June 10, 2012-Bulletin.html

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 for which we have a Bible basis. 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

TRACEY BREWER'S LAST SUNDAY WITH US is today. Monday we will help her load up and she will be moving to North Carolina. We will miss Tracey. We appreciated her positive spirit and hard work with the food pantry and virtually every good work we have been involved. We know our loss will be the gain of a congregation in the Charlotte area, but we need to all keep Tracey in our prayers.

LARRY FOX has continued to weather his cancer treatments and is now on what will hopefully be less hard on his body. Keep Larry in your prayers.

KAMOKA CASTANEDA has had another kidney stone battle and has been in a lot of pain. Keep her on your list.

DIANA DAVIS continues to care for her mom who has multiple problems with cancer and her heart and is very ill. Diana has had way more than her share of difficult situations. Make sure you pray for her daily.

LANA FOX is adjusting to new diabetic medication as well as caring for Larry. Keep praying for this family.

The roof section has been re-shingled. Our thanks to Bill Gibson for making sure this badly needed job has been done.

TODAY'S LESSON

WHY YOU NEED THE CHURCH

INTRODUCTION

A. Most people in the U.S. will not be in "church" today.

1. "I don't need that crutch!" What is your crutch?
2. "I get more out of ... ."
3. What is the purpose of church?
4. We are not in the entertainment business.

B. The level of unhappiness in the world is very high.

1. In the UK it is recognized.
2. Look around you.

REASON 1--ALL HUMANS NEED A GOD CENTERED FOCUS.

A. What is your focus--"I" is not a good focus.

1. We cannot share the pedestal with God

B. Job is about man and God--not suffering.

1. Job 1:1--Job is perfect in outward things. See vs. 3-4.
2. Satan's challenge is Job has not been tested.
3. Job's heart is not perfect--centered in "me."
4. Song 684 (Praise for the Lord songbook) "This World Is Not My Home"

C. We call God into question in strife--Job 6:8-9.
D. We need a new focus--Job 38:1-4; 40:4-5; 42:5.
E. Isaiah 55:8-11

REASON 2--WE ALL NEED A PLACE TO FEEL SAFE, LOVED.

A. Ephesians 4:1-3

1. We are called to be a safe family.
2. We are not called to debate and oppose.

B. Dis-fellowship is to withdraw this--1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2:6-8.
C. Philippians 1:3-11
D. Where do you turn in crisis?

CAN YOU RATIONALLY SAY "I DON'T NEED THE CHURCH?"

A. Do you really want to be number 1?

1. Consequences are massive.

B. Do you really believe you do not need love, care, support, purpose in life, a basis of morality, real friend ship, a refuge from the world, concern.
C. The purpose of our invitation--

1. To say "I need God"--I look to a higher power.
2. To say "I need the church" I want to be a part of what is right in the world.

PROVIDING FOR KIDS

We have been talking about how we can provide for your children when they are in the church building. We need to thank our kids and their parents for their wonderful behavior last Sunday at the potluck. We did not have any running, gymnastics, or wrestling matches in the auditorium after the potluck and there was no security guard at the door. We have a small number of kids, but that is changing. If we have some physically and spiritually things for them to do our young children and their parents will come.

A group of us are working on a proposal to the congregation. One part of this will be to construct a playground area outside our building. Some of our parents and I have made a rough sketch of the two options for this area and some of the pluses and minuses about each. If you have not gotten one of those packets, please get one and look it over and make suggestions to us by talking to me or Bill Gibson or putting a written comment in the question box. Once we decide which area we will use, we will get some estimates on cost and bring it to you.

Another part of this proposal is to provide an indoor place the kids can go to when they are not in class or in worship. We have a large unused room in the basement, and a TV and VCR are available to show good Christian material. We also have some games and books that can be set up so the children will have a place to go. We have a TV, VCR, children's books, and some games all donated for this use, so we hope to have that operational very soon.

You cannot read Mark 9:36-37; 10:13-16; Luke 11:11-13; Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21, Titus 2:4 and not see the importance and love Jesus had for children. We need to minister to the young and do all we can to encourage them. We have changed our worship arrangement so children can learn at their own pace and level, but we also must work to make coming to church a 100 percent good experience for them.