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July 6, 2008TO OUR VISITORS
The family of God here at Dowagiac Church of Christ wishes to extend to you a warm welcome. If you have questions about our worship services and why we do what we do, we will be glad to give you a biblical answer. The uniqueness of the Church of Christ is that we are trying to restore to the best of our ability those things that we see the first century Church doing. We are also working hard at building the spirit, unity, and love that Jesus taught and prayed for. We have no clergy, but are working together as equal co-workers trying to serve one another and the area in which we live. Come study with us, grow with us, and serve with us as we strive to do God’s will in all things.
CLASSES
We have started new classes and want to encourage everyone to come and be a part of these new studies. On Sunday morning we are studying the parables of Jesus with Jim Harasewicz leading the class. On Wednesday night we are continuing a series of studies in Corinthians taught by John Clayton. These are important classes with a lot of information being conveyed. We encourage you to come and participate and make sure your kids come for their classes.
FAMILY NEWS
FAMILY NEWS POTLUCK TODAY! If you forgot, stay anyway. We always have plenty, and we want you to enjoy time with us. We also have some important things to discuss about plans for upcoming events. These include a singing to be held here, a ladies appreciation dinner, the parking lot, the sign, and some new evangelistic outreaches.
LITERATURE: We want to encourage you to take copies of the literature that is in the lobby. Gospel Minutes is a great devotional tool for you and/or your family. Does God Exist? is a colorful collection of articles and materials to aid people in the field of apologetics. Christian Chronicle and Gospel Herald are newspapers containing news on brotherhood issues in the US and Canada. Take these home. Read them--Grow!!
TODAY’S LESSON
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE AMAZE GOD.
In the New Testament we see great emphasis was placed on being free. In Acts 22:28 a Roman captain told Paul that he paid a huge amount of money to be free in the Roman world. Paul responds by saying he was born free--born a Roman citizen. In the world of Jesus people were either bond or free by birth (Co1ossians 3:11, Ephesians 6:8), and changing that state was very hard to do. Many of us have been born into situations where we may feel quite controlled and limited, and indeed that may be the case. Be thankful on this special holiday weekend that you also were born in a country where you can change your status and overcome the limitations your birth may have placed upon you.
It is in the Roman world of great injustice and unfairness that Jesus comes proclaiming that freedom is at hand. In John 8:32 Jesus taught that the Truth would make all men free. He goes on to say in verses 33-36 that the freedom He speaks of was freedom from sin. Romans 6:18-22 echoes that promise. Life can be hard and unfair. No amount of money can buy you out of the struggles that life brings upon us and the consequences of bad choices we make, but we can be free and independent of the cares of this world if we will obey God and be faithful to Christ. Let us celebrate the independence we have and the birth of this great country in which we live, and let us pray that the forces that would take away our freedom are unsuccessful, but let us also thank God for our freedom from being slaves to sin.
WHEN THE MASTER MARVELLED
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE AMAZE GOD.
God's capacity to be outside time
does not remove our ability to choose.
THE BELIEVING GENTILE--Matthew
8:5-13.Nineveh and Jonah.
Our two examples today.
Our two examples today.
Big shot in the
political secular world of his day.
"I am not worthy."
Note verses 11-12--You do not inherit heaven.
THE UNBELIEVING JEWS--Mark 6:1-6."I am not worthy."
Worldly success does not mean
success in what matters.
He knew the power of God "Just speak the word ... ."How to
build a successful marriage.
How to be satisfied--contented.
How to die.
How to be satisfied--contented.
How to die.
Note verses 11-12--You do not inherit heaven.
Look what has
happened prior to this
A WONDERFUL MODEL OF RESPONDING
TO GOD.Woman with blood issue--Mark
5:25-29.
Resurrection of a dead girl--Mark 5:26-41.
Gadarene maniac cured--Mark 5:1-16.
Because He was local they blew him off.Resurrection of a dead girl--Mark 5:26-41.
Gadarene maniac cured--Mark 5:1-16.
Working with family and friends
is hard.
Reasons? ...
Jesus is amazed at their refusal to believe (Verse 6).Reasons? ...
What
does it take to make you really believe?
Look at what God has given you to help you believe.
Jesus does not force this or resort to overwhelming
them.Look at what God has given you to help you believe.
Miracles were never for show or
force.
Verse 5--It is not that He could not do the miracle
Miracles had a purpose, and the purpose was not possible here with their hearts as they were.
Religion is pointless to some people--they will not change.
Verse 5--It is not that He could not do the miracle
Miracles had a purpose, and the purpose was not possible here with their hearts as they were.
Religion is pointless to some people--they will not change.
Luke 1 :34--"How can this be?"
Luke 1 :37--"For with God nothing shall be impossible."
Luke 1 :38--" ... be it unto me according to your word."
Do you have the courage to be what God calls you to be?
Luke 1 :37--"For with God nothing shall be impossible."
Luke 1 :38--" ... be it unto me according to your word."
Do you have the courage to be what God calls you to be?
INDEPENDENCE DAY
The 4th of July has always been one of America's favorite
celebrations. Fireworks, picnics, vacations, and parades have
always been a major part of this celebration. It is a joyous
time, because it is a time of remembering how blessed we are to be a
country where we have independence. We are not just independent
of ancient England, or of communism or of Hitler. We are also
free of those who would force a state religion upon us. So far in
America we are free to speak what we believe and be independent of
those who would force us to say things we do not believe.In the New Testament we see great emphasis was placed on being free. In Acts 22:28 a Roman captain told Paul that he paid a huge amount of money to be free in the Roman world. Paul responds by saying he was born free--born a Roman citizen. In the world of Jesus people were either bond or free by birth (Co1ossians 3:11, Ephesians 6:8), and changing that state was very hard to do. Many of us have been born into situations where we may feel quite controlled and limited, and indeed that may be the case. Be thankful on this special holiday weekend that you also were born in a country where you can change your status and overcome the limitations your birth may have placed upon you.
It is in the Roman world of great injustice and unfairness that Jesus comes proclaiming that freedom is at hand. In John 8:32 Jesus taught that the Truth would make all men free. He goes on to say in verses 33-36 that the freedom He speaks of was freedom from sin. Romans 6:18-22 echoes that promise. Life can be hard and unfair. No amount of money can buy you out of the struggles that life brings upon us and the consequences of bad choices we make, but we can be free and independent of the cares of this world if we will obey God and be faithful to Christ. Let us celebrate the independence we have and the birth of this great country in which we live, and let us pray that the forces that would take away our freedom are unsuccessful, but let us also thank God for our freedom from being slaves to sin.