What about this weather? “Brrr - Frozen” for several days then “Ahhh – Much better” – 60 now! Some people really like the cold … the electric company, the gas company, and maybe those in the plumbing business, or in the heating and cooling business. No problem! We will soon be surrounded by the sights and sounds of spring. I’m ready!

Did you realize that our South Carolina State-Wide Bible Bowl is only 6 weeks away, scheduled for Saturday, February 27th, here at St. Andrews Road? Our Bible Bowl teams are working day and night studying Lamentations and Ecclesiastes. They will be ready. Thank you to every team member and instructor for all you are doing to see that we are ready. Soon there will be sign-up sheets on the Bulletin Board for all who can help. Go by, check out the opportunities, and get involved.

Do you remember the points from last week’s lesson entitled “Under New Management”? When we are baptized into Christ, we are a new creation. The old things of life have passed away. All things have become new (II Corinthians 5:17). In Christ, everything changes. Each point started with the letter “M”.

We have a new M____________________. We no longer serve sin.
He shows us a new M____________________. We no longer desire sin.
We now have a new M____________________, life.
He provides a new M____________________. We no longer love sin.
We now have a new M____________________. Our focus has changed.
We have a new M____________________. Sin no longer interests us.
Did you think of any other points that could be made?
____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________

Congratulations to Gabriel Jenkins, son of Millie Sindo and brother to Adrian, Brianna, and Christian. Gabriel was baptized into Christ this past Sunday evening. What a joy it was to hear him say, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” and then watch him be buried with Christ in baptism. Make sure you tell him how thankful we are to have him as our new brother in Christ. He is a fine young man and one of our most talented Bible Bowl team members.

It is our privilege to host the Area Men’s and Preachers’ Meeting each month. Our next meeting will be here at St. Andrews Road this coming Tuesday, January 19th, at 10:00 a.m., in the auditorium. I will teach a lesson on the benefits of being “in Christ” the first hour. We will discuss the infallibility of Scripture during the second hour. This meeting is for any Christian brother who can attend. Everyone is invited to meet at Cracker Barrel on Bush River Road for a Dutch-treat lunch together.

On Sunday morning for the next three weeks, our lessons will focus on our need for a greater appreciation for the inspired word of God. Read Psalm 119 and note the focus of this Psalm. Note the words: “word, ways, testimonies, commandments, precepts, statutes, judgments, and law.” This Sunday our lesson is entitled: The Bible: The Book of Books!

Sunday evenings are very special times of worship, study, and fellowship at St. Andrews Road. This Sunday evening we will take a look at the first of Paul’s lessons to Timothy: FLEE. This series of lessons will also include Paul’s instruction to “pursue” or FOLLOW … After that Paul told Timothy to FIGHT … Finally, he told him to “lay hold” or FOCUS … If you would like to read ahead, read I Timothy 6.

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday, Sunday night, and Wednesday night.