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August 25, 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

POTLUCK NEXT SUNDAY: We know that next Sunday is Labor Day Weekend, but it is also the first Sunday of the month and nothing stops us from eating together and enjoying being with people we care about. Bring a dish and enjoy good food and good fellowship.

TUESDAY SENIORS BRUNCH: For many years, seniors in the Michiana area have gotten together for fellowship and Bible study. This is held the third Tuesday of each month at the Claytons' and we were glad to many of you who came this past Tuesday. On Tuesday September 3 at 11:00 AM the seniors will gather at Ho Ping House Restaurant for a brunch. That is located in Roseland across from Wendy's on the west side of the highway just north of the toll road entrance. Join us!

MEETINGS: There is alot going on in the area, and we are posting the meetings and lectureships on the bulletin board. Shults-Lewis is having an open house and golf tournament September 13 – 14, and details are on the board, too.

TODAY'S LESSON

DO YOU HAVE SPIRITUAL LEPROSY?

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I. INTRODUCTION — Definition: cancer of the first century
A. Painful, incurable, feared, ugly — Leviticus 13
B. Much about leprosy is paralleled in sin (inner body).
II. LIKE LEPROSY, SIN SEPARATES US.
A. People with leprosy were “unclean” — separated
1. Had to live “outside the camp” — Leviticus 13 – 14
2. Referred to as a plague — house separated
B. Sin separates us from God — all through Old Testament
1. From the church — 1 Corithians 5
C. Sin affects our physical and mental health.
1. Leprosy was not just a skin condition.
2. Sin affects us in deep ways — not just superficial.
III. LIKE LEPROSY, SIN REQUIRES DIVINE ACTION
A. Lepers could only go to God for a cure.
1. 2 Kings 5:1-17 — Naaman — what the cure did?
B. The leper was the most hopeless person in society.
1. His only hope was that God would intervene.
C. Being inbedded in sin is a hopeless state.
1. Most sins lead to addiction — drugs, sex, prejudice.
D. Addictions are usually approached from a spiritual standpoint — “look to a higher power”
1. Jesus dealt with leprosy and with sin.
a. Matthew 8:2; 10:8; 11:5 — included with miracles
b. Matthew 26:6 — Jesus was ready to heal.
2. God wants you to be healed of sin.
IV. TO CURE LEPROSY OR SIN YOU HAVE TO DO IT GOD'S WAY.
A. 2 Kings 5:10 — Naaman and the river
B. 1 Peter 3:21 — Why does baptism save us?
C. Acts 2:37 — God's way — not questioned by the crowd
D. Romans 6:4


THE BACK PAGE

GREAT RESPONSE PLUS

I continue to be amazed by what this congregation is able to do. In spite of being small numerically, we continue to make incredible responses to needs all around us. This past Wednesday night we once again had a great demonstration of the power and dedication to service that this congregation has.

For the past month or so we have been collecting commodities for the Shults-Lewis Children's Services in Valparaiso, Indiana. They had asked us for frosting/icing and fruit cocktail to stock their pantries for the children who are in residence there, and we had accumulated quite a bit of material. When Mark Swartz from Shults-Lewis arrived, we had quite a stash of goods for him to pick up. He spoke to us for a while about the work Shults-Lewis is doing. They work in a unique way with children who have all kinds of situations at home by providing shelter, Christian counseling, spiritual help, and educational services. The work there has changed over the years from being a orphan home type of agency to a child services agency; and wonderful things have been accomplished for the Lord.

What was interesting is how much association there has been over the years between people here and Shults Lewis. Bill Gibson's dad helped build the first house unit there. Several of us have worked as "Key Persons" in helping the home keep solvent financially and in good standing with the government.

What I was especially proud of Wednesday night was that Mark had two tires that were shot on his vehicle, and he was unable to even drive his truck to the building from downtown Dowagiac. Our folks showed what a real Christian family was about as they found tires to replace the two that were shot, got them fixed, and put on the truck. That had to be such an encouragement to Mark and such a boost to the Shults-Lewis family. Mark and his wife have just started their work with Shults-Lewis, and this was a great statement of support for him. Our thanks to everyone who pitched in and made it a good night, and helped in a time of need.

— John Clayton