The Jackson Drive Reporter - December 4, 2005

Welcome To The Jackson Drive Church Of Christ Website!

Audio Sermons Available Online

Schedule Of Services:

Sunday Morning:
Bible Study 9:00
Worship 10:00

Sunday Evening:
Worship 5:00

Wednesday Evening:
Bible Study 7:00

Jackson Drive's Address:

1110 Jackson Drive

Athens, Alabama 35611

(256) 232-1609

Preacher:

David Deason

Elders:

Malcolm Andrews

Owen Griggs

Billy Lovell

Deacons:

Tim Hamilton

Paul Loggins

Dwight Thompson

December 4, 2005

Commitment is the Key

“Lack of commitment” is a characteristic that plagues our society today. We see it in regard to everything from business ventures to our families. Starting a job is easy. Finishing is the hard part. It is almost as if people are afraid of commitment. We only want to start something if we know that there is a way out of finishing it if that task gets too difficult.

The marriage union serves as an example. A man and woman will be willing to share this relationship, but many times one or the other will insist on a prenuptial agreement. After all, what if one leaves the other with all the debt and no money or possessions? We need a way to protect ourselves, right? Absolutely! But protection is not to be found in legal paperwork, it is to be found in the Lord!

If there is not the mutual commitment to be pleasing to the Lord you don’t enter into that relationship. We all need to improve in the area of commitment! Paul said, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win” (2 Cor. 9:24). In order to do that, it takes determination and commitment!

But, there are many enemies to commitment, consider these few:

1.	A lifestyle of giving up. Are we the kind of person that can’t complete a task? Do we ever finish anything that is difficult ?
2.	A wrong belief that life should be easy. Life is demanding, especially if you are a Christian. Don’t get bogged down in the hard times that cause you to loose focus.
3.	An attitude of negative thinking. You can do it! Do you believe that?
4.	A fear of failure. If the Lord has told us that we can do it, don’t fear about tomorrow! The Lord will make the way!
5.	A lack of vision. If we don’t know where we are going, how can we be committed to completing a task? We have to know where we are going, and we have to follow God’s plan to get there!

Can these enemies be seen in your life? If so, change! Don’t give up! Life on earth is going to be laborious. Understand that fact, but know that you can do it! After all, you are focused on going home when the Lord returns!

--David Deason

Today’s Lesson:

Where Is My Reverence?

Lessons from the Prophet Malachi

I. Reverence: honor or respect felt or manifested; profound respect mingled with love and awe.

A. Where is the reverence for the Lord today?

B. How can we offer the Lord our best when we are overly concerned with the cares of this world?

C. How can we offer the Lord our best when we love the world more than the Father?

II. Background and Outline of the Book. . .

A. Background: Period of return from captivity

B. Date: 445-425 B.C. (Contemporary of Nehemiah)

C. Author: Malachi (means “My messenger”)

D. Theme: Irreverence of the people (1:6)

E. Outline:

1. Privilege of the Nation (1:1-5)

2. Pollution of the Nation (1:6-3:15)

a. Sins associated with worship.

b. Sins associated with marriage, justice, and tithes.

3. Promises to the Nation (3:16-4:6)

III. Discussion

A. Giving God _____________________________(1:____)

1. John 4:______

2. 1 Corinthians 11:___

3. Revelation 3:______

B. God will not ____________________________(1:_____)

C. God will not____________________________(2:_____)

D. We must ______________________________(3:_____)

1. Revelation 3:______

2. 2 Corinthians 13:___

IV. Where is your reverence?

Click Here To Listen To This Lesson

Those In Need Of Our Prayers...

At Home	In The Nursing Homes
Bennie Lovell	Rosella Pugh
Buford and Valerie Franklin	Marjorie Gray
Gwen Thomas	Opal Johnson
Hiram Hutto	Doug Grubbs
Ules Reid
Betty Montgomery
Judy Strickland
Rosa Mae Sides

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And that which I can do, by the grace of God, I will do.”

– D. L. Moody

“One half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it.”

– Sidney Howard

Do you want to go to heaven? Won’t you give up a life of sin in exchange for a life of service?

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