August 2, 2020

Rick Bright - preacher

churchofchristmo.blogspot.com

rbrightlr@gmail.com

Cell: 417-468-8194

Cathy’s Cell: 599-8980

Office: 468-4161

Sunday

Worship: 9:00 am

Worship: 11:00 am (online)

Wednesday

Online Bible Study: 7 PM

Thursday

9:30 AM Ladies Bible Class

Sunday Morning

Radio & TV

KOOL 104.7 FM Answers 9:00 AM

Hardy, Arkansas Live stream

www.myhometownradiostations.com

Channel 10

Search 7:00 AM Living Word, 7:30 AM

Channel 33 Know Your Bible, 10:30 AM

Marshfield church of Christ

610 S. Marshall P.O. Box 458 Marshfield, MO 65706

(417) 468-4161

churchofchristmarshfield.org www.facebook.com/

marshfieldchurchofchrist

Priority Number 1

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:33-34)

With the elections just over the horizon, campaigns on both sides of the aisles are lining up to tell us what will be their number 1 priority if they are elected. News interviewers often ask questions like this one, “Looking ahead to 2021, what would be your number 1 priority for the benefit of your constituents?” And as expected, the answers vary based upon party affiliation and current issues. In 1969, Rodney Fertel ran for mayor of New Orleans as a single-issue candidate. He repeatedly stated that his number 1 priority, if elected, would be to "get a gorilla for the zoo." Fertel lost the election. But losing didn’t deter him from his priority 1. The following year he donated a pair of West African gorillas to New Orleans' Audubon Zoo, at his own expense.

When Jesus taught what has been labeled his sermon on the mount, he placed before his listeners the call to set priority number 1. According to Matthew 6:33, that priority number 1 is seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. This is not a surprise because Matthew tells us in chapter 4 verse 23 that “Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom.” For Jesus, his priority was proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God: “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, „The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel‟” (Mark 1:14-15). It was time for the kingdom of God to be established and it was time for mankind to set their priority number 1 upon seeking first the kingdom of God. Jesus told his disciples, just before the transfiguration, how soon the kingdom would come: “There are some here of them that stand by, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God come with power” (Mark 9:1 asv). In Acts 2, the apostles witnessed the power of God and folks obeying the gospel and becoming members of the kingdom of God (Acts 2:41; Col. 1:13-14). Thankfully for many, the kingdom was and would remain their priority number 1!

Jesus goes on in Matthew 6:34 and uses a therefore! “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” The challenge with life is that it is so easy to set priority 1 upon physical things rather than the kingdom of God. And when priority 1 is set upon material things, then enters worry! But Jesus says, “Therefore do not worry, saying, „What shall we

eat?‟ or „What shall we drink?‟ or „What shall we wear?‟” (Matthew 6:31). Worry is a distraction from God and what should be spiritually priority 1. If we put all of our focus upon ourselves and our physical needs rather than the kingdom of God, then we lose sight of the number 1 priority.

Jesus tells us that there is more to life than worry: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? (Matthew 6:25). Worry has been described as fear's extravagance. It extracts interest on trouble before it comes due. Sadly, many folks could say, "I've had a lot of trouble -- most of which never happened!" To maintain our focus on priority number 1, Jesus tells us we must not allow ourselves to be distracted by tomorrow. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:25). Time spent in worry will not help us avoid trouble, prevent

problems, prepare you for the worst, or lead to solutions. Worry is time taken from priority number 1!

Is seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness your number 1 priority? Are you worried?

Rick Bright

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Continued on p. 4 www.churchofchristmarshfield.org

Marshfield Church of

Christ

It’s God’s Plan for Man

Believe: Hebrews 11:6, Mark 16:16, Acts 8:36-37, Acts 16:31

Repent: Matthew 4:17, Acts 2:38, Acts 17:30

Confess: Romans 10:9-10, Acts 8:37

Be Baptized: Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21,

Galatians 3:26-29, Acts 8:36-38,

Acts 22:16, Romans 6:3-4

Live Faithfully: Romans 6:4, Matthew 7:21,

Matthew 28:20, Revelation 2:10

Thank God for Godly Women

I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. (2 Tim. 1:5)

In the Lord’s church today, the women outnumber the men in most local congregations. In fact, the work of many congregations would suffer greatly if it were not for godly women. This is not to say that godly men have not and do not contribute to the success of the church, but so many times it is godly women who promote spiritual growth and maturity in their homes and in the church.

In so many cases, godly women after the pattern of Lois and Eunice (see 2 Tim. 1:5; 3:14-15) have been the source of sound godly teaching, training, and examples that has helped shape the next generation for servants and workers in the Lord's kingdom. Many of us can personally look back upon godly mothers, Bible class teachers like Carlene Branstetter, and other godly women who have greatly influenced us to arrive at our current positions of faith and service in the Lord's church. Yes, the Lord's church would be in quite a fix without the efforts of such godly women.

So let us thank God for our godly women and their faithful service. Let us ever acknowledge their irreplaceable and priceless role in the kingdom of God as members of the church of Christ.

Remember in Prayer: The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16 * indicates local member at Marshfield

Kenny Bebee, Helen Marchand’s son-in-law, is at home and

is improving from a stroke. *William Dill continues to suffer from frequent severe

migraines. *Janet Fisher will be having some tests run. Terry Gamble, Daniel Henslee’s stepfather, has kidney

failure and may require dialysis in the future. Shanda Hahn, a relative of Becky Hyder, has stage 4 cancer. Sid Heistand, Elvis’s father, will be undergoing further

treatment and possibly more surgery. Karen Helms, a friend of the Chafins, has cancer. *Lilah Herman will have surgery on her leg soon. Marsha Kammerer’s cancer has returned. *Jerry Letterman’s eye surgery went well. *Bobby Lewis continues to fight a battle with seizures and

other related health problems. *Missy Lewis is having ear problems and is asking for your

prayers. Keith McHenry has passed all of his tests and is now on the

list for a kidney donor. Tye McMasters is continuing to improve. Eli Peak, a friend of Alex Heistand, has lung cancer. *Roy and Judy Phillips are battling several health issues. Tom Porter, Jeana Tracy’s brother-in-law, is in Mercy and

his health is continuing to fail. Brooklyn Reynolds, niece of Kristy Johnson, is infected

with the Covid-19 virus. She and her husband, Caleb, are especially concerned since Brooklyn is 7 months pregnant.

James Taylor, a friend of the Hyders, is battling cancer. Liz Barrows Taylor, friend of Leon Moon and daughter

Patty, is confined to a walker with rheumatoid arthritis. Ila Thomas has been diagnosed with ALS. Ila is the sister-in

-law of Janet Batson Penn who has visited with us. Charles Todd, Ivan’s brother, has been suffering with heart

problems. Cheyenne Villines has started her chemo treatments. Eddie Watkins has had a stroke resulting in some paralysis. Susan Ziebarth is having trouble with her diabetes.

Remember The Care Bound Judy Barrow (Webco)

Jaxon Bradley (Citizen’s Memorial in Bolivar)

Faye Blazer (Marshfield Care Center)

Bonnie Doherty (Webco East)

Pat Lamb (Webco)

Zoe Lawless (Webco)

Jeana Tracy (Marshfield Place)

Please pray for all, especially our brothers and sisters, who have and will be losing their jobs and all who are suffering from the virus physically and emotionally. Also pray for our medical professionals.

Welcome Visitors: Please leave a record of your visit by filling out a visitor’s card and placing it in the collection plate.

Worship: Thank you for attending worship today. Everyone’s cooperation is very much appreciated. And thank you to all who are arranging and participating in our worship today. Also appreciation goes out to those greeting, providing masks, and sanitizing before and after our assemblies. Please continue to practice Covid -19 safety guidelines and 6ft. distancing. Thank You to all the men who helped with the work day yesterday. A lot of good work was accomplished. And thanks to ladies who prepared lunch. You did a great job! Also appreciation to the many who have contributed financially. Men’s Business Meeting will be next Sunday, August 9, at 4:00. All men are encouraged to attend. Card Shower: Please send get-well cards and cards of encouragement to Ashlyn Grier, the MHS student who recently had a stroke. She is recovering well from the stroke, but will be having heart surgery this Tuesday in St. Louis. Cards can be mailed to Team Ashlyn, 1350 Spur Drive Suite 270, PMB 206, Marshfield, MO 65706. Teacher Needed: We praise God for christian men and women who selflessly step forward to teach bot the young and the old in our Sunday and Wednesday Bible school classes. We truly thank Sister Carlene Branstetter for having done so for many years. May God bless you for your devotion to God and to our children. Sister Carlene has decided to retire from teaching class at this time. We have a great void to fill as she has taught the pre-school (ages 2-5) on both Sunday morning and Wednesday night for many years. We now need at least two teachers to take over these classes when we resume Bible school classes in the future. To provide for rotation of teachers we anticipate needing two additional teachers. Please, consider God’s work for yourself in teaching His little children. Truly a precious service to the Lord that you will find very rewarding. If you are willing and able, please let a member of the education committee (Ron T., Randy H., or Bob L.) know as soon as possible.

Wednesday Summer Series Continues at 7:00 p.m. Bobby Lewis will be presenting the next lesson from the book, Why I Am a Member of the Church of Christ by Leroy Brownlow: “Because It Has No Creed but the Bible.”

These lessons from the scriptures will affirm why we believe what we believe. They also will encourage us in our walk with Christ by creating a great appreciation for the scheme of redemption and the church.

Presenters: Please see Rick the Sunday prior to your lesson to confirm a recording time that will work for you.

Upcoming Wednesday Summer Series Speakers: 8/12 Clayton King 8/19 Tim Brashears 8/26 John Marchand 9/2 Terry McMasters 9/9 Dan Johnson 9/16 Larry Chafin (As of now, each Wednesday presentation will be recorded in advance and the lessons will be found as a POST pinned to the top of the Marshfield Facebook page instead of displayed as a livestream video.)

The Wednesday Evening Summer Series is now available on YouTube. Put in the YouTube search bar: Marshfield Mo church of Christ

Pantry: Please bring shelf stable foods, toiletries, and similar items to the church building to be included in the pantry for local needs.

News and Announcements:

Christina Hopkins 8/02

Jerry Branstetter 8/03

Jim King 8/03

Ellie Sanders 8/08

Jeff Fisher 8/09

Thad Layne 8/14

William Dill 8/15

Susan Brown 8/20

Wanda Crews 8/20

Scot Greer 8/20

Travis Hampton 8/20

Diana Greer 8/21

Jaren Hamilton 8/21

Ron Peck 8/24

Luther Sheppard 8/30

John & Tiffany Sanders 8/07

Monty & Glenda Farley 8/08

Bob & Missy Lewis 8/08

John & Marcie Marchand 8/22

July 26 combined attendance—96

July 26 contribution—$3331

If you are unable to attend, contributions can be

mailed to: Marshfield Church of Christ, P.O. Box

458, Marshfield. MO 65706.

Daily Prayer List Additions

1. That God will bless the congregation with continued growth

2. That our ongoing home Bible studies will bear fruit

3. That our God will provide an Eldership

4. That our faith, unity, peace and harmony will remain strong together in Christ.

It is all about lost souls! Luke 19:10

October 2-4—Gospel Meeting October 4—Friends and Family Day