EAST TAMPA CHRISTIAN CHURCH
7824 S. 24th Ave., Tampa, Fla. 33619 / (813) 626-2507
Terry Tyree, Minister
ORDER OF WORSHIP
Announcements
Prayer
Sermon
Invitation Song
Communion Song
Communion / Offering
Praise Songs
No Hold on Me
Living Hope
My Jesus
Here I Am
Closing Prayer
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
ON THE CALENDAR
Sunday: Sunday School: Adults 9 a.m., Children 9 and 10 a.m. Worship, 10 a.m.
Tuesday: Hunger-Free Mission food and clothes sharing, 10 a.m.
Wednesday: Bible study and prayer meeting, 6 p.m.
Thursday: Bible study, 10 a.m.
THIS AND THAT
Anniversary this week: Bob and Noy Bellone (Monday)
Offerings last week: $1,046 (general fund)
Meditations next week: Jim Fairchild
FROM THE WORD
Ephesians 4:22-24
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Philippians 3:13-14
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 4:7-8
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
ADDITIONAL
WHAT DOES EPHESIANS 4:22 MEAN?
Paul calls believers to consciously strive towards a more Christ-like life. The “old self" is the way of life practiced by Christians prior to their conversion. According to Paul, this “old self” has two characteristics. First, it “belongs” to that previous state, not the current status as a child of God. A believer is not to be associated with the same sinful practices he or she lived for prior to knowing Christ.
Second, the “old self” is marked by evil brought on by misplaced, deceptive urges. As prior verses indicated, unbelievers not only “[give] themselves up” to sin, they seem eager to go deeper and further into sin. This is not only damaging to their relationship with God, it's also damaging to their lives and physical bodies (Romans 1:27). Sin is deceptive, making us think that what's actually harmful is what's best for us. The word for “corruption” here is phtheiromenon, which carries the idea of rotting, wasting, rusting, or being defiled.
Such things have no value to themselves or others. In contrast, believers are called to serve others as useful servants of Christ.
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
Jim Fairchild (813) 361-7809 jfairchild@famins.com
Dan Hefner (813) 244-9843 danshirlh@msn.com