Acts 15:5  But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”

 

The above reference represents a majority opinion of Jewish Christians regarding the salvation of gentiles (most of us!) and the acceptance of gentile Christians into the Christianity community (church).  In your studies of the New Testament, have you noticed the majority of Jewish Christians rejected gentile Christians?  Most Jewish Christians accepted the salvation of gentiles only if those gentiles adopted Jewish forms, customs, and traditions.  To raise your awareness of that fact, read Acts 11:3 concerning the reaction of apostles and Jewish brethren to the conversion of a gentile.  Read about the Acts 15:1 debate Paul and Barnabas could not resolve.  Read the concern of the Jerusalem elders in Acts 21:20-22.  Read Paul’s confused reaction to some gentile Christians who yielded to Jewish Christians’ demands (Galatians 1:6, 7.)

 

Jewish people knew gentiles could be saved.  They converted gentile God fearers to Judaism before Christianity existed.  Read Matthew 23:15.  The issue was not can gentiles be saved?  The issue concerned what is the proper method for saving gentiles?  The position of many Jewish Christians: God’s grace declared in Jesus’ sacrifice combined with immersion into Christ is not enough.  It is only enough if gentiles first are indoctrinated in and accept Jewish ways prior to entering Christ.

 

A typical mindset of Jewish Christians in the first century followed this reasoning:  Gentiles are immoral people who worship weird things in weird ways (read Romans 1:20-23).  Saving gentiles requires two things:  (1) First, they must be taught to abandon their pagan ways.  (2) Second, they must be taught to adopt the ways of the living God.  Only if they are taught our ways can that happen.

 

When Peter understood that God accepted gentiles as quickly as He did Jews (Acts 10:34, 35), and when Paul evangelized gentiles to Jesus Christ without imposing Jewish ways on them, many if not most Jewish Christians reacted in horror and disbelief.  The thought that people could belong to God without following Jewish ways was unthinkable in most Jewish minds!  Not only was it unthinkable, it was repulsive!

 

These Christians made Paul’s life miserable!  They questioned his credibility (read his defense against such accusations in Galatians 1:11 through chapter 2.)  They accused him of things he did not do (read Acts 21:20 and 21:28).  They even attempted to kill him (read Acts 9:29, 30 and Acts 20:3).  Paul spent his life passing from one awkward situation to another.  Though he loved his people deeply (Romans 9:1-5), his own people constantly threatened him and his work.

 

Jewish people knew beyond all doubt their way of living, worship, and doing things was the only way God noticed and accepted.  That is the way Paul thought before he understood God’s work in Jesus Christ.  Read Acts 8:1-3 and 1 Timothy 1:12-16.  Paul finally understood (1) who Jesus was and (2) God’s achievements in Jesus.  Those realizations turned Paul’s understanding and life around—180 degrees!  Never stop growing in your understanding of God’s work in Jesus Christ.

 

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**In Our Thoughts & Prayers**
• Curtis Hendrix (Milton's father) is in Crawford County Hospital and will be released to go home in the next few days.  A sore on his foot is now gangrened, but his doctors do not feel he is strong enough for any surgery.
• Fred Jackson has been back to UAMS in Little Rock. The aneurysm in no longer leaking. The blood clot in his leg is improved; he is walking around and feeling better. Doctors will continue to monitor his progress.
• Margaret Moss is ill at home with pneumonia.
• Kay Cole is in Sparks Hospital, room 587 with a broken pelvis.  Following her hospital stay, she will transfer to Health South rehab.
• Maile McDonald had a respiratory illness following her last chemo treatment. Pray for her continued recovery.
• Dennis Anders (father of Mark) is recovering from quadruple bypass surgery on March 17th. His prayer pager is 1-318-330-0248 (long distance except for some cell phones).
• Kathleen Taranto (illness at home)
• Opal Hewitt Dexter is in Health South Rehab, room 218B.
• Theresa Wieser was dismissed from the hospital on Tuesday.
• Palmer Richardson, daughter of Scott & Lori Ann

• Sandra Duncan (of the Fort Smith community) called to request prayers for her son, Joshua, age 3, for heart problems.

 

**Continued Prayers**
• Aaron Canfield Logan (infant son of Coby and Megan)
• Adam Jenkins
• Anita Maxwell
• Chuck Cunningham
• Don Green
• Eddie Hamlett
• Larry Treat
• Paul Flippo
• Vicki Varvel (daughter of John and Nadine Hawkins)
• Frances Quenin
• Mahala Bailey (mother of Wayne)
• Irene Willis (broken knee cap)
• Lynne Alexander (recovery after knee replacement surgery)
• Shirley Austin (mother of Sharon Barker)

 

**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Jennifer Collins in the recent death of her father, Charlie Spurlock of Hardy, AR.

 

**Welcome New Members**
Danny & Judy Denton
Daughter, Kenna
3803 Ashebury Point
Greenwood, AR 72936
Phone: (479) 996-5110

 

**Missionaries in Prayer**
• __________ in Laos
• Thomas & Kindy Kweekul in Thailand and Laos
• __________ in Vietnam 
• John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley in France
• Roy and Joyce Dunavin in New Zealand

 

**Prayers for Men in Service**
Matthew Faries, Shane L. Newton, Daniel Kweekul, Aaron Bailey, Philip Lux, Adam Morrissun, Ronnie Wheat, and David Jennen.

 

**Baby Shower**
A shower honoring Jamey and Amy Burkhart is planned for Sunday, April 3rd, from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. in the Annex.  It’s a girl!  The Burkharts are registered at Toys-R-Us.

 

**Note of Thanks**
To the West-Ark Family,
Thank you so much for the prayers, calls, and cards on behalf of the passing of my precious Christian mother, Odell Hughes. She lived 94 years loving the Lord and her family. Only in the last few months was she so very ill from her leukemia.
 In Christian Love,
 Howard and Dottie Hughes

 

**Borrowed Items**
Please look around your home for anything you have borrowed from the church but not returned: Books, tablecloths, dishes, keys, tables, chairs, etc.

 

**Senior & Handicap Parking **
The rear parking lot is reserved during assembly times for our senior citizens and those that need to park close to the door for health reasons.  Please be mindful of this when you arrive early or leave your personal vehicle while on a church van trip. 

 

**Sunday Evening**
Worship at 6:00 p.m.
We’ll have a Fellowship Meal afterward in the FLC.
Please bring desserts!

 

** “Written Without Ink” **
Click on the link below to read Chris Benjamin's web journal.
http://www.westark.org/benjamin/blog.htm

 

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**LTC Awards and Pizza Fellowship**
Sunday, April 3, following morning worship in the Family Life Center.

 

**Lions for Christ**
April 8-10 Don't forget about our Spring Retreat to Devil's Den. Remember; if you can only make one "extra" event this semester make it the Spring Retreat!

 

**LFC Shirts**
The LFC shirts are now in!  The cost is only $10.  See John if you are interested in purchasing one of these fine looking shirts.

 

**Teachers Needed**
We have the following teaching/helping opportunities for our preschool department:

 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT, 1ST GRADE (ASAP)
WEDNESDAY NIGHT, KINDERGARTEN TEACHER (ASAP)

 

If you can help with any of these, please call Dena Jenkins.

 

**New Bible Study**
David Chadwell’s new study on “Christian Responsibility and Accountability” is available in some adult classrooms and also in the Information Center. This series of 13 lessons stress Christian responsibility as we seek God's balance between the joy of God's grace and the horror of our sinfulness. The study begins Sunday, April 3.

 

**Church Directory **
An updated church directory (addresses and phone numbers) is available in the Information Center.

 

**Happy Birthday**

 

April 2
Sherrell Buchanan

 

April 4
Helen Blackman
Carolyn Johnson
Wade Pressley

 

April 5
Michael Wear

 

April 6
Ron Orick
Seth Seiter

 

April 7
Gary James
Rachel Null
Jeff Pressley

 

April 9
Saige Blasdel
Jackie Hamilton

 

**Ladies’ Days**
Robinson Ave. Church of Christ Springdale, AR
Saturday, April 2, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Brunch provided
Theme: “Here Comes the Bride”
Your Love story with Christ
Call (479) 751-4887 to register.

 

Poteau Church of Christ
Saturday, April 2, 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Singing groups: The Gospel Harmonizers and One Voice.
Lunch will be served.
A van will leave at 7:45 from the church parking lot.
Contact the office (452-1240) or Kathy Roslaez (452-2157) if you are interested in riding with us.

 

9th Street Church of Christ
Saturday, April 16, 9 a.m. until noon
Theme: Time Is Running Out
Speaker: Norma Gilkey
of Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

**Sunday Morning, March 27**

 

WELCOME AND CALL TO WORSHIP
Brad Pistole

 

#2 - We Praise Thee O God
#3 - Hallelujah Praise Jehovah
#4 - To God Be the Glory
PRAYER
#294 - You're the One
#296 - We Have Come Into His House

 

READING AND REFLECTION
Acts 20:1-12 - Chris Benjamin
#356 - I Believe in Jesus
#364 - Come Share the Lord

 

COMMUNION PRAYERS - JAMES WORD
OFFERING - GARY BROWN

 

#1015 - Jesus Loves the Children [dismissal for Children's Worship]
Song: Days of Elijah (projected)

 

SERMON: "A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH" - CHRIS BENJAMIN

 

Song for Responses
#533 - I Am A Sheep

 

SENDING OUT PRAYER AND CHARGE MICHAEL COLE

 

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**West-Ark Teens and Families**

 

Look What's Coming Up!

 

• March 25 & 26 – Leadership Training for Christ
in Tulsa, OK at the Convention Center

 

• March 27 – Special Song Service at 6 p.m. with
Fellowship meal to follow

 

• April 3 – LTC Banquet
(Immediately following the Sunday morning services)

 

• April 10 – Sunday Night Live in Bentonville, AR
Leave at 4:00 p.m. and return by 9:30 p.m.

 

• May 1 – Sunday Night Live in Fayetteville, AR

 

• May 22 – Senior Graduation Services at West-Ark

 

**Fourth Sunday Nursery**
A.M. Nursery
Berniece Rogers
Sharon Faries
Tracy Risley
Donna Roper

 

P.M. Nursery
Angela
Dunavant
Denise
Lusby

 

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 660
Bible Classes  447
Sunday Evening 255
Small Groups 16
Wednesday PM  405
Contribution   $15,309
Children’s Home   $318
Hispanic Contribution $161
AM Hispanic Attendance  42
 PM Hispanic Attendance  6
Laotian Contribution $235
Laotian Attendance 26
The Way Contribution $49
The Way Attendance 33