Saturday, March 31, 2012

First Look at Palm Sunday

Families from last Sunday: the Craigs
Dave and Nancy Jenkins
The Stepsisters










Church News
Easter next Sunday, April 8th
We still need a cleaning family for April
March 29 of this year declared to be Vietnam Veterans Day by Presidential Proclamation which reads in part-On January 12, 1962, United States Army pilots lifted more than 1,000 South Vietnamese service members over jungle and underbrush to capture a National Liberation Front stronghold near Saigon. Through more than a decade of conflict that tested the fabric of our Nation, the service of our men and women in uniform stood true. Fifty years after that fateful mission, we honor the more than 3 million Americans who served, we pay tribute to those we have laid to rest, and we reaffirm our dedication to showing a generation of veterans the respect and support of a grateful Nation

Sunday’s Teaching
Sunday School: Dueling Denominations
Shakers and Dunkards
Shakers: United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, known as the Shakers, probably originated from Quakers; teachings of Ann Lee
The 4 highest Shaker virtues were purity, communal living, confession of sin, and separation from the world (pietist movement)
Dunkards: the name from German word tunken, meaning "to dip:” method of triune immersion observed by Brethren groups

Today’s Sermon
John 18-19 The Trials of Jesus
There comes a time when prayer is over and it’s time to get down to the business of doing God’s will
The narrative of Jesus’ crucifixion are familiar words, but so meaningful when understood in the light of the theme of John – “that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ”
The actions of Jesus in His arrest, abuse and crucifixion demonstrated that He was the Messiah, the Son of God, just as much as His birth, His teachings and His miracles did
When they entered the Garden Jesus already knew their purpose omnisciently, and He displayed His power (most likely for the benefit of His disciples) in causing them to all fall down when He answered them “I am He” (an expression of His Deity as stated in John 8)
• Jesus had no sleep that night and had prayed to exhaustion, but was still powerful
• He was compassionate in the situation in seeking the release of His disciples (when John noted “that the saying might be fulfilled,” this referred to Jesus’ promise that he would not lose them (Jn. 6:39, 40, 44; 120:28; 17:12)
• He did not provoke a riot or make a show

Our worship for Easter season will include our own version of “Homecoming” singing. We celebrate what has come to be called “southern gospel or “convention music” and it will be enjoyed with the singing of “He Set Me Free,” “I Saw the Light,” “Jesus Hold My Hand” and “Just Over in the Gloryland.” Southern Gospel is sometimes called "quartet music" by fans because of the originally all-male, tenor-lead-baritone-bass quartet make-up. Southern Gospel was promoted by traveling singing school teachers, quartets, and shape note music publishing companies such as the A. J. Showalter Company (1879) and the Stamps-Baxter Music and Printing Company.
Convention songs have contrasting “homophonic and contrapuntal sections.” In the homophonic sections, the four parts sing the same words and rhythms. In the contrapuntal sections, each group member has a unique lyric and rhythm. These songs are called "convention songs" because various conventions were organized across the United States for the purpose of getting together regularly and singing songs in this style.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Are You Ready for Some Sunday?

Tomorrow’s Teachings
Sunday School: Dueling Denominations
Quakers, Lesson #2
Modern Quakers - During WWI and WWII, many Quakers enlisted in military in non-combative position.
Following WWII, Quakers involved in civil rights movement-Bayard Rustin a Quaker who organized March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, where MLK made "I Have a Dream" speech
Barclays, Lloyds, Clarks and Cadburys major Quaker companies
Emphasis on immediate guidance of the Spirit, thus divergent beliefs and practices have existed
Belief that every person can experience an inner light given by God
Use the phrase “Inner Light” when speaking of the internal leadership of the Spirit
Forms of worship vary from traditional to unprogrammed worship


Today’s Sermon: The Social Gospel: What Say Scripture?
Selected Scriptures related to Scriptural sanctification vs. the critics of Christianity who say our job is to right the wrongs of the world
In historical Christianity the definition of sanctification is based on individual belief and works; we are defined by what we believe which then drives what we do, not the other way around


Church News
Easter is April 8th
We need a cleaning family for April
Thanks to all those that participated in Maria and Cordell’s shower yesterday
Darrel and Carolyn remind you that the gospel quartet series at Friendship Assembly of God, 3685 New Center Pt, starts tomorrow with the Blackwood Brothers. The concern begins at 6pm, doors open 5pm. The next concert will be the Legacy 5 on April 24th

Scripture Reading
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing; unto Him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.  Rev. 5:12-13

Monday, March 19, 2012

Sunday March 18: A Good Time Was Had By All

Ben C, headed for the altar some day
Jon C working on recordings and playing solitaire
Last Sunday's teeming masses
 Sunday's worship service was a rock and roll lovefest as usual. Don't forget anyone who wants a cookbook can email us through this blog and we'll email you and get you one. We received a call from a lady in Biloxi MS that wanted one. She found out about the cookbook through another blog, so huzzah and hurrah for Bernideen's blog!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Not Going Green: Services for March 18

Easter coming April 8th
There will be a baby shower for Maria and Cordell soon
Sister Craig is back home in Del Rio after tests in San Antonio
We will need a cleaning family for April
 Today’s Teachings
Sunday School: Dueling Denominations
Quakers #1
Also known as The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church
Mid 17th century, started with George Fox, James Naylor, Margaret Fell and Francis Howgill
Broke from Church of England to return to the practices of the early church, believing they were the restoration of true Christianity, using terms such as true Christianity, Saints, Children of the Light, Friends of the Truth
By 1680 there were 60K Quakers in England and Wales
William Penn (1644-1718) received a large land grant in payment for a debt the crown owed his family. Penn founded Pennsylvania colony and worked Quaker beliefs into its government
 Today’s Sermon: The Social Gospel-Is it Truth?
Today Christian critics state the church must redefine its purpose to redistribution of their resources to “others”
They have blasted today’s evangelicals for not doing enough to cure the social ills of the day
What do the Scriptures say? Are the Critics Right?
I Cor. 1:18-25; Matt. 5:11-12; John 12:8; Gal. 6:1-5
1.     We can right the wrongs of this world by preaching the gospel which transforms people’s lives individually
2.     There is no doubt that the historical, doctrinal teaching of the Scripture on the subject of personal holiness, devotion, relationship with Christ and service to Christ will radically change the world and remove these problems theoretically, knowing that the pervasive power of sin will not be overcome prior to the return of Christ
3.     When the New Testament Scriptures are followed by each person substantially (knowing perfection is not possible, sorry Wesleyans and Nazarenes) the poor are helped, knowing that poverty is a product of sin and sin cannot be eradicated then poverty will not be eradicated

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Sunday Morning Comin' Down after Daylight Saving Time Begins


Sunday morning after the time change; went to sleep before the sermon
Truly resting in the Lord this AM

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Is It Sunday Already?

Retired schoolteacher Darrel asking if he can go to the rest room;
He hasn't quite gotten over classroom etiquette yet
Here we are at another Sunday, and this time with one less hour of sleep
Help me God to stay awake during my own sermon tomorrow
Church News
Daylight Saving Time Sunday; you should have set your clocks ahead one hour (spring forward/fall back) and lost one hour of sleep, so I’ll try to be extra loud today (I could try to be more interesting, but that would take a miracle!)
Easter is April 8th; had the date wrong in last week’s bulletin
There will be a baby shower for Maria and Cordell at Ruth’s house on March 24 at 2pm. For those of you who have already given gifts please come to the shower as Maria will “show and tell” your gifts. If you need ideas, cloth diapers and cloth diaper covers would be good
Bob Mahan has been in the hospital but will be going home soon as he is getting stronger
Sister Craig is asking prayer for upcoming medical tests
Today’s Teachings
Sunday School: Dueling Denominations
Pentecostalism #5
Church of God Cleveland TN; Foursquare, COGIC
Next Denomination: Quakers
Healing the Nobleman’s Son           John 4:43-54
·         Story of healing of the nobleman’s son only in John
·         Nobleman was different from Samaritan woman; he already knew he was helpless - the woman had to be convinced
·         Jesus clearly stated that believing because of miracles is dangerous; miracles alone don’t produce genuine faith, it takes truth
·         Jesus had the power to heal long distance; He was not limited by physical location

Trampolining Through John: We have now completed the following sections of the Gospel of John, in order of teaching:
John 17 – Jesus’ Prayer for Us
2 sermons, Oct 2, ’11 and Oct 9, ‘11
John 8 - The Light of Freedom
3 sermons, Oct 16, 23, 30th ’11 (Jesus the Light of the World)
John 5-7 – Jesus the Bread of Life
Nov 6, 13, 27, Dec 11, 18, Jan 15, ’12 and Jan 22, ’12 (Answering the Critics; The Bread of Life; Growing Opposition)
John 1:1-18 - The Word Was God
2 sermons, Christmas Day 2011 and Jan 8, ’12 (Communication-Animation-Illumination-Incarnation)
John 1:19-4 – Meet the Author, the Baptist and the Messiah
Jan 29, ’12, Feb 5, 12, 19, 26, Mar 4, 11 (Pay No Attention to Miracles or Money; Jesus and Nicodemus; Jesus and the Samaritans; Healing the Nobleman’s Son Long Distance)

 6 Things Jesus Declared Himself to Be in John:
·          Living Water (4)
·          Bread of Life (7)
·          Light of the World (8)
·          Resurrection and the Life (11)
·          The Way, the Truth and the Life (14)
·          The True Vine (15)

Seven “Signs” of Jesus' Deity in John
Changing water into wine at Cana of Galilee (2)
Healing nobleman’s son in Capernaum (4)
Healing lame man at the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem (5)
Feeding 5000 near Sea of Galilee (6)
Walking on water on the Sea of Galilee (6)
Healing blind man in Jerusalem (9)
Raising Lazarus in Bethany (11)

Outline of John (*we have covered so far)-
 *Prologue: Communication and Incarnation (1:1-18)
*Meeting Jesus: the Baptist, the Pharisee, the Samaritans and the Nobleman (1:19- ch 4)
*Sabbath healing controversy at Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem (5)
*Bread of Life Discourse in Capernaum (6)
*Living Water Discourse and Light of the World Discourse at Tabernacles (7-8)
*Jesus’ Prayer for Us (17)

Still to cover to complete our study of John:
Healing Man Born Blind in Jerusalem (9)
Good Shepherd Discourse at Feast of Dedication: winter prior to Passover (10)
Beyond Jordan and Bethany, resurrection of Lazarus, Triumphal Entry (11-12)
Ministry to the disciples on the eve of His crucifixion: Upper Room Discourse; Jesus’ Prayer for Us (13-16)
Crucifixion and Resurrection (18-20)
Post-Resurrection at the Sea of Galilee: Epilogue (21)

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Saturday night's look at Sunday

 
Church News
Daylight Saving Time begins next Sunday March 11th (ends 1st Sunday in November)
Easter April 8th
Sunday School tomorrow
Pentecostalism #4
Church of God (Anderson IN and Cleveland TN); Foursquare, COGIC
Next Denomination: Quakers
Sunday Sermon Faith, Truth and Miracles John 4:24-42
§ Met the Samaritan woman at the well and directed attention to spiritual needs by illustrating with physical need of water
§ He knew her moral failures & revealed them
§ Addressed attempt to deflect attention from moral failures, He revealed what God was seeking from those who truly worshiped Him
§ Responded by worshiping Jesus in spirit and truth, receiving eternal life