December 29, 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 any pressure to give. Our lesson time will be divided into two groups. The young children can go to our classroom area in the basement where they will be taught the Bible at a level they can understand, while the adults stay in the auditorium for a lesson at their level. We do try to serve the community, and if you have some needs that we can provide, mention it to one of the members. Thank you for worshipping with us.

FAMILY NEWS

POTLUCK NEXT SUNDAY: Next Sunday is January 5, 2020, and being the first Sunday of the month we plan to have our usual potluck. I am told the theme for the potluck is “What Mother Used To Make.” My mother was not much of a cook and I do not think incinerated pork chops would go over very well, but some of you probably have better memories of Mom's cooking than I do. In any case, bring a favorite old family recipe if you can, and if not, fake it.

TIMBERS NEXT SUNDAY AT 2:30 P.M.: Bring your voice and some enthusiasm and let us enjoy another half hour with our friends at Timbers. (Note: Timbers was in lock-down due to the flu season, so we did not conduct the worship service.)

NO DEVOTIONAL THIS MONTH: Our usual third Tuesday devotional at the Claytons' will not be held this month. Between darkness and weather we feel it is better not to try to have the night sessions. We will have the brunch at Golden Corral on January 7 at 11:00 AM.

PLANS.: I hope everyone will read through last week's bulletin carefully. Later this month we plan to have a congregational meeting to talk about the future. Which of the ministries we are engaged in right now do we wish to drop and which do we wish to continue or perhaps even expand? Are there some new ministries we need to be involved in? Read through the list in last weeks's bulletin. Acquaint yourself with what is being done. If you need a copy of that report, see me (John Clayton).

TODAY'S LESSON

ARE YOU READY FOR THE NEW?

John Clayton

Electricity at our building this morning was out,
so we have no recording of this lesson!

INTRODUCTION: GOD WANTS EVERYONE TO REPENT.

A. Are you ready to start the 2nd decade of the 21st century?
B. The world is changing and we have a tendency to fight change.
C. What is the title of your Bible after hearing the history of Israel?

1. Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20.
2. Greek word is “kainos” meaning new, fresh, recent!
3. Are you ready for newness?

I. NEWNESS MEANS GIVING UP OLD WAYS THAT DO NOT WORK OR HAVE NOT WORKED.

A. Jesus and the Jews as Moses' disciples — John 9:28
B. Jesus gave new answers to old ways — Mark 10:4 and Genesis 2:24.

Radically changed the view of what women were — partners, not property.

C. Galatians 3:28 — A new message — opposed then and now.

II. NEWNESS INVOLVES CHANGING — The New Testament was radical.

A. 2 Corinthians 3:6

1. There is no place for legalism in the New Testament church.
2. We are not governed by a bunch of laws.
3. Hebrews 10:20
4. Hebrews 8:8-12

B. We have a New Commandment that replaces old ways.

2 John 1:5 — Our greatest challenge — to care about others, even our enemy.

C. We become a new man or woman — 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:24.

III. OUR CHANGE WILL LEAD US TO A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH.

A. 2 Peter 3:13
B. The Book of Revelation talks about a whole NEW existence:

1. Revelation 3:12 — The new Jerusalem;
2. Revelation 5:9; 14:3 — The new song;
3. Revelation 21:4-5 — The new life.

IV. ARE YOU READY FOR THE NEW? — Our title

A. Give up the old which has not and does not work.
B. Make a commitment to change

1. Baptism is a rebirth to start over — the past is gone.
2. God's Spirit helps us — Acts 2:38 — “The gift of the Holy Spirit.”

THE BACK PAGE

HOW DO I KNOW WHO IS RIGHT?

In our Bible studies on Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening we have had some discussion about the teachings of other religious groups in the area and why we differ with them. This question is huge. It is not just a matter of doctrine, but also a matter of how our faith is expressed. Why we do what we do, how often we do it, and why we do not do what we see other religious groups in the area doing is a major issue for all of us. We chose to spend over $30,000 this past summer to stay in this building on this property. If what we are about is not 100% right, then why waste $30,000? That is not to say we are perfect, that we have nothing to learn, that no one else is doing anything right or anything like that. God is the judge, not us. Are we justified in existing as a separate religious entity in the area in which we exist? Let me point out four things that I believe justify our existence:

We have a unique plea. We are attempting to duplicate what we see the Christians did in the first century. To do that we rely 100% on the Bible. We have no creed or historical human figure who has set our doctrine in motion. Most of our denominational friends look back to great men who set their teaching. The list is huge — Martin Luther, John Calvin, the Wesleys, Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy, etc. These are great leaders, but they are only human.

Our worship is personal and direct. We do not believe worship is a spectator sport. We do not entertain or try to outdo Disney during worship. Singing, communion, praying, reading are individual activities. That is why we do not use an instrument in worship.

Our fellowship is rooted in service to others, not ourselves. We do not spend a large segment of our budget on things that bring us pleasure or entertainment. In this congregation a high percentage of our income goes for feeding people in need, helping missionaries, and supporting teaching ministries locally and globally.

The focus of our teaching is biblical, not political, historical, literary, psychological, or in the arts or sciences. Biblical teaching may touch on these, but that is not the focus of our classes. We strive to be biblically literate.

We see these things as unique to what we call “The Restoration Plea.” The church we read about in the Bible had these same characteristics. Acts 2 tells us that the first century church of Christ had a good reputation and had great favor with ALL the people. We strive to do that as well. The first century church focused on the Bible, not on personal attacks on others. When immorality was present they taught what God's will was on moral issues. When false teachers came into their midst they used the Bible to counter destructive doctrines, but it was always done with care and with compassion and gentleness.

The history of Christianity in America is deplorable. Hypocrisy, greed, control, exploitation, power struggles, and political manipulation have happened over and over, but that has always happened because men and women did not rely on the Bible as their one source of information, guidance, and motivation. Human weakness is always a problem, but if the four things listed above are held to, the collateral damage from a single person veering off into self serving activities is minimal.

Forty percent of the American public says “none” when asked their religious affiliation. People are disillusioned and disgusted with denominationalism. We believe the time is ripe for the “restoration plea” and we urge you to join us in spreading this message to our friends and neighbors in the Dowagiac area.

— John Clayton

Our sign by the street!

Tis the season, take time to be holy!

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