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12113 Memorial Parkway SW Huntsville, AL 35803 Phone (256) 883-2960

farleycoc@att.net / www.farleycoc.com Vol. 25 No. 23 Jun 4, 2017

Farley church of Christ

MARK’S MESSAGE

BECOMING AN ENCOURAGER Encouragement helps others, motivates others, and comforts others. It shouldn’t give us anything other

than the satisfaction of knowing we are becoming more like Jesus and how He would have us be. The

word “Encourage” from the Greek is translated in various versions as exhort, admonish, teach, beg, be-

seech, console and comfort. Condensed, they mean to help build up one another. Let’s look at a few of

the characteristics of an encourager to give us a better idea of how we all should be:

AN ENCOURAGER HELPS PROVIDE HOPE – “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). Encouragement is giving someone hope that they can do what they need to do. It’s said that, when we say flattering things to people they will feel good seventeen minutes. Flattery doesn’t last because there is no depth to it. Biblical encourage-ment must have the truth of God in it. Paul’s letter to the church at Antioch gave hope: “The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message” (Acts 15:31). (1 Thessalonians 4:18) reads: “Therefore encourage each other with these words”.

AN ENCOURAGER CONSIDERS OTHERS BEFORE THEMSELVES – The admonition from Paul is to, “In humility consider others better than ourselves. Each should look not only to our own interest, but also to the interest of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). To encourage others we must be interested in them. It’s easy, in today’s culture, for us to become totally absorbed in our-selves. As an encourager, we must try to see life from the perspective of others, and especially those struggling. The best encouragers are those who have walked the path others are walking or can put themselves in their shoes. Paul seemed to know this when he wrote: “Bear one an-other’s burdens” (Gal 6:2).

AN ENCOURAGER SERVES – We must never overlook or try to excuse ourselves from Jesus’ statement: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me”. Serving is doing. Serving is love in action. Feelings do not encourage until they serve. An en-courager is one who sees a need and has compassion and then chooses to help in whatever way he can. Seldom is a visit, a meal, a gift of money, housework, taking the children for a few hours, etc, out of place or unwanted. Often people will not say: “Yes, I need this, or here is something you can do for me”. We must take the initiative.

A healthy church is one that is full of encouragers who do out of love for their brethren and their fellow man. Thank God for those here who encourage by their words and their actions and may God help us all to become the encouragers God would have us be. Mark

Farley Family Special Concerns

CONTINUING PRAYER LIST Inez Burnett, Helen Dye, Ernie Lawson, Murril Martin, John & Donna Ash, Bernard & Barbara Meeks, Jimmy Lodge

SICK and PRAYER LIST Jimmy Lodge has moved to Magnolia Cottage room 6, Jeff Stacy had a successful hernia surgery Friday. He is in some pain but is recovering well, Barbara Meeks has not been doing well the last few weeks, Murril Martin was able to walk with his walker into the doctor’s office this week. He continues to get stronger, Austin Carlton is awaiting an appendectomy. He will have surgery as soon as the infection and the inflammation is gone, Tammi Glover (Joan’s sister) is not doing well and had to have an I.V. put in Thursday, Terry Cloud (Don’s brother) is not doing well, Renee Hill (Pat’s sister) is back in the hospital and is not doing well, FRIENDS AND RELATIVES Shirley Largen (Bill’s sister-in-law), John Maples (Dorothy’s brother) Pearline Montgomery, James Embler (Judy Brown's father), Joe Nave (Stefanie’s father), Tracy Whitehurst (Susan’s cousin), John Watts (friend of Wesley Key), Wayne Ikard, Tammi Glover (Joan’s sister), Brendly Adkins (Bill Largen’s niece), Amy Motes (Sheila’s grandson’s aunt), Patrisha Loyd (Austin & Micah Carlton’s friend), Renee Hill (Pat’s sister), Terry Cloud (Don’s brother), Alice Largen, JW Skipworth (John’s dad), Tammie Glover (Joan’s sister), William Thomas Peeden (Jeanell’s grandad), Steve & Michelle Sisk (Westa Carlton’s friends), Vanessa Peeden (Jeanell’s mother), Jeff Stacy (Jeff’s son), Donna Fox (Amanda’s mother), Traci Manners (April Gough’s friend)

Sermon Notes

BECOMING ENCOURAGERS I. God commands that we be encouragers.

A. Scriptures—

B. A wonderful example of encouragement in the 1st century church is _______________________

II. The Characteristics of an Encourager in today’s Case Study

(1) An Encourager Gives ____________________________________________________________

Case Study Example Passage _____________________________________________________

We not only encourage with our words but also with our _______________________________

(2) An Encourager accepts ___________________________________________________________

Case Study Example Passage _____________________________________________________

(3) Encouragers get excited about _____________________________________________________

Case Study Example Passage _____________________________________________________

(4) Encouragers give others a _________________________________________________________

Case Study Example Passage ______________________________________________________

Farley News and Events THANKS—A very special thanks goes to our elders on behalf of the congregation for the

prayer meeting they organized. We appreciate our shepherds for their spiritual oversight and love. We love you!

NEW WEBSITE—In today’s culture it’s no surprise that one of the main tools people use to know what church they want to visit and possibly attend is the internet. Therefore, how we are represented on the internet is very important for that reason and many more. Our website has been under construction for a while now and is almost completed. It has a fresh new look and is informative and inviting. We would like to thank Susan Bridges for engineering our new site and for Lindell Smith for assisting her. Come check us out at www.farleycoc.com. The website will be further developed in time.

SUMMER SERIES—Our Summer Series will begin Wednesday! We are priveledged and blessed to have brother, Nickie Pressnell from the Neel Church of Christ in Morgan County. His sermon is entitled The Old Man & the Mirror. Come and be edified from the word of God and Christian fellowship and edify our speaker and your brethren by your attendance.

PACESETTERS—If you are 55 or older you are invited to join the food, fellowship and fun at our monthly Pacesetters meeting this Wednesday at 10:00.

LADIES LUNCH OUTING—The next outing will be on Monday, June 12th to Another Broken Egg. Carpool from the building at 10:15. See Cassie Welsh for more information.

CARE PROGRAM—Care group 1 will meet in the annex after evening worship. A BBQ meal will be provided.

40 DAYS OF PRAYER—We are beginning our 5th week of 40 Days of Prayer. This is a time when we focus on specific people and ministries in prayer as a church family. We are doing something a little different this year than we have in previous years. (1) You should receive a daily prayer schedule. This schedule is divided into categories to pray for each week. Pray with your family, your spouse and individually. (2) We have a prayer request box in the foyer for prayer requests. Write your request down on the provided paper and put them in the box. Our Shepherds will be praying specifically for these re-quest in our prayer meeting and privately (please indicate private or public on your re-quest). (3) We will have a Shepherd guided prayer meeting close to the end of the 40 days. (4) We are having a PRAYER ENRICHMENT sermon series on Sunday night. (5) We will have a special prayer service conducted by some of the men of the congrega-tion.

SUNDAY EVENING SERMON SERIES—PRAYER ENRICHMENT. Tonight’s lesson is HOW SHOULD I PRAY? We will be looking at the various parts of prayer mentioned and taught by the Apostle Paul and by our Lord.

Area Congregation Activities (See posted flyers for more details)

Birthday/Anniversaries—June

Charles Merrell—3rd Austin Carlton—12th Inez Burnett—21st

Kenny & Andrea Reynolds—4th Lindell & Sharon Smith—6th John & Donna Skipworth—9th Mickey & Cressy Maples—10th Bill & Trenda Largen—20th

Sunday Morning Worship Song Leader………….…………..Steve Carlton Opening Prayer….............................Ken Taylor Comments……..…...…………....Lindell Smith Communion……………....Don Wood, Kenny

Reynolds....................Bill Largen, Micah Carlton Bible Reading….......................... Austin Carlton Sermon……………..………….……Mark Little Closing Prayer…...........................…Luke Little Greeters……………...............Steve C, Robert N Visitor Cards……..........................Noah Carlton Audio Visual………........................John Carlton Count Contribution ……………Maples, Wood

Sunday Evening Worship Song Leader………........................John Carlton Opening Prayer….......................Stephen Welsh Sermon……………..........................Mark Little Closing Prayer……...……….....Mickey Maples Audio Visual…………………....Austin Carlton

Wednesday Evening Worship Jun 7th Song Leader……........................Stephen Welsh Devotional……….…...................Summer Series Closing Prayer…..….....................Noah Carlton Audio Visual……..…………...….Lindell Smith

Elmcroft Service Service… .……...……………….....John Carlton

Grandview Gardens Service……..……..……………....Steve Carlton

Those Serving in June Communion Preparation...........Cassie Welsh Building Lock-up…….……..……Mark Little

WELCOME! We’re glad you’re here today. We hope you will find the worship to be in accordance with the word of God. For those in need of a nursery, ours is located in room 4. Please feel free to ask questions and come back and be with us anytime you have the opportunity. We have bible classes for all ages.

Regular Schedule of Services AM Bible Class……………...……………9:00 AM Worship…………..….……………..10:00 PM Worship………………..…………….5:00

first Wednesday morning of the month Pacesetters (55+) 10:00

Wednesday Evening Class……..………..7:00

Staff

(Elder) Lindell Smith……………...585-2244 (Elder) Sean Gough………………..498-0539

(Deacon) Murr il Mar tin……...…….829-9554 (Youth) Steve Car lton……………..880-0294 (Minister) Mark Little……………..431-3780

Our Record for week of

May 28, 2017 Sunday School……...……….……………….39 Morning Worship……………..…………….53 Evening Worship……………………………31

Offering……………..….……………….$2,339 Budget…………………….……………..$2,857 Wednesday Classes..…………...……………27

PULPIT PREVIEW AM—Becoming Encouragers PM—Series—Prayer Enrichment Lesson 2 How Should I Pray?