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January 2, 2011TO 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.
REMEMBER CHILDREN'S WORSHIP. Our services today will start with singing, prayer, and communion. After the communion our children will be dismissed to the fellowship area for a lesson at their level while the adults listen to the sermon for today. Parents need to decide whether they want their children to stay with them or go to the children's worship, but we would encourage all younger children who cannot understand the adult lesson to go and have a lesson which will be at their level. Our goal is to have 100 percent of what we do here understandable by 100 percent of us.
Our usual monthly potluck will be today after services. If you did not bring anything, do not worry--we always have more than we can eat. Stay and visit with us and enjoy eating some good home-cooked food.
Classes: We continue to have great Bible classes. Our Sunday morning class is on personal emotional pain and God's remedy for it. Come and be with us at 10:00. Sunday evening and Wednesday evening we continue our study of Paul's letters. We are finishing Ephesians and starting Philippians, so come and learn with us.
Dave Pickens has made a question box for us which is in the lobby. We encourage you to write any Bible questions you have on a slip of paper and leave it in the box. We will use your questions and suggestions to determine what sermons, classes, and bulletin articles are used in the weeks and months ahead. This is an opportunity for you to shape what we study and learn about.
REMEMBER CHILDREN'S WORSHIP. Our services today will start with singing, prayer, and communion. After the communion our children will be dismissed to the fellowship area for a lesson at their level while the adults listen to the sermon for today. Parents need to decide whether they want their children to stay with them or go to the children's worship, but we would encourage all younger children who cannot understand the adult lesson to go and have a lesson which will be at their level. Our goal is to have 100 percent of what we do here understandable by 100 percent of us.
FAMILY NEWS
Our usual monthly potluck will be today after services. If you did not bring anything, do not worry--we always have more than we can eat. Stay and visit with us and enjoy eating some good home-cooked food.
Classes: We continue to have great Bible classes. Our Sunday morning class is on personal emotional pain and God's remedy for it. Come and be with us at 10:00. Sunday evening and Wednesday evening we continue our study of Paul's letters. We are finishing Ephesians and starting Philippians, so come and learn with us.
Dave Pickens has made a question box for us which is in the lobby. We encourage you to write any Bible questions you have on a slip of paper and leave it in the box. We will use your questions and suggestions to determine what sermons, classes, and bulletin articles are used in the weeks and months ahead. This is an opportunity for you to shape what we study and learn about.
TODAY'S LESSON
THE FORSAKEN JESUS
MATTHEW 27:27-46
INTRODUCTION--This is a challenging passage.
Hard to understand. harder to
believe, and comprehend.
A. God is a complex
being--Father, Son, Spirit
MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU
FORSAKEN ME? 1. We are also complex--body,
spirit, soul--James 2:26; Genesis 1:26-27.
B. Jesus was the "Life Force" part of God. 1. John 1:1
2. John 1:14--Note: Became flesh
3. Colassians 1:14-17--part of the creation process
C. Hard to believe He would submit to the cross. 2. John 1:14--Note: Became flesh
3. Colassians 1:14-17--part of the creation process
1. Look at the abuse heaped upon
Him.
D. He did not have to do it--Matthew 26:53--12 legions. a. Physical--beaten (verse 26)
crown thorn torture?
b. Emotional--Insults (veres 29, 40)
c. Atheists are there (verses 42-43)
d. Goes on for hours (verse 45)
b. Emotional--Insults (veres 29, 40)
c. Atheists are there (verses 42-43)
d. Goes on for hours (verse 45)
A. Psalm 13:1-2
B. Job 3:1-13
C. You are on your own if you are not in Christ.
JESUS FELT THE RESULT OF MAN'S
SIN.B. Job 3:1-13
C. You are on your own if you are not in Christ.
A. Sin brings darkness into a
person's life.
B. Darkness comes over the last--Matthew 27:45.
C. God has no part in evil--James 1:23.
SIN SEPARATES US FROM GOD. B. Darkness comes over the last--Matthew 27:45.
C. God has no part in evil--James 1:23.
1. 1 John 1:5-7
D. The fact is everyone leaves you when things get rough.1. Matthew 26:56
2. Peter's denial in verses 29-75 and in Luke 22:61
3. John 6:66-67
4. Luke 15:30--where are they?
2. Peter's denial in verses 29-75 and in Luke 22:61
3. John 6:66-67
4. Luke 15:30--where are they?
A. 1 Samuel 16:14, then verse 23.
Consequences do not leave.
B. 2 Samuel 12:13-20
C. John 1:29--Jesus took on our sin--2 Corintians 15:21 and Hebrews 4:15
D. When Jesus held our sin it banished him from the father.
E. Eli (My God), lama (why,) sabachthani (treading the wine press alone). He screams and dies.
B. 2 Samuel 12:13-20
C. John 1:29--Jesus took on our sin--2 Corintians 15:21 and Hebrews 4:15
D. When Jesus held our sin it banished him from the father.
E. Eli (My God), lama (why,) sabachthani (treading the wine press alone). He screams and dies.
A NEW YEAR
There is an old adage that says "Time flies when you are having fun." All I have to say is that I must be having a whole lot of fun, because time sure is flying by. Here we are at the start of the second decade of the twenty-first century already, and as we look back at the last decade we can see a lot has happened to this congregation. Most of it has been very good. Our attendance has grown from roughly a dozen people to roughly three dozen. Our facility has been improved so that we can now use our basement without fear of flooding or legal problems because of exit problems. The interior of the building has been re-carpeted, and the fellowship area now has functional appliances and a sheltered entry has been provided. We have blacktopped our parking lot, repaired and update our sign, and planted flower beds, graded the lot, and maintained the yard. We have developed a benevolent program that has gotten recognition from the community and is serving a large number of people food on a regular basis. We recently distributed a large number of coats and bedding to children and families in need in the area.
Equally important to the physical things that have been done, we are helping support a jail ministry throughout the United States, and we have helped care for children by supporting Shults-Lewis Children's Home. We have helped in the evangelism of the blind throughout the world, and supported the Does God Exist? ministry with physical facilities and logistical help. We have reached out the lost of our area through the Cass County Fair Exhibit, The Holiday Parade, and the Halloween Booth in the city.
You may not have been aware that all of this is going on, but it is important to know that your contribution to the work here does something. No one draws a salary, we have no debt, we are in the black financially, and we are continuing to teach God's word and provide stability in a community that has had a very hard decade. There is a lot to be proud of and thankful for at this congregation, and a lot of people need to be thanked for all they have done to make this possible.
The challenge for 2011 and for the next decade is to move on and reach out in even better ways than we have in the past. We need your involvement, ideas, time, energy and resources to continue to make things happen. We especially need your prayers for a wonderful new year of work in the Lord.
There is an old adage that says "Time flies when you are having fun." All I have to say is that I must be having a whole lot of fun, because time sure is flying by. Here we are at the start of the second decade of the twenty-first century already, and as we look back at the last decade we can see a lot has happened to this congregation. Most of it has been very good. Our attendance has grown from roughly a dozen people to roughly three dozen. Our facility has been improved so that we can now use our basement without fear of flooding or legal problems because of exit problems. The interior of the building has been re-carpeted, and the fellowship area now has functional appliances and a sheltered entry has been provided. We have blacktopped our parking lot, repaired and update our sign, and planted flower beds, graded the lot, and maintained the yard. We have developed a benevolent program that has gotten recognition from the community and is serving a large number of people food on a regular basis. We recently distributed a large number of coats and bedding to children and families in need in the area.
Equally important to the physical things that have been done, we are helping support a jail ministry throughout the United States, and we have helped care for children by supporting Shults-Lewis Children's Home. We have helped in the evangelism of the blind throughout the world, and supported the Does God Exist? ministry with physical facilities and logistical help. We have reached out the lost of our area through the Cass County Fair Exhibit, The Holiday Parade, and the Halloween Booth in the city.
You may not have been aware that all of this is going on, but it is important to know that your contribution to the work here does something. No one draws a salary, we have no debt, we are in the black financially, and we are continuing to teach God's word and provide stability in a community that has had a very hard decade. There is a lot to be proud of and thankful for at this congregation, and a lot of people need to be thanked for all they have done to make this possible.
The challenge for 2011 and for the next decade is to move on and reach out in even better ways than we have in the past. We need your involvement, ideas, time, energy and resources to continue to make things happen. We especially need your prayers for a wonderful new year of work in the Lord.