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May 31, 2015

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 — GET INVOLVED!

FLOWER GIVE-AWAY A HUGE SUCCESS Our thanks to everyone who participated in the wrapping and giving of 96 flowering plants to people living near our building. We saw lots of smiles and even some tears from people we gave the plants to. Our special thanks to Patty Gibson who had the original idea and coordinated all of the effort including going and getting the plants in Kalamazoo.

POTLUCK NEXT SUNDAY: Plan to bring a dish and stay for a meal and time of fellowship together.

SHULTS-LEWIS COMMODITY DRIVE: We have been asked to supply mayonnaise, Miracle Whip, and various kinds of Salad Dressing for the Shults-Lewis Children's Home. Bring some of those items and leave them on the bench in the lobby. We have the month of June to collect those items.


TODAY'S LESSON

THE CHURCH AT SARDIS

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REVELATION 3:1-6

John Clayton
INTRODUCTION
A. Sardis was the capital of Lydia.
1. The river Pactolus was there — a gold mine, too.
2. Huge fortress was built into the cliffs.
3. Making, dying garments was the main business.
B. Seven spirits — the whole Spirit of God — the Holy Spirit
C. Seven stars — the whole creation — beauty, dignity
I. REVELATION 3:2 – 3 — The “look good” congregation
A. Matthew 23:23 – 28
B. How do you worship? Where is your focus?
1. John 4:24
2. 2 Timothy 2:3 — Can you separate church from what pleasure you are looking forward to?
3. 2 Timothy 4:3 – 5 — What kind of a preacher do you want?
C. 1 Corinthians 16:13 — Can we do these things?
II. REVELATION 3:4 – 5 — God judges you, not the congregation.
A. What was about to die? Are you actually dead?
1. 1 Peter 2:2 — Are you a baby?
2. 1 Corinthians 3:1 – 2 — Have we as a congregation grown to the point of having meat?
a. Are we like Sardis or Thyatira ( Revelation 2:19)?
3. Hebrews 5:12 — Are you a teacher?
B. How do we at Dowagiac grow? What can you do?
1. Bible classes, web use, correspondence courses, periodicals in lobby
2. Be involved in spiritual life — Matthew 12:30; Luke 11:23.
a. Matthew 25:34-40 — Judgement scene
b. Philippians 2:12


THE BACK PAGE

THE NEW RELIGION

Arthur Guiterman in “Gaily the Troubadour” gave a sarcastic secular view of the world in which we live today. It goes:

First dentistry was painless,
Then bicycles were chainless,
Carriages were horseless,
And many laws enforceless.
Next cookery was fireless,
Telegraphy was wireless,
Cigars were nicotineless,
And coffee caffeineless.
Soon oranges were seedless,
The putting green was weedless,
The college boy was hatless,
The proper diet fatless.
Now motor roads are dustless,
The latest steel is rustless,
Our tennis courts are sodless,
Our new religion — Godless.

There is too much truth in that listing to be funny. Not only have all of the technological items discussed happened, but we are in fact moving rapidly to a godless world. This is not only seen in the laws of the land and how the courts are ruling on those laws, but it is also seen in the way people live.

In the letter from Christ to the congregation at Sardis that we are studying today in our sermon, we see God's reaction to a social, feel good gospel. The solution to this is at a personal level. Question your own religion. Think! Acton it!

— John Clayton


Our sign by the street!

Our sign on the street