December 3, 2017

Home

Worship Services

Sermons and Classes

Location

Contacts

Bulletins

Links

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

POTLUCK TODAY: It is the first Sunday of the month, and our tradition here is to have a potluck meal together at the start of each month. It may have snuck up on you with all the things that have been going on, but we have plenty, so stay and enjoy a meal and time to be together.

HELP AT TIMBERS: This afternoon at 2:30 we will conduct a worship service with staff and patients. The service lasts 30 minutes, and where we need you is to help us in our singing, greet the patients, and in a few cases help them to their rooms. If you do not know where Timbers is, ask!

SENIORS: Do not forget the brunch at Golden Corral this Tuesday at 11:00. This is just a fellowship, no class, and you can leave whenever you need to.

HOLIDAY PARTY: On Tuesday, December 12, there will be a Christmas party at the Claytons'. Many seniors come from different congregations in the area, but everyone is welcome. Ham, turkey, drinks, plates, etc., are provided. Bring a white elephant gift and a side dish, salad, or dessert. We eat at 6:00.

TODAY'S LESSON

ARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR A CHRISTIAN?
John Clayton

INTRODUCTION:

A. Many times we use a word without knowing what it means: “church” for example.
B. What does “Christian“ mean? “Disciple?”
C. The disciples of Jesus never called themselves Christians.

1. “Christian” occurs three times in the Bible.
2. “Disciple” appears 270 times.

I. “CHRISTIAN” WAS USED BY THE ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH IN RIDICULE.

A. Acts 11:26 is the first use of the term.
B. Acts 26:28 — What was the cost for Agrippa, for you?
C. 1 Peter 4:15 – 16 — What are we criticized for?
D. People use “Christian” as a title, not a description.

II. DISCIPLE — “ONE WHO IS TAUGHT OR TRAINED”

A. WHO was the “Sermon on the Mount” delivered to?

1. Matthew 5:1
2. Matthew 5:6 — Who is hungry — then and now?

B. The disciples were not perfect.

1. Matthew 5:48 — the goal. Look at verse 46.
2. John 21:15 – 22 — Was Peter perfect?

C. Being a disciple meant cultivating compassion.

1. Matthew 9:36
2. Matthew 20:34 — Having compassion for the sick

III. OUR SOCIETY DISCOURAGES DISCIPLESHIP

A. Let _____________ do it.
B. Disciples' attitudes bug the world — Luke 16:13 – 14.
C. Expect to get resistance if you are a disciple.

IV. GOD CONDEMNS THOSE WHO WON’T PRACTICE DISCIPLESHIP BUT CALL
....THEMSELVES “CHRISTIAN.”

A. Revelation 3:14 – 18!
B. Matthew 25:31 – 46

1. Are you a “goat” — a Christian in name only?
2. Are you a “sheep” — a disciple?

C. If you were arrested for being a disciple of Jesus Christ, would there be enough
....evidence to convict you?

SONG after the lesson, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”

THE BACK PAGE

BUT I JUST WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN

Today's lesson may be one you will need to think about and study for a while. The comfortable thing for us as human beings to do is to keep a low profile. We do not want to be viewed as “religious nuts” and yet we do not want to be looked at as hypocrites. It is OK to be called a Christian as long as you stay in the middle on the issues of today. The term “Christian” has taken on a political air in today's world, and with that has come uncommon persecution. If we wear the name “Christian” then at work and in our personal relationships people are going to want to know what our position is on abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality, and a zillion of other questions and issues.

If we refuse to answer, our position is assumed. If we answer and the answer we give is politically incorrect, we are likely to suffer consequences — everything from ostracism to losing our job. How do we survive in the twenty-first century without compromising our beliefs and yet not become a punching bag for everyone who has strong feelings against Christianity?

The first century church is our model for this question, just as they are our model for how we worship. There were those who, because of their training and personality, made a public declaration of what Christ taught and what Christians believe. Paul had extensive personal secular education, and his personality was one of relishing a personal confrontation with those who opposed his view. There were 5,000 other Christians in the area who were still disciples, but were not the aggressive apologists that Paul was. Acts 2:41 – 47 tells us what these disciples did:

1. They devoted themselves to learning.

2. They engaged in daily fellowship.

3. They addressed physical needs of others.

4. They praised God, were thankful and active in prayer.

5. They reached out to others.

These are things all of us can do. We all need to grow, to expand our understandings, to be united in love and in service, to stop to praise God and thank Him for all we have. A disciple is simply a “Christ-like” person, doing all he or she can to practice what Jesus taught.

— John Clayton

Our sign by the street!

God is our refuge. Is he yours!