The four most difficult words to say: “I have done wrong.” We generally do not like to admit that we have done wrong. One reason is pride. Pride is one of the most dangerous sins that affect humanity. It was the first one listed in God’s list of hated sins: “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look…” (Prov. 6:16-17). Another reason is denial due to self- deception. As we have often stated tongue-in-

cheek, “‘Denial’ is not just a river in Egypt.” The danger of deception is always prevalent (1 Cor. 6:9; 15:33; Gal. 6:7; Eph. 5:6; 2 Thess. 2:3; 1 John 3:7), but the most dangerous is self-deception. “Let no man deceive himself” (1 Cor. 3:18; cf. Gal. 6:3; James 1:22, 26; 1 John 1:8). Satan is the great deceiver (Rev. 12:9), and he has convinced many who are plagued with sin that they have not done wrong. Thus, we must be true and honest with ourselves whenever we look to the word of God as a mirror of our souls (cf. James 1:22-25).

The three most difficult words to say: “I am sorry.” Closely akin to the aforementioned words, this is the next step of digression. Even when one may be willing to admit that he has done wrong, he may not be willing to apologize for it. This is where rationalization enters. We know that we have done whatever action, but we are unwilling to say, “I am sorry.” Apologies are often difficult to express. It must come from a heart free from selfishness and pride. Those who find it difficult to apologize have developed hard hearts. Conversely, the psalmist declared, “…a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Ps. 51:17). How many times have we planted ourselves behind our pews during the invitation song and refused to walk down the aisle because we are ashamed to say, “I am sorry” whenever we know we have done wrong? The two most difficult words to say: “Thank you.” Ingratitude is among the ugliest sins (cf. Rom. 1:21). Even from youth, we as parents teach our children to express gratitude. Nevertheless, children who never learn to say, “Thank you,” grow up into adults whose character reflects unkindness. When individuals do things for us, whenever people help us, when friends even do little things to express kindness and love, we ought always to say, “Thank you” (cf. Luke 17:11- 19). How amazing it is that these two little words can signify so much!

The single most difficult word to say is, “No.” All sin comes from an unwillingness to say this single word. Whenever Satan tempted Jesus in the wilder – ness, He responded three times by quoting scripture that reiterated His expression: “No!” Whenever we face temptation, we are at a crossroads—do we give in and yield by saying, “Yes,” or do we stay resolute to what we know the Bible teaches and resoundingly say, “No.” It is so easy to give, but it is very difficult in the heat of various trials and temptations of life to say, “No.” Let us resolve to learn how to say these difficult words. What a blessing our lives to God will be!

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES SUNDAY

MID-WEEK

_____________________ ELDERS DEACONS EVANGELISTS EMAIL: office@degaulledrivecoc.com WORKS SUPPORTED:

Benevolence: Childhaven of Cullman, Alabama Media: Gospel Broadcasting Network In Search of the Lord’s Way The Old Landmarks The Truth in Love MISSIONS: Budapest, Hungary: Curry Montague,

curry.monta@gmail.com India: Ron & Karen Clayton

RCIndia@sonet.net Padova, Italy: Jeff & Tia Brauer Family,

brauer@padovateam.org Marshall, Texas: Azael & Dinora Alvarez PREACHER TRAINING: Memphis School of Preaching

Wes  Arabie     504-‐858-‐2881 Bill  Burchett     504-‐393-‐2409  Howard  Goodale   504-‐272-‐0502      Steve  Tucker     504-‐812-‐2617      Scott  Cain     504-‐392-‐4110  Wes  Arabie     504-‐858-‐2881  

CHURCH OF CHRIST 4700 GENERAL DEGAULLE DRIVE

NEW ORLEANS, LA 70131 www.DegaulleDriveCOC.com

August 30, 2015

Morning  Bible  Class Morning  Worship  Pew  Packers  Evening  Worship  

9:00  AM 10:00  AM  5:30  PM  6:00  PM  

Tuesday  Ladies  Class              (September—May)  

Wednesday  Bible  Class  

10:00  AM      

7:00  PM    

THE MOST DIFFICULT WORDS TO

SAY SAM WILLCUT

 

A ninety-year-old man approached a preacher after worship. The man had been blind from birth and told the

preacher he wanted to “see” him. He ran his fingers over the minister’s face and then began to cry. He asked, “When I open my eyes for the first time, you know who I will be looking at, don’t you?” The preacher said, “Yes, you will be looking at Jesus.” The man then cried out with joy, “It is worth being blind for ninety years to know that the first time I open my eyes, I will be looking at Jesus!” “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him.” Revelation 1:7

ATTENDANCE  CARD  Name:  ________________    Date:  ______  Address:  ___________________________        ___________________________

R. U. Heer 2-Day

1714 Straitway

1714 Straitway Road New Orleans, LA

MEMBERS & VISITORS We thank you for being here today. Your presence is an

encouragement to us all. Please take a moment to complete an attendance card from the pew in front of you.

Thank you for helping us as we seek to edify our visitors & members in the way of the Lord!

IT WILL BE WORTH IT

OCTOBER IS

MISSIONS EMPHASIS MONTH

Each October the Lord’s church at DeGaulle Drive emphasizes World Evangelism & Stewardship in our Sunday Bible Classes

& in the Sunday morning sermons.

The annual Special Missions Collection is scheduled for Sunday October 25 th.

This collection is above & beyond our regular contribution, & it allows us to continue supporting the mission works wherein we

are currently involved.

Please earmark a l l checks for the missions contr ibut ion as “Missions.”

As this special Sunday draws near, we ask all of the flock at

DeGaulle Drive to pray, plan, & prepare to participate in the Special Missions Collection on October 26th.

We pray that the Lord will continue to bless us as we

glorify Him in this endeavor.

“...Go ye into all the world, and preach to Gospel to every creature”

(Mark 16:15).

GOING UP A little boy got on the elevator in the Empire State Building in New York City. He and his daddy started to the top. The boy watched the signs flashing as they went by the floors: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70. They kept going, and he got nervous. He took his daddy’s hand and said, “Daddy, does God know we’re coming?”

—Leighton Ford, “Hope for a Great Forever,” Preaching Today, Tape No. 96.

----------

DOWNGRADED When it came time to issue grades to my ninth grade civics class, I had to give one boy an F. He reacted: “How come?”—as though I had caught him by surprise. “You didn’t pass a single test,” I explained. “You never turned in one homework assignment. You would not participate in classroom work.” The boy stood in silence for a moment, then exclaimed, “And you mean you flunked me for that?”

—Contributed by Robert Vasholz

SEPTEMBER IS

BIBLE SCHOOL EMPHASIS MONTH

Each September the Lord’s church at DeGaulle Drive

emphasizes the importance of Bible School in our growth as God’s people. Growing closer to anyone requires learning

more about & appreciating that person. The same is true with God.

This year’s Bible School Emphasis will be each Sunday

morning from September 6th-27th. The theme is:

“The Voice the Prophets Heard: Continuing to Know God.”

The second verse of “Our God, He Is Alive” will remind us of key thoughts as we examine sermons from the Old Testament

Prophets.

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.”

(Psalm 122:1).

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS UPCOMING EVENTS:

1. SONG LEADING CLASS: Will meet today at 4:30 PM. BIBLE CLASS PROMOTION: Parents, please visit with your children’s teachers as to which class

they will begin attending September 6th & 9th NEW ADDRESS: Roger & Pauline Ferrell have a new address: 7109 Leslie Rd., Lot 8, San Antonio,

TX 78254 PANTRY ITEMS NEEDED: Canned tuna & fruit, spaghetti sauce, mac & cheese, 1-meal dinners,

shampoo, toothbrushes, women’s deodorant, soap, & razors. DIRECTORY: A rough draft of the new directory is on the table in the foyer. Please check this

directory in order to verify or correct your contact information, birthdate, & anniversary (if applicable). WORK NIGHT FOR THE MASTER: Our work night in August produced a total of 175 local

mailings, 20 cards of encouragement, & 5 World Bible School correspondence courses. We’re grateful for all who participated, & we give all glory to God!

Attendance

NEEDING CARE & PRAYERS

Special Request Kaiyah Alexander: 2-month old granddaughter of Yvette James has Congenital

Nephrotic Syndrome, an extremely rare kidney condition. She is home but must receive treatments 3 days a week & continues to need blood transfusions. She will go on dialysis & will require a kidney transplant by age 1 or at 15lbs. She needs our prayers, & we can also help by donating blood at any blood center on Kaiyah’s behalf. Yvette & her family welcome any suggestions for specialized avenues of help.

Our Members & Visitors Jenni fer Barthe lemy: Responded in penitence expressing regret for allowing

distractions to hinder her focus on Christ. Please pray for this dear sister. Tommie Brock: Has moved to Wynhoven to receive physical therapy. She can have

visitors between 1PM-8PM. She is in the St. Philips wing on the 1st floor, room 610. Miche lle LaBlance : Has been hospitalized with a stomach infection. Bil l & Barbara Burchett Mary Cullum Dan Joseph Debbie Starr Laton ia Brooks -Washington Taylor Wash ington

Our Shut-In Elwanda Piskorik

Our Family & Friends Family of Chris t ine Holder: Mother of Jennifer Barthelemy; passed away last August

19th after battling a recurrence of cancer. Her funeral was on Friday. Family of Evange line Joy: 3-year old granddaughter of Chuck & Lydia deSambourg;

passed away on August 20th. The family needs prayers for comfort, peace, & strength. Martha Ruddy: Cousin of Steve Tucker; needs prayers for her recurrence of cancer. Family of Katherine Ta lluto: Dear friend of Pat Lee; passed away early Wednesday Family of Gene Zimmerman: Son-in-law of Billy Singleton; passed away Wednesday Doyle Hopkins Will iam Jenkins

Deployed Servicemen Nathan Gil lespie: Dawn, Tempe, & Dalton are serving in Japan.

PRIVILEGED TO SERVE NEXT WEEK SEPTEMBER 06

Sunday AM Welcome:

Wes Arabie Prayer:

Ron Landis Song Lead:

Howard Goodale

Paul Macaluso (2) Mark 14:22-25

Lord’s Table: Ron Landis

Sermon: Scott Cain

Dismissal: Don Robinson

———————

Sunday PM Welcome:

Wes Arabie Prayer:

Troy Singleton Song Lead:

Howard Goodale Lord’s Table:

Ron Landis Sermon:

Scott Cain Dismissal:

Keith Cooper

THIS WEEK AUGUST 30

Sunday AM Welcome:

Howard Goodale Prayer:

Paul Macaluso Song Lead:

Howard Goodale

Wes Arabie Matthew 27:24-37

Lord’s Table: Ron Landis

Sermon: Scott Cain

Dismissal: Don Robinson

———————

Sunday PM Welcome:

Howard Goodale Prayer:

Glenn Bates Song Lead:

Howard Goodale Lord’s Table:

Ron Landis Sermon:

5th Sunday Singing Dismissal:

Wes Arabie

LAST WEEK’S RECORD

Please submit all prayer requests in writing to Scott or Melissa Cain. Please supply regular updates on each individual in order to keep our prayer list up-to-date. For the sake of space, any name (except for shut-ins) will be removed after four weeks unless a new update is received. Thank you for helping us all to stay informed of the spiritual & physical needs of our members, friends, & family.

Bible Study Sunday AM Sunday PM Wednesday

58 88 N/A 41

 

1714 Straitway