Nile Street Notes Anna Church of Christ 104 Nile Street, Anna, Illinois 62906 833-5815

Website: www.annachurchofchrist.com

Vol 24. Issue 7 Feb. 14, 2010

Do You Love The Lord? - Notes

1. Old and New Testaments teach that God must be

first in our lives.

* Ex. 20:3

* Mt. 6:33

* Mt. 22:36-37

2. Col. 3:1-4 – Church at Colossae fought false doctrines &

survived.

* Col. 3:1 – If we’ve been raised up (baptized), we must

seek Heavenly things.

* Col. 3:2 – Set your affection (your mind) on things

above, not Earthly things.

* Col. 3:3 – Christians are to have died to the temporal,

worldly life, and should be living a more spiritual life.

- We can’t live in both worlds and “ride the fence.”

* Col. 3:4 – When the Lord returns, don’t we want to be

with Him in glory?

* Mt. 24 –

3. How does Col. 3:1-4 apply to church attendance?

* We ought to want to worship God (Ps. 122:1). People who

willfully skip services don’t love God very much.

* We ought to want to be present in order to be with

brothers & sisters in Christ.

* We must set a good example for children and others.

(Heb. 10:23; I Thess. 5:11; Josh. 24:15).

* Seek things that are above, set our minds on Heavenly

things, be dead to this world, and Jesus will reward us!

4. Do we believe Col. 3:1-4 or not?

* Are we following Christ or aren’t we?

* Are we Christians or aren’t we?

* Jn. 14:15 –

* Have we really “...decided to follow Jesus, no turning

back?”

SERMON TOPICS

A.M. – “Do You Love The Lord?”

(Col. 3:1-4)

P.M. – “Serving Others”

(Mt. 20:20-28)

Those For Whom We Are Praying:

Kathleen Ritchey

Rodney & Nikki Lingle

Bill Whitnel

Mitchell Shock – Grandson of Rosemary’s cousin.

Bonnie Mangum

Virginia McIntyre

Michelle Ashby (friend of the Driskills) – Has inflammatory breast cancer that has spread to her ribs, liver, lower spine, & right pelvis.

Carroll McCommons

Quotable Quote: “Celebrate what you’ve accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed.” – Mia Hamm

Wisdom From Proverbs: “A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel” (Prov. 12:10).

Welcome! If you're visiting with us, we extend you a special welcome and invite you to come back at every opportunity. If our worship seems unusual to you, please let us know what you find different. We endeavor to worship "in Spirit and in truth" (Jn. 4:24) and do only what scripture authorizes (Col. 3:17, Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18-19).

NEWS & UPCOMING ACTIVITIES

* Please remember to mute or turn off cell

phones.

* Our Sunday evening services will be at 5 p.m. at least through March 14^th,.

* Our meeting with Gary Colley 3/18-3/21.

* Mark your calendars and watch for more info about Inspiration 2010—the Dexter Youth Rally.

Dates have been set for March 5-6 and Joe Wells will be speaking.

* Please clip “Box Tops For Education” & put

them in the box in the Preacher’s office.

* Please continue to drop any Bible questions in the

Question & Answer box in the foyer.

* American Family Association (AFA) has suspended its boycott of PepsiCo. After monitoring the company for several months,

AFA is satisfied the company has withdrawn its major financial contributions to gay activist groups.

* Hearing assistance available upon request.

BIBLE QUESTION/ANSWER:

Last week’s answer: Nadab & Abihu (Lev. 10:1-2).

New question: Who wanted her sons to sit on the right and left hand of Jesus?

Sentence Sermon: “Be Fishers of Men ... You catch 'em, He'll Clean 'em.”

Birthdays &Anniversaries

Wanda Johnson - 2/14

Sheilah Whittington - 2/15

Sandy Schultz - 2/17

Dawn Bradley - 2/20

How Young Is Too Young?

My oldest daughter is in the 5^th grade. When I was her age, 5^th grade entailed learning, recess, classroom parties around certain holidays, but certainly not dancing. Why bring this up? Because her class is to have a Valentine’s Dance next Friday night. Yes, 5^th grade. A dance. Now, I know what many of you are probably thinking: “Come on preacher, they’re 5^th graders. They probably won’t even dance anyway. Lighten up!” I agree. They probably won’t even dance, but my daughter won’t be there, so I won’t know for sure. Besides, what ever happened to age appropriate activities? Why are we encouraging our children to imitate adult behaviors at such a young age – especially this adult behavior? Even if all the children do is sit around and talk to their friends, they know that they went to a “dance.” Suppose I allow my daughter to attend this one, and others during middle school and Jr. High, then she wants to do the same in High School? The door has been opened to attending dances in the future – in high school – and how many of us recall what happened to some of our classmates – maybe even you – who attended our high school dances? Know anyone who lost their innocence or became pregnant afterward? Know someone who only wanted to attend so they could be with their boyfriend or girlfriend, but ended up being drawn or coerced into drinking – possibly driving – afterward and paid a terrible price? Many of us can say, “Yes.”

Even if nothing that drastic does occur, does that make it o.k. in God’s eyes? Does the Bible condone or allow dancing? Is it a wholesome activity? The Bible word which describes and condemns dancing as sensual and sinful is “lasciviousness.” Thayer’s Greek Lexicon explains its Greek counterpart: “unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females” (Thayer, p.79). Many forms of dance certainly involve “indecent bodily movements” and the “unchaste handling of males and females.” That is the appeal of many forms of dance.
Dancing involves activities that excite lust, passion, and eroticism. Regarding such, we read, “That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). “Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15). Any activity, therefore, that promotes lustful or sensual thoughts and actions is sinful. Dancing does this.

In summary, if you’re the parent of a school age child, it’s your choice what you allow him or her to do. If you decide to allow them to attend the prom or other school dance, that’s your prerogative, but do we really need to expose our 5^th graders to this? I know it’s hard for your child to be the only one not going and also hard for you as his or her parents, but give it some thought and consider what God’s inspired Word teaches.

…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).

R.W. McAlister

(adapted and reprinted from The Preaching Pen 2/12/09)