scroll 2-12-15 - Piedmont Road Church of Christ

P I E D M O N T
R O A D
C H U R C H
O F
C H R I S T
the Scroll
Weekly Church Bulletin
Volume 64/Issue 6 February 12, 2015
Pharisaism—A Modern Day Problem
Jesus condemned the Jewish sect called Pharisees more than any other group during his earthly ministry. On one
occasion, Jesus asked the Pharisees "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”
(Mt. 23:33). Wow!
Here’s a question for us. Am I guilty of having a pharisaical heart? Let me share with you a few characteristics of modern
day Pharisees.
Critical of the Lord. You say, “Well I would never criticize Jesus.” Oh? Yet you may disobey or criticize the teaching of Jesus—just like the
Pharisees did. Do you criticize what Jesus taught about the church? Jesus says he built one church (Mt. 16:18). Yet, many say to attend the
church of your choice and be saved in any denomination. Should it be my choice or Christ’s choice? Have you ever disobeyed the teaching
of Jesus with respect to worship? Do you worship God in spirit AND in truth (Jn. 4:24)?
Lack of care for souls. When’s the last time you told someone the story of Jesus? The Pharisees could not believe that Jesus would speak to
sinners. I wonder how often we demonstrate that same contempt for the lost? Jesus said “…come unto me…” (Mt. 11:28-30). Is that the
message we’re sharing? Paul wrote, “…who will have all men to be saved…” (1 Tm. 2:4). Do you want all men to be saved? Do you really?
Choosing not to forgive others. We all fall short of the glory of God—we all sin (Rm. 3:23; 6:23). All men are equal with respect to their need for
forgiveness. In the parable of the prodigal son, the younger brother left home early in life demanding of his father for an early inheritance. He
wasted his life and sinned against his father. Yet he came to himself, repented, and asked his father for forgiveness. The elder brother, instead
of forgiving his penitent sibling, was angry, then murmured and complained. He saw his brother’s failures, but could not see his own need for
forgiveness. He was a Pharisee at heart.
Consciously hypocritical. Jesus warned, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a
pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation” (Mt. 23:14). I recently heard someone put it this way, “Do you
pray for unity, and yet cause division and strife? Do you pray for widows and orphans and let them starve to death? Do you go to worship,
and then walk by on the other side when something needs to be done (Lk. 10)? Do you attend worship and then close your eyes to
opportunities? If so, then you’re a Pharisee.”
cont. on page 2
Our Purpose in Life is to “Glorify God”
Our Elders:
Our Preachers:
Mike Adams- Shepherd of the Month
Tim Feltner
Roger Winslett
David Decker (GSOP Director) gdaviddecker@bellsouth.net
Our Deacons:
Sim Christie (Benevolence), Johnathan Cunningham,
Dino Drain (Transportation/ Building Maintenance),
John Golden (Worship/Communion), Lance Leavens,
Terry Moore (Member Involvement), Johnny Spillman
(Grounds), Eric Stocker.
the Scroll
Lance Leavens (Involvement) lbleavens@yahoo.com
Neil Richey (Pulpit) neilrichey@yahoo.com
Office Contact Info:
Kelly Drain (Office Administrator) secretary@lifeinchrist.com
Office Phone: 770.971.9933
Web Address: www.LifeInChrist.com
Times of
Assembling:
Sunday
9:30 a.m. Bible Study
10:30 a.m. Worship
5:00 p.m. Worship
Wednesday
7:15 p.m. Bible Study
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00-1:00
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News You Can Use:
Good Works:
Striving to fulfill
God’s Purpose
Through
Evangelism,
Edification, &
Benevolence
Here are some of
our works . . . .
Evangelism
Georgia School
of Preaching &
Biblical Studies
House-to-House/
Heart-to-Heart
Sunday Night
for the Savior
Live Webcasting
of Our Services
Edification
Prime Timers Group
Youth Group
Church Library
Ladies Workshop
Bible Classes
Benevolence
Raintree Village
Rainbow Omega
Agape
By the Numbers:
Sun. Bible Study:
174
A.M. Worship:
245
P.M. Worship:
139
Contribution:
$10,103.12
Wednesday:
135
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Prayer Requests
Sympathy:
Our sympathy is
extended to the family of
Paul Dangar. Visitation
will be Sat. Feb. 14 from
3-6 pm in the fellowship
hall of the Piedmont
Road church of Christ.
Funeral is Sunday at 2
pm at the church
building.
Telephone Directory:
Please check the
telephone directory in
the foyer for accuracy.
Prime Timers:
Even if your
The Prime Timers’
information hasn’t
Sweetheart Banquet is to
changed recently,
be held Feb. 13 from 6-9
there could be a typo.
Prayer requests will remain pm in the fellowship hall.
You may update your
in the Scroll for four weeks
Young Professionals
information by calling
unless the office is notified. If
Fellowship:
or emailing the office.
we’ve removed someone from
There
will
be
no
Latest Updates:
Congratulations:
the prayer list that you
Louise Graves had a stroke would like re-admitted, we’ll get-together in February Congratulations to
or March.
last week and is home from be happy to do so.
Johnathan, Tessa and
the hospital. She is doing
Men’s Clay Shooting
Daisy Cunningham in
better and will be
Fellowship:
Announcements:
the birth of Lily Jean.
undergoing therapy. Sarah
Feb. 21 at 9 am at Etowah Lily was born on
Dangar has been moved to Welcome:
Sporting Clays in
February 10. She
A special welcome to our
Signature Rehab. No
Dawsonville. See Scott
weighed 8 lbs 7 oz and
visitors at this time. Latoya visitor’s on the Lord’s Day. Ihle for more information. measured 19 in.
Members, be sure that our
Zackery, cousin of Tricia
New Members:
Area Event:
guests receive a blue
Zackery, is in ICU on life
Please
welcome
Benjamin
Macland Road will
visitor’s card so that we can
support facing kidney &
&
Amber
Nelson
to
our
host a Marriage &
follow up with them and
liver failure.
church
family.
Parenting Seminar
show our appreciation for
Continue to Remember:
their visiting with us. Those 1500 Huntcliff Village Ct. with Glenn & Cindy
Melissa Whitehead, Jim
cards should be returned to Sandy Springs, GA 30350 Colley on March 13 &
Hunter, Clair Scallions,
B) 229-269-3572
14. See flyer on
the office.
Judy Parker, Eva
A) 229-412-0772
bulletin board. Call or
Reminder Parents:
Davidson, Vicki Derrick,
email the office if you
There is a nursery available Congregational Meeting:
Karen Feltner, Louise
would like to ride the
March 15. See flyer on
Graves, Roland & Marsha during worship as well as a
bus to Macland Rd.
the bulletin board for
Guyot, Rose & Jerry Hall, training room at the back of
more information.
the auditorium.
Bryan & Sammy
Hathcock, Connie
Hoelscher, Janice Hudson,
cont. from front
Richard Hudson, Deborah
Reece, Jean Robinson,
Constantly looking for faults in others. The Pharisees were well known for
Polly Tunstall, Glen Word.
being overly critical. Some people are just waiting and hoping that you’ll mess
Shut-Ins:
Sarah Dangar, Carolyn &
Phyllis Melvin, Joy Rebb,
Opal Sewell, Faye Stewart.
Expectant Mother:
Morgan Kingsley- due
April 12- It’s a girl!
Friends and Family: Marie Thomas (friend of
Richard Hudson), A.W.
Martin (uncle of Emily
Richey), Gloria Cabral
(sister of Doris Kibler),
Trae Rivero (son of
Katrina Rivero), Mark
Hoshall (son of Flossie),
Jackie Thurman (friend of
the Richey’s).
SNFTS:
We will not meet for
SNFTS this month.
up, so they can condemn you for it. On one occasion Luke wrote, “And the
scribes and Pharisees watched him [Jesus], whether he would heal on the
sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him” (Lk. 6:7). Some
people are just born in the “vindictive case and the kickative mood.” Jesus
described them this way, “Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow
a camel” (Mt. 23:24).
The pharisaic spirit is alive today. Jesus warns, “…That except your righteousness
shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case
enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:20). May God help us to empty our
hearts of this attitude and be filled with the spirit of Christ-likeness.
—Neil Richey
Piedmont Road Church of Christ
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT . . .
…Tammy Hicks
Cleaning a building this
size can’t be easy, so we
want to thank you for all
your hard work.
We want to spotlight good works and
good workers. If you catch somebody
going above and beyond the call of
duty, let us know so we can recognize
them in a special way.
The Youth
Zone
•Bible Time—We
want our young
people down front
Sunday nights at
5 pm for about ten minutes for
Bible Time each Sunday.
•CYC- Feb. 27-Mar. 1
•Area Wide will be hosted by Central on
March 8.
The Ladies Corner
•Ladies’ Workshop — Every
Tuesday at 9:30 am.
•Ladies Night Out- Feb. 20, in the
fellowship hall for an accessories
swap. Please bring a finger food and
an accessory to swap (purse, scarf,
jewelry, etc.) We are going to create
our own jewelry organizers! If you
want to make one, please sign up in
the foyer so we know how many
supplies to purchase. The craft will
cost $8.
•Baby shower- in honor of Morgan
Kingsley- March 8 at 3 pm in the
fellowship hall. It’s a girl!
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The Georgia School of Preaching
& Biblical Studies
“And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went
down to Antioch. After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the
region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples,” (Acts 18:22-23).
This past Sunday night, Debbie and I were on the road again for GSOP. We visited a
congregation that I had known in my teen years. During the 1970’s, this
congregation was alive, vibrant, led by good elders and deacons, and packed from
pew to pew on Sunday morning. It was a blessing just to be there.
In the years that passed there was trouble - disagreements, conflict, a literal fist fight
in a men’s business meeting, and an ugly split. The elders resigned and moved to
other places. And, members filtered out one by one. So sad to see the church attacked
and harmed so greatly by Satan.
In promoting a new GSOP campus opening in their area this Fall, we felt that revisiting
this congregation would be beneficial. What we found was very encouraging.
There was a young preacher and his large family, a young lady that we had known
in her childhood years - along with her husband and children, and several other
families of the spiritual quality that could be described as the, “faithful few,” or the,
“backbone of the church.” Everyone was friendly.
After the service, we talked with many of these members at length. The preacher
told us that when he and his family came, there was only a handful of people left
from the “old” membership from back in the 70’s. In trying to “rebuild” this
congregation, several families from nearby congregations made the commitment to
join this young preacher and his family. They have been aggressively visiting former
and delinquent members, as well as doing evangelism among the unchurched. They
have a good many young children, and even a few teenagers. Two teenage boys
served the Lord’s Supper during the worship service we attended.
During our discussion with the young preacher, he said the following, “we just set
an attendance record…we are here to stay.” These words of hope, accomplishment,
and commitment are exactly what those standing around us needed to hear.
Churches of Christ in Georgia are not numerically dominant. We have at least 17-19
counties in the state that do not have congregations. Some of our sister congregations
are struggling, and doing little more than, “keeping the doors open.” But, rather than
lamenting these facts, we found a congregation this past Sunday night that has a
plan, and is marching forward with this plan.
When we shared with them that GSOP would soon be coming to their area, this
news was met with great joy and appreciation. The preacher said that he was hungry
to get even more training than he currently has. Several had questions about GSOP,
and indicated that they would certainly attend our classes at the new campus.
-David Decker
Memory Verse for February
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone
sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself
is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
-1 John 2:1-2
Piedmont Road Church of Christ
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From Lance:
I don’t like reading directions. Unfortunately, I
have the attention span of a gnat. I would
prefer to open a package and “figure it out” on
my own. I could share with you many
examples where my impatience cost me time
and frustration that could have been avoided if
I would have simply read the instructions.
I am sure many of you can relate to my comments above. Why do
we not want to read the directions? Why do we tend to have this “I
can figure it out on my own” mentality? I am sure there are many
possible reasons. I guess sometimes we want instant gratification.
We want results without going through the required process.
If we are not careful this way of thinking can creep into our
spiritual lives. It is certainly the way Satan wants us to think. There
is no more important “instruction manual” we could ever read
than the Bible.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth
but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may
observe to do according to all that is written in it. For
then you will make your way prosperous, and then you
will have good success (Jn. 1:8).
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path
(Psa. 119:105).
My son, do not forget my law, But let you heart keep
my commandments; For length of days and long life and
peace they will add to you (Pro. 3:1, 2).
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God , and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may
be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2
Tim. 3:16,17).
The Bible is the most complete and absolute best “instruction
manual” every written. Who know’s better what we need than our
Creator? He has provided for us the very best instructions on how
to live and how to navigate our lives here on earth to be pleasing to
Him. His instructions provide for our best interest.
I mentioned earlier all the time lost and frustration dealt with simply
because I did not follow instructions. How true is that statement in
my spiritual life? I have had pain and frustration that could have
been avoided, if I would have simply followed the directions God
has provided. The reality is we can’t follow directions we don’t
know. We have to take the time to read them in order to know them.
Like so many things in life, Satan wants us to take the easy way out
and not invest the time in reading the instructions.
Every day we are faced with situations that require us to make
decisions. God has given us all the instructions we need. The
question is, will we take the time to read the manual? My prayer is
that I will slow down and take the time to read, study, and follow
God’s instructions. I pray you will too. Have a great day!
—Lance Leavens
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The Scroll (609-920) is published weekly except the weeks
of July 4th and December 25th by the Piedmont Road
church of Christ, 1630 Piedmont Road, NE, Marietta,
GA 30066. Periodicals postage paid at Marietta, GA.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Scroll,
1630 Piedmont Road, Marietta, GA 30066.
PERIODICALS
POSTAGE PAID
MARIETTA, GA
30061
Note: The Scroll is taken the post office on the publication date.
If you receive your copy late, it is an issue of the Post Office.
Privileged to Serve:
Sunday, 2-15–15
Morning
Evening
Announcements:
Brad Burnette
Brad Burnette
Song Director:
Les Sandifer
Chris Vance
Opening Prayer:
Tom Tunstall
Danny Welker
Closing Prayer:
Bennett Stephens
David Whitehead
Serve at the Table:
Mike Adams
Sim Christie
Assist AM
5 Ray Harris
6 Blake Hoelscher
7 Hunter Hughes
8 Derek Brown
4 Jerry Hall
3 Roland Guyot
2 John Golden
1 Tim Feltner
Scripture Reader: Peyton Richey—Hebrews 13:7-9
Sermon AM: Neil Richey—A Faithful Christ in a Fickle World
Sermon PM: Neil Richey—The Lord is My Shepherd…He’s
All I Want
Greeters
Bible Study
AM Worship
AM Worship
PM Worship
West Steve/Bonnie Binkley
East Richard/Tiffany Bystedt
West Karen White/Addie Brown
West Hunter/Audrey Hughes
AM Usher
Zack Tackett/Chris Vance
PM Usher
Mike Walls
Open Building
Close Building
February: Billy Biggers
February: Justin Dale
Wednesday, 2–18-15
Announcements/Prayer
Song Director
Devotional/Speaker
Closing Prayer
Lance Leavens
KJ Dudley
Neil Richey
Les Sandifer
Unable to Serve? Call Rex Burrell: 770.427.7595
Piedmont Road Church of Christ