THREE GREAT DESIRES

 

   I wanted to share with you the invitation that was used following our Friday Night Singing this past week.  When you read the book of Philippians, we learn of three basic desires in the life of the apostle Paul.  All of us need to have desires or goals in our lives. 

1.   To be found in Christ. Philippians 3:9 states, ÒAnd be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:Ó This should be the desire of every person.  It is the desire to become a child of God through obedience to the gospel.  Galatians 3:26,27 tells us how we enter into that relationship. ÒFor ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.Ó To be found in Christ is the very crown of the Christian life.  It is a continuing relationship that we are to have.

2.  To magnify Christ.  Philippians 1:20 states, ÒAccording to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.Ó  We are to live in such a way that our lives glorify Christ (Philippians 1:21). The greatness of Christ will shine through clearly in my person.  People need to see Christ living in me. 

3.  To be with Christ. Philippians 1:23 proclaims, ÒFor I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:Ó To be with Christ should be the hope, the goal of every child of God  ÒTherefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the LordÓ(2 Corinthians 5:6-8). 

    To have the first two desires in this life is a sure way to have the promise of the third desire. Paul statement found in II Timothy 4:6-8 is a fitting summary of his desires.  Do we have these desires in our lives?  To be found in ChristÉ To magnify ChristÉ To be with Christ. 

FACTS THAT EVERY PERSON NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT JESUS

 

A great number of people consider themselves to be Christians. In all honesty, many of them are not really sure just what they believe or why they think they want to serve Jesus. To follow Jesus is a serious undertaking. To make a decision to be His disciple requires that a person know some things about Him. Please seriously consider five great Bible truths about the Lord Jesus that every person needs to know.

 

Jesus created us Ð He is our Creator. This is a fact that many Bible readers have never noticed. John 1:14 identifies "the Word" as being Jesus, the only begotten of the Father. Earlier in that same chapter it is written, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:1-3). Colossians 1:16,17 declares, "For by him [Jesus, rdc] were all things created . . . all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." No amount of tampering with the Bible text can change the truth that GodÕs Son created all things.

 

Jesus died for us Ð He is the Savior. Jesus came into the world for a purpose. What does the Bible tell us about that purpose? "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief" (1 Timothy 1:15). Again, we read, ". . . the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world" (1 John 4:14). Jesus did not come just to make the world a better place. He did not come just to raise the standard of mankindÕs moral concepts. He came to save people from sin and from the horrible punishment of hell! Thanks be to God "that Christ died for our sins" (1 Corinthians 15:3), and ". . . we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7).

 

He rose from the dead for us Ð He is the risen Lord. Just as Jesus had predicted, after He was buried ". . . he arose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:4). And just what does His resurrection have to do with you and me? In reference to the Christ, the Bible says, "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification" (Romans 4:25). Jesus died once, never to die again. He arose victorious over death to live ever more! "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him" (Romans 6:9). Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven (Mark 16:19). Those that serve Jesus serve a risen, living Lord!

 

He has authority over us Ð He is King. After He rose from the dead, Jesus told His apostles, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth . . .Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:18,20). Jesus has all authority. He is the head of His church (Ephesians 1:22,23), so in all things the church is to be in subjection to Him (Ephesians 5:24). To put it another way, Jesus is now King over His kingdom, which is simply another designation for His church (Colossians 1:13).

 

He will judge us Ð He is judge. Jesus said, "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (John 5:22). ". . . we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:10) because He "was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick ["living," ASV] and dead" (Acts 10:42). What an humbling thought: the One that created us, died for us, rose from the dead for us, and rules over us, will one day judge us!

 

A person might deny Jesus and try to live his life as if Jesus means nothing. Yet, certain facts remain. Jesus gives life to every person, Jesus died for every personÕs salvation, and He will one day judge every person. There is no getting around these plain Bible truths. May God help each of us to be willing to surrender our hearts to faithfully serve His Son all the days of our lives.

 

-- Roger D. Campbell

 

Peace in Our Hearts

 

During a recent communion service a brother made the comment that remembering the cross of Jesus gives us peace of mind. We know that Jesus is the ÒPrince of PeaceÓ ( Isaiah 9:6). We know that he brought a peace that the world cannot understand ( John 14:27).

 

We know that wherever Jesus is preached peace abounds ( Acts 10:36). Yet, in spite of these scriptures it is still difficult to think about the cross as a symbol of peace. We do not often associate the communion service with the kind of peace most needed in our world.

 

Whenever we gather around the table we are reminded of what it means to be a Christian. We have the opportunity for a brief moment in our week to slow down, to be quiet, to be still, to be at peace. We can remove from our minds the cares of the world and focus on the blessings of being in Christ.

 

As we think about all that Jesus endured for us ( Hebrews 12:1-3), our hearts and minds can be at peace. In the hurried lives that each of us live, we need some time each week to consider the most important matters of life.

 

To think about eternity is something that we do not do enough. We are so earthbound that we seldom consider heavenly matters.

 

We need to be reminded of PaulÕs words in Colossians 3:1-2, ÒSet your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.Ó Thinking on ÒthingsÓ above will bring peace to our hearts.

 

Only then will we be able to face the world with all of itÕs conflict. May God help us as we gather around the Table to leave the world behind, and join with Christians around the world in a prayer for true peace.

 

By Jeff A. Jenkins (March 21, 2010)

MONTROSE FAMILY NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Apr 04, 2010

 

THOSE PRIVILEGED TO SERVE

WORSHIP----SUNDAY---9:00 AM

Co-Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . .  . . Mitchell Brooks

Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . Jacky Carver, Sr.

Scriptures Reading....I Cor 15:.40-44É . Brian Smith

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  I am the Way, the Truth, the LifeÉ

PM  SermonÑ Jude

 

WORSHIP---SUNDAY---6:00 PM

Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   Jacky Carver Sr.

Song Leader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..   . Glen Reece

Scripture Reading..  I Cor. 15:45-49 . ... Brian Smith

Opening Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Ricky Kirby

LordÕs Supper  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . Roger Draper

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . Mitchell Brooks

 

Closing Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      Steve Anderson

 

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 April

Diana & Janie

 

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: Pork & Beans.

 

 

 

MONTROSE BULLETIN BOARD

NURSING HOME: Lucille Smith,

Those on the sick list:

Donald Chaffin (Zion) Lou GehrigÕs disease

Hoss West

Vaughn Allen

Lewis Roberts

Linda Clark--

 

 

 OUR RECORD OF LOVE FOR CHRIST 03/21/10

Wednesday. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      61

Worship Sunday AM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          99

Bible Study Sunday AM .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         74

Daily Bible Readers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         42

Worship Sunday PM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        60

Offering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .           $2879.00

 

 

Several events going on in April.  This Sunday will be our Sunday to go to Smith County Health Care and conduct services.  We begin at 2:00 PM. We will also have a MenÕs business meeting after AM services.  Errick Crump, student at ETSPM will speak on April 11th.  Our meal and bowling in Cookeville has been changed to April 23rd. Senior Night is April 25th

 

 

There were 143 present for the Friday Night Singing at Montrose March 26th. Thanks to all who came and helped in so many different ways

 

 

 

BIBLE READING SCHEDULE FOR APRIL

 

01 I Kings 4-8

02 I Kings 9-11

03 I Kings 12-14

04 I Kings 15-17

05 I Kings 18-20

06 I Kings 21-22;
     II Kings 1

07 II Kings 2-5

08 II Kings 6-9

09 II Kings 10-12

10 II Kings 13-15

11 II Kgs 16-18

12 II Kgs 19-21

13 II Kgs 22-24

14 II Kgs 25;
     I Chr 1-2

15 I Chr 3-8

16 I Chr 11-13

17 I Chr 14-16

18 I Chr 17-19

20 I Chr 20-22

21 I Chr 23-25

22 I Chr 26-29

23 II Chr 1-4

24 II Chr 5-7

25 II Chr 8-10

26 II Chr 11-13

27 II Chr 14-17

28 II Chr 18-20

29 II Chr 21-24

30 II Chr 25-27