Family News and Notes
Today is the first day of the new month and is your opportunity, if you have planned to do so, to contribute to the Building Fund.
EVERYONE tonight we honor our graduating teenagers. We will assemble in the Multi-Purpose Room following services this evening for this event. Everyone is encouraged to attend.
If you wish to purchase one of the DVD's covering the Gospel Meeting with Johnny Ramsey, please sign the book on the table in the foyer. Give your money to Wade or one of the elders. The cost should be between $12.95 and $15.00 depending on whether we get 30 purchases or not.
Veleta is asking for monetary contributions to assist with honoring our graduates and also for upcoming VBS. You can give your contribution to either Ann Pickrel or one of the elders.
Johnny Ramsey has been admitted to CCU at ETMC in Tyler. He is in Room 4483A and his direct phone number is: 903-597-0351. He has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, some kidney shut down, and he has been in lots of pain with his feet and knees due to infection from diabetes. .
Marie Plemmons is in Room 421 at Titus Regional Medical Center.
Jay Hedges has been experiencing unexplained abdominal pain and is in the hospital at Wichita Falls. Rhonda has been there with him this past week and Bob is scheduled to go and relieve her.
Veleta McFerrin had cataract surgery on Wednesday.
Bonnye Horton has been ill at home this past week.
Deborah Biesemeyer was able to come to the Wednesday evening service, along with her mother. She had a note for the congregation.
"Just a thank you note to everyone at the North Jefferson Church of Christ for all their prayers, gifts and cards. Meghan and I will be just fine because I'm not afraid of dying and I know she is being left by me with lots of people that I know loves her. I'm going on Hospice tomorrow (May 4th) so I can live the rest of my time in a quality of life situation instead of pain. Thanks once again.
In Christian Love,
Deborah Biesemeyer"
Deborah was very weak but insisted on coming to be with her sisters and brothers in Christ. Please continue your prayers on behalf of Deborah and Meghan.
Jean Shanklin (sister of Bud Roach) has breast cancer and is seeing her doctor for treatment possibilities. Also, her daughter and son-in-law have bad health problems. Please remember each of these in your prayers.
On May 2nd Hollis & Joyce Lee relocated to Mount Pleasant Assisted Living, 2013 North Edwards, Building 2, Room 1. This is a temporary location in that they have been told that soon they will have a larger room available for them. Their phone number will remain the same (903-572-6947).
Alice Lovelady has gone to Dallas this week to see her eye doctor. She is having several health problems at this time and needs our prayers.
Winell Blackard is staying with her daughter:
Bobby & Dianne Johnson
494 CR 3150
Cookville, TX 75558
903-575-0672
Margaret Giddens was scheduled for shoulder surgery Thursday but had to be postponed due to a suspected Brown Recluse Spider bite that was infected and that has to be cleared up first.
Following letter from Thelma Reed:
"To my Brothers and Sisters in Christ, North Jefferson Church of Christ:
As we are told by Paul, when we have the faith and hope as Christians, we can and will be content in whatever state we find ourselves.
It is not by choice that I am separated from my beloved church family and many friends in Mount Pleasant. My love for you will always be there.
I am very blessed having my precious son Jamie and Gabby who insist on seeing to my needs. May God bless you 'til we meet again.
With my love,
Thelma Reed"
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PRAYER LIST:
Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Jean Bell, Deborah Biesmeyer, Winell Blackard, Annah Brown, Billye Campbell, Nancy Chastain, Perry Cooper, Patsy Duncan,
Vernon Garrett, Hollis Lee, Joyce Lee, Georgia Lide, Courtney Marshall,
Wayne Pickrel, Marie Plemmons, Helen Roper, Dorothy Sargent, Alva Mae Sheets, Edith Shiflet, Ola Mae Simpson, Julia Terrell, Rebecca Tippitt,
ALSO: Wanda Abbey Rivera, Melba Boyd, Cristell Cato, Austin Cody,
Juanita DuBose, Wesley DuBose, Margaret Giddens, Horace George, Pat Hughes, Betty Newman, Thelma Reed, Ruby Jeffery, Wayne Lineberger, Lonita Thompson
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Friendship Evangelism
Recent studies of church growth uncovered a very important principle of church growth. Though there are many different methods we can use to reach people with the Gospel of Christ, the vast majority of our new converts had their initial introduction to the Gospel and the Lord's church at the invitation of a concerned friend. The research in this field shows that about 70% of our new converts have come to know Jesus and His church as a result of what some call "friendship evangelism."
I once heard a definition for evangelism that has stuck with me for years because of its profound simplicity -"evangelism is God's love for those who are lost." Isn't that a beautiful description of the heart and soul of what evangelism is all about? When we share the Gospel, we are practicing the most basic principle of sharing God's love with the lost. What more beautiful or effective way is there to share God's love for the lost, than by inviting a friend to come meet Jesus? What better way is there to show your love for your friends, than by telling them about Jesus, and bringing them to meet Him?
This is Biblical! Do you remember what Andrew did when he first met the Lord? The Bible says the first thing he did was to go find his brother Peter to tell him he had found the Messiah, and then Andrew brought Peter to meet Jesus (Jn. 1:40-42). What else do you know about Andrew? Search from Matthew to Revelation and you'll not find much else said about him. Maybe the most important thing Andrew ever did for the cause of Christ was to bring Peter to meet Jesus. But, oh how the world is richer for Andrew's simple act of friendship evangelism!
Think how the story of Peter's ups and downs with the Lord, inspires us with hope. If the Lord could patiently put up with Peter, maybe there's hope for me! Think how the Lord changed Peter from a diamond in the rough to a dynamic defender of the faith. Think how those dramatic narratives in Acts encourage and empower us to stand up and be counted for the Lord, just like Peter, who said in defense of the Gospel, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19-20). Finally, think how the tender epistles of Peter challenge us to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Pet. 3:18). But, none of this would be available to us for our edification and encouragement, had Andrew not bothered to practice friendship evangelism. Thank you, Andrew!
How many people like Peter are out there, just waiting for a friend like you to bring them to Jesus? As the old song says, maybe "you can't sing like angels, or preach like Paul, but you can tell the love of Jesus, you can say He died for all!" Be a true friend! Practice friendship evangelism! Bring your friends to meet Jesus!
To give us a special opportunity to begin practicing friendship evangelism, our elders are designating Sunday, June 4th, as "Friends & Family Day" here at North Jefferson. To help promote our VBS, which will begin the next morning, and to give us all a special motivation for telling our friends and family about Jesus and His church, we are going to try to double our attendance on "Friends & Family Day." "Each one bring one" will be the order of the day, and you now have exactly four weeks to get ready and line up your guest to be with you on "Friends & Family Day." If all of us, from the oldest adult member to the youngest child will bring one guest that Sunday morning we will double our attendance and it will be a great and exciting day in the history of this congregation. We'll have a potluck luncheon and some other special activities that day, which we'll say more about in weeks to come. However for now, the question is, "who will be your guest/s on Friends & Family Day?" Let's begin now to pray and work for a great harvest of souls as a result of this effort! David McCain
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The Book of Books (Part 5)
By: Johnny Ramsey
HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE BETTER
Take All that the Scriptures Teach on Any Subject.
For instance, we read in Mark 14:47 that one of the apostles of Christ took a sword and cut off the ear of the high priest's servant. When we study the other accounts of the life of our Lord we find the whole story. It was Peter who had the sword; Malchus was the man who lost his right ear; Jesus healed him. Using the same consistent method of study we know that the Savior has based salvation on believing in Him, repenting of our sins and being baptized (March 16:16; Luke 24:47; Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38).
Let the Bible Explain Itself
A difficult prophecy in Joel, chapter two, finds its fulfillment in Acts, chapter two. On the Day of Pentecost Peter said: "This is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel" (Acts 2:16). In Revelation, chapter one, we are told expressly what the seven golden candlesticks were. There is no need for speculation. The Bible is indeed its own best commentary.
Realize Matters of Emphasis
In I Corinthians 1:17 we have an example of this point. Paul told the Corinthians:
"For Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the gospel."
Some have concluded from this passage that baptism is unimportant and not essential. But Paul mentions in the same context that he had baptized several. In fact, in Acts 18:8 we read that under Paul's preaching many of the Corinthians "hearing, believed and were baptized." The passage in I Corinthians simply affirms what every gospel preacher knows: his main task is proclaiming the message of salvation. In I Peter 3:3-4 we have another example of emphasis in a passage of scripture. Christian women are not to stress the outward adorning in the putting on of apparel but they should strive to acquire the inward clothing of a meek and quiet spirit. This does not mean that children of God should wear no clothes, of course! The emphasis is on a godly spirit; this will produce modesty externally as well!
Recognize the Figures of Speech
Not every verse in the Bible is written in literal language. Much of the prophetical section is highly symbolical. The book of Revelation has many signs and symbols (revelation 1:1). When Jesus said that Herod was an old fox (Luke 13:32) He simply meant that Herod was clever and crafty. When our Lord told His disciples that false teachers would come as wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15) we understand that evil men would try to disguise their wickedness. Christ said that He was "the door," "the vine," "the light," and so forth. These figures of speech simply denoted various aspects of His power and relationship with men.
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