EAST TAMPA CHRISTIAN CHURCH

7824 S. 24th Ave., Tampa, Fla. 33619 / (813) 626-2507

Terry Tyree, Minister

October 12, 2025

ORDER OF WORSHIP

Announcements

Prayer

Praise Songs

Ain't Nobody

As the Deer

Our God

Communion Song

People Need the Lord

Communion / Offering

John Thomas

Sermon

Anthony Jones

Invitation Song

Closing Prayer

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

ON THE CALENDAR

Sunday: Sunday School: Adults / Children, 9 a.m. Worship / Nursery, 10 a.m.

Tuesday: Hunger-Free Mission food sharing, 10 a.m.

Wednesday: Bible study and prayer meeting, 6 p.m.

October 31: Fall Festival, 6 p.m.

THIS AND THAT

Birthday this week: Maddisen Gentry (Tuesday)

Meditations next week: Anthony Jones

Nursery today: Carole Tyree

Nursery next week: Pat Swindle

FROM THE WORD

Matthew 13: The Parable of the Sower


1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched,

and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.


15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’


16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.


18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.


23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

ADDITIONAL

TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION

The invitation at the close of each worship service extends an opportunity for anyone outside of Christ to unite with him and become a Christian through belief (John 3:16); repentance (turning away from sin,

Acts 2:38); confession of belief in Christ (Romans 10:10); baptism into Christ for forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Romans 6:1-8) and devoting the rest of your life to

Christ (Matthew 10:22).

The Lord’s invitation also is open to anyone desiring to rededicate his or her life to Christ; to baptized

believers wanting to transfer their membership to this congregation, or to request prayer support.

ABOUT US

For more than a half-century, we have been a restoration plea fellowship in unity with other independent New Testament church bodies. Certainly, we are not the only Christians, but we are Christians only.

In that regard, we assume no denominational name. We observe the Lord’s Supper every Sunday to honor him and reflect upon his great sacrifice on our behalf (Acts 2:42, 1 Corinthians 11:23-28, Hebrews 10:25).

We teach directly from the Bible. Where it speaks clearly – such as the Gospel plan of salvation and other directions or commands – we seek unity. In matters of opinion, where the Bible does not expressly speak, we seek liberty. In all things, however, we speak love for one another, just as Jesus loved us and laid down his life for us!

If you agree with these matters, please join us to proclaim salvation and unity to those who need to hear it in the name of our blessed Lord and only Savior, Jesus Christ. We urgently invite you to do so since his glorious return is imminent.

OUR ELDERS

Dan Hefner (813) 244-9843 danshirlh@msn.com