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December 29, 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

NO WEDNESDAY CLASS JANUARY 1: A large number of our members are going to be out of town on New Year's Day, so we will not have midweek classes on Wednesday night. When the Wednesday night class resumes on January 8, you will have a new class.

POTLUCK NEXT SUNDAY: Our monthly potluck is next Sunday. Plan to bring a dish and stay for a great meal and a time of fellowship.

PRAYER SHEET: Please call Karl at 574-514-1400 or e-mail him at marcusen@michiana.org if someone needs to be added to the list or a change made in the prayer sheet.

GREAT CHANGE OF PACE: The Claytons will be out of town during January, so you will get to hear some different lessons from different speakers on Sunday morning during worship. Come enjoy a change of pace and speakers. The seniors class that normally meets the third Tuesday of the month will not meet in January. The senior brunch will be held at Bob Evans in Roseland on Tuesday, January 7 at 11:00 AM.

TODAY'S LESSON

LIGHTHOUSES

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John 8:12

John Clayton

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” — John 8:12 (NIV)
“To almost every man and woman there is something about a lighted beacon which suggests hope and trust.” — Edward Snow
INTRODUCTION — Ever been close to a lighthouse?
A. The Bible portrays Jesus as a source of light in darkness.
B. We are to be a source of light — Matthew 5:14.
C. Lighthouses can remind us of how we do that.
I. LIGHTHOUSES STAND TALL AND STRONG.
A. Ever been near one in a storm?
B. Jesus is portrayed in the Bible in the same way.
1. John 1:2 – 5
2. John 8:12
3. Matthew 7:15 – 20 — fruit test
C. A lighthouse withstands assaults.
1. Matthew 16:18
2. Matthew 24:6
D. We must stand tall and withstand assaults.
1. Attempts to stamp out Christianity are active.
2. 1 Peter 3:12 – 17 — especially verse 15
II. WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD BY AVOIDING DARKNESS.
A. The darkness of materialism — Luke 12:15ff
1. Rich man and his barns
2. The rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16 – 24
B. The darkness of what we hear — Mark 4:24
C. The darkness of who we are with — 1 Corinthians 15:33
D. The darkness of false preachers ( Matthew 7:15ff) how do you sort them out? — fruit test.
E. The darkness of avoiding knowledge of the end — Mark 13:29 – 33.
III. WE ARE THE LIGHT OFTHE WORLD BY SENDING BEAMS
A. John 11:25 – 26 — Believe there is more than this life.
B. Matthew 10:32 — Who do you want as your lawyer?
C. Luke 15:10 — Happiness in heaven
D. Full salvation — How will you wake up after you die?
1. Mark 16:15 – 16
2. 1 John 1:4 – 9

THE BACK PAGE

THE YEAR IN REVIEW AND THE YEAR AHEAD

The end of the calendar year is a time for looking back and looking ahead. The year 2013 saw several of our members move to sister congregations in the area to assist in works that needed their help. Jim and Brenda Harasewicz have been working with the Mishawaka congregation, helping in their singing and teaching work. Steve and Karen Wysinger have been helping in a new church planting in Buchanan. We are thankful for these two dedicated families and their desire to use their talents as effectively as possible, but we do miss them. They continue to work with us and meet with us at programs like our fair booth, the float and the Tuesday class at Clayton's and we know they continue to work hard for the Lord in their new locations.

In spite of losing these two families our Sunday morning attendance has held up, but our growth numerically has come from some steps forward by families that have been struggling and have endured some real hardships. Our need to reach out more effectively in the community is quite obvious.

We have started a savings account to secure a full-time worker for the congregation, and we have had some success with our sign and its impact on the neighborhood and the community. The coat program and the pantry have been very effective this past year, and we have been in contact with a number if people from the community that we hope will ultimately lead to some growth.

There is a need for more members here to step up and get involved in the work of the congregation. Without an eldership or a full-time minister ideas and work programs need to come from within the body of the church. Bring your ideas to a business meeting in February and let us begin some new outreaches in Dowagiac. We cannot just maintain what we are doing, we need to grow with new approaches and ideas to reach out to a lost world.

— John Clayton

Answer key for the Bible Review on The Back Page of the December 22, 2013 issue.
G-1 I-2 F-3 A-4 J-5 E-6 H-7 D-8 B-9 C-10