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
Holy, Holy, Holy
It Is Well With My Soul
Sweet, Sweet Spirit
Closing Prayer
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
ON THE CALENDAR
Suday: Sunday School: Adults / Children, 9 a.m. Worship / Nursery, 10 a.m.
Monday: Labor Day
Tuesday: Hunger-Free Mission food sharing, 10 a.m.
Wednesday: Bible study and prayer meeting, 6 p.m.
THIS AND THAT
Meditations next week: Anthony Jones
Nursery today: Carole Tyree
Nursery next week: Tracey Spearman
FROM THE WORD
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
Ephesians 4
ADDITIONAL
DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD
Let us turn our attention to Romans 12, a passage that offers profound insights into how we should live as Christians. In the opening verses, Paul urges us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God and not to conform to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
Paul’s command, “Do not be conformed to this world,” prompts us to reflect deeply on our daily lives. Conformity, in its essence, means to pattern oneself after someone else, often yielding to societal pressures and losing individuality. This tendency can be seen in various aspects of life, from clothing choices to lifestyle decisions. Many people, especially the young, feel immense pressure to fit in, driven by a desire to be accepted or esteemed.
Today, we are inundated with marketing tactics and societal norms that subtly or overtly push us toward conformity. But this can be dangerous as it may lead us to compromise our values and engage in actions contrary to our beliefs, as illustrated in scenarios where peer pressure leads to harmful behaviors.
Instead of conforming to the world, we are called to be “transformists,” undergoing a true change, much like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. This transformation involves a deep renewal, beginning with our conversion and continuing throughout our lives. It’s about allowing the Holy Spirit to renew our minds and hearts, leading us to live in a way that reflects God’s will and character.
But why do many conform? Reasons range from insecurity, a desire to follow the crowd, to a lack of knowledge about God’s love and His call for us to be distinct. To resist these pressures, we must recognize our identity in Christ, understand the consequences of worldly conformity, and strive to be leaders and examples of godly living.
In Romans 8:29, Paul speaks about being conformed to the image of Christ, which is our true calling. This kind of conformity enriches our inner being and aligns us with God’s will, leading us to demonstrate what is good, acceptable, and perfect.
Troy Postlethwait Front Royal (Va.) Church 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