Venus

Church of Christ

Sunday

Bible School. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:00

Morning Worship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11:00

Evening Worship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:00

Wednesday

Elders

Dale Brawner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (972) 435-4201

Deacons

 Roy Harris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  (972) 435-2525

Minister

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Alice Wallace, is continuing her recovery.  Please keep her in your prayers. She continues her treatments, and seems to be improving slowly.

Tracy Dodd had some reversals with her recovery, but is now doing better.  Let’s pray for her complete recovery, and thank God that all went well.

David Dodd is at home seriously ill with the flu.  As Linda described his case, it seems that this may be the worst case of flu in his life.  Remember David in your prayers, and that Linda will not come down with the same.

Lavoyce Bramhall was able to be back at church Wednesday evening after her surgery.  We apologize for failing to mention her last week.  Pray for her full and complete recovery.

Gale Evans  has some health problems which are worse some days than others.  She doesn’t complain, but we need to remember her in our prayers.

Cordell Kiefer was a church Sunday with Glenn and Linda, but he has had some seizures lately that have caused the Kiefer’s some concern.  Remember this family in your prayers.

     I know that many of you have had a great interest in Connie and Leonard Lucky.  Dale and I talked with them about two weeks ago, and we were hoping that a solution could be found for them.  This last week, Connie called me and said that Leonard had left again, and that he wanted a divorce.  That was not Connie’s idea, but given all the details involved, Connie finally decided to give him his divorce, and it was finalized this past Friday.  Continue to remember both of them in your prayers.

            I know that all who were present last Sunday were encouraged by Jim Corner’s message, and by his report in class.  As a church, we gave Jim $500 for his February trip in addition to the $300 per month we give him.  We have given $300 in the past, but he asked for $500 if we could help him that much, and we did.

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Financial Report for December, 2005

Determined to not be appropriate for display here.

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Three Crosses

Introduction

Luke 23:32-33

Body

   I.  The Cross of Redemption.

A.  The middle cross was unique. 

1.  Peter later referred to Christ suffering this way in

      I Peter 3:18

B.  We need to understand His total innocence. 1 Peter 2:22

   II.  The second cross that we consider is the cross of rejection.

Luke 23:39

A.  His focus is totally wrong and misdirected.

1,  “If You are the Christ” misses the point completely. 

2.  He totally fails to look at his own life, and what he deserves for what he has done.

B.  He totally misses the point of Christ’s mission.

1.  Many today have the same misunderstanding. 

2. Acceptance of responsibility and repentance is an essential part of a right relationship with God.

   III.  It is the third cross that we consider as the cross of  repentance--and of hope.   Luke 23:39

A.  “Do you not even fear God? 

1.  An excellent question for today. 

B.  We got what we had coming--justice! 

1.  A sad point had been reached during the time of the judges.

Judges 21:25

2.  As you listen to the news today, Don’t you hear the same thing?

C.  His plea was a plea for mercy--not justice. Luke 23:42

D.  His plea was rewarded with forgiveness.  Luke 23:43.

  IV.  Which Cross is most representative of you?

A.  Christ’s cross is unique. 

B.  We are all sinners. Romans 3:23 

C   Unless we repent, there is no hope for us.  Luke 13:1

   V.  Can you be saved like the thief on the cross?

A.  Can we say, “Of course not!”

·         The thief died under the Old Testament dispensation.

·         The thief died a horrible death of crucifixion.

B.  He died before Christ death--Christ could change his testament any way that He wanted before He died. Hebrews 9:16.

Conclusion

2 Thessalonians 1:7  Romans 2:4-11

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