Family News and Notes
All the men are reminded of the Business Meeting following the evening services today. All of you are encouraged to attend.
New address for Lacy Farmer:
Lacy Farmer
Paces crossing
2411 I35E South
Apt. 1725
Denton, Texas 76201
940-382-3653
Please add the following telephone number to your directory for David and Janice McCain and for Jon and Ben.
903-577-1540
(Check last week's bulletin for their new mailing address.)
Dorothy Sargent was able to return to the nursing home, from the hospital, on Tuesday. She continues to improve.
Bill Jones has been suffering from a kidney infection this past week but is feeling much better.
Louis and Nona Bell returned home Thursday. He is doing better. We're glad they are back.
Janelle Stephenson returned home last Wednesday.
Sandra Cooper has returned to Houston to continue her treatment. However, she has developed pneumonia and cannot begin the treatment until she recovers.
Jim Parker had his surgery last Wednesday in Tyler. He is in Room 2237 at ETMC.
THE CLOCK OF TIME
The clock of time is wound but once,
And no man has the power
To say just when the hands will stop;
At late, or early hour.
Now is the only time we own
To do His precious will,
Do not wait until tomorrow;
For the clock may then be still.
Time To Count
Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your loses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.
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PRAYER LIST
Justin Barker, Louis Bell, Sandra Cooper, Howard Horton,
Autumn Miller, Dorothy Sargent, Janelle Stephenson,
ALSO: Judy Betts, R. C. Grissom, Elizabeth McGill,
Kelsey Meyers, Jim Parker, Shawn Phillips
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Service Arrangements
ANNOUNCEMENTS........Rhodney Freeman
SONG LEADER...............................Bill Jones
PRAYERS Sunday
AM First Prayer...........................Jim Duncan
AM Closing..........................Lewis Robertson
PM First Prayer...................Wayne Charlton
PM Closing...........................William Embree
PRAYERS Wednesday Nite
First Prayer.............................Frankie Sargent
Closing............................................ Bud Roach
COMMUNION FOR NOVEMBER
AM Wayne Pickrel......................Jim Duncan
Lewis Robertson............. Roger Grimes
William Embree......................Tim Davis
PM Frankie Sargent..............Gene Campbell
ATTENDANCE COUNTER...Grady Duncan
TRANSPORTATION....Call Frankie Sargent
903-572-2647
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The STRENGTH Of Unity
By David McCain
Proverbially, it is said, "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link." Thus, if you were to think of the Lord's church metaphorically as a "spiritual chain," and if the proverb is accurate, then the local church is only as strong as its weakest member/s.
Of course, anyone who has ever used a lightweight chain to pull a heavy load knows the proverb is true. Therefore, if you accept the metaphor of a "spiritual chain" as a valid picture of our relationship to one another as members of the body of Christ, then it becomes readily evident that every member of the local body should strive for perfection, so our chain will be as strong as is humanly possible. The "stronger links" should try to encourage, support, and strengthen the "weaker links" (Rms. 15:1; Gal. 6:1-2; I Thess. 5:14), so as to maintain the structural integrity of our local spiritual chain.
A strong, united chain of God's people can be used by the Lord to accomplish great things in His service. First, it can be used by Him to bind the hands of Satan, in order to restrict his destructive influence. Secondly, God can use the congregational chain to help lift the heavy burdens of life off the shoulders of sin-sick mankind, and then use that same chain to tow people out of the mire of sin and into the repair shop of His salvation. Finally, He can use the chain to help "secure the load" of His people, who are on the road to glory, as we watch for one another to make sure no one falls away or is left behind.
Brethren, the simple truth is the spiritual chain of the Lord's church at North Jefferson will be only as strong as we work together to make it. We must not rest upon past accomplishments, but must press on toward higher spiritual ground. Faithful service and faithful teaching TODAY are the only things that count.
Don't be the weak or missing link in God's spiritual chain! Rather determine that your "link" of the chain will be like case-hardened steel when it comes to shouldering your part of the load. Declare your intentions to uphold the integrity of the chain. To be the strongest link you can be, commit yourself to study the Bible more thoroughly, to pray to God more often and with more faith, to work harder in the Lord's service, and to teach His Word with more soul-saving love and boldness.
Above all else, may we endeavor to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3), as we do our best to teach, uphold, and defend the "truth in love" (Eph. 4:5). God will bless this congregation richly, if we will work to keep His spiritual chain strong. Catch hold now and do your part, that the circle of our spiritual chain might remain unbroken. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3 Requirements for Making a Christian
by Lee Moses
In His Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-8; Mark 4:3-8; Luke 8:5-8), Jesus gave an illustration portraying a man who sowed upon four different types of soil, but only yielded crop upon one soil. Upon clarifying this parable to His disciples (Matt. 13:18-23; Mark 4:14-20; Luke 8:11-15), Jesus explained that He was teaching that it would be a certain type of person who would, upon hearing the Gospel, obey it and remain a faithful Christian. Jesus named three necessary requirements for making a Christian:
1. A sower. This emphasizes the need for evangelism. Just as there is a need for a planter if there is to be a crop, there is a need for an evangelist if there is to be a Christian:
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14).
True, Jesus said that in the Parable of the Tares, "He that soweth the good seed is the Son of Man" (Matt. 13:37), referring to Himself. But how does He do this? He told His apostles, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). This obligation is passed to the current generation of Christians, for it was commanded, "And the things which thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (II Timothy 2:2).
If one is a Christian, he is to be a sower; and Jesus said of His parables' sower, he "went forth to sow" (Matt. 13:2, emph. LM). If there is to be a crop of Christians, there must be sowers actively seeking to plant seed.
2. Seed. This emphasizes the need for pure doctrine. Jesus said, "The seed is the word of God" (Luke 8:11). This word will never lose its effectiveness, for one who has obeyed the Gospel has been "born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever" (I Peter 1:23). While man's ingenuity has been able to devise new ways to make seed and plants stronger and more resistant, to tamper with God's word is folly. If one plants seed that is not exactly corn seed, it will not be exactly corn that is produced. If one preaches or teaches a message that is not exactly the word of God, it will not be exactly a Christian that is produced.
3. Good soil. This emphasizes the need for goodness and honesty in a hearer. Any other type of soil would not bring forth good fruit, but Jesus said, "He that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty" (Matt. 13:23). What is necessary to understanding the word? "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience" (Luke 8:15). Many have little or no desire to know the truth, and therefore they cannot be saved (cf. II Thessalonians 2:10).
Christians do not accidentally spring up in various places. There are requirements prerequisite to creating Christians. But God has given mankind the means necessary. It is up to Christians to be sowers, taking forth the pure seed of the word of God. And it is up to hearers to be good soil, honest and receptive to the truth. And it is up to each group to see that they come in contact with the other.
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