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January 15, 2017

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

OUR NEW CLASSES ARE UNDER WAY: Wednesday night we are studying the book of Galatians and on Sunday evenings we are studying Proverbs. Our Sunday morning adult class is starting a series on great individuals of the Bible. We are studying Adam right now. 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.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING: It has been a long time since we have had a congregational meeting to discuss the work here, find out what we have done, what our finances are, what we have planned for 2017. We have some logistical problems that need to be addressed, and we need some plans for efforts during the coming year. An outline is available for each family of things that need to be addressed and a spread sheet has been prepared to help you indicate what you would like to work on in 2017. Plan now to stay and bring your ideas. We need everyone here, because we can be sure that Satan will try to stop us. Discouraging people from getting involved is Satan's most effective technique. Do not let that happen.


TODAY'S LESSON

WHAT DO YOU THINK
ABOUT THE BIBLE?

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John Clayton
INTRODUCTION
A. Is it a bunch of fairy tales?
B. Is it just a great literary work?
C. Does it contain the word of God?
D. Is it totally symbolic — a myth to teach morals
E. Is it “God breathed”? Plenary inspiration
2 Timothy 3:16
F. Is it God? — What is “swearing on the Bible”?
John 1:1 and 14 — Word = “logos”
G. What do you believe ? — About Adam, Eve, Noah?
I. YOUR DECISION ABOUT THIS IS IMPORTANT.
A. It has eternal consequences — I Cor 15:13 – 22
B. It determines what your moral practices really are
1. Romans 1:16 – 32 — Survival of fittest is not moral
2. Psalm 53:1 – 3; Hebrews 4:12
II. HOW DO YOU MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THE BIBLE?
A. Remember what is meant by “inspiration.”
Who wrote it, to whom, why, their understanding?
B. Be logical in your approach.
A. Remember what is meant by “inspiration”
1. Genesis 1 — bacteria, viruses, platypus, dinosaurs
2. Adam and Eve — real or myth — how did they die?
Physically or spiritually — Genesis 2:17
3. Garden is not heaven — Genesis 2:15.
C. Be open to evidence
1. Is the sequence of Genesis 1 correct?
2. DNA evidence
3. Flood evidence — Historical data
4. Do moral laws work? — Matthew 5 – 7; Galatians 3:27 – 28
III. ACTING ON YOUR VIEW OF THE BIBLE IS IMPORTANT.
A. Has a direct effect on how you treat people.
B. Has a major role in affecting your moral conduct.
C. Has eternal consequences — 1 Corinthians 15:13 – 22
D. Pascal: If the Bible is God's word and I reject it, what have I gained and what have
....I lost? If the Bible is not God's word and I reject it, what have I gained and what
....have I lost?

THE BACK PAGE

WHO ARE YOU SPENDING TIME WITH?
BE NOT DECEIVED: EVIL COMPANIONS CORRUPT GOOD MORALS.
1 Corinthians 15:33

Who do you spend most of your free time with? All of us are given 168 hours every week, and like everything God gives us, we are instructed by God to use it wisely. One of the consistent messages of the Old Testament is that when people got careless about who they spent their time with, Satan took advantage of it and brought them down: Solomon, Rehoboam, Ahab, Samson, etc.

In the first century church we see a concerted effort to keep young Christians in constant contact with older Christians. Acts 2:41 – 47 tells us that the first century church met together regularly. They not only worked at being together (verse 44), but they ate their meals together (verse 46), and shared material goods with one another (verse 44). When Paul met with the church in Ephesus, there was an emotional sharing and oneness of spirit in all of the members of the church there.

So how does that apply to the congregation that meets here in Dowagiac? We have opportunities to be with one another every time we meet together. That happens both here at the building and elsewhere. On Sundays we go out to eat together at a local restaurant. Join us! If money is an issue, just let us know and we will help you with it. The first Sunday of every month we have a potluck. Please do not skip that, with lots of food and an opportunity to be with the brethren. Every third Tuesday everyone is invited to the Claytons' at 7:00 for a devotional and fellowship time. Just come and bring your Bible. This coming Tuesday we will be meeting together. The first Tuesday of the month we meet at Golden Corral for a brunch at 11:00 with other brethren in the Michiana area. Every Wednesday night and Sunday night we have a snack together and play some games together after class. We have a good time and grow closer to one another. Stay and be a part of that. Grow with us, and stay away from worldly influences that can damage you spiritually and morally. We need each other in a world dominated by so much evil.

— John Clayton


Our sign by the street!

Our sign on the street says, GOD'S LOVE CREATES UNITY OUT OF DIVERSITY!

Sign saying by www.sayingsforchurchsigns.com