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August 31, 2008TO 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.
ANOTHER LOSS
Pat Brewer passed away after a long hard battle with cancer. The funeral was held this past week. Our hearts go out to the Brewer family. It is a blessing that her pain is over and she is with the Lord, but those left behind have a long process of healing to go through.
FAMILY NEWS
GOOD NEWS: We finally got the permit for the parking lot project, and Bill Gibson and David Pickens met with the contractor on Friday to get the project started. The rebuilding of the sign in front is also well underway, so things are moving slowly, but they are moving.
POTLUCK SEPTEMBER 7: Remember that next Sunday is our potluck Sunday. Plans need to be finalized for the area wide singing to be held here the next Sunday, so be sure to bring something and plan to stay to help get things ready.
AREA WIDE SINGING HERE-- SEPTEMBER 14 at 5:00.
LADIES APPRECIATION DINNER--OCTOBER 11. We had some folks with conflicts on the October 18, so we are going to try to have the dinner on the October 11. If there is a problem with that new date, would you please let Bill Gibson, Karl Marcussen, or John Clayton know so that we can start making final arrangements.
TODAY’S LESSON
You may wonder why these improvements need to be made, and why we would spent money on them when we could have hired a qualified full-time preacher for a year or more with what has been spent on these cosmetic improvements--and that is a valid issue. First Timothy 3:7 tells us that a Christian leader must be respected by those who are outside the Church. For many people in the Dowagiac area we are just another isolated religious group that is of no significance and will ultimately just fade away and disappear. Having a functional facility with which we can serve the community, and showing that we are serious about ministering to our area is important, especially since we are three miles outside of town.
We have already heard comments from community people who notice we are growing and improving, and our service to families has been noticed. Our service to families when they lose a loved one has been exceptional, and we praise those of you who have participated by attendance, prayers, bringing food, assisting in arrangements, and visiting. When our parking lot is paved we will be able to hold funerals in our building, as well as special events to serve the community. Hopefully the lot will be done by October 11 so that our “Ladies Appreciation Dinner” can be held without fear of weather or other complications.
If we are going to own a property, it must be maintained and made functional so that we can minister to the community we serve. If we do not do these projects now when we have the resources to do them, we will never do them--especially a major project like the parking lot. If you have questions ask, but all of this is being done thoughtfully and with a purpose in mind.
THROWING
THE FIRST STONE
John 8:1-12
INTRODUCTIONJohn 8:1-12
We live in a world of
politics--everyone wants to get ahead.
Scribes and Pharisees were the Democrats and Republicans.
GOD ISN’T QUICK TO JUDGEScribes and Pharisees were the Democrats and Republicans.
They did not care about what was
right or wrong (verse 5).
There are important lessons in this incident.Where is the man involved?
They wanted to see if Jesus was politically correct.
Quoted what everyone knew.
Jesus ignores them for a time.
God is not much interested in politics.
What do you think Jesus wrote in the sand?
THROWING STONES IS BASED ON
ARROGANCEGod is not much interested in politics.
What do you think Jesus wrote in the sand?
Verse 7
Jesus writes again--pretends not to hear.
God knows us--does not want to hear judgements of others.
GOD DOES NOT THROW STONES--BUT
GOD DOES HAVE EXPECTATIONS.Jesus writes again--pretends not to hear.
God knows us--does not want to hear judgements of others.
What is the purpose of our
judgements?
Song 37 in our song book--Angry Words.
The older you get, the less arrogant you should get.Song 37 in our song book--Angry Words.
Arrogance is an insecurity
blanket.
Eventually it is just you and God--Jesus and the Woman.Jesus does not condemn the woman,
but opposes her sin.
Jesus has an expectation about her.
WHO DO YOU IDENTIFY WITH IN THE
STORY? Jesus has an expectation about her.
Church does not exist at this
time.
There is no baptism for the remission of sins.
She confesses Jesus as Lord.
Jesus demands a change--“Sin no more!!”
Remember 1 John 1:5-7 and John 8:12.There is no baptism for the remission of sins.
She confesses Jesus as Lord.
Jesus demands a change--“Sin no more!!”
Stone throwers walk in darkness.
Walk in pain, hypocrisy, dishonor
Deny the power of Jesus to bring purpose to life.The woman?
The crowd?
The crowd?
OUR IMAGE
There has been a lot going on during the past year with this
congregation. One of the major things that has been happening is
the addressing of cosmetic things that have to do with our
building. We have done some landscaping work, redone the
auditorium and fellowship area with carpeting, improved the classrooms
in the basement, added a discharge covered area for people to come in
and out of the building. This fall we plan to have the parking
lot paved and the sign in front rebuilt.You may wonder why these improvements need to be made, and why we would spent money on them when we could have hired a qualified full-time preacher for a year or more with what has been spent on these cosmetic improvements--and that is a valid issue. First Timothy 3:7 tells us that a Christian leader must be respected by those who are outside the Church. For many people in the Dowagiac area we are just another isolated religious group that is of no significance and will ultimately just fade away and disappear. Having a functional facility with which we can serve the community, and showing that we are serious about ministering to our area is important, especially since we are three miles outside of town.
We have already heard comments from community people who notice we are growing and improving, and our service to families has been noticed. Our service to families when they lose a loved one has been exceptional, and we praise those of you who have participated by attendance, prayers, bringing food, assisting in arrangements, and visiting. When our parking lot is paved we will be able to hold funerals in our building, as well as special events to serve the community. Hopefully the lot will be done by October 11 so that our “Ladies Appreciation Dinner” can be held without fear of weather or other complications.
If we are going to own a property, it must be maintained and made functional so that we can minister to the community we serve. If we do not do these projects now when we have the resources to do them, we will never do them--especially a major project like the parking lot. If you have questions ask, but all of this is being done thoughtfully and with a purpose in mind.