Can Christians Believe in the Theory of Evolution

The church of Christ at Bulk Rate Luverne US Postage 67 North Woodford Ave. PAID Luverne, AL 36049 Luverne, AL Address Correction Requested Permit # 28

Assembly Assignments for September 2016 THE LORD’S SUPPER Presiding – Andrew Moorer Dale Sanders / Mike McDougald / Sammy Blackmon / Danny Reynolds Announcements Transportation Scripture Reading Dale Sanders Bob Williams Nick Baugh Nursing Home Duties Lord’s Supper Preparation Bldg.Respon./Greeter Reed Kilcrease Lisa Kilcrease Bobby Owens Michael Walker Robb Sanders Privileged to Serve on September 4, 2016 Morning Prayer Evening Prayer Mark Coggins (opening) Sammy Blackmon (opening) Rodney McCartha (closing) Jeff Uptain (closing) Song Leader A/V Equipment Ronald Hilburn John Frost If you are unable to serve, please contact Sammy Blackmon – 256-710-1411 All announcements need to be written and turned in before each assembly! TheThe MessengerMessenger MINISTER Ed Smith

SERVICES Every Sunday Bible Study 9:30 AM Morning Worship 10:30 AM Evening Worship 1:00 PM

Every Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 PM

From TheThe churchchurch ofof ChristChrist atat LuverneLuverne 67 North Woodford Avenue Luverne, Al. 36049 (334) 335-5089 [email protected] www.lcoc.net September 4, Volume XVI Issue 34 2016

The Doctrine of Family Life Doug Threet There is little doubt in my mind, nor I suspect in the minds of many, that the institution of the family, if not on the brink of disintegration, is surely experiencing some of its most perilous moments in America today. Child abuse, wife abuse (being beaten by her husband), men surrendering their God-given responsibilities, disobedient and disrespectful children are characteristics depicting family life today. Divorce represents only one piece of the evidence. Even in the Lord’s church, we are not immune to the problems and difficulties besetting the family. For example, many Christian families often reveal little difference from non-Christian families. Gospel preachers, and they are not alone, are alarmed at the frequency with which divorce is occurring in the church. Most gospel preachers think, that once they have struck hard against the problem of divorce, that their responsibilities have been discharged. Further, when a gospel preacher deals with the topic of the family, he invariably ends up speaking on divorce without really saying anything on building family life. Indeed, it is one thing to recognize a problem and speak strongly against it, but it is an entirely different matter to initiate positive and constructive steps in order to overcome some of that difficulty. The only way, it seems to me, that affirmative action can be taken to stem the tide of families breaking apart is to look anew at the tremendous amount of teaching found in God’s Word. We preach and teach many things from the Bible, and well we should, but I wonder how long we can afford to ignore the plethora of teachings relevant to family life? In other words, there exists in the New Testament a “doctrine of the family.” Here are some of the key passages of scripture which delineate God’s teachings for building a successful family: I Cor. 7:3-5; Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Col. 3:18-21; I Tim. 2:8-15; and I Peter 3:1-7. These verses cover the practical aspects of a family living together under one roof. Essentially, there are eight different “roles” in the family: husband-father, wife-mother, son-brother, and daughter-sister. God’s word speaks meaningfully to these different roles, providing guidelines for each of them. For example, to the husband: If a Christian man does not honor his wife, the possibility exists for the prayers to be “hindered” (I Peter5:7). Further, the Christian husband is to love his wife and “not be harsh with” her (Col.3:19). The Christian wife and mother, on the other hand, is to “love her husband and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to her husband” (Titus 2: 2-4-5). Christian children, of course, are to be obedient and respectful toward their parents (Eph. 6:1-4) What will really help our families most, though, is when each member of a family desires to put Christ first and foremost in his or her life. (Continued on Page 3) inches long, made his appearance a little In Our Prayers early, born August 28. He is the grandson of Janet and Lamar Penn.

Raeleigh McCartha – not feeling well - Pray for those who have lost the last few days following her last loved ones. chemo and transplant - Pray for soldiers, at home & Peggy Garner – diagnosed with breast overseas. Frankie Sims (hopes to be cancer home soon!) Susan Martin – leg is healing! - Pray for government leaders. CANCER PATIENTS: - Pray for missionaries at home and Suanne McAliley, Francis Hoffman, Ruth abroad. Beard, Jamie Finlayson, Hal Waller, John O’Neal currently in India Donald White, Valera Rolling, Glynn - Pray for our minister, our Durham, Benny Pyron, Kellen Findley, congregation and for our efforts to Stella Gillion, Weaver Robinson’s carry out God’s will. daughter CONTINUING HEALTH PROBLEMS: LADIES DAY Lucy Kilpatrick, John Toney, Felice College Street in Greenville Kendrick, Edwina Rolling, Alisha Saturday, September 17th Rayburn, Maxine Alloway, Rita “Never Give Up” – Annie Rudolph Blakeman, Mary Capps, Donnie Kent, Patrick Casey, Margaret Deese, the Born The Doctrine of Family Life family, Joyce Bozeman, Glenn Daniel, (Continued from page 2) Indeed, Gertrude Dickerson, Doris Dickerson, Christ is the source of strength for Paul Dickerson Jr., Emma Herrington, establishing close, strong families. Cecil & Dean Kelley, Carole Manning, Remember: Jesus Himself lived within Charles Richardson, Weaver Robinson, the family unit for 28 to 30 years before Gloria Sanders, Lyndsay Turner, Bob He launched upon His ministry. Williams Perhaps this tells us in yet another way NURSING HOME RESIDENTS: the importance of the family in the Wilma Owens-Kate Moses - Frances mind of God. Hence, God had designed Phillips the family to be the place where we Ruth Dickinson -Dwight Wilson - Edwina learn and will learn the great lessons of Rolling Pat Blackerby - Mattie Lula spiritual truth. Jeffcoat– Kate Sipper It is my prayer that our families will Corine Till become more Christ-centered and thus EXPECTANT MOTHERS: fortified to meet the challenges of our Anna Marie(Wesley) Horne – 11-16 (girl) Jessica (Ross) Sanders – 03-17 present world. Brethren and friends, it Congratulations to Candi & Lance Penn. is so true that as the family goes, so Thomas McArthur Penn (5 lbs.2 oz., 17 ¾ goes the church. The challenge is this: Why don’t each of us do his or her part to build stronger and closer Christian families? Via Southside, Macon Georgia, Lamplighter