Character is greater than wealth or power |
Lesson Scripture: Matthew
3:1-11,11:7-10
Lesson Aims: to
understand John's role,
to realize that God val- Bl
ues character above ^k
achievement, and to
commit to our support
ing role in spreading
God's word.
Lesson: Today our B
focus is on the adult life
of the forerunner. The ^^k
first lesson this quarter BH
records his miraculous il]^?
conception. Elizabeth is IB
six months pregnant
when Mary visits her.
John leaps in his mother's
womb, and we hear no more of
him until 30 some years later.
Zachariah was instructed by
the angel on how he was to be
raised. "Raised as an ascetic
("The Oxford Companion to the
Bible"), he resembles prophets
of old. Living in the wilderness,
eating locust and honey and
wv -l
wearing camel hair homespun,
he doesn't drink from the vine.
The people haven't heard
from God in some 400 years. He
burst forth in Matthew 3 with
prophetic zeal, announcing,
"The kingdom of heaven is at
hand." This phrase means the
kingdom of God. God is sover
eign ("UMI Direction Teacher").
The people have become lax
toward God, so when John
preaches, the message inspires
? 1 t ? t T T"
them to repent. there is one coming after him
As an outward show of an who is mightier than he and will
inward change, John baptizes, baptize with the Holy Ghost.
Note that his practice John's message is clear and
doesn't grant forgive- forthright.
||J ness of sins. Baptism is John, however, doesn't occu
' symbolic in that the py center stage. Jesus does. John
"old man" dies and is recognizes what he is to do; he
raised a "new creation." knows his strengths and limita
John states that judg- tions. Also note that he doesn't
ment is near, the Messi- play the "family" thing. Because
ah comes, and all he is so honest, he risks ridicule
should be ready. and possible death to fulfill his
Yes, he has follow- ministry. Yet he stays the course,
ers, and the religious Careful examination reveals
, | hierarchy watches him that John is not only humble, but
as well. sure of his calling and brave.
In his preaching, he Can we represent that well?
refers to the Pharisees It is important for each of us to
and Sadducees as a gen- remember that we can't upstage
eration of vipers because he Jesus. We have a job to do. Do it
questions their integrity. They well but always recognize our
view themselves as being better unworthiness.
than the other Jews. They have In the last portion of the les
distorted righteousness and son, Jesus honors his cousin,
claim that they keep the law. Christ states that he isn't swayed
John further tells them that being by others, doesn't have wealth
descendants of Abraham will not and earthly power, but his char
save them. They too must repent, acter is greater than all. Let's
He tells all who will listen that aspire to be like John.
a T" ?* rx x -r
rastor to nigniignt uinlxj mlk events
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE ? .
GREENSBORO - A lecture by the Rev. I
Samuel "Billy" Kyles, pastor of Monumental I
Baptist Church in Memphis, Tenn., and a I
service award presentation will highlight the I
2003 Martin Luther King Jr. birthday obser- I
vereity of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Kyles will speak in Cone Ballroom c
Elliott University Center (EUC). The MLI
ev4nt is being held before the Jan. 20 nation:
holiday to incorporate it in the weeklon
reopening celebration of EUC, which ha
been under renovation for the past two years
Kyles, 66, has been pastor of Monument:
Baptist Church since 1959. He is regarded a
the only person still living to have spent th
last hour with Martin Luther King Jr. Hi
experience includes serving as a foundin
board member of People United to Sav
Humanity, a current member of the nation:
board and executive committee member c
Rainbow/PUSH, and as a national coordinate
for Jesse Jackson's 1984 and 1988 presider
tial campaigns. He has also been a panelist:
the 1998 White House conference on hat
crimes.
He has received numerous awards an
honors, including the Tennessee Living Leg
end Award. He appeared on the televisio
documentaries "Who Shot Martin Lutht
King?," "At the River I Stand," and "The Trii
of James Earl Ray." Kyles has served as a
information resource on the Civil Right
Movement, having participated in many of it
struggles in the South. He was an eyewitnet
to the assassination of King and shares h
accounts.
Following Kyle's message, the MLK Se
vice Award will be presented, and a receptio
will follow. Now in its 17th year, the ML]
Award recognizes students, faculty and sta
for their community activities and involve
ments that embody the spirit of King's servic
to humanity. Students receive the award o
even-numbered years, and faculty and stal
recipients are alternated during odd-numberei
years. For more information, call the UNCC
Office of Multicultural Affairs at 334-5090.
UNCG's new Multicultural Resourci
Center (MRC) will be located in the Suite 21"
of EUC. As part of the reopening, the cente
will hold the following activities:
? Monday. Jan. 13,11 a.m.-3 p.m., drop
by session for information on upcoming activ
itits and the center; 4-5 p.m., dedication ii
memory of Pamela A. Wilson, by the NAACI
and the Neo Black Society; 7-8 p.m.. Hispan
ic music performance by BRACO.
- iucsuay, jaii. ii. u a.m.-j p.m., lnror
mational sessions; 6-7 p.m., African story
telling
? Wednesday, Jan. 15, 11 a.m.-l p.m..
Native American Student Association session
on making "dream catchers"; 7-8 p.m., per
formance by violinist Diane Phoenix-Neal.
? Thursday, Jan. 16, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., infor
mation sessions; 1:30-2 p.m., African drum
ming; 7-9 p.m.. Martin Luther King Jr. Cele
Conference
from page B5
lives beyond economic self
reliance."
Some of the subjects that
will be discussed at these con
fetences include: Making Your
Money Work for You Rather
Than You Work for It; Taking
Care of Yourself (mentally,
physically, spiritually); How's
Your Love Life?; Public Suc
cess Doesn't Have to Cost Pri
vate Failure; Single. Successful
and Satisfied; Bringing Your
Dreams to Birth; and Use What
God Gave You.
Speakers at the conference
will include: Lakita Garth, tele
vision commentaBfc media con
sultant and ert^^fcer; Marian
Heard. | United
Way of
Rev. Dr. ^^^^^Hlohnson
Cook, pastor.^MHr motiva
tional speaker and the first
African-American woman to be
elected senior pastor of an
American Baptist congregation:
Cheryl Martin, broadcast jour
nalist. media consultant and
inspirational speaker; Deborah
Owens, entrepreneur, author
bration and MLK Service Award presentation.
? Friday, Jan. 17, 11 a.m.-l p.m., informa
tional sessions with refreshments.
MRC director Audrey Daniel said, "The
multicultural resource center is to serve as a
catalyst for positive dialogue on diversity and
to reinforce the value and appreciation of mul
ticulturalism by gaining increased under
standing of cultural differences." She said that
plans are under way to make international
news broadcasts available to provide different
world views on current events. There will be
a Web site, http://maf.dept.uncg.edu/, which
will be completed shortly, and a monthly
newsletter. The MRC will be available for
culturally-specific activities and can accom
modate between 30-70 people depending on
the type of event.
and a 20-year veteran of Wall God's Leading Ladies con- p
Street and the former vice pres- ferences are a continuation of a
ident of Fidelity Investments; the national outreach ministry d
and Dr. Paula White, co-pastor of Jakes that has included Man- a
of Without Walls International power conferences, which 2
Church and founder of Paula attracted 20.000 men in Atlanta g
White Ministries in Tampa, in 1995 and 24,000 men in
Fla.; and Dr. Ronn Elmore, rela- Memphis in 1997. His "Woman,
tionship therapist, ordained Thou Art Loosed!" symposium
minister and author. for women, which addressed the
uA... ii * o?t 'i 1
ain of women of all races and
ges, set national indoor atten
ance records with 84.500
ttendees and an additional
0,000 in overflow at the Geor
ia Dome in Atlanta in 1999.
n ?r\rrx*7i mr/vxT r
ncn riufjc i*ii?iuii?ii > diipiim viiuit.ll
Presents
"Steps to E
New Hope"
*
Television Broadcast
Bishop J.C. Parks
Tune in
ime Warner Cable Channel 53
Every Saturday Night
9:00pm - 9:30pm
? - m. t a. m.*. A yy x n JlJU J.TAV/1T1U1 1 ikj
with Nigel Alston
Make an appointment with
Motivational Moments on
WSNC-FM 90.5, sponsored by
Ftfe' Chronicle, The Choice for African American
News and Information.
:'s inspirational, informative and motivational.
Monday: 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 10:20 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday: lt:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Thursday: 3:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Friday: 10:20 a.m. and 9:30 p.m.
www.motivationalmoments.com
Achieving
Gold
Phoco by Jaeson Pitt
Robert Everette Jeffries and Eva Elizabeth Jones Jeffries
celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary over the
weekend with friends and family members.
^ J/j, Macedonia Holiness Church Of God
Of The Apostolic Faith, Inc.
Sunday Services
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
M.Y.P.U 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday Services
Prayer & Bible Study 7:30 p.m.
4111 Whitfield Drive
Bishop R.L. Wis*. Sr. Phone: 336-767-3700
D.D.; S.TJ). ? Pastor Fax: 336-767-7006
"
Mt Olive BaDtist Church I
Pastor & Mrs. C. E. Gray
Piney Grove Baptist Qiurdi
4715 Indiana Ave. ? Winston-Salem,7/C 27106 ? (336) 767-4044
? Sunday School 9:30 a.m.
? Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
? Evening Services 4:00 p.m.
3fble Study Every Wednesday 10:00 a.m. & 6:30 pan.
Mission Statement: "A Saving Station for Lost Souls and
Enrichment Center for Christians"
WfMfr; wyy.B<H>yr?v>tnf . E-mail: pgbc2Q05@Mbouthjwt
- . Ill
James F. Linville
Pastor
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1301 E. Betews Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
"Let God Be God"
724-5842 or 721-1959
Sunday Morning Broadcast 6 - 6:30 A.M.
WUPN 48
Sunday School 9:30 A.M.
Worship Service 11:00 A.M.
Wednesday 12:00 Noon
Bible Study 7:00 P.M.
www.letgodbegod.org
I \in\ll. YTl- IHMMHlBil