YOUNG MEN
The young men did a great job with services on Sunday night. They made announcements, read scripture, lead songs, preached, including a Power Point presentation, served communion and prayed. They could go to a congregation and conduct the services with no problems. We should continue to encourage each one of our young men as they continue to develop their talents in serving God. So many times, all you hear about young people are negative comments. We have reason to offer many positive comments about our young people.
I thought it would be interesting to type in the words “young man” in a Bible concordance and see what the results were. That phrase is found over fifty times in the Bible. You may be familiar with the statement made in Psalm 119:9, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” Or the statement made in Ecclesiastes 11:9, “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.” One of the many conversations Jesus had was with a young man. It is recorded in Matthew 19:20, “The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?” He had come to Jesus asking him what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? When Jesus told him, he responded in this way. A few moments later after Jesus gave him further instructions, the young man went away sorrowful because he had great possessions. Mark tells us when the women came to the tomb of Jesus early on that first day of the week, they found that the stone was rolled away. “And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted” (Mark 16:5). A young man by the name of Eutychus is mentioned in Acts 20. He is the young man that fell asleep while Paul was “long preaching” and fell out the window. A young man, who was Paul’s nephew, help to rescue him from a band of Jews in Acts 23. Kaleb mentioned in his lesson the young lad who led Samson to the pillars, which enabled Samson to destroy many Philistines. Young people need to use the abilities and talents they have.
“ TELL IT ANYWAY"
Several years ago, the great preacher, Humphrey Foutz, was preaching in a gospel meeting at the Azalea Drive Church of Christ in Charleston, SC. One evening my brother (who preached for the Essex Village Church in Charleston) along with one of his deacons attended the Azalea Drive meeting. Five or six hundred people were present. Sid and Mac were ushered to the front pew where they were given choice seats.
Foutz was preaching powerfully -walking back and forth across the platform, sweating, shaking, whispering one moment, bellowing the next. All the members are shouting "Amen," "Tell it," "Preach it, Brother!" Sitting on a metal folding chair just in front of Sid and Mac was a little man in his 20s or 30s who is really into the sermon. At a certain point, Foutz sort of winds down, gets real low and soft-spoken, and says, ''Now brothers and sisters, you been ' Amen-ing' everything 1 have been preaching, You been right with me, agreeing with everything 1 have been saying. But now I’m gonna tell you something you are not gonna like ... something you might not want to hear. You may not 'amen' me or urge me to preach it or to tell it. .. ," At this point, the man in the folding chair, leaps to his feet, does a 360 degree turn, slaps his leg, and shouts, "Tell it anyway! Tell it anyway!"
I love that brother's spirit. We need to listen to preaching that we like and agree with, but we also need to listen to preaching that we might not like or agree with at first. Faithful gospel preaching is not designed to just confirm us in what we already know and believe. It is intended to stir and challenge us concerning matters that we may not yet know, believe, or faithfully practice.
Someone said that preachers should "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable!" The apostle Paul urged the young preacher Timothy to "Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (II Timothy 4:2, KJV). Someone paraphrased that verse to mean: "Preach it when they like it and preach it when they don't like it." Paul himself declared that "I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27).
In a day when people do not want their life-style disturbed or their beliefs challenged, faithful preachers of the gospel need to "tell it anyway." Consider the following:
* That Christ established but one church. (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 4:4; 1:22-23).
* That baptism is involved in one's salvation from sin. (Mark 16:1516; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21).
* That baptism is a complete immersion in water of a repentant believer in Christ. (Acts 2:38; Acts 8:34-39; Rom. 6:3-4).
* That when a person is saved from sins, he/she is added to the very church that Christ Himself established. (Acts 2:47).
* That God must be worshiped in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24).
* That Christians are not to forsake the assembling of themselves together for purposes of worship, fellowship, and encouragement in living a faithful Christian life. (Heb. 10:25).
* That Christians are not to be conformed to this world, but rather they are to be transformed by the renewing of their mind. (Rom. 12:2).
* That Christ gave but one reason for divorcing one's spouse and marrying someone else. (Matt. 5: 32; 19:9). That Christ alone is the authority in religion, and the only head of His church. (Matt. 28: 18; Col. 1: 18).
* That those who transgress and go beyond the doctrine of Christ as set forth in the New Testament do not have God. (II John 9).
* That Christians are to have the mind of Christ, produce the fruit of the Spirit, develop certain Christian graces, and make their calling and election sure. (Philippians 2:5; Galatians 5:22-26; II Peter 1:5-11).
--Hugh
Fulford, Carolina Messenger, 10/11 (adapted)
BELIEF DEMANDS OBEDIENCE
On Pentecost, those who accepted Peter's preaching were commanded to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus, the Christ, unto the remission of their sins, and about 3,000 rendered prompt obedience. And so in other cases in the book of Acts. In reports of these cases of conversion under the preaching of these inspired men there is not a hint that sinners were saved the moment they believed. "And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number that believed turned unto the Lord." (Acts 11:21). If they were saved the moment they believed, they were saved before they turned unto the Lord; but healing, or salvation, follows the turning to the Lord (Isa. 55:7; Matt. 13:15; Acts 28:27).
No arguments of the "faith-only" advocates can do away with the plain statements of our Lord and His inspired preachers on the necessity of obedience. The fact is that in their arguments they array Scripture against Scripture. Our Lord makes this plain statement: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matt. 7:21). To say, "Lord, Lord," shows some degree of faith; but it is a dead faith, for there is no obedience to God's will. Such faith profits nothing — puts no one into the kingdom of heaven.
The writer of Hebrews says of Jesus, the Christ, "Though he was a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation." (Heb. 5:8-9). No one can misunderstand that plain statement, nor twist it’s meaning into something that it does not say. Some are so set on evading its force that they seek to array some other passages against it, and that is not fair dealing with the word of God. If a man does not obey the Lord Jesus Christ, He is not the author of salvation to such a man.
--R. L. Whiteside
MONTROSE FAMILY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Feb
05, 2012
WORSHIP----SUNDAY---9:00 AM
Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mitchell Brooks
Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver Sr.
Scripture Reading.. Hebrews 9:6-8. .Alex Armour
Song Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Jr.
Opening Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jimmy Smith
Lord’s Supper-Preside: Harold Smith
Serve: Kaleb Bush, Brian Smith
Austin Clay, George Clay
Closing Prayer Larry Kemp
Greeter— Harold & Patty Smith
Greeter— George & Teresa Clay
Count Offering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kaleb Bush
AM Sermon— Duties of Elders
PM Sermon— Judges 17-18
Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Jacky Carver Sr.
Song Leader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jimmy Smith
Scripture Reading.. Heb. 9:9-10 Craig Anderson
Opening Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harold Smith
Lord’s Supper . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . Roger Draper
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex Armour
Closing Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Anderson
BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAY---7:00 PM
Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
Song Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harold Smith
First Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Billy Halliburton
Opening Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roger Draper
Closing Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Glen Reece
Prepare Communion for FEBRUARY
Patsy Reece
Note: If you are not able to fulfill your assignment listed above, please notify the coordinator so that he can find a replacement.
NURSING HOME: Hoss West
Those on the sick list:
Kathy Harville—Carolyn Halliburton’s sister
Richard & Kathy Hommrich (Tim’s parents) Alzheimers NHC Nashville
Billy Joe Clay—home.
Titus Russell—Baptist Hosp.
Melody Hackett—Stallworth Rehab.
Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Worship Sunday AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Bible Study Sunday AM .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Daily Bible Readers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Worship Sunday PM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Offering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,357.00
Men’s Business Meeting—February 5th.
The group going to India will leave on Feb. 6th.
Bible Bowl -- next one is February 12th.
Sunday Singing at Draper’s Crossroads, Feb. 12th. at 2:00 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: Canned Pinto Beans
01 Lev. 12-14
02 Lev. 15-17
03 Lev. 18-20
04 Lev. 21-25
05 Lev. 26-27
06 Num. 1-4
07 Num. 5-7
08 Num. 8-10
09 Num. 11-13
10 Num. 14-16
11 Num. 17-21
12 Num. 22-24
13 Num. 25-27
14 Num. 28-30
15 Num. 31-33
16 Num. 34-36
17 Deut. 1-3
18 Deut. 4-8
19 Deut. 9-11
20 Deut. 12-14
21 Deut. 15-17
22 Deut. 18-20
23 Deut. 21-23
24 Deut. 24-26
25 Deut. 27-29
26 Deut. 30-32
27 Deut. 33-34
28 Joshua 1-3
29 Joshua 4-6