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October 12, 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.
FAMILY NEWS
A GOOD TIME: Last night we enjoyed a wonderful evening of fun and praise together. The men of the congregation want the ladies to know how much they are appreciated and valued, and the Italian night was designed to do that with a meal prepared by Karl Marcussen, flowers, and some Italian fun. We appreciate all the men who worked to make the evening a success. We also want to thank the ladies who came and shared in the evening. We men may be a little clumsy in expressing our thankfulness for the ladies, but we will not let that stop us from trying. God tells us to honor one another, and we feel very blessed to have the wonderful group of ladies that we do at this congregation.
IMPORTANT PLANNING MEETING: Our next potluck is November 2. We have gotten the parking lot project done, the new sign is under construction, is moving right along, and should be done very soon. There are a few decisions to be made about how to decorate the area around the entrances to the building, but we especially need to make decisions about evangelistic programs for 2009. We encourage everyone to do some thinking and come prepared to make some suggestions at the November 2nd meeting.
Some ideas we have kicked around include participation in the various fairs in the area, a meeting, advertising in local papers, a VBS, a campaign effort, scout troops, a Sojourners program, a "We Care" outreach, hiring a full time person, a food pantry, and becoming a blood bank post. Write down your ideas and bring them so we can discuss where we go from here.
TODAY’S LESSON
INTRODUCTION--Social scientists tell us there are five ways humans express love.
Devastated by the deaths of her two sons and her husband, Naomi felt that she needed to leave the land of Moab and return to her home country and her own people. She advised her two Moabitess daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, to remain in their own country.
Orpah decided to stay, but Ruth cared so deeply for Naomi that she insisted in staying with her. The famous words she spoke were "Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God: where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me" (Ruth 1:16-17, KJV).
It is not uncommon for inlaws to be less than each other's favorite people. The fact of Ruth's devotion to Naomi is a testimony to the wonderful character of the older woman. It is also a testimony to the heart of Ruth in being able to recognize and appreciate the kind of person that Naomi was. In discouraging Ruth at first from going with her, Naomi probably felt that she had nothing to offer her daughter-in-law and that she might not adapt well in a new and strange culture. As it turned out, they both had a good deal to offer each other.
For Naomi, surely the love and companionship of Ruth provided some relief from the emotional distress resulting from the tragic deaths in her family. There can be no doubt that God was working in both of their lives. Eventually Ruth found a good husband among Naomi's relatives. In a final crowning glory to her, her son, Obed, became the grandfather of King David himself. God always finds a way to honor those who honor Him.
We thank God for the women of this congregation who make sacrifices and work hard to advance the work of the Church. We have lots of Ruths and Naomis here.
THE FIVE LANGUAGES OF LOVE
FIRST CORINTHIANS 13:1-10, 13
FIRST CORINTHIANS 13:1-10, 13
INTRODUCTION--Social scientists tell us there are five ways humans express love.
Animals do some of these--but not
all of them.
We need to look at ourselves--do we do all five?
Symptoms--"What do you care?" "I can't do anything right." "You don't love me anymore" or "as much as ..."
WORD--When was the last
time you said "I love you"?What sets us apart from the
animal world is not sex.
What it takes to have the best of life.
Going beyond physical things and selfishness.
God calls us to all five of these--Jesus demonstrated them.What it takes to have the best of life.
Going beyond physical things and selfishness.
We need to look at ourselves--do we do all five?
Symptoms--"What do you care?" "I can't do anything right." "You don't love me anymore" or "as much as ..."
Who needs to hear that? At
each parting let it be said.
John 1:1; 1 John 4:8; John 3:16; John 13:34-35
GIFTSJohn 1:1; 1 John 4:8; John 3:16; John 13:34-35
Luke 21:1-4--The size of the gift
does not matter.
"It is more blessed to give than to receive."
John 3:16
ACTS OF SERVICE"It is more blessed to give than to receive."
John 3:16
Dorcas
Ephesians 5:28
Do what pleases others.
Look for what needs to be done.
TOUCHINGEphesians 5:28
Do what pleases others.
Look for what needs to be done.
"He touched me!"
The "Holy Kiss" (Hug)
Do you touch without sexual intent?
QUALITY OF TIMEThe "Holy Kiss" (Hug)
Do you touch without sexual intent?
What is worship?
When we have a close relationship, what do we do?
What can you and your mate/kids/friends enjoy together?
Hebrews 10:24-25
DO YOU LOVE GOD? HOW HAVE
YOU SHOWN IT?When we have a close relationship, what do we do?
What can you and your mate/kids/friends enjoy together?
Hebrews 10:24-25
The plan of salvation is doing
the five languages of love:
Hear the WORD.
GIVE yourself to the Lord.
ACT by being baptized.
Confess Christ in WORD.
TOUCH others by serving.
Serve God with your TIME.
GIVE yourself to the Lord.
ACT by being baptized.
Confess Christ in WORD.
TOUCH others by serving.
Serve God with your TIME.
RUTH AND NAOMI
The book of Ruth centers around two love stories. One is the love
between a man and a woman. The other, a less likely but
better-known story, is about this woman's love for her mother-in-law.Devastated by the deaths of her two sons and her husband, Naomi felt that she needed to leave the land of Moab and return to her home country and her own people. She advised her two Moabitess daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, to remain in their own country.
Orpah decided to stay, but Ruth cared so deeply for Naomi that she insisted in staying with her. The famous words she spoke were "Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God: where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me" (Ruth 1:16-17, KJV).
It is not uncommon for inlaws to be less than each other's favorite people. The fact of Ruth's devotion to Naomi is a testimony to the wonderful character of the older woman. It is also a testimony to the heart of Ruth in being able to recognize and appreciate the kind of person that Naomi was. In discouraging Ruth at first from going with her, Naomi probably felt that she had nothing to offer her daughter-in-law and that she might not adapt well in a new and strange culture. As it turned out, they both had a good deal to offer each other.
For Naomi, surely the love and companionship of Ruth provided some relief from the emotional distress resulting from the tragic deaths in her family. There can be no doubt that God was working in both of their lives. Eventually Ruth found a good husband among Naomi's relatives. In a final crowning glory to her, her son, Obed, became the grandfather of King David himself. God always finds a way to honor those who honor Him.
We thank God for the women of this congregation who make sacrifices and work hard to advance the work of the Church. We have lots of Ruths and Naomis here.