Home

Worship Services

Location

Contacts

Bulletins

Links
September 14, 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.


FAMILY NEWS
SINGING TODAY!  Please see the back cover of this bulletin.  The singing this afternoon will start at 5:00.

LADIES APPRECIATION DINNER OCTOBER 11.  We had some folks with conflicts on the 18th, so we are going to try to have the dinner on the 11th.  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.

PARKING LOT PROJECT FINALIZED.  A unanimous vote Wednesday night set the paving of our parking lot in motion.  Bill Gibson and Dave Pickens have been working on this for a long time, and it is now ready to start.  Work may begin as soon as tomorrow, but it will definitely be completed this month.  This is a major effort and a major expense, but it is greatly needed, and if it does not get done now it will never get done.  The real beauty of this whole thing is that we have enough money to do it without borrowing--something we did not expect to happen when we started working on it.  Thanks to everyone who has given input and been a part of getting this tone.

CHECK OUT THE SIGN PLANS TODAY.  A computer construction of a new sign for the brick sign hut in front of the building is ready to view.  Be sure to check it out today before you leave.  This was our final construction goal for this year and J.R. has been working to get this ready to be done.


TODAY’S LESSON

THE BEATITUDES
Matthew 5:1-16
INTRODUCTION
These 16 verses are the start of the revolutionary teachings of Jesus Christ.
Luke 6:20--seems to be a parallel account.
This separates Christianity from every other system.
Much is lost in translation--our purpose this morning.
BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT
Humble minded--not arrogant
Learn to approach others in a non-correctful way.
Romans 12:16
BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN
Know what sorrow means--not just the death of someone.
Hebrews 12:8
Romans 12:15
BLESSED ARE THE MEEK
What happens to relationships when you rule by force?
Colossians 3:21
Ephesians 6:4
BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH DO HUNGER/THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
How do you get full?  All appetites have a common problem.
Sex, drugs, fame, etc., leave you hungering for more.
2 Timothy 4:6-8--The picture of being full
BLESSED ARE THE COMPASSIONATE
Compassion does not equal weakness.
John 8:3-5
BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART
Utterly sincere--totally clean
Matthew 18:1--Little Child--"Paidon" baby like
Learn not to think in the negative--work on it.
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
Causers of Peace--how do we cause peace?
Read the rest of Matthew 5-7.
Learn not to hate.
Learn to return good for evil.
Learn to turn the other cheek.
Learn to go the second mile.
Work to defeat hypocrisy.

 WHY HAVE AN AREA WIDE SINGING

Today at 5:00 p.m. there will be an area wide singing here at our building.  Brethren from sister congregations will join us for a period of group singing and fellowship, and we will provide the food and facilities for this to take place.  Why do we do this, and why should I be there?

There are many Bible encouragements to sing--Romans 15:9; 1 Corinthians 14:15; Colossians 3:16; just to name a few.  In Ephesians 5:19 we are told to "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord."  Just as we have gospel meetings and Bible studies to encourage and educate one another, we are to sing and be lifted and encouraged by joining our voices in all kinds of music--notice different kinds of music are described--psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

Psalms are written to be sung and were written for group praise and supplication.  They were taken directly from scripture and can be found in your Bible.  Hymns on the other hand were an expression of Christian joy and thanksgiving, but usually were not scriptures as were psalms.  They could be spontaneous expressions of someone who had a special blessing or feeling they wished to express.  Spiritual songs were compositions dealing with teaching a concept about God or expressing need.  Obviously there are some overlaps between these various kinds of singing, but they are all individual participations in worship.

In our studies of 1 Corinthians 14:7-15 this past week we saw Paul put emphasis on singing with spirit and understanding (verse 15).  When we have brothers and sisters from surrounding congregations join us, they teach us new songs.  They also help us be encouraged by the greater volume and participation of having 100 or so people in our building to join with us in a unified act of worship to our God.  Being good hosts and providing a period of fellowship allows us to grow and be motivated to press on in our service to God.

Be sure to be here at 5:00 tonight and join with us in a special feast of worship in song and fellowship.