Be Of Good Cheer by Dave Rogers

Transcription

1 Volume 19, Number 35 September 1st, 2013 Be Of Good Cheer by In John 16, Jesus tells His disciples that He is about to depart from this life. He told them ahead of time because He knew it would be hard for them, and He wanted to prevent them from stumbling. The disciples did become sorrowful, and they did not understand fully the implications of their Master s words (at this point). He promised that a Comforter would come (verse 7), and that this One would guide [them] into all the truth (verse 13). Although He knew the disciples would grieve at His departure, Jesus also foretold that their sorrow would turn to joy, verse 20. In fact, His departure ultimately would be a catalyst for the church, a kindling of fire in the world, Luke 12:49. The purpose of the discourse in John 16 was to comfort the disciples in the face of severe hardship after His departure. Jesus knew He would be crucified, would arise from the grave, and would return to heaven; and He knew these events would usher in a time of great stress for His followers. The Master s words were intended to comfort and encourage them because there would be many temptations to desert Him (consider John 21:3). He knew His crucifixion would cause them to scatter (verse 32), and so explained in verse 33 that they were not being deserted; These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. In His death at Calvary, Jesus overcame the power of Satan. Knowing the result of this act in advance, the Savior assessed Israel s response to the preaching of the seventy in these words; And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. In face-to-face confrontations with Satan, Jesus defeated him each time with God s word (Matthew 4:1-11). What could be more fitting than the fact that Satan s ultimate defeat comes through the fulfillment of God s word? God had promised that Satan s power would be crushed by the seed of woman (Genesis 3:15). Jesus was killed in John 19:30, but in John 20:1-18, He was raised from the dead! Paul tells us in Colossians 2:18 that He spoiled the power of Satan and openly triumphed over him! The power of the devil lay in death, but Jesus broke the bars of death in His resurrection! In His resurrection, the Savior conquered sin s deathgrip on all mankind. Hosea 13:14 foretells the payment of a ransom from sin, and Paul quotes it in 1 Corinthians 15:55 as O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? In verse 56, Paul identifies the sting of sin as death, and James says that death is the fruit of sin (James 1:15). Where once the law produced death by its condemnation of sin, now we have a law which frees us from sin s grip by reconciliation in the blood of the Christ, Romans 5: Finally, our Master overcame the world in that His offering on Golgotha forever bridged the gap between man and God caused by sin. Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2), and causes Him to hide His face from us (Isaiah 1:15). But it pleased the Father by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, having made peace through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:19-20). Being reconciled to God through Christ, we become new creatures in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17-18 & Galatians 2:20). This is why He can truly urge His disciples to Be of good cheer, for He has indeed overcome the world!

2 Family Matters Graham McDonald - Will have surgery in September. Cecile Whitacre - Gerry s mother is waiting on test results, send cards to 624 Stinchcomb, Fostoria, Ohio Deepest Sympathy We offer our deepest sympathy to Leisa Allender for the loss of her mother, and to Ginny Couch & Susan Voyles for the loss of their sister, Becky Turner last week. Please remember this family in your prayers. Prayer Request Britney Russell came forward last Sunday morning requesting prayers and thanking God for all He has done for her and her family. Members With Health Problems: Larry Obert,, Jane Lankford, Becky Higginbotham, April Payne, Bernice Gillespie, Larry Carroll, Decieta Lyons, Kathy Noble, Gerry Moss, Sally Wallace, David Poskevich, Mattie Croix, Audrey Shaw, Janis Libby, Nobie Davis, Mattie Williams, Una Fortson, Equillar Butler, David & Shirley Lee, Dick & Lillian Gray, Hick & Estell Higginbotham, Butch & Joann Trawick, David & Jill Nash, Ed & Doris Buckner Shut-ins: Jane Lankford, Kathryne Hardy, Annette Benefield, Frances Elders and Lillie Belle Sharpe Dear Church family, We want you to know how much we love and appreciate each of you. Your calls, cards, visits, food and prayers have made this time much easier. We praise God for His goodness and blessing every day. We thank you for your love and concern for us. Love Larry & Sheri Obert Dear Brothers & Sisters, Our family has been touched with your love and care this past week. Thank you for all the expressions of love shown to us through cards, calls, food, visits and above all the prayers. Cathy & I have been blessed beyond measure with our church family. In His Service, Lads to Leaders - Centurion of Scripture You can come to class Sunday at 5:30 or say the verses to an adult. Let Sally Wallace will keep a record for LTL. Genesis 1:1-10, 1:11-19, 1:20-31 & 2:1-7, Acts 8:1-4 Psalms 116:1-2, 118:1-9, 23:1-6, 117:1-2 & 134:1-3, Ecclesiastes 31:1-8 Luke 11:1-4 & 2:1-14, John 1:1-5, Matthew 5:1-12, & 16:14-18 and Mark 16:19-20 Have your pictures made on the first Sunday of each month in room 129 after the AM Service. Fayetteville Church of Christ 2013 Goals SERVE OTHERS Galatians 5:13 1. Provide Positive Environment for Visitors (support Open Arms Program) 2. Increase Visitation Participation/Support and in home visits (visitors and members) 3. Provide Fellowship Opportunities (to bring visitors) 4. Increase Congregation Involvement (in serving the needy) I Pet.1:22 5. Provide for Meals and Other Needs (to those who are suffering) Js. 1:27 6. Support our Service Activities (by identifying opportunities and ways to carry them out)

3 Youth Calendar Sept 7 Bible Bowl at Stone Mountain Day Forms are needed by Sept. 4th. Sept 22, 6pm Area Wide Youth Devotional-Conyers Sept 29 after PM Service Youth Devotional at the home of Jim & Susan Pelfrey Oct 20, 5pm Youth Devo at Forest Park COC Oct 27 after PM Service Trunk n Treat Bible Bowl Sign Up August 28th & September 1st & 8th Kick off in the Fellowship Hall on September 8th We are studying the Book of Acts Theme: Here Am I, Send Me We need all our students to sign up today. We need our adults to show their support by Furnishing water, snacks and prizes. Calendar (Check bulletin board for more information) Sept 5th, 7-9pm Georgia School of Preaching 2013 Fall Qtr. Sept 6, 6pm Game Night Sept 7, 3pm Everyone is invited to join the Bible Bowl Team at Stone Mountain. The bus will leave at 3pm. Sept 8 66th Homecoming at North Ave Church of 10am, Speaker: Forrest Chapman Sept 8-11 Buford Church of Christ God s Good News, Speaker: Randy Medlin Sept 10, 10am Tuesday Morning Bible Study Sept 12 W.O.W. (Woman Opening the Word) Thursday Night Bible Study at 7-8pm led by Luann Rogers. Raintree Village Children s Home Benefit Dinner at Buford COC. See Tom Durden if you plan on attending. Sept 14, 8:30am-1pm Gordon Road COC 1st Annual Ladies Day, 8:30am-1pm, Speaker: Brittany Davis Singing in the Park-Forest Park Church of Christ, 6-8pm. Join them for good ol fashioned gospel singing. Sept 15 Blood Drive, 1-5pm Elders & Deacons Meeting at 4:30pm Ladies Meeting at 4:30pm, room 121 Sept 21, 8:30am-1pm Fayetteville COC Ladies Day Sept Fayetteville COC Gospel Meeting Sept 28, 4pm Cumming Church of Christ Ladies Day, Keys To Contentment, Speaker: Cindy Middleton

4 Call to Worship Scripture Reading Opening Prayer Song Leader Preside Lord s Supper Sermon Response Elder Announcements Closing Song Prayer Evening Service Opening Prayer Scripture Reading Sermon Closing Prayer WORSHIP ASSIGNMENTS Sept 1 Zeke Poskevich H. Higginbotham David Hopkins Sammy Hugh Michael Madison Kenneth Fincher Kim Cline Shirley Allender K. Killingsworth Rick Sharpe Ray Russell Zeke Poskevich Tom Durden Sept 8 Jim Scoma David Hopkins Sammy Hugh Michael Madison Kenneth Fincher Kim Cline Shirley Allender K. Killingsworth Rick Sharpe Paul Lyons Curtis Hurt Fayetteville Church of Christ Ladies Day September 21st, 2013 Harvesting God s Word Speaker: Nancy Daniels and Gospel Meeting September 22-25, 2013 Speaker: John B. Daniels, Sevierville Church of Christ Address: 870 Redwine Road Fayetteville, Georgia Monday Friday, 9-4 Office Telephone (770) , (770) Fax mail@fcoc.com Web Page: Minister: (361) Dave.rogers@fcoc.com Youth Minister: Greg Nash, (404) (cell) gnash999@gmail.com Office Secretary: Susie Graham celiagraham@bellsouth.net Assembly Schedule: Sunday 9:00 am Bible Classes 10:00 am Worship Service 6:00 pm Worship Service 10:00 am Tuesday Morning Bible Class (September 11 May 14) 7:00 pm Wednesday Night Communion Preparation Linda Howell Nursery Jessa Quinn & Tara Johnson Care of Building 1-15 / Paul Lyons/Tommy Chapman Elders: (770) (770) Jim Pelfrey (770) Deacons: Dennis Graham Hugh Kelly Andy Johnson Paul Lyons David Poskevich Jack Sorrell Ushers 1- Shirley Allender/Ron Biles 8- Steven Burdette/David Hopkins 15 /Paul Lyons 22- /Thomas Quinn 29- Larry Rose/Harry Williams Open Arms 1-Susie Graham, Jasi Quinn, Gerry Moss, Barbara Edmonds, Theresa Green, Tom & Terri Durden 8-Sally Wallace, Jessa Quinn, Connie Kelly, Martha Vickery, Anne Siebert, Hugh Kelly & Ron Biles Our Missionaries Graham, Elizabeth, Joshua, Megan, Bethany & Elijah McDonald Scotland,11 Woodhead Ct, Westfield, Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, G68 9DB graham@gmcd.net Skype: gmcd105 or Scott & Rebecca Shananhan Pohnpel scottshanahan@hotmail.com Kenloy & Ivell Walker Jamaica Brown s Town Church of Christ, Forrest & Burma Chapman, Georgia Hiawassee, Ga. ftc1952@alltel.com

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