Family Matters
This Week’s Assignments
Announcements: R. Ramsey
Sunday Morning
Opening Prayer: S. Emerson
Song Leader: J. Emerson
Reading: B. Gaare
Closing Prayer: S. McDearman
The Lord’s Supper
(L) Bread: B. Smith
(L) Contribution: J. Coody
(L) Helper: E. Gross Jr.
(R) Fruit of the Vine: C. Campbell
(R) Helper: J. Dunahoe
(R) Helper: J. Winfield
Sermon: C. Willis
Sunday Evening
Opening Prayer: B. Roane
Song Leader: J. McAdams
Reading: C. Trahan
Closing Prayer: R. Ramsey
Lord’s Supper: J. Franks
Lord’s Supper: Justin Brinkley
Sermon: C. Dunn
Wednesday Evening
Song Leader: B. Lovell
Speaker: D. Conner
“Take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day,
and having done everything, to stand firm”. Ephesians 6:13
Volume 8
Everyone is Welcome!
ave you ever wondered why the Son
of God, who lived a perfect life, was
crucified? Pilate “knew that it was out of
envy” that the Jewish leaders delivered
Jesus up (Mat 27:18). Not only does this
characteristic sadden me, but I’m amazed
at what people will do out of envy.
There are indications of envy we should
be aware of. People will tear apart
someone and desire harm to befall him
because of some real or presumed
advantage he has. The poor criticize the
wealthy, the ostracized attack the admired,
and the illiterate condemn the educated.
Instead of rejoicing with someone’s
accomplishments, an envious person
taunts. Name calling, anger, violence
many times indicates envy. Paul writes
that “if one member is honored, all rejoice
together” (1Co 12:26). We should be
overjoyed when others are successful or
admired, not jealous.
This jealousy or strong feeling of
resentment has bad results that should be
considered. Relationships are severed.
H
19351 FM 1485, New Caney, TX 77357
281-399-5900
Sunday
Bible Classes……....9:30 a.m.
Worship...10:30 a.m. & 5 p.m.
Wednesday
Bible Classes….…...7:30 p.m.
March 7, 2010
Number 10
Envy
New Caney Church of Christ
Evangelists:
Charles Willis (281-399-4760)
[email protected]
Caleb Dunn (417-258-0002)
[email protected]
Elders:
Bob Bailey (281-689-2006)
Ronnie Ramsey (281-324-4647)
Leland Wallis (281-689-3384)
Assembly Times:
STANDING FIRM
Sick
•
Check Your Knowledge: Answers
1. Fire (Lev 10:1-2).
2. Ananias & Sapphira
(Act 5:1-10).
Remember
Our
Soldiers:
Caleb Emerson
Dave Campbell
3. Uzzah (2Sa 24:1-5).
4. Elijah (1Ki 1:9-12).
5. Korah (Num 16).
6. Sisera (Jud 4:18-21).
Marcus Vick
2300 Gato St. Box #334W
Naval Base Kitspa-Bangor
Silverdale, WA 98315
Cell: 936-828-6705
John Jorgensen
The Church of Christ
in New Caney
Retaining the Standard of Sound Doctrine!
Sometimes, siblings fight over a parent’s attention. Some Christians lose
their faith. They stop attending worship
service because they feel unnoticed and
unloved by the brethren. Joseph’s brothers “became jealous of Joseph and
sold him into Egypt” (Acts 7:9). The
brothers resented Joseph because of the
attention he was given. Similarly, spiritual families are broken and reputations
are ruined as a result of envy.
I’m sadden and amazed by the
destruction envy has caused in times
past. Yet, I am thankful and delighted
that the members here seem to be free
from this characteristic. Let us take care
to continue avoiding all envy and
jealousy. And always stay alert to any
indications of envy—realizing its
danger. After all, the Son of God was
crucified out of envy. Paul writes, “Let
us not become conceited, provoking one
another, envying one another” (Gal
5:26).
-Caleb Dunn
Visit our new website!
www.newcaneychurchofchrist.org
d
ONE
ANOTHER
A Series of Articles
by
Charles Willis
Keep
Fervent
In Your
Love
“One Another” is a Scriptural phrase often used to
describe the fellowship which exists between believers. It
comes from one Greek word which means: “one another,
reciprocally, mutually” (Thayer’s Lexicon). It is
sometimes rendered “one to another” or “one of
another”.
No where is this phrase used more, than in connection
with the love which should exist between believers. Many
places simply say “love one another” (Rom. 13:8;
1 Thess. 3:12, 4:9; 1 John 3:11, 23; 2 John 5). “Let us
love one another, for love is from God” (1 Jn. 4:7).
Too many times I have visited with a congregation in
which love is not present. I have worshipped with some
who have not loved as they ought. While we may think
this is a bad thing, we seldom think this is sin. We are
wrong to think this way: “This is His commandment, that
we believe in the name of His son Jesus Christ, and love
one another, just as He commanded us” (1 John 3:23).
And again, “this commandment we have from Him, that
the one who loves God should love his brother also”
(1 Jn. 4:21).
While we must be certain to obey the command, love
cannot merely be a duty. Love involves emotions and
actions. We are to love in “deed and truth” (1 John
3:18). Our mutual love is to be genuine and expressed in
actions. “Fervently love one another from the heart”
(1 Pet. 1:22). Peter again states, “keep fervent in your
love for one another” (1 Pet. 4:8). The Greek word
translated “fervent means “earnestly, fervently,
intensely” (Thayer’s Lexicon). The love in our heart for
each other should be intense and deep. But we must
work to keep that love fervent. This is vital “because love
covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8). Not that we
Check Your Knowledge
Strange Deaths
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What devoured Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, when they offered strange fire to God?
What husband and wife dropped dead after lying?
Who was killed for touching the ark of the covenant?
Who sat on the top of a hill and called on God to send fire on two armies of fifty men?
Who, with his household, was swallowed by the earth after rebelling against Moses?
What Canaanite captain was killed by Jael who drove a tent peg through his head?
(Answers on back page)
excuse or overlook another person’s sin, but that we forebear with each other and do
not pick at every flaw of character or habit of speech. Instead we work to keep our
love fervent for each other. When this exists as it ought, we behave as Paul wrote:
“put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity” (Col. 3:14). The unity within a
congregation of believers can only thrive as we put on love. The degree of love which
exists between believers will indicate the degree of unity which prevails.
We are to “be devoted to one another in brotherly love” (Rom. 12:10). The Greek
word translated “devoted” speaks of the reciprocal love of parents and children. This
devoted type of love is to exist between brethren. As we demonstrate and share our
love with each other, we will be busy reciprocating that love.
God has this deep sense of love for us and we are to have it for each other.
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 Jn. 4:11) “Ought”
indicates this love is a duty and obligation. Love should exist. “If we love one
another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us” (1 Jn. 4:12). But the
opposite is also true. “If someone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar;
for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom
he has not seen.” (1 Jn. 4:20). Sadly, I’ve seen this attitude within a congregation as
well. When two Christians refuse to sit together, but instead move to opposite sides
of the building, or worse, they refuse to converse but work to avoid conversation, this
is not love. John writes that it is hate. Whatever keeps these two apart needs to be
resolved. They are not working to keep their love fervent. They are not devoted to
each other in love. They cannot love God. They are in sin. Long before these
attitudes existed they should have reconciled and resolved their issues so that love
prevailed in their heart.
I am thankful that the congregation in New Caney has such a deep love for one
another. Visitors remark to me of the love that is seen and felt in the congregation
while they are with us. This is how it should be, but sadly in many congregation it is
not. We seem to be in the same place as the Thessalonians, and in need of hearing
Paul’s command to them. “Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for
anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we
urge you, brethren, to excel still more” (1 Thess. 4:9-10). Just because we do have
love for one another does not mean we should not increase in our love. As new
people join the congregation we need to reach out and include them in this love we
have for one another. We need to constantly be on watch for opportunities to
demonstrate our love toward some to whom we have not had opportunity before. Let
us never forget: “we love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
‘Blessed’ or ‘happy’ in the Bible has the implication of enjoying favorable circumstances:
James 1:12 Happy is a man who perseveres under trials; for once he has been
approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who
love Him.