Chapter 25 / the Greatest Question of All Time

Chapter 25 / The Greatest Question of All Time

A BBC magazine answered the “101 greatest questions of all time.” What did they include? Well, questions like “What is OK short for?” Answer? “OK comes from ‘oll korrect’, a deliberately misspelled writing of ‘all correct.’ It was popularized in Boston newspapers around the 1840s when it was fashionable to go around spelling things incorrectly for humorous effect.”

The #1 “greatest question” was “Where is the safest place to stand outside in a thunderstorm?” And, in case you must know the answer, it is “A car or other enclosed metal structure is the safest place to be in a thunderstorm.”

Jesus asked a question that should have been first on the list. He and the disciples were in Caesarea Philippi. Call it the shopping mall of religion. It was located in a region known as Paneon, or the home of the Greek god Pan. Once it had been a center of Baal worship. A temple was located there dedicated to the godhead of Caesar. And other temples of Syrian gods dotted the landscape.

Plenty of gods to choose from in Caesarea Philippi. So Jesus asks his disciples this question: "Who do you say I am?" (Mark 8:29). Oh, at first he asked them what others were saying about him. The answers came back in rapid fire: “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

But Jesus was more concerned with their answer to his question, so he asked, “Who do you say I am?” They all looked at this homeless carpenter and thought about that question. We don’t know how long they thought before Peter replied, “You are the Christ.”

Who do you say he is? Have you given it much thought? Some say he was crazy, claiming to be God but just a man. Some say he was just another liar, that he knew exactly what he was saying but was deviously misleading those around him.

But there are those who have said, along with Peter, that Jesus is the Christ. He is “God in the flesh.” He is the King. He is the Savior. You may know where to stand in a thunderstorm. And you may think your life is OK. But this week, if you have not answered this question from Jesus, then go to your own Caesarea Philippi, and let him ask you, “Who do you say that I am?” Your answer will be the greatest one you will ever give. Sunday, March 22, 2015

TODAY: NEXT SUNDAY: NURSERY: Sharla Gradert, Erin Miedema Nicki Weida, Sydney Miedema Jennifer Miedema, Olivia Fedders Mary Hooyer, Treyton Bonnema USHERS: Nathan Broek, Brandon Dekkers, Art Hamming Jim Dekkers, Arlin De Weerd, Lyle De Wit GREETERS & COFFEE SERVERS: Daryl Byker (4 doz cookies) Brad & Sheila Dekkers Brent & Cindy Davelaar (4 doz cookies) Art & Phyllis Hamming ORGANIST / PIANIST: A.M. Celia Ten Napel Donna Koopmans P.M. Tammy Sieck Emily Sudbeck PRAISE TEAM: Pastor, Kaitlyn, Pam, Cinda Verla & Don VS, Ryan Z, Jorja, Sydney LIBRARIAN: AM Patsy Bootsma Wanetta Vander Plas OFFERING: AM Building Fund Back to God Ministries PM Building Fund Back to God Ministries

PRAYER FOR:

 Doug Faber was admitted to Avera in Sioux Falls.  Betty Juffer, Sadie De Vries and Gert Mulder who are under Hospice Care—and their families.  Please pray for Gilbert and Mildred De Weerd, Jason, Earl, Tim and Sylvia, Dick, Kory, Megan, Joanne, Deb and all the elderly.

TODAY will be Pastor Norlyn & Cherie’s farewell service. A farewell potluck is planned - We will eat after Sunday School is done around 11:45. Bring a hot and cold dish. Drink, rolls and table settings will be provided. Many blessings to Pastor Norlyn and Cherie for their years of service to Ireton CRC. May the grace of God be with you in your new calling.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

--TONIGHT - Pastor Ken Vander Ploeg will lead us in worship.

-SUNDAY SCHOOL / CATECHISM - The kids, 3yr old thru 5th grade will be singing Palm Sunday, am service, March 29. There will not be any Sunday School/Catechism for 3 yr old thru 8th grade Sunday, Easter Sunday, April 5.

--COUNCIL MEETING will be held on Monday, March 23 at 7:00 pm.

--WORSHIP TEAM MEETING will be held on Monday, March 23 at 7:00 pm.

-- UNITY CHRISTIAN 8 TH GRADE DAY will be held on Tuesday, March 24. All 8th grade students are invited to visit Unity from 9:20 a.m. until noon. We are excited for them to experience a tour of the school, to let our current students tell what they like best about Unity, and a chance to connect with teachers and meet new friends. The evening event for parents and students will begin at 6:00 with a burger fry and tours, followed by an informational meeting at 7:00 p.m.

--BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS: Please put any bulletin announcements in Pam De Wit’s Church mailbox or via email ([email protected]) by NOON on Thursday, March 26. Thank You. -- ICS PRESENTS THE 17 TH ANNUAL BLUEGRASS GOSPEL CONCERT on Saturday, March 28. Featuring The Harper Family and The Garms Family. Show times: 2:30pm & 7:00pmB.J. Haan Auditorium. Tickets are $15 or $17 at the door. Tickets available at: A Touch of Class in Sioux Center, In-Weave in Hawarden, Iowa State Bank or Ireton Christian School in Ireton.

--OMELET SUPPER BENEFIT will be held for Doug Reuvers on Saturday, March 28 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm at the Demco Center in Boyden. The benefit will help defray medical expenses associated with Doug’s cancer treatments.

--YOUNG PEOPLE’S FUNDRAISER - The YPS are selling roast beef and cheese, ham and cheese, and sub sandwiches going on right now! This is their major fund raiser for the year! One of them should be contacting you within the next few weeks. If for some reason you are not contacted and would like some subs or know of someone that would like some please contact any of the youth group kids or you can contact Angie Zomermaand. Thank you in advance for your support! We will be making the subs on April 8.

--BLESSINGS BEHIND BARS - A prison sentence is certainly not a pleasant experience, but can imprisonment ever be a blessing in disguise? This week, hear inspiring letters from CBI students who have found reasons to thank God for their incarceration. Go to KDCR, 88.5 FM on Sunday at 2:30 P.M. to listen to Crossroad Connection - a restorative justice ministry of Crossroad Bible Institute.

ADVANCE ANNOUNCEMENTS

--ADULT BIBLE STUDY will meet next Sunday, March 29, 7:00 PM Chapters 22-26 Lunch: Harriet Bonnema

--PRAYER BREAKFAST at St Pauls Lutheran Church—Tuesday, March 31 at 6:00am.

-- CORNERSTONE 9 th ANNUAL BENEFIT BANQUET will be held on Monday, April 13 at Trinity Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley at 6:30 p.m. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. Save your spot by April 5 by calling Trinity CRC at 712-476-5292 or go to our website www.cornerstonepcsd.org.

--HILLCREST SERVICE will be on Monday, April 6 at 6:30 pm. Brad Dekkers (chair), Brady Van Sloten, Dick Bonnema, Pet Dekkers, Scott Miedema, Alfred J. De Jong, Marlin Schoonhoven, Rodney Vander Plas, Bertha Statema, Doug Faber, Jack Riepma. (Chairman is requested to call Hillcrest (551-1074) before 9 A.M. on the morning of your service to remind them that your group will be there in the evening.)

--VBS FUNDRAISER SUPPER will be held on Wednesday, April 8 from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the Ireton Community Center. Sioux County Pork Producers will be grilling pork loin and we will also be serving cheesy potatoes, macaroni salad, oreo salad, drink and ice cream. This is a free will donation event with bake sale items also available. If you are willing to donate your time for set up / clean up or are willing to make a salad for the event, please let Pamela Fedders know! Also, remember that we will be looking for bake sale items! Bake sale items can be dropped off at the Community Center April 7 from 3:30 - 7:00 or April 8 starting at 1:00 p.m.

--COUNCIL MEETING will be held on Monday, April 13 at 7:00 pm. Bryan Bonnema Lunch and Devotions

--IRETON COMMUNITY VBS PROGRAM, EVEREST will be held on August 3 – 6 (6:00 – 8:30 p.m.) at the First Reformed Church this year. We are needing coffee cans and empty (cleaned and dried) gallon milk jugs, so start saving those for us as well! We will have a collection container available for these items. --SUNDAY MORNING DRIVERS WANTED - Check the back table –If you signup—please call Chris on Saturday night. THANKS! To everyone who has helped already!!

COMMUNION SCHEDULE 2015

April 3 (Good Friday), May 17 (Pentecost), (Memorial Day), July 12 Sept 13, Oct 25 (Reformation Day PM), Nov 1 (Advent)

WORSHIP SERVICES CALENDAR AND ACTIVITIES:

Mar 29 AM & PM Rev Duane Tinklenburg Apr 3 7:00 PM Rev. Bob Pollema - Good Friday Service Apr 5 6:40 AM Easter Cemetary Service 8:15 – 9:15 AM Breakfast 9:30 AM Easter Worship Service – Rev. Bob Pollema No PM Service

THE STORY:

22 Mar Chp 25Jesus, the Son of God: Matthew 17; 21; Mark 8-12; 14; Luke 9;22; John 7-8; 11-12 29 Mar Chp 26The Hour of Darkness: Matthew 26-27; Mark 14-15; Luke 22-23; John 13-14; 16-19

PRAISE TEAMS FOR FEBRUARY and MARCH Please note the change from the schedule handed out

Mar 22 Pastor Kaitlyn, Pam DW, Cinda Mar 29 Verla Don VS, Ryan Z, Jorja, Sydney

WEEKLY CALENDAR

Sunday, Mar 22 9:30 AM Worship Service 10:45 AM – 11:30 AM Sunday School/Catechism all ages 3yr to Highschool 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM Adult Sunday School – “The Story “ – Chapter 25 6:00 PM Worship Service

Monday, Mar 23 7:00 PM Council Meeting 7:00 PM Worship Team Meeting

Wed, Mar 25 7:00 – 8:15 PM Adult Study “The Story” Bible Study – Chapter 25