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DUE to the COVID-19 pandemic FAMILY NEWSThis bulletin is distributed in a variety of different ways. It is distributed during our worship services at the church building; it is made available on the web at our dowagiaccoc.org website; and it is sent by e-mail/messaging in connection with our ZOOM broadcast invitations. However you receive it, we hope it will be informative and encouraging. We are not a denomination, but a local effort to encourage people to follow what the church was like in the first century. We have no man-made creed and only follow the Bible. We do not have religious titles and do not solicit donations. Come and learn more by visiting with us, e-mailing us, or calling us. READ YOUR PRAYER LIST! There have been a lot of things going on recently among our family. POWER FOR TODAY for April, May, and June is available at the church building. BESIDES OUR MEETINGS IN THE BUILDING we have these meetings on Zoom:
Contact Karl Marcussen (574-514-1400) for Zoom information on any of these. YESTERDAY WAS THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING! From now on there will be more hours of sun (daylight) than of darkness. ON YOUR CALENDAR: The food bank truck will be coming to our building April 27 at 4:00 P.M. and again Sept. 28. We will also be doing our first highway cleanup soon, so plan to be a part of that as well.
TODAY'S LESSON
I. INTRODUCTION — This is not a sermon about money.
A. Acts 20:35 — “It is more blessed to give than to
receive” — Not just about money
II. RECEIVING HAS BECOME A WAY OF LIFE FOR MANY.
B. Attitude affecting family, work, recreation, sex C. Giving is not about God's needs — He has none (Acts 17:23-25). D. Giving was to help meet the needs of humans. 1. 1 Corinthians 16:2-3 — To meet hunger in Jerusalem 2. “God loves a cheerful giver.” A. Narcissism (self love) is the struggle mankind faces.
III. HOW DO WE CHANGE FROM RECEIVERS TO GIVERS?
B. Shows up in the lives of many today. 1. Child abuse — kids cost.
C. Religion can be an exercise in self-gratification.
2. Marriage struggles. 1. Acts 8:9-23 — Simon, the religious charlatan
D. Narcissism leads to failure and misery.
2. Acts 20:33-35 — Paul's finances 1. Your job needs to be something you like. 2. Why get married? 3. Old Peggy Lee song — “Is That All There Is?” 4. Magazine titles tell the story: Life; US News; People; Us; Self 5. Why has misery increased in our world? A. Understand that God is a relentless giver.
VII. BE A GIVER, NOT A TAKER!1. Acts 17:24-25
B. John 3:16 — What is God's greatest gift?2. Psalm 139:14 3. Psalm 8:3-9 C. Get away from “giving showmanship.” 1. Acts 5:1-4 — Ananias and Sapphira
D. Let the Holy Spirit work — Luke 6:38.2. Matthew 6:1-4 E. Start by giving time. 1. Give a tithe of your time — 10% of 168.
F. 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 (read) — Abound in this grace also.
2. Use your talents — whatever they are. (John referred to our concluding song: “I Want to Be a Worker.”)
THE BACK PAGE“HOLY WEEK” STARTS NEXT SUNDAYThe Catholic church and most of the denominational world make next week the most important week of the year, starting with Palm Sunday next week. For much of the denominational world Holy Week was actually begun on February 17, or more accurately on Shrove Tuesday which was the day before Ash Wednesday. On Shrove Tuesday there was the ritualistic burning of palms from last year’s celebration of the entry of Christ to Jerusalem. The ashes from the burning of the palms are placed on the foreheads of believers on Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent which is the 40 days before Easter. This is the length of the fasting of Christ in the wilderness before he began his ministry. All of this is not commanded in the Bible and has been promoted mostly by the Catholic church. Actually the Anglo Saxon word “lencten” is where the word “lent” comes from, and it refers to the lengthening of days as spring approaches. Sundays are not included in the 40 days and the use of ashes was a Jewish sign of penitence. Shrove Tuesday turned into a feasting day right before Lent with eating of pancakes and sweets of various kinds being featured. “Mardi Gras” which in French means “Fat Tuesday” started as Shrove Tuesday. For those of us who try to follow what the Bible says, these celebrations are interesting but certainly not required, and what has happened to most of them is a product of the secular influence on the church. Next Sunday is Palm Sunday and starts Holy Week. After Palm Sunday comes Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Spy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday, and Easter. Our sermon for next Sunday and Easter Sunday will be a study of what the Bible says about these special days. It is important for us to understand what some of our friends and relatives do religiously, so hopefully we can learn and understand why people do what they do. — 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 |
