The Central Message

Schedule of Services: Sunday Coffee & Donut Fellowship……..9:00 a.m. Morning Classes ..................... ...9:30 a.m. Morning Worship ..................... ..10:30 a.m. Evening Worship…..:……….…...5:00 p.m.

Wednesday Bible Study: .. …………………....6:30 p.m.

Address Service Requested

Non Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Permit No. 364 Cleveland, Tennessee

200 25th Street NW, Cleveland, TN 37311

October 2019

Minister Ryan Ary

Associate Minister Bill Johnston

Shepherds Tom Butler

Kevin Gardner Mike Keith

Keith Welder

LOVING OUR ENEMIES Jesus was talking to his disciples in Matthew in what we call the “Sermon on the Mount”, and he discusses how we should

treat those that mistreat us. In concluding this thought he said, “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 4.46-47 ESV)

Jesus says it’s too easy and it’s expected of us to love those that love us back. But what sets us apart is how we love those that don’t love us. What sets us apart is how we treat those that mistreat us.

The world has the idea of “retaliation”, the pay back evil for evil mentality. If someone does something bad to you, if some-one mistreats you, gossips about you, mistreats someone in your family, you get even. Whether it’s in person or on social media we see people “getting what they deserve”. Sadly, before Jesus spoke these words in Matthew and to this day, Christians have struggled to not be like the world when it comes to our enemies. I do believe that until we leave this earth we will in some way struggle with our ene-mies.

Most Christians think it is impossible to “love” our enemies. Why? Because we think what they have done is unforgivable, they don’t deserve our grace, they’ve never asked for forgiveness for themselves. And so, while we may not “hate” them or whi le we may not “retaliate”, we do give them the silent treatment, we ignore them, we go the other way when we see them, we walk out the other door, we make sure that whatever we do we are avoiding them. Now we wouldn’t dare treat those that we love this way, because we love them. We care for them, we want the best for them. Why? Well one reason among many is because they love us.

Jesus comes along and says, if those are the ones whom you only show love to in your life, you are no better than a tax col-lector or a Gentile. Wow! Tax Collectors in Jesus’ day were despised, most of them were corrupt, they gathered Roman taxes from the Jews, and often overcharged them. Being a Gentile wasn’t any better, the Jews despised the Gentiles in more ways than one. This must have been a jaw dropper for his disciples that were listening.

Jesus isn’t finished yet, He then drops this bomb on them in verse 48, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Fa-ther is perfect.” The word used there for “perfect” can mean to be “complete or mature”. Jesus is trying to inspire them to be more like their Father. In context, Jesus is telling us that we need to love just as God loves. God loves the world. In fact, the most quoted verse in all the bible, John 3.16, teaches us this very fact.

Think of all the sinful things you have done, think of all the ways we have disappointed God and remember that we too were enemies of God (Romans 5.10, Colossians 1.21).

You see, it’s easy to love those that love us back. It’s easy to love the lovable, but when it comes to our enemies, what sets us apart, what makes disciples of Christ different, is that we take what the world expects and we do the opposite. The world expects us to get angry, but instead we pray. The world expects us to get even, but instead we do good deeds.

I challenge you to go out and fulfill this command of Christ. Make this a reality in your life. Make this “love” a part of your life. Pray for and do good to your enemies.

Central Church of Christ 200 25th Street N.W. Cleveland, TN 37311 Phone: 423-476-8941

Email: admin@centralcocfamily.com

Website: www.centralcocfamily.com

Times Of Service:

Sunday Coffee & Donuts - 9:00 AM Bible Study - 9:30 AM Morning Worship - 10:30 AM Evening Worship - 5:00 PM

Wednesday Bible Study - 6:30 PM

October 6 October 13 October 20 October 27

Announcements

Song Service Garry Griffith Bryan Morrow Paul Ragland Garry Griffith

Shepherd’s Prayer Tom Butler Keith Welder Kevin Gardner Mike Keith

Scripture & Prayer

Jerry Snyder Joe King

Dallas Jones Beau Burris

John Green Todd Satterfield

Joshua Satterfield Johnny Triplett

Communion Josh Simpson Scott Medlin

Jimmy Isom Paul Ragland

Scott Schannuth Larry Speight

Rusty Gregg Ron Morrow

Dismissal Prayer

Clint Butler Ted Gobble

Kevin Caylor Kevin Gardner

Ron Morrow Scott Morrow

Garlon Campbell Briton Helton

Ushers AM & PM

Bucky Bancroft

Gary Eversole

Jim Lupo

Greg Turner

Bucky Bancroft

Gary Eversole

Jim Lupo

Greg Turner

Nursery AM service

Amy & Bella

Wagner

Rebecca & Shelley Morrow

Patricia & Emily Coggin

Paula Satterfield &

Tammy Johnston

Lord’s Supper

Donuts & Coffee Fellowship

Jim & Andy Skidmore

Danny & Patricia Coggin

Darrell & Rhonda Morgan

Ronny & Ronny Bayless

Trent Giles

If you are unable to pick up the donuts, please be sure to find a replacement. They are prepaid and ready for pick up at Dunkin Donuts by 8:30 a.m. each Sunday. The coffee is already prepared so the doughnuts just need to be set out. Thanks so much!

Serve Lord’s Supper: Jeremy Blackwell, Beau Burris, Joe Womac, Scott Schannuth, Jackson Ary, Steve McConnell, Michael Brown, Luke Thomason

Randy & Jenny King

Reflections from Ryan

THE CENTRAL MESSAGE

NOW IS YOUR CHANCE!

THE CENTRAL MESSAGE

Central’s Benevolent Ministry

Our Local Benevolence Ministry helped

61 families which included 190 people during in the month of September.

A huge thank you to all that have donated food

and/or money to the benevolence fund!

Please let Ronny Bayless know if you would like to help.

J

Our Records For Last Month

September 1 September 8 September 15 September 22 September 29

Sun Morning

Bible Study 168 207 185 173 176

Sun Morning

Worship

No Count 281 290 291 318

Sun Evening

Worship

No Count 110 92 112 Sunday of Service

Contribution $10,980 $10,942 $13,324 $11,196

Wed Evening

Bible Study

144 193 213 202 —

When we think about October, several things come to mind. We think about cooler temperatures (and we hope we get

some soon!), leaves turning colors, fall show stoppers, pumpkins, and the fact that the holidays are just around the corner.

These are a few things; you may be thinking of things not on this short list, but most likely everyone thinks about the leaves

turning the beautiful colors that remind us so vividly that Fall is really here. Folks take trips to the mountains or wherever

there is an abundance of hardwoods to be able to view the amazing canopy of colors that have been painted by the Master

artist, our God! It is wonderful to take the time to be reminded of who is really in control; thank Him, praise Him, and adore

Him. Psalm 33 starting with verse 5b and going through verse 9 says this:

…the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,

and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;

he puts the deeps in storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the Lord;

let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!

For he spoke, and it came to be;

he commanded, and it stood firm.

Can you imagine what our world would be like if all the inhabitants stood in awe of God? Let’s all take the challenge to re-

member to stand in awe of our God often. Whether we are standing in our own yard viewing beautiful leaves or on a tall

mountain in the Smokies, hearing the gentle sounds of a babbling brook or hearing the power of crashing waves in the

ocean, seeing and holding a new grandbaby for the first time or gazing into the eyes while holding the hand of spouse of

many years – let us always be in AWE of our God, for He has created/provided all these things!

We want to say thank you to all who have participated in the Sunday of service opportunities. We have received positive

feedback on these different ways of service. If you have not participated yet, please join us this month. We are planning to

take a break from this ministry during the months of November and December due to the holidays as far as an organized

effort is concerned. We certainly encourage individual efforts of service always and anytime. We will be discussing when we

will start back up in the new year.

Have a wonderful October; we love you all and want everyone to be in heaven,

The Shepherds

From Your Shepherds

3rd: Door Knocking Training Class 4th: Golden Eagles - Riverside Catfish House 5th: House to House Door Knocking 6th: Garden Plaza Worship at 3:00 7th - 11th: Fall Break - City & County 19th: Elders, Deacons, Preacher Meeting 20th: New Treehouse Rotation - Team Jenny 26th: CENTRAL CONNECT - Homeless Shelter 27th: CENTRAL CONNECT - Sunday of Service Trunk or Treat - Date TBD

Sunday in the Summit - 5:00 pm in the Summit Fall Youth Retreat at Camp Neyati Nov 1st - 3rd Sign up by Oct 13th. Cost: $30 per person Middle School, High School & College CYC Feb 28th - March 1st 40 tickets available Cost: $60 per person

Please sign up for these events on the Youth Activities Board or in the Summit

COAT DRIVE

We are collecting winter coats to be

given out on Mondays.

Please hang them on the coat rack outside the office entrance.

NO OTHER CLOTHES, PLEASE!

Thank you for helping those in need!

Holiday Meal Packages We will need 140 meals to be able to provide for the

needs of the community. You may leave your package on the stage, but please

put your ham in the refrigerator in the New Fellowship Hall.

Thank you for always helping where there is a need!

We ask that each package include: 3lb. Canned ham Stuffing Yams Green

Beans Corn Potatoes Mac &

Cheese Cranberries Cake Mix & Frosting