April 12, 2015

Lighthouse

Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. Matthew 5:16

http://lindalechurchofchrist.weebly.com/
Times of Service:
Sunday Bible Study
9:30 am
Sunday Worship
10:30 am
Sunday Evening 5:30 Pew Packers
6:00 Worship
Wednesday Evening
7:00 pm
The Bible teaches that in
order to be saved one must
Believe (John 20:30,31;
Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9,10)
Repent (Luke 13:3-5; Acts
2:38; Acts 17:30,31)
Confess (Matthew 10:32;
Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9,10)
Be Baptized (Mark
16:15,16; Acts 2:38; Acts
22:16; Galatians 3:26,27;
Romans 6:3,4)
Live Godly (Titus 2:11-14;
Colossians 3:1-4; Romans
12:1,2; 1 Corinthians
16:13,14)

Please consider these

verses and email us with
any questions or for a
free Bible study.
Prayer List: Bobby and Joan,
Karen and Caitlyn Morgan, Janny
Baker, Tony Fricks, Stan and
Linda Kelley, Carlton Crider,
Bobby Gayton, Jody and Jhenna
Otting, Candy and Angel Brooks,
Joe Cox (shut-ins)
Birthdays/Anniversaries this
week: Joey Baker 4/18
Joe and Glenell Fricks 4/15

Lindale church
of Christ
3035 Maple Road
Lindale, GA 30147
Lindalechurch@gmail.com

Im Offended!
It certainly does seem that our society has become a bit
touchy, doesnt it? Someone says something with which another
person or group disagrees and immediately its all over the internet,
television, etc. Apologies are demanded, boycotts are often called
for, lawsuits are sometimes filed and in practically every case, the
person making the offensive remarks is labeled either intolerant,
ignorant or a something-aphobe.
Heres a simple fact addressed to Christians who stand up
for truth: Someone is going to be offended by the truth that you
teach and the life that you live. Mark it down. It will happen. It
happened in Jesus earthly life. Matthew 13:57 records that the
citizens of Nazareth were offended in him. What was His
offense? He taught Gods Word. When Jesus was in Gennesaret, He
was asked by some of His disciples, Knowest thou that the
Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? (Matthew
15:12). What did Jesus say that caused them to be offended? He
simply compared the actions of the Pharisees to the Word of God
and showed them their error. He even went so far as to call them
hypocrites (Matthew 15:7) and indicated that their worship was
empty and that they were teaching false doctrine (Matthew 15:9).
The Pharisees got offended at that. Apparently it was acceptable for
them to level baseless charges against Jesus (He casteth out devils
through the prince of the devils. Matthew 9:34), but it was not
acceptable for Him to tell them the truth. If this happened to Jesus,
we should not be surprised when it happens to us. The Lord said,
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not
greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also
persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours
also. (John 15:20).
Having said this regarding others being offended by our
teaching and living Gods Word, we must be sure that we are not
arrogant (But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God
resisteth the proud, but given grace unto the humble. James 4:6)
and that we speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). In Luke
17:1 we are warned against causing offenses. In this context, the
offenses are those words and deeds that come from us that are
sinful and that could lead others away from God. There is a
significant difference between us being offensive and someone
being offended by the truth. Notice in the verses cited in the
previous paragraph that neither one says that Jesus offended His

Contribution Last
Week $934.25
Worship Assignments
Serving This Morning
Announcements: Hullon
Hensley

Singing: Joey Baker

Opening Prayer: Hullon
Hensley
Lords Supper:Carlton
Crider/Joe Fricks
Closing Prayer:Wayne Kelley
Serving Tonight
Announcements:Hullon
Hensley
Singing: Grady Tant
Opening Prayer:Joey Baker
Lords Supper:Carlton Crider
Closing Prayer: Hullon
Hensley

Wednesday PM
Singing: Christopher Tant
Lesson: Hullon Hensley
Invitation: Jake Simpson
Serving Next Sunday AM
Announcements:Jacob Simpson
Singing: Hullon Hensley
Opening Prayer: Joey Baker
Lords Supper:Wayne
Kelley/Joe Fricks
Closing Prayer:Carlton Crider
Serving Next Sunday PM
Announcements:Jacob
Simpson
Singing: Joey Baker
Opening Prayer:Grady Tant
Lords Supper:Wayne Kelley
Closing Prayer: Hullon
Hensley

hearers. They were offended, but not by His sinful actions or deeds
for He had no sin (I Peter 2:22). Others may be offended by the
truth that we teach and by our Godly lives, but may we strive to not
offend by the way we conduct ourselves.
People are going to be offended by the truth, even when
its spoken with the purest of motives and from a heart of sincere
love. Others reactions to the truth are not our responsibility. We
must strive to be able to say with Paul, Wherefore I take you to
record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have
not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. (Acts
20:26-27). That same apostle wrote, For though I preach the
gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me;
yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! (I Corinthians
9:16). We must teach the truth, all the while recognizing that our
lives must be consistent with our words (Romans 2:1).
Im truly sorry when people get offended at the truth. I will
admit that I have been offended by it myself at times. None of that
changes the truth. The best advice I can give when teaching is to
keep on telling the truth. It may not please all people, but it will
please God (Galatians 1:10). The best advice I can give when we
ourselves get offended at something is for us to take a look and,
with an open mind, compare that which has offended us with what
the Lord has said in His written Word, the Bible. You and I just
might be wrong and the admission of that wrong could very well
make a difference for us in eternity.
Mike Gifford
Gifford7777@yahoo.com
Announcements
Fellowship Meal April 26, Ladies Bible study and Men's Class
and 2 pm Worship
Vacation Bible School will be June 10-12, cookout June 13
Don't forget to sign up in the back for building cleaning and
grounds maintenance. Let's all pitch in!
Men's Meeting Today

Visitors
Rachel, Isaac, and Daisy Carter
319 Walnut Ave
Lindale, GA 30147
Patricia Long
331 Garden Ave
Lindale, GA 30147