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Bulletin

Lay Lake Church of Christ

Volume 4                  May 31, 2009          Number 22


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Preaching

[The following came from the Dalraida Digest in Montgomery AL and was taken from excerpts from an article by brother Charles Hodge and edited by David Bass]. 

Preaching is the primary, central, decisive function of the church (Mark 16:15).  When the church preaches more and more; it grows (read the books of Acts).  We have gotten out of preaching.  We do not need a minor tune-up; we need a major overhaul.  God's church is in the preaching business, not the church-growth business.

Nothing is more harmful than a “harmless preacher.” Too much preaching today is not preaching.   This is not the time for cowards. 

Preaching is not nice people telling nice people to be nicer.  Preachers don't lecture to impress; they preach to convict (2 Tim. 4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”   Gal 4:16  “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?”).

We claimed to be the fastest growing church in the 1950s.  All we did then was preach.  We went from 10-day meetings to one week, then four days, then weekends, now only “Super Sundays.” Then we wonder what is wrong with us.

In Sunday worship, our children are taken out prior to the sermon

(Children’s church).  Because the sermon represents God, they are taken out when God shows up.  Children need to be raised in an aura of adult worship, not kid stuff.  Then we wonder why our kids quit the church at 18; they were never in it.  Our young boys will never be motivated to become great preachers when they have never heard great preaching or known great preachers.

Only preachers preach.  Church, get yourself a preacher.  Tragically, we have office managers, lecturers, storytellers, speakers, psychologists, entertainers, comedians, but we don't have preachers!

God’s sheep are starving at the Master’s table.  Our brotherhood is starved for simple plain gospel preaching.  Why hire a man to preach and then tell him not to preach?  Brethren are demanding 20 minute sermons.  How dumb can we be?   Do you spend a fortune to send your children to Harvard to attend 20 minute classes?  Would you invite Jesus to come speak the Sermon on the Mount in 20 minutes?

By the way, any money paid to a bad preacher is too much; any money paid to a great preacher is never enough.  Preachers either tickle ears or break hearts.  Preachers are not salesmen; preaching is not selling.  You don’t sell Christianity.  You preach Christ; you live Christianity.  Preachers are not celebrities.  An audience makes a decision every time the Word is preached.  God’s truth demands a verdict.

When you get in the pulpit, be the best preacher on earth! God wants it; the world needs it.

Prayer List

Mary Thompson; Christy Patterson; Jan Peoples; Misty Woods; Margaret Walker (Mareen’s mother); Janice Clem (Christy K.’s mother); Wanda Knowles (Wendell’s sister); Bill Nelson (Frieda’s dad); Elizabeth Smith; Colin Chandler;  J. C. Hyche (David’s dad); Harold Lee; Bob Spurlin; the Jones family; Amanda Vick; Angela Goodwin; Martha Eckert;  Adam Pilling; Robert Kelley; Corey Boothe.

Upcoming Activities & News

Scripture Reading Today: 1 John 5:13-21 (following our morning announcements).

Men’s Meeting: All of our men are encouraged to attend our men’s meeting next Sunday afternoon at 4:30.

Baby Shower: Ladies, you are invited to a baby shower for Elizabeth Smith this afternoon at 3:00 at the “old” home of Rusty & Lynn on North Deborah Drive.

Pantry: tuna (PLEASE help us re-stock our pantry - see the bulletin board for needed items)

Fifth Sunday Prayer Service: TONIGHT!  All of our Christian men are encouraged to participate.

Backwoods Christian Camp: 1st Session will begin next Sunday ( June 7th).  Please pray for our campers and summer workers (Josh, Laura & Kellie Smith).

Rejoice in the Lord. . .: Mandy Payne was baptized last Wednesday night.  We welcome her into God’s family!

June Bug: June 19,20   We need everyone’s help!

VBS: July 20 - 22

June Birthdays & Anniversaries

  • 5     Stephen Kearley 
  • 5     Glenn & Lisa Russell
  • 6     Chris Bass
  • 7     Chris & Elizabeth
  • 10    Whitney Gaut
  • 14    Rett Russell
  • 15    Kellie Smith
  • 20    Stephen & Christy
  • 21    Lynn Dodson
  • 28    Rusty & Lynn