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| OCTOBER 11, 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 Sunday worship services only at 10:00 a.m., until further notice. 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 OCTOBER 16th Sammy Drake; 16th Juan Huffman; 17th Susie Stephens; 19th Cyndi Middleton; 21st Kareena Fillyaw; 25th Sande Endy; HAPPY ANNIVERSARY FOR OCTOBER 16th Juan & Gwen Huffman; READING THE NEW TESTAMENT: PHILEMON Chapter 1:1-25: Salutation: Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother. To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker, and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philemon’s Love and Faith: I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints; and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake. For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you---since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus---Plea for Onesimus, a Free Man: I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel; but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will. For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me. But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account; I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord, refresh my heart in Christ. Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more that what I say. At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. (More Next Week! Stay Tuned!) If These Men Can Understand, Why Can’t We? Written By Jarrod Jacobs, Herty Church of Christ, Lufkin, Texas This article will be a little different than articles usually written here. This is because I’ m going to cite the words of four well-known men. The purpose of this is to reveal something that the religious world seems to have overlooked. Using these quotes doesn’t mean that these men were inspired by God What it means is that we can understand the Bible alike and that we’ll all speak the same thing when we simply accept and follow what the Bible says (1st Cor. 1:10; 1st Peter 4:11). Please consider the following Bible doctrines: Baptism Saves Us. John Calvin (Presbyterian): “For he commands all who believe to be baptized for the remission of their sins. Therefore, those who have imagined that baptism is nothing more than a mark or sign by which we profess our religion before men, as soldiers wear the insignia of their sovereign as a mark of their profession, have not considered that which was the principal thing in baptism; which is, that we ought to receive it with this promise, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved”---Mark 16:16. {“Institute,” Book IV, chapter 13} The Lord’s Supper. John Wesley (Methodist): “I also advise the elders to administer the Supper of the Lord on every Lord’s Day” {“Letters to America,” 1784} Wearing Religious Names Other Than “Christian.” Martin Luther: “I pray you to leave my name alone, and call not yourselves Lutherans, but Christians. Who is Luther? My doctrine is not mine. I have not been crucified for anyone. St. Paul (1st Cor. 1:13) would not have any should call themselves of Paul or of Peter, but of Christ. How, then, does it befit me, a miserable bag of dust and ashes, to give my name to the children of Christ? Cease, my dear friends to cling to these party names and distinctions; away with them all; and let us call ourselves only Christians after Him from whom our doctrine comes” (Life of Luther, Stork, P. 289). John Wesley: “Would to God that all party names and un-Scriptural phrases and forms which have divided the Christian world were forgot; that we might all agree to sit down together as humble, loving disciples at the feet of the common Master to hear His Word, imbibe His spirit and to transcribe His life in our own.” He also wished that “the very name (Methodist) might never be mentioned more, but be buried in eternal oblivion” (Universal Knowledge, Vol. IX, P. 540). C. H. Spurgeon (Baptist): I look forward with pleasure to the day when there will not be a Baptist living. I hope they will soon be gone. I hope the Baptist name will soon perish; but let Christ’s name last forever” (Spurgeon Memorial Library, Vol. I, P. 168). There are other quotes we could cite, but these are enough to show us that these men had a clear understanding of such passages as Mark 16:16; Acts 11:26; Matt. 26:26-29; Acts 2:42, 20:7; 1st Peter.3:21, 4:16, and other similar passages. It also shows us that we can have the same under-standing if we will study God’s Word and apply it properly (2nd Tim. 2:15). The question remains that if these men (who were either the founders or extremely prominent in denominations that exist today) could under-stand God’s Word concerning these issues, why can’t people today under-stand God’s Word, too? The truth is that we can understand God’s Word alike (Eph. 3:4; 5:17). Perhaps the problem was best summed up when Christ said, “By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” (Matt. 13:14-15; also Acts 26:27-28; Isaiah 6:9). How do you feel about God’s Word? It will judge us one day (John 12:48). Are you ready for the Judgment Day? Are you willing to take God at His Word, follow His Will and simply be a Christian? The men cited above understood God’s Word, and we can too. Amen. ATTENTION: Let’s not forget to restock the pantry. As a reminder, the pantry is ‘always’ open. If you know of any that have a need that can be supplied by the pantry items, you can get access to the pantry at any time with a phone call. May God bless the volunteers in their effort to help others in need. Amen. NOTICE: The program, ‘In Search of the Lord’s Way’, airs on Sunday mornings. Check your network provider for time and channel. 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 N.T.): 1.Twas early on Sunday morn I went to the tomb of One I loved so dear; Not realizing I would be the first to whom the risen Lord would appear. 2.Oil we took to light the way, prepared we were whether night or day; “Give us of your oil” others proposed; not ready for the doors to close. 3.I promised far, far too much, as men of power often foolishly do; After my step-daughter danced, the forerunner of Christ I slew. Answers to Last Week’s ‘Bible Riddles’: 1. James & John (Matt. 4:21-22); 2. Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-45); 3. Legion (Mark 5:1-9). <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Our memory verse for October comes from the Old Testament book of Psalm Only one verse. Easy and familiar. Repeat it over and over. You can do it. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1) REPEAT IT AGAIN; THEN AGAIN; TEN TIMES TEN NEW- BORN SIBLINGS: Rushing home from the maternity ward, my husband was welcomed at the door by our four-year-old daughter. Bursting with pride and joy, he exclaimed to the daughter, “Guess what? Mommy just had a baby; now you have a baby brother!” The new big sister replied, “Oh, dear! I was hoping it would be a baby kitty.” <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> 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 & Sande Endy; Amelia Williamson; Rebecca Stone; Faye Stephens; Billie Nelson; Henderson family; Ethel & Hubert Crowson; Don Blackwell; Maya Briggs; J. O’Brien; Ina Henry & Family; SPECIAL PRAYERS TODAY FOR…. Sis. Ethel Crowson is now back at the home nursing facility, 830 Hodgkins, Hou., TX, 77032. She is doing better but she is still having extensive medical problems. Remember her, Hubert and family in your prayers. Sis. Ina Henry doing well. Remember her and family in your 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. Rebecca (Becky) Stone needs our prayers. Remember Ken, Beverly, and Kamryn Fillyaw in your prayers. Remember Bro. Cotton Weaver in your prayers. Bro. Kenneth Bone doing well and still needs our prayers. Ronnie Weaver still needs our prayers. Ed Walker still needs our prayers. you. Bro. Shawn Henderson & family needs our prayers as they deal with illnesses. “. . . The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16b). +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ |