July 19, There are now 79 million unchurched people in America.

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1 July 19, 2015 W hy Invite People to Services? Phil Sanders, In Search of the Lord s Way Though 85 percent of Americans call themselves Christians, only 69 percent regard themselves as church members. Only 43 percent will attend church on a given Sunday. Another 22 percent will attend occasionally. Only 22 percent of Americans attend Bible classes on Sunday mornings. There are now 79 million unchurched people in America. Many of these people are notional Christians. They claim to be Christians but do not practice their Christianity by church attendance. These are people who need a church home. Why do they need a church home? For the same reasons you do. They need the spiritual help and climate going to church provides. They need to hear the Scripture preached and to remember the Lord s death in His supper. They need to praise the Lord in song and to pray about their needs. They need the Lord s help and teaching from week to week. They also need a church home because we all need our brothers and sisters in Christ. Life has a way of handing us surprises. It means so much to have the support of loving brothers and sisters who will pray with us and for us when we need them. Solomon was right when he said that two are better than one (Ecclesiastes 4:9). There is strength in numbers, and brothers and sisters assure our hearts when they walk beside us in serving the Lord. Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend (Proverbs 27:17). Surely you know someone who needs a church home. Won t you help them? Bring them to the Lord. Come and see. John 1:46

2 Fanny Crosby The grave of Fanny Crosby in Bridgeport, Connecticut has a simple marker that reads, "Aunt Fanny - She Hath Done What She Could." Fanny Crosby was blind from six weeks of age because of a mistreatment by a man claiming to be a doctor. Yet she wrote more than 9000 hymns such as Blessed Assurance, All The Way My Saviour Leads Me, I Am Thine O Lord, Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross, Praise Him, Praise Him, Rescue The Perishing, To God Be The Glory, and Tell Me The Story Of Jesus, to name a few. Although blind, she was the guest of six presidents and a personal friend to Grover Cleveland. Her 9000 hymns were set to music by every popular American tunesmith of the nineteenth century and still blesses the Church of Jesus Christ in our day. Someone has said, "It doesn't take much of a man to be used of God. It just takes all of him." Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me - Isaiah 6:8 This Week s Pantry Items Baby Formula Baby Food Canned Fruit from HousetoHouse.com 7/8 Jimmie Ann Brown 7/9 Marley McConathey 7/11 Dan & Addie McCarty 7/16 Kalie Asher 7/18 Dan McCarty 7/18 Nora Koger 7/19 Leona Hale 7/23 Linda Hawthorne 7/28 Aggie Young July

3 PRAYER REQUESTS OUR SICK Marlene Chaney, now home Fred Doyal, recovering from surgery Betty Paseur, home Please remember our shut-ins in prayer: Burma Black, Jimmie Ann Brown, Debbie Cole, Marilyn Drain, Judi Fraley, Leona Hale, Ruth Koger, Floyd Lones, Frances Parden, Patsy Smith, Frances Thomas, and Carl Wallace FRIENDS & FAMILY Austin McConathey, Marley McConathey s cousin Teairah Wilder, Sylvia Edwards granddaughter Mary Maxwell, Jesse Teague s aunt Faye King, friend of Norma Burney Floyd Blair, friend of Melanie Walker Toni Kilgore, friend of Walter & Zina Jackson Courtney Shires, friend of Ronnie & Norine Dwayne Tatum, friend of Robert & Ann Foster Matthew Gentry, Patsy Smith s grandson Sandra Wilson, Alex Blaes grandmother UPCOMING EVENTS July 23 July 23 July 26 July July 30 July 31 July 31 Ladies Bible Class; 10 AM House Chat; 7 PM; Joy Kellett s home Men s Business Meeting; 4:30 PM VBS; 7 PM; classes for Cradle Roll -Age 12 Ladies Bible Class; 10 AM VBS Wrap-up; 7 PM 10th Annual Grove; 7:30-9 PM BAPTISM: Eli Sisemore was baptized on Saturday, July 11 by Ken McCurry. Please encourage Eli and remember him in prayer. PLEASE NOTE: Please save water bottles, empty toilet paper rolls, and old CDs. These items are needed for crafts for VBS.

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5 Lesson Notes July 19, 2015 Online Visitor s Info GET INVOLVED // going on this week Today // 6 PM Big Hitters: Rhoda Acts 12 Tuesday // Hospital Lunch Wednesday // Summer Series Speaker: C.G. Griffith Thursday // Ladies Bible Class 10 AM WAYS SOME HAVE RESPONDED From my observation, many have responded in shock (confusion), anger, and sadness. Some have become even more fearful and anxious. Often times their words come out very condemning, condescending, or just down right hateful. Then you have those have responded in a positive way by donating blood, attending prayer vigils or paying their respects at make shift memorials. THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE It s ok to be angry, confused, and sad. There is a difference between anger under control and anger that is out of control (Eph. 4:26-27; Ps. 37:8). We need to be careful where we point fingers and pronounce judgment (1 Pet. 2:15-17; Col. 4:5; Eze. 33:11; 2 Pet. 3:9). It is not ok for Christians to retaliate due to fear, anxiety, or hate (Mt. 5:43-44; Rom. 12:19; 1 Thess. 5:15; Phil. 4:6-8). We need to realize that we all have a humanitarian (Mt. 7:12; Mk.12:31), spiritual (Gal. 6:1-2; Col. 1:27-28), and personal (Mt. 25:31ff.) responsibility when it comes to helping others. GET CONNECTED // chickamaugachurch.com // //

6 Scripture Reading 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation. Word Search 2 Corinthians 1 The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Print.