Nile Street Notes

Anna Church of Christ

104 Nile Street, Anna, Illinois 62906

833-5815

Vol 23. Issue 20 May 17, 2009

Paul’s Instruction For Unity

In 1 Cor 1:10, Paul provides us this insight into how Christians are to be unified under Christ.

“Now I beseech you brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you bu that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

Paul is calling for a unity of opinion; he begs for all people, during the first century as well as in the twenty-first, to think about the gospel in the same way. The opinion that Paul calls for is for a purpose or will that needs to be done. Please notice that our purpose is derived from that one spoken thing, –the Gospel.

If you remember in John 17:20-21–Christ prays for unity for all those that would follow him.

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. That they all may be one as thou Father are in me and I in thee, that they also may be on in us that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

To follow Christ requires his followers to follow his purpose. What was Christ’s purpose? Luke 19:10 and Matt 18:11–For the son of man is come to save that which was lost. That was his one purpose and must be our one purpose today. Romans 5:8– “but God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” With this type of action, should we become motivated to do his purpose? Is that your purpose today?

An opinion is often considered what we think or believe about something. When it comes to our spiritual lives, we should speak, practice, think, and have the same attitude that Paul urges the church at Corinth to have. The ONE that he had because he followed Christ.

Have you fully complied with God's will? In order to do so, you need to: 1) Hear the word--Romans 10:17 2) Believe --Galations 3:22 3) Confess Christ--Romans 10:10 4) Repent--Luke 13:3 5) Baptized--Acts 2:38 6) Continue to live a faithful life–Revelation 2:10.

- Ryan Thornsberry

SERMON TOPICS

A.M. – “One Of Our Three Greatest Needs

- Hope” - (Heb. 11:1)

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

Those For Whom We Are Praying:

Kathleen Ritchey

Rodney & Nikki Lingle

Bill Whitnel

Ken and Gilda Snell

Lowell Karraker

Mitchell Shock – Grandson of Rosemary’s cousin.

Austin Detering

Carlos Wright

Veda Pryor

Charles Dillow – Freda’s brother-in-law

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

Jean Brown – Kris’s aunt.

Tommy Schultz

Our sympathy goes out to the family of Bill Brandstatter on the recent passing of his grandson.

Wisdom From Proverbs: “The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.” (Prov. 11:3).

Sentence Sermon: If you have accomplished all that you planned for in life, you have not planned enough!

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

* Let one of the elders know a possible date in the next few weeks for us to take our youth

skating.

* Men – it’s time for another Prayer Breakfast. Let R.W. know if there’s a Saturday this month or in early June that works for

you.

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

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

* Food Pantry needs canned fruit.

* Please read the information on the bulletin board concerning Pepsi’s support of the homosexual agenda. Their products are

Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew, 7Up, Sierra Mist, and others. Please read the label to see who produced the soda and avoid

purchasing it. Should a Christian financially support such sin?

Hearing assistance for any service is available upon request.

BIBLE QUESTION/ANSWER:

Last week’s answer: Thirty. II Sam. 5:4

New question: What bird fed the prophet Elijah?

Quotable Quote: “Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards.” -- Unknown

Birthdays &Anniversaries

Kittie Yates - 5/23

Jesus’ Weather Forecast

It is interesting that Jesus knew some sign that indicated certain weather conditions.

In Matthew 16:2, 3 Jesus stated, “When it is evening you say, ‘It is fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is read and threatening’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times” (NKJV). Notice, Jesus stated they did know how to discern the sky. Their forecast was correct.

In Luke’s account we read: “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. “Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?”(Luke 12:54-56).

In both of these accounts, Jesus is saying that they have the ability to forecast the weather but they can’t determine spiritual matters correctly.

Jesus used weather related incidents in other places to make a spiritual point. In Matt. 7:24-27 Jesus uses the illustration of a house on the sand and one on the rock. He points out that when the rain and winds come the house on the rock will stand and the house on the sand will not. He used this weather illustration to show the importance of obedience.

On occasion, Jesus controlled the weather. To show that he was divine, he caused a windstorm to stop on the Sea of Galilee by saying, “Peace be still!” (Mark 4:39). This was an isolated incident that Jesus used to make a point. It showed Christ’s power over nature. Obviously Jesus doesn’t do the same thing today.

Jesus obviously shows us that storms will come. Rain will descend. God has put certain weather patterns in place that were true in Jesus’ time and are still true today.

God nor Jesus picks certain places on the globe to get bad weather and certain other places to receive good weather. Whether a person is a Christian or not doesn’t determine the weather. Jesus also said, “That you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matt. 5:45).

- Bill Brandstatter

Facing Adversity

What is adversity? We can understand the word to mean any trial, tribulation, or sinful temptation that we face during our life. I’m sure we’ve all faced adversity in some form or fashion.12 years ago our family was faced with more adversity in the course of that year than we had ever faced before in our lives. Two “totaled” vehicles, a stroke, broken hip, 2 open-heart surgeries, and death made up most of 1997 for our family. This is a tremendous amount of misfortune for anyone to have to endure, especially in the course of one year.

How should we react in the face of such trials? Many feel that the temptation to sin during such “bad times” is too great to resist. Some will turn to drugs or alcohol to “drown their sorrows.” Others will curse God openly or will ask why He “let this happen.” Most people are careful not to accuse God directly, but is this the attitude we should have in the face of temptation or trial? The apostle Paul didn’t think so. In I Corinthians 10:13, he writes “There hath no temptation taken you but as is common to men: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able: but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” God doesn’t burden us so heavily that we cannot bear it, nor do we face a temptation that has no escape, because God provides us with a “way out.” Many times, escape is as easy just saying “no.” Doing that in the face of temptation, coupled with “effective, fervent prayer” to God (Jas. 5:16) will often help us find the escape God has promised.

Our attitude ought to reflect that of James in chapter 1:2-3, which tell us “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” As difficult as this is for so many of us to believe, the true Christian should count it joy that he or she is worthy of being tested. If we all think back, I believe we can see that some of our most trying times have actually made us stronger and wiser.

Is your attitude right in God’s eyes? Do you face temptation with a humble, trusting attitude in God? If not, you need trust that the trials of life can strengthen us, especially when we persevere and utilize the way of escape that God provides. As hard as it may seem, we must grow spiritually to the point we can “count it all joy...”

R.W.