P.M. In Christ All Things Become New.
Our big, summer VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL begins this Sunday evening, July 20th, at 6:30
with Bible classes for every age, snacks, skits, singing, and wonderful Christian fellowship. Our VBS
will continue through Thursday night. We have everything ready. Please invite and remind your
family, friends, and neighbors to be here with you every night. You and your guests will be so very
glad that you came.
Our Sunday morning sermons this month focus on the church of Christ: origin, organization,
work, and future. The church that Jesus established was planned in the mind of God, the Father,
purchased by the blood of Jesus, the Son, and is protected by God, the Holy Spirit. The church is
prized above all of creation.
The church of Christ has only one “head,” one authority – Jesus Christ. Since the beginning,
people have tried to take the authority that belongs only to Christ by various means. Still, Christ
remains as the sole head of the church.
Christ has designated certain men to have the oversight of the church’s work, activities, and
mission. These men must meet and maintain certain qualifications, and are called elders, overseers,
shepherds, pastors, presbyters, or bishops. Here at St. Andrews Road, we have five men who serve
the Lord and the church in this capacity. They are Alex Arlington, Baxter Deadmon, John Dennison,
Alan Larmon, and Jerry Satterfield.
According to the Bible, the church appoints certain men to serve as deacons or special
servants. These men must, also, meet and maintain certain qualifications, and are assigned certain
specific duties so that all things can be done decently and in order. We have ten deacons at
St. Andrews Road. They are Terry Bailey, Darwin Cherry, Chris Cotton, Jason Gass, Wade Holton,
Allen Hutchison, Chris Kelly, Robert Moore, Dave Pyle, and Rudy Weed.
The Bible instructs every member of the church to commit themselves to the unity, the
stability, and the growth of the church. As members, we must submit ourselves to the authority
of Christ. We worship in spirit and in truth on the first day of the week through prayer, study,
singing, giving, and in the remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice in the Lord’s Supper. We, also, meet
at other times for study and fellowship (Hebrews 10:24-25) continuing steadfastly in the
“apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). We are to live our lives holy and acceptable to God
(Romans 12:1-2), not conforming to the world but being transformed by the word of God. We
are to discipline every thought, word, and action so that God and His church will be honored and
respected. We are to share God’s love and His plan of salvation with anyone who will hear
(Matthew 28:19-20). Our sole purpose is to be pleasing to God, our Father and Savior.
On Sunday morning we will look at the “Work of the Church.” Are you active and involved
in the work of the church? How about making a list of the ways you currently use your time,
talents, and treasures in the work of the church! When we meet for worship, Bible study, and
fellowship, are you present? When a brother or sister is in need, are you available to help? When
someone asks for prayers, do you pray? When someone is bereaved, do you respond? When a
lost soul asks questions, do you open your Bible to show them the truth? Every day, do you look
forward to Sunday? Do you look forward to heaven? We need every Christian at SAR to be
active and involved in the work of the church.