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FAMILY NEWSPOTLUCK TODAY: Start your week off with a wonderful potluck meal and a time of sharing with your brothers and sisters in Christ. If you did not bring anything that is not a problem, just stay. We always have a surplus of food. TIMBERS WORSHIP is at 2:30 P.M. today. This is a wonderful time of devotion and sharing with people who really want us to come. Take 30 minutes out of your Sunday afternoon and join us. JULY 4 CELEBRATION AT GIBSONS’: Because the 4th is on Wednesday this year, we are going to have our fireworks and 4th of July celebration on Saturday the 7th. The Gibsons will provide hamburgers and hotdogs cooked by the famous chef, Sir William. Dressings for the burgers and drinks will also be provided by the Gibsons. Plan to come and bring your own lawn chair to sit on (all the picnic tables are already in use), your own bug spray, and bring a dessert, chips, or a dish or salad to share. We plan to eat at 6:30 P.M. and the fireworks will begin, as Bill says it, at dark-o-clock. If you need directions, take M-51 north past Five-Mile Corner at Dewey Lake Street (the blinking light) and turn right on to Corwin Street turning left at the small church on to Green Lake Road. TODAY'S LESSON
INTRODUCTION
A. Jonah was a prophet (2 Kings 14:25) — 796 BC (Jeroboam: first king of the ten tribes)
I. JONAH THINKS HE CAN FLEE GOD'S WILL FOR HIM
B. Nineveh — modern day nation of Syria/lraq 1. Assyria at this time — 7.5 mile wall — pagan
2. Jonah 1:2 — the impossible assignment A. Jonah 1:3 — he goes the opposite way of Nineveh.
II. JONAH HITS ROCK BOTTOM — RESORTS TO PRAYER.
B. God performs a miracle — the great fish (Jonah 1:17). C. The crew does not want to kill Jonah (Jonah 1:13-14) 1. Have come to know of his fight with God (Jonah 1:10)
2. Wanted to do the right thing (Jonah 1:14) 3. Came to faith from a negative (Jonah 1:15-16) 4. What does it take to make a commitment? A. “Out of the belly of hell” — Jonah 2:2-9
III. JONAH OBEYS — PREACHES TO NINEVEH — Jonah 3:3-4
B. What does it take to make us pray? C. What does it take to make us want to obey? D. Sometimes a solution is disgusting — Jonah 2:10. A. Jonah has a shock — people actually listen — Jonah 3:5-9. Why?
IV. GOD HAS ONE MORE LESSON FOR JONAH.
B. Jonah is upset because God answered their prayer. 1. His reputation as a prophet is shot — wants to die.
2. Jonah makes a “pouting shack” (Jonah 4:5). He wants to watch Nineveh die. A. Jonah 4:6 — A gourd — refreshment, physical comfort
1. The next day the varmint show up, gourd is gone.
B. Jonah 4:10-11 — What is most important? Physical things of comfort or people?2. Jonah is mad at God. 3. What are you mad at God about? C. What is important to me? D. What do you think happened to Jonah after all this? E. What will your future be? THE BACK PAGE4 WEEKS TO THE CASS COUNTY FAIRWe have a booth rented for the Cass County Fair, which is another opportunity to bring the church before the community. We are debating whether to repeat last years “pictures of famous Bible characters” or go back to our question/answer boards. We are talking about making this the last year for this fair project. The fun fair was a far better way of getting the community involved with the church here, and there are some other options. What do you think? The potluck is a wonderful time to talk about this and let everyone know what you are thinking. The Cass County Fair runs from July 30 to August 4. Please block that week out on your calendar, because whatever we decide to do with our booth, we will need workers to greet people and maintain the booth itself. IS ADVERTISING BIBLICAL AND WORTH WHILE?One of the questions that we get during the various activities we do as a congregation, is whether things like the fun fair, the Cass County Fair, the Christmas float, the coat giveaway, the food bank, and the camp programs we support are in fact the work of the church and are worthwhile. Do we have a biblical support for such activities by the congregation? It is important to understand that some of our programs like the food cank and the coat giveaway are not just for advertising, but in fact are obedient responses to the commands of Jesus to feed the hungry and provide for those in need. The fun fair, the float and the Cass County Fair are primarily to let people know about the church, what we are and what we do. In the first century there was little competition for people’s time and participation. In Acts 17 we see Paul taking advantage of in-place gatherings to teach. Word of mouth got people to the mountain in Matthew 5-7, based upon the miracles of Jesus. Our activities are like a newspaper ad, but much better and cheaper. We bring people in and show them that real Christianity is about love, family, education, caring, and worship free of human greed, favoritism, and financial interest. That is biblical and it is important. — John Clayton Our sign by the street!
Sign saying from www.sayingsforchurchsigns.com Scripture links/references are from BibleGateway.com. www.dowagiaccoc.org |
