We looked at a lesson based on Psalm 119:9 this past Sunday. ÒWherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.Ó The NASV translates it, ÒHow can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word.Ó I appreciate the many good comments that were made following this lesson. All of us need direction for our lives, but especially young people. Those of us who are parents generally try to instill in the hearts of our children a meaningful faith by emphasizing the importance of GodÕs word in their lives. Many times when someone ask a question, you have to search and read between the lines before you ever get an answer. That is not the case with GodÕs word, especially in this passage. He gives us an answer, a very simple answer, a very powerful answer. You can keep your way pure by keeping it according to what GodÕs word teaches you. That means you need to spend some time in the Book, and then apply what you find to your life.
I made the statement that someone needs to take responsibility for the nurturing and developing, especially the spiritual development, of our children. That responsibility belongs to the parents. In order to do that, we are going to have to commit time and energy into staying close to them as they grow and mature. Parenting is serious business. Our children also have to take responsibility for the decisions they make.
We are a nation that does not like to take responsibility for our actions. I am becoming more and more convinced that this is one of our great problems. It is always someone elseÕs fault when things go wrong. Instead of blaming other people and things, we need to take responsibility for our actions. We need to do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. We need to avoid the wrong because it is the wrong thing to do. That needs to be taught at an early age so our children are equipped with the right standard when they face difficult situations. The psalmist said, you can keep your way pure by keeping it accord the GodÕs word. Is that the standard you are following?
IS THE CHURCH THAT JESUS BUILT A DENOMINATION
We are living in a world of
denominationalism in which many do not even understand the meaning of the term
nor have they ever taken the time and effort to examine to see if such is
scriptural. The word denomination signifies a part of a whole, or a division.
The church of our blessed Lord is not a division or a part of a whole. It is
the thing itself. The church of our Lord cannot be a denomination or division
for the following reasons:
1.
Our
Lord prayed for unity, the opposite of division. With the cross in sight, our
Savior prayed this petition to the Father: ÒNeither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe
in me through their word; that they may be one: as thou, Father art in me, and
I in thee, that they may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou
hast sent me.Ó (John
17:20-21). It is significant to note that the Lord prayed that his followers
would be one Òthat the world may believe.Ó This implies that if we are not one,
but divided into warring denominations, etc., that unbelief or infidelity will
be the results! In view of such, how can one thank God for the current divisions,
which are breeders of infidelity?
This is one reason why the church of our Lord is not a denomination.
2.
Our
Lord died for unity, not division.
Before the cross, Jew and Gentile were estranged, at enmity, or divided.
Christ died to make them one. ÒFor he is our peace, who hath made both oneÉÓ
(Eph. 2:14). Also, ÒAnd that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by
the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.Ó (Eph. 2:16). If the Lord died that
men might not be Òtwo,Ó how could he be pleased with men divided into two
hundred different bodies?
3.
In
the New Testament unity is advocated and division is condemned. ÒEndeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace.Ó (Eph.
4:3). ÒNow I beseech you, brethren, by
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that
there be no division among you: but that ye be Perfectly joined together in the
same mind and in the same judgment.Ó (1 Cor. 1:10).
Notice that our Lord said, ÒBe
together.Ó ye, ÒBe joined together,Ó yea, even Òbe perfectly joined together.Ó This emphasizes the intensity of
the admonition. Division is named as one of the works of the flesh in Galatians
5:19-21, and they that are guilty of such shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
4.
The
church of our Lord has no denominational ÒearkmarksÓ.
She has no human creeds, no earthly head
or human organization foreign to the New Testament, no party name, no humanly
devised laws of induction (such as voting), etc. All that she does or says in
the field of religion has a Òthus saith the Lord.Ó Our Lord prayed for unity,
died for unity, advocated unity and denounced division. CHRIST IS
ANTI-DENOMINATIONAL AND UNDENOMINATIONAL.
His church, therefore, cannot be a denomination.
--Wendall
Winkler, The Livingston Lamplighter, 02/21/10
THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
There is a growing trend among many churches to attempt to formulate a Òmission statement.Ó Elders, deacons, preachers, and church members spend hours together attempting to carefully construct a document that accurately reflects the mission of their congregation. Now understand, IÕm not opposed to such concepts. A mission statement is fine if a church wants one. My problem is that IÕm not really interested in Òre-inventing the wheel.Ó After all, did not the Lord leave his church with a mission? Cannot that mission be discovered in his word? I was always under the impression that the church already had a Òmission statement,Ó namely, ÒTo Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever, Amen.Ó (Eph. 3:21). I donÕt know that the collective wisdom of men can come up with a more poignant, concise statement regarding the mission of the church.
But now, what about the mission of the church? Could you easily discover the mission of the LordÕs church by looking around you at the ÒchurchesÓ you see in your community? WhatÕs it all about? Some might get the idea that the mission of the church is to cater to the desires of the people. Facilities are built to conveniently offer everything under one roof like the local mall or YMCA. The message from many pulpits has been repackaged in an effort to remove any offense and to be as accommodating as possible to as many people as possible. J. I. Packer calls this new trend Òhot tub religion.Ó
If thatÕs an appropriate designation, I for one, am all for pulling the plug in the hot tub. Friends, the real mission of the church is not to make people happy, but to make them holy. Not to offer recreation, but reconciliation. Not to encourage people to seek therapy, but to seek authority. People should not be more acquainted with the 12 steps to recovery than they are the steps to salvation.
ItÕs time we quit trying to make the church ÒrelevantÓ to a worldly, secular society. Let the church be the church. The true measure of a church is not in slick marketing techniques, cleverly formulated mission statements, but in biblical faithfulness. Please donÕt forget the real mission of the church, which is to bring honor and glory to God through Jesus in the church.
--Steve
Higginbotham, Karns Kourier, 03/10
MONTROSE FAMILY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
May 02, 2010
WORSHIP----SUNDAY---9:00
AM
Co-Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mitchell Brooks
Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
Scriptures Reading..I Cor.16:9-12. . . .Tim Hommrich
Song Leader . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Jr.
Opening Prayer. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . Jimmy Smith
LordÕs Supper-Preside: Harold
Smith
Serve: Glen Reece, Kaleb Bush,
Leslie
Bush, Cole Bush
Closing Prayer................................ Larry
Kemp
GreeterÑ Glen & Patsy
Reece
GreeterÑ Leslie & Kim
Bush
Count Offering. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
Kaleb Bush
AM SermonÑ Long View of Local
Church
PM SermonÑ Amos, the Burden Bearer
Announcements . . . . . . . .
. . . . . .Jacky Carver, Sr.
Song Leader. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen Reece
Scripture Reading..I
Cor.16:13-16ÉTim Hommrich
Opening Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .Ricky Kirby
LordÕs Supper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. .Roger Draper
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mitchell Brooks
Closing Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .Roger
Draper
BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAY---7:00 PM
AnnouncementÉ . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .Jacky Carver Sr.
Song Leader . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . Harold Smith
First Prayer. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . Billy
Halliburton
Opening Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .Mitchell Brooks
Closing Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
. . . Glen Reece
Prepare Communion for May
Teresa & Susanne
Note: If you are not able to fulfill your assignment listed
above, please notify the coordinator so that he can find a replacement.
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: Laundry Detergent
NURSING HOME: Lucille Smith,
Those on the sick list:
Donald Chaffin (Zion) Lou
GehrigÕs disease
Hoss WestÑMcFarland Rehab
Vaughn
Allen
John William LeonardÑspine problems
Mitzi HollandÑlung biopsy this week.
Wednesday. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Worship Sunday AM . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . 100
Bible Study Sunday AM .. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Daily Bible Readers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 43
Worship Sunday PM . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Offering . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
$2681.00
Upcoming Events
Our church picnic will be June 5th at the Barn
Gospel Meeting with James Watkins will be June 20-25th.
VBS wil be July 5th Ð9th.
Jackson/Smith County Youth Camp will be July 18th-
24th.
The elders, deacons and preacher will meet Sunday night following services.
We also have a youth outing on the calendar for May
01 II CHRON
28-30
02 II CHRON
31-33
03 II CHRON
34-36
04 EZRA 1-3
05 EZRA 4-6
06 EZRA 7-10
07 NEH 1-4
08 NEH 5-7
09 NEH 8-10
10 NEH 11-13
11 ESTHER
1-3
12 ESTHER
4-6
13 ESTHER
7-10
14 JOB 1-4
15 JOB 5-7
16 JOB 8-10
17 JOB 11-13
18 JOB 14-16
19 JOB 17-19
20 JOB 20-24
21 JOB 25-27
22 JOB 28-30
23 JOB 31-33
24 JOB 34-36
25 JOB 37-39
26 JOB 40-42
27 PSALM 1-5
28 PSALM 6-8
29 PSALM
9-11
30 PSALM
12-14
31 PSALM
15-17