THANK YOU for giving us a moment to introduce the Bridgeport Church of Christ to you. If you are looking for a church home or just want to learn more about the Bible, we would be glad to help you in any way we can. We, at the Bridgeport Church of Christ, seek to follow God’s word and it only. We believe that the Bible is all we need to serve God Faithfully and to one day have a home in heaven with Him. We do not add to or take away from the scriptures, for we believe it is God’s complete and final revelation. We are blessed to have 3 elders who shepherd the flock here at Bridgeport and take their work seriously. Are we perfect here at the Bridgeport Church of Christ? The answer is obviously, no. However, we are Christians who strive to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). We believe the Bible teaches us God’s plan for salvation and that one must hear the word of God (Romans 10:17), one must believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God (Acts 8:37), one must repent of the sins they have committed (Acts 2:38), one must confess their faith in Christ (Romans 10: 9-10), one must be baptized for the remission of their sins (Mark 16: 15-16; Acts 2:38), and live faithfully to the Lord (Revelation 2:10).We all strive to live obediently in accordance to God’s word. In the Lord’s Church, we understand that in order to love God we must love one another (1 John 4:20-21). We are a family-the body of Christ. We are joined together for the same cause and will continue to serve God faithfully for the rest of our lives. - Ryan CurreyFor more information, click I’d Like to know.
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Thoughts on Contentment
The story is told of a time when Abraham Lincoln (before he was President) was walking through town with two of his young sons. The two boys were crying and visibly unhappy. A friend stopped Mr. Lincoln and asked him what was wrong with the two boys, to which he supposedly replied, “Exactly what’s wrong with the whole world….I have three walnuts and each boy wants two.”
To some degree, we can all identify with this story. We live in a world that is consumed with consuming. Even though Jesus taught that life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions (Luke 12:15), we continue t live as though it does. We know what is to be always spending, but never satisfied.
Years ago, the comic Flip Wilson used to do a satirical bit of comedy known as “The Church of What’s Happening Now.” More recently, a theologian by the name of Mark Buchanan wrote a short piece called, “The Cult of the Next Thing.”
I belong to the Cult of the Next Thing. It’s dangerously easy to get enlisted. It happens by default-not by choosing the cult, but by failing to resist it. The Cult of the Net Things is consumerism cast in religious terms. It has its own deep-rooted liturgy: charge it, instant credit, no down-payment, deferred payment, no interest for three months. It has its own preachers, evangelists, prophets, and apostles: ad men, pitchmen, and celebrity sponsors. It has, of course, its own shrines, chapels, temples, meccas: malls, superstores, club warehouses. It has its own sacraments: credit and debit cards. It has its own ecstatic experience: the spending spree.
The Cult of the Next Thing’s central message proclaims, “Crave and Spend, for the Kingdom of Stuff is here.”
Rather than being content with what we have, we always crave something else.
The fact is, if we needed different “things” or gifts to enable us to glorify and serve God, He would provide them for us (Matt. 6:33-34). But we are currently right where we need to be. We have all that we truly need to have. God is calling upon us to glorify Him right now! Instead of saying, “If only I had this” or “If only I had that” we should be serving Him in this, our current situation!
After many trials and hardships, Paul finally learned the lesson of contentment: ….I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:11-13).
May we all be satisfied and content with what our God has provided for us. May we all be completely satisfied with our God. He is all we need.
(Submitted by Tommy Tucker) -Bart
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Upcoming Activities:
* Breakfast at Eat’N Park - Tuesday, January 17 - 8:30 am.
* Wednesday morning Bible Study begins this Wed., Jan. 18 at 11:00 am.
* Teen Nigh @ Dennis and Kathy Currey’s - Friday, January 20 -6:00 pm.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
* CYC (Challenge Youth Conference)- February 24-26 in Gatlinburg, TN. If interested
in attending, $25 fee is due to Ryan TODAY!!
* Our One-Day Lectureship will be held on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012!!
(Flyers on the tables)
Members interested in having an email address please contact bptcoc@bptchurch.com