God’s Plan for Man’s Salvation

* * * * * * * * * * * * “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:30

The Gospel Must be HEARD Rom. 10:17 John 8:32

The Gospel Must be BELIEVED John 8:24 Mark 16:16 Sins Must be REPENTED OF Luke 13:3, 5 Acts 2:38

Christ Must be CONFESSED Matt. 10:32-33 Rom. 10:10 There Must Be BAPTISM (Immersion) for the Remission of Sins Acts 2:38 1 Peter 3:21 There Must Be CHRISTIAN GROWTH and FAITHFULNESS 1 Peter 2:2 Rev. 2:10 2 Peter 3:18

October 4, 2020

We can understand the bible Many people believe and affirm that we cannot really understand the Bible. And if we could (they insist)

certainly we cannot understand it alike. This belief is often used to justify innumerable doctrines and denomina-tions that comprise the actual Christendom. Is it true that we cannot understand the Bible? Can we even say that we understand the Bible if we do not understand it alike?

God’s will is revealed in the Bible (1 Cor. 2:7-10). The word of God has been revealed in a way that it is possible for all people to understand it. Paul wrote to the Ephesians concerning the mystery which he received and revealed affirming: “when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4). The Christians in Ephesus were supposed to come to the same understanding of Paul. The message revealed to them was such that they would have the same understanding that Paul had. The same understanding is possible for us today as well.

God created us (Gen. 1:26). He certainly knows how to reveal His will in such a way that His creation can understand. God has created not only our bodies, but also our minds. He knows the way man thinks and compre-hends. To affirm that we cannot understand the Bible is to openly accuse God of being incapable of communi-cating properly with His own creatures.

God has instructed us to understand His will. Paul told the Ephesians: “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17). Understanding God’s will is necessary for us so to be saved from our sin (Matt. 13:15) and to negate that ability is to accuse God to be unjust and cruel for requiring something that we cannot do.

However, if we do not understand the Bible, the fault does not lie with God, but with us. “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple” (Ps. 19:7). So, what is necessary for us to understand the Bible?

A willing heart. Jesus said, “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority” (John 7:17). If we do not have the desire to know and to understand the word of God, we will not understand it. We must want to know God’s will to be able to understand it.

An open mind. When Jesus told the parable of the sower, He spoke of three types of soils (hearts) that re-jected the seed (the word of God). The good soil describes those who had “a noble and good heart” (Luke 8:15). If we do not possess an open and honest heart, we will be like those of whom Jesus spoke who would hear the message of salvation but would not be willing to understand it (Luke 8:10). We must approach the Bible without any preconceived notions, biases, or prejudices in order to be able to understand it.

A commitment to study. Paul told Timothy: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15). To accurately handle the word of God, we must understand it. Diligence is required to learn how to handle the word of God properly. We must be committed to studying God’s word if we hope to understand it.

Paul prayed on behalf of the Colossians: “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray

for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:9-10). A proper understanding of the word of God is necessary in order to please Him. Let us approach the Scriptures with the proper attitude and the willingness to learn from God!

WORSHIP SCHEDULE Sunday

Bible Study 9:45 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Evening Worship 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m.

Week of

September 27

Bible Study 25 AM Worship 31 PM Worship 25 Wednesday 27

ATTENDANCE RECORD:

SCHEDULED TO SERVE October 11: ANNOUNCEMENTS: H. JUNG SONG DIRECTOR: am B. CAMPBELL pm J. RICE PRAYER: am D. GOFF pm De. HOOD READING: D. MELOTT WAIT ON TABLE M. HOOD JR. DAUGHERTY SERVE CONGREGATION N/A N/A CLOSING PRAYER: am. R. McCOY pm S. HOOD GREETER N/A Wednesday Invitation: October 7, 2020

Jr. Daugherty

PREPARE COMMUNION—October 2020 Mary Jung

Bridge Street

Church of Christ 1139 S. Bridge Street - PO Box 292

New Martinsville WV 26155

Messenger

Messenger

Bridge Street

Church of Christ

1139 S. Bridge Street - PO Box 292 New Martinsville WV 26155

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Paolo Di Luca

Evangelist

304.559.7735

paolo05@gmail.com

Office: 304.455.2130

Email: office@bridgestreetcofc.org

Web: www.bridgestreetcofc.org

Paolo Di Luca

Family: Joyce Campbell - Multiple Sclerosis Barb Nolan - home Faye Stillwagoner—chemo treatments Lee Cross—home Rona Grimm—health issues Charles & Karen Murdock--home Wilbur Dawson--home Clair Twyman--home Bill Caputo--health issues Lorene Eddy Sue Skinner--knee surgery rehab Lisa Wade

Friends: Sharon Pugh - Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer Sean Klug—Health issues Carol Sue Allen-health issues Matt & Kathi Ferrebee Kirk Timmons Steve Higginbotham--Stage 4 cancer

IN SEARCH OF THE LORD’S WAY Channel 7 - Wheeling

“Just A Christian” October 11, 2020

Services

NMHCC Cancelled till further notice

We are honored to have you with us to-day. Please return this evening (6:30) and Wednesday evening (7:00) for our mid-week Bible Study. If you have any questions about what we do during worship, we invite you to speak with our minister. His name and contact in-formation is on the back of today’s bulletin.

SCRIPTURE READING October 4-10, 2020

Old Testament/ New Testament Sunday--Isaiah 59-61 Romans 11:19-36 Monday--Isaiah 62-64 Romans 12 Tuesday---Isaiah 65-66 Romans 13 Wednesday--Hosea 1-4 Romans 14 Thursday--Hosea 5-8 Romans 15:1-13 Friday---Hosea 9-11 Romans 15:14-33 Saturday--Hosea 12-14 Romans 16

Joan Sams has requested prayers. She had a visit with a specialist and is scheduled for surgery in January 2021 on her left kidney. Danielle Moore had eye surgery Friday at Vanderbilt Hospital, TN. She is hoping this is the last eye surgery. Sandy Geho has been sick at home. Joe & Lyndsay Rickman are awaiting the birth of their 2nd daughter, Maizy.

The Life-Transforming Word

We are passing through the domain of death, the country of the last enemy that is to be destroyed, and who has put all things in this scene under his feet (1 Cor. 15:26, 27). On every hand our eyes meet the unmistakable evidences of the supreme sovereignty of death. But in this domain of death there is a Living Word; --a Living Word in a dying world. The forces of corruption and decay cannot fasten upon it, and it laughs at the attacks of its enemies. But that Word is here, not merely to manifest life, but rather to impart life to those who are perishing, and to bring them into vital contact with the new Life-source of humanity, the Son of God, the Second Man, the Lord from heaven, Who liveth and was dead, and behold He is alive forevermore, and has the keys of death and of Hades (1 Cor. 15:47; Rev. 1:18). He, as Man, has crossed the gulf between the realm of death and that of life. To that end He became “a partaker of flesh and blood,” not to improve flesh and blood, but in order that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bond-age” (Heb. 2:14, 15). Having Himself crossed that gulf He is the Way of life to all who believe on Him who, having heard His Word--the Word of life--have likewise passed out of death into life (John 5:24). This is the wonderful provision of God for the deliverance of dying men. In order that they might not die, and because God wills not that any should perish (2 Pet. 3:9), He has sent into this dying world a Word of Life. For God is not the God of the dead, but of the living (Matt. 22:32). --P. Mauro - Life In The World--

WELCOME

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Tuesdsay, October 13 --

Men’s Business Meeting at 7 pm ---------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday, October 20 -- Ladies’ Bible Class at 6:30 pm; Lesson 10 from ‘The Barnabas Factor’ book

(Note: Time changed from 7pm to 6:30pm)

168 Hours In Each Week How many for God?

“I haven’t enough time” is a lame excuse! We each have 24 hours in a day, and 168 hours in a week. If we haven’t time to serve God, it is because we refuse to recognize that HE gave us all the time we ever have! Why not devote some time this week in the worship and service of our Lord and God?