March 1, 2020

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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 AND TIMBERS TODAY! We have a ton of food in the fellowship room and need help eating it. After the meal we will go to Timbers Nursing Home and at 2:30 P.M. have a worship service with those in residence and the staff. The service is 30 minutes long. We need singers, wheelchair pushers, and greeters. Plan to join us at 2:20 P.M.

SPECIAL DAY on MAY 26. We need 20 workers to be here on the 26th for a community food give away. Everyone can help with this, but we need the workers to greet and hand out the food. Save the date. We need you!

CASS COUNTY RIGHT TO LIFE is having their annual Mother's Day Flower Sale. They are selling roses, begonias, impatiens, marigolds, ageratum, and snap dragons. Payment has to be in by March 31 and they will deliver them the Saturday before Mother's Day. See John Clayton for the order form if you are interested.

AREA-WIDE WORSHIP: “The East Main church in Benton Harbor is having an area-wide get-together for singing, fellowship, and a message from God's Word on Sunday, March 29, at 2:00 P.M. We encourage everyone to go and support this effort at unity. Light food will be served.” The address of the building is 1451 E. Main St., Benton Harbor.

TODAY'S LESSON

PSALM 119
John Clayton

INTRODUCTION

A. Longest chapter in the Bible — 176 verses.
B. An acrostic — 22 sections, 8 verses per section.

1. Each section begins with Hebrew alphabet letter.
2. Each verse contains a synonym for God's Word.

a. Verse 1 — Law
b. Verse 2 — Testimonies
c. Verse 3 — Ways
d. Verse 4 — Precepts
e. Verse 5 — Statutes
f. Verse 6 — Commands

C. Hebrews 4:12

I. GOD'S WORD IS A COUNSELOR, A GUIDE.

A. Psalm 119:14 — What is your counselor and guide?

1. “What happens when you have it all, but no guide?” — Justin Bieber
2. Survival of the fittest?

B. Psalm 119:6, 24, 72, 97

II. GOD'S WORD KEEPS US FROM SIN.

A. Psalm 119:9 — The song we sang before the lesson: SONG “How Shall the Young Secure Their Hearts” and Psalm 119:112
B. “What’s wrong with … ?” That is the big question.

III. WE NEED SOLID STANDARDS TO LIVE BY?

A. Music, TV is insecure about right and wrong — view of sex, view of marriage, marijuana.
B. God's Word is eternal and unchanging — Psalm 119:89, 142, 144, 160.
C. Have mankind's basic needs changed?

IV. GOD'S WORD HELPS WHEN LIFE GETS HARD.

A. Psalm 119:50, 67, 71, 143

V. GOD GIVES US A GOAL TO HELP AVOID THE WRONG.

A. Psalm 119:104, 128
B. Why do we exist at all? What is your eternal goal?

VI. GOD'S WORD LEADS ME TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

A. Psalm 119:63, 79; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13; 15:33

VII. GOD'S WORD GIVES ME SAFETY AND SECURITY.

A. Psalm 119:105, 165 — Who do you trust?
B. At the end of life as well — 2 Timothy 4:6; 1 Corinthians 15:53-55
C. God's word helps in life and in death.

THE BACK PAGE

STANDARDS OF GIVING

There are many things that should stand out in the way that Christians conduct themselves as compared with the world. One of the most obvious of these is our attitudes toward what we have materially. Compare the world and God as far as what we do with what we have.

THE WORLD SAYS:

LIVE — spend and buy what you want.

SAVE — what is left.

GIVE — what is left if there is any left.

GOD SAYS:

GIVE — live to give and to serve.

SAVE — a set amount.

LIVE — on the remainder.

Notice that the two choices are the reverse of each other. This is not just about money. Putting God first and living to do what God put us here to do does not mean we will be rich in material goods. What we will be rich in is contentment, peace, and satisfaction in life. Paul, writing in 1 Timothy 6:1-12, compares the world's choices with God's alternatives. He points out that people in the world are burdened down with pride, ignorance, guestions, strife, and perverse disputings. In verse 7 he reminds us we brought nothing into this world and will not carry anything out. He says for us to be content with food and clothing.

Read 1 Timothy 6:9-11 and notice the comparison of the two choices we listed above. Hebrews 13:5 urges us to “let your conversations be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have.” Philippians 4:5-7 speaks of what should stand out in the way we live our lives. Our moderation is easy to let stand out in a society that is involved with excesses. Is it not interesting that money is the first standard that is involved in the race to become president! Abraham Lincoln could not run for president in America today.

1 Timothy 6:6 tells Christians not to be anxious but to develop an attitude of gratitude, talking to God about what we need. We are then told that “the peace of God, which passes all understanding will strengthen our hearts and our minds.” That means that we will not covet what others have and will not make securing material things our number one priority. Our giving of money, time, and energy reflects our heart's condition. Our pocketbook preaches huge messages to our children and friends. Let us listen to God as we plan our lives and our giving.

— John Clayton

Our sign by the street!

Write injuries in dust, but kindness in marble.

Sign saying from Vivian at Timbers nursing home in Dowagiac.

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