Bulletin 12-10-19

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Vol. 44 December 10, 2019 Number 48
ARE WE TRYING TO STAND ON SOLID ROCK
OR SHIFTING SAND?
Barry Kennedy
“On Christ the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.” These are
the words Englishman Edward Mote wrote as the chorus of his song “My Hope is Built
on Nothing Less,” which is arguably one of the most popular hymns sung by those
professing Christianity today. Mr. Mote is quoted to have said concerning his
upbringing, “So ignorant was I that I did not know if there was a God.” Mr. Mote had a
change of life having heard the Word of God and eventually became a preacher for a
denominational church. His song has brought much comfort to many people seeking
hope through the trials of this life. However, the only way to have the hope expressed
in this hymn is to be standing upon “THE ROCK.”
Are we standing on the Solid Rock of Christ’s blood? Jesus emptied
Himself literally for all mankind. “Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God
a thing to be grasped, but emptied (Emph. Mine BK) himself, taking the form of a
servant, being made in the likeness of men;” (Philippians 2:5-7 ASV). Having this
mindset cannot help but to produce an appreciation for the great sacrifice of shedding
His blood on our behalf represents. The question is; however, are we STANDING on
that rock. Standing implies a continuation in the present state. Six verses in the New
Testament Paul used the words “stand fast” (1 Cor. 16:13; Gal. 5:1; Phil. 1:27; 4:1; 1
Thess. 3:8; 2 Thess. 2:15). Every one of these carry the idea of continuous standing, or
don’t let anything cause you to stop standing. Of course, one must first be in or covered
by the blood of Christ to begin with before he can stand therein. When one obeys the
gospel of Christ he is washed in the blood of Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Revelation 1:5).
Clearly, no one can stand inside and outside at the same time. So again, are we
standing washed in the blood of Christ? Standing outside of the blood of Christ is like
standing upon shifting sand.
Are we standing on the Solid Rock of God’s grace? “For by grace are ye
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2:8).
Where would anyone be without the grace of God? On shifting sand is the only answer
that adequately answers that question. Shifting sand is unstable and virtually
impossible to stand upon without falling. Spiritually speaking, it is impossible to stand.
Jesus said that the house built upon the sand would fall and great would be the fall of it
(Matthew 7:27). Of course, the context of Jesus’ statement was one concerning hearing
the Word of God and doing what it says. Without the grace of God, we would not have
--article continued page 2--
ELDERS
Mike Childers..............397-6453
Dennis Hallmark .........255-5557
Mark Hitt.....................322-0917
Bobby Lindley.............260-9193
DEACONS
Wade Bryan.................419-5552
William Harris.............416-8149
Ricky Lindsey .............255-8136
Jeff Mansel..................871-0357
Jimmy Spearman.........840-8957
Michael Wilson ...........891-0891
PREACHER
Barry Kennedy ... (931)787-7108
SECRETARY
Renee Childers
Office...........................842-6116
Fax...............................842-7091
E-MAIL
eastmaincoc38804@gmail.com
WEB PAGE
eastmaincoc.com
SUNDAY SERVICES
Worship....................... 9:00 a.m.
Bible Classes............. 10:15 a.m.
Worship..................... 11:15 a.m.
Singing or Devotional
Last Sunday of the Month
MID-WEEK
SERVICES
Wednesday Classes .....7:00 p.m.
EAST MAIN CHURCH OF CHRIST
1606 East Main Street
P. O. Box 1761
Tupelo, Mississippi 38802
“Thou shalt observe to do all that they inform thee”
(Deut. 17:10)

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His Word to hear (Galatians 1:6-9). The grace of
God gives man the hope which works as an anchor
to our souls; holding us steadfast through all the
storms this life can and will throw at us. “Which
hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure
and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the
veil;” (Hebrews 6:19). If we are trying to stand
without the grace of God, then we are standing on
the shifting sand.
Will we be standing on Christ the Solid
Rock when He comes again? Again, one must first
be “in Christ.” Jesus preached this message while
here on earth. “He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned” (Mark 16:16). Paul reminded the
congregation at Galatia how they became members.
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in
Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been
baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians
3:26-27). One must not forget that the chapter
begins with a reprimand. “O foolish Galatians, who
hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the
truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been
evidently set forth, crucified among you?”
(Galatians 3:1). Judgment is certain (Hebrews 9:27).
Are we standing on Christ the Solid Rock, or will
we fall in the shifting sands of the world?
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast,
unmovable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not
in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ladies’ Ornament Swap
All the ladies are invited to Joyce
Burney’s home this Tuesday, Dec. 10
at 6:00 p.m. Please bring your
favorite party food and a wrapped
Christmas ornament.
Thank You Note
East Main Church of Christ,
I just want to personally thank you for the
donations you continue to give for our cancer patients.
As the social worker, I hear stories of sadness daily.
When you all stop by to give snacks & little happies,
our patients light up with joy. The food bags that were
recently donated were wonderful. I can not express to
you how thrilled our patients were to know that
someone was thinking about them. So again, thank
you for being a blessing! Lauren Thompson, LMSW
NMMC Radiation Oncology
Congratulations
Congratulations to Haley & Josh
Kemp in the birth of their twin
sons, Aiden Robert (5 lbs. 8 oz.,
18 ¾ in.) & Preston Scott (6 lbs.
1 oz., 19 ½ in.), on Dec. 4.
Mother and both babies are home doing well. Scotty
& Wanda Bishop are the proud great-grandparents.
Ladies’ Monthly
Fellowship
The next ladies’ fellowship class on the Digging
Deep book will be held this Thursday, Dec. 12 at 6
p.m. in the multipurpose room.
Men’s Tool Swap
The men are invited to the
multipurpose room on Tuesday, Dec.
17 at 6:30 p.m. for a Tool Swap.
Please bring a $20 wrapped tool to
play “dirty Santa” and your own meat
to grill. Sides will be provided.
ALL Youth Caroling
All the youth of the
congregation are invited to
meet in the multipurpose room
Thursday, Dec. 19 at 5:00 p.m.
for supper and then to go
Christmas caroling to some of
the senior members’ homes.
John Duke stationed in Long Beach, MS
Caleb Williams stationed in Iraq
Rob Cross & family stationed in South Korea

3. Daily Bible Reading
December 11..................................2 Thessalonians 1-3
December 12.......................................... 1 Timothy 1-6
December 13.......................................... 2 Timothy 1-4
December 14.........................................Titus-Philemon
December 15.............................................Hebrews 1-5
December 16.............................................Hebrews 6-9
December 17.........................................Hebrews 10-11
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Birthdays: Michelle Clifton (Dec. 11), Mikki
Gilliland (Dec. 11), Jacob Bradley (Dec. 13),
Larry Long (Dec. 13), Lynn Sanderson (Dec.
15), Twinette Wallace (Dec. 16). Anniversaries:
Wesley & Raleigh Bass (Dec. 17).
Our Sick
Pete Barber continues oxygen at home due to fluid
in his lungs. Mikki Gilliland’s uncle, Shirley Roberts,
has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
On-Going Illnesses
Mary Lou Walden, Jean Mounce, Steve Kelly,
Frankie Estes, Donny Dulaney, Adam McCurley,
Mary Jordan, Bretta Robinson, James Goddard, Bill
Goff, Leroy Brown, Jadon Parish, Jerry Smith, Mitch
Maclean, Mary Starz, Sheba Tuggers, Ruby Clark,
Homer Smith, Jill Rice, Ann Letteri
Nursing Homes
Evelyn Willis, Nancy Haywood, Randy Attaway,
Shirley McCarthy, Mary Southern, Veona Harris,
James Nichols
Girls’ Joyful Rebellion
The girls’ Joyful Rebellion are invited
to Beth Reed’s home on Friday, Dec.
20 at 6 p.m. for a Christmas party.
Please bring a wrapped pair of
Christmas socks.
Home Devotional
In what chapter of the Bible do you find?
Twelve Apostles..................................... Matthew 10
Death of Jesus ........................................ Matthew 27
Birth of Jesus.................................................. Luke 2
Birth of the church .......................................... Acts 2
Lord’s Supper..................................1 Corinthians 11
List the books of the New Testament:
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John,
Acts, & the Letter to the Romans,
I & II Corinthians, Galatians & Ephesians,
Philippians, Colossians, I & II Thessalonians,
I & II Timothy, Titus & Philemon,
Hebrews, James,
I & II Peter,
I & II & III John,
Jude & Revelation
List the divisions of the New Testament:
❖ Gospels
❖ History
❖ Letters
❖ Prophecy
List the 8 writers of the New Testament:
❖ Matthew
❖ Mark
❖ Luke
❖ John
❖ Peter
❖ Paul
❖ James
❖ Jude
Can you tell a Bible story from the
following picture?
Outreach Item for December
Deodorant

4. Men to Serve Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019 a.m.
Announcements................................Michael Wilson
Bible Reading.............................................Ian Willis
Opening Prayer ...........................Bobby Joe Lindley
Lord’s Supper
Hugh Scribner & Dale Dulaney
Serve Congregation, East Side:
Andy Baldwyn, Lee DuBois, Ben DuBois
Serve Congregation, West Side:
Larry Bates, Jackson Voyles, Casey Gullett
Lead Singing..............................................Mark Hitt
Closing Prayer........................................ Chad Willis
Ushers ..............David Ramseyer & Dillard Scribner
Please meet in the library by 8:45 a.m.
Sunday Afternoon
Opening Prayer .........................................Tim Davis
Closing Prayer............................................Joe Smith
Lead Singing......................................... Wade Bryan
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Prayer................................................ Stuart Childers
Lead Singing....................................Michael Wilson
Contact William Harris (416-8149) if unable to serve.
The elders kindly request that men leading in public
worship wear the best dress clothes they have.
Greeters ........................ Dennis & Debbie Hallmark
.....................................Mike & Hilda Ratliff
Prepare Lord’s Supper—December............. William
& Marla Harris
Nursery (1st
worship)................ Dundee & Hallie Donald
(2nd
worship)...................Kristie Webb & Susan Willis
Pantry.......................................... Canned vegetables
Attendance & Contribution
Mid-Week, 12-4-19..............................................150
Sunday 1st
Worship, 12-8-19 ...............................162
Sunday Bible Class ..............................................172
Sunday 2nd
Worship.............................................166
Contribution (budget $7,900)..........................$9,031
The Christmas Card Envelopes
have been put on the bulletin boards down
the east hallway for you to place your holiday
cards in for the members here at East Main.
If anyone has accidentally been left off, please
let the office know and we’ll get you one put up!