Woodland Hills Church of Christ

 

Sunday, April 9, 2006 Volume 50, Issue 13

A SOUND CHURCH

      A word that is often used in reference to the church is "sound." Concerned Christians will often ask before attending with a congregation; "Are you sound?" But, have you ever asked what it really means to be sound? Webster’s dictionary defines "sound" as; "Free from injury or disease; exhibiting normal health, free from flaw defect or decay, solid, firm." In other words, a sound church is a healthy church. Following are some specific areas in which a church must be healthy or sound.

      The church must be sound in doctrine. One universal law is that seed always produces after its kind (Gal. 6:7,8). This being true, unhealthy doctrine will always produce an unhealthy church. Paul warned; "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." (2 Tim. 4:3) One of the Lord’s plans for keeping the church pure in doctrine during such times is through godly elderships: "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." (Tit. 1:9) May the church never forget to speak "the things which become sound doctrine." (Tit.2:1)

      The church must be sound in faith. A good rule to remember is that sound doctrine will promote sound faith (Tit. 2:1-2). And we must never forget that the Lord views an unsound Faith as evil; "Take heed, brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. The church must keep its faith healthy, not allowing it to be "made shipwreck" (1 Tim. 1:19).

      The church must be sound in speech. A church that keeps it’s speech healthy will help it’s reputation in the community: "Sound speech, that cannot be condemned;

that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you." (Tit. 2:8) A golden rule for the tongue might be; If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God." (1 Pet. 4:11)

      The church must be sound in practice. We need to remember that to have a healthy life, we must first have a healthy heart; "Keep thy heart with all diligence: for out of it are the issues of life." (Prov. 4:23) When the Bible tells us "of all that Jesus began both to do and teach" (Acts 1:1), it reminds us to practice what we preach. How can we know if our practice is sound? The scripture’s answer to this is: "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (Col. 3:17)

See You In Bible Class Sunday,
Bobby O’Dell

TAFT TALK
We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

MAKING MUSIC
This weekend, we will be going to FHU for Making Music. We have a good group signed up to go. We will be leaving the church building at 10:00 on Saturday morning. You need to be bringing money for lunch and dinner also. It will not be a Cracker Barrel affair, probably a Bells and Sonic Deal....so don’t worry about having to have a whole lot of cash. We will be set to return Saturday evening around 7:00. Call Meleia (484-4707) with any questions.

GIRLS DEVOTIONAL
The girls devotional for the month of April will be at the Ayers home on the 11th. Renee Odell will be the speaker. The vans will leave at regular time. Bring a friend for this. The girls devotionals have been excellent (based on every report that I get) and they are a very unique format for our Christian young women to get together and be strengthened by their shared time.

TEEN DEVOTIONAL
On the evening of the 23rd, we will all be meeting at the home of Robert and Pat King. We will be resuming our monthly devotionals on this day. We will head over there after p.m. services. We need guys to bring drinks and girls, make sure you bring desserts. We will have a sign-up sheet on the youth board.

Much Love,
T

FAMILY NEWS

OUR SICK/HOMEBOUND
Baptist East: Lucille Brown 4370
Veterans: James (Jimmy) Jackson 1 West 105
Methodist Central: Clemmie Allison ICU 432 Tower
Remember in Prayer: Mary Rigney (surgery Monday 4-10), Keegan Eller, Jackie Greene, Peggy Tines, Mal Mauney, James & Ruth Sain, Jane Hanan, Edd Marie Agnew, Mary Evelyn King
Friends/Relatives: Melanie Beatty (the sister of Ron Barker), Victor Parker (friend of Gayle Forsythe)
Out-of-Town: Bobbie Anne Ridgeway (Lenoir, NC, the sister of Kathy Betty), Virginia Baxter (cornea transplant, LaVerne’s mother), Wayne Smith (Louisiana, Mo, the brother of Edd Marie Agnew), Al Braley (Fairfax, VA, brother-in-law of Lerline Westmoreland), M. A. Malone (Sardis Nursing Home, 613 East Lee St., Sardis, MS 38666, father of Betty Barker), Marjorie Johnson (Baptist Hospital Rehab, Little Rock, AR, mother of Roger Johnson)
Nursing Homes: Ernestine Baron, Mary Mullinaux

WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS
Sunday, April 9, 2006
AM Opening Prayer: David Close
AM Closing Prayer: Joe Horn
PM Opening Prayer: David Blurton
PM Closing Prayer: Ray Michael
Pick Up Attendance Cards: Thomas Dacus, Riley Hubbert
Nursery Volunteers: A.M. - Alex Darst, Pam & Megan Fowler P.M. - Donna Mars, Michele Betty

SYMPATHY
Richard Lipsey, father of Jack Lipsey and Amanda Lipsey, passed away Tuesday, April 4. Services were last Thursday at Family Funeral Home. We extend our sympathy to Jack and Amanda and their family.

SERVICE GROUP ASSIGNMENTS
Service Group #2 will meet following the services Sunday night, April 9, to get your assignment cards.

Services Group #1, please turn in your assignment cards from last week.

SERVICE GROUP #3 POTLUCK
Service Group #3 will be meeting at the church building at 5:00 p.m. (before services) on April 16 for fellowship and food. Members of Service Group #3 are to bring finger foods.

WEDDING BELLS
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry and Lydia Richey
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Summer Lynn
to
John Lavelle Thompson
on Saturday, the twenty-ninth of April
Two thousand and six
at two o’clock in the afternoon
Wynne Church of Christ
916 E. Bridges
Wynne, Arkansas

SOMETHING FOR THE LADIES
Woodland Hills ladies are invited to Ladies’ Day on Saturday, May 6, at the Cordova Church of Christ. Kathy Bonds of Stratford, Texas will be the guest speaker. The time is 9:30 until noon. There will be a Salad Luncheon at noon. Cordova Church is located at 7801 Macon Road.

On Saturday, May 20 from 8:30 - 12 noon, the ladies of the Boulevard Church of Christ will have their Annual Ladies Lectureship Silver Anniversary. The activities are from 8:30 - noon. Sis. Joyce Savage, a faithful member of Boulevard will be the speaker for the occasion. 

CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations and best wishes to Amy Fowler! She has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to the University of Auckland, New Zealand where she will study Marine Biology. Her speciality is Invasive Species and Predators. Way to go, Amy!

She is the daughter of John and Pam Fowler.

OUR RECORD
Sunday, April 2, 2006
Bible Classes  148
A.M. Worship  234
P.M. Worship  160
Wednesday (3-29) 154
Contribution  $9813
‘06 Average  $8543

HOW THE CHURCH IS JUDGED

      A noted business leader once said, "An institution may spread itself over the entire world and may employ a thousand people, but the average person will form his judgment of it through his contact with one individual."

      This is nowhere more true than in the church. Large sums may be expended to build the church’s image through radio, television, and newspaper ads. Family and friends will form their views of the church by what they see in you.

They see the church as cold, friendless, and disagreeable; or warm, friendly, and helpful, as they see these qualities in you.

      Here is a type of personal evangelism which all can do: be sure that the church reflected in our lives is the church as God would have it. "Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me."

                        Author unknown

THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

      Jesus Christ established His church long before anyone ever heard of Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian or Jehovah's Witnesses. Today there are hundreds (thousands) of kinds of churches in existence. Men on men’s teaching founded these churches. Our Lord Himself established the New Testament church almost two thousand years ago.

      Jesus promised the New Testament church: "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18) Acts 2 gives the history of the establishment of the New Testament church. The year that the church was established was 33 AD It is our prayer that you are a member of this same blood bought church!

      Jesus established the New Testament church in Jerusalem: The apostles were sent to Jerusalem to wait for power. (Acts 1:4-8) The power came with the coming of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:1-4) The gospel was first preached in Jerusalem. Three thousand people became Christians that day. The Lord added them to His church. (Acts 2:38-47) It is our prayer that you are a member of this same blood bought church!

      The New Testament church that Jesus established is in the world today. The New Testament church exists anywhere people submit entirely and completely to the teachings of the New Testament. People in Corinth heard, believed and were baptized. (Acts 18:8) When this happened there was a New Testament church in Corinth. It is our prayer that you are a member of this same blood bought church!

      The New Testament church that Jesus established can be identified. Read what the New Testament says about names, worship, organization, membership and mission of the church. Christians must worship and work exactly as the word of God teaches. Membership in the New Testament church is enjoyed at the moment of becoming a Christian. (1 Corinthians 12:13) Is the church where you have your membership the New Testament church? Check by the New Testament and see. It is our prayer that you are a member of this blood bought church!

      The New Testament church is not a denomination. You can be a member of the New Testament church -- you can be just a Christian. The wonderful blessings of heaven should move us to obey the gospel and serve God faithfully. To obey the gospel one must hear God's truth (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess Jesus as Lord (Acts 8:37), and be baptized to be saved. (I Peter 3:21) After baptism one must serve God faithfully to prepare for the heavenly home.

by Charles Box