CHURCH
Sunday School lesson
Peter may have visited the
church and was known as a stal
wart Christian leader and
apostle. Apolloe was a dynamic
speaker, and eloquent preacher,
who bad come to Corinth after
Paul left. Those who claimed to
be of Christ presented a puzzle. If
they claimed to follow "The
Christ", it shouldn't present a
problem. All Christians should. I
suspect; however, that Christ's
name was used in a sectarian
sense, to distinguish them from
others, which would be wrong.
The point, of course, is this: All
of us have had, at some time or
other in our lives, Christian lead
ers who we felt a special affinity
towards-a close relationship
with. When the time came that
our Christian work led us in dif
ferent directions and we had to
part, we bade them a Christian
farewell and fell in behind our
new leaden. Comrade* in the
work at the Lord. Listen to how
Paul chastized them in verse IS.
"Is Christ divided? Was Paul
crucified for you? or were you
baptized in the name of Paul?"
Paul is saying, in essence, that
what they are doing is foolish.
Christ is the only one.
GOD AND HIS WORKERS.
<1 Cor. 3:5-11; 13-15)
In these verses Paul sets about
to do some serious teaching
about the principles of working in
God's kingdom. By implication
he is telling them something else
as well. Apparently some of the
Christians needed Christian
growth and maturity. Their pride
and desire for prestige was show
ing through, liiey were honoring
the servants of God more than
God. Paul said, "I have planted,
Apollo* watered, but God gave
the increase." (Cor .3:6)
(Lesson based on the Interna
tionai Sunday School Lessons.)
A DIVIDED CHURCH
(1 Corinthians 1:1#- 15; 3:5-15)
"Other foundation can no man
lay than that is laid, which is Je
sus Christ." (1 Cor. 3:11)
The church located in Corinth
in the first century has been the
object of many studies, and
many sermons. The church em
bodied many of the problems
which churches in later centuries
have had; problems which
caused division within the con
gregation. Paul had established
the church on his second mission
ary journey. The city of Corinth
was known for it's wickedness.
So well known was this fact that
the phrase "like a Corinthian"
was often used to describe a per
son, or a group's, evil acts. Paul
had spent about a year and a half
building up the church and teach
ing Christ to it's members.
Later, after be bad traveled on to
new fields of endeavor, he began
getting reports about the church,
all of which weren't bad. Mr.
James G. Vanburen, writing for 1
the Standard Lesson Commen- 1
tary of International Sunday I
School Lessons, had this to say in
describing the problems in the
church. Quote, "The Christians
there were rich in utterance and
knowledge and spiritual gifts, but
their faults were appalling. They
were blandly tolerating immo
rality among themselves; they
were taking their disputes before
heathen judges; they had prob
lems about love and marriage;
they were unsettled about their
relationship to the idolatry about
them ; their own worship was dis
ordered. The spiritual gifts that
enriched them had also produced
pride and envy. Some of them
were so ignorant of the basic
facts of Christianity that they
denied the resurrection." (Unqu
ote) Is it any wonder that so
many studies and sermons have
been forthcoming? Paul would
deal with these problems in time,
but first be would deal with their
problem of division. When a
church membership becomes di
vided, the church's mission is
slid to the back burner.
PAUL'S CALL TO UNITY.
(1 Cor. 1:M-IS)
In verse 10 Paul calls the mem
sera to get together, to unify and
to speak the same thing. Further,
they should Join themselves to
gether in the same mind and
judgement. Apparently Paul was
concerned, first, that they should
get back to the business of
prasrhing and teaching Christ's
Gospel. What was the cause for
division among them? Soma
claimed to be followers at Paul;
some, ApoUos; some, Cephas
(Peter) and some, Christ. Paul
h?H established the church and
no doubt had led many of them to
become believers.
Church news -
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
The Hertford Congregation of
Jehovah's Witnesses has made
plans to attend a two-day circuit
assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses
that will be held this Saturday
and Sunday at the Martin County
Auditorium in Williamston, N.C.
More than 1200 Witnesses and in
terested persons from nine other
congregations are expected to at
tend.
According to Kelly Bond, local
minister, Doing Our Part in
Glorifying God" is the theme of
the new series of circuit assem
blies starting :tf. September."
"We have many reasons ior
wanting to glorify God," BOnd
said. "Unlike people of the world
who are quick to praile men for
their accomplishments while re
maining blind to Jehovah's won
derful, our objective in life is to
'do all things for god's glory,'
(Cor. 10:31). "This circuit as
sembly program will help us to
do that, "he said.
"Besides featuring encourage
ment for pioneers and for those
who may be able to take up the
pioneer ministry, the Saturday
program highlights the need to
keep strict watch on how we walk
if we are to glorify God. (Eph.
5:15, 16) Specific counsel is of
fered on how to avoid being
ensnared by demoralizing el
ements in this wicked world and
on the need to impale fleshly de
sires," Mr. Bond said.
"On Sunday helpful sugestions
on personal Bible reading are of
fered. Practical counsel will be
given on 'Seeking God's Glory,
Not Our Own.' Newly interested
ones especially will benefit from
hearing tiie public talk at 2 p.m.
Sunday on the subject "Global
Peace-From What Source?" to
be given by D. Raftopoulos from
the world headquarters of Jeho
vah's Witnesses in New York,"
said Bond. "All those attending
this circuit assembly program
should come away refreshed
spiritually and strengthened in
faith," Bond concluded.
All sessions of the assembly
are free and the public is invited.
BAY BRANCH A.M.E. ZION
CHURCH
Sunday School begins at 10:00
with Mrs. Esther Hunter in
charge.
Morning worship begins at
11:15 with the Rev. J. A. Elliott,
presiding. The elder of the Eliza
beth City District will bring the
message. Holy Communion will
be observed. The Senior Choir
will furnish the music. Mrs. Bar
bara Shannon is the organist.
At 2:00 p.m. the Rev. W.A.
Moore and the people from Cen
ter Hill Baptist Church will ren
der service, sponsored by the Se
nior Usher Board.
The public is invited to attend.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
Morning worship begins at
11:00 a.m. Pastor London is
Preaching from the subject "The
Churdh's Motivation" Luke
I9:13k"^he young adult choir will
render the music under the direc
tion of Bro. Larry Felton
Revival begins Sunday afternoon
at 1:30 p.m. with St. Paul A.M.E.
Zion Church and the Rev.
Thomas McPherson is preach
ing.
Monday night the Rev. Walter
L. Leigh and Bay Branch A.M. E.
Zion conducts the service at 8: 15
p.m. The New Haven and Joppa
Baptist Churches conducts devo
tion at 7:30 p.m. The remainder
of the week different churches
will be conducting devotions, and
different choirs will be rendering
the music at 8:10 p.m. The Rev
erend M.I. Ivory Jefferson,
Evangelist, is in charge Tues
day, Thursday, and Friday night
at 7:30 p.m.
The Rev.. Jefferson is the pas
tor of the Sixth Mt. Zion Baptist
Church of Hampton, Va.
The public is invited to attend.
Dinner will be served at the par
sonage each evening and refresh
ments are served at the church.
UNITED METHODIST WOMEN
The annual meeting United
Methodist Women of the North
Carolina Conference will be held
Oct. 4-5 at Methodist College in
Fayetteville.
A new time has the meeting
scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Fri
day and end at 3 p.m. on Satur
day.
Walter and Betty Whitaker,
former missionaries in Latin
America, will be the featured
speakers. Also scheduled is a
play, "Peacemaking", skits, a
Love Feast, choice of 10
workshops, installation of offi
cers, candleburning and pledge
service:
Group singing will be led by El
.lis Henry Towsend.
Letter to the Editor
TO THE EDITOR:
We want to commend the Town
of Hertford Utility crews and our
Town Manager, Bill Cox, for the
outstanding work they did and
the long hours they put in over
the last few days in the wake of
the hurricane. Many of us were
without current because of fall
ing trees and limbs. The task
seemed too much to handle but
men began even before the storm
started letting up. We know for a
fact that they worked well into
Saturday without a break for
sleep or food.
Its a thankless job which we
take for granted and don't appre
ciate until we lose power like
this. They worked long and hard
and we appreciate what they did.
Larry Swindell
Marion Swindell
Jcard of Thanks
I would like to thank my friends, neighbors and loved
ones for the prayers, visits and lovely cards of comfort I
received during the loss of my brother - Johnnie C. Miller,
Sr.
May God richly bless all of you,
Maude M. White
pr FOR YOUR INFORMATION Z=
Dear Friends,
The burden of making fu
neral arrangements during
the stress of bereavement
can overwhelm a grieving
widow.
Relief from this chore can
be provided by prearrang
ing the funeral service. Ei
ther a modest or an elab
orate funeral can be
specified. A trust fund,
earning interest to keep
pace with inflation, can be
set up with a local bank or
savings & loan. We offer to
explain the procedures at
Swindell Funeral Home.
J&tuurfieU
Statural
Borne
n,,ll. J MO
rmlFOfO, Rv
426-7311
Deadly Diseases of Church Folks
Reverend Henry Bizzell, Pastor
Hertford United Methodist Church
Market Street Hertford. N.C.
We ought to be concerned about the
health of the churches and church
folks.
What is a disease? "Webster's In
ternational Unabridged Dictionary"
gives the following definition: "Dis
ease: A condition which impairs any
or all of the natural or regular func
tions of the body - any disordered or
depraved condition or element:
moral, social, or political." The last
half of the definition is especially ap
propriate to the intention of this arti
cle.
A diseased church person is one
whose functions as a member of the
church is in a state of disorder or de
pravity. Here is a list of some dis
eases which afflict church folks:
DSunday Sleeping Sickness
This is a peculiar disease. It erupts
only on Sunday. The person affected
functions normally every day except
Sunday. Then he is laid low. Every
other day he may rise as early as 6: 30
or7:00a.m., but on Sunday is absolu
tely unable to get up until too late for
Sunday School or Church Worship.
Very strangely, thedisorder begins
to wear off soon after 11:00 a.m. and
he-she is able to carry on an accele
rated schedule of activity - golf, boat
ing, family outings, work in the yard,
etc.
2)Spectatoritis
Now, I like to watch others play
football, baseball, soccer, etc. I can
not play the sports - never could.
However, I like to watch others play.
I am a spectator, not a participant.
Spectatoriti* i* a disease deadly to
church folks. Come and sit - never be
come a part of the game. Others are
responsible for the action- the choir,
the preacher, etc. Preachers work
just one hour -each week. Everyone
else just dresses up, comes, and sits.
Somehow, the cngregation is to be
"spoonfed" - pour in the spiritual
nourishment. What a deadly disease!
3)Schizophrenia - The Divided Self
This is a wide-spread disease of
church folks. There are our jobs, our
families, our civic involvements,
clubs, sports, recreaton, social lives,
and there is our church. All of these
compete for our attention - pull on us,
divide us. The church is only one
among many "pulls" on our lives.
Frequently, the church gets only
what is leftover! This is a deadly dis
ease of church folks - Schizophrenia.
4) Poor Vision
Who is more impaired than the in
dividual who cannot see, the individ
ual who must feel his way in the
dark? Poor vision may be the result
of ignorance, or pride, or prejudice.
When people can see and know about
themselves and their relation to God
and their relation to other persons,
then they can function with vigor and
strength.
5)Hypersensitivity
Those afflicted wear their "feel
ings on their sleeves", "have a chip
on their shoulder" and are always
"up in the miff tree." This is a deadly
disease of church folks.
6) Heart Troubie
This is the real disease, the basic
problem. Wbeo the heart is strong
and healthy/ when it is right, we can
overcoe the other ailments. A heart
warmed by the welcomed presence
of God can overcome all the prob
lems. The first five diseases we have
mentioned are symptoms of the real
disease - heart trouble. When the
heart of the individual belongs to
God, we can cope with all the other
problems.
Good health to you!
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