| JULY 12, 2020 WESTFIELD CHURCH OF CHRIST 1610 WESTFIELD LOOP, HOUSTON, TX 77073 ELDERS: James Fillyaw: 713-560-5104; Hubert Crowson: 281-732-9606; Jerry Loyd: 713-775-5377; Church Office: 281-821-8531 CHURCH SERVICES NOTICE: Church services have, once again, been curtailed for a period of time. We will not meet on Sunday for worship. We do have available prefilled communion cups, masks and gloves on the table in the foyer, if you desire to worship with your family. If you need any of these items, call one of the elders for entry to the building. May God bless the Westfield Church and its efforts. Amen. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR JULY 7th LeFaye Fillyaw; 8th Amanda Stone; 9th Weadie Burns; 15th Karter Fillyaw; 18th Alanna Briggs; 19th Karen Fillyaw; 20th Scothelia Martin; HAPPY ANNIVERSARY FOR JULY 20th Jerry & Sheryl Loyd; READING THE NEW TESTAMENT: FIRST TIMOTHY: Chapter 3:1-16: Overseers and Deacons: It is a trustworthy statement: If any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?). and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. No “Five-Step Formula?” By Jason Trick, Herty Church of Christ Bulletin, Lufkin, Texas There ae many misleading claims among denominations regarding salvation. Most of the misconceptions come because people only look at some of the verses regarding salvation. They locate verses which say we are saved by God’s grace and then trumpet that salvation is solely by grace. We realize that the Bible does not present such a one-sided view of salvation. The actions of God are fitted to the actions of man to produce salvation. When the gospel plan of salvation is taught, do the Scriptures teach a formula for giving the heart over to God? In the 19th century, gospel preachers often taught the gospel plan of salvation to children and to unlearned and illiterate men and women. One convenient way was to hold up their hand and, grasping each finger one at a time, say, “Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, and be Baptized.” Sectarians began to ridicule it as the “five finger creed of the church of Christ,” the “five finger formula of the Campbellites,” and “five steps of the water gospel.” Christians were mocked and called, “five steppers.” Because truth was taught so simply with the “five finger exercise,” enemies of the cross made fun of the process. It was easier to do that than to show how it contradicted the word of God; so, they railed and reviled. Many claim that never in the entire New Testament did any prophet, nor Jesus, nor the Apostles present a five-step formula in teaching the gospel plan of salvation. If the Lord and the apostles never presented “a five-step formula,” which ones did they omit? Which should we leave out? Should We: Omit Hearing? Since “faith comes by hearing” the word of God, how can we leave it out (Romans 10:17)? When the word of God is planted into the hearts of men, it will produce a faith pleasing to God (Heb. 11:6). Jesus said one must “hear (His) voice,” His word, in order to have spiritual life ((John 5:25; 6:63, 68). One cannot trust in Christ until he hears “the word of truth” (Eph. 1:13). If a person never “hears” the gospel, he can never believe; therefore, we cannot omit hearing. Omit Faith? Since “without faith it is impossible to please God,” how can we fail to include faith (Heb. 11:6)?; Jesus said, “if you believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8: 24). Our faith in Christ is an important essential to our salvation. The Lord said, “He that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16; John 3:18). Obviously, we must not omit faith as one of the “steps” one must take in order to be saved. Omit Repentance? Since God “commands all men everywhere to repent,” how can we remove repentance (Acts 17:30)? Jesus said, “Repent or perish,” (Luke 13:3). Christ connected repentance with the forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38). Thus, we may not omit repentance as a “step” for the sinner to obey (2nd Peter 3:9). Omit Confession? Since only those who confess that Jesus is Lord can be saved, how can we eliminate confession (Romans 10:9-10). Jesus said, “Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him I will confess before My Father” (Matthew 10:32-33). “If we deny Him, He will also deny us” (2nd Timothy 2:12). Hence, we cannot omit confession of Christ as a “step” unto salvation. Omit Baptism? Since baptism is “for the remission of sins,” how can we possible ignore it (Acts 2:38; 22:16)? Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16: 16). Baptism is one of the conditions with which one must comply in order to be saved in Christ (John 3:3-5; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27; 1st Peter 3:21). So, we dare not omit Baptism. Jesus and the apostles “did indeed” present the “five-steps” which some say were never given. Which step(s) shall we take away? In the conversion accounts in the book of Acts, which ones were omitted? ATTENTION: We will NOT have worship services Sunday. May God Bless the Westfield Church members in their efforts. Amen. ATTENTION: Our next open-pantry day has been put on hold for a few months. Let’s not forget to restock the pantry. NOTICE: The program, ‘In Search of the Lord’s Way’, airs on Sunday mornings: On DISH Network, 7 to 7:30 a.m., local TV channel 57. On Uverse, 6:00 a.m., Sunday, ch. 1180. Check your provider if different. ATTENTION: The worship service at Village on the Park, on Sundays, has been put on hold for an unspecified time. It shall return soon. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ TEST YOUR BIBLE KNOWLEDGE! ‘Bible Riddles’ You Should Know (Easy From the O.T.): 1.Angels ascended and descended, on a ladder to heaven in my dream; God promised that His blessings, upon me and my seed would stream. 2.”Will a man rob God?” this prophet boldly asked. Meager tithes steal from God, and he took the Jews to task. 3.According to Moses’ law, only clean animals could they eat; These had to chew their cud, but, what about their feet? Answers to Last Week’s ‘Bible Riddles’: 1. Moses (Deut. 34:10); 2. He was taller than any of the people (1st Sam. 9:1-2); 3. One year (Deut. 24:5). <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Our memory verse for JULY comes from the New Testament book of 1st Peter. Only one verse. Easy and familiar. Repeat it over and over. You can do it. “Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?” (1st Peter 3:13). REPEAT IT AGAIN; THEN AGAIN; TEN TIMES TEN REMEMBER IN PRAYERS…. Norma Hicks; Sharon (Norma’s dtg.in-law); Violet Kendrick & family; Jean Williams; Kenneth Bone; ‘Ro’ Higgins (Roy Higgins son); Selena Baker; Louise Drake; Ramona Jackson; Ed Walker; Ken, Beverly, Kamryn Fillyaw; Ronnie Weaver; Suzie Stephens; ‘Cotton’ Weaver; Evalette Dunbar; Jim Endy; Amelia Williamson; Rebecca Stone; Faye Stephens; Billie Nelson; Henderson family; Ethel & Hubert Crowson; Charles Melvin; Don Blackwell; Mildred Edmonds; Maya Briggs; Jonathan O’Brien; Ina Henry & Family; SPECIAL PRAYERS TODAY FOR…. Sis. Ina Henry having tests. Remember her and family in your prayers. Sis. Ethel Crowson has been moved to the Nexus Acute Care Hosp., 9182 Six Pines, Rm. 314, Woodlands, TX 77380. No visitors or phone calls. She can receive cards. Remember her in your prayers. Bro. Hubert Crowson doing better. Remember him in your prayers. Bro. Jonathan O’Brien doing well. Remember him and family in prayers. Bro. Jim Endy doing better at home. Remember the family in prayers. Sis. Evalette Dunbar having some tests. Remember her in your prayers. Baby Maya Briggs doing better. Remember her and family in your prayers. Sis. Mildred Edmonds is fighting cancer. Remember her in your prayers. Sis. Rebecca (Becky) Stone needs our prayers. Sis. Billie Nelson needs our prayers. Remember Ken, Beverly, and Kamryn Fillyaw in your prayers. Remember Bro. Cotton Weaver in your prayers. Sis Amelia Williamson doing better. Remember her in prayers. Bro. Kenneth Bone doing well and still needs our prayers. Ronnie Weaver still needs our prayers. Ed Walker still needs our prayers. Bro. Shawn Henderson & family needs our prayers as they deal with illnesses. |
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