Nile Street Notes

Anna Church of Christ

104 Nile Street, Anna, Illinois 62906

833-5815

 

 

Website: www.annachurchofchrist.com

 

Vol 23.                                                    Issue 3                                       Jan. 25, 2009

 

All Means All to God

 

            In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul offers this thought, “And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all” (12:6).

In the passage, Paul is telling those with spiritual gifts that one gift is just as important as another.  All gifts came from God; therefore, God used each person with a gift for His desired purpose.  The phrase “all in all” essentially means “all things” or “everything.”  In our society, those three little letters do not seem to share the same meaning that we read from scripture.“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)

How many times have we looked down at another for having weak faith?  How many times have we shown favoritism to some in the congregation at the expense of others?  I am sure that you can think of many other instances in which people do not make the best decisions.  Each one of us chooses to make our decisions; and for some, choosing not to make a decision is their decision.  Regardless of our station in life and in the church, we will miss the mark set by God.  We must be careful at judging others; after all, there is only one judge (Hebrews 12:23).  Since all have sinned, including myself, shouldn’t I work on correcting my own transgressions with God instead of belittling others for theirs? (Matthew 7:5)

The Bible tells us clearly that not all will obey the gospel (Romans 10:16), and by not obeying all of the gospel, a soul sins against God. (Deuteronomy 27:26; Galatians 3:10). “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33)

This verse is one of the most cited lines from all scripture.  It plainly commands, from Christ, those that want to follow Christ must place the kingdom of God (church) as the most important aspect in their lives.  When the church is placed in that perspective, “all” things are added to us.  What is Christ referring to?  1) physical needs, v 25-31, but more importantly, 2) spiritual needs, v 32.  The phrase, “all things”, means exactly what it says.  It is hard to understand how society can misunderstand such a small phrase.  All means all with God.  But notice, I must choose to make the decision to put Him first in my life and then, and only then, will the other things that He knows I need in my life be given to me.  Please remember Romans 8:28.

God is always willing to help us make sure we are ready to stand judgment.  “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).  All means all.  I can overcome sin in my life; I can overcome the mistakes that I have made; I can do better today than I did yesterday. But I must have the assistance of Christ (the gift of God).  “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).  It should be a great comfort to us to read such passages.  All means all with God.  It does not mean that I get to choose when I want to obey, how I want to obey, why I want to obey, or where I want to obey. It means just like the servants in Colossians 3:22, I must obey in all things.  In doing so, I am not alone in this world.  It is true that sin separates us from God; but who is responsible for that?

 

- Ryan Thornsberry

 

SERMON TOPICS

A.M. – “Who Are We?”

            (Acts 2:37-41)

 

P.M. – 3rd Sunday Song Service at 5 p.m.

 

 

 

Those For Whom We Are Praying:

Kathleen Ritchey 

Loren Eddleman

Rosemary Dillow’s mother & Son–in-law

Jerry & Betty Ward

Rodney & Nikki Lingle

Bill Whitnel

Ken and Gilda Snell – Ken is having trouble with his knees.

Lowell Karraker

Mitchell Shock – Grandson of Rosemary’s cousin.

Bonnie Mangum

Austin Detering – Newborn battling a number of birth defects.

Carlos Wright

Veda Pryor

Holly Miller (Wetaug congregation) - Her mother is in Lourdes Hospital and had a stroke last week.

 

 

 

 

Wisdom From Proverbs: “The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth” (Prov. 10:18).

 

 

Quotable Quote: “By 2000, politics will simply fade away. We will not see any political parties.” - Visionary and inventor R. Buckminster Fuller, 1966

 

 

Sentence Sermon: “A God all-mercy is a God unjust.”

 

 

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

* Singing service tonight at 5 p.m.

* The 3rd Sunday fellowship that normally follows our song service has been canceled for tonight.

* Ladies’ Bible class will meet Jan. 20th at Renee’s  house, 7 p.m..

* Communion sign-up list is on the bulletin board. Please sign up for a month in 2009 to prepare it if

   you’re able.

* We have invitation letters to our services to mail out. If you’d like to be a part of this, see R.W.

* Feel free to drop any Bible questions in the Question & Answer box in the foyer.

* Food Pantry needs canned fruit.

* The Fourth Sunday Singing will be held at Dongola this month at 2:30.

 

 

Hearing assistance for any service is available upon request.

 

 

BIBLE QUESTION/ANSWER:

 

Last week’s answer: David. II Sam. 24:25.

 

New question: Which king carried Judah and Jerusalem into captivity?

 

 

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Wyatt Jones - 1/21

Miraculous or Amazing?

 

Without a doubt, all of us have heard of the U.S. Airways crash last week that put an Airbus 320 jet into the Hudson River. The plane was said to have taken some Canada geese through each of its jet engines, causing them to break down and the plane to rapidly lose altitude. The pilot, Captain Chesley Sullenberger, was a highly trained former Air Force fighter pilot who had flown commercially for over 30 years (40 years total experience). He managed to land the plane carefully enough that it didn’t cartwheel or break apart on impact and subsequently, no lives were lost.

The majority of people I saw and heard on TV and radio heralded this feat as a miracle, but was it? A miracle is a divine operation that goes beyond what is normally perceived as natural law and cannot be explained upon any natural basis. Therefore, was the landing of that jet really a miracle? While it was amazing, even surprising, it was in no way a miracle. Several factors contributed to this landing that do not violate the natural laws that govern God’s creation.

For one thing, the flight was to be a short one, so the fuel tanks weren’t very full, allowing space for air in the tanks to help keep the plane buoyant. That, combined with the fact that aviation experts describe the Airbus 320 as a very sturdy craft surely helped contribute to the plane staying afloat.

Another thing that contributed to the safe landing is the fact of Captain Sullenberg’s experience. He was described as calm and collected - a "pilot's pilot" - and did his job with unsurpassed professionalism and skill.

Furthermore, although uncommon, it’s not out of the realm of possibility to set an airplane down in water without destroying it and without miraculous intervention. When the conditions are just right, such as trajectory, air speed, and attitude, safe emergency landings in many situations are quite possible.

Finally, most importantly, the age of miracles is over. The purpose of miracles was to confirm the word being taught (Mark 16:20). They were temporary in nature. In I Cor. 13:8-10, Paul says spiritual gifts were made known in part, and the “part” would give way to the whole. In other words, when the Bible was complete, miracles would cease.

In short, although this landing was indeed amazing, it was by no means miraculous. A miracle occurred when Jesus fed the 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fishes (Mark 6:41-44). A miracle occurred when Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee (Matt. 8:23-27). A miracle occurred when Paul struck Elymas the sorcerer blind for a season (Acts 13:6).

These events cannot be explained by natural laws and are thus miracles. The emergency landing of a jet airplane can be explained by natural laws and thus is not a miracle. It’s too bad we’re not more careful in choosing our words, for we often confuse fascinating events with genuine miracles. Let’s make a greater effort to understand what the Bible teaches – about everything.

 

- R.W.