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Bulletin cover

August 19, 2012

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 and 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

SINGING HERE SATURDAY AUGUST 25 — We will host an area wide singing on August 25 starting at 5:00 P.M. I apologize for getting the wrong month last week. We will have a light meal afterwards, and food assignments have been made. If you did not get one, see Donna Pickens. Plan to be here to help welcome and host our visitors.

THE SIGN — We are using the new sign in front to invite the community to things like the singing and our potlucks as well as special classes and services. Eventually we will have permanent wiring to the sign. We also have sayings and biblical quotes to use when we do not have a special event coming up. If someone would like to take on changing the board from prepared material from time to time, please see John Clayton.

CLASSES AND DEVO — The monthly Bible study at Clayton's will be this Tuesday at 6:00 P.M. Everyone is invited to join us. We will have a picnic dinner first. Bring a salad or dessert and your Bible. If you do not know how to get there, ask John or one of the men serving you today.

TODAY'S LESSON

TOO BUSY

MATTHEW 6:33

INTRODUCTION
A. We are a busy people — what is a typical day for you?
B. Our cliches tell about our busyness, "It could be a lot worse; I'll get back to you; Hold your horses; When I get around to it; I'm working on it; it is what it is; … ."
C. The story of a visit
D. Matthew 6:33 — how do you do this?
LEARNING TO BE CONTENT
A. Philippians 4:11–13 — We have to learn to be content.
B. Luke 15:11– 24 — Prodigal son
1. Verse 17 — "when he came to his senses … ."
2. Do you have to be crushed to learn contentment?
3. Do not confuse contentment with complacency.
4. 2 Kings 5 — Naaman — be content with God's solution.
5. God's plans are simple — avoid complacency.
C. Look at priorities
1. Determine what matters most! "What matters the most in eternity should matter the most now."
2. 2 Timothy 4:6 – 8; Ephesians 6:11–17; 2 Timothy 2:15
3. Deuteronomy 6:6 – 9 — "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" (Edmund Burke).
FINISH THE RACE AND KEEP THE FAITH
A. Track story — Downs syndrome kid
B. Is the race worth running? Faith is a race — Romans 10:17.
C. What does it take to get in shape?
1. James 1:2 – 3
2. One cannot start a race if one is busy on other things.
3. Satan is a master at distracting us.
4. Jesus has a yoke to counteract busyness.
5. Matthew 11:28 – 29
D. The yoke of Jesus — what does a yoke do?
1. Is a primary cure for being too busy.
2. We all face the same problem – 1 Corinthians 10:13.
3. God's Spirit helps with the yoke.
4. God's people can help and support you.
5. Being involved in God's work and worship helps.
6. Make God a priority in your life.

WHY DON'T WE HAVE A PASTOR

There are a number of things that a visitor would notice when they attend our services. The simplicity of our auditorium, the lack of an organ or piano, the absence of a priest with special garments, and the lack of religious titles would be just a few. We are not in the entertainment business, and our welcome column inside this bulletin explains what we are and what our plea is.

Why we do not have a pastor, and the need for someone to "take charge" of things is usually the stated reason for such a person to exist. The only time the word "pastor" is used in the New Testament is in Ephesians 4:11 where Paul says "He gave some to be apostles; and some to be prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ … ." The word poimen is the Greek word used here and literally means a shepherd or a feeder.

In the modern religious world the word "pastor" has taken on a whole different meaning. Webster defines a pastor as a minister, one who governs a church. God never gave anyone person that role, and in fact the governing of the church is to be done by the presbuteros which means aged persons. Their dossier is given in 1 Timothy 5 and Titus 1. For one person to be governing the church is a recipe for disaster. One of the problems is that it can produce a power struggle within the church and gives room for jealousy and pride.

In a small congregation like ours, we do not have the resources to have an evangelist or the manpower to have an eldership. In the Bible we have many congregations that were like ours, most of which met in people's houses (see Acts 16:15; 2 Timothy 4:19; Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 2:19). We hope to grow to the point of being able to select leaders with the qualifications given in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, but until then each of us must work to teach and preach the gospel with no one being singled out to be given a title like "pastor."