The Encourager

Church of Christ

140 West 15th Street

Front Royal Virginia 22630

540 635 2613

FrontRoyalChurchofChrist.com

SimpleBibleLessons.com

We Welcome Our Guest! We are so glad you’ve come for worship today!

Our prayer is you will be blessed by your time with us. Please feel free to ask us any questions you may have concerning our worship.

January 6 2019

Sunday Service’s

Bible class 10:00 am

Worship 11:00 am

Afternoon 2:00 pm

Tuesday Ladies Class

11:00 am

Wednesday Service

7:00 pm

Personal Bible Study

SimpleBibleLessons.com

Online

Correspondence

In Home

RSW Jail Ministry

Correspondence

2nd & 4th In House

Food Pantry

By Appointment

Minister

John Stephen Smith

540-635-2613

ministerfrcoc@gmail.com

Names On This Page Will Periodically be removed.

Please Keep Tenia Informed as to Condition & or Status

Condolences to: Rex Callaway and family on the passing of his mother, Cleda Sharrer.

John Woodall, WCH. #204

Eugene Tewalt

Bill Adams

Joel Jones

Brenda Born

Tenia Smith

Terry Lichliter

Sharon Derflinger in Hertiage Hall #302

Cindy Candenquist

The Lord’s church

Military men and women

All Law enforcement

Our missionaries

RSW Jail Ministry

Bobby Jo Henderson

Tommy Strickler

Robertt Robinson Jr.

Shirley Brookhart

Albert Jenkins

David Bean

Linda York

Beverly Figgins

Adam Selb

Kim Wines

Mary Steele

Ella Sullivan

Rick Steele

Tim Gunter

Ray Stelzl

Kenny Henderson Jr.

Ruth Brooks

Jamie Shell

Marty Jones

Jamie James

Scott McCool

Dolores Williams

Doris & Donald Jones

Carol & Doug Ritenour

Bill & Linda Butterfield

Our Homebound

Audrey Herring

Nancy Barnes

Hazel Clark

Ann Derflinger

Jerry Eubanks

C.R. Newlin

Priscilla L.

Jackie Barbe

Philip Funk Jr.

Frank Couto

Vita Torres

Jeff Pingley

Wendy Willoughby

Elaine Appleton

Robert Jenkins

Treasure By carson van arsdall

January 6, 2019

I remember in a church lobby, one of the tracts catch-ing my interest and I wanted to make comments on FINDING GOD'S TREASURE. Treasure comes in many forms: Consider a preacher story I heard as a boy in Kentucky.

A Wyoming bachelor was having a difficult time keep-ing the bills paid and holding on to his ranch. He de-cided it was time to get a job in nearby Casper. It worked out well, very well, for he met the "woman of his dreams." It wasn't long before they were engaged and not too long after-wards were married. She was to stay out on the ranch while he continued to work in the city. The object was to build up an emergency fund to meet unexpected ranch problems.

The woman of his dreams had always been a city girl and knew nothing about the ranching business. Problems with the house and outside with animals and etc. just never met her husband's standards. He began to constantly nag at her to be better and listen to what he told her to do. She always replied by say-ing, “I AM DOING THE BEST I CAN.”

The hard winter of Wyoming was drawing to a close. The promise of spring on a beautiful day was every-where. Jason had just returned from lunch and for some reason glanced out the window. Winter was making one last gasp. A dark weather front was mov-ing through, a hunch urged him to leave early for the

ranch. By the time he reached the house the temper-ature had dropped to bring snow and freezing winds. His wife was not inside. He found this note on the kitchen table.

Jason, I tried to remember what you told me. I have gone out to see about the livestock. Some have strayed to the back of the property.

Don't worry, I am doing the best I can. luv, Kathie

Jason put on an extra coat, went out, and found his wife.

(No, it did not end this way. We always like to see "and they lived happily ever after.") The husband

suffered the terrible lost of his wife in the blizzard. The treasure of his life was gone. Gone was the "woman he had always dreamed about.”

So, husband or wife, girlfriend or boyfriend, remember when you glance into one another's eyes, you are seeing one of God's treasures. There will never be another just like the one you are seeing.

But this precious treasure - this light and power now shines within us - is held in a perishable container, that is, in our weak bodies. Everyone can see that the glorious power within must be from God and is not our own.

(II Corinthians 4:7)

Serving Today David Born

Bob Baleskie

Mike Efaw

Carson Van Arsdall

Song Service

Eugene Tewalt

Wilson Diaz

Scripture Reading Art Candenquist

Jane McCool 1/16

Eddie Benfit 1/17 The Adam’s 1/13

David Born 1/22

Joel Jones 1/23

Emma Diaz 1/30

New teaching material and age

groups. Please see the Teacher’s

Rotation Sheet on front bulletin

board. Sign-up for one quarter if we

get enough people to sign-up for the

4 quarters you may only have to teach

once this year!

January starts the new teaching

quarter. Teachers are need for these

age groups.

Nursery ages: infant to 23 months,

Ages: 2 thru 4, Ages: 5 thru 8.

Ages: 9 thru 15.

Ages: 16 on up meet in Auditorium

Sundays and Wednesdays.

All classes are to be held downstairs.

Except Nursery and small classroom

across from copier.

The dining room is not to be used as

a classroom.

The new sign-up sheet

for the Nursery during

worship is on the front

bulletin board.

Total Individuals served from Pantry,

for December 23. The food baskets

served 23 individuals as well. We have

been blessed to serve others less

fortunate throughout 2018, praise God!

Congregational Meeting @

2:00. All members are asked

to attend. Bring your ideas

and concerns to be addressed.

Hebrews 1 & 2 Jesus Better Than the Angels Hebrews

BSGFAA Lesson 232

Bible Quiz:

1. Why did Ahijah tell Jeroboam’s wife that all Jeroboam’s sons would be killed? 1 Kings 14:7-10 2. What happened to the shields of gold, which Solomon had made during the reign of Rehoboam in

Judah? 1 Kings 14:25-26 3. After the flood, what was God’s promise concerning His destroying all life ever again? Concerning

seasons and days? Genesis 8:21-22 4. How far away does God dwell from his people? Numbers 35:34 5. In what year did Moses give his final speeches to the Israelites and in what place? Deut. 1:1, 3.

Moses reviewed the history of the Israelite nation beginning with what event? Deut. 1:6 6. Did Moses plead with God to let him enter Canaan? What was the Lord’s reply? Deut. 3:23-26 7. From where did Moses say the Israelites would get cities, houses, wells, vineyards and olive groves in

Canaan? Deut. 6:10-11 8. Moses instructed the Israelites to go to Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim after crossing the Jordan

River to proclaim____. Deut. 11:29; 27:1-26 9. Yes or no, before Moses’ death, did God tell him that Israel would become unfaithful? Deut. 31:15-18 10. Before Moses’ death, God instructed Moses to write down a ____ and teach it to the people. Deut.

31:19

According to the Dictionary:

1. The New Testament book of Hebrews—will be studied immediately after the Law of Moses (in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), since so many references are made back to this system. It is uncertain who wrote Hebrews, to whom it was written, where they lived, and the exact date of the writing. The book may be divided into two sections: (1) doctrinal—1:1-10:18; (2) exhortation—10:19-13:25. The book resounds with encouragement to the discouraged to press on toward the heavenly home, not going back to the Law Moses.

2. Jesus revealed—as a prophet in verse 1; priest in verse 2; king in verse 3. 3. Hebrews is the only Bible book where Jesus is called “High Priest.” 4. Prophet—was chosen by God to give His message to the people. 5. Priests—under the Law of Moses, were from the tribe of Levi, they were from the family of Aaron.

To serve God they offered sacrifices, taught the Law of Moses, and cared for the tabernacle and later the temple. Their office had political overtones.

Questions: 1. How did God speak long ago to the fathers? How has God spoken to the readers of Hebrews?

Hebrews 1:1-2 2. After completion of what task, did Jesus sit down at the right hand of the majesty on high? Hebrews

1:3 3. Who is better: (a) Jesus or (b) the angels? Why was Jesus made a little lower than the angels for a

little while? Hebrews 1:4; 2:8 4. Discuss the eternal nature of the earth and heavens, of God. Hebrews 1:11-12 5. Who had the power of death? How did Jesus render him powerless? Hebrews 2:14 6. Why do believers need to pay closer attention to what they have heard? Hebrews 2:1 7. How does Jesus serve as our High Priest? Hebrews 2:17 Application: on Jesus helps us with temptation—Hebrews 2:18.

Hebrews 3 & 4 Jesus is Better than Moses; Jesus is a Better Rest Hebrews

BSGFAA Lesson 233

Bible Quiz:

1. Why did God allow Abijam to rule over Judah even though he was sinful? 1 Kings 15:3-4

2. What did the apostles (referring to Jesus’ apostles) do? (a) with Jesus during His earthly ministry, (b) were His special friends and helpers, (c) both a and b.

3. How many apostles did Jesus choose? (a) 10, (b) 8, (c) 12

4. What was Moses’ instructions concerning adding to the Law? Subtracting form it? Deut. 4:2

5. What was God’s instructions concerning the making of treaties and intermarrying with the Canaan-ites? Why? Deut. 7:2-4

6. Yes or no, would there be a special dwelling place in Canaan for God’s Name? Deut. 12:11

7. God (a) has revealed everything or (b) has secret things. Deut. 29:29

8. Name the book that is called the “Love Chapter” of the Bible.

9. How did God speak long ago to the fathers? How has God spoken to the readers of Hebrews? Hebrew 1:1-2

10. After the completion of what task, did Jesus sit down at the right hand of the majesty on high? Hebrews 1:3

Additional Scriptures: 1. Moses was faithful to God.—Numbers 12:7 2. Moses prophesied of Jesus.—John 5:45-47; Deut. 18:15; Acts 3:22 3. Man is made of spirit, soul, and body.—1 Thess. 5:23 4. All Christians are priests.—1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:6

According to the Dictionary: 1. Jesus was the builder of His house, which men (including Moses) are a member; therefore, Jesus is

greater. 2. “Rest”—in Psalm 95 is the land of Canaan; in Hebrews “rest” is heaven. 3. Lack of faith, not giants, kept the Israelites from entering the promised land.

Questions:

1. Who is better: (a) Moses or (b) Jesus? (a) House or (b) builder? (a) Sabbath rest or (b) eternal rest? Hebrews3:3; 4:1-11

2. Who makes up the house of Christ? Hebrews 3:6

3. When should believers encourage each other in their faithfulness? Hebrews 3:12-14

4. Why were many of the Israelites led by Moses not allowed to enter into eternal rest? Hebrews 3:18-19; 4:6

5. Compare the word of God to a sword. Hebrews 4:12

6. How much of each individual can God see? Hebrews 4:13

7. Why can Jesus sympathize with our weaknesses? Hebrews 4:15

Application: on approaching God—Hebrews 4:16

Prayer, in the end, is simply an

intimate conversation between a

child and their heavenly Father.

There are always only two people

represented in true prayer, you

and God. Thus, while there are

many kinds of prayer we could

talk about, fundamental to them

all is simply a conversation, a

dialogue between an individual

and God. Prayer, thus, begins and

ends with God and this reality, I

believe, is one the reasons we do

not always pray as we should.

Because if we really knew and

comprehended the nature and

character of God, we would pray

more!

“Teach Us to Pray.”

As one considers the Model

Prayer (Lk.11:2-4), he can’t help

but be impressed with the

God-centered nature of the

prayer. The Model Prayer con-

tains six requests on the part of

man. The first three are

specifically directed to God and

that last three focus on human

needs that can only be

satisfied by God. Jesus, thus,

teaches us to remember always

that in prayer, God is the focus,

not ourselves. Why? Because the

way we view God affects the way

we live and the way we pray.

Focusing on God’s in our prayers

helps us to filter out the frivolous

and seek out His will and not our

own. Thus, when praying, we

need to remember that prayer

begins and ends with God.

Prayer Begins with God.

When we pray we are reminding

ourselves that God is always with

us. This is essential to prayer

because the more we think about

God’s being with us, the more it

changes the way we act, the way

we think and the way we

communicate with God in prayer.

When we pray we are also

responding to the love of God.

As John proclaims (1 Jn. 4:19),

before we ever reached out to

God, God already loved us.

Thus, in prayer we are simply

responding to that love by

bringing our praise, needs and

concerns to our heavenly Father.

Finally, when we pray we are

saying yes to God’s invitation.

God wants to be in constant

communication with His children

and prayer is the means by which

the invites us to make this

happen. It is important thus to

understand that prayer doesn’t

start with us, it starts with God.

Prayer Ends with God.

“The chief purpose of prayer is

that God may be glorified in the

answer” (R.A. Torrey).

I recently heard some say that the

purpose of prayer “is not so that

we can get our will done in

heaven it is so that we can get

God’s will done on earth.”

Translation: We simply cannot

expect God to fulfill requests in

prayer that do nothing to advance

His name and His cause in our

lives and in the lives of others.

The difference between having

confidence in our prayers and not

is found in the motivation behind

them. Whose will are we really

trying to get done?

Humans have a tendency to be

self-centered and self-seeking and

such is often reflected in our

prayers. So before you pray to

God, here is the question you

need to ask: What is in my pray-

ers for God? What, if my prayer

were granted, would bring glory

and honor to God’s name and lead

to the fulfillment of His will?

Prayer was never meant to be a

laundry list of our personal and

often selfish wants. God created

prayer for the purpose of

communing with His children and

so that He might be glorified in

the answer. Prayer begins and

ends with God!

Brian Mitchell

Jackson church of Christ

Jackson, MO

The Beginning and End of “Prayer”

The Fools Wisdom

Wisdom From God

October 28, 2018

Charting Gods Word

Sermon Note Star of Hope New Year Proverbs 17:24