May 20^th . 2018

9:30 am ----------------------------Dead To The Law By The Body of Christ – Romans 7:1-12

10:00 am ----------------------------The Lord Passing Through (Better Call!) – Luke 18:35-43

Our meeting with brother Gabe Stalnaker begins this weekend. Services begin Saturday morning at 10:00. All come, and invite a visitor. No Wednesday service this week.

We need help setting up tables downstairs after service this morning.

“If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, 0 Lord, who shall stand?”-- Psalm 130:3

OUR Lord does not mark our iniquity. He does not keep a record of our sins as a reminder for the Day of Judgment, nor does He take note of them that He may exact from us a penalty now. No, the Lord does not mark our iniquities. But oh! How our iniquities marked the Lord! There was never a stain upon Him but that which our sin put there. There was never a stripe of judgment on Him but what was laid there for our sins. And it is by these very marks that our Lord is known, for when Thomas’ doubts demanded proof that this man was really “this same Jesus,” the Lord showed him the marks created by the nails and spear — marks made in Him by our sin. In the heavenly chorus of Revelation 5, Christ is described as the Lamb “as It had been slain.” There, in the appearance of the Lord, were the marks our sin laid upon Him.

These marks both humble and encourage us. Forever they shall testify that we were sinners in need of Redemption. There can be no self-righteous pride in the presence of Him who bears the marks of our sin. Shall a man boast of self-good while staring at those wounds? Can we look for a deserved crown bestowed by the hand scarred with the punishment of our sin? I think not.

Yet those awful marks of our sin also testifies a most wonderful truth to our hearts: those wicked sins are paid for. Even as we are humbled at the sight of the marks, we are emboldened by them to come to the One Who bears those marks and find complete forgiveness for the sins that made those marks. Because our sins marked the Lord, the Lord shall never mark our sins! – Joseph Terrell, Pastor, Grace Community Church, Rocky Valley, Iowa

Love & Friendship

. . . “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” – Proverbs 17:17

The Lord Jesus Christ is the “friend of sinners”, Who loved His own before the world began, loved them while they were yet sinners, and loves them to the end. Christ is the Son of God and the firstborn among many brethren. He is the Elder Brother Who was born for adversity; born to bear the sin of God’s people. He is that Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. He will never forsake His friends and brothers. May we be the same friend and brother to our brethren, loving them in the depth of their sins, loving them fervently¸ loving them when they need it most, loving them when they are experiencing great adversity and trouble. Let us love at all times, for we were born again for these times.

An Outline Worth Repeating From Psalm 23 -- by Henry Mahan, 1997

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want . . .

1. For REST - “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.”

2. For PEACE - “He leadeth me beside still waters.”

3. For FORGIVENESS - “He restoreth my soul.”

4. For HOLINESS’ - “He leads me in the paths of right­eousness for His name’s sake.”

5. For FELLOWSHIP - “For Thou art with me.”

6. For COMFORT - “Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”

7. For PROVISIONS - “Thou preparest a table before me”

8. For ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD - “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”