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FAMILY NEWSPOTLUCK TODAY: Please plan to stay and enjoy lunch here after services. We have plenty of food whether you brought something or not, and we need to have time to talk and enjoy one another's company. TIMBERS DEVOTIONAL: We will be having a worship time at the Timbers nursing home today at 2:30. We need people to sing and visit with these folks, some of whom look forward to our being there just for a chance to have someone to be with, worship with, and talk to. It will take less than an hour, and you are needed. THANKS to everyone who brought in paper goods for Shults-Lewis. We had quite a stash of vital materials for them and for the children they care for. We sent an extra $100 donation to them as well as our regular support. REMEMBER our special Bible classes. We finish Amos tonight at 6:00 with Richard Hoyt leading us. TODAY'S LESSON
INTRODUCTION
A. Faith is a growing, living, active thing.
I. FAITH — BASED ON TESTIMONY YOU TRUST.
B. What do you really believe — about God, the church, death, sin, and issues of life. C. Do you have doubts? Do you wish you did not? D. Mark 9:21 – 24 — Can you relate? A. Reason is helpless without testimony.
II. FAITH IS NOT FREE OF DOUBT.
1. Fixing a car
B. We store information; belief makes it do something.2. Catching fish on Pitcher Lake C. Hebrews 11:1 – 3 — Science shows us truth — evidence. 1. Proverbs 8; Romans 1:18 – 22ff; Psalm 19:1 2. Saying I believe only what I see is nonsense. A. Romans 4:18 – 22 — Abraham's faith was exemplary.
III. WE BUILD FAITH BY ASKING AND SEEKING.
Genesis 17:17 — He had his doubts.
B. Abrahamic faith is not a mental certainty.
1. Still allows a consistent walk with God.
2. Our challenge is to build our faith. A. Psalms 10:1; 12:1; 13:1
IV. WHAT ROLE DOES YOUR FAITH HAVE IN YOUR LIFE?
B. The whole book of Job C. We must be willing to accept answers — Job 42:5. D. Faith does not mean blind belief. Thomas — John 11:14 – 16 then 20:24 – 25, 27 – 31
E. Walking only by our senses weakens.
1. Love for family cannot be by sight, smell, touch.
F. 2 Corinthians 5:72. Love for America is not based on what you get. G. John 12:37 — People rationalize evidence — Matthew 12:30 A. Are you growing or dying?
Song: "Is Thy Heart Right with God?"
B. Does your faith open you to God? 1. God's Spirit is a gift based on faith expression. 2. Acts 2:38 3. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 — Do not put the fire of faith out! THE BACK PAGETHE 2016 CASS COUNTY FAIR AND USI hope you had a good stint at the fair this past week. (See below two pictures of our booth.) I am writing this before the week is over, but already this has been a phenomenal success — perhaps our best ever. There are so many good things that happened during the fair that we could fill many columns like this one. The balloons continue to be a big attraction for the kids, and the pens were of such high quality that people came back for another one on several occasions. We passed out so many New Testaments we had to get another box, and the emery boards continue to be in the homes of hundreds of families in Cass County with a reminder that we as a congregation serve people. “Are these free?” was probably the most frequent question we heard. What is more significant than all of that though is the interaction we had with people who came by the booth. I had a great discussion with police officers who stayed around the gate near us. Telling them we appreciate them and that we honor them for their service brought big smiles. Kids came and started the first board of questions, and frequently brought parents or grandparents to do the last board. Our desire to challenge everyone with Bible facts they might not know really worked (at this link is a pdf copy of our handout of the questions, answers, and reasons for the answers). I had three preachers of denominational groups come by and we had a great time as they struggled with the last three questions. My favorite incident personally happened in the men's restroom as I heard two guys arguing and realized they were arguing about our display. One guy had the question sheet that had the answers that we gave to people who came by our booth. He was firing questions at the other guy from the sheet. Because we had the scriptures that backed what the answer to the question was, there was no challenge to the answer; but, it was fascinating to me that the first guy had kept the sheet, read through it, and was using it on his friend who it turned out was the head of the Bible School program at his denominational church. The back of the sheet told about our education program and invited personal interaction. How do you put a price on the value of that kind of advertising? We had a very good week at this year's fair. We were not selling anything, we were not embroiled in controversy, we were not pushy or judgmental, and our exchanges with the public were friendly, positive, and in a spirit of love and cooperation. Our display showed hard work, was colorful, well thought out, functional and positive. So many groups simply had a table with some literature on it, and that was it. Just about everyone in the congregation had some role to play in this outreach. Our special thanks to everyone who worked so hard on this project in preparing it, setting it up, and in meeting..and greeting the community as they came by the booth. It was a huge success. Praise God! — John Clayton Our sign by the street!
Two views of our 2016 Cass County Fair booth under the grandstand.
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