Volume XLVI Number 2 January 13, 2013

“God Builds A Nation”

Worship Leader Robert Smith

# 993 What a Mighty God We Serve

Call to Worship Robert Smith

# Covenant of Love

Communion Thought Jeff Neaves

Communion

# Hallelujah My Father

Prayer

Scripture Reading Doug Franks

2 Samuel 22:31-37

# 163 His Name is Wonderful

Offering/Body Life Jim Payne

Prayer Time

# 398 Surely the Presence of the Lord

# 309 In My Life, Lord, Be Glorified

Dismiss Bible Hour

# 27 Blessed Be Your Name

Sermon “God’s Story” Randy Brown

# Holy Lord

Blessing Randy Brown CCLI #2551496

The casting agent enters the room with her

top picks for the show’s leading man and lady.

The new series will follow the spellbinding

story of a clan that builds a powerful, world

impacting family tree. This is the pilot, and it

is crucial to make the right call on the

individuals who will fall in love and launch this

Kennedy-like family of influence and fame.

Producers and writers alike have waited

breathlessly for this moment, the moment when

who they have envisioned as the leading

characters will be finally realized in an actor

and actress. But when they turned to see who

has been tapped for these most special of roles,

the thud of their collective jaws hitting the

majestic mahogany conference table muffles

their mutual groans.

There before their wide eyes instead of the

expected vibrant, young couple with gleaming

white teeth and tanned and toned bodies, stand

a 75 year-old man and 65 year-old woman.

Not what they had pictured for their

production.

And yet, this is what God has chosen. His

screenplay called for a couple to launch a new

nation, one that would impact the entire world.

As he would say, a nation through whom “all

the nations of the earth would be

blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3).

Continued on page 2

Abram and Sarai stand there, adorned perhaps by

dusty old robes and crowned with wispy white hair

and loosely fitting skin and as befuddled as anyone

else. God chose them to begin a nation. An

unlikely pair, especially after factoring in the fact

that Sarai was barren. How could God expect to

start a nation with a woman who could not bear

children?

To complicate the story line, it will be 25 more

years before they actually have their child of

promise. By that time Abram and Sarai will be

100 years old and 90 years old, respectively (and

their names will be changed to Abraham and

Sarah). Perhaps Social Security checks will help

this special couple decorate the baby’s tent and

they’ll be able take naps when the baby does. And

the rest, as they say, is history. His story.

God picks people you and I wouldn’t necessarily

select to take part in his story. In fact sometimes

we are shocked who plays the starring roles in his

stories. Unlike the way we do business, he taps

people, not merely because of their abilities, but for

their availability. God searches for people who are

open to be used by him. Since he uses only those

who are willing to be used for his purposes, there is

no doubt that it is he who is doing the wonder-

working. Let there be no doubt, throughout history

he is the one making things happen.

That’s good news, isn’t it? In the business world,

you may not have a great pedigree. In academics,

you may not be a Rhodes Scholar. You may not

have a lot of money and you may have average

looks. But you may be sitting in a pretty good

position to be a top pick for God’s work.

—Randy

Chapter 2 — God Builds a Nation

Matching Puzzle

For each of the items in column one, find the corresponding answer in column two. The letters (in order) will spell out God’s

message to Abram.

___ 1. Rachel’s older sister B. Keturah

___ 2. Jacob’s brother E. Jacob

___ 3. The sons of Leah’s servant Zilpah I. Leah

___ 4. The wife of Isaac I. Gad and Asher

___ 5. The son of Hagar L. Joseph and Benjamin

___ 6. Abraham’s second wife (after Sarah died) L. Ishmael

___ 7. The sons of Rachel L. Rebekah

___ 8. The younger twin born to Rebekah O. Lot

___ 9. The priest that Abram met after freeing Sodom S. Dan and Naphtali

___ 10. The sons of Rachel’s servant Bilhah S. Melchizedek

___ 11. The son of Abraham and Sarah U. Reuben and Levi

___ 12. The nephew of Abram W. Esau

___ 13. Two of the sons of Leah Y. Isaac

The following continue to need our prayers: Janice

Lovel’s sister, John McFarlin, Kathy Hanselka, Elroyce

Metting, Sherry Lynch, Roxi McCutchan, Ann Wasicek,

and Rita Dyer. Bob Sutphen (a former elder here) is in the

hospital in Abilene.

We will be serving a meal in the annex today immediately

following the service. If you are visiting, please join us.

The small group that meets at the building will have a

finger food fellowship tonight after services in the annex.

Both groups will resume their work at the Food Bank on

Thursday, January 24th at 6pm. Mark your calendar!

The menu for next Wednesday evening will be tacos. The

funds from these meals is used for our Zambia Medical Mis-

sion Team.

God told Abram, “I will make you into a great nation, and I

WILL BLESS YOU.”

Last week we enjoyed a Gospel Meeting. We enjoyed

visiting our brothers from Monterrey, Torreon, Fort Worth,

Arcelia, Iguala and Cuirindichapio. Preachers from all of

these areas taught us beautiful lessons. We spent pretty and

unforgettable moments together praising our Lord. I also

have some good news to share. This new year God has

blessed me with a wonderful wife. I apologize for not telling

you sooner. Elina is a very faithful woman who loves God

and she wants to help me build God’s Kingdom here in

Chilpancingo and Guerrero. She has two children and we

want to serve God as a family. Please pray for us. God bless

you and I am always at your service...In Christ, Freddy Perez

The youth activity to see the Globetrotters has been

canceled. The next scheduled event will be a workday at

Adopt-a-Pet on Saturday, January 26th from 10:30—12:30.

Wear appropriate clothing, as there is a real good chance you

will get dirty.

Please save your empty rectangular Kleenex boxes (no

cubes, please) and empty 16 ounce or smaller water bottles.

These items will be used with our February class material. A

container is available in the foyer where you may place these

items.

Mid-Coast Family Services needs help on January 24th to

help conduct surveys. There is a sign up sheet on the

information center. Ginny Stafford will contact you and give

you further details.

Dear Central Family,

Thank you for the beautiful poinsettia for my Mother’s funeral and for the many sweet and comforting cards. We are truly rejoicing in her victory over illness and suffering. Knowing we have a church family, thinking of us and praying for us at this time is a blessing from God and makes the rejoicing even sweeter. In Him, Nancy Schumann

Dear Central,

Thank you so much for the beautiful Lilly plant you sent to honor my husband, Gordon Hefner. It has been a source of great enjoyment to me. Sincerely, Barbara Hefner

Dear Church Family,

Thank you so very much for the beautiful plant. I know my Mom would have loved it. We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers during our difficult time and loss.

Daniel Barrientos

Dear Central,

A huge thank you is past due for being so generous with your time and devotion to help bring Rudy to Christ before his passing. Thank you for the great service and meal that was provided and to everyone who was involved in making the family feel welcome. Your care and concerns have been noticed and appreciated. Thanks to Tim for leading our song service. Thank you, Thank you!!

Love in Christ,

A.J. Mayo, Sylvia Rodriguez, and Zenida Carlos

WEDNESDAY

January 2, 2013 123

SUNDAY

January 6, 2013

Bible Class 188

AM Worship 285

Evening Service 38

Small Groups 63

CONTRIBUTION $8823.00

WEEKLY BUDGET $7500.00

YEAR-TO-DATE $119,851.30

Fiscal Year October to October

Day One

1. Compare the sin of Adam and Eve with the sin of Joseph’s brothers. Then compare

the sin of Joseph’s brothers with that of Cain. What similarities do you discover? What

similarities do you see to the sin in your own life? How can the pattern be broken?

2. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, his boss’ wife and his friends in prison. Instead

of becoming bitter, he trusted God. How can you avoid becoming bitter when you are

betrayed?

3. What character traits do you see in Joseph that made Potiphar trust him? How might

your boss describe your character? What is a trait Joseph had that you can improve on

this week?

Day Two

1. How was Joseph able to resist the sexual temptations of Potiphar’s wife? What can

you do to protect yourself from sexual sin?

2. Twenty years after his brothers sold him into slavery, they came to Joseph to buy

grain. How does Joseph’s story serve as an example to you of forgiveness, trust and

restoration? What is the hardest thing you have ever had to forgive? Be forgiven for?

3. Looking back on his life, Joseph said that what others intended for evil, God intended

for good. When has an evil done to you turned out for good? How can you use this to

help you in the future? What does this reveal about God?

Day Three

1. Joseph’s brothers had been lying about his disappearance for 20 years, and were

afraid of how he might react, especially after their father’s death. They told Joseph a

made-up story saying that Jacob had asked them to request that Joseph not harm them.

They were having trouble forgiving themselves. Is there a mistake you have made where

you’ve found it difficult to forgive yourself?

2. Reflect upon the first three chapters of The Story. What family cycles emerge?

What life lessons can you apply to your own life from observing these cycles?

Personal Devotion Questions

Chapter 3

Joseph: From Slave

To Deputy Pharaoh