THIS WEEK’S GRAPHIC
Is actually a small collection of stylized crosses. Use them on your bulletin covers, or as filler items in your newsletter. Again, as always, they are totally free to download for use in your non-profit organization’s newsletters or weekly bulletin.
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Welcome to THE TIMOTHY REPORT for March 15, 2004
“To assist, encourage, enable and equip”
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WHO KILLED JESUS? ADAM AND EVE!
Here’s a different perspective on the question which seems to be a hot topic right now:
The Christ of God was not … first crucified when the Jews brought him to the Cross; but Adam and Eve were his first real Murderers; for the Death which happened to them, in the Day that they did eat of the earthly Tree, was the Death of the Christ of God, or the Divine Life in their Souls. For Christ had never come into the World as a Second Adam to redeem it, had he not been originally the Life and Perfection, and Glory of the First Adam.
--William Law, quoted by Sydney Spencer in “The Spirit of Prayer and the Spirit of Love”
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
March 15, 2004)
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MOVIE REVIEWS FROM A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Finally! Christianity Today has opened a movie review website. Read about the movie before going to see it—find ways to utilize movie scenes in your sermons and Bible studies, etc.
http://christianitytoday.com/movies/
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
March 15, 2004)
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WE HAVE FOUND THE MESSIAH
Otis Brady and his wife Martha served as Southern Baptist Convention missionaries to Belize for many years. Once, Otis told me story of a delightful young family that moved from New York City to Belize City and became their neighbors. The man was an executive for an oil company, and the two families became close friends. The Bradys were like grandparents to their three small children.
The New York family was Jewish, and the Bradys didn’t pressure them to believe, they just loved them. During the holidays the Brady’s celebrated Hanukkah with their young neighbors and then invited them to celebrate Christmas. Otis asked his neighbor if he would help him with a Christmas devotional by reading some Old Testament scriptures–then Otis would read some New Testament scriptures. His neighbor gladly agreed.
Otis selected a number of Old Testament Messianic Prophecies for his guest to read, and then Otis read the corresponding verse from the New Testament that showed how Jesus fulfilled it. Otis and Martha could tell their neighbors were amazed by the scriptures they read. For the next few weeks, they asked the Bradys many questions about Jesus and the Bible, but they never committed themselves to Christ. They soon moved back to New York but the Bradys stayed in touch with their friends. One day, Martha got a letter from their New York friends, and on the outside of the envelope she found these words written in large letters: WE HAVE FOUND THE MESSIAH! Inside the letter, she read that their friends had recognized Jesus as the Messiah and had trusted Him for eternal life. Not long after, the family moved to Israel to join a group of Messianic Jews there.
--as told by David O. Dykes
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
March 15, 2004)
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HIS PERSPECTIVE SURE CHANGED
Dear Marty,
I have been unable to sleep since I broke off your engagement to my daughter. Will you forgive and forget?
I was much too sensitive about your Mohawk, tattoo and pierced nose. I now realize motorcycles aren't really that dangerous, and I really should not have reacted that way to the fact that you have never held a job.
I am also very sure that some other very nice people live under the bridge in the park, too. Sure my daughter is only 18 and wants to marry you instead of going to Harvard on full scholarship. After all, you can't learn everything about life from books.
I sometimes forget how backward I can be. I was wrong. I was a fool. I have now come to my senses and you have my full blessing to marry my daughter.
Sincerely, Your future father-in-law.
P.S. Congratulations on winning the lottery!
(NOTE: This would be a good way to introduce the idea of how the ways we look at things change, depending on the circumstances. For example, when Jesus was crucified, there was one perspective. But when He was resurrected, the perspective was something else entirely.)
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
March 15, 2004)
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WE WOULD STILL NEED REDEMPTION
If I had the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of John, the meekness of Moses, the strength of Samson, the obedience of Abraham, the compassion of Joseph, the tears of Jeremiah, the poetic skill of David, the prophetic voice of Elijah, the courage of Daniel, the greatness of John the Baptist, the endurance and love of Paul, I would still need redemption through Christ's blood, the forgiveness of sin.
--R. L. Wheeler
(NOTE: Quote this, then paraphrase it to fit your own life and personality. Pick out some of the people in your congregation who are wise, patience, obedience, compassionate, etc. Then say, “If I was as wise as Charlie, or as compassion as Sue, or had the courage of Tim…I would still need redemption through Christ’s blood.” A powerful way to pull your hearers into the message!)
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
March 15, 2004)
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DEATH OF CHRIST
Christ’s blood is heaven’s key.
--Thomas Brooks
The cross is the key. If I lose this key I fumble. The universe will not open to me. But with the key in my hand I know I hold its secret.
--E. Stanley Jones
One drop of Christ’s blood is worth more than heaven and earth.
--Martin Luther
He suffered not as God, but he who suffered was God.
--John Owen
Death stung himself to death when he stung Christ.
--William Romaine
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
March 15, 2004)
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THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE
He who is the Way doesn’t sidetrack us or lead us into spacious wastelands. He who is the Truth doesn’t mock us with lies. He who is the Life doesn’t betray us with deathly delusions. Christ chose these winsome names for Himself to indicate His methods for our salvation. As the Way, He will guide us to the Truth. And the Truth will root us in the Life.
--Hilary of Poitiers
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
March 15, 2004)
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WHY THE BLOOD?
You must be saved by God’s plan. It was love that prompted God to send His Son to save us and shed His blood. That was the plan. And without the blood what hope have you? There is not a sin from your childhood—from your cradle—up till now that can be forgiven, unless by the blood. Let us take God at His word: “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.” Without the blood no remission whatever. I don’t see how a man can fail to comprehend this. That’s what Christ died for; that’s what Christ died on Calvary for. If a man makes light of that blood what hope has he? How are you going to get into the kingdom of God? You cannot join in the song of the saints if you don’t go into Heaven that way….You must accept the plan of redemption and come in through it.
--D. L. Moody
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
March 15, 2004)
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NOTHING ACCIDENTAL ABOUT THE CROSS
(NOTE: this would be a good sermon title and angle to take. Jesus came on purpose to die on the cross—it was not an accident or a great plan gone horribly wrong!)
Nothing was accidental about the cross of Christ. The Son of God was not suddenly overcome by the wickedness of man and nailed to a cross. Quite the contrary, the cross was the means by which the Son of God overcame the wickedness of man. To secure the keys to the house of David and open the door of salvation to all who would enter, God drove His Son like a nail in a sure place. A firm place. An enduring place.
--Beth Moore
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
March 15, 2004)
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Nearly everytime Jesus is mentioned in the Scriptures as being at the right hand of God, He is sitting. Nearly everytime. But there is one instance, and only one that I can find, where Jesus is seen standing on the right hand of God. What significance is that, and how can it encourage and comfort us when a loved one has died?
Always on the search for another story or illustration? Ever hesitate to use any particular story because you've used it too many times already?
Here's a solution! "Funeral Ideas and Illustrations" contains more than 100 stories, poems, and quotations for use in funerals or in Bible studies or sermons on death.
The items found in this collection come from a wide variety of sources. There may be some stories and/or poems you've used for years, and there are some you've never seen before. Some of the sermon outlines and messages are original material. And it's only $5.
In this collection, you will find:
--A sermon specifically designed for the Thanksgiving Season
--A poem written by a wife and son of a relatively young man who passed away.
--What a man wrote after losing three children to death
--Which hymn encouraged Daniel Webster in his final hours
--What Golda Meir said when asked if Israel would allow Nikita Kruschev's body to be buried in Israel
--An encouraging poem which is great to use in a funeral when a grieving spouse is left behind.
--A portion of a letter a Godly woman left behind for her family to read after she had gone on to be with the Lord.
--Mary Pickford's wonderful analogy of death
--Cardinal Joseph Bernardin's viewpoint of his own approaching death
--The word early Christians used to describe the place where they placed the bodies of loved ones when they died--a comforting, encouraging thought!
Visit http://www.timothyreport.com/funeral.html to view sample illustrations and to learn how to get your copy.
(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications, www.timothyreport.com
March 15, 2004)
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