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June 20, 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.
FATHER'S DAY
Yesterday the ladies of the Church treated the men to a wonderful brunch. Our ladies do a wonderful job of helping our men in every aspect of the Lord's work, and to be honored by the ladies in this way is a very special treat. Our special thanks to everyone who helped make it special.
The real message of father's day is not to recognize men who produce babies, because most males can do that. The word "father" really has very little to do with procreation. In the original languages of the Bible there are two different words that can be translated "father." One means ancestor, and that can refer to a man who biologically contributes to the physical production of a baby. The other usage refers to a source. A real father is the source of all good things that come to a child. That does not just mean food and clothing. It also refers to training and spiritual guidance.
Most of the references to God the father in the Bible have to do with him being the source of everything good that comes into our lives. Without God we would not have the food and drink that allow us to live physically. We also would not have the guidance and direction that allow us to live spiritually and psychologically. The problem with our world today is that many men satisfy their own selfish desires and give no thought to the spiritual needs of their children. We honor you men who do. Happy Father's Day.
TODAY'S
LESSON
WHAT ARE YOU?
WHAT ARE YOU?
Matthew 10:28--"Do not fear those who can kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell."
Pink Floyd--"All you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be."
INTRODUCTION--
Physicalism--the belief of all
atheists
DUALISM-- Difference between life forms is
neurons
Drugs and experiences
Drugs and experiences
The belief that there is more to
man than the physical.
Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:7
Matthew 10:28 (above)
Phillipians 1:22-23
THE CONSEQUENCES OF BELIEF ARE
HUGE. Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:7
Matthew 10:28 (above)
Phillipians 1:22-23
PHYSICALISM--be concerned only
about the physical.
THE BIBLE: Matthew 5-7; John 13:4-15--Washing feet
HOW DO WE ANSWER THE SOUL QUESTION?Nietzsche--"There is
no reason why the stronger and smarter should continue to be be
constrained by a 'value' that is obviously not in their interest."
Peter Singer--Eradication of those who are expensive to society.
The value of human life--$2.35 Peter Singer--Eradication of those who are expensive to society.
THE BIBLE: Matthew 5-7; John 13:4-15--Washing feet
Carl Sandberg--I don't know about
Christianity, I have never seen it
tried.
REALITY--Genesis 6:5Heather--a student in one of
John's high school classes
Evidence--art, music, worship,
guilt, sympathy
Koko shows I.Q.--does not do it.
Environment does not do it--Kellogue experiments.
If chimps are 99.4% human, why do they not do 99.4% of these.
YOU NEED TO CARE FOR YOUR SOUL.Koko shows I.Q.--does not do it.
Environment does not do it--Kellogue experiments.
If chimps are 99.4% human, why do they not do 99.4% of these.
Acts 2:40--"Save YOURSELVES from
this corrupt . . . ."
Philippians 2:12--"Work out your OWN salvation . . . ."
You are not just a naked ape.
You need God in your life to care for your eternal nature.
Philippians 2:12--"Work out your OWN salvation . . . ."
You are not just a naked ape.
You need God in your life to care for your eternal nature.
REPORT
Most of you know that this past
week Cynthia and I were in Los Angeles for a debate and apologetics
conference. The conference was sponsored by the Apologetics Research
Society in San Diego, a Church of Christ sponsored group of people
working in apologetics. Their web site is evidenceforchristianity.org
if you want to learn more about them. We participated in classes taught
by Christians who have been involved in fighting atheism, naturalism,
and skepticism of the Bible. There were about 100 people who attended
the conference, and I taught two classes.
On Friday night the conference joined with the Orange Valley Church of Christ in an evangelistic outreach to the community, and I presented my lesson on "Why I Left Atheism." We had about 500 people who came to that session.
On Saturday night we had a four way debate on evolution. One man was a young earth creationist associated with the Baptist Church, one was a evolutionary creationist, one was a progressive creationist, and then there was me--presenting the argument that it all is a designed work of God. The other three guys on the forum were PhDs in biology, so most of their energy was directed at each other on technical points of biology. My approach was that evolution has nothing to do with the existence of God, because all evolution does is talk about changes in things already created, and all the Bible does is talk about how man should live to conform to the purposes God had in creating man. The other guys generally agreed with me, but had technical aspects of the question they wanted to explore. I think the audience understood what I was trying to say and all of us tended to get lost in some of the technical aspects of the biological issues.
It was a busy and strenuous three days, but I learned a lot and was encouraged by the fact that there were several people in the conference that had been converted and/or motivated to do a ministry in apologetics by attending one of my seminars many years ago. It is always great to see people you have worked with go on and exceed what you have been able to do.
Today is "Father's Day" and I am sure every father reading this short message hopes that their children will go on and exceed anything that they as fathers were able to do. We as fathers want our children to be successful, but we especially want our children and families to know Jesus and to understand the importance of following the teachings that Jesus has left for us all to follow. Be a Christian and live by our heavenly father's plan. It will bless you and all of mankind if you do.
On Friday night the conference joined with the Orange Valley Church of Christ in an evangelistic outreach to the community, and I presented my lesson on "Why I Left Atheism." We had about 500 people who came to that session.
On Saturday night we had a four way debate on evolution. One man was a young earth creationist associated with the Baptist Church, one was a evolutionary creationist, one was a progressive creationist, and then there was me--presenting the argument that it all is a designed work of God. The other three guys on the forum were PhDs in biology, so most of their energy was directed at each other on technical points of biology. My approach was that evolution has nothing to do with the existence of God, because all evolution does is talk about changes in things already created, and all the Bible does is talk about how man should live to conform to the purposes God had in creating man. The other guys generally agreed with me, but had technical aspects of the question they wanted to explore. I think the audience understood what I was trying to say and all of us tended to get lost in some of the technical aspects of the biological issues.
It was a busy and strenuous three days, but I learned a lot and was encouraged by the fact that there were several people in the conference that had been converted and/or motivated to do a ministry in apologetics by attending one of my seminars many years ago. It is always great to see people you have worked with go on and exceed what you have been able to do.
Today is "Father's Day" and I am sure every father reading this short message hopes that their children will go on and exceed anything that they as fathers were able to do. We as fathers want our children to be successful, but we especially want our children and families to know Jesus and to understand the importance of following the teachings that Jesus has left for us all to follow. Be a Christian and live by our heavenly father's plan. It will bless you and all of mankind if you do.