Announcements – September 8, 2023

By AdministratorUncategorized
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This coming Lord’s Day we look forward to resuming our Bible teaching ministry of Sunday School at 9:15 AM.  As you know, we have classes for all ages, each designed to fulfill our Savior’s ‘Great Commission’ to engage faithfully in “teaching them [disciples of Jesus] to observe all that I have commanded” (Matthew 28:20).
It should be no real surprise, then, how very often we find references to the ministry of teaching in the New Testament.  For example:
Acts 2:42– And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Acts 5:42– And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
1 Corinthians 4:17– That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
Colossian 1:28– Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
Colossians 3:16– Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom.
1 Timothy 4:11– Command and teach these things.
2 Timothy 2:2– and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teachothers also.
2 Timothy 3:16– All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
While many more verses could be added to these, we can draw two important conclusions about the Church’s duty to teach in addition to preach.
First, there is no healthy New Testament Church that does not faithfully teach God’s Word. And from the verses above, we can see that there is a distinction between preaching, what the Pastor does, and teaching, what the Elders and other such gifted people do.
Second, there are no healthy New Testament Christians who are not taught by those gifted and appointed to teach the Word in the local Church.  A disciple is, after all, a learner.  And disciples of Jesus are to be learners throughout the entire course of their lives if they are to grow toward maturity.
For these reasons, we are committed to a Bible-teaching ministry and to Sunday School.
Perhaps the label ‘Sunday School’ seems a bit outdated, and indeed, it has been abandoned by many local churches altogether.  But I would argue that it remains a very useful and accurate description of what Jesus commanded us to do.
When we participate in Sunday School, we are enrolled in our Lord’s ‘school of discipleship.’  And being what it is, this is no trivial or optional exercise.  It is nothing short of our Savior’s holy commission to us! A true disciple of Jesus is always ‘in school.’  And, as the New Testament makes abundantly clear, the Elders of the Church are divinely commanded to see that all of our Lord’s Word is taught to all of our Lord’s people.
Let me encourage you to come to ‘school,’ or to come back to ‘school.’ Let me encourage you to be taught the Word yourself, and to make sure that the members of your family, from the youngest to the oldest, are also faithful students in the Lord’s school of discipleship. The truth is that Sunday School is not a program.  It is a blessed duty.  And it yields eternal dividends!
Also this Lord’s Day, we will resume our series of messages tracing the earthly life and ministry of Jesus through the eyes of Luke.  Out text will be Luke 14:7-11, and the sermon is entitled ‘Be Careful Where Your Sit.’
It will be a blessed Lord’s Day for sure, and I can’t wait to see you all!
All my love,
Mike

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Meals and Fellowship Ministries – Please join us today after worship for a fellowship meal.

New Members Class – For those interested in membership at CPC, our next new members class will be from 2 to 5 on Sunday, October 1st. Dinner and childcare will be provided. A sign up sheet will be in the narthex.

Coffee with Steve and Rita Williams – A come and go event with one of our supported missionaries at the home of Joe & Judi Fikes on Monday, Sept. 11th from 10:00 to 11:30. Please rsvp to Judi Fikes at judifikes@gmail.com.

Children’s Ministry
• Nursery – If you would like to serve in our nursery during service, contact Amanda Dean.

Youth Ministry – Sunday night fellowship for high school and middle school begins on September 17th.

Women’s Ministry
• Senior Sisters meet monthly on the 3rd Thursday, 10-11:30am
• Senior Sisters exercise class meets Mondays at the church, 10-11:30am
• Monthly lunch 1st Thursday of the month at Timbers Edge Clubhouse at 11
• Tuesday Morning Fall Bible Study – Meets at 9:30am at the Church. Childcare will be provided. Topic: “When You Pray”.
• Evening Fall Study – Tuesdays at 6:00pm at the home of Cynthia Keen. We are studying Jen Wilkin’s “Abide” on 1, 2, 3 John.
• Women’s Morning Fall Bible Study – Wednesdays from 10-11:30am at the Church. Mike Calvert will continue his series on Ephesians.

Men’s Ministry
• Men’s Friday Bible Study – Meets Fridays at 11:30 at the church.

Career Ministry – Bible study & fellowship meets at the home of Jim and Sharon Daughtry, Sundays at 5:30 PM.

Bridal/Baby Showers
• A bridal shower honoring Rachel Bailey will be held on Sunday, September 17th from 2-4pm at the home of Sarah Burgess.
• A baby shower will be held to bless first-time mom Maggie Tomlinson on Saturday, September 30th from 2-4pm at the home of Denise Brown.
See christpreshamptoncove.org for detailed news and upcoming events.

PRAYER REQUESTS Healing – Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Dean Alhorn, Collins Bailey, Perry Calvert, Bill Cowley, Elizabeth Holton, Steve Terry, S’ine Trent and Kristy York

Expecting – Please pray for the Prinzingers, Lancasters, Elliotts and Joe and Jennifer Calvert, all expecting in October and the Tomlinsons due in November.

Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries:
• Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland)
• Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand)
• Noah and Karleigh Stephens (Thailand)
• Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH)
• Marcus and Jessica Nobles (RUF at Alabama A&M)
• Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA)
• Franky and Alaina Garcia (church plant in Canada)
• Dieter and Marty Paulson (church plant in Scottsboro, AL)
• The Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center