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November 19, 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

NO CLASS ON THANKSGIVING EVE: Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 23, which is unusually early, so be aware of that early date. Many of us will be out of town for the holiday period, and others will have out of town guests. For that reason we will not have our normal class on Wednesday evening, November 22nd.

SENIORS: Because the third Tuesday of November is right before Thanksgiving, we are canceling our monthly senior devotional at Claytons' for November. Remember that we will be having our annual Christmas party of seniors in the area on December 12th.

MARK December 1: on your calendar, to be on the float in the Dowagiac Christmas Parade. Our float is going to be different this year. We need everyone participating. Come and help us after class on the November 29 to decorate the float.

TODAY'S WORSHIP will be a time of praise and Thanksgiving. Our communion service will be at the end of the lesson, so our children's classes will be changed at the discretion of the teacher. Please see your child's teacher as to what the plans are for your child.


TODAY'S LESSON

THANKSGIVING

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John Clayton
SONG: “For the Beauty of the Earth,” verses 1 and 4
INTRODUCTION: 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 22
A. A hard passage to live by — but necessary
B. Romans 1:21 — Consequences
C. Let us focus on what we have to be thankful for.
I. BE THANKFUL FOR THE CREATION.
A. Psalm 19:1
B. Romans 1:20
SONG: “How Great Thou Art,” verses 1 and 2"
II. BE THANKFUL FOR FAMILY.
SONG: “For the Beauty of the Earth,” verse 3
A. Genesis 2:18 — Marriage
B. Psalm 127:3 — Children
III. BE THANKFUL FOR FRIENDS.
A. Proverbs 18:24
B. 1 Thessalonians 3:9
IV. BE THANKFUL FOR HEALTH.
A. Psalm 139:14
B. 1 Timothy 1:12
SONG: “Count Your Blessings”
V. THANKFUL FOR AMERICA. Romans 13:3, 7 —  SONG: “America,” verses 1 and 4
VI. BE THANKFUL FOR FOOD AND WATER.
A. 2 Corinthians 9:10 – 11
B. Matthew 6:11
SONG: “The Lord's My Shepherd,” verses 1 and 4
VII. BE THANKFUL FOR THE MATERIAL BLESSINGS — CONTRIBUTION — 1 Cor 16:2
VIII. BE THANKFUL FOR THE CHURCH (SONG: “For the Beauty of the Earth,” verse 4).
A. 1 Thessalonians 2:13
B. 1 Thessalonians 1:2
C. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 – 4
D. 1 Corinthians 11:23 – 30 (SONG: “When We Meet in Sweet Communion”) — COMMUNION
IX. BE THANKFUL FOR YOUR SALVATION.
A. Philippians 4:6
B. Matthew 6:25 – 34
C. Do you struggle with being thankful?
1. Being a Christian makes us unique.
2. A blessing of being a Christian is thanksgiving.
3. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 22 is possible.
4. Verse 23 is the ultimate promise.
SONG after the lesson, “A Wonderful Savior”


THE BACK PAGE

THANKSGIVING 2017

Of all the national holidays that we have in this country, Thanksgiving is in my view the most Christian. Even Christmas is less Christian than Thanksgiving. Christmas is not commanded in scripture and, in fact, was not observed by the first century church. That is not to say it is not a wonderful time of year, or that there is anything wrong with celebrating the birth of Jesus, whenever we do it. The fact is that the birth of Christ was almost certainly not in December, but remembering that blessed event and focusing on Jesus is a good thing whenever we do it.

Thanksgiving IS in fact commanded. Once again the date of Thanksgiving is strictly secular and, in fact, Christians are to celebrate all that we have to be thankful for every day. In the Old Testament there were special days set aside for ancient Israel to observe thanksgiving. Stopping as a people and thanking God should always be a priority. It is not because God needs to be praised for what he has given us. The need to stop and look at the blessings we have is a key part of good mental health. Passages like Matthew 6:19 – 34 are important to us living without chaos, stress and trauma.

This Thanksgiving has a great deal going on to minimize our successful use of the holiday. There is no question but that the United States on a political level is in chaos — but we have been in chaos before. The situation with North Korea and China threaten us with another war — but we have been in war before. Jesus warned us that “you will hear of wars and rumors of wars, … Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There shall be famines and earthquakes in various places” (Matthew 24:6 – 7); but, he told those of us who are his followers, “See to it that you are not alarmed.”

Do not let the world situation or even the stress within your family stop you from giving thanks for the good things you do have in your life. If “Black Friday” is an issue for you, make “Thanksgiving Thursday” a time of being thankful for the good things in your life and praise God for what he has blessed you with.

— John Clayton

Our sign by the street!

Being thankful is not for one day, but it's a lifestyle!

Sign saying from www.sayingsforchurchsigns.com