December! We have only a few more days to accomplish our plans and resolutions for 2010. God has blessed us. Actually, we should use the remaining days in this old year to put 2010 behind us and look ahead to the new year, 2011. Our elders and deacons are busy praying, planning, and preparing for the coming year. Your minister is also looking ahead to all the challenges and opportunities that await us: Bible Bowl, Gospel Meetings, the 67th Annual Carolina Lectureships, Ladies’ Day, BreakOut 2011, Vacation Bible School, All Night Singing, Polishing the Pulpit Lectures…I could go on and on. May God continue to bless our efforts with a harvest according to His will!
We have been blessed with a great opportunity in 2011. We will be hosting the 67th Annual Carolina Lectureships. The date is set. We have chosen a theme. The speakers are almost in place. I will be asking for your help in several areas of service. God has blessed us with beautiful, updated facilities. We have a membership that knows how to plan, prepare, and work. This is a big undertaking for us. We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. Mark your 2011 calendar for this very exciting event and plan to be here for every session.
67th Annual Carolina Lectureships
St. Andrews Road Church of Christ
Sunday through Wednesday
APRIL 3 – 6, 2011
9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Theme: “What it Means to Preach the Cross of Christ”
Key Note Speaker: Winford Claiborne of Fayetteville, Tennessee
Light Breakfast and Lunch Provided. Dinner on your own.
This Sunday morning the sermon is entitled “Following the Footprints of Jesus.” Enoch walked with God (Genesis 5:24). Noah walked with God (Genesis 6:9). Philippians 3:16 tells every Christian to “walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.” 1 John 2:6 says, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” There are many aspect of Jesus’ life that we must follow and walk after: His love, His patience, His compassion, His boldness, His humility, His seriousness, His joy, His kindness, His discipline, His use of time, His strength, and His way of sharing the plan of salvation. On Sunday morning I would like to focus on Jesus’ way of showing and sharing the gospel with people. He really only used two methods. We will take a look at the footprints of Jesus as He shared the gospel with others. Jesus was the best. I am never dissatisfied with the best.
On Sunday evening our lesson is entitled; “Follow Me.” We will consider our commitment to the Father through the Son (John 14:6). Am I committed to the Father through the Son? Or am I committed to something else? Some are committed to just about anything but the Father through the Son.
We are beginning a new Bible study for “Young Professionals” on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. for anyone ages 18 to let’s say, maybe 30. We will be studying from the Bible on a variety of subjects: Fear, Faith, Finances, Family, Friendships, Focus, Freedom, Feelings, Fellowship, Food, Fun, Fads, and Future. I guess you noticed that each lesson begins with the letter “F.” This class also meets every Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. in the “room down the hall” and is taught by one of our elders, Brother John Dennison. I look forward to seeing you!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
We had a great Men’s and Preachers’ Meeting this past Tuesday. Brother Richard Ramkinson of the Windsor Lake congregation did an outstanding job presenting a lesson on “The Relationship of Faithful Elders to the Congregation They Serve.” Brother Richard’s mother is still gravely ill too far away from him in Trinidad. Please pray for her, her family, and Brother Richard.
It is a very special privilege to work along side many faithful dedicated preachers, elders, deacons, and Christian brothers in the Midlands of South Carolina. Our monthly meetings together continue to be a great blessing to me and I am sure to every brother in Christ who attends. We will not meet in December due to our busy holiday schedules. Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 18th at 10:00 a.m. Mark your 2011 calendar for this very special time of study and fellowship.
God continues to bless us here at St. Andrews Road. It was such a blessing to see our brother Jason Gas respond to the Lord’s invitation this past Sunday morning asking for forgiveness and strength to live a better Christian life. Let us all be in prayer for Jason as he tries to live closer to Jesus.
God inspired John to write the following words in 1 John 2:1; “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” If you read a few verses before this passage, you will find these words, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). What a great blessing it is to be a Christian, saved by grace through faith, walking in the light as He is in the light, continuing steadfastly in the Apostle’s doctrine, worshipping God in spirit and in truth, walking by faith and not by sight, being steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, going about doing good today and every day waiting, hoping, and looking forward to the coming of Jesus and our home in heaven!
I am excited about our Sunday morning sermon series. I usually am! What do we need to accomplish God’s purpose for us? What makes us strong? Well, there are things that we DO need and there things that we DO NOT need. This Sunday we will consider the first lesson in this series entitled, “WHAT MAKES THE CHURCH OF CHRIST STRONG.” We do not need large numbers of people, only God’s will. We do not need worldly wealth, only God’s word. We do not need better, more sophisticated ways of doing things, only God’s way. If you would like to read ahead, read Judges 7, 1 Samuel 14, Numbers 13, Revelation 3, and maybe 1 Timothy 3 and Philippians 1:1.
On Sunday evening we will consider our salvation in Christ and how thankful we should be to God for the priceless gift of our His Son. Sin separates and condemns. God unites and saves through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through the knowledge of God’s word sin is exposed. Through our obedience to God’s word sin is expressed. Through our continuance in God’s word sin is expelled.
Thanksgiving is now only a few days away. Many of us will be traveling to visit with family and friends. Others will be busy with family arriving from just about everywhere. In all that we do this holiday season, let us take time to thank God for the rich blessings that we enjoy from His hand. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
It is a very special privilege to work along side many faithful dedicated preachers, elders, deacons, and Christian brothers in the Midlands of South Carolina. Our monthly meetings together continue to be a great blessing to me and I am sure to every brother in Christ who attends. We will not meet in December due to our busy holiday schedules. Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 18th at 10:00 a.m. Mark your 2011 calendar for this very special time of study and fellowship.
God continues to bless us here at St. Andrews Road. It was such a blessing to see our brother Jason Gas respond to the Lord’s invitation this past Sunday morning asking for forgiveness and strength to live a better Christian life. Let us all be in prayer for Jason as he tries to live closer to Jesus.
God inspired John to write the following words in 1 John 2:1; “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” If you read a few verses before this passage, you will find these words, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). What a great blessing it is to be a Christian, saved by grace through faith, walking in the light as He is in the light, continuing steadfastly in the Apostle’s doctrine, worshipping God in spirit and in truth, walking by faith and not by sight, being steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, going about doing good today and every day waiting, hoping, and looking forward to the coming of Jesus and our home in heaven!
I am excited about our Sunday morning sermon series. I usually am! What do we need to accomplish God’s purpose for us? What makes us strong? Well, there are things that we DO need and there things that we DO NOT need. This Sunday we will consider the first lesson in this series entitled, “WHAT MAKES THE CHURCH OF CHRIST STRONG.” We do not need large numbers of people, only God’s will. We do not need worldly wealth, only God’s word. We do not need better, more sophisticated ways of doing things, only God’s way. If you would like to read ahead, read Judges 7, 1 Samuel 14, Numbers 13, Revelation 3, and maybe 1 Timothy 3 and Philippians 1:1.
On Sunday evening we will consider our salvation in Christ and how thankful we should be to God for the priceless gift of our His Son. Sin separates and condemns. God unites and saves through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through the knowledge of God’s word sin is exposed. Through our obedience to God’s word sin is expressed. Through our continuance in God’s word sin is expelled.
Thanksgiving is now only a few days away. Many of us will be traveling to visit with family and friends. Others will be busy with family arriving from just about everywhere. In all that we do this holiday season, let us take time to thank God for the rich blessings that we enjoy from His hand. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Remember our monthly Midlands Men’s and Preachers’ Meeting is scheduled for this Tuesday, November 16th at 10:00 a.m. Brother Richard Ramkinson of the Windsor Lake congregation will be presenting the program on “The Relationship of Faithful Elders to the Local Congregation of the Lord’s Church.” This meeting is for any elder, deacon, preacher, or any other Christian brother. We always have good discussion and a great time of study and fellowship together. We will have lunch together (Dutch-treat) at Cracker Barrel on Bush River Road after the meeting. This will be our final meeting for the 2010. We do not meet in December due to the busy holiday season. We will meet in 2011 on the third Tuesday in January, the 18th. Remember to pray for Brother Richard’s mother who is very ill in Trinidad.
Thank you to our Brother Allen Hutchison and our entire youth group for hosting the “Double Nichol Banquet” last Sunday afternoon for those in the congregation who are 55 years of age and older. What a wonderful way to respond to my sermons on gratitude! Our older Christian brothers and sister are such a wonderful blessing to us. Our young Christians need those of us who are more mature in faith and in years to look up to and emulate. Maybe we can make this an annual event!
This Sunday we will once again focus our attention on gratitude (Thanks) and stewardship (Giving) since the Thanksgiving holiday is now less than two weeks away. On Sunday morning we will think about Paul’s request of Philemon concerning Onesimus in a lesson entitled “Now, That is How You Say Thanks.” Paul prayed for Philemon. Can you think of a better way to express gratitude? On Sunday evening we will note that when God asks us to give Luke 6:38, Galatians 6:7, Acts 20:35), He is simply asking us to share what we have been given with others. Do you know what sharing does for the one who shares? Sharing makes me more like God. When I share, I am very close to God. When I share with others, I win the victory over materialism. I want to be godly. Don’t you? I want to be as close to God as I can. Don’t you? I want to win the victory of worldliness. Surely you do, too! Paul said it best in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
The Sunday morning Life Enrichment Bible Class (Teacher: me) will have supper together each Sunday evening immediately following the Sunday evening worship hour in the fellowship hall. If you are a member of this class you are cordially invited to this fellowship supper. We will announce the menu each Sunday morning during class. Nothing complicated; just soups, stews, sub sandwiches, pizza, KFC, and maybe casseroles. This will be a great time of fellowship together for the class.
If you are not currently attending one of our Bible classes on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening, know that you are missing out on a great opportunity to grow as a Christian. Get up an hour earlier on Sunday morning and be a part of one of our very special Bible classes. On Wednesday evenings we meet at 7:00 p.m. and dismiss at 8:00 with very few exceptions. Sometimes I get a little bit lengthy with the devotional lesson, but not too often. We love being together. That’s the way it should be.
The holiday season is quickly approaching. The traffic really picks up this time of the year with holiday shopping and family visiting. Be careful. Be thoughtful. Be patient. Be safe. Be thankful. Be the Christian you know to be.
Thank you to our Brother Allen Hutchison and our entire youth group for hosting the “Double Nichol Banquet” last Sunday afternoon for those in the congregation who are 55 years of age and older. What a wonderful way to respond to my sermons on gratitude! Our older Christian brothers and sister are such a wonderful blessing to us. Our young Christians need those of us who are more mature in faith and in years to look up to and emulate. Maybe we can make this an annual event!
This Sunday we will once again focus our attention on gratitude (Thanks) and stewardship (Giving) since the Thanksgiving holiday is now less than two weeks away. On Sunday morning we will think about Paul’s request of Philemon concerning Onesimus in a lesson entitled “Now, That is How You Say Thanks.” Paul prayed for Philemon. Can you think of a better way to express gratitude? On Sunday evening we will note that when God asks us to give Luke 6:38, Galatians 6:7, Acts 20:35), He is simply asking us to share what we have been given with others. Do you know what sharing does for the one who shares? Sharing makes me more like God. When I share, I am very close to God. When I share with others, I win the victory over materialism. I want to be godly. Don’t you? I want to be as close to God as I can. Don’t you? I want to win the victory of worldliness. Surely you do, too! Paul said it best in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
The Sunday morning Life Enrichment Bible Class (Teacher: me) will have supper together each Sunday evening immediately following the Sunday evening worship hour in the fellowship hall. If you are a member of this class you are cordially invited to this fellowship supper. We will announce the menu each Sunday morning during class. Nothing complicated; just soups, stews, sub sandwiches, pizza, KFC, and maybe casseroles. This will be a great time of fellowship together for the class.
If you are not currently attending one of our Bible classes on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening, know that you are missing out on a great opportunity to grow as a Christian. Get up an hour earlier on Sunday morning and be a part of one of our very special Bible classes. On Wednesday evenings we meet at 7:00 p.m. and dismiss at 8:00 with very few exceptions. Sometimes I get a little bit lengthy with the devotional lesson, but not too often. We love being together. That’s the way it should be.
The holiday season is quickly approaching. The traffic really picks up this time of the year with holiday shopping and family visiting. Be careful. Be thoughtful. Be patient. Be safe. Be thankful. Be the Christian you know to be.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Remember to “FALL BACK” your clocks one hour on Saturday night (6th) before you retire to bed because Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday morning (7th) a 2:00 a.m. Don’t be the one who arrives ready for Bible class an hour late or the one who arrives for the 11:00 a.m. worship hour during the dismissal song and prayer. Make a note for yourself on the mirror to remind you. Maybe at note on the refrigerator might be a better place. Most cell phones now have programs that can be set to remind us of important dates and appointments. Let’s be on time, prepared, and excited about meeting together for worship, study, and fellowship.
Last Sunday evening our young men did an outstanding job leading us in worship. Bobby Graves led the singing. Justin Johnson and Kyle Holton presented two fine lessons. Gabriel Jenkins and Christian Jenkins led in prayer. Tyler Johnson and Brandon Lambert read from the Bible. Joey Reeves, Brace Hutchison, and Wyatt Holton serve at the Lord’s Supper table. Thank you! Brother Allen Hutchison for all the planning and preparation you put into our youth program. Thank you to our young men and our young women for living the Christian life at school, at home, around your friends, and everywhere, especially in the church. What a great joy it is to be a member of the Lord’s church at St. Andrews Road. May God help us to be more appreciative of the blessings we enjoy, blessings that many congregations only dream of!
Thank you for allowing me to postpone part of the sermon last Sunday morning to this Sunday morning. I am looking forward to preaching this Sunday morning on the subject “When We Give, We Get.” Do you remember the three things that God expects every Christian to give: T______, T___________, and T____________? Do you remember the three things that we must never give? Never give ____. Never give ____. Never give _____.
This Sunday morning we will focus on the Bible text found in 2 Peter 1:1-11 and see that each Christian grace (virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love) in this text requires diligent stewardship. God gives every Christian grace and peace (2), “all things that pertain to life and godliness (3), and exceedingly great and precious promises (4). We must manage our lives so that these graces can be ours and abound (8). For example: If I am to have virtue in my life, I must give all diligence to purity, not to worldly peer pressure. I hope this lesson from God’s word will help us all to live the way God would have us live.
This Sunday evening we will learn about gratitude. Jesus was thankful. He was often disappointed when those around Him were ungrateful. Did you know that ingratitude is a mark of someone who is foolish and deserving of death? Gratitude is God’s will for everyone. We have so much to be thankful for. Let us be careful to show and share our gratitude with God, with those we love, and with everyone.
Our monthly Men’s and Preachers’ Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 16th at 10:00 a.m. Brother Richard Ramkinson of the Windsor Lake congregation will be presenting the program on “The Relationship of Faithful Elders to the Local Congregation of the Lord’s Church.” This meeting is for any elder, deacon, preacher, or any other Christian brother. We always have a lively discussion and a great time of study and fellowship together. We will have lunch together (Dutch-treat) at Cracker Barrel on Bush River Road after the meeting. Hope to see you there!
Last Sunday evening our young men did an outstanding job leading us in worship. Bobby Graves led the singing. Justin Johnson and Kyle Holton presented two fine lessons. Gabriel Jenkins and Christian Jenkins led in prayer. Tyler Johnson and Brandon Lambert read from the Bible. Joey Reeves, Brace Hutchison, and Wyatt Holton serve at the Lord’s Supper table. Thank you! Brother Allen Hutchison for all the planning and preparation you put into our youth program. Thank you to our young men and our young women for living the Christian life at school, at home, around your friends, and everywhere, especially in the church. What a great joy it is to be a member of the Lord’s church at St. Andrews Road. May God help us to be more appreciative of the blessings we enjoy, blessings that many congregations only dream of!
Thank you for allowing me to postpone part of the sermon last Sunday morning to this Sunday morning. I am looking forward to preaching this Sunday morning on the subject “When We Give, We Get.” Do you remember the three things that God expects every Christian to give: T______, T___________, and T____________? Do you remember the three things that we must never give? Never give ____. Never give ____. Never give _____.
This Sunday morning we will focus on the Bible text found in 2 Peter 1:1-11 and see that each Christian grace (virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love) in this text requires diligent stewardship. God gives every Christian grace and peace (2), “all things that pertain to life and godliness (3), and exceedingly great and precious promises (4). We must manage our lives so that these graces can be ours and abound (8). For example: If I am to have virtue in my life, I must give all diligence to purity, not to worldly peer pressure. I hope this lesson from God’s word will help us all to live the way God would have us live.
This Sunday evening we will learn about gratitude. Jesus was thankful. He was often disappointed when those around Him were ungrateful. Did you know that ingratitude is a mark of someone who is foolish and deserving of death? Gratitude is God’s will for everyone. We have so much to be thankful for. Let us be careful to show and share our gratitude with God, with those we love, and with everyone.
Our monthly Men’s and Preachers’ Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 16th at 10:00 a.m. Brother Richard Ramkinson of the Windsor Lake congregation will be presenting the program on “The Relationship of Faithful Elders to the Local Congregation of the Lord’s Church.” This meeting is for any elder, deacon, preacher, or any other Christian brother. We always have a lively discussion and a great time of study and fellowship together. We will have lunch together (Dutch-treat) at Cracker Barrel on Bush River Road after the meeting. Hope to see you there!
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