Tinney Chapel Today

STANDING ON THE PROMISES: Tinney Chapel UMC's quintessential Kids Choir sang the old standard hymn, Standing On The Promises, at two venues today. After performing at an early Episcopal Church service, they returned to sing at their home chuch, under the direction of Gabrielle Mattox. In photo, left to right: Kailey Hensley, Madison Crow, J.T. Crow, Matthew Stanley, Zack Hensley, Kenny Crow. Singers not pictured: Ashley Noble, Parker Smith, Peyton Smith and Presley Smith. Photo by Angela Wylie.

CHAPEL NEWS TODAY:

NEW MEN’S SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS STARTS SUNDAY, OCT. 3.

The new men’s Sunday School Class, led by Bill Knoop, will read and discuss the book, The Case For Christ, by Lee Strobel. Please let Bill know if you intend to participate, so he can order enough books.

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MOTHER’S DAY OUT MINISTRY FOR TINNEY CHAPEL IS UNDER WAY

Heidi Crow and Sadie Jordan now coordinate a twice-a-week, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., fee-based Mother’s Day Out community outreach Ministry at Tinney Chapel UMC on Tuesdays & Thursdays. Spread the word.

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DON'T FORGET THE "SPECIAL" BIBLE DISPLAY DURING RURAL LIFE SUNDAY

"Each Bible should be accompanied by a sheet of paper describing what it is that makes it special," says event coordinator Jenna Nelson. "Perhaps it is your first Study Bible. Or maybe you received it as a special gift. Or perhaps it commemorates a special event in your life, such as birth, graduation or marriage. Bibles can be special for any number of reasons: Please share yours with our congregation and visitors on Sunday, September 26.”

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SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS TOPICS TODAY:

WISE ONES, Frankie Brewer: Power For Deliverance.
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LADIES BYKOTA, Peggy Boyd: Knowing God Through Jesus.
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OVERCOMERS: Jenna Nelson: CHARLES STANLEY STUDY: FEELING SECURE IN A TROUBLED WORLD! (This is a multiple-week study.)
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YOUTH: Stephen Graham: Journey Through The Bible (Quiz) Continued.
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CHILDREN: Linda Hallman: Jesus Goes To Synagogue School.
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PAIRS & SPARES, Joe Dan Boyd: 2 Timothy 2: Where The Right Word Is Everything!

Pairs & Spares Class Handout is below:

MOMENTS OF TRUTH (Life lessons # 235)

Take home lessons from studying 2 Timothy 2 and related Scripture:

1. The Apostle Paul here reminds us to keep in touch with Christ, whose grace provides the power that strengthens us for warfare against the evil one. Our challenge is to maintain constant communion with Christ that we might always be strong Christian soldiers, marching as to war.

2. Paul suggests there is a right way and many wrong ways to interpret the Gospel Message of Life in The Spirit. Our challenge is to earnestly seek understanding that we may be fruitful in obeying the Law of Christ.

3. In this Letter, Paul emphasizes that our claim to imputed righteousness depends on the firmness of our faith and obedience to Christ’s teachings. Our motivation is our love for Him and for each other.

4. Paul’s message in this Letter includes strong reminders against “majoring in the minors,” such as pious nitpicking squabbles about degrees of meaning in the words used to proclaim our Christian doctrine.

5. We are called upon by the Apostle to be role models in the proper interpretation and proclamation of Scripture. Our challenge is to do our homework while seeking the Mind of Christ.

6. Paul stresses our call to be gentle listeners, unifiers of the church and capable teachers who can keep cool under pressure.

TODAY’S DATE: 09-19-04

Pairs & Spares
Sunday School Class
Tinney Chapel UMC
Winnsboro, Texas

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT SUNDAY: 09-26-04

READ 2 TIMOTHY 3

Afterwards, reflect upon these things:

1. Terrible times in the last days.
2. A laundry list of what not to do.
3. A form of godliness but denying its power.
4. Persecution for those who live for Christ.
5. Wisdom from the holy Scriptures.
6. All Scripture is God-breathed.
7. Men of God thoroughly equipped.

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COMMUNITY LINKS TODAY:

TO READ THE SEPT.17 ISSUE OF THE NORTH TEXAS METHODIST REPORTER ON LINE, GO TO:http://www.ntcumc.org/ArcUMR/2004/040917mr.html

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TO READ THE AUG.27 ISSUE OF THE NORTH TEXAS METHODIST REPORTER ON LINE, (including the column, "Our Bias For Action," written by Rev. Fred Durham, former Tinney Chapel UMC Pastor, former Winnsboro Mayor and guest preacher at Tinney Chapel's upcoming Rural Life Sunday, September 26, go to: http://www.ntcumc.org/ArcUMR/2004/040827mr.html

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Link to the Paris-Sulphur Springs District website (below):
http://www.ntcumc.org/PSS/index.html

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WORSHIP SERVICE TODAY:

Songs:

Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing, There Is Power In The Blood, Sweet Sweet Spirit, Thou Art Worthy.

SPECIAL MUSIC BY THE TINNEY CHAPEL QUINTESSENTIAL KIDS CHOIR:
Standing On The Promises

Morning Prayer & Lord’s Prayer: Pastor Duncan Graham
LITURGY BY ASSOCIATE PASTOR GENE MILLER:
Call To Worship
Offertory Prayer
Doxology
Gloria Patri
Apostles Creed

OUR SERMON TODAY:

Senior Pastor Rev. Duncan Graham’s topic was "Jesus: Power And Authority," based on Matthew 8:5-13:

8:5 When Jesus arrived in Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him,
8:6 "Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and racked with pain."
8:7 Jesus said, "I will come and heal him."
8:8 Then the officer said, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed!
8:9 I know, because I am under the authority of my superior officers and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, 'Go,' and they go, or 'Come,' and they come. And if I say to my slaves, 'Do this or that,' they do it."
8:10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd, he said, "I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all the land of Israel!
8:11 And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.
8:12 But many Israelites – those for whom the Kingdom was prepared – will be cast into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
8:13 Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, "Go on home. What you have believed has happened." And the young servant was healed that same hour.

----The New Living Translation of the Bible

“A striking thing that we notice about this Scripture is how much power and authority is assumed by the Gentile Roman officer to be at the command of Jesus, a Jew,” said Pastor Graham. “It’s particularly striking when we recall that the Romans generally regarded as inferior those people who had been conquered by Rome, and were also occupied by Roman troops. Yet, he plainly assumes that the power and authority of Jesus far exceeds his own or that of anyone else in Roman authority. Certainly, he knows of no one else with the power and authority to heal his servant.

“Power gives us the force to accomplish a task,” emphasized Pastor Graham. “One might even call it the explosiveness to get it done, since the Greek word in this case is the same one from which we also get the English words dynamo and dynamite! These two words—dynamo and dynamite—are what Jesus is all about: He is a force, a power, an authority. Think about it. We use dynamite to shatter rock in a massive way to construct dams and highways, for instance. The Roman officer knows that Jesus is capable of mighty things.

“Why did not everyone see Jesus for what He was?” The Pastor’s question was largely symbolic, even rhetorical. “Our answer might be to ask another question: Why does not everyone today see Jesus for what He is, with ultimate power and authority? After all, even the earthly Jesus had power over the natural forces of the world. He calmed waters, stopped winds, walked on water. No one can do that today, despite the story I heard recently about someone who purported to stop Hurricane Ivan by throwing baby powder at it. Needless to say: That did not work.

“Jesus had the authority to distribute bread and fish, multiplied many times over, on at least two occasions in Scripture,” added pastor Graham. “He did it as a demonstration of His creative power before people, just as He healed the sick, the blind, the lepers and those with withered hands. He cured all things that evil forces could throw at Him. He healed multitudes! He has such power and authority, yet so many of His own people saw it only with their natural eyes, and it made no difference in their faith.

“Yet, along comes this elite Roman officer with every reason NOT to believe in Jesus because the Romans were often quite disdainful, even contemptuous, of the conquered people under them,” explained the Pastor. “But, in this case, the Roman officer comes humbly to Jesus with his request for the healing of his servant. It’s also somewhat remarkable that the Roman officer seemed to care genuinely about his servant. So, all in all, this was quite an event: A Roman officer telling Jesus that he is not worthy to have Jesus under his roof, but he understands that Jesus need not be there personally to effect His miracle of healing! He knows that Jesus can accomplish the healing act just by speaking a word of authority! In other words, the Roman officer realizes that even the Words of Jesus carry both authority and power.

“Indeed that is still true,” said the Pastor. “The Words of Jesus are more powerful than armies, kings or presidents. Ultimately, Jesus even asserts His power and authority over death itself by overcoming it through His Resurrection! The power and authority of Jesus are complete and ultimate. There is none greater. His Name is the basis for our Salvation.

“To the Roman officer, Jesus said: ‘Go your way. It is done.’ And it was so. Thus, Jesus has complete power and authority over all that is. And we may be sure there will come a time when Jesus will exercise that power and authority in the final outcome of our lives—yours and mine. Also in today’s Scripture, Jesus says that many will come from all over the world, and I will tell you about that in tonight’s sermon. The sons of the kingdom will not enjoy that event because of their unbelief. I say to you, today, church: Too many walk in unbelief of Jesus Christ. They may walk in unbelief for many reasons. But, I say to you that if we meet the criteria displayed by the Roman officer in today's Scripture, we can rejoice in the power and authority of Jesus Christ.

“That power and authority were given to Jesus by God the Father,” said Pastor Graham. “Jesus said in yet another Scripture that He was given all power and authority on heaven and on earth. We must recognize that all power and authority rests with Jesus Christ. He is the One we look to for answers.”

In his closing prayer, Pastor Graham told God that we recognize afresh the greatness of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and we recognize that He possesses all power and authority in heaven and earth and that He bestows that power on people. May we present the message of the Gospel by sharing the Truth, giving the world the Truth of Jesus Christ in power and authority. In His glorious Name we pray. Amen.”

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