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May 9, 2021
CORONA VIRUS ISSUE 47
FAMILY NEWS OF
THE CHURCH OF CHRIST ON M 51 S
This is the church bulletin for the congregation of the Church of Christ that meets in Dowagiac, Michigan, on M 51 just south of the city. Ordinarily we meet on Sunday morning for Bible study and worship and also on Sunday evening and Wednesday night for a Bible study. Since the pandemic forced us into not having meetings at our building we have been meeting via Zoom on our smartphones, tablets, and computers. After almost two months of worship under the trees we have moved into the building with our Zoom meetings for those who are not able to meet in person. Everyone is welcome to participate in this worship service at 11:00 on Sunday morning. If you want to participate with Zoom, contact Karl Marcussen at marcusen@michiana.org to get the information to join us. |
DUE to the COVID-19 pandemic
and government mandates we
will not have some
of Bible classes until further notice.
FAMILY NEWS
OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST ON M 51 S
MAY 9, 2021
This 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.
FOOD BANK DONATION: We just received a large donation of non-perishable foods and a check for $300.00 from the Michiana Jeep Club. It is interesting that this was delivered by George Kirst, whose wife was a member of our congregation until she was killed in a tragic car accident on M 51. Another local support of our Food Pantry is Bimbo Bakery who are giving our food bank bread that is not picked up by their customers. This means we have bread, muffins, and other bread products donated to us to supply the needs of families in this area. Last Monday we supplied 19 families with food. This is a wonderful work and is getting a great deal of attention from people in the area we serve. Our thanks to all of those working in the Food Pantry and to those who have made special donations to keep this work operating.
OPENING UP: Several of us who have been worshiping from home using Zoom are now coming to the building. Michigan continues to have problems with COVID, but most of us have had our vaccines, and all of us meeting at the building are wearing masks and practicing social distancing. We are not out of the woods yet, but the light is visible at the end of the tunnel. Thanks to everyone who has worked to protect their brothers and sisters in Christ.
TODAY'S LESSON
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Proverbs 1:8 |
John Clayton |
INTRODUCTION: Smithsonian magazine, 5/21
A. “The Making of a Mom” — fetal microchimerism
Fetal stem cells do good things for the mother.
B. Mental effects of being a mother are significant.
C. Genesis 3:6 — a new role for women given by God
Genesis 2:24 was the original relationship.
“Help meet” is not having children.
I. NOT ALL WOMEN ARE EQUIPPED TO BE MOTHERS.
A. True physically
B. Many biblical women were great in other ways.
1. Deborah — Judges 4:4-5
2. Esther — Esther 4:14
3. Lydia — Acts 16:14-15
4. Joanna — Luke 8:3
II. MOTHERHOOD IS NOT JUST ABOUT HAVING A BABY.
A. Proverbs 1:8; 6:20
Father's instruction vs mother’s teaching
B. Proverbs 10:1; 29:15
Motherhood can be exceedingly difficult. C. Proverbs 31:10-31 — A picture of the ideal wife and mother at that time
1. Proverbs 31:27-29 — What today is about
2. America today has minimized motherhood. D. Mothers take the lead in child raising — Mary.
1. Luke 2:33-35 — Simeon addresses Mary.
2. Luke 2:41-52, 48 — Mary addresses Jesus.
3. John 2:1-5 — Mary and Jesus interact.
E. Simeon's prophesy is fulfilled.
1. Matthew 12:46-50
2. John 19:25-27 — our example
III. HONORING MOTHER IS A PART OF JESUS' TEACHING.
A. Matthew 19:16-18 — Notice the priorities.
1. Honoring is up there with murder, adultery, etc.
2. This is “Mother's Day,” a chance to do this.
The song after the lesson: “ Nothing but the Blood.”)
THE BACK PAGE
MOTHER'S DAY 2021
This Sunday is a national holiday. The roots of this holiday run deep, both in America and elsewhere. What many people do not realize is that Christianity was the one faith that elevated women and included them in all activities of life. In most religions women are possessions of men and serve only to produce babies. Polygamy was rooted in this mentality, and God tolerated it even though Jesus said it was only because of the hardness of the hearts of the Israelites (Matthew 19:8). He went on in verse 9 to say that “from the beginning it was not so.”
When Jesus was born his mother was identified as one who was in favor with God and was blessed (Luke 1:28, 30). When Jesus traveled and taught he dealt with women, even women who were rejected by the Jews, like the Samaritan woman in John 4. Jesus dealt with women and was supported by women (Luke 8:2-3). In Luke 10:38-42 there is the story of Martha and her sister Mary. Mary was interested in spiritual matters and the teachings of Christ, and Martha was fulfilling the traditional Jewish role for women of serving men. Jesus refers to Mary as one who “has chosen the better part, which shall not be taken from her.”
In Galatians 3:27-29 we see the early Church of Christ treating women as equals. Paul indicates that those who have been baptized into Christ, no matter what their nationality, professional status, or sex are equal in the church. In Romans 16 when Paul is talking about key workers in the early church, many of them are women and the church in Rome is called upon to support Phebe (Romans 16:1).
Christianity has elevated women and called women to be leaders in many of the activities of the church. It is fitting that on this day when our nation calls attention to the role of motherhood that we reflect on the women that have touched each of our lives and who have been a major positive influence in the history of the church.
— 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
05/13/2021
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