April 4, 2010-Bulletin.html

April 4, 2010

TO 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 POTLUCK TODAY. We have a tradition here of enjoying a congregational potluck on the first Sunday of each month. Today is the first Sunday in April, but because of it being a holiday with many families having company and some of our families being out of town for spring vacation, we are not having our potluck today, but will have it next Sunday. Plan to be with us on the 11th. After the potluck we will have a planning meeting to talk about the work here in the coming months. There is a lot to talk about, and we need new ideas and some suggestions of work the congregation needs to be involved in. Bring your ideas and plan to stay and give input.

UPDATE. We continue to have a steady flow of folks needing help with groceries and other items from our food pantry. Our thanks to all who have worked on this, and who come when people need help and get items for them. This is a great work!

CLASSES. It is so important for us to grow in our knowledge of God's word. One of the best ways to do that is to attend the classes we have regularly here. The book of James is our Sunday morning class at 10:00, and the book of Romans is our subject on Sunday and Wednesday nights. After the night classes we meet for snacks and fellowship. Join us and grow!

TODAY'S LESSON

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT JESUS CHRIST?
Matthew 16:13-25

INTRODUCTION

Why did Jesus ask the question?
What do people make of Jesus?
What difference does it make?

Matthew 27:22--"Crucify him"
John 14:6--". . . no one goes to the father but by me."
John 8:23-24--"What he does with us"?

PETER'S RESPONSE--Verse 16

He was sure.
He was right.
The Lord commended him--verses 17-19.
What response do you make in your heart?

THE IMPLICATIONS--JESUS WAS NOT A MAN WHO BECAME A GOD BUT GOD WHO BECAME A MAN--JOHN 1:1, 14.

His eternal being--"in the beginning was the Logos."
His distinct personality--"the Word was with God."
His essential deity--"the Word was God"
He became flesh--verse 14.

JESUS' TRUE NATURE COMES BY DIVINE REVELATIO--Verse 17.

1 Corinthians 12:3
2 Corinthians 3:14-15--Satan provides a means of denial.
Matthew 11:25-27--Academics do not reach God.

CHRIST IS THE FOUNDATION, BUILDER, PRESERVER OF THE CHURCH--Verse 18.

The foundation is the fact of Christ, the Son of God.
Not Peter--petros--a stone, but petra a large rock.
Jesus builds, completes the Church.
Jesus preserves the Church--John 10:28-29.
The Church will survive.

WE MUST DECIDE WHAT WE THINK ABOUT JESUS.

1 Corinthians 2:2.
Matthew 16:24-27--It does matter!
Matthew 12:30
Luke 11:23
Watered down pluralistic Jesus is not an answer.

THE CHURCH AND THE 21 ST CENTURY

I just completed a lectureship in Dallas with the Webb Chapel Church of Christ. My presentations are on PowerPoint, and I have tried to keep up with some of the advancements in technology so that I can make the best possible use of all that is available to convey the message of Christ and the evidence of God's existence to modern Americans. I knew the Church members at Webb Chapel had done some real outreaches in South America, but I was amazed to discover that as I made my presentations in Dallas, a large number of people were watching and listening to me in South America as well. When we got to the question/answer session one guy kept running in with written questions on a yellow paper tablet, and after about the tenth one, I asked him who asked these questions and he said that they were coming from viewers in Venezuela who were watching and listening to my presentations over a computer feed that the Church there had developed in 23 countries around the world.

Here in Dowagiac we have begun to move in the direction of updating and improving our ministry of serving others. We have a Web site for the congregation that is maintained by Karl Marcussen. The bulletin is placed on the Web site every week that it is printed, and people can study the sermon outlines and keep up with the news of the congregation. We are also taping the sermons on cassette, and copies can be made for anyone who is sick or out of town and wants to listen to the sermons. Karl is working on getting the sermons on our Web site so they could be listened to on a person's computer.

The problem with all of this is that it is not worth Karl's time and energy if it is not used. We have several Web sites linked to our congregational Web site which are a part of the Does God Exist? ministry. We encourage you to take a look at the Web site and to talk to Karl if you need help in accessing it or in connecting to the links. The 21st century and its technology need to be used to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we can stay in touch even when we are ill with these wonderful tools.