Recommended bulletin inserts
for July

"I'm of John Piper!" "I'm of John MacArthur!" "I'm of R. C. Sproul!" "I'm of Allistair Begg!"

It wasn't so bad that the Corinthian people appreciated the leaders that had come through their city (Apollos, Cephas, and even Paul himself), but that their affections moved their church to an ugly and deforming exclusiveness, or sectarianism. Ever seen that?

Needless to say, Paul disliked their attitude.

What would inspire a man to fearlessly preach Christ and offer words of hope in the minutes just before he was burned to death on a stake? Consider the life, and death, of John Bradford.

John Bradford lived in Britain in the 16th century. He was born around 1510, converted in 1547, and he became a "roving chaplain" in 1550, rebuking sin and preaching Christ. Eventually, the rule in Britain was handed over to a rogue regime set against the gospel. The ensuing persecution was fierce, and Bradford was imprisoned because of his love for Christ. He was ultimately condemned to die by wicked men. Another believer, 19 year-old John Leaf, was to be killed beside Bradford. Finally, the day of their martyrdom arrived. Faith Cook tells what happened next:

Some people may have a soft spot in their heart for warthogs, but I think they are the ugliest animals on the planet. Baby warthogs are not quite as ugly as the adults, but even the babies won't win any beauty contests. And by the time a "cute" little warthoglet reaches maturity he looks like he fell from the top of an ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.

Ugh! That face!!

Complaining is unbecoming of the true Christian and yet we are proficient at it. The cure is found in these verses. In Christ we are never hopeless or forsaken. Every trial has meaning. Meditate on this cure in order to change both your language and your heart.

Do you like storms? Some children find the cracks of thunder, flashes of lightning and howling winds frightening. Other children think storms are exciting, if they can watch them out the window of a sturdy house, snuggled up with mom or dad. But what if you were outside in the storm? Would you like it then? Imagine you were in an open boat, in the dark, tossed about by the wind and the great waves it created. Would you be frightened? Here's a true story from the Bible about some men who were in just that situation.

Also consider...........

• Mixed-Up Churches: Aiming for Multi-Cultural Glory
• Sorrowful Yet Always Rejoicing
• Better Prayer Meetings and Prayer Groups: Less Confusion, More Communion
• Helping Friends Who Receive The Call We All Dread
• Our Only Sure Defense - suggested insert for July 4th
• Burning the Flag - suggested insert for July 4th
• Vacation Bible School: Do's and Don'ts
• Bad Days in God's Good Plan - for children
• Born OK the First Time?
• The Eyes of God and The Sins of Men
• The Unrepenting Repenter
• What Does It Mean To Be A Christian?
• Selina, the Less-than-Perfect Servant
• A 12 Point Cure for Complaining
• Finding Help In Troubled Waters
• The Dog That Yelped
• What is the Bible? - Basic Truth Series #1
• Understanding the Death of Christ (Part 2) - "Basic Truth" series, #8