“For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water.” Revelation 7:17 February 4, 2018 Dripping Springs Church of Christ PO Box 1 Dripping Springs Texas 78620 (512) 858-4500 dschurchofchrist.com dscofcoffi[email protected]Sunday Bible Class 9:30am Worship 10:30am Worship 6:00pm Wednesday Bible Class 7:00pm His real name was Joseph, but he was known by the early church as “Barnabas” because of his ability to encourage. He so excelled in the quali- ty he was known as “Mr. Encourage- ment.” Sometimes we have to be around discouraging people and cir- cumstances. There are people who ap- parently have the “gift” of being able to see the worst in every person and circumstance. They could find a way to pour cold water on a drowning man! However, people like Barnabas will always be needed and valued in the body of Christ. Since God is “the God of all com- fort” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5), it follows that we are never more like Him than when we seek to properly honor Him through encouraging thoughts, words and actions (Colossians 3:17; 1 Thes- salonians 5:14). In last week’s Monday’s With Mike, we noticed 3 areas where Barnabas greatly encour- aged the church. Let’s consider 3 more now. Like Barnabas, I Will Encourage the Church in the Area of Transition and Change (Acts 13-15). The church was growing, and God chose to use an encourager like Barnabas as the people of the church dealt with “growing pains.” Because he was anchored to the unchanging Rock of Ages, Barnabas encouraged as the times changed. He was humble enough to deal with the personal transition of “Barnabas and Paul” to “Paul and Barnabas” – the matter of ego and who gets “top billing.” As has often been said, “it takes more grace than I can tell, to play the second fiddle well.” To the credit of Barnabas, there really does not seem to be the slightest hint of animosity. Barnabas also encouraged the church in embracing Gentile converts without adding circumcision and other aspects of the old law (Acts 15). He was absolutely uncompromising of the truth yet helped Christians faithfully navigate the changes which naturally occur in life. Like Barnabas, I Will Encourage the Church in the Area of Personal Integrity and Conduct in Times of Disagreement in Judgment. In the closing verses of Acts 15 a “sharp disa- greement” arises between Paul and Barnabas concerning John Mark going on the second missionary journey. While the disagreement was real and sharp, it is apparent they did not “bad mouth” each other and declare all-out war. Love for Christ and His church, along with the practice of godly char- acter, prevailed. The way Paul and Barnabas dealt with this personality conflict serves as an excellent reminder that friction among members in matters of judgment need not lead to fracture What Every Church Needs: Encouragers, Part 2 Mike Vestal
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His real name was Joseph, but he was known by the early church as “Barnabas” because of his ability to encourage. He so excelled in the quali-ty he was known as “Mr. Encourage-ment.” Sometimes we have to be around discouraging people and cir-cumstances. There are people who ap-parently have the “gift” of being able to see the worst in every person and circumstance. They could find a way to pour cold water on a drowning man! However, people like Barnabas will always be needed and valued in the body of Christ.
Since God is “the God of all com-fort” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5), it follows that we are never more like Him than when we seek to properly honor Him through encouraging thoughts, words and actions (Colossians 3:17; 1 Thes-salonians 5:14). In last week’s Monday’s With Mike, we noticed 3 areas where Barnabas greatly encour-aged the church. Let’s consider 3 more now.
Like Barnabas, I Will Encourage the Church in the Area of Transition and Change (Acts 13-15). The church was growing, and God chose to use an encourager like Barnabas as the people of the church dealt with “growing pains.” Because he was anchored to the unchanging Rock of Ages, Barnabas encouraged as the times changed. He
was humble enough to deal with the personal transition of “Barnabas and Paul” to “Paul and Barnabas” – the matter of ego and who gets “top billing.” As has often been said, “it takes more grace than I can tell, to play the second fiddle well.” To the credit of Barnabas, there really does not seem to be the slightest hint of animosity.
Barnabas also encouraged the church in embracing Gentile converts without adding circumcision and other aspects of the old law (Acts 15). He was absolutely uncompromising of the truth yet helped Christians faithfully navigate the changes which naturally occur in life.
Like Barnabas, I Will Encourage the Church in the Area of Personal Integrity and Conduct in Times of Disagreement in Judgment. In the closing verses of Acts 15 a “sharp disa-greement” arises between Paul and Barnabas concerning John Mark going on the second missionary journey. While the disagreement was real and sharp, it is apparent they did not “bad mouth” each other and declare all-out war. Love for Christ and His church, along with the practice of godly char-acter, prevailed. The way Paul and Barnabas dealt with this personality conflict serves as an excellent reminder that friction among members in matters of judgment need not lead to fracture
What Every Church Needs: Encouragers, Part 2 Mike Vestal
of fellowship. Wouldn’t it be won-derful if the work force of the church actually doubled today when there was a difference in personal judgment?
Like Barnabas, I Will Encour-age the Church in the Area of How I Deal With Personal Sin and Failure (Galatians 2:11-14). Barnabas was not a perfect man; this account mentions that he was
“led astray” by the hypocrisy of those who failed to treat Gentile Christians as family. But do not fail to notice Paul’s seeming apos-tolic shock that “even” Barnabas was “led astray.” It was uncharac-teristic, something surprising and unexpected that “Mr. Encourage-ment” should act so discouraging-ly. Would Paul or our Lord be so shocked about your or my misbe-havior? Would it be uncharacteris-tic of how we normally behave?
There is no doubt that Barnabas responded to Paul’s rebuke with the spirit of David in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” This is true because life in Christ for Barnabas had been characterized by encourage-ment in being able to see the grace of God at work, by desiring to do good, by being full of God and His Spirit and by being full of faith (Acts 11:23-24). How about us?
Sermon Outline
Bad Apple: Sin’s Dictator Follow along with the sermon and fill in the blanks
1. Satan’s ______________________
a. The Book of Job shows us that Satan:
i. ___________________ to God (Job 1:6-7)
ii. ___________________ by God (Job 1:12; 2:6)
iii. ___________________ by God
iv. ___________________ by God
2. Satan’s ________________________
a. The Bible shows Satan working in four key areas:
i. _____________________
1. In ________________ (1 Cor. 7:5)
2. In ___________________________________ (2 Cor. 2:20-11)
3. In ____________________ (Eph. 4:26-27)
ii. _____________________
1. He _______________ (John 8:44)
2. He _______________ (Mark 4:15; 2 Cor. 4:3-4)
3. He ________________ (2 Cor. 11:13-14)
iii. ______________________
1. He ______________ (Job 1:13-22)
2. He _______________ (Job 2:7-8)
3. He _______________ (Luke 13:16-17)
iv. ______________________
3. Satan’s Des3na3on
a. This is the ul3mate end of the one who has caused so much pain and suffering: absolute and
total _________________ and eternal _____________ (Rev. 20:10).
Elders:
Tracy Frisinger
Bill Hyde
Roland Merz
Kelly Miller
Deacons:
Randy Banks
Stephen Estrada
John Gray
Damon Hyde
Jay Kelsey
Winston Kinser
Matt Walker
Joel Wilkinson
Brian Wilks
Robert Wright
Tim Wright
Ministers:
Steven Akin
Jacob Rutledge
Mission Works
Joshua Ankiah
South Africa
Daniel Sackey
Liberia, West Africa
Peter Chin
Far East Evangelism (Singapore)
Tom Jackson
Lancaster, New Hampshire
Life Verlooy
Rice Lake, Wisconsin
John Moore
Bible Passages
Troy Spradlin
Paraguay Mission Work
Hensel Youth Camp
Southwest School of Bible
Studies
World Video Bible School
For the Record
Week of Jan 21
Sunday AM ....................... 181
Contribution .............. $8,109
Week of Jan 28
Sunday AM ....................... 189
Contribution ............. $13,719
Privileged to ServePrivileged to ServePrivileged to ServePrivileged to Serve Sunday, Feb 4Sunday, Feb 4Sunday, Feb 4Sunday, Feb 4 Morning Morning Morning Morning Announcements ....... Robert Wright
Scripture Reading .... To Be Selected
Song Leader ................ Keith Mauck
Opening Prayer ........ Tracy Frisinger
Sermon .................... Jacob Rutledge
Closing Prayer ............ Damon Hyde
LordLordLordLord’’’’s Table s Table s Table s Table Roland Merz .......... Stephen Estrada
Robert Wright ............. Ma? Walker
Joe Williamson ............ Russell Speir
Byron Pogue .................. Nick Stoots
Evening Evening Evening Evening Song Leader ...................... Bill Hyde
Opening Prayer ............. Tim Wright
Sermon .................... Jacob Rutledge
Closing Prayer ... Clinton Rutherford
Wednesday, Feb 7Wednesday, Feb 7Wednesday, Feb 7Wednesday, Feb 7 Prayers .................... To Be Selected
Song Leader .................. Brian Wilks
Speaker ................. Stephen Estrada
Sunday, Feb 11Sunday, Feb 11Sunday, Feb 11Sunday, Feb 11 Morning Morning Morning Morning Announcements ............ Paul Brown
Scripture Reading .... To Be Selected
Song Leader .................. Tim Wright
Opening Prayer ............... Jay Kelsey
Sermon .................... Jacob Rutledge
Closing Prayer ........... Charles Smith
Evening Evening Evening Evening Song Leader ......... Maverick Walker
Opening Prayer .............. Ma? Hand
Sermon .................... Jacob Rutledge
Closing Prayer .. Darrell Underwood
Ushers Ushers Ushers Ushers Tom Pawelka ............ Gerald Sherrill
Building LockupBuilding LockupBuilding LockupBuilding Lockup John Gray. ..................... Kelly Miller