Grant County church of Christ

June 10, 2007

THE PROMISE

"Knowing this first: that there will come in the last days, scoffers walking after their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (2 Peter 3:3-4).

Has God forgotten the promise to send Jesus back to the earth to take the saved ones home with Him? It has been over 2,000 years and the world is still here. The saved are persecuted and the wicked seem to prosper. Morals spiral out of control and virtue seems to be lost. Marriages are ending at a rate of about 50% and an ever-increasing number of children are growing up in chaotic, confused, blended families. Society is reaping the adverse consequences of a so-called "sexual revolution" that is now over 40 years old. The world's people seem to be depressed and hopeless.

But yet, there is still hope. God is still in control. "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwell" (2 Peter 3:8-13).

God has not forgotten His promise. He is just being patient, allowing as many to come to repentance as possible before the coming of Christ and the destruction of the world. The second- coming will be as sudden and unexpected, as a thief in the night. The wise believer will always be watching and ready, eagerly anticipating the return of the Lord.

Jerry Carmichael

WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?

Christian- "A member of the Churches of Christ who separated from the Disciples of Christ in 1906, in search of united, New Testament Christianity" (Webster's Dict. #7).

Christian- "A follower of the Lord, Jesus Christ" (Davis Dict.. of the Bible).

The word Christian appears three times in the Bible: (Acts 11:26; Acts26:28; 1Peter 4:16)

What does it mean to be a Christian?

C HRIST-LIKE IS HIS CHARACTER: (Ephesians 4:12-15; Galatians 2:20)

H EAVEN IS HIS HOME (Philippians.3:20-21)

R IGHTEOUSNESS IS HIS LIFESTYLE (Proverbs 11:3-11)

I NFLUENCE IS HIS TOOL TO LEAD OTHERS TO CHRIST (Matthew 5:16)

S ALVATION IS HIS REWARD (Romans 5:6-11; 1Peter.3:20-21)

T IME IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE (Ephesians 5:15-16)

I NWARD IS WHERE HE LOOKS FIRST (Matthew .7:1-5)

A LL THE WORLD IS WHERE HE WORKS (Mark.16:15-16)

N OTHING CAN SEPARATE HIM INVOLUNTARILY FROM HIS GOD

(Romans.8:31-39)

HOW ABOUT YOU?  ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING

Two frogs fell into a can of cream -- or so I've heard it told

The sides of the can were shiny and steep; the cream was deep and cold,

"Oh, what's the use?" said No. 1, "tis fate -- no help's around --

Good-bye, my friend! Good-bye, sad world!" And sitting still, he drowned.

But No. 2 of sterner stuff, dog paddled in surprise,

The while he wiped his creamy face and dried his creamy eyes.

"I'll swim awhile, at least," he said -- or so it has been said –

"It wouldn't really help the world if one more frog was dead."

An hour or two he kicked and swam -- not once he stopped to mutter,

But kicked and swam, and swam and kicked, then hopped out, on the butter.

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GO THE SECOND MILE

Matthew 5:41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

The next time someone forces you to do something; do you plan on giving him a double measure? Not wanting to feel like we are being controlled, our first reaction is to resist. Jesus’ teaching, of going the second mile, flies in the face of how we want to react. However, this is where we see God’s wisdom. Instead of being controlled, we take control. We go the first mile because we are obligated: the second mile is our choice. Knowing there will be times we will have to do what we don’t want to do. Jesus gives us the solution: take control. To avoid becoming bitter, when forced to do something, do more. Go the second mile.  

(John P. DiMarzio, Southwinds E-Mail Encourager)

VISITORS

We would like to thank all of our visitors who are with us today, you are our honored guests.   Please complete one of the visitor cards in the back of the pew and place it in the contribution basket at the appropriate time. Also, we invite you to join us today for fellowship and a meal immediately following Bible study.

SPECIAL THANKS

Thanks so much to the group of sixty members from the Mt. Juliet, TN church who are here to conduct the Door Knocking campaign that began yesterday.  Also, thanks to David Shannon from that church who will lead our gospel meeting that starts today and continues through Wednesday, June 13.

PRAYER LIST – Please continue to pray for following

Ì     Earl Abshire’s nephew Bobby Parker fell from scaffolding this week and was seriously injured.

Ì     Chris Connelly’s grandfather passed away this week and his funeral was yesterday.

Ì     Sandy Mills continues to struggle with migraine headaches.

Ì     Joyce Fehrman is slowly recovering at home, from her fall on April 22 which resulted in a brain injury.

EVENTS FOR THIS WEEK

June 9-13, 2007- Door-Knocking Campaign and Gospel Meeting –

Sunday June 10

12:00pm-1:00p – Lunch immediately following Bible study

1:30pm-5:00pm- Door Knocking

7:30pm- Meal following the evening service

Monday June 11-Wed.nesday June 13-

9:00am- Meet at the church building for a devotional

9:30am – Leave the church building on buses to begin door knocking

Lunch – Buses will arrive at the church building in staggered shifts

5:30PM – Finish for the day