Tom & Robin Wilson trained us in using a simple 3-circle diagram on how to share the gospel.   We all need to be able to clearly share the gospel and this may just be a simple tool you can use to share.  
Here are three links to help you revisit this:

• An explanation video of presenting it
• A written explanation of the 3-Circles
• A "man on the street" video showing the 3-circles being shared

This particular method may not be for you... but sharing Jesus must be for you.  Do take time to learn how you best share Jesus with others.  

As shared at the annual meeting, we now have a couple of postcards available that you can hand out - one is an invitation to our Wednesday night "OAsis" times (front of postcard shown).  The other is a general church invite detailing Sunday mornings.  Take a few and give them out.  

Troy gave us a challenge to hand out some of the Thanksgiving tracts and these postcards.   Give out two tracts... and one of each postcard.  

Thanksgiving Service - No OA:sis Activities  Wednesday, 7pm, is our Thanksgiving Service.  Join in a time of gratitude for our many blessings.  Perhaps we will make an attempt to count them all.    Note: There are no other Wednesday night activities.

Church Offices Closed:   There are no regular office hours on Thursday and Friday of this week.  

No OA:sis Meal:  Join us instead at 7pm for our Thanksgiving Service.

Cantata Rehearsal - The Christmas cantata rehearsals continue on Sundays from 11:20-12:30pm.  

Kids are practicing their program parts during SS.  Help them at home, parents, please... there are a few original songs that might be trickier to learn.  

We had a rich time celebrating God's rich mercy!  We sang thanksgiving to God.  Several of you shared a testimony of gratitude.  God is gracious and kind and good. . .   may the week and days ahead be full of thanksgiving to God!  

In the message, we built on Jude’s call to “keep yourselves in the love of God” by showing that thanksgiving not only guards us but is a pathway to worship. When we understand the immeasurable mercy given to us—like the servant forgiven an impossible debt—we become grateful people who naturally show mercy to others. Jude seems to move from guarding gratitude to giving it: thanking God in our hearts, extending compassion to the doubting, and rescuing the wandering. Our thanksgiving becomes anchored in God’s character as the One who keeps us, both now and forever, like a climber whose security depends on a strong anchor. Jude 24–25 reminds us that confidence in God’s ability to keep us from stumbling leads to praise—glory, majesty, dominion, and authority are His eternally. True gratitude becomes worship when we reflect on the God who has kept us, is keeping us, and will keep us until the end.

Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, was one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus Christ, a man in whom Christ Himself declared, “an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit” (John 1:47). Though Scripture records little about his life, Bartholomew’s willingness to follow Jesus from the beginning and his enduring faithfulness to the risen Lord bear witness to a heart transformed by the truth of the Gospel. Tradition holds that he carried the message of Christ to distant lands, possibly as far as India or Armenia, boldly proclaiming the good news even to the point of martyrdom.  A strong tradition holds that after converting King Polymius of Armenia, Bartholomew was flayed alive and beheaded by the king’s brother, Astyages.   In his quiet obedience and unwavering witness, Bartholomew glorified God by surrendering his life to the mission of Christ, showing that true greatness lies not in fame but in a Spirit-led, faithful life that honors Christ as King.  He is Worthy!

 See Neh. 8:8; 2 Tim. 2:15; Luke 24:27; Acts 17:11; 2 Pet. 1:20-21. Exegesis is the careful, systematic study and interpretation of a biblical text in order to understand its original meaning within its historical, literary, and theological context.   The Greek word is derived from a compound of two Greek words:  ek meaning out of, and hēgeomai meaning to lead or to guide.  It literally means to lead or draw out.   The goal of exegesis is to uncover what the original author intended to communicate to the original audience, using tools such as word studies, grammar, historical background, and literary structure. Unlike eisegesis—reading one’s own ideas into the text—exegesis seeks to draw meaning out of the text itself. It is foundational for sound preaching, teaching, and theology, aiming to let Scripture speak for itself rather than imposing external interpretations.

Perhaps you’ve heard of the man, injured on the job, who filed an insurance claim.  The insurance company asked for more information to which the man wrote the following letter of explanation:

As the church of Christ, we are not supposed to “do the job alone.”  We are called to both need people and be people who stand alongside one another.   There are no Lone Rangers in the family of God.   We need the community of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  “But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” (1 Cor. 12:24-26).

  God asks Adam and Eve separate but similar questions.  He is quite blunt with Adam but softer with Eve.  Neither is willing to accept blame.   Adam blames Eve.  Eve blames the serpent.  Couched in Adam’s response is also a blame of God:  “The woman whom YOU gave to be with me…”  

  We do the same today.  “God wired me this way.”  “I was born this way.”  “God allows evil in the world.”  “God allowed me to be tempted.”   God wants us to admit it when we’ve done wrong.  This is where repentance begins.  

  How do we answer when we hear God’s voice asking us, “What are you doing?”   Do we begin with the excuses and “blame-game” or do we thank God, admit that we are messing up, and allow Him to correct our course?   “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance,” 2 Peter:3:9. 

Wives.  Your husbands do sometimes drink directly from the milk jug.  Out of either guilt or just to save you the frustration of needing to respond to it, most men only do this late at night when you are fast asleep.  You are welcome.  My wife can trust that I am an exception to this habit.  I’m just not a milk drinker.  I don’t like the taste of milk. . .  by itself.  Oh, I’ll drink it on cereal, of course.  I’m not a lunatic.

Hopefully, wives, you are not too terribly offended at your husband right now.  If he begins to drink from the milk jug while at other people’s houses, then you should say something.   In defense of your husband, the hosts probably did say “make yourself at home.”
 
Husbands.  Your wife does things you are also unaware of.  I think.  I just haven’t seen my wife do those things yet.  So, a bit of guesswork here.   She might also be a sleeper CIA agent.  In a way, we all are like that, living double lives – without the badge.

Double lives.  How many live one way at church or with family and another behind closed doors?   How many Christians are given to gossip, profanity, sinful anger, lust, gluttony or a list of other sins ?  We too often lead double lives.  This always eventually leads to pain.  James 1:8 says that a double-minded man is “unstable in all his ways.”  James continues by sharing about the sins of partiality, empty faith, poisonous talk, and worldliness.   He should know.  After all, James drank milk straight from the jug as well.   But James also gives us hope.  The hope is framed in the grace of God.  That same grace that saves us also can draw us away from sinful practices.  James says that God “gives more grace. Therefore, it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:6-8).
 
God is willing to cleanse us if we draw near to Him.  As we do, the double-mindedness diminishes as our minds become like Christ.    So, drink in God’s grace.  And, men, next time, grab a glass to drink your milk.