VOLUME XXV/ NUMBER 17 APRIL 27, 2014 Born Immature by Kevin Hahn One of the kids asked me last week why some babies were born immature. It took me a second to realize what they meant to say. “Oh, you mean premature!” I said. I thought for a moment and added, “But I guess babies are born immature as well.” Christian newborns are no different. We all need sufficient time and experience to mature. We expect children to grow into maturity, but we also expect it to take time. We should have the same understanding for new Christians. Growth, however, is not optional. The Bible is filled with both encouragement and commands to grow and mature. We should be growing in knowledge – Do you know your Bible better now than in the past? “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:17- 18a). We should be growing in wisdom – Do you make wiser choices now than in the past? Our wisdom should increase as our foolishness decreases. “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning” (Prov. 9:9). We should be growing in understanding – Do you understand spiritual concepts better now than in the past? When a greater knowledge of the Bible is combined with wisdom and experience, the result should be a better understanding of how to please our Father. “Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days” (Job. 12:12). Baptism is the beginning of a new life in Christ. For new Christians, don’t put a finish line where God puts a starting line, and for older Christians, don’t put a finish line where God says, “Keep growing.” There’s only one finish line, and it’s not on this side of eternity. VOLUME 24/NUMBER 51 December 14, 2014 LAKE HOUSTON CHURCH OF CHRIST A Newsletter for Family and Friends Elders JY Brown Orville Culpepper Bob Deister Mike Drachenberg Larry Heasley *Pat Porter Doug Sessions * Elder on call DEACONS Richard Ames – Building & Grounds Joseph Barela – Youth Michael Corley - Finance Mike Degge – Foreign Missions Mike Diaz – Benevolence Carl Holder – Domestic Missions Eric Johnson - Finance Ken Johnson – Building & Grounds Eric Kennedy - Visitation Don McAdoo – World Bible School Tim Mansell – Building & Grounds Darvin Mitchell – Worship Warren Roane - Education Ron Schultz – Involvement Billy Tharp – Building & Grounds MINISTERS Kevin Hahn – Preacher Cason Pearce – Associate Minister; Licensed Professional Counselor Our Record Bible Study 234 AM 380 PM 187 Wednesday 205 Contribution $21,072.65 Budget $15,238.00 …and a warm welcome to our visitors!
Transcript
VOLUME XXV/ NUMBER 17 APRIL 27, 2014
Born Immature by Kevin Hahn One of the kids asked me last week why some babies were born immature. It took me a second to realize what they meant to say.
“Oh, you mean premature!” I said. I thought for a moment and added, “But I guess babies are born immature as well.”
Christian newborns are no different. We all need sufficient time and experience to mature. We expect children to grow into maturity, but we also expect it to take time. We should have the same understanding for new Christians.
Growth, however, is not optional. The Bible is filled with both encouragement and commands to grow and mature.
We should be growing in knowledge – Do you know your Bible better now than in the past? “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:17-18a).
We should be growing in wisdom – Do you make wiser choices now than in the past? Our wisdom should increase as our foolishness decreases. “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning” (Prov. 9:9).
We should be growing in understanding – Do you understand
spiritual concepts better now than in the past? When a greater knowledge of the Bible is combined with wisdom and experience, the result should be a better understanding of how to please our Father. “Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days” (Job. 12:12).
Baptism is the beginning of a new life in Christ. For new Christians, don’t put a finish line where God puts a starting line, and for older Christians, don’t put a finish line where God says, “Keep growing.”
There’s only one finish line, and it’s not on this side of eternity.
VOLUME 24/NUMBER 51 December 14, 2014
LAKE HOUSTON CHURCH OF CHRIST A Newsletter for Family and Friends
Elders
JY Brown Orville Culpepper
Bob Deister Mike Drachenberg
Larry Heasley *Pat Porter
Doug Sessions
* Elder on call
DEACONS
Richard Ames – Building & Grounds Joseph Barela – Youth
Michael Corley - Finance Mike Degge – Foreign Missions
Mike Diaz – Benevolence Carl Holder – Domestic Missions
Eric Johnson - Finance Ken Johnson – Building & Grounds
Eric Kennedy - Visitation Don McAdoo – World Bible School Tim Mansell – Building & Grounds
Cason Pearce – Associate Minister; Licensed Professional Counselor
Our Record
Bible Study 234
AM 380
PM 187
Wednesday 205
Contribution $21,072.65
Budget $15,238.00
…and a warm welcome to our visitors!
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Foreign Mission Work India - Visakha Valley Bible College Cameroon – Jim Corner Chile – Harry Hamilton Russia, Barnaul – Joseph & Sonia Rhodes Nigeria – Doug Wheeler Ukraine – Gary and Nadya Workman Ghana – Achiase church of Christ Scotland – Darrell Chappell
Great Fun at the Holiday Party!
Domestic Mission Work Impact Church of Christ – Houston, TX Boulder, CO church of Christ – Howard TDC Prison Ministry – Handley Lake Houston church of Christ Prison Ministry Bear Valley Bible Institute–Troy & Brenda Woolery Brown Trail School of Preaching – Corey Johnson Alvarenga Preacher Training In SEARCH of the Lord’s Way – TV Outreach Program
Our Missionaries
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Pantry Needs: Tuna and Tuna Helper, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Canned Pinto Beans, Pork and Beans, Black Beans, Bags of Dry Beans and Rice, Spaghetti and Spaghetti Sauce, Pancake Mix and Syrup, Canned Chicken and Ham
Arms of Hope Gift Cards Because of the wonderful generosity of this congregation, we were able to mail $1,867 worth of gift cards to the Arms of Hope children’s homes in Medina, Texas. Your kindness will enable these children to have a special holiday season.
Those Needing Prayers MEMBERS
� Cody Atkins – Recovering from back surgery � Sandria Bice – Health issues � Genie Deister – Health issues
MEMBERS WITH ONGOING CONCERNS � Max Comer – Long-term care � Lou Crothers – Comfort Senior Care � Johnny Eddins – Health issues � Larry Fain – Kidney dialysis � Marie Gordon – Home care � Bob & Mary Latten – Health issues � Don & Donna Pringle – Health issues � Jerry Wilson – Home after a visit to the hospital � Derryl Wood – Cancer
FAMILY & FRIENDS � Jonathan Blake – Delbert Long’s co-worker � Mike Bryan–Jeanie & Derryl’s brother-in-law � Mark Burtner–MJ Hathaway’s brother – Cancer � Russell Caraway-McJobe’s brother-Cancer � Bill Cooper – Casey Pearce’s grandfather � Kristen Eakman – Laurie Mangham’s niece � David Ezernack – Barbara Hall’s brother – Heart � Phillip & Helen Guist & children, Amanda & Wesley
– Dean Winslow’s cousins - Health � Joe Huntley-tumor-friend of Ellisor’s � Rose Marie Jones–JY Brown’s sister-in-law � Bernice Kmiec – Stan Januhowski’s sister � Beryl Lucia – Barbara Hall’s friend – ALS/Lyme � Bob Mann–Patsy Daw’s friend–Cancer � Bryan Mansell–Tim’s brother � Mary Milam–Linda Haynes’ sister-Cancer � Bob Sease–J & J Wood’s son-in-law – Cancer � Janet Stark – Shirley Atkin’s aunt - Stroke � Miranda Steele – King’s daughter – house fire � Lance Yaeger–Ginger Alexander’s brother
THOSE EXPECTING � Tara Bolin – January 21st – boy � Andrea Wheeler – March 13th – girl � Alyssa Alamia – May 15th
2015 LHCOC T-Shirt
Don’t forget to sign-up for the 2015 Lake Houston t-shirt. The shirts are $8/each. Please write your name on the sheet and indicate your t-shirt size in the correct box.
Thank You A special thank-you to the young people who managed our child-care during our holiday party last Saturday evening. Thank you to: Emily, Hannah, Caleb and Faith Hahn; Brittany and Sophia Webb; and Celeste Boyles. You did an amazing job!
Congregational Singing
We will not be having our congregational singing this afternoon or on Sunday, December 29th.
We will pick back up after New Years as usual on the 2nd Sunday of the month, January 11th.
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Sunday, December 21, 2014
Speaker Kevin Hahn
Song Leader Jeff Boyles
Announcements/Opening Prayer Matt Schaefer
Communion Talk Tim Mansell
Communion Bob Kovacs Alan Prather
Alvin Logan Larry Ward
Scripture Delbert Long
Closing Prayer Pat Porter
Greeters Logan/Lyerly Tankursley/Dean
Communion Prep Kovacs
Cards Logan Carnathan Logan McWaine
Jack Brooks Tyler May
Building Lockup Mitchell/McAdoo
EVENING
Speaker Kevin Hahn
Song Leader Brent McFarland
Opening Prayer Mike Sharp
Communion Carl Brooks Terry Brown
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Announcements Grant McFarland
Song Leader Brent McFarland
The last two articles have emphasized the disciples' boldness and obedience in the book of Acts. The first article discussed the disciples' willingness to spread God's word despite persecution. The second article discussed the disciples' willingness to obey, despite their former teachings. For the third article in this series, I will be highlighting the disciples' generosity.
Throughout the book of Acts we read about different people in great need. But those people didn't remain needy for very long because Christians heard about their needs and were willing to help, even if that meant selling their possessions. I will use two passages as examples of how generous the first century Christians were. My hope is that we will be motivated by these scriptures, look for those in need, and be as generous as the first century Christians.
"And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need" (Acts 2:45).
Another reference to Christians helping others in their community is in Acts 4:34-35, which is another example of Christians selling what they had and giving the money to those in need. From these passages, I think we can learn that the first century Christians were looking for those in need and were willing to help them, even if it meant selling their possessions.
"And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul" (Acts 11:28-30).
This is a great example of how the first century disciples reacted when they heard about another city in need. As far as we know, the Christians in Antioch didn't know the Christians in Judea, but they did know about their needs and were willing to fulfill those needs. I think the first century disciples are a good example of generosity because they worked together to fulfill the needs of others, they shared the load, and each person gave what they could.
These verses are great examples of Christians generously fulfilling the needs of others. I think Lake Houston is a good example of generously responding to those in need. In 2014, you've sent gift cards to orphans in Medina, TX, provided canned goods for our food drive, sent thousands of dollars to those who were affected by the unrest in Ukraine, and thousands of dollars to those who were affected by storms in India. As a congregation, you have blessed a lot of people this year. My prayer is that we continue to imitate the Christians in Acts who learned of a need and were willing to generously fulfill that need.
