Author: Bryan Gibson

Weekly Bulletin
May 10, 2020

The Parable of the Seeds on the Shelf
by J. S. Smith
Tucked between the toolbox and spare light bulbs on a shelf in the corner of a garage is a packet of wildflower seeds. Their owner received them a few years ago with the intention of sowing them in his flowerbed and watching them grow and reproduce.
Due in equal part to neglect, disinterest and old-fashioned laziness, he has never gotten around to planting those seeds. “Maybe next year” seems to be a frequent apology in their presence. Sometimes he cleans up the garage and comes upon that packet of seeds, which are then arranged more prominently with the intention of sowing them soon. There they wait but never get any closer to the soil.
You can visit his front yard today, but you won't see any bluebonnets there. He never sowed the seed, so the plant never had a chance to grow.
Therefore, hear the parable of the seeds on the shelf. The packet of seeds is the gospel message, the good news of a risen Savior—“the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). That seed, when sown, has the power to change people's hearts, when those hearts are like good and receptive soil. The obstacles to the growth of that seed are many, but unless the seed is sown, it is certain nothing will grow.
The shelf is the tendency of too many Christians to neglect their duty before God to spread the gospel message. Opportunities abound when relatives complain of life's troubles, when neighbors complain about the world's moral decline, and when coworkers mentioned impending surgery or trouble at home. The seed could be sown by an offer to pray or by attributing moral decline to a lack of attention to the Bible, but the seed stays on the shelf. Possibly the sower fears offending the soil with such a foreign object as the gospel seed and so he mutters some secular words of comfort instead. Okay, so maybe that doesn’t do any HARM, per se. But, it doesn’t provide any HELP either. Remember this about opportunities—they often times disappear as quickly as they come.
God gives the increase, but He requires men to plant and water (1 Corinthians 3:5-8). Brothers and sisters, are we sowing the seed of the kingdom?

Rescue and Recovery
by Bryan Gibson (from 2001)
Since the terrorists’ attacks on September 11, many brave men and women have been involved in the rescue and recovery effort. We have praised these men and women for their tireless efforts, and rightly so.
All this talk about rescue and recovery got me to thinking. Christians are involved in a never-ending rescue and recovery effort. There will always be souls that need to be rescued. There will always be those who need help recovering from the damage done to their souls by sin. Consider the following passages:
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).
“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26).
“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).
The Lord needs more manpower in this great rescue and recovery effort. Can He count on you and me?

Contact Information
	P.O. Box 680872 / Prattville, AL 36067
	(334) 365-5887 / (334) 868-0801
	prattmont@gmail.com / prattmontchurchofchrist.org

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The Prattmont Church of Christ is just what the name suggests, a church that belongs to Christ. We are not a denomination; we are simply a group of Christians trying very hard to practice the teachings of our Head, Jesus Christ. The New Testament offers a complete pattern for what each local church should be like—its organization, its worship, its work, etc. We are committed to following that pattern. We cordially invite you to attend our services. We would also welcome any comments or questions about this bulletin.

TIMES OF SERVICES:
Sunday
Bible Study 9:00 A.M.
Worship 10:00 A.M.
Training Class 5:00 P.M.
Worship 6:00 P.M.
Wednesday:
Bible Study 7:00 P.M.