Volume 25, Number 6 February 10th, 2019

When Jesus went to Gethsemane to pray on the night before He was crucified, the garden was probably a familiar place for the disciples. He had always taken little breaks from the crowds during their time together, so going there probably did not seem strange to the apostles.

This time, they went at night, just after sharing the Passover meal. In that time and culture, people did not normally stay up late into the night, and it had been a full and emotionally-tiring day for the disciples. Jesus had instituted the memorial supper we usually call “communion,” and His words must have seemed like a riddle to them in that moment. At Gethsemane’s gate He had divided the group; only three disciples actually entered the garden with Him. Jesus then left these three at a distance while He went and prayed: Only when soldiers arrived to arrest Him was the whole group was (momentarily) reunited.

Now it becomes clear to the disciples that Jesus’ earlier words – about being arrested, tried by the Jewish rulers, and executed – would come true. They scatter, to avoid being arrested with Him. Peter still wants to know what will happen to Jesus, and so follows Him back into Jerusalem, albeit at a distance (Luke 22:54). He enters the High Priest’s courtyard, where he is confronted and denies the Lord: He wanted to know what would happen, but he wanted to be sure that it didn’t happen to him. Many people want to be the kind of disciple Peter was on that fateful night: They want to follow Jesus, but only from a distance. There is danger in trying to follow Jesus from “afar off.”

Many people want to be “disciples at a distance.” For many, it’s the appeal of security; the blessings and fellowship that come from being “in” Christ. All spiritual blessings ARE in Christ, Ephesians 1:3, and we have EVERYTHING we need for life and

godliness, in Him (2 Peter 1:4). Many would-be disciples seem to think, however, that “a little distance” between themselves and the Savior will let them avoid the “inconvenience” and “embarrassment” of a committed Christian life! Think about those in Matthew 8:22 and Luke 9:60 who promised, “I will follow, but first….” Jesus challenges us to be “fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). In Luke 9:23 and 62, Jesus tells His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” and “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Folks who want to be “disciples at a distance” don’t really want to be disciples.

Trying to “follow at a distance” creates a FALSE sense of security. Many people live in the belief that they and their opinions will be the standard of judgement in eternity. In effect, they are reasoning that “if I ‘feel’ OK about my spiritual condition, then I AM ‘OK’.” Yet Jesus was very plain in Matthew 7:21-23 about those who try to claim salvation without submitting to His will! “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

No doubt about it: Some SHALL be severely surprised at judgement! Revelation 20:15 says those whose names are not written in the book of life will be separated from Him!

(Concludes next week!)

Following Jesus… “From a Distance?” (Part 1) by Dave Rogers

2019 Heart of the Matter Giving Campaign

Founded in 1954 by committed Christians just like yourselves, Camp Inagehi has pro-vided Church of Christ youth with a fun, safe and inviting Christian summer camp ex-perience for over 60 years now. During those 60+ years, an estimated one thousand souls have been baptized and added to God’s Kingdom as a direct result of attending a camp session. Thousands of others have recommitted themselves to serving the Lord as their hearts were pricked by the teachings presented. During the summer, there are four weeks of “overnight” camp, one day camp week, and fall retreat serving the young people in Metro Atlanta churches of Christ. There are also numerous other retreats for youth and other groups throughout the year. Today, the Board of Directors of Camp Inagehi has asked that you consider making a monetary contribution to assist with this great work. These funds collected today will be used to improve and maintain facilities and provide funding for scholarships for children who would otherwise not be able to attend camp. If you are able, please con-sider making a donation today that is above and beyond that of your normal weekly giving. No amount of money is too small or too large. Thank you in advance for your donations. We also ask that you continue to keep Camp Inagehi in your prayers. Instructions on how the funds are to be collected: Congregations may collect the money and send one check or individual

members may send their contribution separately. Checks should be made out to Camp Inagehi. Send all donations to:

Camp Inagehi P.O. Box 1536 Hiram, GA 30141

Bible Bowl Sunday 3-5 pm

Exodus Convention

April 18-21, 2019 “I AM” Exodus

3:14

Snacks:

10 Donna Hagin 24 Theresa Green 3/3 Jenny Gwinn 10 Tina Russell

Youth Events (See David Gulledge with any questions) Feb 10 – Teen Sing at the Rogers’ home. Feb 17 – Area Wide Devo at Cedar Grove Feb 17 – Love Banquet Feb 22-24 – CYC

Mar 17 – Teen Sing at the Boelsterli home. Mar 22 – Youth Night at 6pm Mar 23 – Camp Inagehi Cross Country 5K Trail Run April 14 – Leaderette Tea from 3-4:30. See Sandra Hopkins if you have a daughter in LTL.

With great pleasure Crystin Nash and David Gulledge

invite you to join them at the celebration of their marriage Saturday, March 2, 2019 at One in the afternoon

Frost Chapel at Berry College in Rome, Ga

F a m i l y M a t t e r s Sympathy: We express our deepest sympathy to Sister Linda Runyans’ family and Bro. Don Wood’s family. Sis. Linda was the secretary and Bro. Don was a former elder at Riverdale Church of Christ. Both Sis. Linda and Bro. Don passed away last week. Please keep both families in your prayers. Andy Johnson – Is recovering at home after several days in the hospital. Judy Beckwith – Will have cataract surgery February 13. Dave Rogers – Will have minor knee surgery February 14. Jill Nash – Will have a heart procedure in February. Keith Killingsworth – Is not feeling well. Forrest Chapman – Is home recovering from a minor surgical procedure. Mary Lawrence – Is home recovering from eye surgery. Larry Fields – Is recovering at home following a heart procedure. Patrick Kelly – Hugh & Connie’s son is home, recovering from knee surgery. Donna Holcomb – Annette Benefield’s daughter will have surgery February 26. Her address is 8310 Willows Way, Riverdale, GA 30274. Members With Health Issues: Ray Russell, Lucille Amon, Doris Buckner, Gail Chapman, Lilly Walker, Larry & Margie Fields, Bernice Gillespie, Decieta Lyons, Estell Higginbotham, Wayne & Betty Jo Nash, Sally Wallace, Joann Crook, Doris Buckner, Mattie Williams, Una Fortson, Dennis & Marlene Etheridge, Forest & Burma Chapman, Jim & Sharon O’Brien

Shut-ins: Equillar Butler, David Nash, Ruby Fowler, Lillie Jones, Joe Clark, Frances Elder & Jane Lankford Others With Health Problems: Ed Hall (Charity Nash’s father), Andrew Solo-mon (Ruth Roberson’s father), Lyn Launch & Aden Clarke (Jim & Sharon O’Brien family), Xernonia Fortson (Una’s daughter), Nancy Neff (Amy Nash’s mother), Ashley Johnson, Cassandra Wright (Friend of Cory/Ruth Roberson), Zane Canty (3 yrs. old), Marilyn Newby (member at Forest Park COC), Mark Etheridge (Dennis’ brother), Marvin Cook (Jean Johnson’s brother), Cecil Hester (Tina Russell’s father), Frances Jones (neighbor of Sally Wallace & Denise Greene), Mike Giles (Jim O’Brien), Virginia Poskevich (David’s mother), Mary Mackie (Linda Johnson’s mother Hopkins’ friend), Greg Brown & Caylee Williamson (Terri Durden’s cousin & niece), Betty Land (Jill Nash’s sister), Tom Holcomb (Annette’s son-in-law), Nelda Hayes (Jack Sorrell’s aunt), Nancy Ford (Joann Crook’s sister), Eddie & Lil Cauthen (Joan Poske-vich’s bro./sis.-in-law) and Joe Hand (Jim Scoma’s bro.-in-law) (NOTE: Please help us keep this list up-to-date!)

Calendar Feb 9 – Fayetteville Ladies’ Day Feb 10 - Short Mexico Meet-ing in room 121 Feb 17 – “Banquet Celebrating Love” Our youth are inviting all adults to dinner after the PM Service. Feb 18 – Office Closed for Presidents’ Day Feb 24 – 28 – Progressive Meeting Mar 2 – Nash/Gulledge Wed-

ding Day Mar 8 – Family Game Night at 6pm Mar 10 - Daylight Saving Time Begins Mar 15 – SilverWings hosted by Linda Howell, Allene Scoma & Barbara Edmonds Mar 31 – 5th Sunday Potluck Luncheon April 14 – Leaderette Tea, 3-4:30 hosted by Sandra Hopkins. If you have a daughter in LTL, see Sandra. Apr 19-21 – LTL Convention, Kids and adults will go up

The Youth of the Congregation would like to invite

All the Members to a

February 17th, 2019 at 6:15pm (after the evening worship)

Welcome to our family Jon & Kirsten, Randa & Joellen Mullis identified with Fayetteville last Sunday morning. Please welcome them into our congregational family. Their address is 1704 Westminster Circle, Griffin, GA 30223.

New family pictures will be made Sunday,

F e b r u a r y 17th. If you need a p i c t u r e

(new OR old mem-bers), plan to meet Donna Hagin on the front porch after the morning service to have your picture made! It will only take a few minutes.

Dearest Church Family, From the bottom of our hearts we sin-cerely thank you for everything that has been done for us since Ray’s accident. We are so grateful for every card sent, the texts and calls, the visits, the food brought to us, but most of all for your prayers to our Father on our behalf. A very special thanks to Dave Rogers, Hugh Kelly, and Curtis and Jo Hurt for sitting with us dur-ing surgery and keeping our minds occu-pied with funny stories! Times like these are reminders of the good people that we are blessed to have in our lives. We ask that you continue to pray for us as Ray continues on the long road ahead of heal-ing and recovery. With Love, Ray & Tina Russell and family

Area Calendar: Mar 9 – 11th Annual Christian Men’s Leadership Conference, Central COC in Dalton, Ga. Mar 23 – Ladies’ Day Bremen COC, 9:00 – 12:00 “The Glory of Womanhood” Speaker: Re-bekah Colley Apr 13 – Ladies’ Day at Seneca COC “Recipes of Life” Speaker: Sheila Butt

Assembly Schedule: Sunday

9:00 am Bible Classes 10:00 am Worship Service 5:00 pm Worship Service

10:00 am Tuesday Morning Bible Class

(September 4 - May 14)

7:00 pm Wednesday Night Bible Study

Ministers:

Dave Rogers 361-649-6638

dave.rogers@fcoc.com David Gulledge

(731) 227-9001 (cell) david.gulledge@fcoc.com

Office Administrator: Susie Graham

celiagraham@bellsouth.net

870 Redwine Road Fayetteville, Georgia 30215

770 461-3617 770-461-8231 (fax) Email: mail@fcoc.com

Web Page: http://www.fcoc.com

Members Page User Name: church

Password: members

www.Facebook.com/Fayettevillecoc

http://gsoponline.org/ gsop-fayetteville-campus

Rick Sharpe, Campus Director

Elders: Tom Durden

(770 652-7389 Jim Garner

(770) 461-3197 Greg Nash

(404) 455-1546 Jim Pelfrey

(770) 629-2061 Deacons:

Dennis Graham Eric Hagin

David Hopkins Hugh Kelly

Jerry Kendrix Keith Killingsworth

Andy Johnson Stan Mitchell

David Poskevich Anthony Ravenell

David Riley Rick Sharpe Jack Sorrell

Our Missionaries

Graham, Elizabeth, Joshua, Megan, Bethany & Elijah

McDonald, Scotland,

11 Woodhead Ct, Westfield, Cumbernauld,

North Lanarkshire, G68 9DB

Email: graham@gmcd.net Skype: gmcd105 or www.gmcd.net

Scott, Rebecca & Violet Shananhan Italy

scottshanahan@hotmail.com

Communion Preparation Sandy & Kyndal Garner

Nursery 10 Veronica Brumant 17 Joan Poskevich

24 Leisa Allender Care of Building

1-14 Eric Hagin/Bill Ruffer 15-28 Keith Killingsworth/Larry Rose

Ushers Media Center Helpers 2/10 & 17 Tad Durden

2/24 & 3/3 Reggie Graham

Wednesday Evening Devotional 13 Wayne Nash 20 Dale Findley 27 Paul Lyons

2/10 2/17 2/24

Call To Worship David Gulledge Dave Rogers Greg Nash Scripture Reading Zeke Poskevich Jake Garner Zeke Poskevich Song Leader Coney Johnson Jimmy Garner Rory Bell, Sr.

Prayer James Walker Rory Bell, Sr. Curtis Hurt Preside Lord’s Supper Steve Hopkins Jim O’Brien Jack Sorrell

Server Rick Sharpe Andy Johnson Rick Sharpe Server Keith Killingsworth Gayle Pelfrey Keith Killingsworth

Server Shirley Allender Ben Rogers Shirley Allender Server Garrett Dalman Steve Burdette Garrett Dalman Server Cliff Nash Paul Lyons Cliff Nash Server Tim Durden Steven Williams Tim Durden

Server Eric Hagen Tim Tittle Eric Hagen

Server Anthony Ravenell Ron James Anthony Ravenell Sermon Dave Rogers David Gulledge Dave Rogers Response Elder Greg Nash Greg Nash Greg Nash Announcements David Gulledge Dave Rogers Greg Nash Shepherd’s Prayer Jim Pelfrey Greg Nash Jim Garner Evening Worship Announcements Dave Rogers David Gulledge Song Leader Dale Findley Jimmy Garner Prayer Hugh Kelly Stan Mitchell Progressive Sermon David Gulledge Dave Rogers Meeting Lord’s Supper Rick Sharpe Paul Lyons Lord’s Supper Keith Killingsworth Ron James Prayer Bill Ruffer Brad Hopkins

Worship Assignment Coordinator for February: Reggie Graham

Dear Church, I am humbly grateful for

the countless expressions of good-will and prayers before and during my surgery and recovery. Results may only be temporary but I am grateful for the relief I now feel. Fayetteville is truly a compassion-ate church! In Christian Love, Forrest

Check Out Our New Website

and Members Directory

If anything is not cor-rect email the office. Member pictures will be taken on February 17th.

Teen Sing at the Pelfrey’s

SilverWings Dinner

Schedule 2019 Calendar 6pm

Speaker: Bro. Melvin Otey

Sunday, 4 P.M. “The Meaning of Worship”(East Point COC)

Monday, 7 P.M. “Why God is Worthy of Worship”(Fairview COC)

Tuesday, 10:00 A.M. Bible Study“Exegesis on John 4:”

(Riverdale COC)

Tuesday, 7 P.M. “When Your Seat is Empty”(Tara COC)

Wednesday, 7 P.M. “Preparing for the Presence of God” (Peachtree City COC)

Thursday, 7 P.M. “Preparing for the Presentation to God” (Shannon COC)

2019 Progressive MeetingFebruary 25 – 28, 2019

Theme: “Making the Most of My Worship”