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Past Articles – Messages of encouragement and information |
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The worship assemblies of the church are often times the most public of our many activities. It is at this time that we have visitors meeting with us as a worshiping community. Their impression of the church overall is typically set by their impression of our worship assembly. Because our work is a direct extension of Jesus’ work, to seek and to save that which was lost (Lk 19:10), it is essential that when visitors come into our assembly they have an excellent first impression. We have two deacons who have been charged with the responsibility to ensure that our worship assemblies are not only meaningful experiences, but conducted efficiently. Jim Morris and Don Wright have both taken their responsibilities seriously. However, it is not up to them alone. Everyone with a public role in our assemblies has the responsibility to help ensure that all things are done decently and in good order, and for the edification of all those present. (1 Cor 14:26,40) There are some things each participant can do to help with these matters. We have a excellent PA system, but it is of no value if it not used within its capabilities. Those who make our announcements, or lead in prayers, or in any other way address the church need to make sure they speak clearly into the microphone. If one has a tendency to mumble, or to speak very softly, the PA system can help, but it will not make the speaker an orator. When using the microphone, don’t be afraid of it. Speak as loudly as you would in a regular conversation. Speak into the microphone, not into the podium. It is perfectly proper and actually beneficial to be close to the microphone. It is there to help everyone hear clearly, but it is not a miracle worker. If our visitors feel they cannot hear what is being said it may be enough of a hindrance to keep them from returning, or even to discourage them from wanting to know more of Jesus and His people. Let’s not allow something we can control stand between anyone and the Lord. There are other matters that affect our visitors as well. Our attitude and behavior during the worship assembly is another factor. Our deacons can’t solve that one. We each have to work on that. However, let’s help them with what we can. Until next time… 2/13/00 – Deacons: Youth Education When Paul wrote to the Ephesian Christians, he penned these words: And fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Eph 6:4) Teaching our children the rudiments of the faith first and foremost lies with the family and primarily with the dear ol’ dad. Unfortunately, there are too many families who have neglected that instruction from God through Paul’s pen. Other things have taken over its importance in the family. In the last several generations, the church has taken opportunity to supplement the teaching being done in the home. We at Columbus Avenue have a wonderful Bible school program for our children. It does not, and must not, replace the family’s responsibility, but it is a supplemental means by which we can instruct our children in the things of God. We have classes for all of our children, from the youngest through high school and even college. (Somewhere along there they become adults, but they never outgrow the need for quality Bible teaching.) It is a marvelous thing to observe a dedicated teacher work with his or her students. Richard Shelton has accepted the responsibility to head up our Bible school program for our children. It is an awesome task to try to coordinate the classes for all of our children. We have eighteen different classes for our children. Those classes have more than 35 teachers actively involved from quarter to quarter. You know he appreciates the work that each of you is putting into your class to make it the very best it can be. Next Sunday evening, Richard will be holding his first formal meeting with all the teachers, both those currently teaching and those in their non-teaching rotation. Let me encourage each of you to be present for this meeting. Richard has been working directly with children in the Bible school for many years. What he has to say will benefit each of our Bible school’s teachers. The meeting begins promptly at 5:00pm. Whether you are a Bible school student’s parent or a teacher, or simply a concerned Christian, let us each stand behind Richard as he helps to set the Bible school’s tone for improving the level of not only Bible knowledge, but also its application to the lives of each of our young people. Until next time… 2/20/00 – Deacons: Adult Education Have you heard the one about the Christian who didn’t like being a part of the Bible class program? “Bible school is for kids, and I ain’t no kid anymore,” he retorts. He’s right, but only half right – he’s not a kid anymore. We never outgrow the need for Bible study with other Christians. There are times we wane in our desire for Bible study, but that is a heart and faith problem. We must never consider ourselves too grounded in the truth to no longer need interactive study time with God’s people. If it should be that we think we have nothing to learn, we would certainly be in a position to assist others in their learning. But which of us is ever at a station in their walk with God that we have nothing more to learn? The adult Bible class program here at Columbus Avenue is an excellent program. We have several classes going on at any given time both on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening. Some of these classes are “special interest” (family, Biblical parenting, women’s concerns); others are textual studies (the lesson is drawn directly from the Biblical text); and still others are topical studies (either a workbook format or timely topics that affect our walk with God). If you are not involved regularly in our Bible class program, let me encourage you to give it another look. (2 Tim 2:15) Vic Stalcup is charged by our elders as the deacon who coordinates our adult Bible class program. This is certainly a challenging task. We need to encourage Vic in this work. We also need to support him in his work. While there are some day by day facets involved, there is a great deal more involved in making sure that the program meets the spiritual needs of the congregation. He has to figure out how to meet the needs of those who have been Christians for many years and for those who are “babes in Christ” without boring or over-challenging either one. He must determine what is the best way to present various topics. Yes, it is a challenging work the elders have entrusted to him. What can we do to help Vic in this work? We can participate actively as both student and teacher. We can be in class on time, ready to learn, and ready to discuss the day’s assignment. We can fervently pray for him, for those standing as teachers, for those sitting as learners, for all of us seeking a greater understanding of God’s truth. Until next time… I heard of a congregation where there was an elderly retired gentleman, known and loved by all the church family. He was a quiet man, but always seemed to be “about the building.” He always said hello to everyone who came through the halls. As happens to all of us sooner or later, the man grew older and died. His passing was noted in the announcements and his funeral attended moderately well. Shortly after his death, things started going wrong at the church building. It seems the plumbing began having constant problems. The pews began to be covered with the crumbs from the children’s snacks, as well as scribbled-on cards, used tissues, and old bulletins. The hallways became dingy. Cobwebs began showing up where there had been none before. People noticed the changes and expressed their disappointment at “whoever” it was that was supposed to clean the building. Then it dawned on some of them – their building was falling into disarray because there was no one doing the work of that elderly retired gentleman who passed on several weeks earlier. In his own unassuming manner, that man cared for the church’s building better than some care for their homes. No one had stepped into his shoes since he went home to glory. It is a tremendous job to maintain a building the size of Columbus Avenue’s. One person cannot do it all. We are blessed with a wonderful “elderly retired gentlemen, known and loved by all the church family.” No, it’s not the same fellow, Ray Smith still can be seen walking the halls of Columbus Avenue making sure things are going right. Ray is our deacon charged by our elders with seeing that we are good stewards of the meetinghouse and grounds. But like our other deacons, he is not expected to do it all by himself. There are some who help him regularly. There are others who pop in from time to time to help out. But we can all help him if we are willing. If there’s trash in the hallway, we can bend over and pick it up. If a commode is working right, most of us can “jiggle the handle,” or use the “plumber’s friend.” We don’t need to rush out to tell Ray to do what we are capable of doing to keep our church building in proper working order. There will be times that Ray will need special help to do some things. Let’s take stock of how we can help, and be a ready helper for and with him. Until next time… |
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