1. WELCOME TO PINE GROVE CHURCH OF CHRIST Pine Grove Church of Christ – 04/10/11

2. Let us Sing Praises to God  Song Leader: Brandon Nolan  First Song – # 1A  Second Song – # 163  Opening Prayer:  Song before Lesson – # 401  Invitation Song – # 555

3. WELCOME TO PINE GROVE CHURCH OF CHRIST Pine Grove Church of Christ – 04/10/11

4. MORE THAN “MERE MEN” Pine Grove Church of Christ – 04/10/11

5. More than “Mere Men”  I Corinthians 3:1-3 –  (NKJ) “are you not carnal and behaving like mere men”  (KJ) “are you not carnal and walk as men”  (ESV) “are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way”  (NIV) “… are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men”

6. More than “Mere Men”  More than “Mere Men”  Changing a Worldly Focus  Christ as Our Foundation  Being the Temple of God  Going the Extra Mile  It’s Not All About Me  Facing Death

7. MORE THAN “MERE MEN” – FACING SUFFERING Pine Grove Church of Christ – 04/10/11

8. Facing Suffering – Common Responses  Exodus 17:3 –  “the people complained against Moses, and said, Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”  Exodus 17:7 –  “they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us or not?”

9. Facing Suffering  Suffering for Christ

10. Suffering for Christ  Matthew 5:10-12 –  “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

11. Suffering for Christ  Acts 5:40-42 –  “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.”

12. Suffering for Christ  I Peter 4:15-19 –  “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”

13. Suffering for Christ  Hebrews 5:8 –  “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.”

14. Facing Suffering  Suffering for Christ  Building Faith & Character

15. Building Faith & Character  James 1:2-4 –  “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials”

16. Building Faith & Character  Romans 5:1-4 –  “we also glory in tribulations (sufferings), knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

17. Building Faith & Character  Hebrews 12:5-12 –  “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?”

18. Building Faith & Character  II Corinthians 12:7-10 –  “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me”

19. Facing Suffering  Suffering for Christ  Building Faith & Character  Longing for Something Better

20. Longing for Something Better  Hebrews 11:30-38, 13-16 –  “now they desire a better, that is a heavenly country”

21. Longing for Something Better  II Corinthians 4:16-5:4 –  “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven.”

22. Longing for Something Better  Psalm 119:67, 71 –  “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn You statues”

23. Conclusion  God does not want us to be like “Mere Men”.  As we face suffering, we realize: Suffering for Christ Building Faith & Character Longing for Something Better

24. Conclusion  Romans 8:18 –  “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

25. God’s Plan of Salvation  Hear the Word of God (Romans 10:17)  Believe in Jesus (John 8:24)  Repent of Sins (Luke 13:3)  Confess Faith in Christ (Matthew 10:32)  Be Baptized in Water (Acts 22:16)  Remain Faithful & Grow(Acts 2:41-42)  If err, repent and pray to God (Acts 8:22)

26. Lord’s Supper  Partaking of the Bread:  I Corinthians 11:24 –  “and when He has given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

27. Lord’s Supper  Partaking of the Fruit of the Vine:  I Corinthians 11:26 –  “In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

28. THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT! PLEASE COME BACK WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 7PM FOR SINGING! Pine Grove Church of Christ – 04/03/11