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December 14, 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 DECEMBER 24 OR 31. Due to the holidays and the fact that a lot of people will be out of town or have family arriving, we will not have classes Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve.
NEW CLASSES START JANUARY 4 and 7. Our studies in Corinthians will come to a close this coming Wednesday night. We have been running classes on Sunday night and Wednesday night taught by John Clayton. Starting with the evening class on January 4 we will start a series on Difficult Bible Passages. What about the claims of errors and contradictions in the Bible? Why did Jephthah have to sacrifice his daughter in Judges 11? Who are the Nephilim in Genesis 6? Did Ezekiel see a UFO? Why did God have the Israelites kill every man, woman, baby, and animal of the Amalekites? In this day of great challenge to Christians as to the validity of the Christian faith we need to know how to answer these challenges. Come and join us in our study!!
January 4 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 a sharing of ideas, and there are some new things to talk about. The door ordered for the sign was the wrong size (lumber yard’s mistake) so we are still waiting for materials to finish the sign. It will be done soon.
TODAY’S LESSON
THE WHYS OF CHRISTMAS
INTRODUCTION
Not much attention to the big whys of Christmas:
Are you Christmassed out?
Lots of songs, plays, articles about the meaning of ChristmasNot much attention to the big whys of Christmas:
Why did God become flesh?
Why did He come when he came?
Why did He come, where he came--Bethlehem?
Look at the unlikely origin of Jesus Christ.
God became flesh for a reasonWhy did He come when he came?
Why did He come, where he came--Bethlehem?
Look at the unlikely origin of Jesus Christ.
John 1:14
Ephesians 6:12; 3:9-11
Job 1; 2; 42:5
Hebrews 4:15
John 11:35
Jesus came in a poor, occupied
countryEphesians 6:12; 3:9-11
Job 1; 2; 42:5
Hebrews 4:15
John 11:35
John 1:46--“Can any good thing
come out of Nazareth?”
John 19:10
Roman law controlled everything--Matt 5:41.
No earthly force, inheritance
Jesus came as an illegitimate
childJohn 19:10
Roman law controlled everything--Matt 5:41.
No earthly force, inheritance
Matthew 1:18-19
Matthew 1:20--The strength of Joseph
Luke 1:26-34, 38--The strength of Mary
Would what happened be enough for you?
Look at the wisdom of GodMatthew 1:20--The strength of Joseph
Luke 1:26-34, 38--The strength of Mary
Would what happened be enough for you?
No human can take credit.
You cannot have a problem that Jesus does not understand.
Are you in a time of need?Compare to Mohammed.
Compare to Buddha.
Matthew 7:28Compare to Buddha.
You cannot have a problem that Jesus does not understand.
You have no money--Look at Jesus.
Born on the wrong side of the tracks--Look at Jesus.
You have a stigma attached to you? Look at Jesus.
Hebrews 4:15-16
You face temptation? Look at Jesus.
Born on the wrong side of the tracks--Look at Jesus.
You have a stigma attached to you? Look at Jesus.
Hebrews 4:15-16
You face temptation? Look at Jesus.
A Letter from Jesus:
It has come to my attention that some of you are upset that my name has been taken out of the season. Maybe you’ve forgotten that I wasn’t actually born during this time of year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate my birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. If it bothers you that people are calling a tree a holiday tree, remember that it was I who made all trees. You can remember me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish.
Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime, I personally feel about it like some of you who have been blessed with children of your own--what you really want from your kids is peace, love and cooperation. If you want to celebrate my birth, just get along and love one another like I told you to in John 15:1-8. Here is my wish list--choose from it:
--Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way my birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell me all the time.
--Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
--Get some cards and start sending notes of encouragement to people who are ill, who are discouraged, or who have lost their way in trying to come to me.
--Instead of giving your children or grandchildren a lot of gifts they don’t need, spend time with them. Hold them in your arms and tell them that I love them.
--Pick someone who has hurt you in the past and forgive them. Be kind to them, let them know you care about them.
--Make plans to grow in your understanding of my Word. Be a student of my teachings and grow in this new year of life.
--Finally, if you really want to give me something that I want then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do if I was physically in your presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.
--Submitted by Bill Salmons
It has come to my attention that some of you are upset that my name has been taken out of the season. Maybe you’ve forgotten that I wasn’t actually born during this time of year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate my birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. If it bothers you that people are calling a tree a holiday tree, remember that it was I who made all trees. You can remember me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish.
Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime, I personally feel about it like some of you who have been blessed with children of your own--what you really want from your kids is peace, love and cooperation. If you want to celebrate my birth, just get along and love one another like I told you to in John 15:1-8. Here is my wish list--choose from it:
--Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way my birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell me all the time.
--Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
--Get some cards and start sending notes of encouragement to people who are ill, who are discouraged, or who have lost their way in trying to come to me.
--Instead of giving your children or grandchildren a lot of gifts they don’t need, spend time with them. Hold them in your arms and tell them that I love them.
--Pick someone who has hurt you in the past and forgive them. Be kind to them, let them know you care about them.
--Make plans to grow in your understanding of my Word. Be a student of my teachings and grow in this new year of life.
--Finally, if you really want to give me something that I want then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do if I was physically in your presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.
--Submitted by Bill Salmons