October 23, 2011-Bulletin.html

October 23, 2011

WELCOME! WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE

We are a group of believers who simply try to follow the Bible as a guide for all we do. Everything done in our worship service is something we have a Bible basis for. You are welcome to participate as much or as little as you wish. We will sing hymns together and we will observe the Lord's Supper or Communion together. We will also have an opportunity to give to the work of God in this area. This collection is for the members here, and if you are visiting you should not feel any pressure to give. Our lesson time will be divided into two groups. The young children will go to our classroom area in the basement where they will be taught the Bible at a level they can understand. The adults will stay in the auditorium for a lesson at an adult level. We do try to serve the community, and if you have some needs that we can help you with, mention it to one of the members. Thank you for worshipping with us.

FAMILY NEWS

PRAYER LIST. Karl and Julie are working hard to give us data so that we can use our gifts to reach out to others. On the back of the sheet that has the listing of those who need our special prayers are the addresses of many of those folks. Take some time to write them a note. Encourage them, support them, let them know you care.

NEXT SINGING. This past Sunday evening seven of us joined brethren from Benton Harbor, Mishawaka, and South Bend for an evening of singing and fellowship. A great spirit was present, and a real closeness of Christians who are getting to know one another better and better. November 20 will be the next singing and it will be at Benton Harbor. Plan to be a part of it.

THANKS. To Bill and Patty Gibson for the children's fun day at their house yesterday. Letting kids have a good time in a wholesome environment is a great Christian lesson, and Bill and Patty teach it wonderfully!

TODAY'S LESSON

DON'T BE UNEQUALLY YOKED
1 Corinthians 5:9-11

INTRODUCTION

A. 1 Corinthians 8 from Sunday class
B. Romans 14 from Sunday class
C. 1 Corinthians 15:33
D. Jesus example--friend of sinners versus Apostles

1. How do you do this?

EFFECT OF ASSOCIATIONS IS UNDENIABLE

A. Abraham in Egypt--Genesis 12:10-15
B. Isaac in Egypt--Genesis 26:6-13
C. Peter denying the Lord
D. Peter denying the Gentiles--Galatians 2:11-15

CHRISTIANS PRACTICE SEPARATION, NOT ISOLATION

A. 1 CORINTHIANS 5:9-11

1. Verse 10--Says we do not leave the world.

B. We must not be mismatched in our partnerships,

1. Deuteronomy 22:10--Ox and Donkey
2. Leviticus 19:19--mating different animals

a. Jacob and Laban's flocks

3. 2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Corinthians 3:16

a. Belial = worthless person

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD DEMANDS SEPARATION

A. 2 Corinthians 6:16--Our relationship with God

1. Verse 17--Come out from among them--separate.

2. 2 Corinthians 7:1--logically--do not stroke the world.
3. Verse 18--the ideal relationship
4. Purify--cleanse yourself from the world.

HOW DO YOU PURIFYYOURSELF?

A. Acts 21:24--Paul's purification rite
B. Hebrews 9:9-15

1. Hebrews 10:4-10--Impossible by Jewish traditions
2. Only through the sacrifice of Jesus

C. Baptism is how you come in contact with that blood.

1. Communion renews that sacrifice.
2. You make a pledge to be separate.
3. How you live reflects that separation--who is your best friend--partnerships, time spent.

CHRISTIANS AND POLITICAL ACTIVISM

"Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's."

Luke 20:25; Mark 12:17; Matthew 22:21

There can be no question but that our country is in a period of turmoil. You turn on the news and see marches and rallies dealing with things that affect us and our children. Whether you side with the Wall Street Protestors, the Tea Party, Ron Paul, or the Libertarians it is easy to get swept up in the emotions of the day. It is important for Christians to keep things in proper focus and to put priorities in the right order.

The statement under our title makes it clear that Jesus put a hard wall between faith and politics. Romans 13 makes it clear that Christians are to respect and obey civil law. The passage refers to civil rulers as ministers, and tells us that civil law is ordained of God to provide law and order in society. At the same time there is something more important than all civil law and that is God's eternal law. The same passage that says we are to obey Caesar and pay taxes and tribute (Romans 13:6-7, Luke 20:25) tells us to "render unto God the things which are God's."

How do we render (or give back) to God what is His? If you think about that question for a minute you will realize that the really important things in life come from God. How do we live so that we have eternal life? How do we make sure that our marriages and our kids have love and success in living? How do we live our lives so that we do not hurt others and have a morality that works? The major political concerns in this country revolve around jobs, economics, world trade, and human rights here and abroad. The inability of politicians to solve these issues has been caused by a deeper allegiance to their politics than to solutions. We can address some of these issues God's way--by feeding the hungry, providing clothing for those in need, and teaching God's Word to all who will listen and accept it.

You as an individual can and should express your self politically, but it is not the job of the church to support a political party, tell people how to vote, or to engage in protests. It is our job to give, teach, encourage, share, and provide for those who are in need. This is what God's work is about, and our resources need to go to that work.