ELDERS: Roger Spencer Paolo Di Luca (304) 758-4924 Evangelist [email protected] (304) 559-7735 [email protected] DEACONS: Jr. Daugherty Gary Durig Dave Hood Herb Jung Jim Rice Office: 304.455.2130 Email: [email protected] Web: www.bridgestreetcofc.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BRIDGE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST PO BOX 292 NEW MARTINSVILLE WV 26155 God’s Plan for Man’s Salvation * * * * * * * * * * * * “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:30 The Gospel Must be HEARD Rom. 10:17 John 8:32 The Gospel Must be BELIEVED John 8:24 Mark 16:16 Sins Must be REPENTED OF Luke 13:3, 5 Acts 2:38 Christ Must be CONFESSED Matt. 10:32-33 Rom. 10:10 There Must Be BAPTISM (Immersion) for the Remission of Sins Acts 2:38 1 Peter 3:21 There Must Be CHRISTIAN GROWTH and FAITHFULNESS 1 Peter 2:2 Rev. 2:10 2 Peter 3:18 June 17. 2018 The Lust for Wealth The wise man teaches: “Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease!” (Prov. 23:4). The principle expressed here is not that it is wrong to have wealth or a lot of money. Rather the commandment is for those who live their lives ruled by and driven by the craving of accumulating more money and wealth. It is evidence of a clear lack of contentment. The Bible teaches that “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim. 6:6). To spend an entire lifetime working toward becoming rich, for the sake of riches itself, is a great loss. Being content with what God gives us and working diligently and faithfully as we have opportunity for His glory and in balance is great gain. The real issue is not how much money is in the bank but it is the state of the heart of the individual. Is it possible to earn a lot of wealth in a godly fashion and still maintain a healthy balance in life, and more importantly, a devotion to the kingdom of God first and foremost? Is it possible to be rich and wealth is not your god or the primary driving mechanism in your life? We must heed the Scriptures and recognize that we need to be discerning enough to stop chasing money lest it harm our walk with Christ. We are called to be responsible stewards of our talents but first and foremost we must be devoted and committed to God, trusting in His providence and care: “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heav- enly Father knows that you need all these things. 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” (Matt. 6:31-34 emp. added). Let us not fall prey to the popular trick of the devil that the abundance of wealth is the answer. The gospel is not about making us rich, and God never promised such a thing. Jesus said that we will have trouble in this world and that we are to look forward to the life to come (John 16:33). The emphasis in Scripture is on being rich in the life to come: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19-21; cf. Luke 12:21). The lust for wealth always exposes what is in our hearts. God is not interested in money and material wealth. There is nothing that exists that He does not own (cf. Ps. 50:10), and those who love Him can trust Him that He will give them what they need without them having to sacrifice their morality or their faithfulness to Him. As Christians, we are not supposed to live an existence based only on money and wealth. What if the stock mar- ket crashes? Will we jump off of buildings or kill ourselves like many did in the last financial crash? They worked for money only to enjoy it for a short time and then see it all vanish. Their heart was in the money, and when the money was gone, they assumed they had nothing to live for. It is so sad, but it exposed them for who they were inside. The victory over the deceitfulness of wealth is a heart attitude that recognizes that money does not satisfy or provide the security that only God can. “Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:18-19). Money is a great barometer of our hearts, so let us make sure that it is not taking any of the authority and joy that is to be God’s alone. Do not focus on acquiring wealth but recognize that life is more than money. Life is about knowing, loving, and worshipping God. May God give us undivided hearts, not compromised by greed and enslaved only to doing His will. WORSHIP SCHEDULE Sunday Bible Study 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Evening Worship 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Week of June 10 Bible Study 46 AM Worship 66 PM Worship 45 Wednesday 44 ATTENDANCE RECORD: SCHEDULED TO SERVE june 24: ANNOUNCEMENTS: R. SPENCER SONG DIRECTOR: am B. CAMPBELL pm SINGING SERVICES PRAYER: am A. SKINNER pm READING: M. HOOD WAIT ON TABLE D. MELOTT D. MOSER SERVE CONGREGATION: S. HOOD Jo RICE CLOSING PRAYER: am G. DURIG pm GREETER D. HOOD’S Wednesday Invitation: June 27, 2018 B. Campbell PREPARE COMMUNION—June 2018 Sue Skinner Bridge Street Church of Christ 1139 S. Bridge Street - PO Box 292 New Martinsville WV 26155 Messenger Paolo Di Luca