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February
12, 2012The family of God here at the 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
FAIR IDEA. We need to get your input on the latest fair idea, or some other possibilities. We have to get our space reserved soon and need to know if everyone is on board with what we will do to reach out to our community. If you did not get the two idea sheets, be sure to pick them up today and discuss it with John or Bill G.
SOUND SYSTEM. Our sound system continues to improve, and we are gradually getting our worship leaders to use it effectively. If you are not hearing well, please see Karl Marcussen for a personal receiver.
BENEVOLENT WORK. The blankets, that were worked on last Sunday, were delivered to relieve the family that was burned out. Our thanks to everyone who worked on that project last Sunday, and to Julie Marcussen for designing the project and getting all the materials to do it.
MATERIALS IN LOBBY. We have a number of periodicals in the lobby that are there for you to take home and read, and make available to family and visitors. The Gospel Herald and Christian Chronicle are newspapers that have news and good Christian articles in them. Gospel Minutes and Does God Exist? are ministry magazines that answer difficult questions and have biblical material on specific topics of interest to many people. Please help yourself to these free magazines and have good Christian literature available in your home.
TODAY'S LESSON
HOW SACRED IS THE SANCTUARY?
It is always interesting how we can sometimes misunderstand something even though we read the message correctly. We recently had an incident where one of the visiting children read the sign that is posted on the door coming into our meeting area and said "They don't want food in the special place where they worship God." When I asked if that was because the pews were a holy place, the response was "Well, it is the sanctuary."
The fact of the matter is that the reason for the signs is because we do not want to have to clean the rugs any more often than necessary. My response led us to a good discussion of what the "church" is and what a "sanctuary" is.
In Matthew 18:20 Jesus said, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." In John 4:19-24 Jesus and the Samaritan woman had a discussion about where worship should take place, and Jesus said in verse 21 that worship will not be on mountains or in a special temple. In Philemon 1:2 Paul addresses his letter to "the church that meets in your home." First Corinthians 3:16 indicates that the Christians are where the temple of God is. In Acts 16:13 Paul found by the river "a place of prayer." All of these verses make it clear that no building is sacred. In 1 Corinthians 11 when Paul tells the church to eat at home, it is because of the abuse of other Christians in a fellowship meal, not because of the sacredness of a building. Our auditorium is useful, but it is not sacred.
RAISING
UP MOSES
INTRODUCTION
How
bad are things in America? In the
world?
Every generation thinks their time is the worst in history.
Let us look at a bad time in biblical history and how God solves it.
THE
HISTORY OF THE EVENT Every generation thinks their time is the worst in history.
Let us look at a bad time in biblical history and how God solves it.
Israel
comes to Egypt because of famine.
The population grows--Exodus 1:6-8
GOD
BRINGS AN ANSWER THROUGH A WOMAN.Genesis
46:5-7, 31-34; 47:1-4
They come as the "scum of the earth"--verses 33-34.
Joseph--the leader dies--Genesis
50:26. They come as the "scum of the earth"--verses 33-34.
The population grows--Exodus 1:6-8
New
Pharaoh comes to power--Exodus
1:8.
Views Israel as a threat--verses 9-10.
Begins ruthless exploitation--verses 11-14.
Genocide is ordered of Israelite
boys--Exodus 1:22.Views Israel as a threat--verses 9-10.
Begins ruthless exploitation--verses 11-14.
Identical
to the world today
Israel cries for relief.
Israel cries for relief.
Genesis
2:1-2
Moses was the son of believing parents.
The mother was fearless.
The mother saw purpose in Moses--Exodus 2:1-2.
GOD
BRINGS AN ANSWER TO AMERICA, TO US.Moses was the son of believing parents.
The mother was fearless.
The mother saw purpose in Moses--Exodus 2:1-2.
"Towb"
in Hebrew means goodness, moral.
The mother educated Moses
religiously and secularly.Acts
7:22
Exodus 2:11-12
Moses knew what his mother taught him--Acts 7:25.
God has a purpose in every
life--does not make junk.Exodus 2:11-12
Moses knew what his mother taught him--Acts 7:25.
What
is the background of Mary, Joseph,
Peter, and David?
Moses' mother had a bizarre
plan--where did she get it?--Exodus
2:3-6. God
will bring answers by us.
Are you willing to be what God calls you to be?
Are you willing to be what God calls you to be?
HOW SACRED IS THE SANCTUARY?
It is always interesting how we can sometimes misunderstand something even though we read the message correctly. We recently had an incident where one of the visiting children read the sign that is posted on the door coming into our meeting area and said "They don't want food in the special place where they worship God." When I asked if that was because the pews were a holy place, the response was "Well, it is the sanctuary."
The fact of the matter is that the reason for the signs is because we do not want to have to clean the rugs any more often than necessary. My response led us to a good discussion of what the "church" is and what a "sanctuary" is.
In Matthew 18:20 Jesus said, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." In John 4:19-24 Jesus and the Samaritan woman had a discussion about where worship should take place, and Jesus said in verse 21 that worship will not be on mountains or in a special temple. In Philemon 1:2 Paul addresses his letter to "the church that meets in your home." First Corinthians 3:16 indicates that the Christians are where the temple of God is. In Acts 16:13 Paul found by the river "a place of prayer." All of these verses make it clear that no building is sacred. In 1 Corinthians 11 when Paul tells the church to eat at home, it is because of the abuse of other Christians in a fellowship meal, not because of the sacredness of a building. Our auditorium is useful, but it is not sacred.