Weekly Bulletin – January 21, 2024

Devotional

So Run

So run, that ye may obtain. 1 Corinthians 9:24

Paul learned his preaching style from One he never heard in the flesh, the Lord Jesus. The Lord constantly used earthly illustrations to convey divine truth, with the effect of powerfully focussing the hearers attention and aiding his retention. Paul likewise used ordinary things to carry great spiritual truths, and on several occasions used even the sporting arena to present some practical truth to his hearers.

In the illustration before us he likens the Christian life to a race. Elsewhere he presents Jesus as the starting line and the finishing point, and encourages his listeners to lay aside every weight so that they may finish their course with joy. Here he gives further guidance as to how the race should be run.

In an earthly race there may be many competitors, but only one winner. Often athletes, while they would like to win, are content just to place well. In other words, they have not really put their all into the task of winning. Paul warns the Christian to serve Christ with such dedication that the ‘Well done’ from the Saviour’s lips is his primary objective.

The one who will thus succeed must be ‘temperate in all things’ (v. 25). All his energies will be brought into subjection to the one great aim of serving and exalting Christ. He will not run the race uncertainly. He will start well, and his eye will be on the finish line. People will know he is an out-and-out Christian. He will finish well.

In the battle for truth he will not be ‘as one that beateth the air’ (v. 26) – all action but with little forward movement. The true athlete has an economy and efficiency of movement so that all his power is channelled towards winning the race. May God help us not to spin our wheels and beat the air, producing lots of noise and action but at the end of the day achieving little for the Lord.

This Week

The Lord's Day Services

Sunday, January 21

9:50 a.m. Sunday school

11:00 a.m. Morning Service – Dr. Saunders

SermonAudio Link

5:50 p.m. Pre-service prayer

6:30 p.m. Evening Service – Dr. Saunders

SermonAudio Link

Weekly Announcements

January 22-26

7:30 p.m. Week of Prayer

Refreshments following the meeting on Wednesday and Friday.

Advanced Announcements

January 28

9:50 a.m. Sunday School

11:00 a.m. Morning Service – Dr. Saunders

5:50 p.m. Pre-service Prayer

6:30 p.m. Evening Service – Dr. Saunders

Fellowship following the evening service. Team 2 on duty.

Advanced Announcements

January 30

7:00 p.m. Woman’s Bible Study – on Zoom

January 31

7:30 p.m. Bible Study and Prayer

Catechisms

The Shorter Catechism

Q87: What is repentance unto life?

A: Repentance unto life is a saving grace¹, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin², and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ³, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God⁴, with full purpose of, and endeavour after, new obedience⁵.
1. Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Acts 11:18b
2. When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Acts 2:37
3. Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Joel 2:13
4. Turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. Jeremiah 31:18b-19
5. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. Psalms 119:59

Bible Questions & Answers For Children

Q35: What happened to the people and animals?

A: They drowned in the flood.

And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: Genesis 7:21

Q36: Who was saved from the flood?

A: Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their wives.

But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee. Genesis 6:18