41.
A. Smite — rhaoizo — to slap, not dero to beat
B. Proverbs 15:1 and 25:15
C. “Turning the other cheek,” I will not retaliate.
D. Coat — chioton — long robe. Coat — himation — Tunic is ceremonial. Outer is rank symbol.
RESOLUTION Number 3 — Do not play favorites or show favoritism
A. Matthew 5:43 – 47 — Enemy = opponent
B. Romans 12:17 – 21 — It must be “we” not “they.”
C. John 17:20 – 21
D. 1 Corinthians 12:12 – 27
E. Galatians 3:26 – 28
F. Ephesians 4:1 – 6
HOW DO YOU KEEP A RESOLUTION?
A. Philippians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:1; Colossians 4:2; Ephesians 6:18 — PRAY!
B. THINK! Be with the church — Hebrews 10:25 — Obey God!


THE BACK PAGE

PROPOSAL FOR SUMMER 2018

Next Sunday at the business meeting we have a proposal to make for a community outreach. Mandy Wallace and I had the same idea at the same time. Both of us have had some experience with this concept and know it can work. My experience was with the Olive Street Church of Christ in Peoria, Arizona. They had a good facility and a very large property, but they had been unable to get community people into their building. They decided to have a “Fun Fare” which was highly advertised in the community and attracted families and people from all over the area.

The community was invited to park in the field adjacent to the “Fun Fare” area. The advertising was for kids to come and enjoy free activities for all ages. There was a giant slide, a baseball pitch, a basket shoot, a football throw, a giant swing, a bow and arrow shoot, a sledge power test, a pony ride, a cotton candy booth, free ice cream, a hot dog and chip plate with all the trimmings, a toss across, a merry go round, a ball dive, a petting zoo, etc. Prizes were given in most booths and everything was free. The Olive Street church gave away a variety of Bibles and Bible games. There were booths that let people sign up for some of the things the Olive Street church does to serve the community.

Peoria is part of the Phoenix metroplex, but 95% of the visitors who came lived within 10 miles of the building. I was there to present several of our lectures on the existence of God, and people were invited to take a break and listen to me in an air conditioned auditorium at different intervals of the afternoon. A company was hired to do all of the activities.

Mandy and I are checking into rental opportunities in the Dowagiac area. We are finding lots of places that rent the machines and booths that can be operated by members of the church. The key is to spend some money on advertising and making sure the community knows what is available. Bring your questions to the meeting next Sunday, and let us see what the consensus is on this.

— John Clayton


Our sign by the street!

A long time ago, in Bethlehem far, far away, the Savior was born!

Sign saying inspired by Star Wars and www.sayingsforchurchsigns.com