The Biblical Messenger

9th & Main
CHURCH OF CHRIST
San Angelo, Texas

Office Phone: 325-653-4642
Toll Free: 888-276-2503
EMail: main@9thandmaincoc.org

ASSEMBLIES
SUNDAY

Bible Classes	9:30 A.M.
Morning Worship	10:30 A.M.
Evening Worship	5:00 P.M.

WEDNESDAY

Bible Classes

7:00 P.M.

ELDERS

John Mayfield	Benny Rogers
Jim Vinson

DEACONS

Don Cheek

Dennis Reed

MINISTER

John Hobbs

It's Better

It's better sometime to be blind
     To the faults of some poor fellow human being.
Than to view them with visions unkind,
     When there's good we ought to be seeing.

It's better sometime to be dumb,
     Than to speak just to be criticizing.
Though it seems to be given to some
     To recall traits both mean and despising.

It's better sometime to be deaf,
     Than to hear only lying and pander,
For there's nothing so low as theft
     Of a good name destroyed by slander.

Author Unknown

Our Part

Not once in life perhaps, 'tis ours
     To reach a long sought goal;
But we may pause beside the road
     To help another soul.
Not once to us may come the call
     To play the hero's part;
But we, perchance, may find some word
     Of courage to some heart.

PAGE 3

Answer to last week's question.

It was Job who said, " I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all." (Job 16:2). [What biblical character said, "I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all?"]

This weeks Bible question:

What little read Old Testament book is quoted 107 times in the New Testament?

Answer next week.

NEW MEMBERS

Branyon and Alana May have placed membership with us. They have been working in our teaching program for several months. We welcome Branyon and Alana to Ninth & Main.

The volunteer llist for 2004 is on the bulletin board. Pick a month that is convienient for you and sign up to prepare communion of drive the van.

If anyone has anything they would like to see run in the bulletin, they need to get with Ed. The bulletin is generally written on Monday and updated and mailed on Tuesday. It is here for you - so use it.

Present plans call for Glynn Langston to teach the auditorium adult Bible class on Sunday, November 23. Many of you will remember Glynn as the blind minister who was a missionary to Ireland for several years. We have been supporting Glynn and his work for many years. Let us all come out and hear Glynn give us an update on his work.

COMING EVENTS

November 02 -	Greek class - here at the Building 4 P.M.
November 03 -	Elders meeting here at the building. 7 P.M.
November 23 -	Bro. Glynn Langston will be here to teach the auditorium Bible Class.

What can I do (To help my church to grow)?

Approach people: We often leave this undon. Searching for the perfect time to approach someone with the Gospel usually means it never gets done. Once we have preapred, we must approach them and bring up God. Phillip was told by the Spirit to go to the Eunuch, and he ran to approach him in the chariot (Acts 8:29-30).

The Institute of American Church Growth polled 4000 people as to how they were influenced to first attend the services of the church where they eventually became members. These statistics were found:

2-3% just walked in. . .

2-3% came through church programs. . .

5-6% were attracted by the preacher. . .

1-2% came out of a special need. . .

1-2% were reached by visitation by church members. . .

4-5% came through Sunday School class.

1/2 of 1% crusade or meeting

75% were converted throughy the influence of friends and relatives

Copied

PAGE 4

From the pen of John Hobbs:

Are We fulfilling Our Function?

A ship in a harbor is safe. But, that is not what a ship is for! A ship is designed to be at sea transporting men and materials through all kinds of weather in order to arrive safely at a destination. While a ship is in harbor, yes...it is safe. But, a ship was not designed to stay in harbor.

When we as Christians come together to worship God, we are safe and we are being obedient to God. In worship, we praise God for His mercy and grace and receive strength to carry on through the week. However, we have been saved to serve! We leave the building to teach and model Christ. Our function as Christians is to teach others and bring others into a saving relationship with Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). We are commanded to "make disciples." This is what we must do! This is our function! Are we fulfilling our function?

I believe that every little thing we do is important in preaching theGospel to the whole creation (Mark 16:15-16). Every invitation we give, every Bible Correspondence Course we send out, every prayer we offer, every dollar we give, every good work we perform has a main function of bring others to Christ. We are told to be "zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14), and "maintain good works" (Titus 3:8).

Let us strive to fulfill our function to reach out to the lost and not to be content with restting safe in harbor.

In Christian Love,
John Hobbs

"THE BIBLICAL MESSENGER" is published weekly in print and electronically by church of Christ, 901 N. Main St., San Angelo. TX 76903-4057.

To subscribe or unsubscribe click on link below and send the resulting email.
Subscribe Please
Unsubscribe Me Please
Change email address Please enter both OLD and NEW email addresses in the message body.
If you have comments or suggestions click Comments and enter your message. Thank You! ALL comments welcome!