[Biblemat] Walking in the Light (9/30/07)

Tue Oct 2 21:19:33 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)

September 30, 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:

"A Lasting Influence" (Richard Thetford)

"What Keeps You From Obeying the Truth?" (Richard Thetford)

"Why Go To Worship?" (Selected)

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A LASTING INFLUENCE

Richard Thetford

Our influence is something we possess and others use. Do you know who is
watching you? Do you know how big of an influence that you have on other
people? No you don't. And because of that we must be very careful how we
conduct ourselves every minute of every day because we don't know who is
watching --- besides God. Our influence is represented in different ways. In
the book of Matthew alone, Jesus points out three ways that indicate how
strong our influence is. First of all our influence is represented by light.
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Let
your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matt 5:14,16). This passage tells
us that we will be seen no matter what. Therefore we must be the kind of
influence or example that others will be able to see Jesus Christ in us. Our
influence may only seem such a little thing to us but Jesus says "The
kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three pecks
of meal, until it was all leavened" (Matt 13:33). It doesn't take much
influence to make a BIG impression on someone else who is watching you
without you even knowing it. The third way that our influence is represented
is stated again by Jesus in Matthew 5:13 when He says "You are the salt of
the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty
again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled
under foot by men".

As we know from our experiences in tasting salt that it is only as good as
it is salty. Once it has lost its saltiness, then it is good for nothing! We
also know that just a little bit of salt will add spice to many different
foods. Is our life characteristic of the light, leaven, and salt? We may not
have all the knowledge, and wisdom that we would like to have but there are
a lot of little things that we can do to set the RIGHT influence for others
to follow. Because it is the little things that others see in us that may
make the difference in their eternal salvation.

The three different influences represented above could be good or bad. We
know from reading 1 Cor 5:6-7 that we should not have a corrupting influence
but rather one as Paul describes in Romans 14:21 when he says "It is good
not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother
stumbles". To be able to truly do this as a Christian we must first have the
attitude that we "DO CARE" about what kind of influence that others see in
us and then to do all we can to keep our brothers and sisters from seeing
something in us that would lead them to fall away from the truth. We have a
responsibility to ensure that WE do EVERYTHING according to the will of God!

We should never try to influence others by physical force (Philemon 14), or
by bribery (Acts 8:20; 24:26). But rather by our words (Acts 11:14) and by
the example that we lead (Tit 2:7-8; Rom 14:21). We can see from the
scriptures that each individual Christian has the responsibility to have a
good influence on others (Matt 5:13-16).

Each Christian should want to influence others in a positive way ALL THE
TIME. We need to influence the world (Matt 5:16), the other brethren (Rom
14:21; 1 Tim 4:12), our companions (1 Cor 7:16; 1 Pet 3:1) and of course our
children. Our children see us every day and know what we are really like. If
you want to know what your children think is the most important thing in
your life just ask them - they'll tell you. But hang on, it may surprise you
also. That's where your influence is showing, either in a good way or a bad
way. And this is the type of influence that will be "A LASTING INFLUENCE".
We all need to ensure that our influence is a godly influence.

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WHAT KEEPS YOU FROM OBEYING THE TRUTH?

Richard Thetford

There are thousands of individuals in this country that have not obeyed the
truth of God's word. Why is it that so many do not want to give their life
to God and serve Him? After all, He did create us and expects us to follow
the teaching that His Son Jesus came to give us (Matt 28:18-20). If you are
one of those thousands that have not yet obeyed God's truth, please take a
moment and examine your heart and search your soul to see if you can
determine why it is that you haven't. Could it be that you don't know the
truth? Truth only comes through study (2 Tim 2:15), and it is only God's
truth that will make you free (John 8:32). If you want help in knowing God's
truth we'll be glad to come and study God's Word with you. Could it be that
you don't believe the truth? If so, this is very serious because God says
that the only way one can gain faith is by hearing His Word (Rom 10:17). But
only you can make up your mind to believe or not believe. It is a matter of
choice. But to go to heaven, you must believe! I encourage you to read God's
Word and believe in His truth today.

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WHY GO TO WORSHIP?

Selected

A churchgoer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that
it made no sense to go to church every week. "I've gone for 30 years now",
he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But
for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So I think I'm
wasting my time."

This started a controversy in the "letters to the Editor" column, much to
the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this
clincher: "I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has
cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire
menu for a single one of those meals. But I know this .. they all nourished
me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given
me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not
gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

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SERMON

Matters of Opinion or Matters of Doctrine? (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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