HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving prayers were first uttered by God's people in the Old Testament and God ordained a specific sacrificial offering for thanksgiving. David, the psalmist, wrote many Thanksgiving devotions and Paul the apostle taught that we are to always pray and give thanks to God in all circumstances. When we use the Bible for devotions and for prayers, we are following after the hearts of men and women who led exemplary ideals for worshipping God. This November, if looking for good lessons to share with family or for prayers to pray during the holidays, turn to the Bible and find inspiration that turns a heart towards gratitude and finds the peace that much of the holiday season is promoting.

THE BIBLE

The Bible is a collection of sixty-six documents inspired by God. These documents are gathered into two testaments, the Old (39) and the New (27). Prophets, priests, kings, and leaders from the nation of Israel wrote the Old Testament books in Hebrew (with two passages in Aramaic). The apostles and their associates wrote the New Testament books in Greek. The Old Testament begins with the creation of the universe and closes about four hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ.

The History of the Old Testament

•      Creation of the universe

•      Fall of man

•      Flood over the whole earth

•      Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel)—fathers of the chosen nation

•      The history of Israel begins

•      Exile in Egypt—430 years

•      Exodus and wilderness wanderings—40 years

•      Conquest of Canaan—7 years

•      Era of Judges—350 years

•      United Kingdom—Saul, David, Solomon—110 years

•      Divided Kingdom—Judah/Israel—350 years

The details of Old Testament history are explained in the 39 books, which are divided into 5 categories:

•      Return and rebuilding the land—140 years

•      The Law—5 books (Genesis–Deuteronomy)

•      History—12 books (Joshua–Esther)

•      Wisdom—5 books (Job–Song of Solomon)

•      Major Prophets—5 books (Isaiah–Daniel)

•      Minor Prophets—12 books (Hosea–Malachi)

 

NEW CLASS MEMBERS

ADULTS 4 CHRIST

Our recent class visitors are now our newest members.
Everyone needs to welcome:

Wayne and Melody Ashworth

CHRISTIAN DEATH SENTENCE

An Iranian pastor who has refused to renounce his Christian faith faces execution as early as Wednesday after his sentence was upheld by an Iranian court.

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who maintains he has never been a Muslim as an adult, has Islamic ancestry and therefore must recant his faith in Jesus Christ, the 11th branch of Iran's Gilan Provincial Court ruled. Iran's Supreme Court had ordered the trial court to determine whether Nadarkhani had been a Muslim prior to converting to Christianity.

Nadarkhani, a pastor in the 400-member Church of Iran, has been held in that country's Gilan Province since October 2009, after he protested to local education authorities that his son was forced to read from the Koran at school. His wife, Fatemeh Pasandideh, was also arrested in June 2010 in an apparent attempt to pressure him to renounce his faith. She was released in October 2010, according to Amnesty International.

Father Jonathan Morris, a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of New York and an analyst for Fox News Channel, said Nadarkhani's case is "unmistakable evidence" that Iran is executing Christians simply because they refuse to become Muslims.

Morris continued: "Will President Obama, and the free world, allow the United Nations to continue in its cowardly silence on this matter?"

CLASS BOOTH FOR "COUNTRY FAIR"

The Grace Baptist Annual Fall Picnic is on October 16th this year. The theme is " Country Fair". Sunday School Classes are responsible for coming up with an activity or booth that they will maintain during the party. Adults 4 Christ will have a pitching booth. Prizes will be given out such as cupcakes, cookies , or candy bars (while they last) to anyone that can throw a strike from an appropriate distance.  A "TOP GUN" award will be given to three people. The people who throw the fastest recorded strike from the 3 age appropriate mounds will receive a trophy. A softball mound (35ft) and 2 baseball mounds (46ft (60ft) will be provided. Adults can win a prize but are not eligible for "TOP GUN" trophies.

CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT DISCIPLESHIP

I've been haunted by a quote I read recently by Detrich Bonhoeffer:

“Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.”

This statement is up-front in saying that without discipleship, Christianity doesn’t exist, because following Jesus activates the Christian faith.

Sadly, non-discipleship “Christianity” dominates the thinking of the American church.
Many Christians are walking around with a “grace and forgiveness only” theology.

Dallas Willard once said “We have not only been saved by grace, we have been paralyzed by it.” How will you change this mindset with yourself and the people God has entrusted to you?

Questions to consider:
1.What is your understanding of discipleship? Compare it to how Jesus discipled.
2.Are you pursuing and practicing discipleship as a follower of Christ or have you settled for “grace and forgiveness only” theology?
3.Are you using the doctrine of justification by faith and God’s grace to teach that people don’t really need to follow Jesus to be Christians?
       Mark Satterfield Blog