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September
25, 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
POTLUCK. Next Sunday is our potluck day. We enjoy a meal together and have some wonderful food to eat. After the meal we will have a congregational meeting to talk about what projects we want to do this coming year. We need everyone's input and advice, so please plan to stay and be a part of our planning.
SINGING. We have had a good time singing with our sister congregations in the area and having them come here. If you have not been going to these sessions you have missed some good food, some great people, and some great singing. The Mishawaka Church is having a singing on Sunday, October 16, at 4:00 in the afternoon which will include a meal together. We plan to dismiss our services that evening and participate in their singing. We will take the van, so transportation will be available, but you will need to be here at 3:00 that afternoon. Plan to come and be a part of this time of Christian fellowship and worship.
KEEP UP WITH THE SICK. We really appreciate Julie and Karl keeping track of people who need our prayers, cards, visits and phone calls. Be sure to get the sheet each week and be sure to do something with it! Make a phone call every day. Send a card or note to those that you have an address for. Make a visit once a week. This is something we all can do, and it is a wonderful way to minister to people who need encouragement and help. If you know someone who should be on the sheet contact Julie or Karl Marcussen at marcusen@michiana.org or 574-291-3064 (leave a message).
TODAY'S LESSON
INTRODUCTION
PRIORITIES
MOSES
AND ME
Exodus 2-4
INTRODUCTION
Exodus
2:1-10
Two educations--spiritual and physical
40 years as a shepherd--Acts 7:30
MOSES IS
CALLED BY GOD - SO ARE YOUTwo educations--spiritual and physical
Spiritual
from his mother
Physical from the teachers in Egypt
We also have two educations--where do you get yours?
School of hard knocks
Church
Your own private study
Ends up in Midian--Exodus 2:21Physical from the teachers in Egypt
We also have two educations--where do you get yours?
School of hard knocks
Church
Your own private study
40 years as a shepherd--Acts 7:30
You are
never too old to start.
Exodus
3:1-10
We are not either--1 John 1:8-9.
MOSES
FULFILLS GOD'S PLAN--AND SO WILL WE.We are
not called by burning bushes.
Moses tries all of our excuses:Other
callings--work of the Church
Exodus
3:11--"This is not my thing."
Exodus 4:1--"No one is going to listen to me."
Exodus 4:10--"I'm not a very good speaker."
Exodus 4:13--"Send someone else, I don't want to!"
God's answers to Moses and to us: Exodus 4:1--"No one is going to listen to me."
Exodus 4:10--"I'm not a very good speaker."
Exodus 4:13--"Send someone else, I don't want to!"
Exodus
3:12--"It isn't up to you--I will be
with you."
Exodus 3:13-15 "They WILL listen to me.
Exodus 4:14--"Now you have me angry."
Moses is not perfect--Numbers 20:7-13. Exodus 3:13-15 "They WILL listen to me.
When
things get rough, people listen.
Exodus 4:11-12--"Who gave man his
mouth?"Exodus 4:14--"Now you have me angry."
We are not either--1 John 1:8-9.
Deuteronomy
34:40-41--Moses
2 Timothy 4:7-8--Paul
Acts 2: 38b-- Gift of the Holy Spirit
2 Timothy 4:7-8--Paul
Acts 2: 38b-- Gift of the Holy Spirit
1
Corinthians 12:1-27
Promised
to those who will obey.
Moses chose to obey--will you?
Moses chose to obey--will you?
We all have a lot of
things that want our time and attention. Our work,
family, yard work, and even clubs and service
organizations we belong to all want a piece of our
time. One of the unique situations that Christians
find themselves in is the fact that God wants us
to make Him a high priority too--in fact, He needs
to be number 1. Luke 14:26 may be a hard statement
for us to swallow: "If any man come to me, and
hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his
own life also, he cannot be my disciple. "
At first glance this may seem impossibly demanding and at contradiction with much of the rest of the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles. The context of this passage involves being willing to live the Christian life, and building a foundation for that life (see verses 27-30 and 1-25). When we embrace Christianity we take on the values God wants us to have. Our priorities are now controlled by God, and as Christians we make our decisions about what counts in life by using God's Word as the force that shapes what we do.
What that means in practical terms is that we give up selfishness and what we want in order to serve others. We make our marriage something we treasure and sacrifice daily to make it last. We treasure our children and are willing to give to bring harmony into our family and will put our own selfish desires and needs on the back burner to make sure of the relationships God wants us to have. Things are not as important as family and our satisfaction comes from having a good marriage, happy children, a peaceful and loving home, and an outreach to those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
Making God our number 1 priority sets up our lives to put everything in its right order. Being a disciple of Jesus means not to listen to the selfish voices around us, be it from family, friends, or out of our own head. The way we find real happiness in life is to walk with God. First John 1:4-10 describes this joy as "walking in the light." Make God our number 1 priority and allow Him to guide the choices we make in life. We will find peace and joy and happiness even when bad things happen.
At first glance this may seem impossibly demanding and at contradiction with much of the rest of the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles. The context of this passage involves being willing to live the Christian life, and building a foundation for that life (see verses 27-30 and 1-25). When we embrace Christianity we take on the values God wants us to have. Our priorities are now controlled by God, and as Christians we make our decisions about what counts in life by using God's Word as the force that shapes what we do.
What that means in practical terms is that we give up selfishness and what we want in order to serve others. We make our marriage something we treasure and sacrifice daily to make it last. We treasure our children and are willing to give to bring harmony into our family and will put our own selfish desires and needs on the back burner to make sure of the relationships God wants us to have. Things are not as important as family and our satisfaction comes from having a good marriage, happy children, a peaceful and loving home, and an outreach to those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
Making God our number 1 priority sets up our lives to put everything in its right order. Being a disciple of Jesus means not to listen to the selfish voices around us, be it from family, friends, or out of our own head. The way we find real happiness in life is to walk with God. First John 1:4-10 describes this joy as "walking in the light." Make God our number 1 priority and allow Him to guide the choices we make in life. We will find peace and joy and happiness even when bad things happen.