Volume 30 May 24, 2015 Issue 21

May 24, 2015
MESSENGER
RECORDS YOU HELPED MAKE
Bible Class
20
Attendance AM
47
Attendance PM
Wednesday PM
Page 4
MONTH OF
May
BRETHREN TO SERVE BRETHREN TO SERVE
PM
AM
Announcements
Norris Cole
Norris Cole
27
Opening Prayer
Ryan McGahee
Ryan McGahee
36
Lead Singing
Chris Poole
Chris Poole
Scripture Reader
William Bogan
William Bogan
Prayer
Norris Cole
Norris Cole
Sermon
Richard Melson
Richard Melson
Church of Christ
P.O. Box 60789
Dayton, Ohio 45406
Taking Responses
Richard Melson
Richard Melson
[email protected]
Center Lord’s Table
Patrick Thomas
Patrick Thomas
Serving—1st Prayer
Lyle Cole
Lyle Cole
Traveling: Norris Cole, II
Serving– 2nd Prayer
Anthony Applewhite Anthony Applewhite
Prayers: Lori Ward; Melvin, Jasmine Shannon
Closing Prayer
Jamie Fant
PRAYER REQUESTS
Prayer for Health: Richard Melson;
Chris
Poole; Patricia Davis; Theresa Wallace; Rachel
Blanks; Mary Cammack; Lois Amos Rosella
McGahee; Louise Yeldell; Florine and Richard
Thomas; Janis and Harvey Bland; Rosella
McGahee; Donna Balou; James and Clementine Johnson; Mary Cammack
family; Kelly Funderburke and family (death of
his father); Kathleen Sammons & family (death
of daughter)
Repentance:
Baptism:
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Volume 30
www.TheLordsWay.com/websterst
Fax: (937) 401-0286
Meeting location:
Louise Troy School
1630 Miami Chapel Rd
Dayton, OH 45417
Jamie Fant
A.S.A.P. = Always Say A Prayer
Schedule of
Services
“Pray without ceasing”
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Sunday
Vision Statement
We are a congregation of the Lord’s people dedicated to glorifying
the Father through the proper study and application of the Scriptures, that our lives may be given to teaching the gospel and in service of Him in the Miami Valley and the world.
Bible Study 9:30
Worship 10:30 A.M.
4:30 P.M.
Fourth Sunday
No 4:30 PM service
TO OUR VISITORS
Our goal in the church of Christ is to be the New Testament church, which you can read about in the Bible. We invite you to observe our worship assemblies, the doctrine that is taught and the structure of the church organization. Make a close comparison
with your “church” and the church of the Bible -- The Church of Christ. We also invite you to join us as we strive to be the
church of the Bible and restore New Testament Christianity.
Webster St. Church of Christ
PO Box 60789
Dayton, Ohio 45406
Wednesday
Bible Study
7:00 P.M.
Preacher
Richard D. Melson
937-321-3973
Place
Stamp
Here
[email protected]
Ministers
All Members
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Visit our website at www.thelordsway.com/websterst
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Supporting
Christian Courier on
The Web
Southwest School of
Bible Studies: Austin,
TX
Greater Midwest
Lectureship Dayton,
OH
May 24, 2015
Issue 21
“ IF I ONLY HAD FIFTHEEN MORE YEARS ...”
Barry Haynes
Recently in Bible class, we were discussing the power of prayer. We looked at the example of King
Hezekiah when he was informed by God to get his affairs in order because he would soon die. He
prayed to God to spare him and in 2 Kings 20:5-6 we see God response,
Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of
David your father: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will
heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD. "And I will
add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the
king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My
servant David.
Not only would he survive his illness but God would give him 15 more years of life and protect his
kingdom. All in all an amazing example of the power of God and how He answers prayer.
But what did King Hezekiah do with those 15 years?
The Bible tells us that after his recovery he is visited by representative of faraway land. To impress the ambassadors, he shows off all of the treasures of his house and kingdom. Later, he learns
that faraway land Babylon, now knowing the wealth in Judah, will eventually come to take it all
away. Also, during that time he has a son Manasseh who will take his father’s throne at the mere
age of 12. Whatever good Hezekiah accomplished in his exemplary reign, his son undid in his years
as one the worst kings in Judah history.
The answer to his prayer (more life) was granted but not put to good use. He puts his kingdom in
future danger. He doesn’t use the time to teach his son to respect and obey the Lord. His attitude
is reflected in his response when God tells him the cost of showing off to the Babylonians. He know
what God told him is true but thought, "Is it not so, if there will be peace and truth in my days?" (2
Kings 20:19). He not concerned about the future or his legacy, only in what happens right now in
his life.
I am afraid we often time pray like Hezekiah. We want God to bless us, to give us longer lives,
more things, decrease our suffering, make life easier but at what cost? If a longer life causes us to
bring misery to others, do we really want that? If more riches make us forget about God, should
we be asking for them? If we ask to be free from suffering that will draw us closer to God, are we
truly benefiting?
When we think about the here and now, not about what we will do with those blessings or how
they may affect our relationship to God, our prayers can actually be harmful. If our prayers are
about what we want and not what is best for us and others God would serve us better by not listening. As James says in James 4:2-3, “… Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do
not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
What are we praying for? The here and now or what will benefit us in eternity? What are we doing
with the blessings God gives us? Using them on our own pleasures and vanity or using them to
store up “treasures in heaven”?
If God answers you prayers, would it be a good thing?
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May 24, 2015
MESSENGER
Page 2
May 24, 2015
MESSENGER
Page 3
Melson’s Musings …
Rooted and Built Up
How reasonable are you?
When a seed is planted in the ground, it is intended to
bring forth a plant that will grow into a mature plant.
The seed first sprouts a root. Once the root is started, it
obtains nutrition from the surrounding ground. It then
begins to grow a stem which will break the surface of
the soil. As long as the root is able to get proper water
and nutrition, the stem will have leaves and eventually
the nut, fruit, or vegetable that it has the ability to produce.
Most of us are likely familiar with Paul's challenge in Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always." And, most of us
are probably very familiar with Paul's challenge in Philippians 4:6, "Be anxious for nothing." Both of those can be
quite challenging to
live, and yet even
more rewarding! But,
how familiar are we
with the challenge
sandwiched between
those two?
In Colossians 2:7, Paul wrote, “Rooted and built up in
him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been
taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Paul pictures the Christian as a seed that is planted. The person
must first be rooted. But, what is the soil in which the
person is to be rooted? It is Jesus Christ. You read that
in verse six. It is interesting that Paul puts the word
‘rooted’ in the perfect tense in the Greek. That means
it is a one-time occurrence with on-going results. The
person is planted in the water of baptism. That is the
burial ground. Unless one is baptized, one cannot be in
the proper soil (verse twelve).
The words ‘built up’ are in the present tense in the
Greek. This means that being built up is an on-going
process. One is not built up only once. One must continue to receive nutrition and watering through the
root to grow into a mature Christian. If a Christian
stops studying his Bible, and stops attending church
services, and stops having association with other Christians, then he cannot get the proper teaching and encouragement needed to remain a growing Christian.
The old King James
Version says in Philippians 4:5, "Let your moderation be
known unto all men."
Yesterday we were blessed to honor those
who recently graduated from college and
high school -[Ryan McGahee, Stivers School for the
Arts], (Rom. 12:10; 13:7). It is a great achievement for
each one of our honorees who have earned their postsecondary degrees: LaMarr Cole, Lamont Cole, Norris
Cole, II, Dwight Johnson, Ashley Melson, and Lisa Owens. The time in which it takes you to complete the degree is not important; the fact that you have done so is.
But now the real question for those who are members
of the Lord’s church is this, what will I do with my degree? How will I serve the Lord with it? If this is not
your question then you have missed the marked. In
this life we are either servants of the Lord or servants of
the devil (Rom. 6:17-18), the choice is ours.
What does that mean to you? The NKJV has, "Let your
gentleness be known to all men." The ASV says, "Let your
forbearance be known unto all men." The NASB has, "Let
your gentle spirit be known to all men." The ESV translates, "Let your reasonableness be known to everyone."
“The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by
reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their
boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut
off, and we fly away.” Psa. 90:10
Lois Amos, Marry Cammack, Ruby Cole, Ruby
Holt, Clifford Holt, Rosella McGahee, James
Johnson, Clementine Johnson and Rhea Wallace.
Continue to embrace them, talk with them and
support them in their daily needs as you have
opportunity.
On behalf of the congregation thanks is extended
to the committee of workers who made the celebration a success. What a great example to children coming behind them.
The emphasis of this word is on a humble influence that
foregoes one's personal rights for the good of others. Added to that challenge is to let this be known to everyone!
So, would others describe you as gentle, reasonable or
forbearing? Quite a challenge!
NEWS AND NOTES
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- David Sproule
Study your Bible. Learn all you can about being a Christian. And if any of this is hard to understand, ask an
adult to help you.
© Palm Beach Lakes church of Christ
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Why was Nehemiah sad?
BIBLE QUIZ
Last Week’s: “Artaxerxes” 2:1
Ladies Inspirational Day— Webster Street: July 25. Theme: Stir Up the Gift of God. Location—Central State University West—Mound Street Campus
Gospel Meeting—Kibby Street June 14-18.
Gospel Meeting— Fort Wayne, IN June 14 –17, with Robert Ray from Atlanta, GA.
GOD’S PLAN FOR MAN’S SALVATION
QUESTIONS — Nehemiah
Vol . 19 No. 21
Mark McWhorter
420 Chula Vista Mtn. Rd
Pell City, AL 35125, USA. [email protected]
Copyright 2015
In addition to honoring our graduates, we believed it was fitting to honor our members who
are 70 years and older! What a blessing to have
them with us.
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“Sirs, What must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:30
The Gospel Must Be Heard - John 6:44-45; Romans 10:17; John 8:32
The Gospel Must Be Believed—John 8:24; Mark 16:16
Sins Must Be Repented of — Luke 13:3,5; Acts 2:38
Christ Must Be Confessed—Romans 10:10; Acts 8:37
There Must Be Baptism (Immersion) for Remission (forgiveness) of Sins—Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21
Christian Growth and Faithfulness—1 Peter 2:2; Revelation 2:10; 2 Peter 3:18