SCHEDULE OF SERVICES SUNDAY

MID-WEEK

_____________________ ELDERS EVANGELISTS EMAIL: office@degaulledrivecoc.com

MISSIONS OVERSIGHT: Micronesia: Joey Treat Family

WORKS SUPPORTED: Benevolence: Childhaven of Cullman, AL Media: Gospel Broadcasting Network In Search of the Lord’s Way The Old Landmarks The Truth in Love MISSIONS: Hungary: Curry Montague

curry.monta@gmail.com India: Ron & Karen Clayton

RCIndia@sonet.net PREACHER TRAINING: Memphis School of Preaching

Wes Arabie 504-858-2881 Howard Goodale 504-319-3572 Steve Tucker 504-812-2617 Scott Cain 504-392-4110 Wes Arabie 504-858-2881

CHURCH OF CHRIST 4700 GENERAL DEGAULLE DRIVE

NEW ORLEANS, LA 70131 www.DegaulleDriveCOC.com

September 02, 2018

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“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Thus Jesus defined true friendship. True friendship is motivated by selfless and sincere agape love, and it is measured by how much a friend is willing to sacrifice for the sake of others. Scripture not only gives the definition for this loving friendship, it also gives a demonstration of it. This is the love that God showed

mankind when He “gave His only-begotten Son” (John 3:16). This is the love that Jesus showed when He laid down His life and “gave Himself for us” (John 10:17; Titus 2:14). No man ever had a better friend than Jesus.

How do we return such love? How do we respond to such friendship? If the greatest love and friendship is seen in sacrifice, then how do we lay down our lives for Jesus?

I’LL BE A FRIEND TO JESUS BY OBEYING HIM. According to Jesus, we show our love and friendship by obeying Him. There is a sense in which obedience helps us become His friends: by submitting our will to His, we become transformed by a renewed mind that has experience in heeding God’s will (Romans 12:1; Hebrews 5:14). There is another sense in which obedience because we are His friends, thus obedience shows our friendship: “Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14). Obedience shows our love: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Many claim to love Jesus, but their actions say otherwise. The Lord knows “them that are His” (II Timothy 2:19), but He will say, “I never knew you,” to them who cry “Lord, Lord” but refuse to obey the will of the Father (Matthew 7:21-23). Those who truly love Christ do not just say it with their lips: they show it with their lives. Not only are they willing to sacrifice themselves by dying for Jesus; they are willing to sacrifice themselves by living for Him (Romans 12:1).

Morning Bible Class 9:00 AM Morning Worship 10:00 AM Pew Packers 5:30 PM Evening Worship 6:00 PM

Tuesday Ladies Class 10:00 AM (September – May)

Wednesday Bible Class 7:00 PM

SCOTT CAIN

Can we truly be the New Testament church if we have a New Age attitude toward the church? When first century Christians came together, they “continued stedfastly” together in worshipping God, and they continued “daily” together in the public temple and in private homes. Do we have

this same attitude toward God, learning His Word, teaching His Word, and strengthening His church? If early Christians could see our approach to coming together as the church, would they

recognize us enough to come together with us? “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to

house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.” (Acts 2:46)

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I’LL BE A FRIEND TO JESUS IN THE “LITTLE THINGS.” Lisa and Amy had been friends for years. All who knew them knew that each of them would gladly give her life for the other. One day, as Amy was about to leave for an once-in-a-lifetime vacation to Australia, her telephone rang. It was Lisa. She had been in a car accident, and she desperately needed her friend’s help. Amy immediately asked what Lisa needed, thinking that she would gladly give an organ or any amount of money to assist her dear friend. Lisa’s needs were significantly less than what Amy expected; Lisa’s recovery would take three weeks and she simply needed Amy to help her get home and assist her with her two small children while she healed. Amy, who a moment earlier had been willing to forsake her vacation at the prospect of undergoing surgery and donating an organ, thought Lisa’s request was an unimportant one. “Don’t you have someone else who can help you with this? My flight leaves tonight and I cannot get a refund on my tickets.” She was willing to make drastic sacrifices for her friend, but unwilling to do the little things.

People too often take this same approach toward being a friend to Jesus. They fail to see that friendship is not only about the big sacrifices, but the “little ones,” too. Being Jesus’ friend means sacrificing any habit, preference, addiction, or belief that is contrary to Christ’s soul-saving Gospel. Paul wrote that a person might actually lay down his life as a martyr for Christ, but without agape love that martyrdom would be worthless: “…though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing” (I Corinthians 13:3). Many are confident that they could withstand torture for Christ’s sake, but do they love Jesus enough to endure temptation or inconvenience? Do they love Jesus enough to abandon the doctrines of men (Matthew 15:9)? Do they love Jesus enough to put Him and His kingdom first (Matthew 6:33)? Do they love Jesus enough to do the “little things”?

I’LL BE A FRIEND TO JESUS WHEN IN THE PRESENCE OF THE WORLD. Young and old alike have felt the betrayal of one whose friendship changes in the presence of others. Do we treat Jesus this way?

Ray was ten, and his family had just moved into a new area at the beginning of summer. Ray’s greatest fear was that he would have no friends, but almost immediately upon arriving Ray found an unlikely friend in Shane. Shane was athletic and outgoing, but Ray was awkward and had difficulty socializing. The only commonality that they shared was that they were the only two boys their age in the neighborhood. Throughout the summer they were inseparable. Then summer ended and school began. Ray looked forward to being with Shane and getting to meet all of the school friends Shane had mentioned during the summer. On the first day of school, however, from the time that Ray and Shane boarded the bus in the morning to the time that they arrived home from school in the evening, Shane ignored Ray. He did not introduce Ray as his friend. When asked if he knew Ray, Shane reluctantly admitted that they lived in the same neighborhood. When other students started

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to poke fun at Ray’s appearance, Shane initially remained silent, but soon joined the others in laughter at Ray’s expense. As they disembarked from the bus that afternoon, Ray looked sadly at Shane and said, “I thought you were my friend, but friends don’t treat each other that way. If you’re ashamed of me, then you’re not my friend.”

Ray was right. Sadly, too many of Jesus’ “friends” are too ashamed of Him to act like they know Him in the presence of others. The apostle Peter was once guilty of this, and it broke his heart when he realized how he had denied the Lord (Luke 22:54-62). Christians today deny Jesus the same way when they are too intimidated by intellectuals to discuss the creation, too scared of sinners to discuss righteousness, and too fearful of false doctrines to discuss the truth. Anyone who is not Jesus’ friend in the presence of others is no friend to Jesus at all, and Jesus will not claim such people as His friends. “Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, Him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33).

I’LL BE A FRIEND TO JESUS WHEN HIS FRIENDS GATHER. Imagine a friend telling you, “I would come to your birthday party, but I just don’t like your other friends”? In truth, this happens regularly. However, could you fathom telling Jesus, “I would come to Your memorial service, but I just don’t feel like being around Your family”?

Being present when the saints gather is not predicated upon whether or not my personality meshes with every person there. It is not about us; it is about Jesus. Every time Jesus’ people meet, it is all about Jesus. We gather to remember Jesus (Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 11:24-26), to learn from Jesus (Acts 2:42; Matthew 11:20), to give back to Jesus (I Corinthians 16:1-2), to enjoy the privilege to praise and pray to God made possible by Jesus (Colossians 3:16-17), and to share fellowship with Jesus’ people (I John 1:6-7). When a friend of Jesus chooses to be willingly absent, he is telling Jesus, “I do not want to remember You, learn about You, give back to You, utilize the privileges that You’ve provided, or be around Your people.”

In order to be a friend to Jesus, a person must love Him. Those who love Jesus surrender full obedience to Him, surrender every aspect of life to Him, are unashamed of Him, and love gathering with His family. However short a person comes from being Jesus’ friend is exactly how short that person comes from truly loving Jesus and spending eternity with Him.

Jesus is a friend to you. Are you a friend to Jesus?

Attendance

PRIVILEGED TO SERVE

LAST WEEK

Please submit all prayer requests in writing to Scott or Melissa Cain. Please supply regular updates on each individual in order to keep the prayer list up-to-date. For the sake of space, any name (except shut-ins) will be removed after four weeks unless a new update is received. Thank you for helping us all to stay informed of the spiritual & physical needs of our members, friends, & family.

NEWANNOUNCEMENTSUPCOMINGEVENTS:1. SONGLEADINGCLASS:Classwillmeettodayat4:30PM.2. PROMOTION:Parents,todayispromotionday.Pleaseseeyourchild’steacherformoreinformation.3. WORKNIGHTFORTHEMASTER:WillbeSeptember26th.WewillcelebrateSeptemberbirthdays

afterwards.4. POTLUCK:WillbeSeptember30thafterAMworship.LastnamesM-Zhavesetup&cleanup.5. BIBLESCHOOLEMPHASIS:TheimportanceofBibleschoolwillbeemphasizedeachSundayinSeptember.REJOICE!!!:OnAugust19thFelix“Richard”AmparoputonChristinbaptism.Werejoiceinhisdecision.Please

welcomehimtothechurch.PANTRYITEMSNEEDED:Cannedtuna,chicken,assortedsoups,greenbeans,carrots,fruit,&corn.Spaghetti

pasta,spaghettisaucewithmeat,mac&cheese,&boxedmealkits(tuna/chickenhelper).Smallbagsofrice,peanutbutter,jelly,&hygieneitems(shampoo,deodorant,etc…).Wedonotneeddriedbeans.

NEEDING CARE & PRAYERS OurMembers&VisitorsMaryCullum JamesCobette ChelsiHefner GalaGallowayBettyMossYvetteJames DonRobinsonLillySmith

OurShut-InElwandaPiskorik

OurFamily&FriendsKeagenJames:Wasrecentlyinacar

accidentthatlefthimquitebruised&battered

MichelleMartin:DaughterofDaymond&SharonMartin(Daymondrecentlypassedaway);wasadmittedtoICUduetocomplicationswithherdiabetes.

GregArabieJerryFouts FamilyofSeldonGoldenBobHalstead JeanHessClairKennedy CandiceLampkinBenjaminMacalusoFamilyofDaymondMartinJenniferMcBride Javonia&MeijahLieteauCheriThalheimerNathan&AmberWinebarger

NEXT WEEK SEPTEMBER 09

Sunday AM Welcome:

Wes Arabie Prayer:

Nicklas Smith Song Lead:

Howard Goodale

Roland Keith Luke 23:13-25

Lord’s Table: Ron Landis

Sermon: Scott Cain

Dismissal: Tyrone Barthelemy

——————— Sunday PM

Welcome: Wes Arabie

Prayer: Eugene Carter

Song Lead: Stephen Goodale

Lord’s Table: Ron Landis

Sermon: Scott Cain

Dismissal: Paul Macaluso (2)

THIS WEEK SEPTEMBER 02

Sunday AM Welcome:

Steve Tucker Prayer:

Roland Keith Song Lead:

Howard Goodale

Ron Landis I Cor. 10:15-17

Lord’s Table: Ron Landis

Sermon: Scott Cain

Dismissal: Don Robinson

——————— Sunday PM

Welcome: Steve Tucker

Prayer: Stephen Goodale

Song Lead: Paul Macaluso (2)

Lord’s Table: Ron Landis

Sermon: Scott Cain

Dismissal: Jerome Riddick

Service Time

2018 Goal

Last Week

BibleStudy 70 63SundayAM 100 87SundayPM 60 59Wednesday 60 54

Bible Reading Reading

Plan 2018 Goal

Last Week

DailyReaders 45 27Biblein2018 45 15NTin2018 60 34MyPlan2018 60 38

“Praywithoutceasing.”1Thessalonians5:17