SEPTEMBER 21, 2014 CARVER ROAD CHURCH OF CHRIST

4399 Carver School Road

Winston-Salem, NC 27105

Office (336)767-7949 Fax (336)767-7906

Website: www.carverroadchurchofchrist.org E Mail Address: church@carverroadchurchofchrist.org

PREACHER-SHEPHERD

JEFFERSON R. CARUTHERS, JR.

COMMENTARY CORNER: STUDIES IN FIRST JOHN: “THE WILL OF GOD

AND ABIDING FOREVER” “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the

lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the

world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for

ever” (1 John 2:16, 17).

J esus comes into the world as the greatest statement ever made about

the love of God. Quite amazingly, and literally, people have read this truth more than any other verse in our times: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoso-ever believeth on should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Poster boards and other communica-tion tools often draw attention to the verse: John 3:16. And many people au-tomatically reference in their minds the love of God. More reflective thinkers bring to mind the thought that God’s love for the world is indicated. That the love is compared by the word, “so;” and the blessing is stated in God giving His only begotten Son. “God so loved the world.” How is that statement to be understood when in the closing days of the life of Jesus, He prayed, with His apostles in mind: “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine” (John 17:9)? Then, “I have given them thy word; and the world hateth them because they are not of the world” (John 17:14)? Again, how are we to reconcile what Jesus says with what is revealed about how God so loved the world? Is it not true that God is the One who creates heaven and earth and all that in them is? Is it not understood that God made the world? Why would Jesus, and what does Jesus mean, when in His most reflective moments He prays, “I pray not for the world”? We should take into consideration,

too, that decades later, one of the most beloved apostles of Jesus encourages be-lievers, “Love not the world neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). God so loved the world that He sent Jesus. Jesus prays that He prays not for the world. An apostle writes, love not the world. Does this tell us anything about how God sees our potential for salvation? We must read carefully to understand what Scripture is trying to communicate to us. God gave too much for us to be-lieve that He does not care about man-kind. There was nothing more valuable that He could give. More than consider-ing anything He could give, we must consider ourselves all the more loved when we reflect on the truth that God does not offer a sacrifice of things, He gave His Son! God would not give so much to abandon His purpose of grant-ing everlasting life to those who believe on Him. Within the context of focusing on those who believe on Him is where we must place the words of Jesus when He states that He prays not for the world (John 17:9). God gives Jesus as His mani-festation of love for everyone, but who is granted eternal life does not include eve-ryone, but those who believe on Him. This truth is often ignored by those who picture God’s love as a love that grants everlasting life to the entire world. We must make the distinction between who Jesus comes for and who is granted ever-lasting life. When reading the communication

from John to his audience, again, a dis-tinction must be made. John admonish-es those whom he calls his little children to “love not the world,” Can he mean by this that the same people God sent Jesus to save are not to be loved? John clarifies what about the world is not to be loved. John does not have in mind that there should be no love for the peo-ple in the world. He writes, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life...” (John 2:16). John is not writing about “who” should not be loved, but about “what” should not be loved. How-ever, there is a connection with people to the concerns John has, connections that go as far back as man’s beginnings in the world. It was in the beginning when the serpent suggested to Eve that God had deprived her of something, something as important as being as wise as God, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:5). It was there in this pristine envi-ronment that the “pride of life” first manifests itself. Eve took of the fruit thinking about how it would make her wise (Genesis 3:6). In the beginning, too, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes slither out of the consciousness of Eve. Her fleshly desires consider that the forbidden fruit was good for food, and her eyes see the fruit as pleasant to the eyes, and she eats, giving the fruit to her husband (Genesis 3:6). None of her actions result from recognition of her creator, of our Father; these are not things of the Father, but of the world. ~Continued

SUNDAY SCHOOL ATTEND-ANCE DAY DRIVE: Sunday, Oc-tober 19, 2014. Our goal is 275 or

more. We can do it!

SOUTHEASTERN TEACHERS’ WORKSHOP: This workshop is being hosted by Carver

Road church of Christ. All teachers and interested members, please make plans to be at this special workshop event to take place on Friday evening, October 31st and Saturday, November 1st. Break-fast will be from 8 a.m. until 9 a.m. and the Workshop will be from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE LEC-TURESHIP: November 13th—15th will be the State Lectureship hosted by Sharpe Road church of Christ and Coliseum Boulevard church of Christ. Please start registering for this November event. Forms are located in the foyer. You may also register on line at www.ncstatelectureship.org

Eastside Church of Christ Gospel & Motivational Meeting

September 26th—28th: Theme: “Living Above the Level of Mediocrity” The guest speaker will be brother John Davis Marshall of Stone Mountain, GA. Friday and Saturday meeting beginning at 7 p.m., Sunday services at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Lunch will be served at 12 noon

LILEDOUN CHURCH OF CHRIST MEETING September 28th—October 1st: This meeting will take place in Taylorsville, NC. Sunday services at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday—Wednesday at 7 p.m.

CARVER ROAD CHURCH OF CHRIST GOSPEL MEETING

October 19th—22nd: Please mark your calendars for this date. We are extending and invitation to everyone to attend our Fall Gospel meeting. More details to fol-low.

CAPERNAUM CHURCH OF CHRIST FALL FELLOWSHIP MEETING

October 5th: Services at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The guest speaker will be brother Cloys R. Cecil, Sr. Lunch will be served from 12:45 p.m.—2 p.m. Everyone is cordially invited to attend.

CHURCH LEADERS

2014 THEME: “Hearing, Receiving, and Bringing Forth Fruit” (Mark 4:20)

SOUTH CENTRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST 20TH ANNUAL HOMECOMING CELEBRATION

November 7th—9th: Keynote speaker will be brother Dewayne Winrow, Sr. Friday at 7 p.m.; Saturday 1—5 p.m. Picnic and 5 p.m. Singing; Sunday services at 9 a.m., 10:30 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Brother Jefferson R. Caruthers, Jr. will be speaking at 9 a.m.

KURIAKOS HOUSE Don’t forget to visit the Kuriakos

House table located in the foyer for events

and happenings. You may contact sister Felecia Caruthers at (336)767-4201 if you

have any questions or need additional in-

formation.

ALL VISITORS!

YOU ARE OUR HONORED

GUESTS!

CHURCH SECRETARY

Marcella Kendall

PREACHER-SHEPHERD

JEFFERSON R. CARUTHERS, JR.

MINISTER EMERITUS

CLOYS R. CECIL, SR.

SHEPHERDS

JEFFERSON R. CARUTHERS, JR.

JOHN FOXWORTH

LEROY NELSON

WALTER WEATHERS, JR.

ELDER EMERITUS

FRANK W. DULIN

DEACONS

ROSCOE BURGESS

MICHEAL CURRY

JAMES E. GADSON

GEORGE MCNAIR

ROY OLIPHANT

BERNARD TERRY

JOE WILSON

YOUTH NEWS

RReading eading SSafariafari

The next Reading Safari Club to be an-

nounced for ages 2—12. If you need additional

information please contact sister Felecia

Caruthers at (336) 575-2972.

Youth Fun Fest Sharpe Road church of Christ will be hosting its 10th

Annual Youth Fun Fest, October 11th from 9 a.m.—3

p.m. For additional information you may email Mike

Stevenson at mastevenson1@gmail.com or Sonya Iz-

zard at sc3cookie@gmail.com

September Anniversaries

(47 years) Leroy & Lillie Nelson 2nd

(13 years) Rogers & Annie Brimfield 22nd (40 years) Ronald & Rosalyn Evans 28th

(12 years) Michael & D’Tonja Foster 28 th

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

3rd, Timothy Pilson; 7th, James Samuel; 7th, Mellany

Scott; 10th, Tabatha Burgess; 10th, Clara Watson;

12th, Constance Rumph; 12th, D`Asia Williams; 13th,

Lillie Holmes; 13th, Edwena Kirby; 16th, Kristina

Woodruff; 15th, James Mason, III; 15th, D’Onna

Williams; 17th, Claudette Eldridge; 18th, Ashley Fox-

worth; 20th, William Holmes; 21st, Saroya Brown;

21st, Rashaad Davis; 21st, Travarus Thompson;

22nd, Hazel Gordan; 22nd, Treva Loyd; 22nd, Tonya

Oliphant; 23rd, Bryce Correll; 23rd, Jeannette John-

son; 23rd Wendy Thomas; 23rd, Malcolm Gore;

27th, Martha Reynolds; 28th, Rayven Dulin; 28th,

Dollean Johnson; 28th, Michael Terry; 29th, Tyler

Cook; 29th, Mikey Mash; 30th, Leah Adkins; 30th,

Jarvis Warren.

Sis. Lillie Nelson, Sis. Shawn Moncrief, Sis.

Shagail Reed, Sis. Dee Dee Foxster, Bro.

James Gadson, Sis. Kathy Eichelberger,

Bro. George Eichelberger, Sis. Druscilla

Amos, Sis. Alinda Gadson, Sis. Frances Mason, Bro.

Arnold Thomas

PRAY THAT GOD LEADS US TO SOULS TO SAVE TODAY & THROUGH THIS WEEK

RESPONSIVE READING

II Cor. 2:-14-17; 3:1-2

READER: Now thanks be unto God, which always

causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh mani-

fest the savour of his knowledge by us in every

place.

CHURCH: For we are unto God a sweet savour of

Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that

perish:

READER: To the one we are the savour of death

unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto

life. And who is sufficient for these things?

CHURCH: For we are not as many, which corrupt

the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of

God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

READER: Do we begin again to commend our-

selves? or need we, as some others, epistles of

commendation to you, or letters of commendation

from you?

UNISON: Ye are our epistle written in our hearts,

known and read of all men:

PRAYER

Father in heaven, grant us the privilege of knowing

the blessing of being the epistle of Christ. In the

name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

SHEPHERD ON CALL FOR SEPTEMBER

BRO. JOHN D. FOXWORTH

(336) 918-6359

ORDER OF WORSHIP 8:00 A.M SONG LEADER Roy Oliphant SERMON Jefferson R. Caruthers, Jr.

10:00 A.M. ANNOUNCEMENTS Ron Jessup

INVOCATION Jerry Evans SONG DIRECTOR Adolphus Coplin SCRIPTURE Adriel Hall RESPONSIVE READING George McNair

PRAYER Howard Brown

SERMON Jefferson R. Caruthers, Jr. OFFERING Bernard Terry

LORD’S SUPPER Roscoe Burgess

READER Isiah Black

CLOSING PRAYER Richard Jones

VISITATION PRESENTATION

6:30 P.M.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Ron Jessup

INVOCATION Anthony Clinton SONG DIRECTOR James Gadson SCRIPTURE Jonas Caruthers

RESPONSIVE READING Garrin McNair PRAYER Simon Johnson

SERMON Jefferson R. Caruthers, Jr. OFFERING Kolbe Adkins LORD’S SUPPER Novell Hall

READER CLOSING PRAYER D. J. Crim

VISITATION PRESENTATION

COMMUNION REFLECTION

(JOHN 4:47) When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into

Galilee, he went unto him and besought him that he

would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the

point of death.

USHERS

SICK AND SHUT-IN LISTING Sis. Lillie Nelson……………………………………………………………………………... Courtney Massey…………………………………………………………………………….. Bro. Dwight Correll……………………………………………………………………….…. Sis. Immogene Bray……………...……………………………………………..………… Bro. Leroy Nelson …………..…...………………………………………….…........... Bro. Barry Harper………………………………………………………………...………….

Harold Brown Bernard Wallace George Eichelberger

Garrin McNair Michael Terry Elijah Gibbs

Kolbe Adkins A. J. Crim Novell Hall

D. J. Crim Joel Caruthers Jonas Caruthers

EVENING USHERS

Zyquarius Ellis Joshua Huey Michael Simon DeAnthony Miles

SCHEDULE OF ASSEMBLIES

BAPTISMAL TEAM Bro. Anthony Clinton Bro. Thomas Loyd, Sr.

Bro. George McNair Bro. Walter Weathers. Jr.

WORSHIP TO THE SICK & SHUT-IN FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER

Bro. James Gadson ZONES

ZONE #1 Capt. Bro. J. Wilson (661-1312) ZONE #4 Co-Capt. Bro. B. Terry (720-9694) ZONE #5 Capt. Bro. J. Gadson (650-9693) Co-Capt. Bro. A. Rucker (924-5696) ZONE #7 Capt. Bro. J. Foxworth (924-5029) Co-Capt. Bro R. Oliphant (765-3105) ZONE #8 Capt. Bro. R. March (727-0052) Co-Capt. Bro. R. Burgess (748-0282)

Radio Broadcast Stations Sundays @7:30 A.M. Thursdays @ 2 P.M. 1340 AM 1400 AM 103.5 FM

YOU CAN BE SAVED TODAY!YOU CAN BE SAVED TODAY!YOU CAN BE SAVED TODAY! To be saved today, you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17; Acts

15:7). You must believe the gospel that assures us salvation through

Jesus who is the risen Lord (Romans 10:9, 10). You must be willing to turn your life over to God through

repentance (Acts 17:30; Romans 2:4). Those willing to live for God through repentance are ready for confession (Romans 10:9,10).

The person who confesses is bap-tized into Christ (Romans 6:3, 4; Galatians 3:27). In baptism, the believer is washed, sanctified, and

justified (1 Corinthians 6:11). Christ saves the baptized person in baptism (1 Peter 3:21).

If you believe that Jesus died for you and was resurrected, if you will repent and confess, then you can be baptized into Christ and be saved.

Come to Jesus today!

Early Morning Worship ..8 A.M.

Sunday Bible School …..9 A.M

Sunday Morning Worship..10 A. M

Sunday Evening Worship

6:30 P.M.

Mid-Week Bible Study Wednesday

11 A.M. & 7 P.M

Men’s & Ladies’

Bible Class 5 P.M.

2ND & 4TH SUNDAY

MEETINGS & MINISTRIES

Teachers’ Meeting 1st Sat. 9 a.m./

Husbands & Fathers Support Group 3rd Sat.

4 p.m. / Youth Fellowship Meeting 2nd Sat.

10 a.m.—12 noon

Young Adult Ministry 4th Fri.

Clothing Bank 1st Sat. 10 a.m.—12noon

CHILDRENS’ WORSHIP SEPTEMBER

Rodney & Brandi Evans - 7th & 14th Tamah Williams/D’Asis Williams—21st

Janel Brown/Leah Adkins - 28th

NURSERY DUTY Treva Loyd/Tonya Oliphant - 7th

Sherry Woods/Sydney - 14th Leah Adkins/Meika Sherrard - 21st

Diane Foxworth/Valarie Coplin –28th

SEPTEMBER GREETERS 7th— Athenia Pouncey Lillie Alford 14th – Sherry Woods Sydney Johnson 21st – Diane Foxworth Janel Brown 28th –Cindy Dulin Shundra McLaurin

COMMUNION PREPARERS For September

Mary Hargraves/Francine Thomas

ALTERNATE Denise Garner

____________________________________

Baptismal Committee For

Month of September Diane Foxworth/Diane Robinson

Wendy Thomas

COMMENTARY CORNER

The apostle John writes that these same inclinations are in the world, and that they should not be loved. The lust of the flesh does not facilitate love for God, it wars against our desire to believe on Jesus. The lust of the eyes does not help us to see clearly our way to the Father. And the pride of life does not help us to under-stand that all we need in life has already been provided by the Father. Is it any wonder then that John writes that believ-ers are not to love the world? John teaches further that the love of the world in this sense is not of the Father. And if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15).

There is a more troublesome reality, all that one might try to love in the world has a definite end, but so too do those who love the things of the world. All that is in the world will pass away. John does not leave his readers with just the knowledge of what passes away. He gives them an assurance which is very much in line with the truths of John 3:16, which states that whosoever believes in Jesus is given eternal life. John’s words are also consistent with the prayer of Jesus that reflects on the apostles: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for all them also which believe on me through their word” (John 17:20). John writes, “but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever (1 John

2:17). What an incomparable blessing it is to know that the best, most fulfilling and rewarding life man could live results in no termination, no end of days, no having to see an end. All who live dedicated to the will of God not only have this life to look forward to; they will abide for ever! The goal of God so loving the world that He sends His Son is so that those who believe on Him could have everlasting life. The prayer of Jesus asks that those who believe on Him be granted the privilege of being where He will be. And the encour-agement John writes about where our love should be focused is to remind us again that believers doing the will of God abide for ever.