January 11^th, 2015

Today’s Services:

9:30 am .... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... .... Ringstraked, Speckled & Spotted -- Genesis 30:32-43

10:00 am.. ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... Does God Love Me? -- 1 John 4:16

Birthdays: January 11^th -- Lauren Parks, 18^th-- Cody Groover, 31^st -- Robin Pendry

Nursery Duty Today: First Service - Mindy , Second Service - Kathryn , Alternate - Polly

Church Cleaning: This Week: Torrences & Pendrys

THE FAMILY OF GOD -- By Tom Harding, pastor in Pikeville, Ky

All those adopted into God's family should cultivate a continual care and concern for each family member. How can we do this? Look at what the Scriptures say:

1 Corinthians 12:25 - "Care one for another."

John 13:34 - "Love one another."

James 5:16 - "Pray for one another."

1 Thessalonians 4:18 - "Comfort one another."

Romans 15:14 - "Admonish one another."

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - "Edify one another."

Mark 9:50 - "Be at peace with one another."

Ephesians 4:32 - "Forgive one another."

Expounded, Testified and Persuaded Concerning Jesus Christ

“And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening” Acts 28:23

There are three essential things in the preaching of the gospel. Paul did all these things according to our text. He expounded, testified and persuaded those to whom he preached concerning Jesus Christ. Paul expounded, testified and persuaded these unbelieving sinners to believe the things concerning Jesus Christ and he did it from the very book that they claimed to believe and obey. “Persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets.” What a confirmation this is to what the scriptures tell us in Luke 24:27 "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."

I want you to consider these three things with me. Whether you are a preacher or a pastor preaching to a congregation, or simply a believer sharing the things of Christ with a friend or family member; these things are a pattern of true preaching. Wherever Paul was found he had but one purpose, whenever he preached he had but one subject. Paul always hammered on the head of this one nail, “that to live is Christ!”

First Paul EXPOUNDED! The word expounded simply means, explained, declared, exposed and set forth the truth. Paul expounded, explained and declared the kingdom of God to his hearers. Paul showed them the nature of Christ’s kingdom and the glorious purposes and designs of it. He declared to them that God’s kingdom was a heavenly and spiritual kingdom, not a fleshly, carnal one which consisted of a physical and outward work of righteousness, ritualism and religious ceremony for men to glory in.

Secondly Paul TESTIFIED! Some might say isn’t expounding and testifying the same thing? No, it is not! You cannot testify to something that you have not experienced. If you are called into a court of law to testify in a case, you are called to give an account of your own personal experience. To testify is to bare witness to the effect which the gospel has had upon our heart and life. Testifying is to never replace the preaching of the gospel but what a powerful means it is in persuading men to trust in Christ.