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

Website: www.annachurchofchrist.com

Vol 24. Issue 17 Apr. 25, 2010

The Church on the Go

If there is one thing you can definitely say about the Lord’s church in Acts, it is that it was really a church on the go! Looking closely at the church and Christians who were active members of it reveals how they kept going further and further for the Lord. Notice that…

...their mission was about going further “out.” Their primary focus was on spreading the gospel. From the very beginning, the church grew daily because they continued daily with teaching (Acts 2:46-47). They taught and preached Jesus and

His gospel both publically and privately (Acts 5:42). They proclaimed Jesus as Lord

in every situation in life, even while being persecuted (Acts 8:4).

...their fellowship was about going further “in.” They were very close, and they were very concerned about their special relationship with one another. They “continued steadfastly” in fellowship (Acts 2:42). They shared with one another (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32). They encouraged one another (Acts 11:22-23). They freely expressed their love for one another (Acts 20:37). They even got along and associated with neighboring congregations who were properly following the Lord (Acts 9:31).

...their worship was about going further “up.” They showed great care and concern in honoring God and worshiping Him in spirit and truth. They worshiped according to the doctrine that the Holy Spirit-inspired Christ-taught apostles declared to them (Acts 2:42). They assembled regularly and praised God passionately (Acts 2:46-47; 11:25-26; 14:27; 20:7).

...their service was about going further “down.” They humbled themselves (Acts 20:19) and got down to work in selfless acts of kindness. They served the neglected (Acts 6:1-7) and the needy (Acts 11:28-30; 20:35). Their unselfish, sacrificial service gave them a great reputation in the community (Acts 2:44-47).

Are we a “going” church? Are you “going about” as a member of it? Are we going further and further in the Lord’s name? Let’s go!

- Edd Sterchi via Family Matters

SERMON TOPICS

A.M. – “Maintain The Pattern”

(I Tim. 1:15-16)

P.M. – “Is Your Neighbor’s House On Fire?”

(Acts 5:17-25)

Those For Whom We Are Praying:

Kathleen Ritchey

Jerry Ward

Bonnie Mangum

Bill Whitnel – suffered a stroke.

Virginia McIntyre

Jerry Toler – battling prostate cancer. Remember Ann in your prayers as well.

Margeurite Ledgerwood

Sue Thornsberry’s father. Cause of his irregular heartbeat still unknown.

Sheilah's brother is recovering from open heart surgery.

Our sympathy goes out to brother Wardell at the passing of his brother, Weldon. His other brother, Carroll, is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.

Jeremiah Johnson – former student of Carolyn; was involved in a wreck recently.

Quotable Quote: “Every man is guilty of all the good he didn't do.” - Voltaire

Wisdom From Proverbs: “There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief” (Prov. 12:21).

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 youth activity at the Skating Rink this afternoon. See Wayne or Sandy for details.

* Next Sunday will be Potluck Sunday.

* 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.

* Bootheel Youth Camp Workday May 22. Also - Little Egypt Youth Camp in Dahlgren this summer. More details on the

bulletin board.

* Campbell Soup has not discontinued support for the homosexual agenda. Please continue boycotting them.

* Hearing assistance available upon request.

BIBLE QUESTION/ANSWER:

Last week’s answer: His head was caught up in a tree (II Sam. 18:9) and he was slain.

New question: Who came to investigate Solomon’s wisdom and status and said, “The half was not told me?”

Sentence Sermon: “If God gave you the same priority you give Him, would you be saved?”

Birthdays &Anniversaries

Raymond & Wilma Hartline - 4/17

Ron & Susan Schultz - 4/29

Are You Really Happy?

It’s a truth that many people in today’s world justify their sins by the rationalization, “God wants me to be happy.” But is “happiness” to be found in sin? What vast multitudes don’t realize is this: the Lord’s definition of “happiness” is not the same as man’s definition of happiness. As far as God is concerned, “happiness” is not grounded in physical and material pursuits; and most especially not in anything which is a clear violation of God’s Will.

The terms, “enjoy” and “pleasure,” are very important. There is a degree of these emotions in many activities of life—even in some sins, but “enjoyment / pleasure” is not “happiness” in the truest sense of the word. The Lord God is not going to reward drunkenness, drug abuse, or fornication with “happiness.” What an insulting view of God that is!

When we of today think about “happiness,” we’re awfully casual about how we use that word. One may be “happy” for his young son’s “Perfect Spelling” award. Another is “happy” with his new LCD TV set. Many are deliriously “happy” when their favorite sports team wins. Generally, we associate “happiness” with some of the most ordinary experiences of life. The truth is, so many souls are “unhappy” because they don’t know what true happiness is!

The term “happy” is found about 28 times in the English Bible (KJV; ASV). A survey of those passages reveals that happiness, as viewed by God, always has to do with a spiritual application. It’s a service to God that embodies an eternal hope. Scripture teaches: “happy is that people, whose God is the LORD” (Ps.144:15). “Happy is he... whose hope is in the LORD his God” (Ps. 146:5). “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding” (Prov. 3:13).

British philosopher C.S. Lewis insists, “God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” To his words, I would say, “Amen.” We were made to glorify God (Isaiah 43:7), and apart from that service, there is no real, lasting happiness in human existence.

- R.W.