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
Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)
Everything
Forever
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.
THIS AND THAT
Anniversary this week: Terry and Carole Tyree (Monday)
Meditations next week: Bob Bellone
Nursery today: Tracey Spearman
Nursery next week: Carole Tyree
FROM THE WORD
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Luke 15:1-7
ADDITIONAL
LOVE THE ONE
One of my favorite parables in the Bible is found in Luke chapter 15 titled, “The Parable of the Lost Sheep.” It begins with Jesus saying, “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?”
Jesus was talking about his life mission. He didn’t come for the found, but to seek and save the lost. He didn’t come to add to religion, but to bring salvation. The mission of Jesus was to find the broken, destitute and hurting and bring them into God’s kingdom. He would gladly leave the 99 to go after the one.
Our mission? To do the exact same thing.
Our mission is to leave our places of comfort and help the outcast. Pursue the wandering. Rescue the weak. Love the one.
It is easy to stay in your safe sphere, but it is not Jesus. Jesus calls us beyond the edge of our comfort. It’s not so much that He is sending us out, but rather, asking us to join Him in what He is already doing.
If you live this way, you will be amazed at the impact.
Ten years ago, I pursued one and he later became a pastor.
Eight years ago, I pursued one and he became a missionary.
Five years ago, I pursued one and he went to serve with refugees.
Three years ago, I pursued one and he started a college Bible study.
Multiple times, I have pursued one who came back to tell me, “Thank you for reaching out to me. I was at the end of my rope and considering suicide.”
But these aren’t just my stories. They are Jesus’ stories. He is reaching out to the one every day. Imagine what could happen if we all lived this way. The lost would be saved and the world would be changed.
Travis Nicholson
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