The Mouth Speaks From The Heart
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, ESV)
Mini Devotional
A mini message to take with you this week to help you in your devotion to God.
The Mouth Speaks From The Heart Devotional by: Elijah Bell
At the heart of Matthew 12:34 is a profound truth that carries immense significance for our lives as followers of Jesus. "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks," Jesus said. In this single, potent statement, He provided a vivid picture of the intrinsic connection between our innermost thoughts, feelings, and beliefs and the words we express. This spiritual axiom doesn't merely apply to our casual conversations; it also fundamentally influences the depth and authenticity of our evangelism efforts.
When it comes to sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, many of us find it challenging, often resorting to silence rather than initiating a conversation about our faith. Why is that? If we pause to reflect, we may realize it's because our hearts are not brimming with the love of Jesus, but cluttered with worldly concerns, anxieties, and preoccupations. When our hearts are not filled with Christ's teachings, we cannot share what we don't have. Therefore, the key to successful and authentic evangelism lies in first filling our hearts with Jesus.
So, how do we start filling our hearts with Jesus? Here are some actionable steps you can take:
1. Commit to Regular Bible Study: There's no better way to fill your heart with Jesus than by regularly immersing yourself in His word. The more familiar we become with Jesus' teachings, the more naturally they'll flow from us in conversation.
2. Cultivate Prayer Life: Prayer is the direct line of communication between our hearts and God’s. By praying regularly, we can deepen our relationship with Jesus, drawing on His strength and wisdom in our daily lives.
3. Foster Christian Fellowship: Community with other believers can significantly enrich our spiritual lives. As we share and receive insights about Jesus and His teachings, our understanding of Him becomes more profound.
4. Practice Spiritual Disciplines: Spiritual disciplines, such as fasting, meditation, solitude, and service, can help us grow closer to Jesus. They allow us to prioritize our relationship with God over worldly concerns.
5. Simply Begin To Share Your Faith: Sharing your faith with others can also help you fill your heart with Jesus. As you articulate your faith and experiences with Jesus, you're reminded of His presence and work in your life, and it becomes easier and easier to speak up next time.
Ultimately, evangelism isn't merely about "talking the talk" but about "walking the talk." It's about letting Jesus' love, compassion, and wisdom overflow from our hearts into our actions, our words, and our relationships. When our hearts are filled with an abundance of Jesus, we won't need to force or contrive conversations about Him. Instead, they will flow out of us as naturally and effortlessly as water flows from a spring.
Let us endeavor to fill our hearts with Jesus every day. Let us invest time, energy, and passion into understanding His teachings, following His path, and embodying the Holy Spirit. In doing so, we will not only transform our own lives but also become powerful and authentic evangelists who can inspire others to seek Jesus. In this way, the words of Matthew 12:34 will become a living truth in our lives, demonstrating the abundance of our hearts through our words and actions.
Missions
These are the challenges that the congregation is actively working on this month.
Our Missions For July
Equip — Write down your story of how you came to follow Jesus using the sheets at the Mission Control Center, and ask another disciple to share their story with you as well.
Kids’ Challenge — Write down all the things you love about going to church and to Bible class. The teachers, the singing, the fun with friends, etc.
Teach — Share in some way your story which you wrote down as the Equip challenge with a fellow disciple, and for bonus points, with a non-Christian also.
Kids’ Challenge — Share with your friends the things you like most about church, Bible class, and the Holly Hill congregation, and invite them to come.
Serve — Do a kind deed for a non-believer, and make sure they know you’re doing it in the name of Jesus and the Holly Hill congregation.
Kids’ Challenge — Think of something you can do for someone who needs encouragement. Do that thing for them, and tell them it’s because of Jesus.
*Be on the lookout for weekly training videos on our Facebook and YouTube pages, published each Sunday, to help you complete the challenges.
*As you complete each challenge, drop one of the pom-pom balls into the corresponding jar at the Mission Control Center in the lobby so we can see how many people are completing each challenge. One completion per person, per challenge, per month.
News
This section is for any special announcements that are not upcoming events or prayer requests.
Potter Children's Home Tuesday's Treasures Resale Shop - Pickup on Thursday, July 27th
Some of you have asked when the truck from Potter Children's Home Tuesday's Treasures Resale Shop will be back, so we've made arrangements for a pickup on Thursday, July 27th. Please have your donation items in the fellowship hall by July 25th. Donations can include household items, clothing, shoes, furniture, toys, etc. All in good shape, please. Clothing may need to be laundered, please NO musty-smelling items. If it is broken, throw it away. Thanks so much for your kind contributions.
Operation Re-Stock the Food Pantry
The Food Pantry needs to be re-stocked. During the upcoming months we will be asking for specific food donations. There will be a box in the foyer for you to place your food donations. Thank you so much and let’s make Operation re-stock a success!! For the month of June, we need:
Apple Sauce
Macaroni & Cheese
Regarding Church Announcements
Just a friendly reminder to everyone regarding church announcements: If you wish to make an announcement or have a prayer request, please contact Matthew Woodyard via email (office@hollyhillcoc.org). Announcements will be included in our daily email (5pm), our weekly Vine (Thursdays at 10am), and posted to Holly Hill’s Facebook page. If you wish something to be shared, please submit your announcement by 4pm. Emergency prayer requests can be submitted at any time and will be shared as soon as possible. If you’re not receiving our daily emails, weekly Vine Newsletter, or text messages, or if you have any questions about this process, don't hesitate to contact Matthew.
Church Records (July 2nd, 2023)
Bible Class (Sun AM) - 79
Worship (Sun AM) - 130
Contribution (Sun AM) — $5,492.60
Prayers
Here are some individuals that especially need our prayers this week. Please keep them in mind every time you pray.
New Prayer Requests:
Steve White
Jane Colvin (Aunt of Joyce Best)
Janis Friend
Larry & Renita Clarke
Carrie Horn
Ongoing Prayers For: Steve Small, The family of Edith Martin, Robin Iberschoff, Jerry Mayes (Mike Mayes’ brother), Pam Smith (foster parent of Robin Mayes niece, Lexi), Family of Steve England & Inez Ramsey, Family of Graham Heustis, Family of Renaee Diffee (Robin Iberschoff), Mike & Patricia Robertson (Melissa Trent’s parents), The Horn Family, Butch Elliott (friend of Robin Mayes), Montooth Family, Rhoda Jones, Betty Blanton, Bill & Mary Jo Marion (friends of Robin Mayes), Helen Hall, Penny Harland (Katie Bell’s mother), The Parnell Family, Alyssa Deaton, Robert Lewis (Sharon Lewis’ son), Pete & Jessie Tropoulos, Codie Rich (Michael & Kimberly Mundt’s son-in-law), Emma Collins, Rusty Bell (friend of Robin Mayes), Tanya Phipps (Brenda Stone’s niece), Gail Keith (Michele Blanton’s mother), Nikki Fenney (Johnny and Julie Widener’s niece), Bertha Young’s Family, Dorothy Trent, Polly Deaton, Jane Dempsey, Rita Tackett (Alyson Woodyard’s aunt), Sandra Haden (Tiffany Quarles’ mother), The Valentine Family, David Fair (prayers for his marriage and family situation), Phil and Suzanne Wilkins, Jim Clark (Continued Prayers), Prayers for Mission Control Challenges, Glenda Mitchum, Lisa & Pete Vogel (family of Brenda Stone).
* Please submit your prayer requests for inclusion at office@hollyhillcoc.org
Upcoming Events
Here are some events that are coming up that you need to make space on your calendar for.
Study Groups (Sunday Evening Service) — Sunday Night, July 9th at 6pm
On this Sunday night, the men will meet in the auditorium for a group session, and the women will meet in room 12 downstairs. Some of the men will teach the children in a separate classroom downstairs in order to allow the mothers to participate in the women's study group. All are welcome! Please bring your family!
Singing Night (Sunday Evening Service) — Sunday Night, July 16th at 6pm
We will meet downstairs in the fellowship area to sing together in worship to God, and to encourage each other. The chairs will be arranged in a circle to intentionally draw attention to the fact that we are a family and are singing to build each other up. For many, these singing events are very moving and powerful. We want you to be there!
Small Groups (Sunday Evening Service) — Sunday Night, July 23rd at 6pm
In order to build relationships with our church family, instead of meeting at the church building, we will meet in each other's homes for a short devotional, guided discussion, prayer, and fellowship. More information on locations will be coming soon.
Potter Children's Home Tuesday's Treasures Resale Shop - Pickup on Thursday, July 27th
Some of you have asked when the truck from Potter Children's Home Tuesday's Treasures Resale Shop will be back, so we've made arrangements for a pickup on Thursday, July 27th. Please have your donation items in the fellowship hall by July 25th. Donations can include household items, clothing, shoes, furniture, toys, etc. All in good shape, please. Clothing may need to be laundered, please NO musty-smelling items. If it is broken, throw it away. Thanks so much for your kind contributions.
Potluck (5th Sunday) — Sunday Afternoon, July 30th at 12pm
Our “5th Sunday” service will follow our normal Sunday morning schedule, Bible Classes at 10am & Worship at 11am. We hope you’ll stick around following worship and join us for a potluck meal, downstairs in the fellowship hall. We look forward to seeing you there!
How You Can Serve
There are a lot of ways you can get involved and do the work of God in our community!
For more information or for help signing up for any of these ministries, please call the church office at: (502) 227-7796.
Limited-Time Opportunities:
Operation Re-stock the Food Pantry
The Food Pantry needs to be re-stocked. During the upcoming months we will be asking for specific food donations. There will be a box in the foyer for you to place your food donations. Thank you so much and let’s make Operation re-stock a success!! For the month of July, we need:
Apple Sauce
Macaroni & Cheese
July Mission Control Challenges
We have 3 new challenges for the month of July that we need your help on. Please see the section above entitled “Missions” for more information.Cuba Missionary Needs
Please check-out the list on the bulletin board for items to bring for Cuba. Sign-up and bring your items. Money is also appreciated. Thank you for all that you do for the kingdom.Potter Children's Home Tuesday's Treasures Resale Shop - Pickup on Thursday, July 27th
Some of you have asked when the truck from Potter Children's Home Tuesday's Treasures Resale Shop will be back, so we've made arrangements for a pickup on Thursday, July 27th. Please have your donation items in the fellowship hall by July 25th. Donations can include household items, clothing, shoes, furniture, toys, etc. All in good shape, please. Clothing may need to be laundered, please NO musty-smelling items. If it is broken, throw it away. Thanks so much for your kind contributions.
Long-Term Opportunities:
Mission Launch Team
We are needing individuals to sign up for the Mission Launch Team. People on this team commit to working on the Mission Control challenges each month, and they also commit to encouraging at least one other person to work on the missions as well. We need you to sign up for this ministry so we can grow the Mission Control program organically from person to person. Sign up for the Mission Launch Team at the Mission Control Center in the lobby.
Tech Team Support — The Holly Hill Tech Team needs help. We would love to have a few more people trained and available to set up the livestreams and audio equipment. It’s a fairly simple task and you’ll be well trained before being thrown into the seat alone. If you’re interested, see Nick, David, or Brad.
Greeter Ministry — We’re looking for people who are friendly and outgoing to welcome our guests and members each Sunday morning. If you are interested, contact Tom Owens.
Card Ministry — Every Sunday there are cards spread out on a table in the lobby that will be sent out to various church members and guests who need encouragement. You can help serve and encourage by making sure to sign these cards each week.
Casey Blessing Box — The Casey’s are collecting items to give away to those in need in their Blessing Box. Currently, they are accepting donations of: Can goods of fruit and vegetables. Crackers, or cereal.
Shriners Children’s Hospital — Donna White is collecting soda can tabs to donate to the children’s hospital. Please leave your donations in the lobby.
Children’s Bible Class Teachers/Helpers — Our next quarter begins in September, so we will be needing to staff our Children’s Bible Classes. If you’d be willing to teach, sub, or help, please see Matthew Woodyard. We have a wonderful opportunity to teach God’s Word to our children. Let’s make sure they get our very best! Thank you!
Holly Hill’s Children’s Bible Class Ministry Needs Your Help With Materials
We are requesting your help with our new Spiritual Heritage Bible Class curriculum for K-6.
The teachers are tasked to create a God-made wall. This wall is a focal point in the classroom and will provide an opportunity to speak of the magnificence and wisdom of God. To ensure successful implementation of the program in our K-6 classes, the Bible class teachers need photos of any kind showing the greatness of God. These photos could be any type including nature, scenery, seasons, animals, people, etc. Use your imagination!
Also included in the curriculum are specific lessons directed at certain topics. We need photos of these items also.
God Planned Animal Houses
God Made Desert Animals That Can Survive On Little Water
God Made Camels, Snakes, Great Eyes, Protective Coverings, Beautiful Animals, Mosquitoes, Giraffes, Animal Hands (Claws, Wings, Paws), Big Cats
God Made Animal Hides, Perfect Animals (even though they look silly to us), Porpoises, Animal Ears, Micro-Organisms, Animal Cooperation
Great sources for these needed photos are magazines, outdated calendars, and old books. Size of the photo does not matter. Our first Sunday class with the new curriculum will be March 5th. We will be accepting and using these photos throughout the next 26 weeks. Please turn them in as you find them.
All we ask is that you cut out the photos and place them in the box located in the foyer labeled, Spiritual Heritage. Let's support these dedicated teachers and help ensure our Holly Hill kids know that our God is very great!
Holly Hill Church of Christ
1020 Holly Hill Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601
Web: www.hollyhillcoc.org
Phone: (502) 227-7796
Email: office@hollyhillcoc.org
Service Times:
Sunday Bible Class: 10am
Sunday Morning Worship, 11am
Sunday Evening Worship, 6pm
Wednesday Evening Bible class: 6:30pm