Mt. Vernon Church of Christ Newsletter 08-04-2019: Help us spread the word--Subscribe Today!; Newsletter archives; Last Weeks Issue; Social Media; Contents;Hurry!; The Heart - ELP; Digital Library; Are We Investing Wisely? - Garland Elkins; Golden Thought; Watch and Pray - William Gadsby; Bible Question of the Week; Weekly Bible Reading Schedule; Weekly Memory Verse; Featured Video - Is Baptism Necessary? - Short Video; Featured Audio - Inroduction To Joel - Curtis Cates....If you like it, please share it. Thank you!
Bring the whole family and join us for Bible study and worship this Lord's Day!
In the Bible, the heart is the controlling center of man. Every action–mental, physical and spiritual–can be said to have its origin in the heart. Imagination (Gen. 8:21), consideration (Deut. 4:39), thought (Esther 6:6), speech (Deut. 9:4), the ability to be deceived (Deut. 11:16), sorrows (Lev. 26:16), hatred (Lev. 19:17), love (Deut. 30:2), discouragement (Num. 32:7), stubbornness (Deut. 2:30), gladness (Psalm 16:9) and every other emotion or action starts in the heart of man. Therefore, the heart is very important.
There is a view that has currency in the denominational world that says that man is so totally depraved that in order to be redeemed it takes God’s Spirit working directly on his heart to make the change. But is this what the Bible teaches? The following are a few great statements made in the Bible about the heart of man that also expose this view as erroneous. . . .
The Mt. Vernon Church of Christ is building a digital library to aid serious Bible students in their study. When possible, we will be adding new volumes. We are grateful to the many sources from which we draw these volumes for making these available. We take no credit for them ourselves. We do not necesarrily endorse everything in every volume. We simply provide them as aids to Bible study. This week:
Every wise person provides for the future. Whether we have I little or much, we like to lay aside savings for the future, preferably at interest. Since various investments are available, a wise choice is very important. Consideration must be given to the safety of the investment and the interest rate offered.
Whatever our investment may be, we are faced with the fact "You can’t take in with you.” As the Bible says, "We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” ( I Tim. 6:7). This is true, whether we are rich or poor. Our investments and savings are left behind.
There is, however, one important exception to this rule. The Christian can make investments that will. . . .
Golden Thought You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of your heart that you truly give.
--selected
Watch and Pray
Alas, what hourly dangers rise!
What snares best my way!
To heave O let me lift my eyes,
And hourly watch and pray.
How oft my mournful thoughts complain,
And melt in flowing tears!
My weak resistance, ah, how vain!
How strong my foes and fears!
O gracious God, in whom I live,
My feeble efforts aid;
Help me to watch, and pray, and strive,
Though trembling and afraid.
Increase my faith, increase my hope,
When foes and fears prevail!
And bear my fainting spirit up,
Or soon my strength will fail.
Whene’er temptations fright my heart,
Or lure my feet aside,
O God, thy powerful aid impart, -
My guardian and my guide.
O keep me in the heavenly way,
And bid the tempter flee;
And let me never, never stray,
From happiness and thee.
William Gadsby
Bible Question of the Week
(All questions come from the Scripture readings.)
From where do the things that defile a man come?
LAST WEEK'S QUESTION AND ANSWER
How did Jesus make peace and reconcile all things to Himself?
ANSWER:
Colossians 1:20 - And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
WEEKLY BIBLE READING SCHEDULE (Theme: Heart) Monday, August 5 - Jer. 17:9,10; 16:12; Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Psalm 53:1-3; Mark 7:20-23 Tuesday, August 6 - Eph. 4:17-19; Mark 6:50-52; Ex. 7:13,13,22; Rom. 1:21; Matt. 13:15 Wednesday, August 7 - Matt. 6:21; I Pet. 3:3,4; 1:22; Col. 3:15; Jer. 29:13; Prov. 4:23 Thursday, August 8 - Hebrews 4:12; Hebrews 10:22; I Pet. 3:15; Acts 2:37; 2:46; 4:32; 8:37 Friday, August 9 - Rom. 6:17; 10:9,10; II Cor. 9:7; Eph. 5:19; 6:5,6: I Tim. 1:5
Weekly Memory Verses
I Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.
