CHURCH OF CHRIST April 5, 2020 Comfort, Comfort, My People (Isaiah 40) The army was right there at the gates of Jerusalem. Sennacherib’s army had already taken all the forfied cies of Judah and now is preparing to finish the job with a number greater than 180,000. Hezekiah was king in Jerusalem and was nearly dead with ill- ness. Hezekiah prayed to God and was healed even aſter Isaiah had told him to put his house in order. The result was a sudden illness struck the army of the Assyrians and Hezekiah was healed. Judah was given a few more years res- pite and Hezekiah was given fiſteen more years to live. You can decide whether that was good news or not for Hezekiah. Doom was sll to befall Judah. They would sll be carried away into capvity because they refused to repent. I can ’t help but think that if they would have turned to God he would have relented, just as he did with Hezekiah. The very next chapter in Isaiah begins with “Comfort, comfort my people,” and ends with “They who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.” One might think the Bible, and the Old Testament, specifically, is a violent, peslence, plague, siege -ridden book. Well, it is. What we are experiencing right now was a constant fear in peoples’ lives unl very recently. (Vaccines only 100 years ago, and we sll did not know what a virus was). The dust bowl was a scant ninety years ago, and the lessons we learned about farming would not be implemented unl aſter that. There was a constant throb of fear of the next drought, flood, earthquake, plague, army, or riot. There had to be a reason for it and the reason was that people would not follow God. We sll give lip-service to that today, but for the most part the fear that pulsed through life as it did in the ancient world has vanished. For those who lived before modern mes there was no economic system, polical system, or technology to hide behind. All of these protect us somewhat in the Western world today. Or so we think – unl one of these decades apart events hit us. Then we realize that it is indeed God who is creator and he who is in control – because clearly we are not. The birds are sll singing, the eagles are sll flying, the earth is sll waking from winter’s rest, and we sll prepare for beer days ahead. We do so because we have faith. It is just that in our current circumstance it is brought more clearly into focus.
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CHURCH OF CHRIST
April 5, 2020
Comfort, Comfort, My People
(Isaiah 40)
The army was right there at the gates of Jerusalem. Sennacherib’s army had already taken all the fortified cities of Judah and now
is preparing to finish the job with a number greater than 180,000. Hezekiah was king in Jerusalem and was nearly dead with ill-
ness. Hezekiah prayed to God and was healed even after Isaiah had told him to put his house in order.
The result was a sudden illness struck the army of the Assyrians and Hezekiah was healed. Judah was given a few more years res-
pite and Hezekiah was given fifteen more years to live. You can decide whether that was good news or not for Hezekiah.
Doom was still to befall Judah. They would still be carried away into captivity because they refused to repent. I can’t help but think
that if they would have turned to God he would have relented, just as he did with Hezekiah.
The very next chapter in Isaiah begins with “Comfort, comfort my people,” and ends with “They who wait on the Lord shall renew
their strength.”
One might think the Bible, and the Old Testament, specifically, is a violent, pestilence, plague, siege -ridden book. Well, it is. What
we are experiencing right now was a constant fear in peoples’ lives until very recently. (Vaccines only 100 years ago, and we still
did not know what a virus was). The dust bowl was a scant ninety years ago, and the lessons we learned about farming would not
be implemented until after that.
There was a constant throb of fear of the next drought, flood, earthquake, plague, army, or riot. There had to be a reason for it
and the reason was that people would not follow God. We still give lip-service to that today, but for the most part the fear that
pulsed through life as it did in the ancient world has vanished.
For those who lived before modern times there was no economic system, political system, or technology to hide behind. All of
these protect us somewhat in the Western world today. Or so we think – until one of these decades apart events hit us. Then we
realize that it is indeed God who is creator and he who is in control – because clearly we are not.
The birds are still singing, the eagles are still flying, the earth is still waking from winter’s rest, and we still prepare for better days
ahead. We do so because we have faith. It is just that in our current circumstance it is brought more clearly into focus.
WELCOME
Please fill out the information sheet found in the maroon binder at the end of your pew.
*An attended nursery is provided during worship assembly.
*Communion—We celebrate the resurrection of our Lord every Sunday (“first day of the week”) through a time of communion known as the Lord’s Supper. The “unleavened bread” represents His body and the “fruit of the vine” (cup of grape juice) represents His blood shed on the cross. As our guest, you are welcome to participate, though you are not required to do so. *Giving– We are challenged to be good stewards of God’s blessings by supporting the various minis-
tries of the church through a weekly collection that is taken during our worship time. You are wel-come to give, but please do not feel as though you must.
Ryan Hill-RI (Shoulders) Christopher Goodale-USMC Cameron Hurst--USAF(Curry) Hans Niestrath-USNA Sam Richey-USMC (Stoltz) Jason Rushing-Air Natl Guard Derek Brothers, (Partlow) (Hampton)
Worship Order ALTERNATES:
Please meet in case you
are needed to serve as a
sub for the Lord’s Supper
March:
Roger Dillingham
Tim Teel
Prepare communion:
March: Kenneth
April: Almon
For the Record:
Last Sunday
Bible Class: 0
Worship: 0
Contribution: $
Wednesday: 0
—We are currently doing a Bible study from the book Crazy Love by Francis
Chan. I send out our Bible studies on Sunday's and Wednesday's through
our group message. At 7 PM on Sunday night's and Wednesday night's we
are doing a video chat to discuss the Bible studies. Contact Jon (270-635-
1029) if you would like to be added to the group message.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
April 5—Tim Teel
April 5—Cameron Seesengood
April 6—Quincy & Donna Stephenson
April 7—Johnny Allen
April 8—Whitney Goad
April 11—Amelia Iliohan
CALENDAR:
Will add activities as they come open.
• There will be no services at the building at least through the end of April.
• The office will continue to be open Mon-Fri 9am-1pm. Call first to make sure someone is here.
• You can mail in your contribution .
• Communion can be picked up at the office or call us for delivery.
When we meet:
Sunday
Bible Study 9:30 A.M. Worship 10:30 A.M.
Sunday P.M.
At the building 6 P.M.
Small Groups Sept—May: various times; contact Sean Niestrath
Elizabeth B. Webb, LMFT, LCSW To make an appointment, call 270-825-8746.
Deacons:
Jeremy Duggin, James Rust, Joshua Scott
Brock Shoulders, Steve Stoltz,
Darin Swaidner, Tim Teel
PRAYER REQUESTS
Honduran brothers and sisters Watata CoC in Homa Bay, Kenya
Church in Rome Serious Illness/Injury: Rita Frazier, lung cancer, Barbara’s SIL Kim Feltner, Tim’s sister Bryce Alexander, leukemia Michael Skultety, cancer, Jane Marvin Gallagher Lance Pace, cancer Mike Bright, health issues Phil Keith Ruffin Chandler George Teel, cancer Jon Riley, lungs Keith Roberts, cancer, EJ Betty & Kim Stanley Bruce Coleson, MS Makenzie Carson, L. Russell Ed Wallace, liver transplant Brady Cobb, intestinal problems Lowry Johnson, 4m old, cancer Roberta Lynch, Shelia’s mom Cliff Duncan, cancer Barbara Lynch, Shelia Charles Smallwood, Micki’s father Jonathan Allen, MS Rodney Householder Tracy Thorp, cancer Aaron Reding, ALS Mack Shearn Jeff Travis, health George Utley, cancer Ronnie Lear, COPD Audrey Davis, 4yr.old, leukemia Tracey Moore, illness Hannah Gates, heart surgery Sherry Mitchell, cancer Wayne Warszona, Parkinson’s Pam Wiggins, cancer Jakayla Acker, lymphoma Barbie Kern, Carol’s sister, cancer Connie Armstrong, cancer Mark Martin, mesothelioma Andrea Kane, cancer Dan Evans Kathy Lawrence Sandra Hawkins, cancer Bob Reis, MS Amy Caulder, brain cancer Richard Grogan , Barbara S. Diana Adams Karen Kittinger, cancer Linda Turner, cancer Dustin Ray, cancer Chesley Castleberry, cancer, EJ Tracey Durham Aliyah Copeland, Palmer’s gd Monica Seke, liver, Kenya Olivia & Baby Ostrander Bill Long, cancer, Goodale Samantha Morris, cancer, Stanleys Rosetta Jenkins, cancer, T.Brown Paul Stone, Larry’s brother Lisa Russell, blindness