September 2, 2007


Volume XXVI - Number 35  

The Curse Of Emptiness
Bobby Dockery

T. S. Eliot, in a famous poem, characterized the men and women of this age as hollow beings whose lives proclaim:

We are the hollow men
We are the empty men
Leaning together
Headpiece filled with straw. Alas!
Our dried voices, when
We whisper together
Are quiet and meaningless
As wind in dry grass
Or rats' feet over broken glass
In our dry cellar

If you went out into the streets and asked people what they want most in life, most would say, "Happiness!" But instead of happiness, so many people find only emptiness. Why???

1) Some are living empty lives because they lack knowledge of the Savior. Millions in our world have never heard the name of Jesus. Even many of those who think of themselves as "Christian" actually know very little about Jesus and His teachings - and most of what they think they know is either completely wrong or tragically distorted! Those who do not know Jesus need to hear about Him from us!

2) Some are empty lives because they have not honestly tried God's way. They have some knowledge of the truth but refuse to obey it and live it. It is not that Christianity has been tried and found wanting; it is that Christianity has been found difficult and not tried! They think the Christian life is too difficult to attempt. Our task is to show them they will never escape their emptiness until they do.

3) Some are living empty lives because they have missed the emphasis of the Gospel. It is ironic but true that there is a certain kind of religion which leads only to emptiness. A lot of people think of Christianity in terms of "negative goodness." They think they are Christians because of what they DON'T do: they don't lie, steal, murder, get drunk, commit adultery, etc. Jesus taught that we must not only clean the evil out of our lives, we must also replace it with positive goodness (Matthew 12:43-45)! We must get busy in serving God and our fellow man! The goal of true religion is not emptiness (absence of evil) but fullness (serving God and doing good to others)! The attitude, "I never did anybody any harm," will not make you happy; "bearing one anthers burdens" will!

Jesus longs to fill empty lives. This is the good news of the Gospel!

Jesus can, not only clean out your life, He can also fill it up (Ephesians 1 :23). Life without Jesus will always be a life which is subject to barrenness and hollowness. Life with Him is fullness and grace upon grace (John 1:16) .




AM SERMON:

"A Fire In Our Bones"
Jeremiah 20:9

PM SERMON:

"Do You See?"
Luke 7:44-48

Youth Group Meeting
The teen group is scheduled to meet this evening after the PM services for their monthly fellowship/devo. See Matt Faneuf for more details.

Directory Change
Please note that the email address for Brittany Paye is as follows:
[CLICK HERE]
The email address that was on the notes in the foyer was incorrect.

Also note in the “Extended Family” section of your directory - the new address for Katherine Newby is:
[CLICK HERE]

Our Pantry
Once again our pantry is especially low on canned meats and canned fruit. Your help is greatly appreciated in keeping the pantry stocked. There is still room for volunteers to help with the food distribution program. See Wanda Greene for more information.

God won't be looking
for your medals and awards.
He won't see your degrees and diplomas.
He will be looking for your battle wounds
and scars!


The difference between listening to a radio sermon and going to church, is the same as, the difference between calling a girl on the telephone and spending an evening with her.

 

Katherine Moses, Mona Howard,
Jason Powell, Wilda Cox,
Carl Chambers, Pete Peeples,
Bill Guy, Minnie Lee Stout,
Zach Mathis, Pansy Sims,
Brice Oliver, Lindsay Jo Holt,
Frances Kidwell, Gina Dupree

– Shut Ins –
Ken Skinner, Robert Cox,
Frances Black, Cliff Powell,
Mattie Hughs

– In The Nursing Homes –
Elsie Chambers (Auburndale Oaks #242)
Robert Pearson (Tandem)
Jewell White (Auburndale Oaks)