Looking Back at 2013Looking Back at 2013

Sunday A.M. AttendanceSunday A.M. Attendance

• High – March 31, 2013 352

• Low - July 7, 2013 290

• Average (52 weeks) 320

Sunday P.M. Attendance –Sunday P.M. Attendance –All servicesAll services

• High – Dec. 1, 2013 282

• Low - Nov. 10, 2013 219

• Average (52 weeks) 243

All Wed. Night ServicesAll Wed. Night Services

• High – June 12, 2013 245

• Low – June 5, 2013 171

•

• Averages (52 weeks) 212

Contribution at O’Neal 2013Contribution at O’Neal 2013

• High – Feb. 3, 2013 $7,889.00

• Low - July 7, 2013 5,344.00

• Average (52 weeks) 5,886.61• Total contribution for 2013 $306,104.00

• 12-31-2013 O’Neal• Maintenance Reserve Acct. $319,934.30

Dollars Spent SupportingDollars Spent SupportingPreachersPreachers

• Guy McDaniel $ 69,000.00• Al Burns 9,000.00 • Matt Burns 9,000.00• Matt Taylor 9,000.00• Jay Looney 9,000.00

• •

• March Gospel Meeting 750.00• (Donnie Miller $300.00• Aaron Andrews 150.00• Chris Bates 150.00• Jonathan Sutton 150.00)• Vacation Bible School –June 1,350.00• (Greg Tucker $ 600.00• David Cox 150.00• John Gibson 150.00• Jeb Reeves 150.00• Gary Patton 150.00• Frank Richey 150.00)• • October Gospel Meeting (Buc Chumbley ) 1,050.00• Larry Wright (2/24/13) 150.00 • John Smith (6/23/13) 150.00

• Total 2013 $108,450.00

O’Neal church of Christ sentO’Neal church of Christ sentFinancial Support to these in 2013Financial Support to these in 2013

1.Dana Whisler, Waynesboro, Pa. 5,900.00

2.John Smith ,Indianapolis,In. 27,600.00

3.Jeff Henderson, Athens, Ga 22,800.00

4.Larry Wright, Savannah,Ga. 12,000.00

5.Tadd Corder, Boaz, Al. 12,000.00

6.Jonathan Sutton, Guntersville,A l. 18,000.00

7.Dennis Adams, Shippensburg,Pa. 6,000.00

8. Richard Thetford, Loveland,Colorado 1,200.00

2013 Total ______

$ 105,500.00

O’Neal church of ChristO’Neal church of Christ in 2013 in 2013

• We had • 6 Baptisms ( 3M 3 F)• 88 Restored

• We lost some members by death (53 who were members here or related to members here) some who moved away, and some who became unfaithful.

We praise God for His BlessingsWe praise God for His Blessingsand ‘keep pressing on”and ‘keep pressing on”

One Thing So Important to usOne Thing So Important to usat O’Neal…at O’Neal…

• To Please God

• To Be Acceptable To God

• We want O’Neal to be a congregation that• Is accepted with God.• Each member doing all that we can do to• Be pleasing to God!

We are interested in Each SoulWe are interested in Each Soulbeing ‘acceptable to God’being ‘acceptable to God’

• Acts 10:34,35

• 34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

•  35But in every nation he that feareth

him, and worketh righteousness, is is accepted with him.accepted with him.

Paul’s First Missionary JourneyPaul’s First Missionary Journey• The Apostle Paul: Someone has suggested:

• a.d. 5 Born in Tarsus35 Converted on the road to Damascus35-38 Ministers in Arabia and Damascus (Gal. 1:17)38 Visits Jerusalem (Gal. 1:18)38-43 Ministers in Syria and Tarsus (Gal. 1:21)43-46 Serves in Antioch with Barnabas47-49 First missionary journey (Acts 13-14)

Acts 13 and 14Acts 13 and 14

• Some highlights of this journey

Started at Antioch of SyriaStarted at Antioch of Syria

• Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate

• Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

• God’s work is important…• • Men devote themselves to serving• God. 2 Tim. 4:2• Go preach! Mark 16:15-16;Mt.28:18-20•

We must do exactly asWe must do exactly asGod has saidGod has said

• Don’t add to it, don’t subtract…just

• Do what God says!

• Matt. 7:21-23

• Cf. I Sam. 15:22-23

• Rev. 22:18-19

• 2 John 9

At Salamis (Acts 13:5)At Salamis (Acts 13:5)

• They preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and

• The Bible says, they had John Mark also

• to their minister.

• Preach the truth anywhere you can!

• God equips the church with workers to do His will.

They went through the island,They went through the island,unto Paphos (Acts 13:6-12)unto Paphos (Acts 13:6-12)

• Truth and Error• Right and Wrong• …Bar-jesus and Sergius Paulus• A certain sorcerer, a false prophet, • A Jew..who was named Bar-jesus.• He was with the deputy(governor) of the

country• Sergius Paulus

Sergius Paulus Sergius Paulus

• V.7 Deputy (governor) of the country • He was a prudent man (a man of

considerable insight and understanding) • He called for Barnabas and Saul• And desired to hear the Word of God!• • V.8 But Elymas the sorcerer (that was the

interpretation of his name).• withstood Barnabas and Paul• He wanted to turn Sergius Paulus away from

the faith. (one faith…Eph. 4:1-6)

• False prophets that are among you.• ‘teaching doctrines contrary to God’s• Truth ‘..• 1. Gal. 5:4 • 2. Gal. 3:1• 3. Gal. 1:8-9

•

2 Pet. 2:1-32 Pet. 2:1-3

• 1. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

• 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

• 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Matt. 15:9Matt. 15:9

•9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Acts 13:9Acts 13:9

• “Then Saul (who also is called Paul),• Filled with the Holy Ghost, set his • Eyes on him…looked straight at him!• v.10 And said, O full of all subtilty (trickery)and • All mischief, thou child of the devil, thou• enemy of all righteousness , wilt thou not cease

to pervert the right ways of the Lord?• .’pervert the right ways of the Lord!’

The Right Ways of the LordThe Right Ways of the Lord

• ‘God’s ways are right…narrow but right.

• Matt. 7:13-14; Isa. 55:8,9;

• That is why it is so important to use

• ‘thus saith the Lord’ in everything that

• We do. (Col. 3:17; Matt. 28-18-20)

•

Look at what happens toLook at what happens toElymas,the false teacher!Elymas,the false teacher!

• And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.”

• V. 12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.”

hearhearhearhear believebelievebelievebelieve repentrepentrepentrepent confessconfessconfessconfessbaptismbaptismbaptismbaptism

Rom.10:17Rom.10:17

Mk.16:16Mk.16:16

Acts 2:38Acts 2:38

Acts 8:37Acts 8:37

Gal.3:27Gal.3:27

What to DoTo be Saved

Repent Confess Pray

Acts 8:22 I John 1:9 James 5:16

What does He say aboutWhat does He say aboutElders…?Elders…?

• Jesus put them over the body, the church.

• ..Acts 20:28-31

• They are to ‘feed the church”

• They are to take the oversight thereof.

• We are to obey the Elders. Heb.13:17

• Every church needs elders.

• Acts 14:23

Can just any man be an elder?Can just any man be an elder? NO NO

• 1. He must be a married man.

• I Tim. 3:1-8; Titus 1:5-7

• 2. He must have a wife.

• 3. He must have children.

• 4. He must be held in good respect.

• 5. He must be an example, a leader.

• 6. He must take heed to himself.

What does God say aboutWhat does God say aboutpreachers?preachers?

• 1. They are to be qualified. • 2. They must know the word, so that they

can preach it. 3. They must preach the whole counsel

of God. Acts 20:27-28 4. They must preach in season out of

season. 2 Tim. 4:2 5. They must take heed to themselves. I Tim.4:16

What does God say aboutWhat does God say aboutChristians?Christians?

• 1. They are disciples of Christ. Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; I Pet. 4:16

• 2. They are to love each other.• John 13:34,35• 3. They are to be lights to the world.• Matt. 5:16• 4. They are to strive to do God’s will.• Phil. 1:27 Life as it becomes the• Gospel of Christ

What does God say aboutWhat does God say aboutour lives.?our lives.?

• 1. Ask Job…The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away…blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1:

• 2. Ask Solomon. Fear God and keep his commandments. Eccl. 12:13,14

• 3. Ask Peter. As the grass of the fieldI Pet. 1:22-25

• 4. Ask James. As a vapor James 4:13-24

What does God say about What does God say about today…?today…?

• 2 Cor. 6:2 Now Is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation.

• Clean up your life.

• Do something about it.

• We shall each one be judged.

What Saith the Lord in 2014?What Saith the Lord in 2014?

• What does He say to You?

• What does He say to Me?

• Will we listen and obey…

Things I KnowThings I Know

• 1. That I am a ‘wretched man”

• O wretched man that I am….

• 2. That I am the chief of sinners.

• I Tim. 1:15

• 3. That I am lost without Jesus…

• The only hope that I have to be saved.

• Rom. 5:8,9.

Lord , Help Me!Lord , Help Me!

• Give me strength for this day

• Thank you for this day

• Let me work hard and serve you

• faithfully.

• God, be merciful to me, a sinner!

• Lk. 18:13; Psalms 51:1-4

Cases of Conversion

• 3,000 on Pentecost (Acts 2)• Samaritans (Acts 8:4-12)• Simon (Acts 8:13-25)• Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40)• Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9, 22, 26)• Cornelius (Acts 10)• Lydia (Acts 16:13-15)• Philippian Jailor (Acts 16:25-34)• Corinthians (Acts 18)• Ephesians (Acts 19)

• Cornelius (Acts 10, 11, 15)

Conversion of Conversion of CorneliusCornelius• Of particular interest – opens door

to Gentiles

• Converted without circumcision

• 7+ years gospel has been preached to Jews only

Th

e M

an

Corn

eliu

sA. A Gentile

• First Gentile convert

• At time church mostly Jews – Today mostly Gentiles

• His conversion is used to prove Gentiles can be saved like Jews

Th

e M

an

Corn

eliu

sA. A Gentile

B. Military Man

• Centurion (over 100 soldiers)

• Of Italian Regiment (Cohort band of 500 to 1000 men)

• Man of power & authority

• Had same need of the lowest private

Th

e M

an

Corn

eliu

sA. A Gentile

B. Military Man

C. Moral Man

• Devout – Sincere (v. 2)

• Gave alms - good to others (v. 2)

• Just man – honorable, honest (v. 22)

• Good reputation (v. 22)

Th

e M

an

Corn

eliu

sA. A Gentile

B. Military Man

C. Moral Man

D. Religious Man

• Devout – Devoted to his religious service; active in religion (v. 2)

• Feared God (v. 2)

• Prayed (v. 2)

Th

e M

an

Corn

eliu

sA. A Gentile

B. Military Man

C. Moral Man

D. Religious Man

E. Desired to Know

• Admitted that needed to learn (v. 33)

• Wanted to know what God said (v. 33)

Th

e M

an

Corn

eliu

sA. A Gentile

B. Military Man

C. Moral Man

D. Religious Man

E. Desired to Know

F. Relation to God

• Not saved (11:14)

• Had not repented unto life (11:18)

• Even though: Moral & Religious!

Th

e S

erm

on

A. No Partiality (10:34-35)

• God does not respect persons

• Accepts those

Fear God

Work Righteousness

Are you acceptable Are you acceptable unto God?unto God?

• Is your life pleasing to God right now?

• (2 Cor. 6:2)

SometimesSometimes

•We Mess Up!! We sin…again!

Please Lord,“Help Me Not to Mess Up!”

Romans 6:1-2 NKJVWhat shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? {2} Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Psalms 51:1-3 NKJV

Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. {2} Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. {3} For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.

1 Cor 15:9 NKJVFor I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Mat 6:13 NKJVAnd do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

James 5:16 NKJVConfess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

1 John 2:1 NKJVMy little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

1 John 1:8 NKJVIf we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Please Lord,“Help Me Not to Mess Up!”--

hearhearhearhear believebelievebelievebelieve repentrepentrepentrepent confessconfessconfessconfessbaptismbaptismbaptismbaptism

Rom.10:17Rom.10:17

Mk.16:16Mk.16:16

Acts 2:38Acts 2:38

Acts 8:37Acts 8:37

Gal.3:27Gal.3:27

What to DoTo be Saved

Repent Confess Pray

Acts 8:22 I John 1:9 James 5:16