God’s House Full
Gospel Church
Vacation Bible School will begin Monday, July 9, and continue through July 13 at God’s House Full Gospel Church, 1206 Stateline Road.
Classes will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. each day.
Everyone is welcome.
For more information, call Pastor Jerry Davis at (423) 753-4821.

Long Hollow Baptist
A benefit singing will be held Saturday, July 7, at 6 p.m. at Long Hollow Baptist Church for Aaron Potter.
Potter was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 abdominal cancer, and is presently undergoing treatment. He is in need of both financial and spiritual support.
Featured singers will include Sherry Richardson Tilson, Joel Crisp, and Sounds of Victory.
If you are unable to attend, but would like to make a donation call Jackie Wiseman at 542-5453.
Long Hollow Missionary Baptist Church is located off Long Hollow Road on Sims Hill Road.

Calvary Baptist
Revival will be held at Calvary Baptist Church above Roan Mountain State Park, beginning Sunday and continuing through Wednesday.
The guest speaker Sunday evening is Daniel Lawrence and the speaker Monday through Wednesday is Billy Mitchell.
The Sunday service is at 6 p.m. and Monday through Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Everyone is invited to attend.

First United Methodist
Everyone is invited to the Lord’s Table Sunday at First United Methodist Church when the pastor, the Rev. Raymond W. Amos, Sr., will present the message “The Carpenter’s Table” based on Mark 6: 1-6. The worship service will begin at 9:55 a.m.
Sunday School will begin at 11:20 a.m.
The 4:12 Junior High Student Ministries will meet Sunday from 4:12 to 5:25 p.m. The Senior High Ministries will meet from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m.
The Wednesday evening Life Lessons will be held Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
First United Methodist is located at 325 E. E St. For more information about the church and its ministries call the church office at 543-3505 or check out the church website at www.fumcelizabethton.com

First Presbyterian
The Rev. David Prentice-Hyers will preach Sunday at morning worship at First Presbyterian Church, Elizabethton. The service is at 11 a.m. An Education Hour for all ages will be held at 9:45 a.m.
Other opportunities for the week include Meditation at 7 p.m. Wednesday; the Thursdays with Jesus Reading Group from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon Thursday; and Yoga Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
First Presbyterian is located at 119 W. F St. The pastor is Dr. Brian Wyatt.

First Christian
Help Fund Sunday will be observed July 8 at First Christian Church, Elizabethton. Donations will be collected for families who may have needs. Minister Michael Klaus will present the message.
The communion meditation will be given by Jonathan Baker. Holly Baker will read scripture and Tonya Brown and Alexis Bier will present special music.
Bible school classes will meet at 11 a.m.
The evening service will be at 6 p.m. and will feature Tony Bone, Director of Black Sock Ministry to the Homeless, as guest speaker.
The Tuesday Morning Prayer Group led by John Smith will meet Tuesday at 10 a.m.
The Wednesday evening Bible Study will be held at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary. Children’s classes will be held in the Children’s Dept. and the youth will meet in the Fellowship Hall from noon until 8 p.m. with food, fun, and activities.
For more information about First Christian and its ministries, call the church office at 542-5621.

Lynn Valley Baptist
Lynn Valley Baptist Church, 1367 Broad St., Elizabethton, will have its monthly clothes closet Saturday, July 7, from 9 to 11 a.m.
Clothing will be available to all ages for men, women and children.
The clothes closet is held in the church annex.
For more information, call the church office at 543-6171.

Big Spring
“Deadliest Catch, Fishers of Men Edition” is the Vacation Bible School theme at Big Spring Church of Christ, 1106 Gap Creek Road, Elizabethton.
Bible School will be held June 9-13 with classes from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The registration table will open at 6 p.m. on July 9.
There will be classes for children age 3 to grade 5, with separate programming for junior high (6th to 8th grades).
Activities will include music, games, snacks and more. Learn to follow Jesus and how to become fishers of men.
Transportation is available upon request. Contact Glen Layfield at 443-655-6896 for details.

Lower Shell Creek
David L. Eubanks, Ph.D., will be the guest speaker at Lower Shell Creek Christian Church, Roan Mountain, on Sunday, July 8, at the 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. service, and on Monday, July 9, at 7 p.m.
Dr. Eubanks is Past President of Johnson University (1968-2007).
Gerald Holly is minister.

Oak Street
“Polar Blast — Where Jesus’ Love is Cool,” is the Vacation Bible School theme at Oak Street Baptist Church, 804 Oak St.
Bible School will be held July 9-11 with classes from 6 to 8:30 p.m. each night.
There will be classes for children age 4 to 5th grade.
Pre-register your child online at oakstreetbaptist.net/2018-vbs

Maranatha Tabernacle
Comedian, musician and singer Tim Lovelace from Nashville will be in concert Sunday at 6 p.m. at Maranatha Tabernacle Church in Unicoi.
There is no admission charge and everyone is welcome.
E.L. Wheeler is pastor.

Fairview United Methodist
Fairview United Methodist Church will host a free BBQ Dinner & Music on Friday, July 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. The meal will include BBQ, baked beans, slaw, tea, water and cookies, prepared and served by the Fairview Methodist Men’s Group.
Special music will be provided by the Sunnyside Gospel Quartet.
The church is located five miles from downtown Jonesborough going towards Fall Branch at 878 Highway 81 North.

First Free Will Baptist
Vacation Bible School will be held at First Free Will Baptist Church, Elizabethton, July 9-13 with classes daily from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The commencement program will be July 15.
The theme of the Bible school is “Time Lab: Discovering Jesus, Past to Present.”
The pastor is the Rev. Nathan Jennings. Everyone is invited to attend.

Why did Jesus stay on the cross?
Question: Why did Jesus stay on the cross?
Answer: In Matthew 4, Satan in an effort to tempt Jesus said, “If thou be the son of God, command these stones to be made into bread.” Later he insisted that if Jesus was the Son of God that He should cast Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple. Then he tempted Jesus with all the riches and authority of the world if He would but worship Satan. Each time Jesus responded with the Word of God. When Jesus stated that it was written as He did in Matt. 4:4 He was saying that it is appointed. In other words it was appointed that man live only by God’s Word, it was appointed that all men including Jesus should not tempt God. Each time Jesus remembered God’s Word and gave an appropriate response.
While he was hanging in torment upon the Cross of Calvary Jesus was once again tempted to break an appointment that God had given Him to fulfill. While hanging on the cross the mob said, “If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross” (Matt. 27:40).
Why did Jesus stay on the cross, what held Him there? There are many reasons that Jesus went to the Cross and the same reasons kept Him there.
He stayed on the cross for the “joy that was set before Him” (Heb. 12:2). This would include: fulfilling the Father’s will. In Luke 22:42 Jesus prayed, “if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” He also remained upon the cross to become the sacrifice for all men while bearing the burden for their sins (1 John 2:2; 1 Peter 3:18, Titus 2:14, Gal. 4:4). Jesus also remained on the cross that He might receive the glory He had known in heaven prior to His coming to this world (John 17:5; Rev. 13:8) His love for lost souls demanded that He go to the cross and remain there even amid the taunting crowd which stood before Him and thus He became the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2).
It was not the nails that held Jesus on the cross; He had power over death and diseases, He had power over nature, and He had power to come down from the Cross. Jesus remained on the cross because He loved His creation and laid His life down for it (John 10:17-18). Finally Jesus remained on the Cross to fulfill God’s eternal purpose. Jesus died to purchase the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 1:18-19). We should remember that without Christ’s death, God’s eternal purpose would have never been realized. The nails did not hold Jesus on the Cross; it was His love for His Father and His creation.
(Tony Hoss is minister at Centerview Church of Christ. He can be contacted at 423-737-2287 or by e-mail at CenterviewCOC@comcast.net)