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November 23, 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
NO CLASSES WEDNESDAY. Due to the holiday and the fact that a lot of people will be out of town or have family arriving, we will not have classes this coming Wednesday evening, November 26.
December 6--HOLIDAY PARTY AT MISHAWAKA. This is an annual affair and many of us will go. If you need a ride, contact Bill Gibson if you live in Dowagiac or John Clayton if you live in Niles. The dinner starts at 5:00 PM and you are invited to bring a dish and if you wish, a white elephant gift of value under $5.00. Participation in the white elephant exchange is optional.
December 7--POTLUCK. Remember that the first Sunday of the month we have our regular potluck. Plan to come and join us in a day of good fun and good fellowship. We usually have a men's and women's business meeting for planning and sharing of ideas, and there are some new things to talk about.
Concerns: Janice Love continues to have transfusions to deal with a blood disorder. It is hoped that the experimental treatments she is getting will eliminate the need for contmued transfusions. Dave Pickens will be undergoing tests in December to see if his elevated PSA numbers are due to a new problem or a consequence of some previous problems he has dealt with. Patty Gibson has been dealing with a round of kidney infections and has not been feeling well. Carl has had a terrible time with his van as he traveled south. Keep all of these family members in your prayers.
TODAY’S LESSON
THANKSGIVING--The best holiday of the year
THANKSGIVING
1 Chronicles
16:34-36--Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for
his loving kindness is everlasting. Then they say "Save us, O God
of our salvation, and gather us and deliver us from the nations, to
give thanks to thy holy name and glory in thy praise."THANKSGIVING--The best holiday of the year
In hard times, we need to count
our blessings.
Greed factor is non-existent.
Time of family and friends
We are commanded by God to be thankful.
Phillipians 4:6
Colossians 4:2
1 Timothy 2:1
1 Chronicles 16
THANK GOD WE ARE DELIVERED FROM
NATIONS.Greed factor is non-existent.
Time of family and friends
We are commanded by God to be thankful.
Phillipians 4:6
Colossians 4:2
1 Timothy 2:1
1 Chronicles 16
More in right than is wrong with
America.
September 11--how easy It is to lose it all.
"I'm Proud to be an American"--Lee Greenwood
THANK GOD WE HAVE BREAD, MEAT
AND DRINKSeptember 11--how easy It is to lose it all.
"I'm Proud to be an American"--Lee Greenwood
If I lost the things I have
worked for all my life.
And I had to start again with just my wife.
I would thank God to be living where we are today.
For the flag still stands for freedom and they cannot take that away.
And I had to start again with just my wife.
I would thank God to be living where we are today.
For the flag still stands for freedom and they cannot take that away.
1 Chronicles 16:3
How many people will go to bed tonight cold, hungry, ...
THANK GOD YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO
LOVEHow many people will go to bed tonight cold, hungry, ...
Do not ever take this for granted.
Co1ossians 3:14-15--"Put on love. ..." Do not under-appreciate.
John 15:12--Why is this a commandment?
THANK GOD FOR SALVATIONDeath - divorce - separation.
Do not let conflict take this away from you. Is it of eternal
significance?Co1ossians 3:14-15--"Put on love. ..." Do not under-appreciate.
John 15:12--Why is this a commandment?
David calls God "the God of
salvation."
Sickness and death will come--Jesus cares--John 11:35.
It is hard to be thankful if you are outside of Christ
Sickness and death will come--Jesus cares--John 11:35.
Psalm 23:4; 2 Peter 3:9-13
We do not have to fear cancer, war, weather, even death.It is hard to be thankful if you are outside of Christ
MORE ON THANKSGIVING
Our lesson this morning brings us
some practical personal things which have to do with the Christian
approach to life. God wants us to be people who "overflow with
thanksgiving." This is not because God has an ego problem and
wants to be appreciated. It is a survival skill that brings us
success in life. As I have been preparing this lesson I have
learned a lot myself (which is normal). Most of us know that
there are five Greek words for love, but we may not know that there are
also five Greek words used in the Bible for thanksgiving.
"Charis" is a Greek word for thanks used as a noun involving an object of being thankful--in Luke 6:32-34 it is people; 1 Corinthians 15:57 it is victory; Romans 6:17 it is freedom from sin; and 1 Timothy 1:12 it is the ministry we are given. All of these are a reflectioon of the grace God has given us. Another Greek word used as a noun is "eucharista" which denotes gratitude. Appreciating what has been done for us is involved here and the Communion or Eucharist is derived from this word. In Ephesians 5:4 it is the opposite of filth, in Phillipians 4:6 it is the opposite of anxiety, and what this tells us is that people who learn to look at the good things in life are freed from many of the things that drain us and rob us of joy. In Colossians 2:7 we are told that this is a "fruit of the spirit" or something that comes to Christians from God and is an earmark of Christianity.
There are three Greek verbs used to convey thanksgiving. The Greek word "anthomologeomai" is the act of celebrating fully an event to be thankful for (see Luke 2:38). The Greek word "exomologeo" is to honor a person, something Christians are told to look for a way to do (see Romans 14:11; 15:9; Matthew 11:25; and Luke 10:21--God being the person in these last two passages). The Greek eucharisto used as a verb is used in reference to giving freely and is used in reference to thanks for food in Matthew 15:36; Luke 22:17,19; and 1 Corinthians 11:24. Paul uses this word at the start of all of his epistles as an expression of his love for the Church.
Colossians 3:15 tells us that being thankful is a major indication of the identity of one who is a Christian. There are times when bad things happen to us when it may be hard to be thankful, but God will help us find that which we can be thankful for, and we need to work at letting this feeling grow within us.
"Charis" is a Greek word for thanks used as a noun involving an object of being thankful--in Luke 6:32-34 it is people; 1 Corinthians 15:57 it is victory; Romans 6:17 it is freedom from sin; and 1 Timothy 1:12 it is the ministry we are given. All of these are a reflectioon of the grace God has given us. Another Greek word used as a noun is "eucharista" which denotes gratitude. Appreciating what has been done for us is involved here and the Communion or Eucharist is derived from this word. In Ephesians 5:4 it is the opposite of filth, in Phillipians 4:6 it is the opposite of anxiety, and what this tells us is that people who learn to look at the good things in life are freed from many of the things that drain us and rob us of joy. In Colossians 2:7 we are told that this is a "fruit of the spirit" or something that comes to Christians from God and is an earmark of Christianity.
There are three Greek verbs used to convey thanksgiving. The Greek word "anthomologeomai" is the act of celebrating fully an event to be thankful for (see Luke 2:38). The Greek word "exomologeo" is to honor a person, something Christians are told to look for a way to do (see Romans 14:11; 15:9; Matthew 11:25; and Luke 10:21--God being the person in these last two passages). The Greek eucharisto used as a verb is used in reference to giving freely and is used in reference to thanks for food in Matthew 15:36; Luke 22:17,19; and 1 Corinthians 11:24. Paul uses this word at the start of all of his epistles as an expression of his love for the Church.
Colossians 3:15 tells us that being thankful is a major indication of the identity of one who is a Christian. There are times when bad things happen to us when it may be hard to be thankful, but God will help us find that which we can be thankful for, and we need to work at letting this feeling grow within us.