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FAMILY NEWSARE YOU SMELLING TOO GOOD? We have some folks in attendance at our services who have an allergic reaction to perfume. Adam and Eve survived without Chanel N°5, and we love you for what you are, not how you smell (or look). We are asking all of our members to reduce or eliminate the perfumes and/or fragrances so some of us can stop sneezing and having headaches! Thanks! FAMILY FUN FAIR: We had our first meeting to prepare for Family Fun Fair on May 1. Our next meeting is this Wednesday, May 15 at 6:00 P.M. We need everyone involved in this project. Join us on the 15th and plan to be a part of this outreach to Dowagiac. So far we have 15 activities planned and that does not include food, tents, etc. Right now we need to know who has a tent to use that one day. By a tent we mean a 10 feet by 10 feet (+ or -) sized tent so people can stand or sit in to get out of the sun. Let the Gibsons know if you have a tent. THANKS to Shane Wallace who has spent massive amounts of time and quite a bit of money digging a trench and a dry well, filling those with a drain pipe and gravel and finishing the work of getting water away from our building. Shane's skill and knowledge has been critical in getting this job done. TODAY'S LESSON
INTRODUCTION — Today is Mother's Day.
A. Jesus had a non-sexual relationship with women.
I. THE WOMAN WHO WAS HEALED.
1. Our world cannot comprehend that: historians attempt to get Jesus married.
B. John 19:25-28 — The care of his mother: his last act.2. Treated all women with dignity and respect a. John 8:3-11 — The woman taken in adultery.
b. John 4:6-42 — The Samaritan woman. c. John 2:1-11 — Mary and the wedding feast (Look at verses 3-5 specially). C. Look at the other cases in the New Testament. 1. Luke 8:1-4
2. Acts 16:14-15, 40 3. Romans 16 list. A. Mark 5:25-34
II. THE WOMAN WHO WANTED HER CHILD HEALED.
B. Women are able to get past prejudice/legalism. 1. She was unclean (Leviticus 15).
C. Jesus calls her “daughter” (Mark 5:34), a unique use. 2. She tried to take care of her own needs. 3. She was searching for God's help. 4. Had faith in God and made her faith work. A. Matthew 15:21-28 — this was a gentile woman.
III. A WOMAN WHO KNEW HOW TO SEEK FORGIVENESS.
1. The only time Jesus went outside of Palestine.
B. Women get past nationalism and prejudice.
2. Was part of the universal outreach of Christ (Galatians 3:28). 1. Disciples try to send her away (Matthew 15:23).
2. Women are persistent survivors (Matthew 15:25-27). A. Luke 7:36-50
IV. WE ALL NEED TO FOLLOW THESE EXAMPLES.
1. Knew where to go to get spiritual help
B. Her seeking was according to God's plan (respect, repentance, humility, honor).2. Was prepared to reach out and honor God. A. Mother's Day reminds us to look for good examples.
B. Are you a person of faith? THE BACK PAGEMOTHER'S DAYIn 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill designating the second Sunday in May as a legal holiday to be called “Mother's Day.” At that time it was a time to honor all mothers or to honor the memory of mothers. The most accurate definition of “mother” is in 1 Timothy 2:15 where the Bible says “women will be saved through teknogonia.” The King James translation of this word is “childbearing,” but that is a poor translation. The word teknogonia literally means “the duties of motherhood.” It is relatively easy for most women to have a baby. What is tragic is that in our society today that is where it ends for many women. Maternal instincts may kick in for a while and the birth mother may be attentive to the baby, but very quickly the baby turns into a child and then into a teenager. As a public school teacher with 41 years experience I have personally observed a woman scream at her teenage son about how much she hated him and wished he had never been born, and I have seen that behavior many times even with small children. Paul explains to Timothy that a woman who has a baby and successfully raises that baby to adulthood has a ticket to salvation. Through her love, example, teaching, and nurturing she has fulfilled a role that only a woman can do, and which many women simply refuse to do. Our jails and mental hospitals are full of people who were denied a mother who discharged the “duties of motherhood.” Today we do not honor women for having babies. Who we honor are the women who did their best to “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). God's judgment is NOT on how the child turned out. Satan is strong and some children will deny Jesus and live in opposition to all their mothers taught them, just as some kids turn out well in spite of us, not because of us. God knows your heart and how you tried. We praise our mothers who did their best and gave up time, money, tears, and energy to discharge the duties of motherhood. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! — John Clayton Our sign by the street!
Sign saying from www.sayingsforchurchsigns.com Scripture links/references are from BibleGateway.com. Unhighlighted scriptures can be looked up at their website. www.dowagiaccoc.org |
