Family News and Notes
Men, remember that the Business Meeting is scheduled following the evening services today. Your attendance is important.. Please try to attend.
Ladies remember on December 16 the Ladies Bible Class will be filling Holiday Bags for our shut-ins. We will be needing baked goods, candy, crackers, nuts, any non-perishable goods and small toiletries. If you wish to donate money, give it to Billy Campbell, Veleta McFerrin or Amy Jones. Thanks.
Mark your calendar Junior High and High School Youth a gathering for the Youth will follow the evening services on Sunday December 21. The guys are to bring drinks and the girls to bring chips and/or cookies. We'll have food and games Mt. Vernon, Talco and Oak Grove will be involved as well.
The mid week services for December 24 have been changed. Please mark your calendar that we will meet on Tuesday evening December 23 that week.
We will still meet on Wednesday evening December 31 but everyone is invited to stay after services for finger-food, snacks, fellowship, etc. and we will sing in the new year. If you need more info please contact Veleta.
You are reminded that this Wednesday evening all classes will meet in the auditorium for a presentation regarding the Irish Mission Work. (See David's article for additional information.)
You may wish to mark in your Church Directory a change of mailing address for Grady and Patsy Duncan and Danielle and Michelle Duncan to:
3683 FM 1402
Mount Pleasant, Texas 75455
Sandra Cooper fell at her home last Monday nite and received serious head injuries. Darrell took her to Titus Regional Medical Center for emergency treatment and she was diagnosed with bleeding on the brain. She was taken by jet to Houston for further treatment. As of the printing of this
bulletin the doctors have stopped the hemorrhaging but she may require additional white platelets. She is improving. Darrell, who was sick at the time is making a slow recovery as well, but both seem to be doing as well as can be expected at this time. Please remember Sandra and Darrell in your prayers.
During this holiday season we need to make note of all those among us that are ill and not able to be out and about. We have had many sick and they still need our prayers, cards, and visits (when they are able to receive visitors).
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PRAYER LIST:
Justin Barker, Louis Bell, Ann Carter, Billy Carter, Darrell Cooper, Sandra Cooper, Bonnie Horton, Howard Horton, Corine Hudson, Phyllis Moon, Elna O'Neal, Winnie Patton, Dorothy Sargent, Alva Mae Sheets, Janelle Stephenson,
ALSO: Judy Betts, R. C. Grissom, Elizabeth McGill, Kelsey Meyers, Shawn Phillips, Chelsea Simpson
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Service Arrangements
ANNOUNCEMENTS.........Gene Campbell
SONG LEADER AM...........David McCain
PM.................Lee Moses
PRAYERS Sunday
AM First Prayer...Bob Hedges
AM Closing...Wade Miller
PM First Prayer...Jim Duncan
PM ClosingWilliam Embree
PRAYERS Wednesday Nite
First Prayer...........................George O'Neal
Closing....................................Ralph Phillips
COMMUNION FOR NOVEMBER
AM Wayne Pickrel.................Jim Duncan
Lewis Robertson.................Roger Grimes
William Embree...........................Tim Davis
PM Frankie Sargent........Gene Campbell
ATTENDANCE COUNT.....Grady Duncan
TRANSPORTATION.....Call Frankie Sargent
903-572-2647
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Use Your Gifts For God's Glory!
by David McCain
The church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23, Col. 1:18), with Christ as its Head (Eph. 5:23). The local church is made up of many different Christians (I Cor. 12:12-14), who have many different talents or abilities (Rms. 12:4-6), which are to be used to promote the growth and edification of the body of Christ, in love (Eph. 4:12-16). The day of miraculous gifts has long past (I Cor. 13:8), but many non-miraculous gifts remain, which are to be used in the Master's service, and for the cause of increasing His body, the church, both in size and in spirituality (Eph. 4:16, II Pet. 3:18).
God's Word says, "We, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality" (Rms. 12:4-13). Surely, all of us can find our gift/s in the boldfaced type above.
Brother or sister, according to God's Word, you must have at least one gift, talent, or ability, to offer the body of Christ. The truth is, most folks have a multiplicity of gifts, which could be used to help build up the church, if they would only put them to work for the Master. But, even if you are only a "one talent" man or woman, don't bury that talent (Mt. 25:18). If you have buried it, dig it up immediately, and start using it for the cause of Christ and the good of His church. And, don't you dare say you have nothing to offer, or that the church doesn't need your talents. Please read I Corinthians 12:12 - 13:13. Everyone has something to offer the Lord and His church. At the very least and most, everyone can practice the most excellent gift of all: LOVE!!!
Are you afraid to use your gift? Are you fearful someone might laugh at your attempt to use your abilities in God's service? Are you afraid your talents are not up to the job? The Bible says, "perfect love casts out fear" (I Jn. 4:18). What if Jesus had been so afraid of Calvary's cruel cross, that He had decided just to forget it and go back home to the Father? Where would we be? It's terrifying to contemplate the answer, isn't it?
The simple truth is, He let His perfect love for humanity cast out His fear of the cross, and so He prayed, "Father, not my will, but thy will be done." When we, like Jesus, start practicing the will of the Father before our own, and when we let the perfect love of Christ be our example and our primary motivation, then we will truly be ready to offer the Lord something of value for the building up of the body of Christ. Until then, we are just spinning our wheels, and playing at being a Christian, and sadly, we may well be "rutting up" and destroying the precious church for which Jesus gave His life's blood.
This & That
Honored guests will be visiting us this Wed. evening, Dec. 17th. Colin & Lisa Graham, their 3 children Samantha, Jordan & McKenzie, and Colin's mother Martha, who are all missionaries in Bangor, Northern Ireland, will be with us for a combined class in the auditorium, where Colin will report about the work which is being accomplished on the Emerald Isle of Ireland. Faithful missionaries are modern-day heroes of the faith and deserving of our best support and consideration. I know you'll welcome them warmly and shower them with your love.
Remember the Adult Holiday Dinner Party, at the McCain's, this Fri. PM, Dec. 19th. Appetizers will be served at 6:00, and dinner at 6:30. Dress is festive casual. We will provide the appetizers, main course, drinks, & desserts, and you are asked to bring the side dishes (salads, veggies, & desserts). Also, bring a wrapped gift for the crazy gift swap. Be sure to sign up in the lobby by Wed. night if you are coming.
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Gadarenes or Gennesaret?
by Lee Moses
There are different ways people react when confronted with the truth of God's Deity. Some react with hostility, refusing to believe in One superior to them having authority to restrict their lifestyle in any way. Some react with uncertainty, unable to decipher for themselves what the evidence indicates. Some blindly accept whatever notion of God has been handed down to them, with no demand for proof. Some honestly seek to know the truth regarding God and His nature, and when they learn it, they "buy the truth and sell it not" (Proverbs 23:23).
As one looks back to the earthly ministry of Christ, there were two vicinities in particular which were confronted with the truth of the Divine power of Christ, with each responding differently.
The Gadarenes
Upon an occasion, Jesus entered into "the country of the Gadarenes," where he then cast demons out of two men (Luke 8:26-33; Matthew 8:28-32). Jesus had before manifest His Divine power through the casting out of demons, but this occasion was particularly awe-inspiring. Jesus commanded the demons to leave the men and to enter into a large herd of swine. When the demons did as commanded, "the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters." One can scarcely imagine seeing a massive herd of swine suddenly breaking into a thunderous run and stampeding to its doom. Those who kept and fed the swine did not angrily charge Jesus and demand restitution be given, but rather they "fled," and breathlessly told throughout the city what had happened. Upon hearing of this news, "the whole city came out to meet Jesus," and confirmed with their own eyes what their ears had heard. They saw a man healed who they knew had been violently possessed by demons for some time.
However, the Gadarenes' reaction was not one of joy that the Son of God had entered into their midst. "Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again" (Luke 8:37). The only One who could heal all their physical and spiritual infirmities had come among them, shown them Who He was, and they only wanted to be rid of Him.
Gennesaret
Matthew speaks of another location into which Jesus came, known as Gennesaret:
And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole (14:35-36).
These people had likely heard about the woman who had been healed from her 12-year issue of blood by touching the hem of Jesus' garment (Matt. 9:20-22). Jesus had told her, "Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole." The people of Gennesaret were also made well by their faith. They realized the opportunity that had been presented before them and took advantage of it.
Which Group Describes You?
The vast majority of the world's population is composed of Gadarenes. For whatever the reason may be, they do not want to be confronted with the truth. This is why the road to salvation is narrow while the road to destruction is broad (Matt. 7:13-14). But like those blessed people of Gennesaret, those today who will believe and come to Christ will be cleansed and healed of their infirmity
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