Favored by God!

FAVORED
Luke 1.26-38

An unexpected choice (Luke 1.26-33)

Who is Mary ? (26-27)

A brief introduction is given, but very limited information is provided.

Why Mary? (28-33)

She easily goes unnoticed . (28)

God sees her!

STAFF CHURCH STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST
She is clearly unaware of what is happening. (29) PULPIT MINISTER 305 W. Church Street, Lewisburg, TN 37091
Kyle Bolton 993-3520 931.359.3597
God gets her attention ! kyle@churchst.org
FAMILY MINISTER AMAZING GRACE! December 16, 2018
She is relatively unknown . (30) Bill Tankersley 993-8977
Tankersley69@cs.com
bill@churchst.org She was quiet and unassuming, going about her daily tasks without a care in the world. Her
God knows her! YOUTH MINISTER thoughts would often drift toward the man she was now pledged to marry. He was a good
Will Brown
Caleb Taylor 993-2151 man, who always treated her with love and care. He had recently made known to her that
She seems to be rather unimportant . (31-33) caleb@churchst.org
willb@churchst.org he wanted to care for and provide for her the rest of his life.
HISPANIC MINISTER Then, the unusual and amazing happened! She was visited by an angel and he gave her
God wants her! Hector Cruz 993-0009
some astounding news — she was to become the mother of the long-awaited Messiah!
hectorcruz@cscofc.org
hector@churchst.org
When she considered her virginity and thus the impossibility of such a story, she was
SECRETARY reminded that, with God, all things are possible! “But, why me?” she must have questioned.
Mary’s response of faith (Luke 1.34-38) Talitha Liggett 359-3597
To which only one reply could possibly be given — Amazing grace!
tbl76@bellsouth.net
office@churchst.org
It is intelligent . (34-37) Actually, when one considers the incarnation and over and over again asks the question,
ELDERS “Why?”, the same answer will always suffice. Why was Joseph given the right to serve as the
ELDERS earthly father figure for Jesus? Amazing grace! Why were lowly shepherds, watching their
It is experiential and trusting. (38) Steve Allen 212-8390
Wayne Cozart 224-2818
steveallen2@bellsouth.net flocks in the fields at night, the first to hear the grand pronouncement of the Savior’s birth?
wayne@churchst.org Amazing grace! Why were astronomers from afar led to follow a star that would point the way to
It is deeply transforming . (29; 2.19, 51) Wayne Cozart 224-2818
David Jent
wayne@churchst.org270-6631 the Christ child? Amazing grace!
david@david jentrealty.com It is an incredible story! The God who created this world so long ago, decided to enter it! He
David Jent 270-6631
Favor = God’s presence Don Ledford 615-714-3213
david@davidjentrealty.com who had created humans in His likeness, would now humble Himself to take on theirs
dledford@ledfordexchange.com
Don Ledford 615-714-3213 (Philippians 2.5-11). But, why? Amazing grace!
What about the cultural shame and stigma attached to Mary’s unusual pregnancy? Lee Morrison 703-4044
dledford@ledfordexchange.com The birth narrative of Jesus, though important, is much bigger than a lowly manger in a dirty
lee@churchst.org
Favor (God’s presence) is all that is needed for a lifelong commitment ! Lee Morrison 703-4044 stable in Bethlehem. The real story is this — “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
lee@churchst.org and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and
DEACONS
Will WilsonSteve Allen
580-8821
359- truth” (John 1.14). But, why did He do it? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only
Do not miss the angelic pronouncement! (Luke 2.14) williamwilson364@gmail.com
4616 begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3.16).
Kenneth Bailey 993-2159 Now, that is a story worth telling — “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound!”
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” (NKJV) DEACONS
Grover Collins 359-5386
Kenneth Bailey 993-2159 Kyle
Matt Ervin 637-1830
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” (NIV) Grover Collins
Greg Hardison 359-5386
703-4231
Matt Ervin
Joel Hargrove 637-1830
652-7143 CHILDREN’S HOME ITEMS FOR DECEMBER: baked beans
Is His favor resting on you? Greg
Robert Hardison
Hopkins 703-4231
364-3927
Joel
GaryHargrove
Lancaster 652-7143
359-5215 DECEMBER EVENTS
Robert Hopkins
Kelly Lane 675-2852
359-5986 TONIGHT Girls Bible Time.
Remember: favor = God’s presence . Gary Lancaster
Joe Liggett 359-5215
359-4929
Kelly Lane
Ray Wakefield 359-5986
359-2328 Dec. 19 Special Service at 7:00 in auditorium by our deacons. No Classes.
Are you “ favored by God”? Joe Liggett
Clifford Whitaker 359-4929
637-3507 Dec. 20 Opry Mills Shopping Trip. The bus will leave at 12 and will stop for lunch.
Ray
BrittWakefield
Wiles 359-2328
359-7702
Are you making God smile ? Clifford
Mike WilesWhitaker 637-3507
359-4165 Dec. 24-25 Office Closed for the holidays.
Britt Wiles
Will Wilson 359-7702
293-6814
Dec. 26 Special Service at 7:00 in auditorium by our deacons. No Classes.
Mike Wiles 359-4165
 Prayer Updates
Upcoming Deadlines  Jean Adams, the aunt of Talitha Liggett, is back at
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Adams Place, 1927 Memorial Blvd, Murfreesboro

CYC— Sign up AND turn your money ($100) in by TO- Continue to Remember in Prayer ...
 Laurie Brewer (the mother of Luke Brewer), Elaine
DAY if you plan to go! If you are unable to go but have Tankersley (the mother of Bill Tankersley), Larry McKnight,
James Woodward (the husband of Betty Daniels’ caregiver),
Dec. 16
Dec. 17
Mason Collins - 16
Colman Brothers - 6
Tim Fuller
signed up or are unable to get the money in, make sure to Howard Haislip (the father of Pam Thomason), Mindy
Hooten (the step-daughter of Pam Thomason) Mackinley Lancaster - 3
Blake Woodard - 16
let me know! Ongoing Prayer Needs Dec. 19 Steve Anderson
Haley Hardison
 IN HOME SHUT-INS Dec. 20 Ken Ezell
Bobbye Lou Adcock, Theola Blue, Barbara Chunn, Harvey Solomon
Wynona Clark, Betty Daniels, Austin & Ruth Grogan, Dec. 21 Ethan Cole - 25
Billy & Jo Ellen Haislip, James Jordan, Mike McCollum,
Roslyn Sutherland, Margaret Wade
Dec. 17 Jay & Stacye Burgett - 26 yrs
 NHC LEWISBURG
Dec. 18 Ray & Annette Wakefield - 42 yrs
There will be calendars available for the Ralph Lowrance, Elise Murphy
Dec. 20 Wayne & Janie Cozart - 49 yrs
month of January and 2019 next to the youth office.  NHC OAKWOOD Dec. 21 Ronald & Katrina McRady - 50 yrs
Betty Carter, Dorothy Phillips, Madalyn Shelton, James Dec. 22 Ben & Megan Wakefield - 12 yrs
Woodward (the husband of Betty Daniels’ caregiver) Hector & Eva Cruz - 28 yrs
 VILLAGE MANOR

UPCOMING EVENTS James Allen, Roy & Anna Bolton, Nancy Derryberry,
Elizabeth Hardison, Mary Louise Osborne, Sondra
Rasori, Lucy Tate, Laquita Weaver
We have received
thank you notes from:
 OUR MILITARY Hellen Smith & Laurie Brewer.
Donnie Allen, Mark Allen, Luke Anderson, Todd Please stop and read.
Lowrance
 OUR MISSION POINTS ******************
Colonet, Mexico; City of Children (Ensenada, Mexico); Congratulations to Hunt Jackson on
World Bible School; Ghana preachers; Zambia jail being selected “Most Handsome”
ministry; Eastern European Missions; Inner City at Cornersville High School.
Ministry; AGAPE; Fishers of Men; Tennessee Children’s
Home; World Christian Broadcasting, Disaster Relief;
local Hispanic Ministry

We are rejoicing with

Jackson Smith upon his decision
to become a Christian.

Opry Mills CSYG Christmas Party Lock-In We are also rejoicing with
Ryan Smith on his decision to
FOR THE RECORD
December 9, 2018
Shopping Trip 6:00 p.m. @ the Youth House.
This will be on Fri., Dec. 28 @ This will be on Mon., Dec. become a Christian. They were
31st from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 baptized on Monday evening at the AM 324*
This will be on Thurs., church building. Hispanic 25
There will be an ugly sweater p.m. for grades 5-12. We
Dec. 20th. We will leave PM 146
contest with a prize. We will also will play games, have devos, Their address is:
2690 Red Nix Rd
Bible Class 262*
from church @ 12:00 play Dirty Santa with a $10 and eat throughout the Wed. Night 185
Cornersville, TN 37047
p.m. We will eat and maximum on the gift. Sign up @ night. Sign up @ the Youth
shop. the Youth Board for food! Board! Also Callie Smith came Contribution $22,506.00
asking for our prayers.
* includes Hispanic group