Woodland Hills Church of Christ

Sunday, March 25, 2007 Volume 51, Issue 11

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
Noon - 4:00 pm

Planned Activities:
 -Lunch
- Egg Hunt
- Sack Races
- Egg Toss
- Softball Game

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN CONVERSION?

The theme of the Bible is salvation through Jesus.  But, what is involved in conversion?  What agents bring about salvation?  In Acts chapter 2 we have record of the first gospel sermon being preached and about 3000 people being converted.  Peter and the other apostles preached the unsearchable riches of Christ.  Peter spoke of the great miracle-working ministry of Jesus, of how He fulfilled prophecy and of His death, burial and resurrection.  Those who desired to become Christians were told, "repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)  About 3000 people "gladly received His word and were baptized." (Acts 2:41)  The Lord added these 3000 people who were saved to His church. (Acts 2:47)

Sin is a horrible thing.  It is a transgression of God's law. (1 John 3:4)  We also sin by knowing what is right and failing to do it. (James 4:17)  Our prejudices can also cause us to sin.  "But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors." (James 2:9)  Our sin needs forgiveness.  But what is involved in conversion?

Truth is involved in conversion.  Pilate asked, "What is truth?"  In John 17:17 we see his question answered.  "Sanctify them by Your truth.  Your word is truth."  Only in obedience to the truth may we purify our soul. (1 Peter 1:22-23)  You will never be saved without truth.  Our spiritual life must not be built on personal opinion but on a "this saith the Lord."  Paul felt strongly the need to proclaim truth.  He said, "So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation...": (Romans 1:15-16)  The truth (gospel) is God's salvation power.  Therefore truth must be proclaimed!

The Holy Spirit is involved in conversion.  There is a great deal of confusion as to the work of the Holy Spirit in conversion.  But, the Holy Spirit revealed the truth.  The Holy Spirit does His work through the gospel.  Our Lord's promise to the apostles was that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth. (John 16:13)  A work of the Spirit was to reveal the truth.  Peter said, "knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:20-21)  The words of the Bible are Spirit given words.  "The words that I speak to you are of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)  If you are lost you cannot blame the Holy Spirit.

The apostles are involved in conversion.  The Holy Spirit revealed the truth.  The work of the apostles was to be instruments through whom truth was confirmed.  As they went forth to preach God was working with them confirming their word.  "And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  And these signs will follow those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.  So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.  And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs." (Mark 16:15-20)  The apostles confirmed the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 3)

The preacher is involved in conversion.  What part does the preacher play in conversion?  The preacher must preach the word.  The power is not in the man but in the message of Christ and Him crucified. (1 Corinthians 1:23)  Every preacher has the obligation to preach the word.  Paul wrote to Timothy saying, "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word!  Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." (2 Timothy 4:1-2)  Any time one stands to preach He should hear the words of those Greeks who came to see Jesus.  They said to his apostles, "Sir, we would see Jesus." (John 12:21)  It is the obligation of those who preach to explain in simple terms the gospel plan of salvation.

The church is involved in conversion.  In conversion the function of the church is to support the truth.  Paul said, "These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Timothy 3:13-15)  If the church does not support the truth who will?  The church must see that truth and nothing but truth is preached to sinners.

The sinner is involved in conversion.  The sinners' part is to obey the truth.  Only when truth is obeyed can hearts be purified. (1 Peter 1:22-23)  How do you obey the truth?  You obey the truth by believing in Jesus (John 8:24), repenting of sins (Luke 13:3), confessing the name of Jesus (Acts 8:37), and by being baptized to wash away sins (Acts 22:16).  Have you obeyed the truth?

FAMILY NEWS

SERVICE GROUPS
Service Group #4 will meet following the Sunday evening service to pick up their assignment cards. (Items to bring: Dry Items-beans, rice, pasta & noodles; dish & laundry detergents)

Service Group #3 please turn in your assignment cards for last week.

OUR RECORD
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Bible Classes  164 
AM Worship  244
PM Worship  153 
Wednesday (3-14) 169
Contribution   $8205
‘07 Average  $8323
‘07 Budget  $8500

BRIDAL SHOWER
There will be a Bridal Shower for Darlene Parnell Bradshaw Sunday afternoon, April 15^th from 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. at the home of Renee and Regina Brittain, 3014 Hepplewhite Cove, Lakeland. All the ladies of the congregation are invited to attend. She is registered at Macy’s Wal-Mart, Target, Kirkland’s Kohl’s, J. C. Penney’s, Bed Bath and Beyond.

NEW BABY
Conner Edward Clines, 7 lb 4 oz, was born March 14th.  His proud parents are Brandon and Erin Clines.  Congratulations and best wishes to Brandon and Erin.

MOTHER-DAUGHTER TEA
There will be a Mother-Daughter Tea hosted by Sharon Close on Saturday, March 31st from 12 noon until 3:00 PM.  Daughters, ages 12 years and under, and their mothers are invited to attend.  There is a sign up sheet on the foyer table.

SPRING PICNIC
Our spring picnic is just around the corner - Saturday April 7th from noon - 4:00 PM.  We have begun getting things organized and need your help.  We need 1000 plastic eggs filled with goodies, feed sacks, and uncooked eggs.  We also will be playing softball so we need you to bring your softballs, bats and gloves.  Lunch will be served at noon.  The church will be providing the fried chicken.  We need you to bring the sides: potato salad, coleslaw, fruit salad, baked beans, dessert and drinks.

EXCHANGE CLUB - CARL PERKINS CENTER FOR THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE

The mission of the Exchange Club - Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of child abuse is to provide support to families in preventing and dealing with child abuse in West Tennessee and to help both parents and children meet the practical needs of preserving and improving the quality of family life.

This non-profit organization needs YOUR HELP! On May 13^th 2007 the Hardeman County Carl Perkins Center is hosting a Dinner and Auction. This annual event raises money to keep the Center open and children from abuse.

What is needed: Items to be donated to be sold in an auction. Items can include Restaurant Gift Cards or Game Tickets; tickets to any activity in the Shelby-Fayette-Hardeman County areas; Collectors items; woodwork; Basket-O-Goodies; or anything else you are willing to give away to be sold. If there are no items you have to give, donations are accepted.

Questions? Just contact Andrea Forrester at 901-484-7692 or Hardeman County Exchange Club Carl Perkins Center at 731-659-2373.

This agency helps so many families in West Tennessee, please help keep the centers open and our children safe. Anything you can give is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

"Children should be seen and heard and loved and cherished and nurtured and hugged and enjoyed and admired and protected and encouraged and supported and praised and respected and appreciated and valued and helped and complimented AND NOT HURT."

TEN "ME-ATTITUDES"

Every Bible student is familiar with the "Beatitudes" (Matthew 5).  Too many people today, including the children of God, have replaced them with what we might call "me-attitudes" that are totally opposite of what our Lord was teaching.  For example:
1. To make me happy, never disagree with my opinions on anything.
2. To make me happy, talk about the faults of others.  I have none.
3. To make me happy, always speak to me, even if I never speak to you.
4. To make me happy, always praise me, even if all I do is criticize others.
5. To make me happy, serve me.  I don't have time to serve others.
6. To make me happy, always love me, even though I display hatred for others.
7. To make me happy, no one will get to heaven except my family, my close friends, and me.  (Maybe a few others...like Abraham, Moses, Peter, Paul and such.)
8. To make me happy, let others do the work of the church, but let me share the credit.
9. To make me happy, let the preacher preach to all those "bad" people and leave my family and me alone.
10. To make me happy, let others contribute most of the money, but let me tell them how to spend it.

In reality, none of the above will make such people happy!  Such people are never happy!  If they get their way, they still find some reason to complain.  They have a great need in their hearts.  They need the love of Christ which will enable them to love others, as well as themselves (Romans 8:9-22; Ephesians 3:16-19).