[Biblemat] Walking in the Light (8/12/07)

Sun Aug 12 18:39:10 CDT 2007

Walking in the Light

"For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light."
"The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the
simple." 

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with
one another...."
(Psalm 36:9; 119:130; 1 John 1:7a)

August 12, 2007

www.thetfordcountry.com <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> 

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INFORMATION: My WEB Site  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/>
www.thetfordcountry.com has just been updated to include the articles and
sermons listed below. All the sermons posted each week to my web site are in
.pdf format.  The PowerPoint charts are also included with ALL the sermons
that are posted to the web site. To access the sermons page, visit the site
and click on "Richard's Page" and then click on "sermons." Please visit the
"Reference Works" links page for updated links to various Bible study
resources. If you are a newcomer to the area or wanting information
concerning the San Juan church of Christ here in Montrose, Colorado, then
click on the San Juan church of Christ Web Site at
<http://www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org/> www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org. Thank
you for visiting my web site and as always, your comments are welcome. 

If you know of someone that would like to receive the "Walking in the Light"
electronic bulletin each week, please send an e-mail message to
<mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com  with their
name and e-mail address and I will add them to the list.

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CONTENTS:

"The Christian Charge" (Richard Thetford)

"What Must I Do to Be Saved?" (Richard Thetford)

"The Lord's Church is You" (Brent T. Willey)

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THE CHRISTIAN CHARGE

Richard Thetford

In 1 Timothy 1:5 we read "But the goal of our instruction is love from a
pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith". That one verse pretty
much sums up what the Christian charge is all about. If we would all learn
to love with a pure heart accompanied with a good conscience before God with
an unwaiverable faith, we would possess some fine Christian virtues. The
Lord has given us this charge and it was given to preachers (2 Tim 4:1-2),
Elders (1 Pet 5:1-4), the rich (1 Tim 6:17) and to all (1 Tim 1:5). The
Christian has a big responsibility to carry out before God. Among the things
we are charged with is "not to teach strange doctrines" (1 Tim 1:3).
However, today we can see man making up new religious rules and changing the
doctrine that God has given us in scripture to fit into their individual
needs and wants. This is wrong and we are going to be held personally
responsible for changing God's word!

We are also told not to trust in riches of this world. Paul told Timothy to
"Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to
fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies
us with all things to enjoy" (1 Tim 6:17). There is nothing wrong with being
wealthy, but when one lets the wealth rule their life instead of allowing
God to have that place, then it is wrong and we will be held responsible for
it. Those are two things we are charged not to do. But what are we charged
"to do" as Christians? 

The apostle Paul sent his letter to the Thessalonians and in 1 Thes 5:27 we
can read where the Lord was willing for the letter to be read to "all the
brethren". Likewise, we are to read the scriptures and put into practice the
things that God tells us to do in our own lives. We can further learn from
our opening scripture of 1 Tim 1:5 that we are to have faith in God. This is
further stressed in verse 19 where it says "keeping faith and a good
conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to
their faith". It is such a wonderful thing to see Christians that possess a
deep and abiding faith! No matter what happens they realize that God is with
them and they will stay faithful to God to the very end of their days on
this earth. But we are not done yet.

The Christian charge continues in that we are to do good (1 Tim 6:17-18), to
love (1 Tim 1:5), tell others about Christ as Paul instructed young Timothy
to do in 2 Tim 4:1-2, to war a good warfare (1 Tim 1:18), and to give of our
means (1 Tim 6:17-18). Some Christians have an even deeper responsibility if
they hold the position of Elder. Peter said "shepherd the flock of God among
you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according
to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as
lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to
the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the
unfading crown of glory" (1 Pet 5:2-4). Men who serve in the position of an
Elder of their local congregation have a responsibility to ensure that all
Christians that meet together in that local work are instructed in
righteousness and must ensure that no false doctrines are preached or taught
within the local group.

We need to understand how important our Christian charge is to serve God. It
is essential to heed the commands of God in order for us to lay a good
foundation in which to build upon as Paul instructed in 1 Tim 6:19 when he
said "storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the
future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed". Material
things of this life will pass away. We brought nothing into the world and
can't take anything out of it either (1 Tim 6:7). We must strive to have
life with God eternally (1 Tim 6:17-19), and to receive the crown of
righteousness that is reserved for us (1 Pet 5:2-4). Won't you keep your
Christian charge?

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WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Richard Thetford

Consider the question above closely. This is not a matter of what God or
Christ must do, nor what others have done, feel, think, or experience. It is
a question of what you and I MUST do to be saved. Only those that do the
will of God will be saved (Matt 7:21; Jam 1:21-25). To be saved one MUST
believe the gospel, and Jesus (John 8:24). After believing, one MUST repent
of all sins - which is a turning from sinful things one has done in their
past and be COMMITTED to live a life of godliness from now on (Acts 17:30;
2:38). One MUST then confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God as stated
in Romans 10:9-10. After these steps have been taken then one MUST be buried
in baptism (immersed) to be inducted into Christ to receive all the
spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3). "For ye are all the children of God by faith
in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have
put on Christ" (Gal 3:26-27). Also see Rom 6:1-5). One cannot be saved
unless one is baptized into Christ. Baptism saves us (1 Pet 3:21).
Afterward, one must live a devoted Christian life to the end (Rev 2:10).
Knowledge is of NO AVAIL unless acted upon.

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THE LORD'S CHURCH IS YOU

Brent T. Willey

Did you know that you are a walking advertisement of the church and the
Christ whom it proclaims? You take the church out of the four walls of the
building and make it live in the everyday affairs of life. In fact, what
people think of you is very often what they think of the congregation.

The preaching in the pulpit is fruitless unless it is reflected in the lives
of the members of the congregation. Classroom teaching is ineffective unless
it comes t life in the attitude and behavior of people. The church is
measured not so much by what its leaders say as by what its members do. You
are the means by which the good life advocated by the church is communicated
to people.

The Lord's church professes a concern for people; you express that concern
in the way you act toward all with whom you come in contact. The
congregation endeavors to spiritually build itself up; you are part of the
solution if that is going to be achieved. The church has the responsibility
to proclaim the gospel that will make people new, opening to them fuller
life; you are the instrument to accomplish that task.

Your daily acts as a Christian preach more sermons, teach more people, save
more lives than the words that are spoken inside the four walls of the
church building. Without you, the church in any given locality will not be
all that it could be!

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SERMON

What Do I Still Lack? (with PowerPoint Charts)

Sermons can viewed at my web site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/>
www.thetfordcountry.com

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Meets at:

2740 Commercial Way, Suite B
Montrose, CO   81401
(970) 249-8116

 <http://www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org/> www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org

ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY
Bible Study....................10:00 A.M.
Worship.........................11:00 A.M.
WEDNESDAY
Bible Study......................6:30 P.M.

Evangelist
Richard Thetford

(970) 626-5558

E-Mail:  <mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com

Web Site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> www.thetfordcountry.com

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Richard Thetford

E-Mail:  <mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com

1491 Canyon Drive, Ridgway, CO  81432

Home: (970) 626-5558

Please visit my web site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com>
www.thetfordcountry.com

Evangelist, San Juan church of Christ

 <http://www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org> www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org

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