The Encourager. ... because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. John 2:8

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1 The Encourager Church of Christ 140 West 15th Street Front Royal Virginia FrontRoyalChurchofChrist.com SimpleBibleLessons.com We Welcome Our Guest! We are so glad you ve come for worship today! Our prayer is you will be blessed by your time with us. Please feel free to ask us any questions you may have concerning our worship. December 24, 2017 Sunday Service s Bible class 10:00 am Worship 11:00 am Afternoon 2:00 pm Tuesday Ladies Class 11:00 am Wednesday Service 7:00 pm Personal Bible Study SimpleBibleLessons.com Online Correspondence In Home RSW Jail Ministry Correspondence 2nd & 4th In House Food Pantry By Appointment Men s Meeting 3rd Sunday Monthly Minister John Stephen Smith ministerfrcoc@gmail.com... because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. John 2:8

2 Misplaced Priorities Sermon Title Teachers Speaker Date Scriptures Used : Needed Sermon Points Please make your choice of the class you wish to teach Today. _ Notes _ We need to begin the year with our Rotation Schedule

3 In Need of Our Prayers & Our Benevolence Doris & Donald Jones Debbie Martin Linda Sullivan Jaden Turner Kim Wines Remi Wines Doug Ritenour Carol Ritenour RSW Jail Ministry Our nation and lawmakers The Lord s church meeting here. The Lord s church worldwide. Military men and women First Responders Our missionaries Our Homebound Larry & Audrey Herring John Woodall Nancy Barnes Julia Souders Cancer Diagnosis Blaine Tewalt Ryan Denharat Sandy Holzhauser Vita Torres Viola Menefee Nancy Barnes Jeff Pingley Betty Martin Wendy Willoughby Elaine Appleton Robert Jenkins Ongoing Concerns Bobby Jo Henderson Pop Funk Kenny Henderson Jr. Ruth Martin Ruth Brooks Sharon Jenkins Richy E. Sharon Derflinger Gloria Van Arsdall Carson Van Arsdall Jamie Shell Linda York Tim Gunter Marty Jones Jamie James John Taylor Gary May Ron Parks Miranda & children Irene Alger Lisa Settle Chris Tewalt Scott McCool Mandy Clark Karen Woodall Names On This Page Will Periodically be removed. Please Keep Tenia Informed as to there Condition & or Status

4 The Cracked Acorn Hand Holding December 24, 2017 c.r. van arsdall In a past survey, it was noted that infants, young children that were held a lots or cuddled later on did much better than those who had less. The conclusion must be that there is just no substitute for the real thing - the consoling personal skin to skin touch. I like to see parents and children holding hands while shopping or just strolling about town. My sister, much younger than I, grew up with this if she couldn't hold our parents hand she would settle for her older brother. Amusement parks have scary rides, she would say, "hold my hand." There's a time when children grow,unfortunately, out of this stage and into adulthood and hand holding goes away and is only seen in the boy meets girl situation. Then it would only seem to say that hand holding is only meant for "true lovers." Later in life, we gravitate to holding hands with dear ones to console in times of illness and trouble. Several of our hymns mention that "personal touch"; So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 1 Peter 5:6 #527 chorus: He touched me, oh, He touched me, And oh, the joy that floods my soul; Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole. #412: As I travel through this Pilgrim land, there is a Friend who walks with me, For I need Thy light to guide me day and night, Blessed Jesus, hold my hand. Hear my feeble prayer, dear Lord, look down on me, when I kneel in prayer Blessed Jesus hold my hand. The King James gives 1,790 uses of the form of "hand"; the first mention and one that is precious. Genesis 3:22 The Lord God said: obviously in knowing good and evil man has become like one of us. Now then, he might reach out his hand and pluck and eat from the tree of life so as to live forever. The one I like: Ezra 8:22,23 For I was ashamed to ask for troops and horseman from the king to protect us from enemies along the way,since we told the king that the hand of our God protects all who seek Him and that His power and indignation are against all who forsake Him. We prayed to out God regarding this matter and He heard us. (are not these last three words precious - He heard us.) One of the ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel at Rome, Italy, shows God reaching out His hand to touch Adam and convey eternal life to mankind. Note: Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God in Christ Jesus our Lord is eternal life. (He has touched each and everyone of us - if we do

5 Serving Today David Born Mark Derflinger Bill Adams George Diaz Song Service Eugene Tewalt Tim Tewalt Scripture Reading Mark Your Calendar s & Check Bulletin Boards December 31st. New Years Eve Party at Eugene & Juanita house 8:00 pm. Bring gifts and finger foods. Mark Derflinger 31, Larry Herring 9 Reagan Anderson 9 Jane McCool 16 Eddie Benfit 17, David Born 22, Joel Jones 23 Emma Diaz 30 Bill & Linda Adams 13 Remember our change in evening service from 6:00 pm. to 2:00 pm. Dining room is open for all wanting to bring your own meal. Relay for Life: Recyclables in blue tote in main foyer. Plastic cola caps, tabs, ink cartridges, aluminum cans. Tuesday morning will restart 11am January 9th Please check the 2018 Teacher s Rotation Sheet on back Bulletin Board. For classes still needing teachers. Planning Committee needed for February's Sweetheart Dinner. Let Tenia know details for Bulletin.

6 regarding theism (and theists) in the past, "No Proof of God...But the Universe Might Just Be a Simulation"? By Eric Lyons, M. Min. Dr. Neil degrasse Tyson is one of America s most well-known evolutionary astrophysicists. He has worked as the Director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City for two decades. He also frequently appears on television shows such as The Colbert Report and Real Time with Bill Maher. Though Dr. Tyson has made some oppressive comments 1. He is not an atheist; Tyson is agnostic: he admits he is someone who doesn t know and hasn t really seen evidence for God, but is prepared to embrace the evidence if it is ever presented. 2. Interestingly, Dr. Tyson recently made some outlandish comments at the 2016 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate at the American Museum of Natural History about the nature of the Universe. According to Tyson, the likelihood of the universe being a simulation may be very high. 3. News organizations reported that Tyson indicated it s not too hard to imagine that some other creature out there is far smarter than us (emp. added). 4. Perhaps we re just some sort of alien simulation. 5. Tyson went so far as to say, [I]t is easy for me to imagine that everything in our lives is just the creation of some other entity for their entertainment. I m saying, the day we learn that it is true, I will be the only one in the room saying, I m not surprised. 6. Isn t it baffling what evolutionary agnostics and atheists will believe and what they won t (or don t) believe? Dr. Tyson is a very educated scientist who seems to have no problem imagining that god-like aliens made our Universe for their pleasure despite the complete lack of evidence for such a belief. Yet, at the same time, Tyson refuses to believe in God because he does not believe there is enough evidence to come to the conclusion that God actually created the Universe for His own glory (Psalm 19:1-4; Isaiah 43:7) and to be inhabited by His human creatures (Isaiah 45:18), who are made in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). One thing that Dr. Tyson did allude to that everyone should freely admit based upon the evidence: [I]t is easy for me to imagine that everything in our lives is just the creation of some other entity (emp. added). In truth, Creation makes sense.7 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God (Hebrews 3:4, emp. added). The heavens declare the glory of the eternal, omnipotent Creator (Psalm 19:1), not some supposed alien civilization (who, in turn, would need an explanation for their existence if they really did exist).8 Sadly, men such as Dr. Tyson seem so open to the idea of super aliens, yet not to The Supernatural Creator, Who will judge our actions or lack thereof at the end of time (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

7 BSGFAA Lesson 178 AHIJAH 1 Kings 15 and 16 Israel and Judah at War Bible Quiz: 1. What did God create on the first day? Genesis 1: What method did God use in creating? Genesis 1:3 3. What did Nebuchadnezzar say God could do to those who walk in pride? Daniel 4:37 4. Yes or no, did the New Testament writers teach any of the proverbs? Romans 12:20; Hebrews 12:5-6; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5; 2 Peter 2:22 5. Jeroboam ruled over all the tribes except. 1 Kings 12:20 6. Why did Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, and the warriors from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, not attack Israel as planned? 1 Kings 12: Describe the lie which the prophet Bethel told the prophet from Judah. 1 Kings 13: How did the prophet of Judah die? Who buried him? Where? 1 Kings 13:24, 28, Even though the prophet Ahijah was bind how did he know that the wife of Jeroboam was approaching him? 1 Kings 14: When Rehoboam was king of Judah, the people, (followed only God s ways or (b) followed after false gods. 1 Kings 14: Additional Scriptures: 1. A Christian s sin 1 John 2:1-6; 5: David s sin 2 Samuel Prophecy of all of Jeroboam s family being killed 1 Kings 14: Joshua s instruction concerning rebuilding of Jericho Joshua 6:26 Questions: 1. Why did God allow Abijam to rule over Judah even though he was sinful? 1 Kings 15: Yes or no Were there wars between Israel and Judah after the kingdom was divided? 1 Kings 15:6, 16, Did the prophet Jehu prophesy (a) good or (b) bad for Baasha, king of Israel? Why? How did Zimri s acts against Baasha s household fulfill the prophecy of Jehu? 1 Kings 16: What was the sin of Baasha and Elah his son, both kings of Israel, that so provoked God? 1 Kings 16:13 5. Ahab, king of Israel, married a worshipper of Baal. 1 Kings 16:31 6. Why did Hiel s firstborn child die when he laid the foundation to rebuild Jericho, and the youngest die when he set up the gates? 1 Kings 16:34; Joshua 6:26 7. How many books are in the Old testament? Application: on sin 1 Kings 15:3

8 BSGFAA Lesson 179 Bible Quiz: ELIJAH 1 Kings 17 Elijah Told Ahab of Drought; God Provided Food 1. What feelings did the Canaan have toward the Israelites and their God as described by Rahab? Joshua 2: At the feast of King Belshazzar, what cups were used for drinking wine? Daniel 5: Describe King Belshazzar s reaction to the handwriting on the wall. Daniel 6 4. To encourage worship Jeroboam did not (a) place a golden calf at Bethel and at Dan, (b) make priests other then the sons of Levi (c) institute a feast, or (d) send the people to the temple at Jerusalem. 1 Kings 12: Why would the prophet of God not eat and drink with Jeroboam? 1 Kings 13: The man from Bethel who lied to the prophet from Judah was (a prophet, (b) a king, a judge, or (d) a priest? 1 Kings13: Why did Jeroboam send his wife to Shiloh to the prophet? Why did he have her disguise herself? 1 Kings 14: When, according to Ahijah the prophet, would the sick son of Jeroboam die? 1 Kings 14: 12, Yes or No were there wars between Israel and Judah after the kingdom was divided? 1 Kings 15:6, 16, Did the prophet Jehu prophesy (a) good or (b) bad for Baasha, king of Israel? Why? How did Zimri s acts against Baasha s household fulfill the prophecy of Jehu? 1 Kings 16: Elijah present knowledge, probably associated with the fiery chariot. Additional Scripture: 1. Put God first. Colossians 1:18; Matthew 6:33 2. Elijah prayed that it not rain. James 5:17 Questions: 1. Elijah the prophet told Ahab, king Israel, that there would be neither nor until he spoke. 1 Kings 17:1 2. After telling Ahab of the drought, why did Elijah hide? 1 Kings 17: While Elijah was hiding from Ahab, what did he eat? Drink? 1 Kings 17:4,6 4. What was the widow s reply to Elijah, when he asked for bread? Describe Elijah s instructions to the widow. 1 Kings 17: What was Elijah s promise to the widow concerning her flour and oil? 1 Kings 17:14 6. Whom did the widow, whose flour and oil never ran out, blame for the death of her son? 1Kings 17: What did Elijah do when he begged God to return life to the son of the widow? 1 Kings 17:19-23 Application: on trusting God 1 Kings 17:1-15