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July 17, 2011The 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
NEW CLASSES: Remember that on Sunday morning we have great classses for the children, and Karl Marcussen is leading our discussion of 1 John. All Karl has to do is wind us up and turn us loose, because the book is so loaded--it gives us a wonderful discussion of Jesus and confidence in being a Christian.
Wednesday night we had what must have been a record number of people present for a Wednesday night, as we began our study of 1 Corinthians and our new classes for young people. Corinth was a city of some 400,000 people, and the center of the worship of the goddess of love--Aphrodite. Prostitution was rampant and the city was weathly. The church was dominated by a very pluristic mix of former slaves, most of whom had bought their freedom. The problem was that they brought all of their baggage with them--morally, politically, and spiritually. The comparisons to the world today are easy, and Paul's reactions are strong. It is an amazing study. Come and join us.
FAIR WORK: Some proposed panel banners were passed out last week. We still have copies for you to take and modify, but we need those back sometime today so we can start making those banners. See John C. or Bill G. if you need copies.
SINGING: August 14 is our area wide singing here at the building starting at 5:00. Singing praises to God and food are on the agenda, and if you were not here to help plan the food, see one of the ladies who were to find out what you can bring.
TODAY'S
LESSON
I. THE LOVING FATHER--two Sons
II. THE PRODIGAL SON
ENABLING OUR GIFTS
LESSONS FROM THE PRODIGAL SON
Luke 15:11-32
Luke 15:11-32
I. THE LOVING FATHER--two Sons
II. THE PRODIGAL SON
A. He was self willed, selfish,
demanding.
B. He left home and family--the
church is your spiritual family.
C. He waste all of his wealth--your best abilities are wasted if you are not involved.
D. When his wealth was gone, so were his friends--the world will always love you when you are "fit."
E. He remembered his father's house--remember what you have been taught.
F. He was repentant--turn away.
G. He was forgiven, accepted, restored--the church always accepts and loves.
III. THE ELDER BROTHER--the
faithful
church member. C. He waste all of his wealth--your best abilities are wasted if you are not involved.
D. When his wealth was gone, so were his friends--the world will always love you when you are "fit."
E. He remembered his father's house--remember what you have been taught.
F. He was repentant--turn away.
G. He was forgiven, accepted, restored--the church always accepts and loves.
A. He was faithtul--there every
time the doors were opened.
B. He was consistent--no hanky
panky.
C. He was always there--dependable.
D. He tried to please the father in all he did.
E. He was a lousy brother even though he was a good son
IV. CONCLUSION C. He was always there--dependable.
D. He tried to please the father in all he did.
E. He was a lousy brother even though he was a good son
1. He had an
attitude problem.
2. He was jealous, arrogant.
2. He was jealous, arrogant.
A. All of us fit into one of
these groups.
B. We have all failed God AND each another--we need to constantly draw together.
C. We will be accepted when we repent.
B. We have all failed God AND each another--we need to constantly draw together.
C. We will be accepted when we repent.
1. Repentance is not a one time
thing.
2. Christianity is a growth process.
2. Christianity is a growth process.
Our Sunday night studies in
spiritual gifts is continuing, and we have been looking at some vital
concepts about what spiritual gifts are and what the range of gifts
are. The religious world has tended to complicate this subject and make
it sound as if there is a great mystery in understanding spiritual
gifts. Like most religious confusion, this is just a matter of not
studying what the Bible teaches.
Historically the Bible talks about gifts that were used for specific needs and purposes. God raised up people who were given gifts to do what needed to be done. In Exodus 31:1-5 we can see a person given a craftmanship gift. I have to laugh at this one, because God has not given me anything close to such a gift as that. When a cabinet door broke on Cindy this past week, she held up the broken door, looked at me and said "Dave Pickens." She was right.
Even sexual needs and conduct are discussed as gifts in Matthew 19:12 and 1 Corinthians 7:1-8. Our society seems to assume that there must be some outward expression of one's sexual conduct, but that is not true. Teaching, managing, nursing, giving, encouraging, organizing, feeding--the range of gifts is endless.
In our study we have seen that in Jesus' time there were immediate gifts which Hebrews 2:1-4 and Mark 16:19-20 tell us were used directly by God. During the time of the apostles there were immediate gifts given by the laying on of hands by the apostles (Acts 8:14-19; 19:1-6; 1 Timothy 4:12; and 2 Timothy 1:6 are examples). Those situations do not exist today, but we have the promise of Acts 2:38 that we would all become new creations at baptism (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) and with that would be given the "Gift of the Holy Spirit."
What we are studying is how we recognize what those gifts are, and how we are to enable one another to make full use of the gifts we have been given. There are no second class citizens in the church. No gift is better than any other gift. Come and join in this vital study!
Historically the Bible talks about gifts that were used for specific needs and purposes. God raised up people who were given gifts to do what needed to be done. In Exodus 31:1-5 we can see a person given a craftmanship gift. I have to laugh at this one, because God has not given me anything close to such a gift as that. When a cabinet door broke on Cindy this past week, she held up the broken door, looked at me and said "Dave Pickens." She was right.
Even sexual needs and conduct are discussed as gifts in Matthew 19:12 and 1 Corinthians 7:1-8. Our society seems to assume that there must be some outward expression of one's sexual conduct, but that is not true. Teaching, managing, nursing, giving, encouraging, organizing, feeding--the range of gifts is endless.
In our study we have seen that in Jesus' time there were immediate gifts which Hebrews 2:1-4 and Mark 16:19-20 tell us were used directly by God. During the time of the apostles there were immediate gifts given by the laying on of hands by the apostles (Acts 8:14-19; 19:1-6; 1 Timothy 4:12; and 2 Timothy 1:6 are examples). Those situations do not exist today, but we have the promise of Acts 2:38 that we would all become new creations at baptism (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) and with that would be given the "Gift of the Holy Spirit."
What we are studying is how we recognize what those gifts are, and how we are to enable one another to make full use of the gifts we have been given. There are no second class citizens in the church. No gift is better than any other gift. Come and join in this vital study!