Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Sept. 26, 1985, edition 1 / Page 7
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SPunday $PcAco4 SEeoocn .ByBgmeWUfcon ; • INTRODUCTION The body of Christ is the church. Like any body, it has a distinctive personality and a distinctive way of life. Its tastes, it priorities, and its character are altogether different from those of the world, and the difference is reflected in the conduct of its members. This lesson deals with the distinctive behavior of Christians. LESSON BACKGROUND Last week we wfere thinking of how the church and its members grow better. The goal of our growing is to be like Jesus. This week we are looking more specifically at the kind of conduct we develop as we become more Christ like, and we are noting how sharply it contrasts with the conduct of the non-Christian. THE LESSON “In the Lord’s name, then, I warn you: do no continue to be like the heathen, whose thoughts are worthless and whose minds are in the dark. They have no part in the life that God gives, for they are completely ignorant and stubborn. They have lost all feelings of shame; they give themselves over to vice and do all sorts of indecent things without restraint,” (Ephesians 4:17-19). We are growing more like Jesus, and therefore we must be different from the people who are nothing for Him. Most of the Christian Ephesians were Gentiles, but most of the other Gentiles were heathen. They were living, acting, and talking-“in the vanity of their mind.” What they did and said was directed by thinking that was without God, and therefore it was vain, worthless, unable to produce right coittfiiai . The life of God is the godly life in which God leads us and the eternal life that goes with it. The heathen are strangers to this, not because God shuts them out but because they don’t see the goodness, beauty, and value of such a life. They can see the pleasure in a life of sin, but not the value in a life of goodness. So they are shut out of the good life through the ignorance that is in them; by the blindness of their mind. It is not that there is no way for them to see the truth. Even without God’s Word they could know that God is ruling over all, (Romans 1:19-21). But they choose not to keep God in mind, (Romans 1:28). The heathen can feel the pleasure of sin, but not the joy of goodness or the pain of conscience. Consequently, they have surrendered to lasciviousness or sensuality. Their way of life includes anything that gives them pleasure and satisfaction - every kind of uncleanness, drunkenness and drug abuse, and immoral sex. Being beyond any feeling of remorse, they do these things without restraint, with greediness. “That was not what you learned about Christ. You certainly heard about him, and as his followers you were taughtJhe Ixuth that is in Jesus. So getrrid of your old self, which made you live as you used to - the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God’s likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy,” (Ephesians 4:20-24). Some who are past feeling can be restored. Ignorance and blindness of heart are not necessarily permanent. Darkened understanding can be enlightened by the gospel, if one will listen. So it was that some of the Ephesian heathens became Christians, and so it is that some 20th century heathens become Christians. Some heathen Ephesians had come to know Christ, but they had not done it by giving themselves over to lasciviousness and greedily continuing in the heathen way of life, doing impure things. Unlike other heathens, these had overcome the blindness of their heart and had received the gospel with belief and obedience. The old sinful self has been discarded like a dirty shirt. It is replaced by the new man. Each Christian is a new creature. He is made over after God: that is, with a character that is godly in righteousness and true holi ness. He is ready for a new “conversation, a new way of living.” ‘ ‘ No more lying, then! Everyone must tell the truth to his fellow believer, because we are all believers together in the body of Christ. If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day. Don’t give the devil a chance. The man who used to rob must stop robbing and start working, in order to earn an honest living for himself and to be able to help the poor. Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed so that what you ■ say will do good to those who hear you. And do not make God’s Holy Spirit sad; for the Spirit is God’s mark of ownership on you, a guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free. Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort. Instead, be kind and tender hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ. Since you are God’s dear children, you must try to be like him. Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave His life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God,” (Ephesians 4:25 - 5:2). Children are expected to be like their parents. As Christians, we are children of God, (John 1:12). Our proper nature is to be godlike, to live in the world in such a way that those around us will know that our God is righteous and attractive as well. a d*7 ch^ch- i3thp6midst of Christ_c'Jiust how does ,ive Community Leaders Organize I fr Festival On The Green, an an nual fall festival of area arts, crafts, culinary treat* and entertainment held on the campus of Barber Scotia College, kicked off with a recent announcement and meeting of the steering committee for this year's event. Spearheading the festival activi ties are: Magaret Dabbs, director of Community Schools Program for Cabarrus County Schools; Tom, Shoe, vice president of Concord Cabarrus Chamber of Commerce; Dennis Smith, president of the Barber-Scotia College Student Go vernment Association; Carolyn Bost, accountant at SBC; Rachel Parnel, director of the Cabarrus Arts Council; State Alexander, director of news and community affairs for WPEG Radio; Melvin Walton, director of public relations at Barber-Scotia College; and James Davidson, recorder of records at Barber-Scotia College Festival On The Green will be held on October 19 from 10 a m. until 6 p.m., according to Walton, spokes State Alexander . ....Community affairs director man for the steering committee. Major co-sponsors for the event are radio station WPEG and Barber Scotia College. However. Walton ^ Melvin Walton ....Public relations director adds, a number of area businesses, civic and social organizations, area schools, and community volunteers will lend their support and talents to At Winthrop College 65 Attend Black Alumni Weekend Rock Hill - More than 65 Win throp College graduates attended the first Black Alumni Weekend. The event enabled alumni to renew old acquaintances, and prompted discussion of ways black alumni could serve as a support group to Winthrop and to each other Participants also considered ways to recruit more black students to the college, according to David Belton, assistant to the vice president for academic affairs. In proportion to the entire stu dent body, the black student popu lation at Winthrop this fall has increased to an all-time high of 14.3 percent. The college’s goal is to reach at least 20 percent, said Barbara Fortune, assistant director of admissions. The weekend's activities were I -- highlighted by a reception ana ban quet Friday night and a campus tour on Saturday. Because of the success of the first Black Alumni Weekend, assistant alumni director Sharen Greene said she hoped the weekend would become an annual event. The weekend was a success in several respects, said alumna and board of trustees members Sheila McMillan, one of the organizers of the event. "We have gone beyond renewing old friendships and meeting new friends,” she said "I believe we have made a very positive step toward bringing a new support group to Winthrop College.” Alumni also discussed the many improvements and renovations made on the Winthrop campus over the past several years, including a $275,000 challenge grant made by the Daniel Foundation of South Carolina to renovate Tillman Hall Auditorium into a 900-seat performing arts center While meeting the Daniel Chal lenge, alumni contributions will con tinue to support student enrich ment programs, scholarships, campus renovations, faculty en hancement and library programs. Renovation of the auditorium in Winthrop’s Main Building will be the “crowning touch” of the college’s restoration plan during its centen nial year in 1986, Rebecca Turner, vice president for institutional ad vancement, told alumni during the Friday night banquet. Also attending the banquet was Winthrop’s first black graduate, Cynthia Roddey, of the Class of 1967. the festival. > "This ysor’s festival is expected to be bigger and better than ever," says Walton. "The members of the steering committee are commited to community persons who bring great skills to the festival. We are for tunate to have them serve in this capacity." Walton says there is free admis sion to the festival and there will be activities designed to appeal to all age groups. Spaces and booths are still avail able for crafts and arts exhibits, as well as food vendors and human services agencies. If interested, call 786-5141, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. week days. Doll Workshop Charlotte Parks and Recreation Department will offer a Ceramic Doll workshop for adults on October 12 and 19 The two-session work shop will be held in the depart ment’s Arts and Crafts Building located at 1900 Park Drive from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Registration must be received by October 9. A fee of $25 will cover instruction and mate rials. In the first session participants will be instructed to prepare the body of cloth as well as prepare the doll head and hands for painting. The second session will offer in struction in painting and students will complete construction of the doll. For further information, contact the Recreation Department, located at 1418 Armory Drive, Charlotte, N.C. 28204, or phone 336-2584 be tween 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. Flu Vaccine Shots Community Health Services an nounces that during October flu vaccine will be available for per sons age 55 and over. The vaccine will be given on October 3,10, 17 and 31 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. in our building at MOliE. Seventh St. Cost is $5 per person. Share the spirit. Share the refreshment. Warnmg: The Surgeon General Has Determined That Cigarette Smoking Is Oangerous to Your Health.
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Sept. 26, 1985, edition 1
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