FAMILY NEWS AND NOTES
The tradition continues … next Sunday you who are able and willing will have an opportunity to contribute to our BUILDING FUND. Your continued contributions have made it possible to see our building paid off … maybe fore the end of the year. We can hope.
Today’s Speakers … this morning, Jacob Rutledge; this evening, Dalton Graves; both from Mt. Vernon. David McCain continues to fight his pneumonia at home. He’s feeling slightly better after taking 1 round of a new medication and hopes the second round will cause him to continue to improve. Keep David and Janice and the boys in your prayers.
Bible Bowl study at 5:00 PM this evening before worship service. Everyone is invited to attend and participate.
Gospel Journal subscriptions renewal time has arrived. If you wish to continue your subscription, or become a first-time subscriber, please see David McCain ASAP and give him your correct mailing address.
OUR GOSPEL MEETING BEGINS March 30th and runs thru April 02. That’s not very far away, you know!... We hope to have good crowds each evening. Won’t you be there?!
Wayne Pickrel’s bro-in-law (Larry Clifton of Wichita Falls) is still not improved any. Please continue to remember this family in your prayers.
Darrell Cooper has been sick at home but may be slightly better by now.
Keep the Cooper family in your prayers.
LaShedra Traylor got out of the hospital about a week ago but will have to go back in later this month. She had a CATSCAN last week. She has been sick several weeks, so keep her in your prayers.
Latest on Lurline Johnson (at the printing of this bulletin) is that there is little change since the doctors removed some of her medication last week. Please pray for Lurline and her family.
Many thanks to the young people and their parents, and others, for the luncheon for the Singles, Widows, and Widowers last week. The food was great and the entertainers outstanding.
THANK YOU … “Dear Christian Friends, Thank you so much for all the prayers, cards, visits, and the plant sent at the death of Jay. It meant so much to me.
In Christian Love
Bud Roach”
THANK YOU … Your kindness meant more to me than you’d ever guess. We appreciate your concern, calls, cards, good food and especially the prayers. Thanks for the Christian love shown to us! Patsy & Grady”
THANK YOU … “Thank you so much for the beautiful easel of flowers and for your support and prayers in our time of sorrow.
The Family of Edith Shiflet”
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PRAYER LIST:
Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Doris Bell, Louis & Nona Bell, Winell Blackard, Annah Brown, Billye Campbell, Josephine Cooper, Patsy Duncan, Lurline Johnson, Joyce Lee, Georgia Lide, Ben McCain, David McCain, Charles Neal, Rebecca Tippitt, LaShedra Traylor
ALSO: Larry Clifton, Wesley DuBose, Carlos Kidwell, Betty Newman, Whayln Payne, Don Shuette, Paul Unger
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NEEDS OF THE LOST
By Floyd Kaiser
[Guest Article from The Southwesterner—Southwest Church of Christ—Ada, OK]
Step outside the church and carefully watch and listen. What are people in the world seeking? What are they asking for? What do they think they need?
If one objectively analyzes these concerns of the un-churched, one will find that the lost are concerned about paying bills, raising families, keeping their health, losing weight and staving off depression. They are not all that occupied with God’s forgiveness, a Savior and the cross.
In the 50’s, Abraham Maslow developed what is known today as the hierarchy of needs. Basically, he observed that monkeys tend to take care of immediate and more necessary needs first. Therefore, they sought out water before food and food before companionship.
Applying this principle to man Maslow discovered that man would typically do the same. For instance, since the drive to breathe is about as strong as any human need,, if a person is being choked, he is not thinking about the next meal. Man will almost always deal with what he considers to be his most serious need first.
From his research, Maslow defined man’s hierarchy of needs as:
1. Physical needs—food, water, oxygen, etc.
2. Safety and security needs.
3. Love and acceptance.
4. Esteem needs—valuing oneself.
5. Self-actualization—”being all you can be.”
This hierarchy needs somewhat describes the problem the church faces in taking a spiritual message to a world whose perceived needs are physical. It is the same predicament Jesus faced in John 6 after He fed the five thousand. When He followed the miracle with a message about spiritual matters and eternal life, they did not want to listen. Since He did not give them more physical bread but offered them spiritual bread, even some of Jesus’ own disciples left him (see John 6:66).
It’s comforting to know that when the lost today are not interested in spiritual messages that it is no different than what Jesus faced. It’s not just us! However several messages come to mind as we deal with this problem.
While Jesus met some of the physical needs of the lost (see Matt. 4:24), HE DID NOT MEET THEM ALL AND THE ONES HE DID ANSWER WERE NOT FOREVER. After being raised from the dead, Lazarus would later die. There was a limit to how much Jesus was willing to do. He was not going to purchase their loyalty with mere bread.
JESUS KNEW THAT ALL OF THE MEN’S PHYSICAL NEEDS WOULD BECOME UNIMPORTANT IF THEY WOULD JUST ALOW THEMSELVES TO RECERIVE WHAT HE OFFERED. Remember when Jesus was tempted to turn stones into bread? Remember what He said, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:40? It is better to live in a cardboard box with Jesus than in a mansion without Him.
MAN’S GREATEST PROBLEM IN RECEIVING THE GOSPEL IS A MATTER OF TIMING. Right now while man has opportunity to be saved, it seems that most of his attention is drawn to needs having no bearing on his eternity. There will come a time however when he will realize how small his needs upon this earth were in comparison to eternity (see Phil. 2:9-12, Rev. 6:15-16). But, then, it will be too late.
Understanding the difference between the perceived needs of the un-churched and what Jesus offers, we must not give in to the pressure to met the lower needs of humanity at the expense of the unfailing hope of the gospel. The primary job of the church is not to clothe, house, feed or heal. THE PRIMARY JOB OF THE CHURCH IS TO PRACH. The fact is, if we could feed the world, the resulting dedication to Christ would wane as soon as the breadbox is empty. Preaching the Word was the first work of Jesus’ ministry. n It must continue to be ours.
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