|
|
Nile
Street Notes
Anna Church of
Christ 104 Nile Street,
Anna, Illinois 62906 833-5815 |
Website: www.annachurchofchrist.com
Vol 23. Issue
43 Oct.
25, 2009
In Mark 8, our Lord and Savior said: “For
what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul” (v. 36&37).
On this
occasion, the Master Teacher was talking about losing true spiritual life, that
is, losing the soul. A soul is not lost in the same way that you might lose
your car keys. Often, things we “lose” are only temporarily misplaced. Neither is a soul lost in the sense that
it has disappeared. To “lose” one’s soul means the loss of spiritual well-being
— a separation from God by sin in this life, and ultimately separation from Him
eternally in the next life (II Thess. 1:8,9).
Just as
with the crowd to whom Jesus was speaking, His message challenges people today
to make choices. In Mark 8:34, the Bible says our Lord calls on everyone to follow Him. The question is,
will we? He calls on everyone to deny himself and take up His cross (8:34).
Will we? He challenges us to lose our life for His sake and the Gospel’s in
order to save it (8:35). That means we abandon our devotion to ourselves and
our own worldly wishes and count Him and His will first and foremost. Are we
willing do that? He goes on to state in no uncertain terms that He doesn’t want
us to be ashamed of Him and His words, for He will then be ashamed of us at
Judgment (8:38). So, are we ashamed of our Lord?
All of
this means that we have to make decisions — big decisions with an eternal
impact. Sandwiched between His teaching about following Him and
decision-making, and the value of the soul, is this question: “…What shall it
profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Jesus’
question ought to cause us to think seriously about what really matters most in
life. Just what is the most important thing in life to us?
If I have the opportunity to take on a
2nd or 3rd job and greatly increase my financial standing
at the expense of devotion to Christ and/or worshipping Him faithfully and
studying the Bible with the saints, then what does it profit me? I might “gain
the whole world” – I might even do something noble like using the income to pay
all of my debts, but at what cost? Is my soul worth a luxurious temporary life?
Is it even worth a debt-free existence?
Suppose the
office secretary seduces you late one evening at work and you commit adultery
with her to the applause and back-slapping of your fellow co-workers? You might
rise a few levels in their esteem and might even find a degree of earthly bliss
yourself, but is that worth your soul?
If a young man
goes out and has a beer or two with his buddies and maybe even does some drugs
and tells some dirty jokes laced with profanity, but loses his soul because of
his ungodly behavior, what has his show of “manliness” done for him? Has it
gained him a home in Heaven?
Dear Reader, if
we want to be popular in the eyes of others, Satan will be glad to help us out.
If we want fortune at any cost or if we wish to pursue personal pleasure to the
exclusion of all else, Old Scratch will help you every step of the way and give
you countless opportunities. He will convince you that every earthly pleasure
and pursuit imaginable is the most important thing and will help you meet such
goals.
Make no mistake
that your soul is the most important possession of which you will ever be a
steward. The challenge for so many is to realize that their soul and its
eternal destination truly is the most important thing in both this life and the
one to come. It’s easy to tell how much value a person places on his or her
soul by the choices he or she makes in life. Take the words of Jesus to heart:
“what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his
own soul?”
- R.W.
SERMON TOPICS
A.M. – “Will God Hear My Prayer?” - # 2
(Jas. 5:16-18)
P.M. – Questions & Bible Answers
(II Tim. 3:16-17)
Those For
Whom We Are Praying:
Kathleen Ritchey
Rodney & Nikki Lingle
Bill Whitnel
Mitchell Shock – Grandson of
Rosemary’s cousin.
Paul Etherton
- Sara Wilkins' father. Cancer in lymph nodes.
Diana Schultz
- Recovering from injuries sustained in a car crash.
Tommy Schultz
– Heart trouble.
Wes Boie –
Terminal cancer.
Bonnie Mangum
Jean Brown –
Kris’s aunt. Passed away last Wed. Our sympathy goes out to the family.
Wisdom From Proverbs: “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be
watered also himself” (Prov.
11:25).
Quotable Quote: “When one door closes
another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the
closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.” – Alexander Graham
Bell
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).
UPCOMING
ACTIVITIES/MEETINGS
* Our Gospel Mtg. Nov.
1-4 w/Jeremiah Tatum. Theme: “Remember
Thy Creator...” Please begin inviting people – it’s just
one week away!
* Next week
will be Potluck Sunday.
* Devotional
& hayride Oct. 30 at R.W. & Renee’s at 6 p.m.
* Ladies Day
Nov. 7 at West End Blvd. church of Christ in Cape Girardeau. Areva Chesser
& JennyNewman speaking. Please
RSVP soon.
* Please clip
and save the "Box Tops for Education" from various food items and put
them in the collection box in the
Preacher's office. They benefit
Schultz-Lewis Children's home.
* There is a
new class for ladies on Sunday morning that many are finding uplifting. See
Donna or Sandy for details.
* Please
continue to drop any Bible questions in the Question & Answer box in the
foyer.
* Please
continue boycotting Pepsi & Frito-Lay products as they support the
homosexual agenda.
BIBLE QUESTION/ANSWER:
Last week’s
answer: Olive,
pine, myrtle, and palm (Neh. 8:15).
New question: What wood was used to build
the altar in the tabernacle?
Sentence Sermon: “When the outlook is
bad, try the uplook.”
Birthdays &Anniversaries
Rachel Thornsberry - 10/27
Margaret Shelton - 10/30
The preacher has been talking for 25 or 30 minutes and now he
walks down from the pulpit area. It’s obvious that he’s about “done,” so what
do people do? Of course, they put their Bibles away and grab the song books.
The teaching part of the sermon is over, after all.
Or, is it?
I want to make two challenges in today’s post. This is something I
have really been hitting hard at Lebanon Road lately, and I think is being
received by the members as a way we can be more open to the lost.
Challenge #1
is for the members who are listening to the sermon. Don’t stop listening at
the invitation! The preacher still has teaching to do. Some have never
heard the plan of salvation, and some who have heard it hundreds of times may
need to hear it that one extra time in order to confirm a need to come to
Christ. You are distracting to that person who is trying to hear this message
(not to mention to the preacher who is doing his best to convey the message of
the cross).
Is it that big of a deal? Yes! I was told a story several years
ago, and was told it was true. Even if it is not true, it makes the point well.
A man had been trying to convince a friend to come to worship with
him for some time. Finally, the man agreed and attended. He saw all that
happened and listened to the sermon with an open Bible. The preacher then got
to the end of the sermon and extended the invitation. The song was sung and
finished, with the man not responding publically.
On the drive home, the one who had invited asked his friend, “What
did you think?” The response was shocking: “I loved it! I liked the singing and
the prayers. I didn’t understand everything, but the sermon was moving. In
fact, I was going to respond and be baptized.” The friend asked, “Why didn’t
you?” The response? “When the preacher got to that part of the sermon, everyone
seemed ready to leave, and I didn’t want to slow them up.” Still ready to get
that song book out and stop listening?
Challenge #2
is to the preachers. Don’t treat the invitation as just a tradition! When
you preach often, you deliver hundreds and hundreds of invitations. You have
gone over the plan of salvation scores of times and have told people about the
cross, heaven, hell, and sin more times than you can count.
But someone in that auditorium may have never heard it before, and
others need to hear it again. Please, preachers, review the plan of salvation
at least every few weeks. Don’t just get to the end of your sermon and say, “So
if anyone needs to respond, please do so while we stand and sing.”
·
Respond to what?
·
What response are they
to give?
·
To whom are they
responding?
·
Where do they go to
respond?
I’m not saying you have to go through the entire plan of salvation
after every sermon, but, if it’s been a month, it’s been too long! Most likely,
someone who has heard you in that time has never heard that baptism is
essential, or that repentance means a change of mind.
Work on your ability to shape the invitation to fit the sermon and
continue to teach right through the invitation. Some have never heard!
Let’s all make the invitation more than just an ending to the
sermon. Let’s strive to encourage someone to make it a beginning of a life
lived for Christ!
- Adam Faughn via Faughn Family of Four weblog