October is a busy month for us at Montrose. This past Sunday we had the opportunity to go to the Nursing Home. We take gift bags to all the patients on our October visit, which is our last time to conduct services for the year. We took approximately 125 gift bags and distributed them to each of the rooms. Then we have services, which consist of singing, prayer and a short lesson. The patients always enjoy this period together (especially the singing). Yesterday was also the Sunday for our menÕs business meeting. Gabrielle Armour made the decision to become a New Testament Christian yesterday, so we baptized her for the remission of her sins around 4:00 PM. I then had marriage counseling for a couple that plans to wed in November. Sunday evening services concluded the day. I was tired by the end of the day Sunday. I also thought about those missionaries who speak at several places every Sunday and do this on weekly basis. It makes you appreciate what they do to a greater extent when you have days like this past Sunday. It was enjoyable, but very tiring.
That was just the first Sunday of the month. This week we have a hayride, which is always an enjoyable time for the congregation and people in the community. Ted and Vicki Russell are the gracious hosts for this event each year. We will begin about dark and conclude when everyone decides to go home.
The following week we will begin our Fall Lectureship. This year, Ben Flatt will be speaking and his theme will be ÒWritten in Red.Ó The format that Ben follows is to present two lessons each night. He will speak for about 15-20 minutes, have a song and them speak for about 15-20 more minutes. I look forward to having Ben and Judy at Montrose for several days as we study GodÕs word together. Ben and Charles White were two men who recommended I contact Montrose about working with them over nine years ago. They gave me good advice. Hope you will plan to be at the Hayride this Saturday night and attend the Fall Lectureship every service.
WHAT KIND OF PREACHER WAS PHILIP?
There was one follower of the Christ named Philip who was an apostle (Luke 6:12,13). There was a different disciple by that same name that was not an apostle (Acts 8:1,4,5). The Holy Spirit describes him (the non-apostle) as ÒPhilip the evangelistÓ (Acts 21:8). While Philip the apostle is indirectly mentioned numerous times in the Book of Acts when the Bible records the activities of the apostles, GodÕs word actually gives us more specific information about Philip the evangelist. What kind of preacher was this man Philip?
(1) Philip was a preacher who had a good reputation in the church. Is it possible for someone to be held in high esteem even though his heart is not right in the sight of God? (Acts 8:21). It is. Yes, people can be deceived into praising a renegade. Philip, however, was no renegade that pulled the wool over the eyes of the unsuspecting. When the apostles decided that seven men were needed to serve neglected widows, the instruction was given for the disciples to choose Òmen of honest report [good reputation, NKJV], full of the Holy Ghost, and wisdomÓ (Acts 6:3). The selection of the seven, including Philip, was based on their character. No preacher of the gospel can be effective unless he sets forth Òa pattern of good worksÓ (Titus 2:7). He may be a splendid orator, but unless he has a well-deserved reputation as a man of godly character, he will be a dead weight to the local church and its efforts to evangelize its area.
(2) Philip preached the right message. In Samaria, he preached the Christ (Acts 8:4). Since the Samaritans received his preaching, and the Bible says they received Òthe word of GodÓ (Acts 8:14), then it is plain that (1) Philip did not preach his own ideas, but rather GodÕs word, and (2) to Òpreach the ChristÓ is the same thing as to Òpreach the word.Ó That is the Holy SpiritÕs charge to everyone that wants to be a true evangelist: ÒPreach the wordÓ (2 Timothy 4:2). I have heard first-hand accounts of people attending a congregation and over a five-year period of time never hearing a lesson on marriage and divorce or the evils of immodest clothing and man-made religions. Some preachers are reported to have the speaking skill to hold an audience in the palm of their hand. If so, they are blessed with a powerful ability. But, what good is that if they will not preach the whole counsel of God? (Acts 20:27). Philip preached the right message.
(3) Philip preached the right message even when Òthe big boysÓ were not around. Because of an intense persecution, except for the apostles, all the disciples were forced to leave Jerusalem (Acts 8:1). Philip was one of the scattered ones that went preaching the word (Acts 8:4,5). When he first went to preach in Samaria, there were no apostles there. He was not preaching the truth in order to please or impress them. He was preaching the truth because that is what true preachers do, regardless of which Òbig nameÓ preachers might be present or absent. There is way too much preaching for show that goes on in the church today. It smells.
(4) Philip was willing to go teach one person. PhilipÕs preaching in Samaria had resulted in conversions, including Simon the former sorcerer (Acts 8:12,13). Surely it would have been pleasant to stay there and keep it going, but the Lord had other plans. He sent this word to Philip: ÒArise, and go toward the south . . .Ó The next verse says, ÒAnd he arose and went . . .Ó (Acts 8:27). Philip was willing to go to a desert place to teach one precious soul. GodÕs preachers need to be able to step out of the pulpit and into peopleÕs living rooms (or chariots, as in the case of the eunuch, Acts 8:29-31). No, it is not Òthe preacherÕs jobÓ to conduct every private Bible study, but if you run across a preacher that is not comfortable being in close contact with people and is not interested in teaching one-on-one, he is not akin to the evangelists of the first century. He certainly does not resemble Philip. Or Paul. Or Timothy. Or Jesus.
(5) Philip literally ran to his next preaching assignment. He may not have done so on other occasions, but the Bible says that he ÒranÓ to where the eunuch was (Acts 8:30). DonÕt you love the excitement he had because of the chance to teach the lost? We need evangelists that are on fire to preach the word! We need gospel preachers that live in order to preach rather than preach in order to live.
Was Philip perfect? No way. But he did demonstrate some qualities that all Christians, especially gospel preachers, need to emulate. May God give us more evangelists like His servant Philip.
-- Roger D. Campbell -- www.ugcoc.org
MONTROSE CHURCH OCTOBER 18-21st. SUNDAY: 10:15 AM 6:00 PM MONDAY Ð WEDNESDAY SPEAKER: THEME: Written in Red Please make plans to be here
every night that you can to support this effort.
OF CHRIST
9:00 AM
7:00 PM
Ben Flatt
MONTROSE FAMILY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Oct 11, 2009
WORSHIP----SUNDAY---9:00
AM
Co-Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Billy Halliburton
Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen Reece
Scriptures Reading.. .. . . Gal 2:1-5.. . . .Ethan Leonard
Song Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jimmy Smith
Opening Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver Jr.
LordÕs Supper-Preside: Roger Draper
Serve: Steve Anderson, Craig Anderson,
Cody Anderson, Brian Harville
Closing Prayer............................... Brian Smith
Greeter- Steve & Maria Anderson
Greeter- Brian & Kayla Harville
Count Offering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Kaleb Bush
AM Sermon- . LordÕs Day
PM SermonÑWay of the Righteous (Psalm 1)
Announcements . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Glen Reece
Song Leader. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harold Smith
Scripture Reading.. . . .Gal. 2:6-10É . .Ethan Leonard
Opening Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . Mitchell Brooks
LordÕs Supper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver Sr.
Serve . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . Addison
Halliburton
Closing Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jimmy
Smith
BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAY---7:00 PM
Song Leader . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .Kaleb Bush
First Prayer. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harold Smith
Opening Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . ..Roger Draper
Closing Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
. . . Larry Kemp
Prepare Communion for Oct.
Patsy Taylor
Note: If you are not able to fulfill your assignment listed
above, please notify the coordinator
so that he can find a replacement.
We rejoice that Terri Loftis
requested prayers of the church for forgiveness and strength on Wednesday
night.
NURSING HOME: Lucille Smith,
Those on the sick list:
Donald Chaffin (Zion) Lou GehrigÕs disease
Kathy Harville
Vaughn Allen Ðcancer has
returned
Barry Wayne Kemp
Charles Owens
OUR RECORD OF LOVE FOR CHRIST 10/04/09
Wednesday. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
63
Worship Sunday AM . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Bible Study Sunday AM .. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Daily Bible Readers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 45
Worship Sunday PM . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Offering . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,814.00
Oct 18-21st. Fall Lectureship with Ben Flatt. Sunday
at regular times. Mon-Wed at 7:00
PM.
We are asking each family to
bring items for the pantry to be used for needs in the community as they arise:
Items for week: Tomato Sauce.
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01
Micah 5-7 02
Nahum 1-3 03
Habakkuk 1-3 04
Zephaniah 1-3 05
Hag. 1-2; Zech. 1 06
Zech. 2-4 07
Zech. 5-9 08
Zech. 10-12 09
Zech. 13-14;Mal.1 10
Mal. 2-4 11
Matt. 1-3 |
12
Matt. 4-6 13
Matt. 7-9 14
Matt. 10-14 15
Matt. 15-17 16
Matt. 18-20 17
Matt. 21-23 18
Matt. 24-26 19
Matt. 27-28; Mark 1 20
Mark 2-4 21
Mark 5-9 |
22
Mark 10-12 23
Mark 13-15 24
Mark 16; Lk.1-2 25
Luke 3-5 26
Luke 6-8 27
Luke 9-11 28
Luke 12-16 29
Luke 17-19 30
Luke 20-22 31 Luke 23-24 John 1 |