Family News and Notes
Johnny Ramsey will be preaching this morning. David will be preaching this evening.
The Summer Youth Series met at Mount Vernon last Monday evening (July 10) and 162 attended. Great attendance! See the note following regarding this week's meeting at Fulbright.
SYBSNET (Summer Youth Series) will meet Monday evening (July 17) at Fulbright, with Marvin Weir as speaker. His topic is "In Thy Conduct His Likeness Shall See." We will leave from the church parking lot at 6:20 PM. See you then.
There are copies of the Minutes from the Men's Business Meeting and Financial Statement for the month ending June 30, 2006 on the table in the foyer. If you are interested please feel free to take a copy.
Many of the teens and the McCains will be leaving early next Sunday morning (July 23rd) to drive to Handley for Bible Classes and morning worship before going on to Cisco for the start of Camp with Michael Light as Director. Be sure to keep the campers in your prayers.
Johnny Ramsey will preach both times next Sunday in David's absence.
Courtney Marshall responded to the invitation on Wednesday evening. She requested the prayers of the congregation to help her to be a better example to her children and to others. She wants to be a better Christian. Please keep Courtney in your prayers.
Edith Shiflet is in Room 424 at Titus Regional Medical Center with respiratory problems. She is doing some better but still needs our prayers.
Bud Roach is home recovering from his recent surgery to his knee as a result of his falling last week and damaging the surgery that had been performed earlier. He is making good progress. He will be in a lengthy recovery and rehab. Keep him in your prayers.
THANK YOU " Christians meeting at North Jefferson: We are truly blessed to have you as Christian friends. We appreciate your kindness shown to us during the loss of our loved one. The beautiful flowers, food, cards, and telephone calls have meant so much to us. Our mother and grandmother loved everyone at North Jefferson. All your visit and cards encouraged her.
In Christian love,
Frankie, Carolyn, Karen,
Suzanne & Wayne,
Sid & Christy"
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PRAYER LIST
Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Jean Bell, Winell Blackard, Annah Brown,
Nancy Chastain, Perry Cooper, Hollis Lee, Joyce Lee, Georgia Lide, Wayne Pickrel, Marie Plemmons, Johnny Ramsey, Bud Roach, Helen Roper, Alva Mae Sheets,
Edith Shiflet, Ola Mae Simpson, Julia Terrell, Rebecca Tippitt
ALSO: Deborah Biesemeyer, Melba Boyd, Cristell Cato, Austin Cody,
Juanita DuBose, Wesley DuBose, Edna Graves, Ruby Jeffery, Wayne Lineberger, Wanda Abbey Rivera
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Who Is The Heart Of The ChURch? U R!
Great congregations of the Lord's people are not the result of spiritual accidents. For the Lord's church to thrive and prosper it takes a grass roots effort of faithful service among the members in the pews. Careful study, diligent planning, and faithful application of Scriptural principles, not to mention, of course, the blessings and increase of God (I Cor. 3:6), are essential to progress. Sustained spiritual and numerical growth can only occur when there is a concentrated and faithful effort on the part of both leaders and members, to do good unto all men (Gal 6:10), to preach the Gospel to every creature (Mk. 16:15), and to daily edify and exhort the saved to remain faithful (Eph. 4:11-16, Heb. 3:12-13).
Sadly, dedicated Christians who are 100% committed to the Lord and His church, are a rare breed (see Mt. 7:13-14, if you want the Lord's word for it). Likewise, truly spiritual congregations, which experience regular, sustained, God-approved, spiritual growth are also a rare breed. A church may attract thousands by preaching and practicing a watered down, pop-psychology, "if it feels good do it" approach to religion, but that doesn't mean they have experienced real spiritual growth. Indeed, many churches are attracting large numbers by the "country club" approach to religion. The people come from far and wide for the basketball and softball games, the aerobics and art classes, the free meals and Friday night movies, the financial seminars and the "42" parties; for the senior citizen's "fall foliage tours," and for the trips to "Six Flags" for the youth. Though there may be nothing inherently wrong with any of these things, we are forced to ask ourselves, is this the way God intended for us to grow His church? Does secular entertainment or spiritual service motivate our growth?
Real church growth must be God-approved church growth. We must always remember that numbers are not the true measure of a church that meets with divine approval. However, at the same time, we must not sit complacently by and justify our lack of numerical growth by blaming it on our stand for doctrinal purity. There are many things we can do to help the Lord's church to grow numerically, at the same time that it grows spiritually in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. Such things as: dedicated, visionary leadership; enthusiastic worship; Biblically-sound preaching and teaching; a friendly loving atmosphere at all services; brotherly love promoted by constant fellowship together; benevolent outreach to the needy; and the concerned involvement of every member in evangelism, benevolence, and edification, are all factors which God's Word authorizes and demands, and which must be present for the Lord's church to grow and prosper.
The Apostle Paul said, if we will plant and water the seed of the kingdom, it will produce fruit for God, in the hearts of men, and God will grant the increase (I Cor. 3:6). The trouble is, most churches have far too many half-hearted, lazy, uncommitted "Christians," who will not even faithfully attend the services, much less plant, water, or harvest in the vineyard of the Lord. The truth is, brethren, the local church will never grow spiritually or numerically, until the people in the pews become convinced of their personal responsibility to help the church to grow. The local church will never reach its full potential, until YOU and I reach our full spiritual potential.
Look at the word "church" one more time. We all know the word refers to the body of Christ, the family of God. What is the heart of the word? Isn't it interesting that the heart of the word, the two center letters are: "U" "R." Who is the solution to every problem in the church? U R! Who is responsible for faithful attendance? U R! Who is to give generously to fund the Lord's work? U R.! Who is to work hard to help the church go forward? U R! David McCain
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Many Are Disappointed in Jesus
Johnny Ramsey
There are many today who are disappointed in Jesus. Thousands still stand at the foot of the cross and demand that the Lord do this or that before they will believe Him (Matt. 27-39-43). It must break the Lord's heart to hear the foolish arguments of carnal minds that reject the Savior and demand provision for secular benefits and casual delights. Nothing is so shallow as the cheap grace and carnival atmosphere of congregations that would make Christianity an excursion into politics, gimmicks and social grace, rather than evangelism, spiritual growth and emphasis on the divine realm. The simple message of the cross is still offensive to many (Gal. 5:11), but it is the wisdom and the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18). Let us notice why Christ is still rejected today.
First, the very simplicity of the gospel system is a problem to those with pseudo-intellectualism. Satan has always used this trick to turn men away from God: But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in the craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ" (2 Cor. 11:3). Those who think more highly of themselves than they ought to stumble at the plain, simple and straightforward nature of God's truth. Such folk prefer complicated error to the "simplicity that is in Christ." How sad!
We read in John 6 of multitudes of former friends of Jesus who turned aside to follow Him no more. They were disappointed in Him because of the uncompromising nature of His teaching. At the very foot of the cross several expressed great displeasure concerning the nature of His death. Even at Calvary our Lord was an embarrassment to them. Our Redeemer once confessed (Matt. 8:20) that even foxes of the field and birds in a nest had more earthly comfort than did He! The Savior did not call the noble, the wealthy or the famous to be His apostles. To the lowly, un-lettered Galilean fishermen the basic leadership of the heavenly movement was entrusted. Not one single credential of greatness as men of the world evaluate greatness did our blessed Lord present to document His claims of eternal power. Is it any wonder, then, that Paul would later write, "For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God chose the foolish tings of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise that no flesh should glory before God." (1 Cor. 1:26-29).
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