July 21, 2013-Dowagiac Church of Christ bulletin

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July 21, 2013

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

ONE WEEK TO THE FAIR: Next Sunday we will be setting up our booth at the Cass County Fair. The balloons, magnets, emery boards, etc., are here and the banners are here for you to see. The handout sheets, and exhibit boards are under construction. In the lobby on a clip board are sign-up sheets to work the booth. Please sign up for as many shifts as you can. Remember that you are just there to greet people and give them free materials — not to debate theology.

NEW WEDNESDAY NIGHT CLASS: This coming Wednesday night will be our concluding class on Psalms. Starting July 31 Bill Gibson will be teaching a new class. Several of you have mentioned wanting to know when you would get to hear Bill's great material again, and now is your chance. Come on Wednesday nights and hear a great biblical discussion

SHULTS-LEWIS COMMODITIES: The brethren at Shults-Lewis Child Services have asked the Dowagiac congregation to collect frosting, icing, and fruit cocktail for the children they care for. They want to pick it up the week of August 18, so we need to have it her by Wednesday, August 14. This is a way to let the kids and workers know we care. Put your items on the pew in the lobby.

TODAY'S LESSON

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS BOOTH?

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Our “Dandy Designs” fair booth is unique.

1. We educate — not entertain

B. The great challenges of the twenty-first century

1. Is there a God? Which God? Why? John 14:6

C. Forty percent of all Americans are "none" religiously.
D. Why are people “nones”?

1. Have not been taught by their parents
2. Valid questions have not been answered
3. Human suffering is rampant
4. Lack of commitment in adults
5. Hypocrisy in adults
6. Do not see any relevancy to life — morally especially

E. We have a responsibility to meet those needs.

II. GOD CALLS US TO ANSWER CHALLENGES OF FAITH.

A. 1 Peter 3:15 — many ways to do this
B. Public challenges to disbelief — Acts 17:16 – 31

1. This is what the Does God Exist? ministry is about.

C. Jesus answered the challenges of unbelief.

1. Mark 9:22 – 24 — Note the father's doubts.
2. Doubt is not bad — unresolved doubt is
3. John 20:24 – 30; John 11:16 — We must attack doubt

III. GOD HAS NEVER CALLED MAN TO BLIND FAITH.

A. Proverbs 8:1 – 11 — God calls us to understand.

1. Proverbs 8:22 – 31 — Wisdom is seen in the creation.

B. Psalm 19:1 — look at where we are to look for faith.
C. Genesis 1:1 — Three testable claims

1. There was a beginning.
2. The beginning was caused.
3. The cause was God — intelligence and wisdom.

D. Psalm 139:14 — Look at our bodies and praise God.
E. Matthew 6:26 – 30 — Look at the world around you.

1. Why did Jesus use so many natural parables?

F. Romans 1:18 – 25 — The basis of faith

1. What happens without faith (verse 25)?

IV. GOD'S SALVATION REQUIRES A THINKING RESPONSE.

A. Acts 2:40 — “Save yourselves …”
B. Acts 26:28 — note persuade — in such a short time
C. Joshua 24:15 — The same call comes today.
D. We come to Dowagiac to say what God says.

1. Not emotionalism, entertainment, or tradition

THE BACK PAGE

MEETING THE PUBLIC

There is a tendency for religious people to withdraw from daily life. You can do this without moving into a monastery, a cave, or on top of a mountain. Many times congregations are so introverted that they make no contact with people in the communities they serve. This is not what God intends for the church to do. In the first century the church was “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people” (Acts 2:47). In the qualifications for elders in 1 Timothy 3:7 we are told an elder “must have a good reputation with outsiders.”

God does not want his people to be recluses. We cannot reach the lost if we are insulated from them. Paul took advantage of public gatherings to reach out to people with the gospel. In Acts 17:6 – 19 we see Paul going into the synagogue to meet with the Jews and in the marketplace day by day. When a group of philosophers met in the Areopagus Paul was in the midst of them. For the 45 years that I have been in the Does God Exist? ministry, we have done a vast percentage of our programs in public auditoriums, schools, motel meeting rooms, and theaters. Visitors come to these places, but they will not come to most church buildings. We meet and work with the public.

We have precious few visitors to our worship services, and when they do come it is usually because they know someone who attends our congregation. This is the reason we have the sign in front, the reason we do the highway clean up, and the reason for the booth at the Cass County Fair. We get a chance to meet the public, let them know we are not recluses and religious wackos, but just like them, we are fighting our way through life a day at a time. What we want to say to them in addition is that we have found something we want to share with them. Something that works and will enrich their lives and give them hope for eternity.

— John Clayton