1. Welcome to the assembly of the 160th Ave. Church of Christ!
We gather Sunday at 9 AM (class), 10 AM, 5 PM, & Wednesday at 7 PM
Check the bulletin for various announcements

2. Pray for Ben Calderon (Conway, Arkansas)
Carlos and Priscila Rodriguez; Oct. 1, 2017
Manuel Choc; Nov. 2, 2017

3. Pray for Ben Calderon (Conway, Arkansas)

4. Psalms 49:5, 15 NKJV
Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity at my heels surrounds me? But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive me. Selah

5. My Commitment To This Church
Romans 12:1-9

6. My Commitment to This Church. . .
Is preceded by my commitment to Christ Rom. 5:1; 6:3-4; 12:1-2
I. Is preceded by my commitment to Christ (Rom. 12:1-2)
A. In Rom. 5 Paul says we are justified by faith and in Rom. 6 says we are baptized into Christ---both being vital in the remission of sins wherein God accepts our commitment to follow Jesus.
B. v1-2 Once forgiven, we can be a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God constantly transformed by the renewing of our minds.
after becoming a Christian, I quickly learn that part of this renewed mind involves the decision to

7. My Commitment to This Church. . .
To grow, help others grow Rom. 12:3-8
among you. . .
not to think. . .
but to think. . .
II. To grow and help others grow in our commitment to Christ (Rom. 12:3-8)
v3 to everyone who is among you
A. among you often means a church (Col. 4:16) and does so here
1. a church is saints who have committed and agreed to work together
2. when people say “I don’t read about ‘church membership’ in the Bible—is that man-made, organized religion?,” verses like this that show that my commitment to Jesus includes being a member/part of a church.
v3a not to think (of himself) more highly than he ought to think = commitment to continue examining myself
1. Obviously, I must distinguish my opinions from God’s ideas
2. I also must admit that my opinions are not the best decision in every situation
3. Lk. 9:46-49 the traits that make us “the least” help to constantly review how I view myself
4. The work of any group (church, family, business) is hindered when any part thinks more highly than. . ., so my commitment to the church is to examine myself.
v3b-5 but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one... = commitment to be attentive to the gifts others have
1. Thinking of God helps us to think soberly (wise, powerful, just)
2. Sober thinking notices that God has given others a measure of faith
= gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us (v6, some of which are described in v6-8)
Lk. 9: one reason to receive the little child is because what God has given them might benefit you
3. Part of my commitment is to value and seek to benefit from the gifts of others--
a. of what benefit are evangelists, pastors, or teachers without people who value their work?
b. of what benefit are givers if, when help is needed, it is refused or is abused?
c. while marriage gets more attn, do you understand the value of the unmarried and widows, from Ansley to Bayo to Celeste to Mrs. Adams?
- How different would we be without them?
d. I am increasingly aware that my family (my children, my wife, me) needs your gifts.
e. Part of your commitment is to pay attention to and benefit from the gifts of others who are among us.
v6a Having gifts then = commitment to learn and use my gifts
1. Whatever we have is a gift that originates with God, we did not obtain it alone, we did not earn it from God, and we must use it to please God: ministry, teaches, exhorts, gives, leads, mercy, evangelists, pastors, teachers, widows, married, unmarried (Eph. 4:7-11; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; 1 Cor. 7:7)
2. How does God give these gifts? How do I know what gifts I have (if not obvious)?
a. Supernatural gifts were given by apostles’ hands Acts 8:14-17
b. Often gifts are gleaned from other people--think soberly of the most important people in your life
i. what have I learned from them?
ii. what do I have the opportunity to learn from them?
iii. Abigail’s gifts (good understanding 1 Sam. 25) were shaped by being married to a harsh husband
iv. (modern example of ppl here or someone I’ve known)
3. Think soberly about the events, which you did not choose, that shape and sharpen your life and abilities.
a. Do you think Joseph and Job acquired some gifts during suffering?
4. Think soberly about the decisions you have made
5. Go to the Bible to find out what to do with those gifts 2 Tim. 3:17

8. What Gifts? Prophecy Ministry Exhort Give Lead Mercy Apostles
Evangelists
Pastors
Teachers
Married
Unmarried
ministry, teaches, exhorts, gives, leads, mercy, evangelists, pastors, teachers, widows, married, unmarried ()
Rom. 12:6-8; Eph. 4:7-11; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; 1 Cor. 7:7

9. My Commitment to This Church. . .
To grow, help others grow Rom. 12:3-8
among you. . .
not to think. . .
but to think. . .
having gifts then. . .
II. To grow and help others grow in our commitment to Christ (Rom. 12:3-8)
v3 to everyone who is among you
A. among you often means a church (Col. 4:16) and does so here
1. a church is saints who have committed and agreed to work together
2. when people say “I don’t read about ‘church membership’ in the Bible—is that man-made, organized religion?,” verses like this that show that my commitment to Jesus includes being a member/part of a church.
v3a not to think (of himself) more highly than he ought to think = commitment to continue examining myself
1. Obviously, I must distinguish my opinions from God’s ideas
2. I also must admit that my opinions are not the best decision in every situation
3. Lk. 9:46-49 the traits that make us “the least” help to constantly review how I view myself
4. The work of any group (church, family, business) is hindered when any part thinks more highly than. . ., so my commitment to the church is to examine myself.
v3b-5 but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one... = commitment to be attentive to the gifts others have
1. Thinking of God helps us to think soberly (wise, powerful, just)
2. Sober thinking notices that God has given others a measure of faith
= gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us (v6, some of which are described in v6-8)
Lk. 9: one reason to receive the little child is because what God has given them might benefit you
3. Part of my commitment is to value and seek to benefit from the gifts of others--
a. of what benefit are evangelists, pastors, or teachers without people who value their work?
b. of what benefit are givers if, when help is needed, it is refused or is abused?
c. while marriage gets more attn, do you understand the value of the unmarried and widows, from Ansley to Bayo to Celeste to Mrs. Adams?
- How different would we be without them?
d. I am increasingly aware that my family (my children, my wife, me) needs your gifts.
e. Part of your commitment is to pay attention to and benefit from the gifts of others who are among us.
v6a Having gifts then = commitment to learn and use my gifts
1. Whatever we have is a gift that originates with God, we did not obtain it alone, we did not earn it from God, and we must use it to please God: ministry, teaches, exhorts, gives, leads, mercy, evangelists, pastors, teachers, widows, married, unmarried (Eph. 4:7-11; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; 1 Cor. 7:7)
2. How does God give these gifts? How do I know what gifts I have (if not obvious)?
a. Supernatural gifts were given by apostles’ hands Acts 8:14-17
b. Often gifts are gleaned from other people--think soberly of the most important people in your life
i. what have I learned from them?
ii. what do I have the opportunity to learn from them?
iii. Abigail’s gifts (good understanding 1 Sam. 25) were shaped by being married to a harsh husband
iv. (modern example of ppl here or someone I’ve known)
3. Think soberly about the events, which you did not choose, that shape and sharpen your life and abilities.
a. Do you think Joseph and Job acquired some gifts during suffering?
4. Think soberly about the decisions you have made
5. Go to the Bible to find out what to do with those gifts 2 Tim. 3:17

10. What Gifts? Prophecy Ministry Exhort Give Lead Mercy Apostles
Evangelists
Pastors
Teachers
Married
Unmarried
ministry, teaches, exhorts, gives, leads, mercy, evangelists, pastors, teachers, widows, married, unmarried ()
Rom. 12:6-8; Eph. 4:7-11; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; 1 Cor. 7:7

11. My Commitment to This Church. . .
To leave committed to Christ Rom. 12:9
Mt. 5:34; Col. 3:17
III. To leave, committed to Christ Rom. 12:9
A. God has not given a step-by-step procedure for leaving a church
1. Anytime we make a commitment, God is a witness Mt. 5:34
a. we must have His approval to make a commitment of any kind, avoid commit to sin (Col. 3:17)
b. we must have His approval to leave a commitment of any kind (Col. 3:17)
2. When we join or leave God’s people, God is witness
a. joining saints is God’s plan and sometimes leaving saints is God’s plan (Acts 18-19)
- Paul, Aquila, Priscilla left Corinth and went to Ephesus and A/P stayed there
- Apollos left Ephesus and went to Corinth
- Paul came back to Ephesus and two years later, left
b. the decision to abandon God’s people to follow sin adds to our guilt and the church must respond to sin.
c. a variety of circumstances and reasons might require leaving (persecution, work, family needs, disasters, sin, ...)
B. Our love for the Lord and each other should be as obvious when this commitment ends, as it is while we are working together.

12. My Commitment To This Church
Romans 12:1-9
What Does Your life say of your commitment to Christ?
Heb. 11:7 Eph. 2:8-9 Js. 2:25