THE MESSENGER

The Weekly Newsletter of the Mountain Home Church of Christ November 26, 2017

MORNING

WELCOME Larry Pitts

SONG LEADER Michael Lance

OPENING PRAYER Cameron Davis

SCRIPTURE READING Kyle Camp

LORD’S SUPPER Wayne Camp

LESSON Ken Burton

“Salvation by Grace Through Faith” #2

Acts 15:6-11

SHEPHERD’S PRAYER David Pitchford

CLOSING PRAYER George Rowlett

EVENING

WELCOME

Larry Pitts

SONG LEADER Roger Fisher

OPENING PRAYER Joe Messick

SCRIPTURE READING Jacob Pyeatt

LESSON Chase Almond

“Forced Perspective” Psalm 119:9-16

SHEPHERD’S PRAYER David Pitchford

CLOSING PRAYER Dennis Goings

“ETERNITY MATTERS”

SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, #2

EPHESIANS 2:1–10; ACTS 15:6–11

INTRODUCTION: For several weeks we have been studying the great subject of the grace of God—some misunderstandings surrounding grace, the things grace provides for us, the com-pany grace keeps, some warnings regarding grace, and the scandal of grace.

Today, we shall examine the process of salvation by grace through faith, as set forth in Scripture.

I. THE CONVERSION OF SAUL OF TARSUS (ACTS 9:1–19; 22:6–16; 26:12–18)

A. How was Saul converted?

1. By hearing God’s word (Acts 9:6, 22:10, 13–16).

2. By obeying God’s word—including being baptized to “wash away” his sins (Acts

22:16; cf. Acts 9:18).

B. Surely, one who vividly remembered his conversion, and penned the words of Ephesians

2:8, 9, would not have intended to remove obedience from the process of being saved

by grace through faith!

II. THE CONVERSION OF THE EPHESIANS (ACTS 19:1–7)

A. When Paul arrived in Ephesus, he found twelve men who had been baptized unto John’s

baptism (Acts 19:1–3).

B. Note that Paul did not ask, “Have you been baptized?” but “Into what were you baptized?

(Acts 19:3; cf. Matthew 28:18–20).

C. When they heard the “rest of the story” (Acts 19:4, 5), they were baptized again (v.5).

D. Surely, these people at Ephesus, with this background, would not have understood Paul

to exclude baptism from the process of salvation by grace through faith!

III. _________________—AN EXAMPLE OF SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH

A. Read Acts 15:6–11

1. Setting—________________; the apostles and elders meeting to discuss the

“problem” of Gentile converts and their relation to the Law (cf. Acts 15:1, 2).

2. ____________ is the first to speak to this subject, and refers to the circumstances in

Acts 10 and 11—the conversion of Cornelius.

B. How were these Gentiles saved?

1. By _______________ the word of God (Acts 10:6, 22, 32; 11:13, 14).

2. By obeying the ________________ of the gospel of Christ, including being baptized

in water (Acts 10:47, 48).

C. Peter summarizes this process as having their hearts purified by __________, and as

being saved by the ____________ of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 15:9, 11).

CONCLUSION: When we study the Bible in context, many questions are answered—including

how to be saved by grace through faith! It is important to get this right, because one’s eter-

nal destiny depends on it, and ETERNITY MATTERS!

ARTICLES.....NOTES…..

WELCOME VISITORS

We are glad to have you with us today and hope you will be

blessed by having been here. For your convenience, we have

an attended nursery downstairs for 2-year-olds & under and

a training room in the east foyer for small children. Please

fill out a visitor’s card and place it in the collection plate so

we can have a record of your attendance. If you haven’t

stopped by the Welcome Center, please come by and pick up

a visitor information packet.

SHEPHERD’S CORNER….CamERON DaviS

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV) 9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you

not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

This is a great old song. The writer had great vision of what is happening to so many lives.

"Drifting Too Far From The Shore" (claimed to be written by many)

1. Out on the perilous deep, where danger silently creeps,

and storms so violently sweep, You're drifting too far from shore.

2. Today, the Tempest rose high and clouds o'ershadow the sky. Sure death is hovering nigh, You're drifting too far from shore.

3. Why meet a terrible fate? Mercies abundantly wait.

Turn back before it's too late, You're drifting too far from shore.

Chorus. You’re drifting too far from shore, drifting too far from shore Come to Jesus today. Let him show you the way, You're drifting too far from shore.

I have heard people say they don't want to go on a cruise ship unless they can always see the shorelines. I have been on a good size Ozark area lake when I was surprised by a storm. I made it back but I stayed right on the shoreline for several miles before I was safe. Life is just like this. It seems for long periods we stay close to the shore, close to our Lord and then occasionally we get a little further away, maybe we can still see the shore so we can get back. Then one day we get too far, we drift too far from the shore and can't see our way back. The world loves it when that happens and will really turn the volume up to keep us distracted. The whole problem can be eliminated if we just not even get in the water to begin with. I remember Bro. Guy N. Woods explaining "Why the man drowned.” He said folks will blame the parents, the schools, the community for not providing swimming lessons and on and on. Then Bro. Woods very loudly said "the man drowned because he was in the water!" Read verse 3 again. There is no need to drown. Christ paid the way, all we have to do is listen to Him and follow what he said in Mark 16:16. That is the only water we must have. Please pray for those who have not made the decision for Christ. Pray for each other as we go along everyday in a hos-tile world. Pray to God and thank Him for the opportunities He gives us all. He truly is a patient God.

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

1 Dennis Britt 2 Tony Bunch 5 Jeanie Wingfield Doyle Hammack 6 Jackie Tilley Brady Barnett 7 Riley Camp Laura Williams 8 Tera Camp Violet Brown 9 Jo Baker Leslie Williams 10 James McDaniel Kathy Tackett Kyle Flippin 11 Kathy Brainerd 12 Mercedes Darr Leo Fortenberry Lu Talbott 14 Coy Baker 16 Rebecca Hendrix 18 Ron Beck Sylvia Harden 19 Libby Dewey 21 Allyson Dewey 22 Steve Smith 23 Joe Bailey Bea Lewis 24 Frank Daniels Bill McGoldrick 26 Jim Estes 27 Shawn Lance Audrey Martin 28 Shirley Hall Melanie Kelly Jim Rainey 31 Libby Baker

Christmas gifts for the Paragould children’s home need

to be brought to the building by Wednesday, November

29. They will be delivered to Paragould on Friday, De-

cember 1.

PRAYER LIST......ACTIVITIES…..

Please keep these people in your prayers as they contend with illness and other situations:

Sid Cantrell, Betty Lute, Evelyn Osborn, Kari Martin, Jane Maynard, Edith Messick, Oma Oswalt,

Betty Atkinson, Kathy Brainerd, Darrell Lute, Jane Graves, Mona Dees, Elise Nichols, Maxine Gar-

ner, Carolyn Camp, Leslie Cones, Richard Morris, Michael Mount, Bea Lewis, Dorothy Kitchens,

Fran Gritten, Dick Young, Shelbye Walker.

Family and Friends….

Jenny Goings (Dennis & Vickie Goings’ daughter), Ruby Williams (Sandra Pitchford), Mick Cooper

(Cameron & Lynell Davis), Jim McCord (Clarene Morrow), Mike May (Jim & Diane Griffin), Athena

Amyx (Tammy Mitchell), Jason Biddle (Kathy Tackett), Mike Young (Sylvia Harden), Aubrey Wil-

liams (Lonnie Williams), Susie Jones family (Sylvia Harden), Monty Bailey (Ken & Diane Burton),

Phyllis Elkins (Dixie Talley), Jimmy Strong (Marcella Crawford & Louella Dutton), Ted Newell (Betty

Lute), Vivian Turner (Sherry Barnhill), Hunter Bailey (Steve & Clarene Morrow), Clayton Neal (Doris

Woods), Bruce Lonon (Betty Lonon), Mike Townsley (Terri Holsonbake), Geary Cockrum (Amanda

Hoskins), Jerry Casey (Liz Oden & Maxine Garner), Bob & Gleneta Martin (Dani McDaniel), Paul

Cox (Jane Maynard), Billy Conn (Jewell Pendergrass), Alan Sheckell (Chip Smith), Kerry Gilbert (Jo

Rainey), Brenda Brock (Jim Gilliland).

Baxter Retirement Village Troy Massey Mike Nash Danny Phelps Deidree Smalec

Care Manor Charlotte Burton Elise Nichols Mary Scheer

Gassville Nursing Center Uneda Watters

Good Samaritan Betty Atkinson

Naomi Britt

Hiram Shaddox Fay Miculka Evelyn Osborn Juanita Stone

Homebound Sid Cantrell Veneda Hayes Carolyn McCullough

Monroe House Doyle Hammack Southfork River Therapy & Living (Salem) Lindel Anthony

CHASE’S COMMENTS...

CHILDREN’S HOME FOOD BARREL LIST: Ranch Dress-ing Mix Packets, Bacon Bits, Hot Chocolate Mix, Clorox Wipes.

Pray with Thanksgiving

"Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessaloni-ans 5:17-18

God tells us that prayer should be a balance of a four-fold focus: praise, confession, thanksgiving; and then sup-plication, which is our personal requests. Now, wouldn’t it be fascinating if God gave us a spreadsheet showing how much prayer time we spend on requests versus how much time is spent thanking God, praising Him, or confessing our sins? That would be interesting! Personally looking at my own prayer life I would see those supplications way up there on that list!

God’s Word tells us that when we pray, we are to have an attitude of thanksgiving. We want to be thankful to the Lord for the many blessings in our life, for the greatest blessing of all, which is the salvation we have in Jesus Christ and the eternal life that He gives us. We ought to have an attitude of thanksgiving. With an attitude of thanksgiving, you will be more joyful and more content with life. Praise your Lord for these many blessings and discuss your sins with the One who offers forgiveness.

Strive for this four-fold balance in your prayer life and see how it draws you closer to the Creator of the Universe.

On Tuesday, December 12, ladies will meet at 10:30 in building B to prepare Christmas baskets for the

nursing homes and shut-ins.

On Sunday, December 10, following morning services there will be a potluck sandwich/finger food lunch in building B for 3rd-6th grade students and their families. The Bible class teachers in this age group and their families are also invited to attend.

WINTER QUARTER BIBLE CLASSES

START NEXT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3

Check out the bulletin board in the west foyer

for a complete list of available classes.

Mountain Home Church of Christ

380 North College

Mountain Home, AR 72653

A friendly cha with a vital message!

Phone: 870-425-4330 Fax: 870-425-8118

E-mail: church@centurytel.net Website: www.mtnhomechurchofchrist.com

Service Times

Sunday Morning Bible Class............. 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Morning Worship................ 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Evening Worship...................5:00 p.m.

Wednesday Night Bible Class............6:30 p.m.

T.V. Programs

“In Search of the Lord’s Way”

With Bro. Phil Sanders

Sunday Morning 7:00 A.M.

KOLR Channel 10, Springfield, Missouri

A friendly church with a vital message!

SERVICE ROSTER

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3

MORNING EVENING

SONG LEADER Landon Pitchford Larry Pitts

OPENING PRAYER Gary Williams Eddie Lawson

SCRIPTURE READING Tim Brown Tim Herold

CLOSING PRAYER Tony Bunch James Gilliland

GREETERS Adam & Elizabeth Jones

Betty Marie Sundahl

FOR THE RECORD November 19, 2017

MEMBERS 494 MORNING ATTENDANCE 337 EVENING ATTENDANC E 150 CONTRIBUTION $10,947 GIVEN TO DATE $550,200 BUDGET TO DATE $530,160

Preaching the Gospel currently airs on DirecTV, Channel 376, Dish Network, Channel 276, and You Tube every Sunday morning at 6:30 a.m. reaching more than 30 million homes. It also airs daily on Gospel Broadcasting Network. Visit www.gbntv.org for times. Sponsored by White Oak Church of Christ, P. O. Box 15148, Chattanooga, TN 37415. goodnewstodaytv@gmail.com

Mountain Home Church of Christ, Inc., 380 N. College, Mtn. Home, AR 72653

The Word of God says... Hear...Romans 10:17

Believe...Hebrews 11:6 Repent...Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 17:30

Confess...Matthew 10:32,33; Romans 10:10 Be Baptized...Mark 16:15,16; Galatians 3:27;

I Peter 3:21; Romans 6:3,4 Be Faithful...Revelation 2:10

Monday Night Ministries meets each week at 6:30 in building B

Devo at

Baxter Retirement Village — Wednesdays at 1:30

Our Shepherds

Cameron Davis 404-7367

David Pitchford 425-8554

John Schuhknecht 404-0114

Dennis Tindall 481-5063

Our Servants

Our Staff Minister, Ken Burton 405-0865

Associate Minister, Chase Almond 501-454-4378

Secretary, Donna Smith (M-T-W) 425-4330

Secretary, Kelda Jones (Th-F) 425-4330

Andy Bell Ron Burk Bruce Caldwell JR Camp Lloyd Camp Rodney Covington Chad Dewey Delbert Dover Jim Estes

John Flowers Adam Jones Ellis Jones Rector Jones Jerry Maleare Landon Pitchford Dennis Priborsky Richard Pyeatt

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Gary Williams

SONG LEADER: Bryson Pitchford

CLOSING PRAYER: David Pitchford