Grant County church Of Christ
April 29, 2007
Worship Services
Sunday 9:30am & 6:00pm
Bible Study
Sunday 10:40am
Wednesday 7:00pm
BASICS OF SHARING YOUR FAITH
The Eunuch didn’t know who Jesus was, so Phillip preached Jesus to him. Acts 16:22-40
The jailer was told to believe, because he had no faith yet. Most studies are started establishing the authority of Jesus and the authority of the Bible, and then they progress from there to man and the sin problem and what God has done to rid us of the guilt of our sins.
THE CLOSING: Be absolutely certain that the person understands what he must do to be saved and why. Summarize everything you have taught. One good practice is to have the person to repeat what he/she has learned. This is also a good opportunity to correct any misunderstandings.
Don’t be afraid. God will help you (Matthew 28:20).
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Smile of the Week: Here, in its entirety, is the text of a post card received by the parents of an eight-year-old camper: Dear folks, I knew all along that something awful was going to happen. Well, last night it did. Love, Jimmy
"AS YOU GO" EVANGELISM
By: Jerry W. Carmichael
I really believe it was done with the best of intentions. I also believe that it used to work. In the 1960’s through the 1980’s we would meet at the church building at 7 P.M. on Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays. We would be given a list of names by organizers. Then, in groups of two or three, we would dutifully go to those homes one by one. Yes, we often found people watching television, eating dinner or just spending time with their families. Back then, they didn’t seem to mind a visit by people from church. In fact, some of them really appreciated it. Now and then you would find one who seemed bothered or "put out" that these "church people" would intrude on our time with our families. But for the most part, the visits were pleasant and often resulted in people obeying the gospel or wayward souls being returned to the fold.
Something changed in the nineties. Americans became busier, and family time became more scarce. Also, crime increased to the point that most families have at least one member who has been a victim. Home invasions were talked about on the news. Rapes, robberies and murders increased. People became more and more suspicious of strangers arriving at their doors. In fact entire towns passed ordinances against door to door campaigns of any type, including religious ones.
Ceasing to evangelize is not an option with New Testament 2
Christians. We "cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard." We must evangelize, because of the commission given by our Lord (See Mark 16:15-16 and Matthew 28:18-20). Therefore, as we have done for 2000 years, we must adjust our methods of evangelism so that they will be more effective in the time period in which we now live.
In Acts chapters 7& 8 we read about severe persecution in the church at Jerusalem. "Church people" were not welcome there either. In fact they were being murdered for preaching about Jesus.
What they did though, can serve as an example for us in the increasingly hostile, anti-Christian, environment of the United States today. Simply stated in Acts 8:4 "Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went" (NIV). The same idea is expressed in Matthew 28:19, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations."
There it is! The answer to our problem of people not wanting to be bothered with "church people" intruding on their family time. In order to meet the requirements of the great commission without causing hard feelings about the church, why don’t we all begin to practice "as you go" evangelism? Why don’t we "preach the word everywhere we go"?
Think about where the members of the Lord’s church go on an average day. To a restaurant, to the grocery store, to the neighborhood hangout, to the Senior Citizens Center, to lunch with friends or family, to the nursing home or the hospital to visit. Even those who stay at home are not isolated. Repairmen come to our homes. Service providers such as delivery and pick up people come to our homes. In the words of the apostle Paul, "No man lives or dies unto himself." Since this is the case, is it not feasible to "preach the word" as we go through our lives? Does it not make as much sense to "evangelize as you go" as it does to "go and evangelize" ?!!
It is my prayer, that this year will be the year that we as Christians, start taking "as you go" evangelism seriously. It will work if we give it a chance. It worked for the first century church, and it will work for the 21st century church as well!
FAMILY NEWS
Ì Joyce Fehrman, the church secretary here, fell last Sunday and suffered bleeding in her brain cavity. She underwent surgery Tuesday and so far has shown no visible response or signs of recovery. Thanks to all who have expressed concern. Please continue to pray for her.
Ì Please keep Frankie Fitzgerald in your prayers. HE has been diagnosed with cancer.
Ì Brenda Spence, a friend of Sandy Mills is being treated for cancer.
Reminder:
All members of Grant County church Of Christ are encouraged to complete the
member form located on the table in the lobby. This information will kept on
file at the church office and listed in the member directory posted on the
website (see Kim for a user ID and password for the membership directory
online.)
UPCOMING EVENTS
Please begin to pray for the following events:
June 8-13, 2007 Door-knocking Campaign and Gospel Meeting with David Shannon from Mount Juliet, Tennessee.
July 15-18, 2007 Vacation Bible School with help from the Green Street church in Henderson, KY and the Seven Oaks church in Mayfield, KY.
Statistics
Sunday Attendance Contribution
AM PM
April 1 211 $2,062.00
April 8 26 22 $315.00
April 15 34 24 $302.00
April 22 23 22 $262.00
Wednesday
April 11 24
April 18 23
April 25 16