Sunday was a cold wintry day, but the attendance was good. We had 73 for worship, and 73 stayed for Bible class. I do not recall that ever happening here. There are some advantages to cold, slick days. Even though our numbers were down, the contribution was very good. Sunday afternoon our young people traveled to Bethlehem church of Christ and finished first in the Bible bowl. Congratulations to Mitchell and all of the young people who put forth the effort to study the book of I Corinthians and give their Sunday afternoon to participate in the Bible bowl. We still have two more months to go.
I appreciate the many good comments about the sermon dealing with the origin of the Bible. Hopefully we appreciate GodÕs word enough to spend time each day in reading and studying it. When you think about all that has occurred throughout history to make it possible for us to have a written copy of GodÕs word, we should be grateful.
This Sunday will be the presentation of our Annual Budget. We will have a short lesson and then Jacky will present the budget for 2010. Let me encourage all of us to put forth the effort to support the decision the elders make relative to our plans for the year 2010.
A question has been asked of me concerning the Questions and Answers that we did for a period of time. I truly enjoy doing those sessions, but I have to have questions turned in. We have a box in the back to put your questions in. When we receive them, we will do our best to answer them from a study of GodÕs word.
Let me ask that you continue to remember Cody Anderson in your prayers as he enters basic training at Parris Island South Carolina for the Marines. Also remember Kirk Malone who fell this past week and had to be taken to Vanderbilt Hospital. He is home now, but must be careful next few weeks. This year can be a great year for Montrose if we work together for the glory of God.
NOW
WHERE DID I PUT MY TREASURES? (Luke 12:13-21)
As Jesus sat teaching on one occasion, a man apparently disgruntled with the way his parentsÕ estate had been divided posed an interruptive question. The Jews often consulted the respected rabbis for their opinion on civil matters like this one, but Jesus refused to get involved, and then told a pointed parable that provided a sobering warning about covetousness or greed. Greed in the heart may have prompted the man to make the request that he did of the Savior? (The Law of Moses stipulated the right of the firstborn son to receive a double portion or two-thirds of the inheritance and the remainder was to be divided among the other sonsÑsee Deuteronomy 21:15-17. Whether this was the oldest/first born son or a younger son we are not told and it is not really important to the present discussion.) The man who made this demand of Jesus seems to have paid little attention to the vital truths that Jesus had been trying to communicate and was more concerned with the stuff and things of this life. Sadly, people of this kind have not perished from the earth and sadder still is the fact that many of this same mindset can still be found among members of the LordÕs body. The truth Jesus stated in verse fifteen is stated succinctly, and the parable that follows provides the vivid illustration that Òdrives home the point!Ó Attention will now be given to this parable and the rich fool that is herein described for contemplation.
The ground of a certain rich man produced an exceptional crop that exceeded the storage space that the man had presently constructedÑverses 16 and 17. The man was wealthy; and Scripture never presents wealth as an intrinsic evil, but great warning is given to how riches can be misused. This man had worked hard in the honest enterprise of farming and, combined with the blessings of God such as favorable weather conditions and his skillful management, a Òbumper cropÓ had resulted. Elements of his downfall began to emerge as his selfish disposition was manifest in his desire to hoard and keep all his goods. (Notice how the personal pronouns ÒIÓ is used six times and ÒmyÓ is used five times in this short account.)
The rich man reasoned that the best thing to do was tear down his current facilities and build new and larger ones to house the bountyÑverse 18. He could and should have given consideration to the poor, whose barns were empty and had no excess; and then his barns would have been amply sufficient to store what was needed for him and his family. Later on in this same chapter, verse 33 finds the Savior admonish: Òprovide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.Ó (In these times of economic uncertainty, where and in what are you investing?) Reflecting on his resolved course of action, the rich man declares: ÒSoul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.Ó Several false assumptions are contained in this narcissistic exclamation. First was the notion that the soul can be satisfied with physical things (Eccl. 5:10). Second was the false idea that the goods would last for many years (1 Tim. 6:17-18). Finally the man assumed that he would have many years to enjoy all these good things, but he was terribly mistaken. The rich manÕs quotation accords with the ancient tenet of Epicureanism philosophy that is still practiced by millions today: Òeat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.Ó See also 1 Corinthians 15:32. The man had no funeral plans and the precept Òwhere men propose, God may disposeÓ is validated again. God interjects next and announces to the man ÒFool! This night your soul will be required of you....Ó Here God calls the man a fool, which is shocking to the sensibilities of modern critics. However, the term accurately applies to this individual, who left God and others out of his plans and actions. ÒFoolÓ is the only term that accurately describes such an approach made by the man in this parable. This is in no way a violation of the SaviorÕs teaching in Matthew 5:22, where Jesus warns that those who are angry and in rage seek to berate others by calling them Òfools.Ó Those guilty of this type of derogatory action place themselves in danger of hell fire, according to the Christ! The Greek text may suggest, ÒThey [that is the goods you have amassed] are demanding thy soul from thee.Ó By way of illustration, how many have ruined their health to amass great wealth only to be willing to give all the wealth back to get their health?Ó
The Lord probes further still: Òthen whose will those things be which you have provided?Ó This is one query the man had probably never entertained. How much do people leave behind when they die? Everything! There will be no U-hauls behind the hearse. Riches can be used constructively and help to advance the kingdom of God throughout the earth, but they can also hurt their owners eternally (Eccl. 5:13, Psa. 39:6, Eccl. 2:18-19). Many other passages can be cited to further confirm this truth. The fool forgot that all belongs to God (Psa. 50:10-12).
Jesus concluded: ÒSo is he who
lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.Ó The warning is still valid; those that continue to
selfishly seek and hoard physical goods, while ignoring spiritual duties and
the cries of the less fortunate, will find themselves spiritually bankrupt and
eternally separated from the riches of that Heavenly land. This rich fool
forgot other people, he forgot that man is more than what he owns, he forgot
the source of real happiness, he forgot God, and he forgot that he would die.
Dear reader, please do not live your life in such a way as to imitate this
manÕs foolish mistakes, but strive everyday to be rich in love, obedience, and
good works to the glory of God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son! ÑAlan Judd CW, --09/09
ON BEING LIKE JESUS
* We want to be like Him as He walks on
the water, but don't want to walk the dirty floor of a poor man's hovel.
* We
would raise the dead, but will not hold the hand of the sick.
* We
would turn water into wine, but will not turn our money into food, clothing,
and shelter for the needy.
* We
would still a storm on Galilee, but will not calm the troubled heart of a
neighbor.
* We
would restore the deaf man's hearing, but will not share with him what he needs
most to hear.
* We want
to be like Jesus but prefer to walk with Him in triumph over palm branches, not
under the weight of the cross. We want the crown, but not the cross.
* We
would like a scepter, but not a shepherd's staff. We prefer the royal garment to the service towel.
* We want
to be like Jesus as King, but not as servant.
'...we
should follow in his stepsÉ'-1 Peter 2:21
House to House/Heart to Heart
Vol.8#1
MONTROSE FAMILY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jan 17, 2010
WORSHIP----SUNDAY---9:00
AM
Co-Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Glen Reece
Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Billy Halliburton
Scriptures Reading.....I Cor. 16:1,2É . . . .Kaleb Bush
Song Leader . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .. . . Harold Smith
Opening Prayer. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
. . Roger Draper
LordÕs Supper-Preside:
Mitchell Brooks
Serve: Jimmy Smith, Ricky Kirby,
Brian Smith,
Closing Prayer............................. Brian
Harville
GreeterÑBilly & Karen
Halliburton
GreeterÑJimmy & Melanie
Smith
Count Offering. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
Kaleb Bush
AM SermonÑ Budget Presentation
PM SermonÑ Questions and Answers..
Announcements . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . Billy Halliburton
Song Leader. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.
Scripture Reading.. Heb. 9:27,28. . . . . . . .Kaleb Bush
Opening Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
Jimmy Smith
LordÕs Supper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Hackett.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kaleb Bush
Closing Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .Steve
Anderson
BIBLE STUDY WEDNESDAY---7:00 PM
Song Leader . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. Kaleb Bush
First Prayer. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Ricky Kirby.
Opening Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . Mitchell Brooks
Closing Prayer . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . Larry Kemp
Prepare Communion for January
Karen Halliburton
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: We cleaned out the pantry so we really need non-perishable
items of your choice.
NURSING HOME: Lucille Smith,
Those on the sick list:
Donald Chaffin (Zion) Lou
GehrigÕs disease
Hoss West
Vaughn
Allen
Barry
Wayne Kemp
Rick & Debbie SlagleÑKarnÕs congregation
Pat Davis- step-sister of
Janice Pinckley (cancer)
Ruby SuttonÑNHC, Franklin
TN.
Wednesday. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
55
Worship Sunday AM . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
73
Bible Study Sunday AM .. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
73
Daily Bible Readers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 44
Worship Sunday PM . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Offering . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 2770.00
Memorials were received in memory of Mrs. Marie Castleman from Ricky & Janie Kirby, Donnell & Diana Preston, Jacky & Jacqueline Carver, Jacky Jr. & Liz Carver, Matilda Graves.
Memorials were received in memory of Mrs. Margaret Lankford from Ricky & Janie Kirby, Ladies Bible Class, Pat Bush family, Alan & Shirley Hailey, Donnell & Diana Preston, Billy & Karen Halliburton,
Some were made to library and some to JSCYC. Montrose church of Christ made memorials for both ladies to Jackson/Smith Co. Youth Camp.
BIBLE READING SCHEDULE FOR. JAN
. 01 Gen. 1-3
02 Gen. 4-6
03 Gen. 7-9
04 Gen. 10-12
05 Gen. 13-15
06 Gen. 16-19
07 Gen. 20-23
08 Gen. 24-26
09 Gen. 27-29
10 Gen. 30-32
12 Gen. 36-38
13 Gen. 39-42
14 Gen. 43-46
15 Gen. 47-50
16 Exod. 1-2
17 Exod. 3-5
18 Exod. 6-8
19 Exod. 9-11
20 Exod. 12-14
21 Exod. 15-19
22 Exod. 20-22
23 Exod. 23-25
24 Exod. 26-28
25 Exod. 29-31
26 Exod. 32-34
27 Exod. 35-37
28 Exod. 38-40; Lev. 1-2
29
Lev. 3-5
30 Lev. 6-8
31 Lev. 9-11