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January 7, 2018

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 AND TIMBERS TODAY: Stay for the congregational meeting and then spend 30 minutes with the seniors at Timbers. Make it a day of service to God!

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING TODAY: It has been a long time since we have had a congregational meeting. We each need to know where we are financially, what is being done with our money, how those ministries are doing and whether we want to continue them. We have a proposal to make to the congregation about a special event to be held in June to reach out to our neighborhood and to the community of Dowagiac (see The Back Page below). Please plan to be here for the potluck, and then plan to stay over for the congregational meeting. It will not last too long, because we also start the service Timbers at 2:30.

SNOW/COLD EMERGENCIES: We try to let everyone know if it becomes necessary to cancel services, but TV notices are unreliable and phone calls depend on fallible human beings and equipment. If you have doubts about whether services are being held, call 269-782-4564 (Bill or Patty), 269-687-9426 (John or Cindy), or 574-333-1177 (Richard).


TODAY'S LESSON

WHAT BAPTISM IS NOT

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John Clayton
INTRODUCTION — Baptism confused people historically.
I. BAPTISM IS NOT A RESPONSE TO A PREACHER
A. We should not measure preachers by their baptisms.
B. The message, not the preacher, is the key — Acts 2:41.
C. The Corinth congregation was divided over baptism.
1. 1 Corinthians 1:14 — “I am thankful I baptized none of you”
2. “Christ did not send me to baptize …“ — verse 17.
D. People motivated by another person are at risk.
II. BAPTISM IS NOT AN INITIATION INTO A CHURCH.
A. Ephesians 4:4ff — There are no 2nd class citizens in church.
B. Acts 16:30 – 33 — Baptism brings us into a special relationship with God. It is a cause
....for joy.
III. BAPTISM IS NOT AN ESCAPE FROM HELL.
A. How many times is “hell” used by Bible preachers? See James 3:6 and 2 Peter 2:4.
B. God wants our love based on love and respect.
IV. BAPTISM IS NOT A MYSTIC ACT DONE TO US BY GOD.
A. John 5:1 – 8 and Matthew 3:16 – 17 were not baptisms into Christ. Their purpose was
....not renewal.
B. The miracle of baptism is spiritual, not physical.
1. We become like a small child, dying to our sin.
2. The miracle is what we become, not what we achieve. Babies are not to be
....baptized — Matthew 18:2 – 5; Matthew 19:13 – 14; Matthew 25:31 – 46.
V. BAPTISM IS NOT A MEANINGLESS RESPONSE.
A. Baptism always has a purpose — Acts 2:40; 22:16.
B. 1 Peter 3:20 – 22
C. Baptism is not a work, it is done to us, not by us.
VI. BAPTISM IS THE MEANS OF CONTACT WITH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
A. Revelation 1:5 — The blood cleans us — 1 John 1:7.
B. Hebrews 9:11 – 10:18 — Parallels Old Testament — Puts man back into Adam's
....connection to God.
VII. BAPTISM IS A DEATH, BURIAL, AND START OF A NEW LIFE — Romans 6:3;
....1 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 3:9 – 10


THE BACK PAGE

PROPOSAL FOR SUMMER 2018

PURPOSE OF PROJECT — To bring people from the community, especially those with children, in contact with the Church of Christ on M 51 S.

Date: June 16, 2018; 2:00 – 5:00

ACTIVITIES:

Face painting Frisbee tic-tac-toe Photo booth
Sidewalk chalk Inflatable bounce
house		 Corn hole
Football throw Basketball shoot Dinosaur Dig
Merry-go-round Archaeology Bible dig God's animals
Puppet show    

Prizes given in some booths: Bibles, children's books, adult books, DVDs

FOOD COURT

Cotton candy Ice cream Cookies Water
Kool-Aid Lemonade Iced tea  

VOLUNTEER NEEDS FOR PREPARATION for Fun Day

Securing of supplies Getting advertising
Printing and distributing fliers Baking cookies
Preparing decorations Setting up PA system
Preparing information table Securing prizes, gifts
Preparing parking area Getting greeter Shirts

VOLUNTEER NEEDS ON JUNE 16

Final set up of Gibsons' awning tents
Set up of tables, chairs, table cloths, final decorations
Each booth having an attendant
Parking director and greeters
Greeters wearing “fun suits”
Servers of refreshments
Information table workers

ROUGH LISTING OF EXPENSES

Inflatable bounce house $150.00
Merry-go-round $150.00
Archeology objects $50.00
Ice cream $40.00
Cotton candy & machine $150.00
Advertising expenses $1,000.00

— John Clayton


Our sign by the street!

One kind word can warm three winter months!

Sign saying from www.sayingsforchurchsigns.com