Repent and commit to obedience i.esson scripture: Jeremi ah 6:16-21, 26-28 Lesson aims: To recog nize that God warns the rebel ; lious before judgment, to understand and appreciate that He warns to give the rebel a chance to repent and to com mit to obedience. Background: The next four lessons come from the book of Jeremiah. To fully appreciate this prophet, we need to examine the times as well as the man. When Jere miah began to prophesy, Assyria was losing control and Babylon was gaining it. Egypt and other nations were struggling to ally themselves with one side or the other. Judah aligned herself with Egypt in support of Assyria. It didn't work. Nineveh (Assyr ia's capital) fell in 612 B.C. Born to a priestly family during the reign of Manasseh, Jeremiah was called by God to be a prophet around 627 B.C. (one year after Josiah became , king). His 40-year ministry ? , spanned Judah's last days as an independent state. He shared in Josiah's revival only to agonize with their hardened hearts at the end. Referred to as the "weeping prophet," he openly expresses his sorrow over their behavior. When called, God prom ised him probation from his enemies and vindication dur ing his lifetime. Scripture did n't allude to a close relation ship between the king and prophet although they are on the same side. Let's examine today's warning. Lesson: Jeremiah's min istry begins with an indict ment. God's love and care for His^eople don't inspire loyal ty and appreciation. He points out that their present predica ment is the result of their behavior "to consciously and willfully reject God. Jeremiah even strikes down their pre tense of repentance. He accus es them of being hollow and empty" ("Richard's Complete Bible Handbook"). The Lord has pronounced judgment, and it will come from the north (4:5-31). Chapter 6 opens with a dialogue ? between God and the prophet on the people's I rebellion. I God looks I for one who I hasn't I turned from Him $ 0 spare Jerusalem of her fate. Not one could be found. This is similar to Genesis 18:22 32. Verse 16 records Jeremi ah's comments to the people. "He creates the image of a lost traveler who is asking for directions. Judah is the travel er that is lost due to disobedi ence" ("UM1 Direction Teacher"). Alarms (watch men) are heard but unheeded. Their rebelliousness leads to judgment. Their revival has not gone unnoticed. God rejects their external worship and everything that goes with it. He knows their hearts. The prophet cries out for Judah because spiritually they are dead, and very sbon the physical death (captivity) will come. The people will mourn as a woman who has lost her only son. Judah has been tested and proven unfaithful. Application: Sin by com mission or omission, individ ual or corporate, breaks rela tionship with God. The more we sin, the easier it becomes and our hearts become numb to it. There are always conse quences for every decision good or bad. Jeremiah indicts them and then offers a ray of hope. They can repent and be spared. Their false sense of security makes them scoff at his words. Like Judah. we must make decisions and live with the consequences. Can we stand the pressure? America has become exactly like Judah. We falsely believe that we are special, above the rest of God's cre ation. We are arrogant and don't respect God and others. We very often are psuedo-reli gious. Our reasons for wor ship are shallow and selfish. We care little or nothing fjqr others. Can we fool God? Remember that He is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. He is not fooled by our pretenses. For us to escape His judgment, we too must repent because through it there is hope. Take someone with you to learn more about our hope in Christ Jesus. Mildred Peppers Sunday ' School Lesson Green Street from page B6 an after-school program staffed by volunteer adults and college students, and the weekly "Welcome Table." Refusing to "die or move away" as its commu nity changed, Green Street Church ? chose renewal in collaboration with the Win ston-Salem District, the Western North Carolina Conference, and its pastor from 1997 to 2000, the Rev. Michael Goode. Since its re-visioning in 1997, the church has flour ished, sustained by dedicat ed longtime members, new participants from its sur rounding community and others who have chosen to join the "Green Street fam ily" because of its vigorous commitment to creating "a church for ALL God's peo ple." Current leadership includes Leadership Coun cil Chairperson Shirley Abdullah, Lay Leader Norma Niofi Dalton, Trustee Chairperson Clara Thore and Pastor-Parish Chairman Jack Peacock. The Rev. Kelly P. Carpenter is senior pastor, serving with the Rev. Ronald Perry, associate pastor of out reach, and the Rev. Abra ham Bruno, assistant pastor of Hispanic ministry. On Sept. 20, a Heritage banquet was held, with rec ollections by longtime and new members. The Rev. James Smith, who served the church from 1975 to 1981, was the featured speaker. Memorabilia dis played included photo graphs, reports and artifacts spanning the church's first 100 years. For more information about the church or its anniversary celebrations, visit www.green streetchurch.org or call 722-8379. Union Baptist Church 'TNT' will resume SPECIAL TO THF. CHRONICI F. "TNT" - an explosive program of Bible study, prayer and fellowship - will resume at Union Bap tist Church Oct. 1. Tuesday Noon Teach ing will be at noon and will include lunch. Tues day Night Teaching will begin at 7. Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and praise service will begin at 6:30 pm. The Tuesday Bible study was initiated three years ago and has deep ened biblical understand ing and changed lives. Teaching of God's word has reached' a new spiritu al level with Pastor Sir Walter Mack Jr.'s explo sive TNT Teaching Min istries. The Tuesday Night Teaching Ministry draws more than 400 people each ~"week. _____ - - " "TNT foctises on the study of God's word to find answers to life's diffi cult problems and pro vides power for living," Dr. Mack said. Everyone is invited to tap into the power of God's word. Union Baptisf'Church. "A Church Determined to Live for Christ," is at 1200 N. Trade Street. Visit the Web site at www.union baptistwsnc.org or call 724-9305 for more infor mation. Lift Your Voice In The Chronicle!! The Religion Deadline is 5 p.m. Monday. \> ; " Jltunday 10-00 an. - 7:00 pm. 5565 N. Patterson Ave I"nd',> 4 Saturday 10:00 am - S:00 pm . Winston-Salem. NC 27105 ' Closed Mondays (3361 767-3455 Special Group Rates ... Big <6 Tall Suits Available! J ? i? ? ,? Welcome to ... St. Peter's, Heritage Place j Announcing a new apartment complex for SENIOR CITIZENS Apply Now for Residency at St. Peter's Heritage Place (located off Old Lexington Road). Winston-Salem. NC. NEW APART MENT COMPLEX FOR SENIOR CITIZENS. AGE 62 AND OLDER. One bedroom, one bath apartments feature Carpeting. Electric Heat and Air Conditioning, Range and Refrigeratar. Handicap Accessible Units are available. Rent based on income. COMPLEX PAYS FOR WATER, SEWER AND ELECTRIC. Additional features include Day Room. Craft Room. Courtyard. On-Site Laundry Facilities and much more. Xr-1 Leasing OITicf^y Open Monday - Friday^ ^^_9 a.m. - 4 p.m^Sx For application or information Call: 336-771-9028 Hearing Impaired: 1-81X1-735-2962 Or write: St. Peter's Heritage Place Winston-Salem, NC 27107 t=J Equal Housing Opportunity O. The James A. Gray Lecture Series at Winston-Salem State University IvjSr "Religion & Ethics in 21st Century America" We are delighted to present our 10th year of "Religion & Ethics in 21st Century America," The James A. Gray Lecture Series at Win ston-Salem State University. In this series, we bring you issues that are not only thought-provok ing but particularly timely as our nation faces crucial decisions. Please join us in these lecture pre sentations by some outstanding voices from around the country. Cedric S. Rodney I James A. Gray Professor I October 3, 20(t2 , "Another Day's Journey" \ Dr. Robert Michael Franklin, Jr. ; ? One of the leading voices in the j / field of theological education. Dr. c p Robert Michael Franklin. Jr. is fc president of Atlanta's Interde nominational Theological Center. '? the nation's foremost center for ' historically black religious train ing and graduate theological edu- < I cation. a An ordained clergyman. Dr. i Franklin has worked with the t " WftiTe House on projects relatedtoTefrgTonrTace and T pCTFTic health "fTels~auth6r of twcTbooks. FncTuHing C Another Day's Journey: Black Churches Confronting S the American Crisis, in which he urges an activist c Christian commitment by black churches in resolving c social problems. He is the co-author of From Culture a Wars to Common Ground: Religion and the American tl Family Debate. tl ? ??????????????????? November 7, 2002 "Inclusive & Holistic Church Leadership" Dr. James T. Roberson, Jr. A recognized speaker on mentor ing, Dr. James T. Roberson, Jr. is Dean of Shaw University Divini ty School in Raleigh, NC. He has conducted workshops nationwide on mentoring and currently mentors a group on Transformational Church Lead ership. A native of Mississippi. Dr. Roberson received his Master of Divinity from New York The logical Seminary. He also holds a doctoral^, in edu cational administration with an emphasis on church eadership. The president and founder of Black Reli >ious Studies Network, Dr. Roberson also spent 24 /ears with the IBM corporation serving in a variety >f capacities. February 6, 2003 "From Rags to Righteous" The Rev. Dr. JoAnne Marie Terrell kn advocate for building bridges between the church ind the academy, the Rev. Dr. JoAnne M. Terrell is nterim director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at he Chicago .Theological SeminaryMCTS). She has leeil an associate" professor of ethics affdTheologsrat H *TS and has been advisor to the African American ieminarians Organization. Rev. Terrell has also haired both the recruitment and sexual harassment ? ommittees at the Seminary. She is professionally 1 ffiliated with the American Academy of Religion. 1 he Society of Biblical Literature and the Society for 1 he Study of Black Religion. A prolific writer, Rev. ? ??????????????????a Terrell is the author of the upcom ing hook Fur as the Curse is Found: Experiencing Blessedness in a World of Pain. She has lec tured extensively on such topics as "The Long Journey Home: A Black Woman's Struggle to Reclaim Her Faith and Sensuali ty," "Mothers and Sons" and "Religious Pluralism and Black Faith." April 3, 2003 "Come Holy Spirit, Renew the Whole Creation" Dr. Charles G. Adams A lecturer of worldwide renown. Dr. Charles G. Adams is pastor of Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroil. Ml. where he has served since 1969. He has spoken before the United Nations on South African apartheid and was a speaker for the World Congress of the Baptist Alliance in Seoul. Korea. When the Unit Commissions and Work ing Groups of the World Council of Churches met in Evian. France in May 1992. Dr.*Adatns was called ftpgO loittftfrgrs the eatrsgs"and challenges of the Los~ Angeles riots. He subsequently played a role as advi- * sor in a combined effort by the JVorld Council and the National Council of the Church of Christ in address ing this issue. In 1994. Dr. Adams accompanied Pres ident Bill Clinton to Jordan to witness?the signing df he Peace Accord between Jordan and Israel. A year-long series of symposia featuring nationally acclaimed presenters v All lectures begin at 9:45 a.m. in Dillard Auditorium at the Albert H. Anderson Center Contact: The Rev. Dr. Cedric Rodney Program Coordinator James A. Gray, Professor of Religion and Ethics Harold L. Martin, Sr., Chancellor Melvin N. Johnson, Provost