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July 6, 2008

TO OUR VISITORS


The family of God here at Dowagiac Church of Christ wishes to extend to you a warm welcome.  If you have questions about our worship services and why we do what we do, we will be glad to give you a biblical answer.  The uniqueness of the Church of Christ is that we are trying to restore to the best of our ability those things that we see the first century Church doing.  We are also working hard at building the spirit, unity, and love that Jesus taught and prayed for.  We have no clergy, but are working together as equal co-workers trying to serve one another and the area in which we live.  Come study with us, grow with us, and serve with us as we strive to do God’s will in all things.

CLASSES

We have started new classes and want to encourage everyone to come and be a part of these new studies.  On Sunday morning we are studying the parables of Jesus with Jim Harasewicz leading the class.  On Wednesday night  we are continuing a series of studies in Corinthians taught by John Clayton.  These are important classes with a lot of information being conveyed.  We encourage you to come and participate and make sure your kids come for their classes.


FAMILY NEWS

FAMILY NEWS POTLUCK TODAY!  If you forgot, stay anyway.  We always have plenty, and we want you to enjoy time with us.  We also have some important things to discuss about plans for upcoming events.  These include a singing to be held here, a ladies appreciation dinner, the parking lot, the sign, and some new evangelistic outreaches.
LITERATURE:  We want to encourage you to take copies of the literature that is in the lobby.  Gospel Minutes is a great devotional tool for you and/or your family.  Does God Exist? is a colorful collection of articles and materials to aid people in the field of apologetics.  Christian Chronicle and Gospel Herald are newspapers containing news on brotherhood issues in the US and Canada.  Take these home.  Read them--Grow!!

TODAY’S LESSON
WHEN THE MASTER MARVELLED

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE AMAZE GOD.
God's capacity to be outside time does not remove our ability to choose.
Nineveh and Jonah.
Our two examples today.
THE BELIEVING GENTILE--Matthew 8:5-13.
Big shot in the political secular world of his day.
"I am not worthy."
Worldly success does not mean success in what matters.
How to build a successful marriage.
How to be satisfied--contented.
How to die.
He knew the power of God "Just speak the word ... ."
Note verses 11-12--You do not inherit heaven.
THE UNBELIEVING JEWS--Mark 6:1-6.
Look what has happened prior to this
Woman with blood issue--Mark 5:25-29.
Resurrection of a dead girl--Mark 5:26-41.
Gadarene maniac cured--Mark 5:1-16.
Because He was local they blew him off.
Working with family and friends is hard.
Reasons? ...
Jesus is amazed at their refusal to believe (Verse 6).
What does it take to make you really believe?
Look at what God has given you to help you believe.
Jesus does not force this or resort to overwhelming them.
Miracles were never for show or force.
Verse 5--It is not that He could not do the miracle
Miracles had a purpose, and the purpose was not possible here with their hearts as they were.
Religion is pointless to some people--they will not change.
A WONDERFUL MODEL OF RESPONDING TO GOD.
Luke 1 :34--"How can this be?"
Luke 1 :37--"For with God nothing shall be impossible."
Luke 1 :38--" ... be it unto me according to your word."
Do you have the courage to be what God calls you to be? 

 INDEPENDENCE DAY

The 4th of July has always been one of America's favorite celebrations.  Fireworks, picnics, vacations, and parades have always been a major part of this celebration.  It is a joyous time, because it is a time of remembering how blessed we are to be a country where we have independence.  We are not just independent of ancient England, or of communism or of Hitler.  We are also free of those who would force a state religion upon us.  So far in America we are free to speak what we believe and be independent of those who would force us to say things we do not believe.

In the New Testament we see great emphasis was placed on being free.  In Acts 22:28 a Roman captain told Paul that he paid a huge amount of money to be free in the Roman world.  Paul responds by saying he was born free--born a Roman citizen.  In the world of Jesus people were either bond or free by birth (Co1ossians 3:11, Ephesians 6:8), and changing that state was very hard to do.  Many of us have been born into situations where we may feel quite controlled and limited, and indeed that may be the case.  Be thankful on this special holiday weekend that you also were born in a country where you can change your status and overcome the limitations your birth may have placed upon you.

It is in the Roman world of great injustice and unfairness that Jesus comes proclaiming that freedom is at hand.  In John 8:32 Jesus taught that the Truth would make all men free.  He goes on to say in verses 33-36 that the freedom He speaks of was freedom from sin.  Romans 6:18-22 echoes that promise.  Life can be hard and unfair.  No amount of money can buy you out of the struggles that life brings upon us and the consequences of bad choices we make, but we can be free and independent of the cares of this world if we will obey God and be faithful to Christ.  Let us celebrate the independence we have and the birth of this great country in which we live, and let us pray that the forces that would take away our freedom are unsuccessful, but let us also thank God for our freedom from being slaves to sin.