Central Church of Christ Blog

December 2024 Bible Reading- “Rooted in Jesus: Jesus is Here”

December Bible Reading- “Rooted in Jesus: Jesus is Here”
Click on each chapter to read, listen to, and study the Scriptures via Blue Letter Bible.
If you would like to comment or discuss the reading, click here to join our Bible Reading Facebook Chat.
 
As I engage the Scriptures, what is the Holy Spirit teaching me about Who I am? Who God is? What I am created to do?
 
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
Luke 1
2
Luke 2
3
John 1
4
Matthew 1
5
Matthew 2
6
Matthew 3
7
Matthew 4
8
Matthew 5
9
Matthew 6
10
Matthew 7
11
Matthew 8
12
Matthew 9
13
Matthew 10
14
Matthew 11
15
Matthew 12
16
Matthew 13
17
Matthew 14
18
Matthew 15
19
Matthew 16
20
Matthew 17
21
Matthew 18
22
Matthew 19
23
Matthew 20
24
Matthew 21
25
Matthew 22
26
Matthew 23
27
Matthew 24
28
Matthew 25
29
Matthew 26
30
Matthew 27
31
Matthew 28
       
 
Bible Reading Facebook Chat link: https://m.me/ch/Aba3p-NWTWuFQPPL/
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Sermon Notes 11/24/2024 “Who is My Neighbor?” James Farris

Who is My Neighbor?
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
 
We know the story very well
We cannot truly understand the Lawyer’s response to Jesus’ description of the GOOD SAMARITAN.
 
Life Perspectives
“YOURS is MINE and I’M TAKING IT.”
“MINE IS MINE AND I’LL KEEP IT.”
“Mine IS YOURS & I’LL GIVE IT”
 
Can we draw a line? Love your neighbor as yourself
To justify SELF: you must limit the law
Willing to love the unlovable?
So really, who is my neighbor?
It is possible to REALLY live like that?
 
WE HAVE TO SEE THIS PARABLE AS A PICTURE OF YOU AND ME
 
START WITH: I’M THE ONE BEGGING GOD FOR HELP
Do you really see yourself as the “Good Guy” in this parable?
 
YOU NEED A “SAMARITAN”
Who was despised, hated and rejected, and saved you anyway?
 
We Need a Savior
 
UNLOCK COMPASSION: See YOURSELF IN THE DITCH & RESCUED
Luke 7 Background
This MOTIVATES & TRANSFORMS
Luke 10:37He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
 
GO AND DO LIKEWISE

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Sermon Notes 11/17/2024 “Come to the Feast” James Farris

Come to the Feast
Luke 14:16-17- 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
 
IF GOD INVITED YOU TO BLESSINGS… WOULD YOU COME?
 
The Invitation
THE LORD IS EXPECTING YOU
EVERYTHING IS JUST RIGHT
THE MESSAGE WAS REPEATED
THE MASTER IS EXCITED WITH HUGE EXPECTATIONS
 
NOTICE THE EXCUSES THEY USE
“I have some property.”
“I gotta make a living.”
“I was just married.”
Matthew 22:4- Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’
 
ABOUT THEIR EXCUSES…​
“I’ll be there…Just kidding.”
The call of discipleship affects now.
Any excuse will work for the moment.
 
GOD IS NOT LIMITED TO THE BEST PEOPLE.
GOD ALWAYS HAS ROOM FOR ONE MORE AT HIS TABLE.
He wants us to be part of something amazing!
God is not looking for perfect people. He’s looking for surrendered people.

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Sermon Note 11/3/24- Jesus’ Power to Heal a Leper

Jesus Power to Heal a Leper
 
WHY SHOULD A LEPER EVEN CONCERN US?
  • It is contagious like sin with a painful master.
  • It can’t be healed & creates instant separation.
  • Unless cured, eventually it ends in death.
Spiritual Leprosy
It was not just as a disease but an uncleanness. (Lev. 13) “living death”
There are well-known CASES of leprosy
  • Exodus 4:6-7
  • Num. 5:3, 12:10
  • 2 Kings 5
  • Luke 17:12-14
LOOK WHAT JESUS DOES FOR HIM!
  • Jesus did not bypass Moses’ Law!
  • Our HIGH PRIEST has the prerogative to make us clean. (Mk. 16:15-16)
  • When we go to our High Priest we can be truly healed. (Heb. 5:9)
THE LEPERS’ JOY MOVED HIM TO TELL THE GOOD NEWS!
  • Where does your JOY lead you today?
  • DO YOU TELL EVERYONE GOOD NEWS? (Acts 8:35)
  • YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD TO TELL THE STORY!
WHAT WE SEE SHOULD MAKE US THANKFUL
  • There is healing in Jesus for all problems we face.
  • Mark 1:40-41
HUMBLING YOURSELF CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE INSTANTLY
  • A humble leper humbled let Jesus touch His life & was changed IMMEDIATELY.
  • Right now, Jesus wants to save you.
  • Come to Him and be made clean!

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November 2024 Bible Reading- “Rooted in Jesus: Followers of the Way”

November Bible Reading- “Rooted in Jesus: Followers of the Way”
Click on each chapter to read, listen to, and study the Scriptures via Blue Letter Bible.
If you would like to comment or discuss the reading, click here to join our Bible Reading Facebook Chat.
 
As I engage the Scriptures, what is the Holy Spirit teaching me about Who I am? Who God is? What I am created to do?
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
          1
Matthew 16
2
Matthew 28
3
Acts 1
4
Acts 2
5
Acts 3
6
Acts 4
7
Acts 5
8
Acts 6
9
Acts 7
10
Acts 8
11
Acts 9
12
Acts 10
13
Acts 11
14
Acts 12
15
Acts 13
16
Acts 14
17
Acts 15
18
Acts 16
19
Acts 17
20
Acts 18
21
Acts 19
22
Acts 20
23
Acts 21
24
Acts 22
25
Acts 23
26
Acts 24
27
Acts 25
28
Acts 26
29
Acts 27
30
Acts 28
 
Bible Reading Facebook Chat link: https://m.me/ch/Aba3p-NWTWuFQPPL/
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October 2024 Daily Bible Reading

October Bible Reading- “Rooted in Jesus: Wisdom”
Click on each chapter to read, listen to, and study the Scriptures via Blue Letter Bible.
If you would like to comment or discuss the reading, click here to join our Bible Reading Facebook Chat.
 
As I engage the Scriptures, what is the Holy Spirit teaching me about Who I am? Who God is? What I am created to do?
 
 
Bible Reading Facebook Chat link: https://m.me/ch/Aba3p-NWTWuFQPPL/
Printable PDF Copy

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Leaving a Legacy of Faith Seminar Tomorrow!

Our “Leaving a Legacy of Faith” Seminar starts tomorrow morning!
Invite your friends and family!
Doors open at 8:30, with our first group session at 9 AM. There will be a split session with discussion at 10:00 for the men and women, followed by lunch at 11:30. We will be having sandwiches. Our final session will start at 12:30 and end at 1:30 PM. Childcare is provided.

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Sermon Notes 9-1-2024 “Revitalizing the Relevance of the Church” James Farris

Revitalizing the Relevance of the Church
 
Romans 12:4-5– For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
 
TO REVITALIZE OUR RELEVANCE IN 2024 THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE NEED TO REMEMBER…
 
When the first soul was added to the Body, the church was relevant!
Revelation 1:14– The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire,
Revelation 3:1– “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
 
Our faith has drawing power!
-The church was first-BELIEVERS!
-The world saw their faith and joined in growth.
Acts 11:25– So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul
Acts 5:14– And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
Acts 2:44– And all the believers were together and had all things in common
 
Our fellowship has drawing power!
Romans 12:4-5– For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
 
We have unity that lasts!
2 Corinthians 13:11– Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
 
We let things hinder our relevance.
-Serving the wrong master.
-Limiting our service.
-Having bad attitudes.
 
Realize what we do matters!
-Show your partnership with God.
-Get rid of attitudes that stop your growth and service.
Col. 2:7- having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

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September 2024 Daily Bible Reading

August Bible Reading- “Rooted in Jesus: Heroes”
Click on each chapter to read, listen to, and study the Scriptures via Blue Letter Bible.
If you would like to comment or discuss the reading, click here to join our Bible Reading Facebook Chat.

As I engage the Scriptures, what is the Holy Spirit teaching me about Who I am? Who God is? What I am created to do?

 
 
Bible Reading Facebook Chat link: https://m.me/ch/Aba3p-NWTWuFQPPL/
Printable PDF Copy

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2024-2025 Growth Group Sign Ups

Click the link to download the GROWTH GROUP MANUAL
 
2024-2024 Series “MEANT TO BE CONTENT”
Online Discussion Guide: Click Here
 
Lesson #1: September 8 & 22, 2024
“True Riches”- 1 Timothy 6:3-10
 
Lesson #2: October 13 & 27, 2024
 
Lesson #3: November 10 & 24, 2024
“True Life” (Part 1 of 3)- Luke 12:13-34
 
Lesson #4: January 12 & 26, 2025
“True Life” (Part 2 of 3)- Luke 12:13-34
 
Lesson #5: February 9 & 23, 2025
“True Life” (Part 3 of 3)- Luke 12:13-34Matthew 6:25-34
 
Meeting #6: March 9 & 23, 2025
“The Strange Case of the Clever Crook”- Luke 16:1-15
 
Meeting #7: April 13 & 27, 2025
“The Secret of Being Content”- Philippians 4:4-20

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Sermon Notes 8-17-2024 “One at a Time” Patrick Lankford

Luke 7:11-17
11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.
 
Welcome to Central Church of Christ
Mission: Show God’s Love. Tell God’s Story. Be God’s Family.
Vision: Central Church of Christ is a flourishing church family that transforms broken lives by connecting people to Jesus.

Today, I want to share a tool (or mindset) that can help us focus on how to accomplish our mission and vision.

Credit to Kyle Idleman and his book, One at a Time, whose ideas he shares in the book shape this lesson.

Resources links:

Intro- 

Jesus was one man who changed the world. How did he do it?

We are to be imitators of God and Christ. Ephesians 5:1-2:

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

So how can I imitate Christ and make as much of a difference as he did? 

By loving one at a time.

Zoom Lens- 

While Jesus loved everyone in the crowds, he loved them one at a time.

Example 1: Mark 5:21-43, Jairus and the woman with a bleed

21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?'” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Jesus loved one at a time.

Example 2: The man by the pool of Bethesda, John 5:2-9, 13-14

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. (skip to 13)

13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.

Jesus loved one at a time. 

In then Through

To make a difference, we must first let God work in us, then through us.

Paul said in Galatians 2:20,

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Is your soil being tended? Mark 4:1-9, Parable of the Sower

1 Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Jesus explains this parable in verses 10-20. Let’s focus on verses 18-20.

18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

Just like with plants, before fruit (a result) can be born, growth must start in the soil (the heart). 

Example: Moses (80 years of preparation)

40 years in Egypt, 40 years as a shepherd, until finally 40 years as God’s leader.

We must first be willing to let God work in us, before he works through us.

Proximity-

Loving one at a time will take us to places and people we are uncomfortable.

Mark 4:1,35; 5:1-20, Jesus and the demon-possessed man

1 Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. … (skip to 35)

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”

5:1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. 14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

Jesus loved one at a time, even when it was uncomfortable. But look at the result. 

Loving one at a time is going to take us to people and places that are uncomfortable, but it is there that God is glorified.

Compassion and

Loving one at a time requires compassion and action.

Luke 10:30-37, The Parable of the Good Samaritan (summarize, read verse 33)

30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Here we see Jesus teaching that to love one at a time, we have to show compassion.

Examples of Compassion and… 

  • two blind men who Jesus healed, Matt 20:34
  • the leper,who Jesus touched and healed him, Mark 1:41
  • the 5000 who Jesus fed, Mark 6:34
  • the widow who Jesus raised her son, Luke 7:11-17
  • the people who Jesus prayed for, Matt 9:35-38

Extra Mile Mentality-

Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount about what loving one at a time looks like. 

In Matthew 5:38-42

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Instead of giving in to evil, we overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Paul puts it this way in Philippians 2:1-11,

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We love one at a time because, in showing that love, God is glorified, souls are saved, and we become more like Christ.

Don’t Be a Prig-

We must humble ourselves, give glory to God, reject our own biases, and consider others before ourselves, because everyone deserves to hear the gospel. None of us are better than another. 

Romans 3:22-24:

22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ (is) for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Outro-

The “one at a time” principle is that it doesn’t require us to try to be someone we are not, but rather it requires us to trust God and let Him do the work in and through us.

God is calling us to partner with Him in His work, by showing love one at a time.

The True Story of Alfred Lomas 

Adapted from EverybodyWiki, About – Alfred Lomas, and One at a Time

Alfred Lomas was a gang member in South Central Los Angeles. He joined one of the gangs at age 12, and was involved with drugs and violence. Then in 2005, after being released from jail, he came across an elderly lady in a back alley who was lost after being seperated from her mission trip group. The lady saw him and, instead of turning the other way from this scary-looking, tattooed man, walked up to him. She asked if he was hungry. Alfred was confused, but he was also hungry, so he nodded yes. The lady asked him to help her figure out where she was, promising to take him somewhere he could get food. Alfred went with her and got connected with a Christian ministry called the Dream Center. There he was fed, but he also learned about God’s unconditional love and became a Christian. From then, his life changed. Alfred is now the founder of a program called Inner City Visions. It is through his work that 92% of the systems-involved youth who have gone through his training program are now successfully employed, the neighborhood were the program in located has experienced a 43% reduction in violence and murders, as well as many other impacts. 

All because one elderly lady:

  • saw someone like Jesus did
  • had compassion on him
  • trusted God to work in and through her
  • overcame her fear
  • and went out of her way to talk to him.

We can all love one at a time. 


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Leaving a Legacy of Faith Seminar

Join us on September 7 for our Leaving a Legacy of Faith Seminar, featuring Josh & Amanda Ketchum!
 
 
Schedule:
8:30 – Check-in
9:00 – Session 1: The Jesus-Shaped Legacy
10:00 – 11:30 – Split Session 2:
     Fathers Leaving a Legacy – Josh
     Mothers Leaving a Legacy – Amanda
11:30 – 12:30 – Lunch
12:30 – 1:00 Session 3- Instilling Faith in Children
*Lunch and child care will be provided.
 
About our speakers:
     Josh & Amanda have four kids ages 19-11. They have been married since 2000. Amanda homeschools their kids and serves Freed-Hardeman University in various volunteer capacities. Josh preached for the 7 Oaks Church of Christ in Mayfield KY from 2003-2021. In 2021, he came to FHU to teach Bible, preaching, and leadership courses.
     Josh has done various marriage, parenting, and family seminars, sermons, and classes through the years. Josh & Amanda conducted the Dynamic Marriage classes at 7 Oaks for several years, as well as two parenting/legacy seminars in Hattiesburg, MS and in Lexington. Amanda speaks at ladies days and has taught parenting classes as well.

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August 2024 Daily Bible Reading

August Bible Reading- “Rooted in Jesus: Son of Man”
Click on each chapter to read, listen to, and study the Scriptures via Blue Letter Bible.
If you would like to comment or discuss the reading, click here to join our Bible Reading Facebook Chat.
 
As I engage the Scriptures, what is the Holy Spirit teaching me about Who I am? Who God is? What I am created to do?
 
Bible Reading Facebook Chat link: https://m.me/ch/Aba3p-NWTWuFQPPL/ 

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July 2024 Daily Bible Reading

July Bible Reading- “Rooted in Jesus: Grace & Truth”

Click on each chapter to read, listen to, and study the Scriptures.

As I engage the Scriptures, what is the Holy Spirit teaching me about Who I am? Who God is? What I am created to do?


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Sermon Notes 6/9/24 – River of Life (Rev.22:1-5) – Patrick Lankford

Welcome to Central Church of Christ.  Show God’s Love. Tell God’s Story, Be God’s Family.

We all need water. It is one of the 3 basic needs.

Specifically, water:

  • brings nutrients to cells 
  • gets rid of waste
  • protects joints and organs 
  • maintains body temperature
    • Simply: It cleanses us, sustains us, and maintains us.

God uses water as a powerful symbol of the source of life with Him

Cleansing (& New Beginnings)

    • Flood- Gen 6:17-19 
  • 17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female.
    • The Red Sea- Ex. 14:29-31
  • 29 But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.
    • Purification Rituals
  •  
    • Jordan Crossing- Josh. 2 & 3:17 
  • 17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.
    • Naaman- 2 Kings 5:14,17-18 
  • 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 
  • 17 Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the LORD. 18 In this matter may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon your servant in this matter.”
    • Baptism-
      • Jesus- John 1:29-34
  • 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
      • 3000 souls- Acts 2:40-41, 47b
  • 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.  
  • 47b …And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

God is the Source of that Life (He Sustains and Maintains)

The River of the Water of Life is Eternal and Flows From God’s Presence

    • Tree of Life- Gen. 2:5-6,10
  • 5 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up–for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, 6 and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground–
  • 10 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers.
    • From God’s Throne- Rev. 22:1-3 
  • 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.
    • God’s Word- Psalm 1:1-4
  • 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
    • Ultimately In Jesus- John 4:6-14 
  • 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
      • John 7:37-39– Jesus is the source of living water (the Spirit)
  • 37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
      •  

Are You Connected to the Source?

    • Galatians 5:19-23- 
  •  19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
    • James 3:11-12- 
  • 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Conclusion:

God has provided access to the river of the water of life through Jesus.

    • John 19:34
  • 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.

Are you connected to the source? Do you have eternal life?

  • Have you been made clean from sin and death and made new?
  • If you are connected, are you sharing that life with others and connecting them to the source?

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June 2024 Daily Bible Reading

June Bible Reading- “Rooted in Jesus: Flourish”

Click the link to each chapter to read, listen, and study the Scriptures. 

As I engage the Scriptures, what is the Holy Spirit teaching me about: Who I am? Who God is? What I am created to do? 

  1. Luke 1
  2. Luke 2
  3. Luke 3
  4. Luke 4
  5. Luke 5
  6. Luke 6
  7. Luke 7
  8. Luke 8
  9. Luke 9
  10. Luke 10
  11. Luke 11
  12. Luke 12
  13. Luke 13
  14. Luke 14
  15. Luke 15
  16. Luke 16
  17. Luke 17
  18. Luke 18
  19. Luke 19
  20. Luke 20
  21. Luke 21
  22. Luke 22
  23. Luke 23
  24. Luke 24
  25. Galatians 1
  26. Galatians 2
  27. Galatians 3
  28. Galatians 4
  29. Galatians 5
  30. Galatians 6
If you would like to discuss the reading, comments can be posted on the church website below the post. Link here.
 

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May 2024 Daily Bible Reading

May Bible Reading- “Rooted in Jesus: Mighty King”

If you would like to discuss the reading, comments can be posted on the church website below the post. Link here.

As I engage the Scriptures, what is the Holy Spirit teaching me about: Who I am? Who God is? What I am created to do? 

  1. 1 Samuel 16
  2. 1 Samuel 17
  3. 1 Samuel 18
  4. 1 Samuel 19
  5. 1 Samuel 20
  6. 1 Samuel 21
  7. 1 Samuel 22
  8. 1 Samuel 23
  9. 1 Samuel 24
  10. 1 Samuel 25
  11. 1 Samuel 26
  12. 1 Samuel 27
  13. 1 Samuel 28
  14. 1 Samuel 29
  15. 1 Samuel 30
  16. 1 Samuel 31
  17. 2 Samuel 1
  18. 2 Samuel 2
  19. 2 Samuel 3
  20. 2 Samuel 4
  21. 2 Samuel 5
  22. 2 Samuel 6
  23. 2 Samuel 7
  24. 2 Samuel 8
  25. 2 Samuel 9
  26. 2 Samuel 10
  27. 2 Samuel 11
  28. 2 Samuel 12
  29. 2 Samuel 22
  30. 2 Samuel 23
  31. 2 Samuel 24

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Declutter Day 4/27/24

This Saturday, April 27th, we will be having a de-clutter day at Central. We will be going through various parts of the buildings and removing or re-purposing items in the buildings that have exceeded their purpose.If you could share some time this Saturday, please meet at the building at 10:00 am. This is open to anyone who could share a few minutes to help with this clean-up effort . Men & Women are welcome.


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What Is Your Hope? Sermon Notes 4-7-2024

What do you hope for? What do you wait for?

1 Cor. 13:13 that the 3 spiritual gifts that will remain are faith, hope, and love.

What is biblical hope?
  • Hope: 
      • Hope is the desire for something good in the future.
      • Hope is the good thing in the future that we are desiring.
      • Hope is the reason why our hope might come to pass.
  • Worldly Hope:
    •  
    • Uncertain. 
  • Biblical Hope: 
    • It is certain. Like a rope under tension, about to break.
      • Biblical hope is waiting with a confident expectation and desire for something good in the future. 
    • Because God is certain.
      • Exodus 34:6-7a-“The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in faithfulness and truth; who keeps faithfulness for thousands, who forgives wrongdoing, violation of His Law, and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished,” 
      • Heb 6:17-20- In the same way God, desiring even more to demonstrate to the heirs of the promise the fact that His purpose is unchangeable, confirmed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to hold firmly to the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which enters within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

What does the Bible say Christians hope?

  • In Jesus and His Resurrection
    • Romans 3:23- for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
    • Eph 2:12- having no hope and without God in the world.
    • Is 11:10/Romans 15:12- “THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE, AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES, IN HIM WILL THE GENTILES HOPE.”
    • Titus 2:11-14- For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds.
    • 1 Peter 1:3-5- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
  • For Our Resurrection:
    • New Life and New Body
      • John 11:25-26- Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.
      • 1 Cor. 15:42-49- So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.
  • New Heaven and New Earth
    • Rev. 21:1-5- Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” 5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
    • Rev. 21:22- I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
 
One of my favorite songs is “My Only Hope is You.” 

v. 1- “My only hope is you, Jesus. My only hope is you. From early in the 

morning, to late at night, my only hope is you.”


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Spring 2024 Growth Group Topic “Unashamed”

Our Spring Growth Group topic will be “Unashamed: Living Out Loud for Christ,” themed around Romans 1:16.
Being confident in our faith isn’t always easy. Culture wants us to conform rather than stand out and church culture often glorifies perfection and power, making us want to hide our flaws and weaknesses. So how do we proclaim the gospel when it is much easier to stay silent? Can we live boldly for Jesus when we know we are weak and flawed? Join Grammy and Dove Award-winning hip-hop artist Lecrae in this six-session series as he equips, empowers, and encourages us to live unashamed of our faith and of who God created us to be.
 
Topic Overview: 
March 10 – Unashamed of Weakness
March 24 – Unashamed to Follow
April 14 – Unashamed to Serve
April 28 – Unashamed to Profess
May 12 – Unashamed to Lead
May 26 – Unashamed to Hope
 

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March 2024 Daily Bible Reading

The YouVersion App is no longer hosting our selected Bible readings. So, we will host our Bible readings via the church’s app and website instead. Paper copies will still be made available at the church building. We apologize for any inconvenience. 
 
The March Bible reading starts March 1!
Topic: “Rooted in Jesus: Letters”
Click on each chapter to go to the reading via BLB.

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Involvement Forms!

We are still accepting involvement forms!
Fill yours out at bit.ly/centralinvolve

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Feb 2024 Bible Reading

Join our February Bible Reading, starting Feb 1!
Rooted in Jesus: “Miracles”
https://bit.ly/48UJB7v
 
PDF version
 
We have found Android users might have trouble with the link above. If so, please use the link below:

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January 21 Worship Service Update

We will have our regularly scheduled morning class and worship service. Our Sunday evening service is canceled. Please use extreme caution if you choose to join us in the morning. If you do not feel comfortable traveling, we invite you to join us via our livestream on Facebook, YouTube, or our website (christiscentral.org/videos)

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Wednesday PM Service Update

Due to current weather conditions, we will not meet for service tonight at the church building.
James Farris will be hosting a devotional through our live stream from 6:30 – 7:00 PM.
God bless and stay safe.

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Take-Home PM Devotional 12/31/23

LOOKING TO 2024 – REFLECTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS

Only Jesus can provide us with abundance and enable us to walk in the light. (John 8:12, Matthew 5:14)  Last week we considered some of the blessings God provided for us in 2023.  Certainly, all His gifts to us will be ever-present until life is over.  How blessed we are!

            Tonight, we turn our attention inward.  We stand at the door of a new year with new beginnings.  We ask a simple question now.  How can I change my life and do more to bring God glory in 2024?  Let’s consider ways to improve our lives and dedicate ourselves to that end. 

SPIRITUAL EXPECTATIONS-NEW BEGINNINGS

What Will We Do for God in 2024?

Song Selection:  Take My Life and Let It Be

Song with Lyrics (click the link): youtu.be/gAOcYrbYHr8 

FULLY GIVE OURSELVES TO THE LORD.
(Acts 8:1-4) How will discipleship guide your life in 2024?
 
FULLY EXCHANGE OUR WILL FOR HIS. (Matthew 16:24-27)
How can I change to make that happen?
 
FULLY TRUST HIM TO KEEP HIS PROMISES. (1 John 5:1-4) 
Will His promises strengthen you daily? 

PRAYER:  “Lord, as we go into the new year, we are thankful for all you have done for us in the past.  We trust in your will for our lives and know our future can be strong and certain.  Help us to always see your plan and remember we are part of it.  Give us faith, hope and love each day.  May we go forward in your Son’s name, to live at our highest spiritual potential.  It is in His name we offer this prayer.”

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)

May God bless your efforts each day in our future together.


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Take-Home PM Devotional 12/24/23

LOOKING TO 2024 – REFLECTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS

REACHING OUR POTENTIAL IN 2024

            As we close the door on 2023 and begin 2024, how can we improve our spiritual lives in the future?  As we seek our fullest potential, we should understand what Jesus called “abundant life”.  Jesus wants to convey a life of spiritual blessings with gifts that overflow into our lives.  He laid out His purpose for us in John 10:10.  “I have come that you may have life and that life more abundantly.”  He gives life unlike anything we could have ever enjoyed without Him.

            We should be thankful for such a blessing.  Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world, he that follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.”  Only He can give you a life better than the world offers.  As you wake to a new year, do so with your eyes opened to His way of thinking.  Tonight, we will reflect on the spiritual blessings God has given us.  Next Sunday night, we will consider some expectations for ourselves in 2024.  We pray this time of devotion will benefit everyone who takes part.

SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS-A YEAR OF BLESSINGS

What Has God Done for Us in 2023?

Song Selection- What the Lord Has Done in Me

Song with Lyrics (click the link): youtu.be/nJDgKrl2gDg

GOD GAVE THE GIFT OF HIS LOVE.  (Colossians 1:9-14) 
How did you display His love in 2023?
 
GOD GAVE A YEAR TO SOW THE SEED. (1 Corinthians 3:5-9)
Where did you “plant the seed” of the gospel in 2023?
 
GOD GRANTED A YEAR OF DISCIPLESHIP. (Acts 2:38-47) 
In what ways did you grow closer to Jesus in 2023?

In considering these points, if you found deficiencies, how will you commit to improving them in 2024?


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New 2024 Bible Reading Plan- Jan. Sign Up

Read together through the YouVersion Bible App: https://bit.ly/3RSSKpR 

We hope you fill join us to be and remain “Rooted in Christ” this year. Each month of 2024, there will be a new themed Bible reading. Each day you will read 1 chapter, after which you can share your reflections with others on the plan through the YouVersion Bible App.

January’s theme is A New Beginning. Use the link above to sign up and invite others to join us, starting January 1!

Paper copies are available at the church building and linked here.

 


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Growth Groups- 9/24/23

Our second Growth Group meeting is tonight! 

Helpful Resources:
  • Leader/Study Guide (Go to Session 2): https://reader.rightnowmedia.org/5/160672
  • Lesson 2 Participant Guide is here
  • More info at https://www.christiscentral.org/growth-groups/
  • Reading for tonight: James 1:13-18
“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/jas.1.13-18.ESV

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First 23-24 Growth Group Meeting Tonight

Growth Groups begin tonight! 

Important Info:
  • All groups will start at 5, unless your leader has told you otherwise.
  • Leader/Study Guide: https://reader.rightnowmedia.org/5/160672
  • Lesson 1 Participant Guide is here
  • Attendance form for Co-Leader is here
  • More info at https://www.christiscentral.org/growth-groups/
  • All members have been requested to read James 1:1-12:
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/jas.1.1-12.ESV

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Bloom Ladies Service Project

This Wednesday the Bloom Ladies will be getting together to clean the Farris’s home that they will be renting. Please meet at the Annex at 10 am if you would like to help. 


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The Book of James- A Preview Devotional

This Fall/Winter our Growth Groups will be studying The Book of James. We are getting excited to start our third year of Growth Groups on September 10th, and we hope that you are getting excited too! Below is a short preview of our study of James, with some questions for you and your family to enjoy time discussing together.

The book of James was written by James, the half-brother of Jesus, from Jerusalem, to Jewish Christians living outside of Palestine, around 40-60 AD. These are people like us, trying to live out in the world and be a follower of Christ, who need encouragement and wisdom to follow Him. Thus, James is a very practical book, almost like a manual for everyday Christian living, giving it the nickname “the Proverbs of the New Testament.”

Below is a preview of some questions James helps us answer. Please take some time to discuss with your family and friends how you would answer them, and take a look at what James has to say. 

  1. How do you react when being a Christian gets hard? (1:1-18)

  2. How do you react to temptation? Do you blame God for allowing the temptation? (1:13-18)

  3. What is the difference between calling yourself a Christian and being a Christian? (2:14-26)

  4. Why do negative words seem to have a greater impact on people than positive ones? (3:1-12)

  5. How is the wisdom of the world different from the wisdom of God? (3:13-18)

  6. How have you seen the power of prayer work in your life? (5:13-20)

 
If you haven’t signed up for Growth Groups yet, there is still time! You can sign up by turning in one of the fliers located in the church foyer, or on the church website at

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Growth Group Preview and Sign-Ups for Fall/Winter 23-24

Sign-up for Growth Groups here: https://forms.gle/cXGYJZtUJvczRBc9A 
Deadline to sign-up is August 27.
 
FALL WINTER 2023/24 – “The Book of James”
To get access to RightNowMedia CLICK HERE
JAMES TRAILER VIDEO: RightNow Media
 
Online Leader Guide: Leader Guide
 
Meeting #1: September 10, 2023
Focus Scripture: James 1:1-12
Participant GuideSession 1 Group Handout    
 
Meeting #2: September 24, 2023
Focus Scripture: James 1:13-18
Participant Guide: Session 2 Group Handout
 
Meeting #3: October 8, 2023
Focus Scripture: James 1:19-27
Participant Guide: Session 3 Group Handout
 
Meeting #4: October 22, 2023
Focus Scripture: James 2:1-13
Participant Guide: Session 4 Group Handout
 
Meeting #5: November 5, 2023
Focus Scripture: James 2:14-26
Participant Guide: Session 5 Group Handout
 
Meeting #6: November 19, 2023
Focus Scripture: James 3:1-12
Participant Guide:  Session 6 Group Handout
 
Meeting #7: December 10, 2023
Focus Scripture: James 3:13-18
Participant Guide: Session 7 Group Handout
 
Meeting #8: January 14, 2024
Focus Scripture: James 4:1-12
Participant Guide: Session 8 Group Handout
 
Meeting #9: January 28, 2024
Focus Scripture: James 4:13-17
Participant Guide: Session 9 Group Handout
 
Meeting #10: February 11, 2024
Focus Scripture: James 5:1-6
Participant Guide: Session 10 Group Handout
 
Meeting #11: February 25, 2024
Focus Scripture: James 5:7-12
Participant Guide: Session 11 Group Handout
 
Meeting #12: March 10, 2024
Focus Scripture: James 5:13-20
Participant Guide: Session 12 Group Handout

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Morning Breakfast with James Farris

We are excited to have James Farris and his family with us this weekend. James is interviewing for our minister position.
 
Tomorrow morning at 8:30 am, we will have a Meet and Greet with James. Coffee and donuts will be provided. Also, we will have a church, eat, church service, so bring your dishes!
See you all tomorrow morning!

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Father’s Day Devotional

Father’s Day: Put a New Twist on an Old Tradition

This year also consider all your Heavenly Father has done for you.

by Rachel Lovingood

The idea for Father’s Day began when a woman heard a Mother’s Day sermon and decided that she didn’t want all that her dad had done for her to go unrecognized. When you think about Father’s Day, what comes to your mind? Can you relate to this woman who was concerned about taking her father for granted?

Honoring fathers is important. After all, the Bible commands us to honor them; but, this year, think of Father’s Day with a new twist. Take some time to consider all your Heavenly Father has done for you and how you might be taking Him for granted.

God is Our Model Father

God Almighty is your Heavenly Father, and He is the perfect example of what it means to be a dad. Looking at each of the letters that make up the word “father,” consider some of the characteristics that set Him apart and provide a model for our human dads.

F   Forgiveness is a huge part of your relationship with your Father. He is willing and able to forgive you of any sin you commit if you will only ask Him. It’s comforting to know that nothing you do is ever so bad that God won’t forgive you (Romans 8:38-39; 1 John 1:9). Now, that’s unconditional acceptance.

A   He is active in your life all the time. God is always at work around you. Ask God to show you what He is doing. You will be amazed at all that is going on. More important, the invitation is open for you to get involved with Him. You never have to wait for your turn to be active with God (John 5:17).

T   Time for you. While humans get too busy to do this or that, God always has time for you. Whenever you feel lonely, struggle with a problem, want to share a thought, or need to deal with a concern, He is there for you. You can’t find a time in your day when He is too busy to talk or listen to you (Jeremiah 33:3).

H   The heart of the matter is that God knows your heart, and He loves you anyway. Proverbs tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things. Some people may not want to be in your life if you make mistakes. God wants to be with you anytime, and He alone is able to change your heart to be all you were created to be (1 John 4:9-10,19).

E   Everywhere sums up God’s place in your life. If you’re a Christian, there is nowhere you can go where He isn’t with you. It can be encouraging to realize that when you are in a tough place in your life, He is right there with you. Whether other people are there or not, God is by your side (Romans 8:35-39).

R   Rest and Read. These are two areas where most people could use a little work. Rest is important to you because it’s easy to become so busy that you don’t take time with the Lord. He wants you to set aside daily time to rest in Him and to read His Word. The Bible is His letter to His children. The best way to get to know your Father is to spend quality time resting and reading all about Him in His Word (John 14:21; Psalm 46:10).

All these attributes of God’s character make Him who He is. If you have been blessed with an earthly dad who has a lot in common with our Heavenly Father, be grateful. If you have missed out on a relationship with an earthly dad, be thankful that God is there for you and wants to meet the needs in your life. Let God know how much He means to you.
 

Link to Original Article: https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/marriage-men-fathers-day-a-new-twist-on-an-old-day 


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Sermon Notes- Lessons from the Life of Gideon- Neil Hight- 4-23-2023

Judges 6:13-16
 
Lessons from the Life of Gideon
 
Why? -6:13
  • Why do bad things happen to good people?
  • Why do good things happen to bad people?
Excuse -6:15
  • I can’t____
  • I don’t WANT to
Rom 12:6  Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 
Rom 12:7  if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 
Rom 12:8  the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. 
 
Show Me – 6:36-40
  • EVIDENCE
  • 5874 manuscripts
  • Early Historians notes/letters/sermons
  • Archeology
Trust ME – 7:1-8
  • 2 Pe 1:3  His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 
  • John 10:10b I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.
  • I AM the ……….
Victory Guaranteed -7:15
  • Mat 16:18  And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
  • 1Th 4:17  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 
Opposition – 8:6-9
  • Religious Leaders –opposed Jesus
  • Matt 10:36 – opposition from own home
  • 1 Tim 4:12 – be an example
  • Matt 7:1 vs John 7:24
  • John 8:7 – cast the first stone
  • Gal 6:1 gentleness and 2 Tim 2:25 humility

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WILDLIFE VBS 2023 at Central

You are invited to a WILD LIFE VBS, July 16-19, from 5:30 PM – 8 PM.
 
Each evening we will start with a free meal at 5:30, follow by games, crafts, activities, and classes for kids of all ages.
 
We will be having a water activity on Wednesday, July 19 around 7:30 PM. Please send your child with a towel, and in appropriate, dark-colored clothing they can get wet in.
 
Registration is at bit.ly/centralvbs23
 
More information will be shared as we get closer to the event! Please follow our church’s Facebook page for more updates.
 
If you have any other questions, please contact the church office at office@spartacoc.com or Patrick Lankford at patricklankford@spartacoc.com.
 
Flyer here 

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Sermon Notes- 4/2/2023- Bruce McLarty- At the Feet of Jesus

Welcome to Central Church of Christ, a people who strive to Share God’s Love, Tell God’s Story, and Be God’s Family.
 
Luke 10:38-42
 
Where does this Sunday find us?
 
At the Feet of Jesus:
 
Mark 5:22-23- Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.”
 
Mark 7:25-26- Immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
 
Luke 7:37-38- A woman of the city, who was a sinner . . . brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with ointment.
 
Luke 8:28-38- When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” …”When the herdsmen saw what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid”
 
 
Luke 17:15-16- Then one of them (Lepers), when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. 
 
Matthew 15:30-31- Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them . . . And they glorified the God of Israel.
 
Matthew 28:8-9- So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.
 
What is OUR story from OUR time spent at the feet of Jesus?
 
Ian Maclaren- “Y ‘ill say what richt, nae doot o’ that, and a ‘body ‘ill be pleased wi’ ye, but oh, laddie, be sure ye say a gude word for Jesus Christ.”
 
In its essence, evangelism is sharing a God-touched piece of one’s own soul, sharing our own experience at
the feet of Jesus.
 
“I love to tell the story” – Jim Bill McInteer
 

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Sermon Notes- What Does It Mean to be a “Christian”? 3-26-2023

Welcome to Central Church of Christ, a people who strive to Show God’s Love, Tell God’s Story, and Be God’s Family.

What does it mean to be a “Christian”?

Etymology: 

Acts 11:26b“And in Antioch, the disciples were first called Christians.”

Blue Letter Bible-

OT Usage:

Gen. 31:13“I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.’”

Gen. 28:10-2210 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” 18 So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”

When something is anointed, it is a mark of a connection between heaven and earth, and a mark of God’s blessing.

Exodus 28:41

1 Samuel 10:1Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head and kissed him and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you to be prince over his people Israel? And you shall reign over the people of the LORD and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the LORD has anointed you to be prince over his heritage.

1 Samuel 16:13- Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

1 Kings 1:39

1 Kings 19:16- And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.

2 Kings 2:6-22

NT Usage: For Jesus

Matthew 16:16

Mark 8:29

Luke 22:67

John 11:27

Psalm 132:17-18- There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. 18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine.”

Isaiah 61:1-2a- The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,

Luke 3:21-22

John 1:51And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you,[a] you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

John 14:6– Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.,

Matthew 8:16– That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.

John 3:16– For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

Matthew 4:17

Heb. 4:14-16

Is. 9:6-7

1 Tim 6:14-17

John 3:16

Matt. 4:16-21

NT Usage: For Us

2 Cor. 1:21-22And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Close:

His Hand Is Bigger Than Mine


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Sermon Notes- Spiritual Maturity, Patrick Lankford, 2-5-2023

Titus 2:1-8– But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

Welcome to Central Church of Christ, where we strive to Show God’s Love, Tell God’s Story, and Be God’s Family. 

Joseph Campbell’s “hero’s journey” or “monomyth.” 

John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Matt. 28:18-20– “18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Each of us is at one of these different points in our spiritual journey:

  • Point #1- Accepting the Call
  • Point #2- Struggling with Challenges and Temptations
  • Point #3- Maturing and Mentoring

Point #1- Accepting the Call

Romans 6:23- “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Gen. 1:26–  “Then God said, “Let us make man[a] in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Romans 3:23–  “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

John 3:16-18– “16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his  only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. “

Acts 2:38– “And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 6:3-4– “3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

Point #2- Struggling with Challenges and Temptations

1 Peter 1:25b – 2:2And this word is the good news that was preached to you. So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation”

Heb. 6:1-2Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

Hebrews 5:12-14– “12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

1 Cor. 2:14 – 3:3 -”14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 2:1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?

Heb 5:1414 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

Point #3- Maturing and Mentoring

Hebrews 5:1212 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,

Ephesians 4:11-1611 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

James 3:1 “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” 

Matthew 28:18-20– “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

Deut. 11:18-19“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

Titus 2:1-8But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.


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1/15/2023 Sermon Notes- “New Life” John 14:6- Patrick Lankford

New Life and New Year Resolutions

Welcome to Central Church of Christ, where we seek to Show God’s Love, Tell God’s Story, and Be God’s Family.

Top New Year’s Resolutions for 2023

New Year’s resolutions are hard!

How do we keep our goals?

  • Deeply understand why you want to change.
  • Set specific and challenging long-term goals
  • Set small and realistic short-term goals
  • Find like-minded people with the same goal

Why Do We Make Resolutions?

The Problem: An Life of Death, separated from God 

Gen. 1= Seven good things- 

  1. light v.4
  2. the land and sea v.10
  3. first life of plants v.12
  4. the lights of the sky v.17
  5. the creatures of air and water v.21
  6. the land creatures v.25
  7. everything with humanity in God’s image was very good v.31

Gen 2= Garden of Eden: 

  • A land of abundance v.8-9

And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

  • People had purpose v.15

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

  • They had healthy relationships with each other and with God v.18,24-25

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

  • Humanity had one choice to make: trust God and do what was right in His eyes, choosing life, or distrust God and do what seems right in their own eyes, choosing death. (v.16-17)

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Gen 3:1-6

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.  He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

The world is no longer “very good.”

  • The man and woman hide themselves from each other and God. They fear both each other and God. Their relationships are broken. v.7,8,16
  • The serpent is cursed to live on the earth, and he is promised a deathblow from the seed of the woman. v.14-15
  • The ground is cursed to withhold its fruits from man, and man must labor for his food until he dies. v.19
  • Death enters the world (v.19 & 21), and man is driven out of the garden, away from God and away from the tree of life.

The Promise: A New Life, with God through Christ

Gen 3:15- I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

“in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Gen. 12:1-3 

Is 7:14-15

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.

Is 42:1

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.

Is 52:13-15; 53:4-6,10-

13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. 14 As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—15 so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.

53:4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Jesus always chose to follow God’s wisdom. 

  • “in [His] father’s house” Luke 2:49
  • “fulfill all righteousness” Matt 3:13-15
  • “It is written” Matt 4:4,7,10.

Jesus’ call to a new life:

  • “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17
  • Matthew 9:2-7
      • 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 7 And he rose and went home. 
  • John 3:14-21
      • 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
  • John 14:6- “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Matthew 16:14-16

And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Matt. 26:63-66

63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.”

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

2 Cor. 5:21- “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

1 Pet. 3:18– “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,”

Rev. 1:17-18

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

A New Life Resolution: Today and to Come

Ephesians 4:17-24:

17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

The new life today: v.25-32

  • We speak the truth v.25
  • We do not sin in our anger, and we don’t let the problem fester, we resolve the problem promptly v.26
  • We don’t even give the tempter a chance v.27
  • We do honest work, and share with anyone in need v.28
  • We build each other up with grace v.29
  • We don’t grieve the Holy Spirit v.30
  • We are kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, like God in Christ v.32

Eternal life to come- 

Romans 6:22-23

22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rev. 21:1-7:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 

Outro: What’s Your Resolution?

To be successful, remember to:

  • Deeply understand why you want to change.
    • Our world is broken because of our sinful choices that lead us to separation from God and each other.
  • Set specific and challenging long-term goals
    • We want to achieve eternal life with God and each other.
  • Set small and realistic short-term goals
    • We can do that today, by choosing to follow God’s wisdom and living the new life He gives us.
  • Find like-minded people with the same goal
    • You are not alone and don’t have to try and do it by yourself. We are all aiming for the same goal, and we are here to encourage each other to get there.

Matt 25:31-46

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

What’s your choice?


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2023 Involvement Form

Join us as we strive to Show God’s Love, Tell God’s Story, and Be God’s Family!
 
Click the link below to get involved!
 

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Sermon Notes 1-8-2023 “Be a Faithful Steward” Les Tubb

Be a Faithful Steward- Matthew 25:14-30 
  • What is a Steward?
      • 1 Cor.4:1
      • A steward is a servant entrusted with the management of a master’s possessions or people. The most essential quality of a steward is faithfulness. A faithful steward is trustworthy, dependable, reliable.
  • A Master delegates responsibility. 
      • Their responsibility matches their ability. v.14-15
      • Each steward manages his opportunity. v.16-18
  • The master returns and holds accountable v.19
      • Why are the first and second stewards blessed? v.20-23
      • Why is the third steward cursed? v.24-27
          • The good-for-nothing steward is terminated v.28-30
  • The point of Jesus parable
      1. Use your God-given abilities
          • 1 Peter 4:10
      2. Seize every opportunity
          • Galatians 6:10
          • Colossians 4:3,5
      3. Advance the Lord’s church
          • Matthew 28:18-20
          • Matthew 22:34-40
          • Acts 2:14-47
Faithful Unto Death”
 
John Wesley- “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can.”
 
Matthew 25:21- “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”

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1/8 Bible Classes Announcement

All teen and adult bible classes will be in the auditorium today!


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Growth Group Preview “Psalm 119” Winter-Spring 2023

WINTER-SPRING 2023 – “Psalm 119”
 
Access our Growth Group Curriculum: https://app.rightnowmedia.org/join/ccocsparta
 
Psalm 119 Trailer: RightNow Media
 
Participant Question SheetPsalm 119 Group Handouts
 
 
Schedule:
Meeting #1: January 8, 2023
Focus Scripture: Psalm 119:1-16
 
Meeting #2: January 22, 2023
Focus Scripture: Psalm 119:17-32
 
Meeting #3: February 12, 2023
Focus Scripture: Psalm 119:33-48
 
Meeting #4: February 26, 2023
Focus Scripture: Psalm 119:49-64
 
Meeting #5: March 12, 2023
Focus Scripture: Psalm 119:65-96
 
Meeting #6: March 26, 2023
Focus Scripture: Psalm 119:97-120
 
Meeting #7: April 9, 2023
Focus Scripture: Psalm 119:121-136
 
Meeting #8: April 23, 2023
Focus Scripture: Psalm 119:137-152
 
Meeting #9: May 14, 2023
Focus Scripture: Psalm 119:153-168
 
Meeting #10: May 28, 2023
Focus Scripture: Psalm 119:169-176
 
For more information, click here.

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2023 Daily Bible Reading Link

You are invited to join our daily Bible reading through the Bible App using the link below or by downloading the pdf.

 

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Sermon Notes: 9/25 – Joy & Hope for Christ

Joy & Hope For Christ – by Topher Wiles

09/25/2022 – Central Church of Christ

  • Scripture Reading: Philippians 1:1-6
  • INTRO: The Tennessee Vols football program is now 4-0 on the season after beating the Florida Gators 38-33 yesterday! Honk if you’re excited for the Vols! 

It all began with Philippians 1:3 and ends with Philippians 4:18 which say,

Php 1:3  I thank my God in all my remembrance of you”

“Php 4:18  I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.”

Eph 5:20 always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Col 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1Th 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Read Matthew 25:31-40. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Eph 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no-one can boast.

Php 4:19  And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

  • Heb 6:10 “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”
  • Luke 6:35“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High…”
  • Pr 19:17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.
  • Mt 25:40 “The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Php 4:14  Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 

Php 4:16  Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 

Philippians 4:1 “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” 
 

 


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Outdoor Service

Central News: This Sunday 9/25 we will host our annual parking lot drive-in worship service at 10am. With this Sunday as his last sermon as minister of Central Church of Christ, Topher Wiles finishes his 5 year commitment of service. Join us for outdoor worship of Jesus & be a part of honoring God along with the Wiles family in their farewell service. A pot-luck lunch meal open to all will be held in the annex following the AM worship service.

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