August 4, 2019

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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

THIS IS THE first Sunday of the month. That means potluck followed by a devotional at Timbers at 2:30 P.M. Thanks to all of you who come early, support the devo by singing, and spend some time with the residents and staff. We start fellowshipping with the residents between 2:00 and 2:30, so come early. This is doing the Lord's work, and God will bless you for it.

WILLIE FRANKLIN COMING SEPTEMBER 28. Last year we had Willie Franklin here for a youth rally and activity day. Surrounding congregations were invited to bring their young people and join us, and several congregations did. We are repeating the youth rally with brother Franklin this year and hope to have a bigger crowd than last year. We will provide lunch. Willie will also preach for us that Sunday. Keep that weekend clear on your schedule.

SENIORS. Remember Golden Corral, Tuesday at 11:00 A.M.

Julie and Karl are in Florida taking care of grandchildren, so our normal prayer list is not available. Let me encourage you to write down the names and address of those who need our prayers and attention. Do not forget those of our number who are homebound.

TODAY'S LESSON

THE FAITH OF GIDEON

John Clayton

Judges 7:1-22

The sermon this week was not recorded!

INTRODUCTION — Judges 6

A. Gideon is an unsung hero of the Old Testament.
B. Israel had forsaken God — Judges 6:8-10.
C. Gideon is selected by God to save Israel.

1. Gideon is a humble man — Judges 6:15.
2. Gideon is full of doubts — Judges 6:17-22.

D. Gideon is like you and me.

I. GIDEON TAKES AN UNPOPULAR POSITION.

A. Judges 6:25-27 — Tears down Baal's altar.
B. Locals want to kill him.
C. God's Spirit comes upon Gideon — Judges 6:34.

1. That does not make Gideon a robot.
2. Gideon still needs reassurance. Judges 6:36-40

II. GOD'S PREPARATION FOR VICTORY — Judges 7:1-9

A. Forces are reduced so no man can claim power.

1. If you are afraid, go home — 22,000 leave.
2. Lappers versus suckers — 9700 leave
3. Impossible odds — 300 versus 135,000

B. God always opposes man's arrogance.

1. Moses and the water in Numbers 20:6-13.
2. Nebuchadnezzar — Daniel 5:20-21
3. Whatever happens here that is good is from God.

C. God promises Gideon success — Judges 7:13-14 and Numbers 23:19.
D. God promises us success

1. 1 Corinthians 10:13
2. Romans 8:28
3. 1 John 1:7
4. John 8:32

III. GOD'S PLAN FOR VICTORY — JUDGES 7:16-22

A. Trumpets — a testimony of change (2 Corinthians 3:2)
B. Lamps — Matthew 5:14
C. Empty pitchers — Romans 12:1, 2
D. God has a plan for victory for your life — Hebrews 11:6.
E. We must believe God can use us — Philippians 4:13.

THE BACK PAGE

YOUR GOD IS TOO SMALL

Many years ago there was an excellent book written by a man by the name of Phillips that was titled Your God Is Too Small. The basic thesis of the book was that there are things we do not think can happen because we think we are too small, or too weak, or too poor. The problem with that line of thinking is that we are not figuring God into the equation. We think that because of our own limitations that God is incapable of doing great things in Dowagiac. Sometimes I think we have more confidence in Satan as the destroyer than we do in God as the problem solver.

Our lesson for today is about a man who had huge doubts about God. He wanted to believe and he stepped out on faith, a time or two, but when Satan opposed him he backed away and his father had to save him. When one test that he devised worked he refused to accept it and go ahead with a bigger challenge. Do you not know that the people around Gideon thought the whole thing was nuts! You are looking at 135,000 soldiers and you are going after them with an army of 3001! That is insane.

So here we are on a piece of land that is paid for, with a building that God has helped us secure, in a community that has enormous needs. What does God expect us to do? Maybe we need to start praying that God will send us a message. Is there one of us who, if they were supported, could be an ambassador to the community? Could we use the piece of land that we currently just mow to build a center to serve Dowagiac? How about a day care? How about a preschool? How about a counseling center to address the addiction needs that surround us — from gambling to meth to pot?

You say “That's crazy.” My response is “Your God is Too Small.” We need more Gideons, fewer Nebuchadnezzars and a greater faith that God can do anything. It may not be that anything I have listed is in God's plans, but I can promise you that he does not want us sitting on this property and doing nothing. Whatever you can dream of, our God is so powerful and so great that he can make it happen.

— John Clayton

Scripture links/references are from BibleGateway.com. Unhighlighted scriptures can be looked up at their website.