Woodland
Hills Church of Christ
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Sunday, April 8, 2007 Volume 51, Issue 13 Go ahead and mark your calendars. Spring is here and so is our Spring Picnic. We have planned a fun family day for the entire congregation and we need each one of you here! SPRING PICNIC Saturday, April 7th,
2007 Planned Activities:
"I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH" One of the most profound statements in the Bible is Matthew 16:18. "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." Not many things are as misunderstood as the church. The church in the Bible was never a physical building, not was it a denomination. The church in the Bible was always people saved by the blood of Jesus. The church in the Bible is made up of saved people. The church is a spiritual body of Christ composed of those that have heard the gospel (Romans 10:9-10), believed in Jesus as the Christ (John 8:24), repented of sins (Acts 17:30), confessed Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10), and been baptized for remission of sins (Acts 2:38). The church is Christ's spiritual body made up of baptized believers. Some question the importance and place of baptism. Read these Bible words and then decide on the necessity and purpose of baptism: Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:38, Acts 8:12, Acts 8:37-38, Acts 10:48, Acts 16:30-33, Acts 18:8, Acts 22:16, Galatians 3:26-27, 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 2:41, Acts 2:47. The church in the Bible is referred to as "one body." The church was located in different places but it was the same church. The Bible speaks of "the church of God at Corinth." "To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours." (1 Corinthians 1:2) It also speaks of the church in many other locations, for example Galatia (Galatians 1:2). Jesus prayed for unity to exist among His followers (John 17:20-21). What are you doing to protect and promote that unity? God's plan for unity involves "seven ones" which Christians must endeavor to keep (Ephesians 4:1-6). God's plan is simple -- all believers united in one spiritual body, the church. It is in the church that one finds salvation through the blood of Christ (Ephesians 5:23-25). The church in the Bible is neither Catholic, Protestant, nor Jewish. Its members are not some "kind" of Christian. They are just Christians. "So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." (Acts 11:26) There is no privilege greater than that of being a member of "the church of Christ." (Romans 16:16) This is the body over which Christ rules as head. (Colossians 1:18) This is the body which worships in "Spirit and in Truth." (John 4:23-24) New Testament worship consists of prayers (Acts 2:42), giving (1 Corinthians 16:1-2), the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-28), teaching (Acts 20:7), and singing (Ephesians 5:19). The only instrument used in the singing is the "Heart." Churches of Christ today have as their goal the practice of New Testament Christianity. "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:11) It must be scriptural or churches of Christ refuse it practice. "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8-9) We invite you to join with us in the practice of first century Christianity in the twenty-first century at the Woodland Hills church of Christ...
FAMILY NEWS OUR SICK/HOMEBOUNDWoodland Hills Family: Regina Brittain (gall bladder surgery Monday, home doing well), Mary Evelyn King, Edd Marie Agnew, Mary Glenn, Evelyn Coleman, Graydon Tines, Ruth Sain Friends/Relatives: Dot Holmquist, Marilee Miller, Melanie Beatty, William Wilson, Edwin Hill, Joyce Keough, Sherrel Wayne Lawhon, Eleanor Daugherty, LaRae Nichols, June Belew, Lloyd Britt, Martha Hardy (mother of a co-worker of Denny Thomas), Lloyd Britt Nursing/Assisted Living: Clemmie Allison, Alton Brown, Essie Brown, Mary Mullinaux, Ernestine Barron Out-of-Town: Virginia Baxter, Mary Billingsley, Chris Sangster, Bobbie Ann Ridgeway, Juanita Hale (KY, aunt of Carla Maxwell), cousin of Sharon Close has cancer, lives in Chicago) John Logan (cancer, Atoka, TN, brother-in-law of Don Bennett), Teresa Thomas (sister-in-law of Denny Thomas) WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS OUR RECORD ATTENTION: Woodland Hills members, please sign the cream/white Member Attendance Cards. VISITORS: We are happy to have you visit us today. Please sign the yellow Visitor/Guest Card and let us know that you were here. SERVICE GROUPS SYMPATHY Jack McLean, uncle of Brenda Renner, passed away last week. We extend our sympathy to Brenda and her family. THANK YOU BRIDAL SHOWER
RUNNING OUT OF TIME The clock is ticking. The calendar is winding down. I’m running out of time. I made myself some promises about some important things in my life that I would accomplish by the end of this year. It’s going to require me to buckle down, be incredibly disciplined, and live like every day and every decision matter supremely to the final end. There is no room for procrastination. While these issues are personal and spiritual, they also have reminded me that every single statement I made above could be said about my daily Christian life..at any time. Unfortunately, many of us have lost our sense of urgency in our Christian lives...especially our urgency about the Lord Jesus’ imminent return. With that loss, our days are not filled with as much passion, expectation, intention, and hope as they should be. But don’t take my word for it, hear the words of the great apostle Paul as he wrote to Roman Christians who needed to be reminded of the same thing: "For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us lay aside the work of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires" Romans 13:11-14. For years, the following quotation has been used to motivate people to newer and higher achievements: "Today is the first day of the rest of your life." While this may be true, there is a truer promise for Christians: "Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first became believers: the night is far gone, the day is near." We’re not running out of time, we’re running to God and all that He has waiting for us. So let’s live with passion, anticipation, and a holy sense of urgency to do what is right. Bulletin Digest Jose Nunez |
