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Volume XLVI Number 2 January 13, 2013
“God Builds A Nation”
Worship Leader Robert Smith
# 993 What a Mighty God We Serve
Call to Worship Robert Smith
# Covenant of Love
Communion Thought Jeff Neaves
Communion
# Hallelujah My Father
Prayer
Scripture Reading Doug Franks
2 Samuel 22:31-37
# 163 His Name is Wonderful
Offering/Body Life Jim Payne
Prayer Time
# 398 Surely the Presence of the Lord
# 309 In My Life, Lord, Be Glorified
Dismiss Bible Hour
# 27 Blessed Be Your Name
Sermon “God’s Story” Randy Brown
# Holy Lord
Blessing Randy Brown CCLI #2551496
The casting agent enters the room with her
top picks for the show’s leading man and lady.
The new series will follow the spellbinding
story of a clan that builds a powerful, world
impacting family tree. This is the pilot, and it
is crucial to make the right call on the
individuals who will fall in love and launch this
Kennedy-like family of influence and fame.
Producers and writers alike have waited
breathlessly for this moment, the moment when
who they have envisioned as the leading
characters will be finally realized in an actor
and actress. But when they turned to see who
has been tapped for these most special of roles,
the thud of their collective jaws hitting the
majestic mahogany conference table muffles
their mutual groans.
There before their wide eyes instead of the
expected vibrant, young couple with gleaming
white teeth and tanned and toned bodies, stand
a 75 year-old man and 65 year-old woman.
Not what they had pictured for their
production.
And yet, this is what God has chosen. His
screenplay called for a couple to launch a new
nation, one that would impact the entire world.
As he would say, a nation through whom “all
the nations of the earth would be
blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3).
Continued on page 2
Abram and Sarai stand there, adorned perhaps by
dusty old robes and crowned with wispy white hair
and loosely fitting skin and as befuddled as anyone
else. God chose them to begin a nation. An
unlikely pair, especially after factoring in the fact
that Sarai was barren. How could God expect to
start a nation with a woman who could not bear
children?
To complicate the story line, it will be 25 more
years before they actually have their child of
promise. By that time Abram and Sarai will be
100 years old and 90 years old, respectively (and
their names will be changed to Abraham and
Sarah). Perhaps Social Security checks will help
this special couple decorate the baby’s tent and
they’ll be able take naps when the baby does. And
the rest, as they say, is history. His story.
God picks people you and I wouldn’t necessarily
select to take part in his story. In fact sometimes
we are shocked who plays the starring roles in his
stories. Unlike the way we do business, he taps
people, not merely because of their abilities, but for
their availability. God searches for people who are
open to be used by him. Since he uses only those
who are willing to be used for his purposes, there is
no doubt that it is he who is doing the wonder-
working. Let there be no doubt, throughout history
he is the one making things happen.
That’s good news, isn’t it? In the business world,
you may not have a great pedigree. In academics,
you may not be a Rhodes Scholar. You may not
have a lot of money and you may have average
looks. But you may be sitting in a pretty good
position to be a top pick for God’s work.
—Randy
Chapter 2 — God Builds a Nation
Matching Puzzle
For each of the items in column one, find the corresponding answer in column two. The letters (in order) will spell out God’s
message to Abram.
___ 1. Rachel’s older sister B. Keturah
___ 2. Jacob’s brother E. Jacob
___ 3. The sons of Leah’s servant Zilpah I. Leah
___ 4. The wife of Isaac I. Gad and Asher
___ 5. The son of Hagar L. Joseph and Benjamin
___ 6. Abraham’s second wife (after Sarah died) L. Ishmael
___ 7. The sons of Rachel L. Rebekah
___ 8. The younger twin born to Rebekah O. Lot
___ 9. The priest that Abram met after freeing Sodom S. Dan and Naphtali
___ 10. The sons of Rachel’s servant Bilhah S. Melchizedek
___ 11. The son of Abraham and Sarah U. Reuben and Levi
___ 12. The nephew of Abram W. Esau
___ 13. Two of the sons of Leah Y. Isaac
The following continue to need our prayers: Janice
Lovel’s sister, John McFarlin, Kathy Hanselka, Elroyce
Metting, Sherry Lynch, Roxi McCutchan, Ann Wasicek,
and Rita Dyer. Bob Sutphen (a former elder here) is in the
hospital in Abilene.
We will be serving a meal in the annex today immediately
following the service. If you are visiting, please join us.
The small group that meets at the building will have a
finger food fellowship tonight after services in the annex.
Both groups will resume their work at the Food Bank on
Thursday, January 24th at 6pm. Mark your calendar!
The menu for next Wednesday evening will be tacos. The
funds from these meals is used for our Zambia Medical Mis-
sion Team.
God told Abram, “I will make you into a great nation, and I
WILL BLESS YOU.”
Last week we enjoyed a Gospel Meeting. We enjoyed
visiting our brothers from Monterrey, Torreon, Fort Worth,
Arcelia, Iguala and Cuirindichapio. Preachers from all of
these areas taught us beautiful lessons. We spent pretty and
unforgettable moments together praising our Lord. I also
have some good news to share. This new year God has
blessed me with a wonderful wife. I apologize for not telling
you sooner. Elina is a very faithful woman who loves God
and she wants to help me build God’s Kingdom here in
Chilpancingo and Guerrero. She has two children and we
want to serve God as a family. Please pray for us. God bless
you and I am always at your service...In Christ, Freddy Perez
The youth activity to see the Globetrotters has been
canceled. The next scheduled event will be a workday at
Adopt-a-Pet on Saturday, January 26th from 10:30—12:30.
Wear appropriate clothing, as there is a real good chance you
will get dirty.
Please save your empty rectangular Kleenex boxes (no
cubes, please) and empty 16 ounce or smaller water bottles.
These items will be used with our February class material. A
container is available in the foyer where you may place these
items.
Mid-Coast Family Services needs help on January 24th to
help conduct surveys. There is a sign up sheet on the
information center. Ginny Stafford will contact you and give
you further details.
Dear Central Family,
Thank you for the beautiful poinsettia for my Mother’s funeral and for the many sweet and comforting cards. We are truly rejoicing in her victory over illness and suffering. Knowing we have a church family, thinking of us and praying for us at this time is a blessing from God and makes the rejoicing even sweeter. In Him, Nancy Schumann
Dear Central,
Thank you so much for the beautiful Lilly plant you sent to honor my husband, Gordon Hefner. It has been a source of great enjoyment to me. Sincerely, Barbara Hefner
Dear Church Family,
Thank you so very much for the beautiful plant. I know my Mom would have loved it. We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers during our difficult time and loss.
Daniel Barrientos
Dear Central,
A huge thank you is past due for being so generous with your time and devotion to help bring Rudy to Christ before his passing. Thank you for the great service and meal that was provided and to everyone who was involved in making the family feel welcome. Your care and concerns have been noticed and appreciated. Thanks to Tim for leading our song service. Thank you, Thank you!!
Love in Christ,
A.J. Mayo, Sylvia Rodriguez, and Zenida Carlos
WEDNESDAY
January 2, 2013 123
SUNDAY
January 6, 2013
Bible Class 188
AM Worship 285
Evening Service 38
Small Groups 63
CONTRIBUTION $8823.00
WEEKLY BUDGET $7500.00
YEAR-TO-DATE $119,851.30
Fiscal Year October to October
Day One
1. Compare the sin of Adam and Eve with the sin of Joseph’s brothers. Then compare
the sin of Joseph’s brothers with that of Cain. What similarities do you discover? What
similarities do you see to the sin in your own life? How can the pattern be broken?
2. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, his boss’ wife and his friends in prison. Instead
of becoming bitter, he trusted God. How can you avoid becoming bitter when you are
betrayed?
3. What character traits do you see in Joseph that made Potiphar trust him? How might
your boss describe your character? What is a trait Joseph had that you can improve on
this week?
Day Two
1. How was Joseph able to resist the sexual temptations of Potiphar’s wife? What can
you do to protect yourself from sexual sin?
2. Twenty years after his brothers sold him into slavery, they came to Joseph to buy
grain. How does Joseph’s story serve as an example to you of forgiveness, trust and
restoration? What is the hardest thing you have ever had to forgive? Be forgiven for?
3. Looking back on his life, Joseph said that what others intended for evil, God intended
for good. When has an evil done to you turned out for good? How can you use this to
help you in the future? What does this reveal about God?
Day Three
1. Joseph’s brothers had been lying about his disappearance for 20 years, and were
afraid of how he might react, especially after their father’s death. They told Joseph a
made-up story saying that Jacob had asked them to request that Joseph not harm them.
They were having trouble forgiving themselves. Is there a mistake you have made where
you’ve found it difficult to forgive yourself?
2. Reflect upon the first three chapters of The Story. What family cycles emerge?
What life lessons can you apply to your own life from observing these cycles?
Personal Devotion Questions
Chapter 3
Joseph: From Slave
To Deputy Pharaoh