Urgent Prayer Requests
* Bill Sugar, friends of the Diamonds, Lymphoma
* Brenda, more tests on her heart. Also pray for Pete’s health.
* Zachary recovering from gall bladder surgery
* Cynthia Wordlaw, need for a kidney
* Dennis fighting kidney failure
* Sandy & Rachelle, working many hours (plus Rachelle is under the weather)
* Dan, health concerns
* Mueller family, Alicia’s pregnancy
* Marilynn Norvell
* Aaron Wordlaw and his arthritis
* Gene & Lois Schulze at home
* Mark & Julie Johnson and the situation with their Illinois home
* Julie away at school at Mizzou; pray she remains in good health
* Our church and need for revival
Upcoming Activities
1. Bible Study (Brief Books) and Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
2. Sunday school, Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
3. Worship Service, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
4. Discipleship Training (Elijah), Sunday,
5 p.m.
5. 5th Sunday Q & A Fellowship, Sunday,
6 p.m.
“It is amazing how much wisdom people have about other people’s affairs and so little interest in their own.”
A. T. Robertson
Sermon Extras
Verse 9 of chapter 4 reads:
“Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves HAVE BEEN taught by God to love one another.”
The phrase “taught by God” is actually one word, a word only used here in the New Testament. As I mentioned in the message, it means the believer is taught by God via the indwelling Spirit to love one another.
I highlighted the words “have been” in the text. The ESV reads as though this lesson from the Spirit is a past act, perhaps LONG past. Actually, a better rendering would be “…you yourselves ARE taught by God…”. Paul is telling us such teaching is an ever-present, continuous lesson of God’s Spirit throughout our sanctification.
Check out some other translations and notice which ones use the present tense “are” instead of “have been”.
MMO
Next Sunday is our last one for you to contribute to the Missouri Missions Offering for 2013. Please seek the Lord for what He would have you give.
5th Sunday Q & A Fellowship
Sunday evening, September 29, marks our next 5th Sunday Q & A Fellowship. We spend an hour munching on snacks while the pastor attempts to answer questions on the hearts and minds of our members. Normally it is an informal hour of fellowship and I encourage you to attend even if you have no questions at this time.
If you would like to ask a question but prefer no one knows it is from you, simply write your question on a piece of paper and place it in the container on the table near the front door. Also, if you are coming to the fellowship, please bring a snack and drink to share with others.
See you Sunday at 5pm for Discipleship Training and 6pm for our Q & A Fellowship!
Ladies’ Book Study
Our ladies begin a new book study in just over a week on Tuesday, October 1st. The study is entitled “Duty or Delight? Knowing where you stand with God” and will meet for 7 consecutive Tuesdays, each week at 6:30 p.m.
If you have an interest in being a part of this study and have not yet registered, I encourage you to do so by calling Pam DePriest so she will know how many books will be required.
Ladies, come and be a part of this fun and challenging study!
“Mutual love among Christians is an inbred quality.”
Pastor’s Postscripts
I want to share with you some specific prayer requests.
First, please pray for our Trustees: they have several items “on their plate” at the moment. Foremost among them is the bringing of a proposal for a new church sign. Pray they would have God’s wisdom to guide them in their selection so that our church ultimately has the proper sign at a reasonable price.
Second, pray for our church when we consider their proposal! I suspect their recommendation will be made during the October business meeting in a couple of weeks. Churches have split over matters such as carpets, pew Bibles, etc., and we do not want a church split over a new sign! So, be in prayer that God will give each of us a discerning spirit but also a spirit of love as we consider the Trustees’ proposal.
Third, we are concluding the Missouri Mission Offering this Sunday. Pray for wisdom on what the Lord wants you to give, then do so! Also pray for our upcoming Operation Christmas Child effort which will begin in just a matter of weeks.
Finally, praise God for all the blessings He has poured out on our church these first 9 months of 2013! He has sent numerous visitors. He has given us new members. He has blessed us with financial abundance. He has inspired members to reach out to the lost.
What might He do in the last 3 months of 2013?! PRAY!