WELCOME TO THE
GRANT COUNTY CHRUCH OF CHRIST
September 7,2008


CHECKUP FOR CHURCH MEMBERS

• How pure would the lives of others be, if they followed my example?
• How many morning services would we have if everyone would stay home when I do?
• How often would the evening service be canceled if no one would go except when I do?
• How often would the Bible school meet if others would attend only when I do?
• How much Christian instruction would the children of my community receive if other parents would pay only as much attention to it as I do?
• How many neighbors would be invited to services and welcomed if others would invite and welcome on as many people as I do?
• How many prayers would be offered for the preacher, our neighbors, and the church if others would pray only as much as I do.
• How many people would be told about Jesus, if others would speak about Him only as much as I do?
• What kind of congregation would we have here if every member were just like me?



Clay Balls
(author unknown)

A man was exploring caves by the Seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn’t look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could.
He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock . Inside was a beautiful, precious stone! Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left.
Then it struck him. He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!
It’s like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn’t look like much from the outside. It isn’t always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it. We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.
There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.
May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. May we see the people in our world as God sees them!
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels…” (2 Corinthians 4:7).


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CHANGING YOUR NAME

Names are important. Parents may spend months researching and deciding on the perfect name for their baby. Often their final decision is based on its sound, uniqueness, or meaning. Sometimes people change their name because they do not like their original name. They mistakenly believed that changing their names will change their lives. That’s not likely, but for those who trust in Jesus as their Savior and are identified by His name from that time on, a transformation does take place.
There is a powerful significance attached to the name of Jesus. The apostles performed miracles (Acts 3:6-7,16; 4:10) and cast out demons in His name (Luke 10:17). They spoke and taught in the name of Jesus. They baptized believers in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38). And it is only through the name of Jesus that we gain access to the Father (Acts 4:12).
When we become Christians, we share in that worthy name. And as we follow Christ, we are able to reflect His light to any darkness we encounter, whether in our neighborhood, our workplace, or even our home. Our prayer should be that when people see us—they will see Christ (Galatians 2:20).
Our names may have meaning or significance. But to bear the name Christian is life-transforming. —

The name of Jesus is the only name with the power to transform.