Bulletin for January 4, 2025
Devotional Verse
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not see. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible…But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:1-3, 6
2026 Church Theme
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11
Announcements
Today is Communion Sunday, please prepare your heart.
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Scripture memory will be our theme through the new year. Each communion Sunday we will be introducing a passage for us to seek to memorize through the month.
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The Ladies’ Bible study will meet Tuesday morning, January 6, at 9:00am and the men’s Bible study will meet Saturday, January 10, at 8:00am.
Order of Worship
Hymn: 45 Crown Him with Many Crowns (1,2,3,4)
Hymn: 605 Living for Jesus (1,2,3,4)
Hymn: 323 At the Cross (1,2,3)(4,5)
Humor in the Pew and Pulpit
A lawyer's dog, running about unleashed, beelines for a butcher shop and steals a roast.
Butcher goes to lawyer's office and asks, "If a dog running unleashed steals a piece of meat from my store, do I have a right to demand payment for the meat from the dog's owner?"
The lawyer answers, "Absolutely."
"Then you owe me $25.50. Your dog was loose and stole a roast from me today."
The lawyer, without a word, writes the butcher a check for $25.50.
In a few days, the butcher opens the mail and finds an envelope from the lawyer: $150 due for a consultation.
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Q: Why was Adam a famous runner?
A: Because he was first in the human race.
Great Preaching from the Past
George Whitefield on Luke 13:3, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
Now, my brethren, let me speak a word of exhortation to those of you, who are already brought to the Lord Jesus, who are born again, who do belong to God, to whom it has been given to repent of your sins, and are cleansed from their guilt; and that is, be thankful to God for his mercies towards you. O admire the grace of God, and bless his name forever! Are you made alive in Christ Jesus? Is the life of God begun in your souls, and have you the evidence thereof? Be thankful for this unspeakable mercy to you: never forget to speak of his mercy. And as your life was formerly devoted to sin, and to the pleasures of the world, let it now be spent wholly in the ways of God; and O embrace every opportunity of doing and of receiving good. Whatsoever opportunity you have, do it vigorously, do it speedily, do not defer it. If thou seest one hurrying on to destruction, use the utmost of thy endeavor to stop him in his course; show him the need he has of repentance, and that without it he is lost forever; do not regard his despising of you; still go on to show him his danger: and if thy friends mock and despise, do not let that discourage you; hold on, hold out to the end, so you shall have a crown which is immutable, and that fadeth not away.
Let the love of Jesus to you, keep you also humble; do not be high-minded, keep close unto the Lord, observe the rules which the Lord Jesus Christ has given in his word, and let not the instructions be lost which you which you are capable of giving. O consider what reason you have to be thankful to the Lord Jesus Christ for giving you that repentance you yourselves had need of: a repentance which worketh by love. Now you find more pleasure in walking with God one hour, than in all your former carnal delights, and all the pleasures of sin. O! the joy you feel in your own souls, which all the men of the world, and all the devils in hell, though they were to combine together, could not destroy. Then fear not their wrath or malice, for through many tribulations we must enter into glory.
A few days, or weeks, or years more, and then you will be beyond their reach, you will be in the heavenly Jerusalem; there is all harmony and love, there is all joy and delight; there the weary soul is at rest.
From the Mission Field
Hakka People of East Asia – Central Taiwan DongShr Baptist Church is having a “re-start,” supported by Taichung Baptist Church (TCBC), several other central churches, and IMB missionaries. DongShr is a small mountain Hakka village of about 70,000 with about 70% being Hakka. Pray for the safety of coworkers from TCBC as they make frequent trips to DongShr, about an hour away and for wisdom to meet the needs of the people there. Pray for relationships to develop both with and in families and for open hearts and minds as the gospel is shared with the community.
Remembering Persecuted Believers
Getting to Know the situation in India
Major Religion: About 80 percent of Indians are Hindus, and more than 10 percent are Muslims. India is also the birthplace of Buddhism. The Indian government does not release accurate statistics about its Christian population, so exact figures are not available. While there are an estimated 30 to 70 million Christians in India, this is no more than a 5 percent minority among India’s staggering population of nearly 1.4 billion people.
Persecutor: The main persecutors are well-organized Hindu extremist groups, local governments and nationalist Hindus who seek to “purify” India by making it entirely Hindu. They seek to appease Hindu deities by eliminating Christians, and they view Christian converts as traitors to the Hindu homeland.
Just Common Sense
“God often takes a course for accomplishing His purposes directly contrary to what our narrow views would prescribe. He brings a death upon our feelings, wishes, and prospects when He is about to give us the desire of our hearts.” John Newton
Weekly Bible Reading Schedule
Monday: Genesis 1--5
Tuesday: Genesis 6--10
Wednesday: Genesis 11--15
Thursday: Genesis 16--20
Friday: Genesis 21--25
Tip for Witnessing
“Whenever I see myself before God and realize something of what my blessed Lord has done for me at Calvary, I am ready to forgive anybody anything. I cannot withhold it. I do not even want to withhold it.” Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Quotable
“If we cannot believe God when circumstances seem be against us, we do not believe Him at all.” C. H. Spurgeon
