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THE INFORMER Church of Christ ~ New Albany, Mississippi
www.nacoc.us May 8, 2018
There was this very short little gentleman that was traveling through Jericho, which was a Judean political region. He was a chief of the publicans, a tax collecting organization. The scripture tells us that he was rich (Lk. 19:2). This somewhat infers that he had authority and possessed the typical reputation of a tax collector for when others later saw Jesus with him they accused Him of being allied with sinners (Matt. 11:19).
When Zacchaeus heard the commotion and crowd surrounding Jesus, he was troubled by being so short and unable to see Jesus. He climbed into a sycamore tree in order to see. Symbolically he rose above every-one else to see Jesus. A sinner is lowly often in regards to righteous others and before Jesus. He seemingly was more zealous than others because he ran ahead of others to see Jesus (Lk. 19:4). He was knowledgeable of “the way” of Jesus and knew that he had to follow that way to see Him. We too today must understand the way of Jesus and situate ourselves in that way to be able to see Jesus (Jn. 14:6).
Jesus recognized his efforts and called him out. Thus it is for us today as well. We must resist the devil, draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to us (Jas. 4:7-8). Jesus was so impressed by Zacchaeus that He in-sisted on going to his house (Lk. 19:5). Jesus showed this kind of interest in some of His teachings as He spoke the gospel throughout the region. He said that he wanted to come in and sup with those who would open their doors (Rev. 3:20). To further show the willingness of Jesus to establish a relationship with men, “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with Him’” (Jn. 14:20).
Although Zacchaeus was guilty of extortion, Jesus came for him (Lk. 19:8-9). It seems as if he was lost, a sinner (v. 7). He exemplified a right kind of heart for he repented of his deeds and went way beyond by re-storing four-fold what he might had taken to prove he had changed. When we become Christians or are re-stored from a fallen state, it seems as if we would want to prove something to God for His forgiveness.
What a beautiful thought that on this day “Salvation has come to this house” (v. 9). He now was consid-ered to be of the household of Abraham. “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abra-ham” (Gal. 3:7) because of his faith in Christ. We too today can be like Zacchaeus by the faith that we ex-hibit in the Lord to be our Savior. Salvation and righteousness came to his house as it did to Abraham due to his faith and obedience to Christ. His faith caused him to respond to Christ and correct his life. The same is true for us today “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16) and by His grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). Notice he was not baptized because Christ had not died yet and that was required (Heb. 9:16). Today, being baptized is a commemoration of His death (Rom. 6:1-6). This is a similar occurrence as the thief on the cross (Lk. 23:42-43). We too today commemorate His death in baptism, activating His washing of our sins (Acts 22:16; I Pet. 3:21) and forgiveness to follow. We too can experience a special day when Christ the Savior is encoun-tered.
A Special Day for
Zacchaeus
Mike King
VBS — NOAH’S ARK ADVENTURES Please remember to mark the dates June 24th -27th, for our Vacation Bible School. Your help is needed to make it a great VBS. Please check the list in the foyer for how you can help!
I LIKE MY CHURCH BECAUSE
She visited the congregation where I preached a number of times, and we studied together a few times. The thing that turned her off was the emphasis we placed on the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, and the importance of the new birth. She brought our studies to a close by saying, “I like my church because we don’t teach any doctrine.” Sadly, in some places, the church has turned a “believing church” into an assembly of activities, with countless programs and committees going to and fro to satisfy their own desires—many of which have less to do with being “servants of the Word.” Far too many folks have become religious consumers. They look to the church to meet their needs—and quickly look elsewhere if they feel their needs are not being met. The emphasis is no longer on God or Jesus Christ, but rather on “me, myself, and mine.” For many years in our world truth has vanished—leaving it to each person to do as he pleases. As David F. Wells has said, “The bottom line for the modernized world is that there is no truth; the bottom line for the Christian consciousness is precisely the opposite.” James Orr, over a century ago, stated that the New Testament “comes to men with definite positive teach-ing: it claims to be the truth; it bases religion on knowledge…. A religion on mere feeling is the vaguest, most unreliable, most unstable of all things.” In past years, when I had the privilege of standing in Hardeman Nichols’ pulpit, he always said to me, “Preach the Word.” It seems to me, especially now, that the great need of the hour is to “Preach the Word”—it remains the power of God to save. Or, to quote the inspired Jude, “Contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” - John Gipson -
A Little Mother’s Day Humor
Mothers have taught us with faithful words of instruction. See if you can relate to some of these.
To Value A Job Well Done - “If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.”
Time Travel -- “If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!”
Logic -- “Because I said so, that’s why.”
Foresight — “Make sure you wear clean underwear, in chase you’re in an accident.”
Irony -- “Keep crying and I’ll give you something to cry about.”
Osmosis — “Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”
Stamina -- “You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.”
Weather -- “This room of your looks as if a tornado went through it.”
Hypocrisy — “If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!”
Circle Of Life -- “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.”
Behavior Modification -- “Stop acting like your father.”
Envy — “There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have wonderful parents
like you do.”
Anticipation -- “Just wait until we get home.”
Receiving-- “You are going to get it when you get home.”
Medical Science -- “If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way.”
How To Become An Adult -- “If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.”
Genetics -- “You’re just like your father.”
Wisdom -- “When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.”
Justice -- “One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.”
~ From the Preacher’s Pen
PRAYER LIST
Ricky Adams, father of Richard Adams was to have back surgery Tues. May 8th, at a Columbus, MS Hospital.
Bobby White will have surgery Wed. May 9th, at the Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, to remove his bladder and possibly his colon.
Mildred Shackleford, sister of Dixie White was to have surgery on her leg on Mon., May 7th.
Maurine Drummond, mother-in-law of Janet Drummond has been moved to Union Co. Rehab room 303.
Larry Cobb is to have cataract surgery soon.
Bill King, brother of Mike King has been diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer. He will have radiation daily for 5 weeks and at the end of that chemo with an additional “extensive surgery”.
Sympathy: We express our sympathy to Perry Jones and family in the death of his mother, Ernestine McKinney, who passed away Fri.
May 4th. Visitation is Fri., May 11th, 1-5pm at Woolf Funeral Home in Tunica, and funeral services Sat. May 12th, at St Luke’s Church in Dundee, MS. Continue to Remember:
Ricky Adams, William Bailey, Joel Baxely, David Crossings, Sandra Davis, Arelus Dye, Preeble Foster, Ray Franks, Violette Glass, Katie Grantham, Eleta Grimmett, Phillip Haynes, Shane Hutton, Johnny Lee, Gunner Lindsey, Sue Marques, Judy Mills, Nancy Petrowski, Mildred Shackelford, Sam Warrington, Bobby White, Tommy Young.
Shut-Ins: Teresa Clark, Maurine Drummond, Linda Griggs, Billy Joe Garner, J.D. Stroud
Nursing Home/Assisted Living:
Grace Anderson, Joe & Mildred Downs, Jean Drummond, Mattie Golden, Laura Mae Harris, Cornelia Kennedy, Price & Claudia Senter, Ione Wall, Terry Young
Military List: Derek Bradley, Tevin Bradley & Chase Seals
I’ve Learned... Mothers hold their children’s hands for a
short while, but their hearts forever.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
May 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Viva Dillard
May 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sydney Hill
May 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tim Dye
May 13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carl Smith
May 19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bobby Marques
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
May 09. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Josh & Shelly George
For daily devotional & updates call NEWSLINE @ 534-0016
Visit our website @ http://www.nacoc.us
Email: [email protected]
CONGREGATIONAL THEME:
Working as God’s team in 2018!
HONOR OUR GRADUATES We will be honoring our two High School Seniors, Ruston Adams and Thomas Wall at our third Sunday night fellowship May 20th. We will also recognize those who are graduating from college and graduate school, Bailey Adams, Shelly Clayton & Erin Wall. Our high school seniors will have a table set up to dis-play all their many accomplishments while in school. Be sure to come and help us congratulate these fine young people. We asked that you bring finger foods for the fellowship.
Happy Mother’s Day
RESPONSE Audrey Anna Young responded to the invitation Wednesday night, May 2nd, requesting prayers for strength and encouragement to deal with all the pressures she has to deal with on a daily bases. She wants to keep her priorities where they should be. We commend her for her desire to live as Christ would have her to live. Please continue to
pray for and encourage Audrey Anna.
THANK YOU Gloria Jones would like to thank everyone for all the calls, cards, and texts she received following her recent surgery. Love, Gloria Jones
AREA EVENTS • Maywood Christian Camp Benefit Dinner will
be held Sat. May 12th, at the camp. Check the bulletin board for more details.
PANTRY ITEMS
Boxed Meals
THE INFORMER
May 8, 2018 Volume 19
THE INFORMER (USPS 581-500)
Church of Christ
511 Hwy. 15 South, P.O. Box 148 New Albany, Mississippi 38652
(662)534-4649
POSTMASTER: Send address changes
(Form 3579) to: The Informer, P.O. Box
148, New Albany, MS 38652
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Sunday School...................9:30
Morning Worship............10:30
Evening Worship...............6:00
Wednesday Bible Study....7:00
MINISTER
Mike King ................ 507-0625 Home ....................... 534-6872 Office ....................... 534-4649
ELDERS Richard Jennings ......316-1305 Troy Robertson ........316-3163 Phil Young................316-2059
DEACONS
Greg Clayton ............ 252-9762 Roger Clayton .......... 538-8195 Shane Crotts..............316-6364 Jason Jennings...........801-3260 Randy Wall ............. 316-9255
Periodical
Postage Paid
New Albany, MS
TO SERVE
Scripture..............Dean Dillard A.M. Prayer........Greg Clayton Closing P…...Mason Simmons P.M. Prayer…..Richard Adams Closing ................Shane Crotts Wed. 5/16..........Roger Clayton Wed. 5/16..............Paul Ormon Lock 5/13.………….Dan Cobb Usher 5/13...........Greg Clayton Security…………….Dan Cobb
OUR RECORD
Sunday School......................100 Sunday A.M.........................122 Sunday P.M............................72 Wednesday.............................77 Contribution...............$4,387.00 Budget........................$4,385.16
A Gift for Mother By Arthur Pigman (Modified/personalized)
It is a good custom that children remember their mothers on that special day called Mother's Day. What is the best gift we can give? A card or candy is always nice. Flowers of any kind or color are usually appreciated - even a flower from the yard or flower garden is very special if coming from a small child. But these gifts are not the greatest that we can give! If our mother is a Christian, she has taught us to live as a Chris-tian. She has been involved in teaching us about God, and Christ, the Son of God (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14,15). Our mother has been in-terested in us learning about the church that Christ purchased with His own blood (Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28). And when we be-came old enough she was thrilled that we were born again by be-coming a child of God (John 3:3-5). As we became old enough to leave home she was naturally concerned about us. When we estab-lished our own home she was proud and thankful that we had grown to maturity. Now that it is Mother's Day, what can we give our mother? The greatest gift we could give to her is to be a faithful Christian. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 4). In the context John was talking about his spiritual chil-dren, but it is also true that Christian mothers can have no greater gift than to know that their own children are living faithfully as children of God. If we and our mother live faithfully then someday we can both live with God eternally in heaven. “Honor thy mother” Ephesians 6:2
