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February 22, 2009TO 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
POTLUCK, WORK SESSION NEXT SUNDAY. This is not leap year, so next Sunday is March 1--a potluck day. We have some major things to work on as a congregation. The idea of being a food distribution center for the South West Food Gleaners has been discussed and worked on, and we need to make a decision and get the program started if we are going to do it. The Fair Exhibit project has moved forward and information will be given on that work. There are some important construction projects on the building to be started on and those need to be explained. Plan to come and enjoy a fellowship period and a time of getting into exciting work for and with the Lord.
BENEVOLENCE REPORT. We have said a number of times that 2008 was a year for upgrading our facility. There are still some things that need to be done, but they are relatively minor. We have some ice dam problems in the fellowship area, and some windows and doors need to be replaced to stop sweating and conserve energy, but these are not major issues. 2009 is a year to get our service to the community and our teaching and evangelistic work in operation. With the recession, we are finding a number of people that need help, and in the last week we have spent some $200 in direct benevolent help. The South West Food Gleaners program is something we can do to have food here to address specific needs as they come up. We may not want to run a market type service, but we can do better than that and provide free food direct to people in need by taking advantage of the Gleaners program. Be a part of this. Come to the planning meeting next Sunday and let us talk about it.
TODAY’S LESSON
TEDDY
ANANIAS AND ME--ACTS 9:10-19
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Suppose you had a dream where God
calls you to action--
ANANIAS WAS WILLING.You are not a paid preacher or
politician.
You did not ask for the job.
What would you do?
Could you be an Ananias?
God does not speak to us like that today.You did not ask for the job.
What would you do?
Could you be an Ananias?
We are called by God's word--a
better way to be called.
"Yes, Lord, what do you want me
to
do?"
ANANIAS ARGUED WITH GOD--That's
OK.That is not what most people do.
We want the blessings, not the work
JFK--"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
We want the blessings, not the work
Matthew 25:31-46--We are being
called.
John 13:12-17
John 13:12-17
Assumes God does not understand
the situation (verses 13-14).
ANANIAS OBEYED"Lord you don't understand--I
have to do "
"Lord you don't understand how unhappy I am. ..."
"Lord, if I do that wIll happen."
"Lord, that isn't necessary. ..."
God's reaction--verse 15"Lord you don't understand how unhappy I am. ..."
"Lord, if I do that wIll happen."
"Lord, that isn't necessary. ..."
Does not write Ananias off--does
not write us off.
That took guts--he was certainly
on Saul's list.
ANANIAS ACHIEVED THROUGH GOD'S
ACTIONS.Uncertainty--fear--doubt
He ultimately trusted God.
What keeps us from obeying God?He ultimately trusted God.
Uncertainty--fear--doubt
Will we trust in God in this time of uncertainty.
Will we trust in God in this time of uncertainty.
Imagine his feelings as Saul
becomes a power for good.
Ananias was the base for all that
Paul did.
Look at what is going on today.A non-communicating congregation
will not either.
Massive economic chaos
Hunger, housing, medical problems
Matthew 25:31-46
How can 30 people make any difference?
What about our own needs?
Paul had to make a start--verses 17-22. Hunger, housing, medical problems
Matthew 25:31-46
How can 30 people make any difference?
What about our own needs?
TEDDY
As she stood in front of her fifth
grade class on the first day of school, she told the children a
lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and told them
she loved them all the same. That was actually impossible,
because slumped in his seat with a scowl on his face was Teddy.
She had seen Teddy the year before on the playground. He was
messy, needed a bath, was nasty to other children, and refused to
cooperate in class activities. He was every teacher's
nightmare. She actually felt some satisfaction in putting a big
red F
on his first paper after he talked back to her.
Teachers in this school were required to review children's records before they were sent to the principal for discipline, so as she started to fill out a discipline report she pulled Teddy's records. She was surprised at the first grade teacher's report. "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly, has good manners, cooperates, and is a joy to be around." His second grade teacher wrote "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has cancer and he says he is afraid." His third grade teacher wrote "Teddy's mother's death has been hard on him. He tries, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will affect him if he doesn't get help." His fourth grade teacher wrote "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in anything. He doesn't have friends and sleeps in class a lot." The teacher was ashamed of herself as she began to understand why Teddy was as he was.
At Christmas the children brought gifts to her all beautifully wrapped. Teddy brought a clumsily wrapped brown grocery bag. When she opened it she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle 1/4 full of perfume. Some of the children started to laugh, but she stifled that and told Teddy how much she liked it, put the bracelet on and dabbed some of the perfume on. After school Teddy stayed long enough to say "You smelled just like my mom used to." The teacher melted in tears. She began to show Teddy some special attention and worked with him. His mind seemed to come alive and he became the best student in the class. Years later this teacher got a letter from Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D. telling her she was the best teacher he ever had--that she had changed his life. See she quit teaching the subject and started teaching the child.
All of us need to learn from this story. People will not tell you they need help, but listening and serving can open doors.
______________
This work of fiction was penned by Elizabeth Silance Ballard in 1976 and published that year in Home Life magazine. ... Can one special teacher make a lasting difference in the life of a child? Yes, absolutely. Our history books are filled with instances of precisely that. But those looking for a real-life example of the importance of teachers will have to look elsewhere than this story. (This last paragraph is from http://www.snopes.com/glurge/teddy.asp.)
Teachers in this school were required to review children's records before they were sent to the principal for discipline, so as she started to fill out a discipline report she pulled Teddy's records. She was surprised at the first grade teacher's report. "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly, has good manners, cooperates, and is a joy to be around." His second grade teacher wrote "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has cancer and he says he is afraid." His third grade teacher wrote "Teddy's mother's death has been hard on him. He tries, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will affect him if he doesn't get help." His fourth grade teacher wrote "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in anything. He doesn't have friends and sleeps in class a lot." The teacher was ashamed of herself as she began to understand why Teddy was as he was.
At Christmas the children brought gifts to her all beautifully wrapped. Teddy brought a clumsily wrapped brown grocery bag. When she opened it she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle 1/4 full of perfume. Some of the children started to laugh, but she stifled that and told Teddy how much she liked it, put the bracelet on and dabbed some of the perfume on. After school Teddy stayed long enough to say "You smelled just like my mom used to." The teacher melted in tears. She began to show Teddy some special attention and worked with him. His mind seemed to come alive and he became the best student in the class. Years later this teacher got a letter from Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D. telling her she was the best teacher he ever had--that she had changed his life. See she quit teaching the subject and started teaching the child.
All of us need to learn from this story. People will not tell you they need help, but listening and serving can open doors.
______________
This work of fiction was penned by Elizabeth Silance Ballard in 1976 and published that year in Home Life magazine. ... Can one special teacher make a lasting difference in the life of a child? Yes, absolutely. Our history books are filled with instances of precisely that. But those looking for a real-life example of the importance of teachers will have to look elsewhere than this story. (This last paragraph is from http://www.snopes.com/glurge/teddy.asp.)