November 21, 2021

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THE CHURCH OF CHRIST ON M 51 S

We welcome you to our worship services this morning. We hope that you will be encouraged and uplifted by our time together. We have no creed or set of rules to force on you. We simply rely on the Bible to tell us what to do and try to copy what we read the church in the first century did. We meet here every Sunday, but we also have Zoom available for those who are interested. Just ask and we will include you in our Zoom services. Call Karl Marcussen at 574-514-1400 for information.

FAMILY NEWS

NO WEDNESDAY NIGHT CLASS: Thanksgiving is Thursday of this week, and we have people out of town and people who have family coming in for the special Thanksgiving day celebration. All of that means that we will not try to have our usual class this Wednesday night.

HOLIDAY FLOAT: We have decided not to participate in the community holiday float this year. In our congregational meeting last Sunday it was pointed out that the Gibsons will be out of town, the church van is incapable of pulling the trailer, and many who rode the float are unable to get out, have family issues, or have moved. We also have some profound medical issues among us that make being able to work on the float to prepare it difficult. Hopefully we can do it next year.

SUNDAY NIGHT CLASS BEGINS TONIGHT: We have finished our “Beyond Reasonable Doubt” series with John Cooper for now. We may do the class again as a public outreach or a VBS, but for now we will begin a basic study of how we know God does exist. This vital subject has been a ministry of John Clayton for 53 years in public presentations, and will be our subject starting tonight.

TODAY'S LESSON

GRATITUDE
John Clayton

INTRODUCTION — A real Christian celebration

A. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (John read this poem “Happy Thanksgiving.”)
B. Romans 1:21 — a description of our world

A property of the “wicked.”

C. Gratitude: “A feeling of thankful appreciation for favors or benefits received without payment or obligation. A warm appreciative response to kindness” (Webster).

Not just a telegram thank you (for your business).

I. WE ARE TO SHOW APPRECIATION TO PARENTS.

A. Ephesians 6:1-3 — Not just to young children.
B. What does “honor” mean? Greek word — worship.

“Everything I Own” by David Gates. See THE BACK PAGE below.

II. WE ARE TO SHOW APPRECIATION TO CHILDREN.

A. Genesis 37:3-4 — Israel, Joseph and his brothers.
B. Do we look for things to have gratitude about?
C. Colossians 3:21 — Children need gratitude.

III. WE ARE TO SHOW APPRECIATION TO OUR MATES.

A. What is needed to keep a marriage functional?
B. Ephesians 5:33 — What are our responsibilities?

1. How many times a day do you tell your wife you love her?
2. Reverence = Attitude of deep respect.

IV. WE MUST SHOW APPRECIATION IN THE CHURCH.

A. Paul to Phebe in Romans 16:1-3
B. Onesiphorus in 2 Timothy 1:16-18
C. Acts 28:10 — Church at Melita to Paul
D. Class teachers, Zoom workers, song leaders
E. Leaders, workers on the physical property
F. Preachers — why is there a shortage?

V. WE MUST SHOW GRATITUDE TO GOD.

A. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 — Why does God want this?

Not because his ego is hurting.

B. See THE BACK PAGE below for Ida Smith poem.
C. Obedience is a way of expressing gratitude

1. Nothing we do is because God has needs.
2. What does disobedience say?

THE BACK PAGE

EVERYTHING I OWN by David Gates
Written on the coffin of his father.

You sheltered me from harm, kept me warm kept me warm. You gave my life to me, Set me free, set me free.

The finest years I ever knew, Were all the years I had with you. And I would give anything I own, Just to have you back again.

You taught me how to love, what it's of, what it's of. You never said too much but still you showed the way, and I knew from watching you nobody could ever know the part of me that can't let go. And I would give anything I own, give up my life, my heart, my home. I would give everything I own just to have you back again.

Is there someone you know, you're loving them so, but taking them all for granted? You may lose them one day, someone takes them away and they don't hear the words you long to say.

I would give anything I own, give up my life, my heart, my home. I would give everything I own just to have you back again, just to touch you once again.

WHAT DO YOU OWE GOD? by Ida G. Smith

What do you owe God you ask? Suppose He sent His bill
A billion dollars for the Sun upon the hill.
A million for the little brook that runs along the way.
1000 for the night time, thousands for the day.
800 for the little birds that chirp and trill and sing
600 for the tiny flowers that tell us when it's spring.
These are bills which every one of every clime forget
If God should charge you what you owe, you'd never
pay the debt.

Our sign by the street!

Sunday 6 P.M. Archaeology's Proof of the Bible

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