Nile Street Notes

Anna Church of Christ

104 Nile Street, Anna, Illinois 62906

833-5815

Vol 23. Issue 13 March 29, 2009

Christians and Giving

In spite of the current nationwide financial situation, we enjoy televisions, computers, wireless Internet, cell phones, cars, fine homes and plenty of food. Such has been the case for most or all of our lives. Granted, some people have more possessions than others, but virtually all of us have life’s essentials. How much gratitude do we show God through our giving for all that we have?

Under the old law, it was required that 10% of the individual’s earning be tithed to the Lord (Numbers 18:26; Nehemiah 10:38). If you were to compare your weekly contribution to the Lord to your rough earnings for the week, would it be at least 10%? That’s not to say that we’re bound by the required contribution of 10% as people under the Old Testament were. Indeed, that command, along with the old law, has been done away with, and all things of the Old law have been replaced (Hebrews 8:13). In Hebrews 8:7 the Bible says, “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.” Due to the imperfection of the Old law, there was a need for the establishment of a new law. If the old standard was 10%, what then is our new standard?

The Apostle Paul tells us that our standard today is not connected to a monetary amount, but rather to the love we have in our hearts toward God for what He has done for us in our lives. In II Corinthians 9:7 the Bible says, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” As you see blessings in your life, do you give thanks and recognition to God as the provider of those blessings when the collection plate comes around? When considering that Christ paid a terrible price to wash away mankind’s sins, shouldn’t our giving be greater than the bare 10% minimum required under Old Testament Law? Under the covenant of Christ, we have been freed from the bondage of sin, freed from the reign of the world, freed from the rule of Satan, and freed from eternal damnation. Isn’t this reason enough to give God as much as we can right off the top? The true Christian will plan his giving with all his blessings in mind and not give God the leftovers. - R.W.

SERMON TOPICS

A.M. – "A Christian's Top Priority"

(Matthew6:30-34)

P.M. – "It's a Miracle! Or Is It?" - Part 2

(I Cor. 13:8-10)

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

Lowell Karraker

Mitchell Shock – Grandson of Rosemary’s cousin.

Austin Detering – Baby battling a number of birth defects.

Carlos Wright

Veda Pryor

Wardell Barnhart's sister

John Shelton

Charles Dillow – Freda’s brother-in-law

Paul Etherton - Sara Wilkins' father. Cancer in lymph nodes.

Lee Harvick

Wisdom From Proverbs: “The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened” (Prov. 10:27).

Quotable Quote:  “True success is overcoming the fear of being unsuccessful.” – Paul Sweeney

Sentence Sermon: Nothing you will ever lose matters much if you save your soul; nothing you will ever save matters if you lose your soul.

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES/MEETINGS

* Men's Bible class will meet April 6 at 7 p.m.

* Gospel Meeting in Jackson Apr. 3-5 with Phil Sanders.

* Gospel Meeting in Salem, IL Mar. 29-Apr. 1 w/David Lipe.

* Marion church of Christ will host a Gospel Meeting April 19-22 w/Jim Faughn.

* Gospel meeting in Vienna, IL w/Andy Erwin beginning the last Sunday in April.

* Let’s remember to contact those that we haven’t see in a few weeks.

* 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.

* 4^th Sunday singing will in Marion in April at 2:30.

Hearing assistance for any service is available upon request.

BIBLE QUESTION/ANSWER:

Last week’s answer: Seven. Luke. 8:2

New question: Jesus healed a girl of about twelve years of age. Was she a Jew or a Gentile?

Birthdays &Anniversaries

None this week.

“I USED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH”

Douglas Hoff

    Christians are glad to see visitors in Bible classes and worship services. We want them to feel welcome so hopefully they will come again. Being the friendly people we are, it is natural to ask visitors about themselves. We inquire if they are just passing through or if they live in the area. We usually ask if they are members of the church or if they have visited the church of Christ before. If they are not members, we try to answer any questions they have about the Lord’s church.
    Sometimes a visitor will say that at one time he worshiped with the church of Christ but has not done so for quite a while. When the person admits he was baptized into Christ he usually feels a bit uncomfortable and tries to justify himself. At that point it is common to hear something like, “Well, I used to be a member of the church of Christ.” The person believes he is no longer a member and thus under no obligation to faithfully attend.
    While this thinking is common, it reveals a lack of understanding that needs to be addressed. It is good that the person has resumed attending. However, this person’s concept about membership in the Lord’s church is faulty. Does a Christian cease being a member when he decides to quit attending? Is it as if he let a club membership expire? Let us consider what the scriptures say about this (cf. John 5:39).
    Being saved is likened to a new birth (John 3:3-5). A person is born of water and the Spirit when he is baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). When one obeys the Gospel, the Lord adds him to the church (Acts 2:47). The Lord’s church is also called His body (Eph. 1:22-23). Paul taught that the body is composed of many members (Rom. 12:4-5; I Cor. 12:12-28). Therefore, when one is saved, he is born into the family of God which is equivalent to saying he is a member of the church Jesus built (Matt. 16:18). He then has brothers and sisters in Christ.
    In the physical realm, a child is part of a family. His relationship with his parents and siblings cannot be erased. Even if a teen moves out of the house and wants nothing to do with his parents he is still a member of that family. When a daughter gets married and takes the name of her husband’s family she is still a member of her father’s family. Once the Lord adds someone to the church, he remains a member of God’s family. If this is not true, then why did God use the family analogy?

In this life, God does not kick unfaithful children out of the church. Otherwise, to be saved, the erring member would need to be born again and again! A backslider may not feel or act like he is part of the local church but this feeling does not mean he stopped being a member of God’s family.

On Judgment Day the Lord will exclude unfaithful members of the church from heaven. At one time these brothers and sisters were joint heirs with us (Rom. 8:17). The Bible promises that “he who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son” (Rev. 21:7). However, church members who practice the works of the flesh shall NOT inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21). God will cast out (i.e., disinherit) His unfaithful children (Matt. 8:12; John 15:6). Casting them out does not mean they cease being family. Sarah told Abraham to cast out Ishmael for he would not inherit with Isaac (Gen. 21:10). Hell will be worse for members of God’s family because they once enjoyed the Father’s grace and could have been in heaven (II Peter 2:20-22).

When a member’s love for Christ grows weak, it often shows in sporadic attendance at worship services. Eventually, the weak soul quits coming altogether. Some say he “quit the church.” In one sense this is correct since he no longer assembles with the local congregation. To avoid losing his soul the erring child of God must repent and come back to the Lord just like the prodigal son did (Luke 15:11-32). He was still a son though, living in sin far removed from the Father’s house.