March 27^th, 2016

9:30 am Bible Study

10:00 am Service -------------------------------------------- Messages by brother John Chapman

Nursery Today: Second Service: Polly P., Alt. Debra H.

Cleaning Schedule: This Week: Rick & Kathryn, Next Week: Kelly & Robin

Birthdays: April 3^rd-- Steven Parks, 7^th – Cherrie Anderson, 14^th – Wesley Hudson

FWe are glad to have John Chapman back with us. Brother John is a longtime preacher of the gospel and friend to this church. We thank him for coming and pray the Lord’s blessing on the messages today. I am preaching today for the Lantana Grace Church, Crossville, TN; Don Bell, pastor.

LOST IN THE CROWD

When the Lord Jesus began His ministry it appears that His first recorded sermon was preached in the synagogue of Nazareth, His hometown. His scripture text was Isaiah 61:1-2. The application of His message was the absolute sovereignty of God. He used two illustrations from the Old Testament, namely the sustaining and salvation of the widow of “…Zarephath in the country of Zidon” and the cleansing of the Syrian General Naaman from his leprosy, (read Luke 4:16-30). Both He and His message were rejected with an attempt to kill Him.

If one carefully studies the four accounts of the Gospel he will find that Christ’s public addresses were reproofs of the Pharisees and Sadducees, the two sects that led the religion of that day.

There was only a very small remnant that believed the message of Jesus Christ and persevered as true disciple’s; as you will find when He was finally rejected and crucified. Before His final rejection by the Jews and their religious leaders He rejected them (read the account in Matthew, chapters 21 through 23).

My point is that as we approach the consummations of the ages there is only a very small remnant that believes the whole counsel of God’s Word and faithfully follows the Lord Jesus Christ. The religion of the day is no more than a feel-good religion while on its way to hell. There are multitudes more going to hell down the church aisles than from the sports bars, taverns, and brothels. It is not my word, but the word of my Lord Jesus Christ that warned the religion of His day that the “publicans and harlots go into The Kingdom of God before you” (Matthew 21:31).

My reader, the name of the religious game of the day is numbers. Ministers and their staff do not study the Holy Scripture, they study “How to grow the Church” manuals, and their major is “group therapy, entertainment and amusement.” The Church is a machine and its minister an “oiler”. His work is to keep the machine running smoothly as he and it slide down the slippery slope to hell!

Are you a participator? Or are you lost in the crowd? --Terry Worthan, pastor,Winston, GA

"...And Lose His Own Soul " -- Mark 8:36

No man can describe the loss of the soul as he should. No man can paint this dreadful picture in true colors. You and I will never fully understand what it means to lose one's soul until we pass through the valley of death and wake up in eternity. Then, and not until then, shall we know the value of the soul.

The value of all things will change greatly in that day. The hour is coming when money, bank notes, and bonds will be worth no more than waste paper. The day is coming when our diamonds, silver, and gold will be as dust in the streets. The day will dawn when houses and lands will be as worthless as a child's worn out toy. In that day the fame, honor, and glory of this world will be worth no more than faded flowers and withered grass.