Vol. 1 No. 47 December 23, 2018

Taking THE LIVING WATER

to the Smith Lake area

5454 Curry Highway Jasper, Alabama 35503

205.387.7338 Website—currycoc.org

Office Hours:

Monday-Friday 8:30 AM—12 PM

Services Sunday:

9:30 AM; 10:30 AM; 5 PM Wednesday

Morning Bible Class: 10 AM Evening: 7:00 PM

Elders:

Mark Barker-205.435.0031 Johnny Meadows 205.384.1117 Bryan Richardson-205.522.8526 Jimmy Richardson-205.388.6285

Deacons:

Delbert Alred-205.471.9330 Clifford Dunagan-205.275.9172

Ed Glass-205.544.9273 Michael Kilpatrick-205.471.4196 Jerry McLemore-205.388.0049

Randy Piper-205.522.0828

Ministers: Patrick Morison-205.300.1431

Bryan Richardson-205.522.8526 Trent Burton-205.544.6650

Services offered:

Bible Correspondence courses In Home Bible Study

Tracts on various Subjects Transportation to services

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing

up into everlasting life. John 4:14

CURRY YOUTHCURRY YOUTHCURRY YOUTHCURRY YOUTH

MINISTRYMINISTRYMINISTRYMINISTRY

Dec. 27-29-Exposure Dec. 30-Youth Led Services @ 5 pm January 13-Shadescrest @

1:30 pm January 20-Ridgwood @ 1

pm No Bible Bowl in December

For God So Loved…That He Gave (John 3:16-21)

INTRODUCTION A. This time of year is often about giving, generosity B. Many are focused on God’s gift to us—His Son. C. God shows his love over and over by giving. D. How often do we reflect on what we can give? E. We need to become more like God in our giving. I. Why should we give? A. Because _____________________________ à Psa.68:19; John 3:16 B. Because _____________________________ à Phil.4:10-19; James 2:15-16 C. Because _____________________________ à Gal.6:10 II. What should we give?

A. Our _________________________________ à Eph.5:16; Prov.27:1

B. Our _________________________________ à 1 Peter 4:10

C. Our _________________________________ à 1 Cor.16:1-2

III. How should we give?

A. Give ________________________________ à Matt.10:8

B. Give ________________________________ à 1 Cor.16:1-3

C. Give ________________________________ à 2 Cor.9:7

WHICH LIST ARE YOU ON? - Patrick Morrison

Christmas 2018 is almost here at the Morrison household. It will be another wonderful time spent with family, watching the expressions on the faces of our children as they open their gifts, enjoying special dinners and snacks that we usually reserve for this time of year, and making memories that will last a lifetime. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, it is not unusual for us to tell our children that they had better behave if they want to be on Santa’s “Nice” list. We warn them that they don’t want to wind up on Santa’s “Naughty” list, for those who find them-selves on this list can only hope for lumps of coal and bags of switches on Christ-mas Day. Many of the songs that we sing during the holidays talk of the im-portance of being on the right list. Children are told that Santa knows if they’ve been bad or good and that he sees them whether awake or sleeping. Of course, we say all of this in jest. Santa’s list is fictitious. In the overall scheme of things, it matters not how someone might characterize you for inclusion (or exclusion) on either side of Santa’s ledger. However, there is a list with which all of us should be concerned. It matters greatly upon which side of the ledger we find our names written. This Bi-ble affirms the reality and the validity of this list. It is called the Book of Life (Phil.4:3; Rev.3:5; 17:8; 20:12. 15; 22:19). It is sometimes referred to as the Lamb’s book of life (Rev.13:8; 21:27). There is a day coming when all of us will stand before God in judgment (Heb.9:27). At that time, we will each give an ac-count of ourselves before Him (Rom.14:12). The Lord knows everything we have done, whether it is good or evil (2 Cor.5:10). Not one thing escapes the penetrating gaze of the Almighty (Heb.4:13), not even the things we consider to be secret (Ecc.12:14). The standard by which our names will be included or excluded from the Book of Life will be determined by God, not by man. Jehovah has decreed what is good and what is evil in the word that he has given us. His commandments lead us to righteous living (Psa.119:172). This standard is objective and absolute. There is a clear delineation of right and wrong on the pages of Scripture. I will not be found in the Book of Life based upon what I feel or what I think. It will be based solely upon whether or not I have done that which is right according to the Lord! Not everyone who calls him Lord will enter into heaven, but those who continually do the will of the Father will find that abundant entrance therein (Matt.7:21). Upon which list do you find your name? This question is significant. It is not a matter of missing out on presents at Christmastime. Instead, it is a matter of eternal importance. Those who live according to the word of God will be brought forth unto the resurrection of life. Those who refuse to abide by God’s will shall be brought forth unto the resurrection of condemnation (John 5:28-29). Eternal life, eternal joy, eternal peace, eternal day belongs to those written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Eternal torment, eternal misery, eternal night will be the lot of those who refuse to do right. Where will your name be written? That is entirely up to you. Choose to live right, and in so doing, you will die right!

Please encourage our youth tostudy and par-

ticipate in the Bible Bowl!

Study every Sunday 4 pm in the youth room

Bible Bowl Study Exodus

Question When the seventh seal was opened

in the book of Revelation, there was silence in heaven for how long?

Answer Half-Hour

Revelation 8:1

Church of Christ at Curry Vol. 1 No. 47/ December 23, 2018

Morning Service

Announcements: Jimmy Richardson Opening Prayer: Bryan Richardson

Singing: Corey Glass Scripture Reading: Mavrick Williams

Closing Prayer: Darrell McCullar

Evening Service

Announcements: Jimmy Richardson Opening Prayer: Jerry McLemore

Singing: Corey Glass Closing Prayer: Johnny Meadows

Those to Serve

Prayer List Prayer List Prayer List Prayer List Dec. 30-Youth Led Services @ 5 pm

January 6– Potluck; evening services @ 1 pm

January 7-E/D/P Meeting @ 6 pm

January 9-Wednesday Morning Bible Class will start back @ 10 am

January 13-Budget Sunday during Sunday School

January 13-Shadescrest @ 1:30 pm

January 20-Ridgwood @ 1 pm

Every Tuesday Night @ 7 pm-Open Discussion Bible Study...Digging deeper into the truth of God’s Word

Area Events-See Bulletin Board in foyer

Happy Birthday—28th Addison Black; 29th Marissa Wiilliams

Happy Anniversary-26th Jerry & Pat McLemore

Lillian Whitney

Johnnie Dutton

Gwen Barker

Elston McConnell

Joshua Kelsey

Bob Mingle

Mason Scruggs

Doug Grace

Wayne Swindle

Bobby Usher

Betty Jean Brad-ford

Emily Klein

Don Gray

Bill Franks

Maddie Elswick

Roger Jones

Ann Meigs

Reminder: Please place your prayer request and announcements for Living Water in the Well Bucket on the table in the foyer. Thank You!

Lord’s Supper / Offering AM Delbert Allred, Clifford Dunagan, Pete Windham

Randy Piper, Billy Elswick, Parker McCullar PM: Clifford Dunagan & Pete Windham

Sign: Clifford Dunagan

Greeters: Mark & Pat Barker; Johnny & Glorida Meadows

Childhaven Supplies Due—January 27

Diapers, Sizes 2,3,4,5,6 Baby Wipes, Pull Ups

Toilet paper, Paper Towels

Food Pantry Item of the Month: Canned Fruit

We now have a food pantry! If you know anyone in need of food and would be willing to deliver it to them, please get with one of the elders.

December 30th @

5 pm

In the days of Hosea, prophet of Israel, God’s people had become completely immersed in the ungodliness and idolatry of those around them. Long ago, Israel made the ill-fated decision to pro-cure a king that they might be like all the nations round about them (1 Sam.8:20), and it was not long before they had become hedonistic and idolatrous, wandering far away from God. Israel had a serious heart condition: she divided her allegiance between the true and living God and the pagan, lifeless idols of her ungodly neighbors. She refused to abandon her unrighteous infatuation with peoples and prac-tices that God had warned her to shun time and time again. Israel was guilty of trying to hold to the hand of God, while holding to the hand of the world simultaneously. Through the prophet Hosea, God painted a very vivid picture of the two-facedness of His unfaithful children: “Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned” (Hos.7:8). Who among us enjoys a pancake that has not been flipped during the course of cooking? On the side away from the heat, you have a doughy, runny mess. On the side to the heat, you have burnt batter. Neither side is appetizing. “A cake not turned” is certainly a fitting illustration of one who desires the approval of God coupled with the approbation of men. Like Israel of old, there are many today who want the blessings and benefits that come from following God, but who also refuse to relinquish sinful relationships with the world. The Devil has deceived the multitudes into thinking that it is possible to maintain friend-ship with the world while also securing Divine fa-vor. Sadly, such is not only impossible, but it is also detrimental to the eternal well-being of our souls, as James reminds us that “friendship with the world is enmity with God” (James 4:4). So many

are convinced that they can please both God and man that they will do everything possible to hold to both. It is sad that the divided heart thinks that by giving half-allegiance to two diametrically opposed entities it will garner the affection and attention of both. Such could not be further from the truth! “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt.6:24). Just like a “cake not turned,” the one who tries to please God and those opposed to God is not appetizing to either side. The Christian who refuses to shun ungodly companions and immoral actions is an enigma to his worldly associates and an enemy of his God. The “theistic-evolutionist” (a misnomer if ever there were one!) believes there is room for both a Divine Creator and large-scale evolution. While he believes he has solved the dilemma that pits these two cosmologi-cal explanations against one another—thereby gain-ing approval from both sides— he in reality is noth-ing more than a coward and a sell-out to his “intellectually enlightened” Darwinists and to his Master Designer. May we determine to take our stand on God’s side (Exo.32:26), no matter what may befall us as a re-

sult. While the world may look upon us with dis-dain and disgust, we can rest assured that God will smile upon us in Divine favor.

A CAKE NOT TURNED –Patrick Morrison

Building Lock up Clifford Dunagan

Count Contribution Michael Kilpatrick & Clifford Dunagan