Announcements

MEMBER ALERT:

Our fall Gospel Meeting with Allen Webster is scheduled for Wednesday, November 13th through Sunday November 17th. Allen teaches at the Memphis School of Preaching, Georgia School of Preaching, and is the editor of House to House Heart to Heart. He's also a director for Polishing the Pulpit. Mark your calendar!

Men’s Bible study –Friday, November 15th at 7 PM, at the church building. Zoom will be available if you can't attend in-person. Volunteers to lead/facilitate future Bible studies are needed. Contact Bob Greene for more information.

Bible study for the ladies on the English-speaking side: November 9th at 10 AM via Zoom. For additional information, contact Winnie Sylvester or Rosemary Dayie.

Ladies, the Heritage Christian University offers a credit certificate program: “The Certificate in Women’s Ministry”. It is designed to provide training to better equip women to provide holistic ministry in the congregation for discipleship, mentoring, teaching and leading. This is 15 credit hours program

Lessons are taught Sundays 10-10:45am, and Wednesdays 7:30- 8:15pm. We encourage you to bring your young ones to both classes so the can benefit most from lessons. Our prayer and goal is that our young ones will love the Truth and internalize the Truths in scriptures so they may become obedient and faithful disciples of Christ. Let us all do our part to encourage our young ones to memorize scripture, develop holy habits, and love to come to Bible classes and worship services. Parents and guardians, we are honored to journey with you on this path. If you did not receive the Bible class letter from our shepherds, please contact brothers Kwaku or Riley

Sign-up sheets are on the bulletin board for hall monitors, Sunday morning greeters, meal contact persons and Bible class substitutes and assistants on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Bible class teachers and assistants are needed, see Arnoldo Velásquez or one of the elders if you desire to serve in this capacity

Pray for our shepherds and the flock (our congregation): that we may all submit to the Lord's will and His design for His Church that He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28, 31; 1 Thessalonians 5:11-24; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 5:1-21; Titus 1:6-15; 1 Peter 5:1-11).

Pray for the congregation in Ecuador, for the security of that country and for all people who are suffering through no fault of their own.

MEMORY VERSES

Exodus 20:4 - “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. NASB95

Luke 4:8 - Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” NASB9

Just As I Am

The song “Just As I Am” is a commonly used invitation song. The idea in the song is that we cannot make ourselves right with God on our own; apart from Jesus’ blood we have no hope. That is precisely the New Testament picture (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; etc.).

I fear, however, that some folks have an erroneous idea about Jesus saving us “just as we are.” They seem to think that He saves us without any change in our conduct. That is opposite to the New Testament picture.

Jesus’ charge to the apostles was “that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations” (Luke 24:47). Forgiveness is extended to those willing to abandon sinful conduct, not to those who insist on continuing in it.

Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians, “Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you…” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). He did not say such are some of you, but such were. They changed their conduct in connection with being washed, sanctified, and justified (verse 11).

“Just as I am,” if referring to our own helplessness, is a comforting sentiment. But to suggest it means salvation without repentance is to hold out false hope. ~ Frank Himmel ~ https://www.churchofchristatgreenwood.org/articles/bulletin-articles/2024/08/25/just-as-i-am

THINK ON THIS!

The lyrics of “Just As I Am” speak directly to the heart of the listener, acknowledging the doubts, fears, and conflicts that often accompany the journey of faith. Yet, the hymn reminds us that we can come to Jesus just as we are, without any plea or pretense, and find rest in His love and acceptance.