Notes for Sunday, June 6th, 2010

Proverbs 18:24 - A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother…

Ephesians 3:6 - The mystery of the Gospel is that - through the gospel - Gentiles are spiritual heirs with Israel, members of one spiritual body, sharing together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8

Life Through the Spirit

1There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do (because it was weakened by the sinful nature), God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17And if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. This makes Christ our elder brother. He is to be our role model, and we are to treat one another like spiritual siblings…

God’s ideal for Christian relationships is best summed up here:


Psalm 133:1 - Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Romans 12:10 - Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Still, God is aware that we are sinful human beings, and we don’t always get along:

Romans 14:10 - You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.

Romans 14:13 - Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.

1 Corinthians 8:12 - When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

Hebrews 13:1 - Keep on loving each other as brothers.

1 Peter 3:8 - Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

1 John 2:9-11 - Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves their brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; they do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

1 John 3:10 - This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love their brother.

1 John 4:20 - If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates their brother, they are a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

1 John 4:21 - God the Father has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

1 John 3:16 - This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, so we ought [to be willing] to lay down our lives for our brothers.

John 15:13 - There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends…

Have a Blessed Memorial Day Weekend...

John 15:13 - There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends...

Sermon Notes for Pentecost Sunday 2010

Isaiah 28

9Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

10For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

11For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

12To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

13But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

14Wherefore hear the word of the LORD.

James 1:19-27

19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 3

Taming the Tongue

1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

 Acts 2:1-15, 37-41

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"

13Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."

Peter Addresses the Crowd

14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! [And then he began to preach Christ Crucified, dead, and Resurrected, in accordance with the Ancient Prophecies]

37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

THE TONGUE WEIGHS LITTLE, BUT FEW CAN HOLD IT...

Mildred Barwick Adams: May 1, 1915 - May 16th, 2010

Mildred Barwick Adams, 95, of Seven Springs, passed away peacefully Sunday, May 16, 2010 at her home. Mrs. Adams was born May 1, 1915 in Wayne County to the late Alex and Emma Herring Barwick. She was wife of the late Raymond Adams. Mrs. Adams graduated from Seven Springs High School and was a member of Zion United Methodist Church. She was a lifelong homemaker with a special love for her family. Mrs. Adams enjoyed flowers, gardening, canning and freezing. Time with her grandchildren was precious and she enjoyed preparing and cooking meals for her family.

A service of remembrance was held Monday, May 17, 2010 at 7 p.m. at Rouse Funeral Home in LaGrange with Rev. Bud Jenness and Rev. Donald Fader officiating. Interment was on Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Pineview Cemetery.

Mrs. Adams is survived by three children, Jimmy Lewis Adams and wife, Betsy of Mt. Olive, Barbara Davenport and husband, Wayne of Wilmington, Jewel Smith and husband, Linwood of Goldsboro; brother, Damon Barwick of Seven Springs; five grandchildren, English Albertson and husband, Rob, Jimmy Lewis Adams, Jr. and wife, Roxie, Dexter Davenport and wife, Cameron, Jeremy Smith and wife, Tina, Brandon Smith; eleven great-grandchildren, Addilee Turnage, Brooke Albertson, Mallory Albertson, Drew Davenport, Carter Davenport, Sydney Davenport, Luke Davenport, Judson Davenport, Chase Davenport , Addison Smith and Hilton Adams; along with special caregivers, Lynn Lee and Annie Ruth Boyette.

The family received friends Monday following the service of remembrance and at other times in the home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rousefh.com. Memorials may be made to Zion United Methodist Church, c/o Joy Williams, 360 Pineview Cemetery Road, Mt. Olive, NC 28365.

A special luncheon was held for the family following Tuesday's intermnet, prepared by the faithful United Methodist Women's group of Zion UMC.

Homecoming 2010, and a Homegoing...

Derek Davis spoke at our annual Homecoming service this year, and it was truly a blessing.

Early in the morning, at 1 a.m., the 95-year-old Matriarch of Zion UMC, Mildred Adams, passed away peacefully in her sleep. Her memorial service will be tomorrow night at Rouse Funeral Home, at 7 p.m., with Pastor Bud Jenness officiating. Rev. Donald Fader will also be speaking at the service.

Mother's Day Sunday: May 9th, 2010

Scriptural Text for Sunday, May 2nd, 2010

John 13:34-35

"A new commandment I give you, that you love one another. As I have loved you, so you shall love one another. And by this shall others know that you are my followers: That you have love one for another."