Home
Worship Services
Location
Contacts
Bulletins
Links
March 21, 2010TO 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 SERVICES HERE TONIGHT! The Benton Harbor Church has invited, us to a singing tonight at their building at 5:00. We are cancelling our services here to participate in that service, and in the potluck that will take place afterwards. If you know someone who is not here this morning and who comes to our services, be sure to call them and let them know. Anyone who would like transportation to the singing should come here to the building at 4:00 and we will take the van and transport everyone there and back to our building. We encourage everyone to attend this time of enthusiastic singing and fellowship. It is rare that we can be together with brothers and sisters like this, so we need to take advantage of such a great opportunity.
FROM LEON AND MARGARET FORBES. Last Sunday night we had a celebration of Leon completing all requirements to become a citizen of the United States. Leon has been working on this for a very long time, and has passed some difficult tests and spent a lot of time meeting all the requirements and we applaud him for this achievement which will open more doors for him. The Forbes write "Thanks to all. I do appreciate what you have all done for me. Again, thank you very much." We take for granted where we live and how we live and the freedoms that we have, and having someone like Leon work so hard to get what we got with very little effort should be a major lesson for us.
TODAY'S
LESSON
PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A
CHRISTIAN
from 1 Peter
INTRODUCTION: What happens to us when we become a citizen of a new country? What happened when you became a Christian? Leon is an example
Other scriptures: Rev 21:5 2 Cor 5:17 Eph 4:22-24 1 Cor 3:2 Hebrews 5:12-13, James 1:27
Be a citizen of God's Kingdom!!
from 1 Peter
INTRODUCTION: What happens to us when we become a citizen of a new country? What happened when you became a Christian? Leon is an example
| FACT | PRIVILEGE | RESPONSIBILITY |
| Believers are "newborn
babes" 2:2 |
Born into the family of God | Feed on pure milk Eat the right things Hebrews 5:12 |
| Be obedient 1:14 |
Grow in understanding | Obedience to Father Be like Him 1:14-16 |
| We are living stones 2:5 |
Brought to life Built into spiritual house. God's HolyTemple |
Offer spiritual
sacrifice We are priests Life of worship |
| Aliens and strangers 2:11-12 |
This world is not our home. | Live differently - Glorify God |
| Bond slaves of God
2:16 |
Freedom in Christ | Freedom is service,
not license--ready to do his will |
| Good stewards 4:9-10 |
We are entrusted with gifts. | Use them to His
glory. Serving |
| Are Christians | Wear the name of
Christ. |
Live like Him. |
Other scriptures: Rev 21:5 2 Cor 5:17 Eph 4:22-24 1 Cor 3:2 Hebrews 5:12-13, James 1:27
Be a citizen of God's Kingdom!!
HINGE
OR HOAX?
Easter Sunday is right around the
comer. The celebration of the resurrection of Jesus is different than
Christmas or many other religious holidays that the world recognizes
because we do know when Jesus rose from the dead and it has no secular
connection. We can pinpoint the resurrection in terms of the Jewish
calendar. Unlike Christmas which was rooted in pagan celebrations of
the winter solstice, we can identify the Jewish holidays that took
place prior to the crucifixion and after. We know what was taking place
during the time period between the resurrection and the Day of
Pentecost. In addition to that we have secular records byobservers that
back up when these events took place and who participated. There is
historical, archeological, astronomical, and religious support for when
Jesus rose from the dead.
It is interesting that the first century Church did not recognize any one Sunday as more important than another. The only reference to Easter in the Bible is in Acts 12:4 in the King James Version, and in that verse what is being referred to is the Jewish Passover. In Romans 14:5-7 we are given great freedom to celebrate days as we see fit.
We remember Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection every Sunday in this congregation because it is the bedrock Truth that makes all the difference in our lives. The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 reflected on the resurrection by saying "... if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." He goes on and says "If for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." The crucifixion, the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord really is the hinge event in all of human history. The cross gives meaning to life and hope for the next.
The popular writer Max Lucado describes it this way: "It rests on the time-line of history like a compelling diamond. Its tragedy summons all sufferers. Its absurdity attracts all cynics. Its hope lures all searchers. History has idolized and despised it, gold-plated and burned it, worn and trashed it. History has done everything but ignore it. How could you ignore such a piece of lumber. Suspended on its beams is the greatest claim in history. A crucified carpenter claiming to be God on Earth. Divine, Eternal, The Death Slayer. Never has timber been regarded so sacred. No wonder the Apostle Paul called the cross event the core of the gospel. It's bottom line sobering: if the account is true, it is history's hinge-period! If not, the cross is history's hoax."
What is it for you, hinge or hoax?
It is interesting that the first century Church did not recognize any one Sunday as more important than another. The only reference to Easter in the Bible is in Acts 12:4 in the King James Version, and in that verse what is being referred to is the Jewish Passover. In Romans 14:5-7 we are given great freedom to celebrate days as we see fit.
We remember Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection every Sunday in this congregation because it is the bedrock Truth that makes all the difference in our lives. The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 reflected on the resurrection by saying "... if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." He goes on and says "If for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." The crucifixion, the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord really is the hinge event in all of human history. The cross gives meaning to life and hope for the next.
The popular writer Max Lucado describes it this way: "It rests on the time-line of history like a compelling diamond. Its tragedy summons all sufferers. Its absurdity attracts all cynics. Its hope lures all searchers. History has idolized and despised it, gold-plated and burned it, worn and trashed it. History has done everything but ignore it. How could you ignore such a piece of lumber. Suspended on its beams is the greatest claim in history. A crucified carpenter claiming to be God on Earth. Divine, Eternal, The Death Slayer. Never has timber been regarded so sacred. No wonder the Apostle Paul called the cross event the core of the gospel. It's bottom line sobering: if the account is true, it is history's hinge-period! If not, the cross is history's hoax."
What is it for you, hinge or hoax?