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December 11, 2016

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

THANKS: to everyone who came to Timbers and served the clients and nurses at Timbers. We had community visitors, in fact, when we started to sing, one lady piped up and said, “Are we singing acapella?” Her husband, who is new to Timbers, thanked us for coming.

WE NEED HELP with the blankets Julie Marcussen is making and giving to people on behalf of the congregation. Please see Julie — we just need your time. This is a great way to serve people in the name of the Lord, and we cannot have too many blankets to give. Wednesday when I was cleaning out my foster son's closet and bedroom I found one Julie gave him several years ago. He explained to his caregiver where it came from and told her about Jesus. The outreach from this is huge.

Our new classes are starting. Wednesday night we are studying the book of Galatians, and on Sunday evenings we are beginning Proverbs. Learning God's Word should be important for all of us; and these are content studies that contain material that should be new to all of us. Join us as we learn and grow in our understanding of God’s Word.


TODAY'S LESSON

THE AGE OF MEDIOCRITY

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John Clayton
INTRODUCTION — Matthew 22:34-40
A. We are pushed to be mediocre: At school, at work, at church.
B. Are we the best of the lousy, or the lousy of the best?
C. What did Jesus mean in Matthew 22?
I. WE ARE TO GIVE ALL OF OUR PHYSICAL STRENGTH.
A. “Heart” means giving 100% — in sports, in service.
B. Colossians 3:17
II. WE ARE TO GIVE ALL OUR SOUL.
A. Luke 12:31
B. 1 Corinthians 10:31thinsp;— Your Christianity should influence your choices, not the other way around!
C. How you dress, where you go, what you enjoy, etc.
III. WE ARE TO GIVE GOD ALL OUR MIND.
A. 2 Timothy 2:15
B. Philippians 2:12
C. Where is your mind? Now? Tonight?
IV. LESSON Number 1 — You do not base your performance on what others are doing!
A. Matthew 25:14 – 28 — Compare versus 21 and 23: the five talent guy could quit at 3. Why not?
B. God is interested in what you do with what you have.
V. LESSON Number 2 — God acts when we reach our limit.
A. Exodus 13:17 – 14 — When did God act?
B. God does not zap answers with no effort on our part.
VI. LESSON Number 3 — God expects his people to be the best that they can be.
A. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 – 12 — In work
B. Acts 17:11 — In education
C. Revelation 3:15 — 16 — In worship; John 13:12 – 17 — Example
VII. ARE YOU BURNED OUT OR RUSTED OUT?
A. 2 Timothy 4:7 — How do you feel about that example?
B. Pray about your strength, opportunities, talents.
C. We do not serve a mediocre God!

THE BACK PAGE


PLEASE READ THIS AGAIN. I want to thank Mandy and Shane for the sermon this article preaches. I have read it 10 times at least, and have been encouraged by it. I want to encourage you to read it again — and pray about what it says and your role in it as a part of this congregation.

Brothers & Sisters,

Over the past few months, our family has been welcomed to this congregation with open arms. For those who don't know our history, when we first got married and were living in the suburbs of Washington, DC, we wanted to find a church to attend together. Due to prior experiences, we were looking for anywhere except a Church of Christ. Yet after months of searching, God led us to the Church of Christ in Warrenton, Virginia. That congregation really impacted us with their motto of “doing life together.” When we moved back to Michigan, the church search began again, but thinking that no Church of Christ in Southwest Michigan had gotten the same memo that Warrenton did, we again searched for another option. Again, God had a different plan, and here we are.

The Dowagiac Church of Christ is different. You have made this congregation all about the love of Christ, instead of being all about the rules and policies, as quite frankly many other churches are. You break the mold by keeping hypocrisy away, and instead choosing to build each other up in God's image. The members here genuinely care about each other with an agape love that extends far beyond the church pew. This past week when Benjamin fractured his leg, we received a loud and clear reminder that this church is where we belong. The card, the bulletin with a note from John, and the gifts from Karl and Julie were so meaningful because it all reaffirmed God's plan for us to be a part of a church family who cares so deeply. Please know that the things you're doing for each other and within the community are making a lasting impact. Thank you for being a conduit for Christ and strong examples for all three of us.

With love,
Shane, Mandy, and Benjamin Wallace


Our sign by the street!

Our sign on the street says, A BAD ATTITUDE SPOILS THE GIFT!

Sign saying from www.sayingsforchurchsigns.com