From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Aug 1 05:05:46 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2008 06:05:46 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS (2) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a continuation of the study on this subject. Use to the glory of God. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS (2) One of the Friends moved westward to a little frontier settle- ment called Cincinnati. One time the rumor was spread that Indian bands were on the warpath. The settlers moved into the fort and armed themselves to fight the Indians. This particular Friend didn't go to the fort for he said he was a man of peace and wanted to follow after things which make for peace. He would simply trust in God and stay in his cabin with his wife, even though they had no gun with which to defend themselves. In those days the doors of log cabins were fastened on the in- side with a latch. A string was attached to the latch and was pushed through a little hole in the door. From that comes the ex- pression, "the latch-string is on the outside." One night the hus- band pulled the latch-string through the hole to the inside before retiring. He and his wife spent several sleepless hours and final- ly he said, "It just doesn't seem as if we are trusting God when we pull the latch-string in." So the man got up and pushed the latch-string through the hole again to the outside. Later in the night they heard the war whoops and savage crys of the Indians. Soon the Indians began to creep up to their cabin. One Indian tried the door and it came open. In his amazement he stopped and then withdrew and called all the other Indians to the edge of the woods for a conference. The man and his wife watched them from the window. The didn't know whether the Indians were deciding to take them as prisoners or to kill them. After a short time one of the Indians who appeared to be the chief arose and walked toward the cabin with a white feather in his hand. He fastened the feather to the door and the Indians left. The man and his wife allowed that feather to hang there for a number of years, and later a friendly Indian told them that the feather meant "This is the house of a man of peace, do not harm." He said the Indians knew that if a man would leave his door open to welcome the stranger in the night that he must be a man of peace and one who should not be harmed. Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." But we will never make peace with the artificial means of man. We may put war off a few years, and that seems to be the only hope many of our leaders have. Some of them are even expressing doubt as to whether it is best to try to put war off. The suggest it would be better to have it now while we are superior to our enemies. We must learn that only when we come to God and follow Him; and replace greed, distrust and hatred with love, mercy and kind- ness wil there be anything upon which to build peace. We can't expect nations to be at peace until we as individ- uals live at peace with each other. All of the attempts that are being made for peace on the national and international level; but if we are to have peace, we must start down on the level of the individual. Only when individuals begin following God will the nations, made up of these individuals, be able to get along. As long as people are selfish and greedy, and are lying and cheat- ing, and are jealous and contentious and feuding there will be no peace. Peace must start with us. And as long as we take un- fair advantage of others, and as long as families are fighting and neighbors are quarreling and the merchant on the corner is cheating his customers, and as long as some men will prey upon their fellow citizens by selling them alcoholic drinks, and as long as labor and management are fighting, yes, even as long as there are contentions in the church there will be no basis for peace. Since we want peace, let us think about the contribution we can make toward peace. What can we do that there might be peace in the world? Let me suggest three things: First of all: -- we should pray, for there is great power in pray- er. James tells us that the prayers of a righteous man availeth much. I hope every Christian will pray daily to God for peace, if it be in accordance with His Will. Second, as Paul tells us, we can "follow after things which make for peace"; we can do those things which make for peace at home, at work, in our community and in the church. Third, we can try to teach the people of the world with the message of the Prince of Peace. It may be that we could avoid war if we would send our enemies missionaries of peace and not threats of war. ------ Adapted from a sermon by Dorris B. Bill-ingsley published in The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 6, April 1952. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080801/74d6ed46/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Aug 1 05:05:35 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2008 06:05:35 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) INFLUENCE OF JESUS Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Friday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: INFLUENCE OF JESUS It seems that no matter where Jesus went during His minist- ry, He caused a stir. More importantly, He led people to action. Those who observed His behavior and teaching were moved to do something. A great example of this is found in Mk. 1. Notice how the people responded: Jesus called to Peter and Andrew, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men" (vs. 17). They immediately left their nets and followed Him. They obeyed the Lord. Jesus was teaching as one having authority (vs. 22) and there was a man in the synagogue with an unclean spirit. Jesus commanded the spirit to come out of the man. He did so and the people were amazed with Jesus (vs. 27). A leper approached Jesus imploring Him to cleanse him (vs. 40). Jesus was moved with compassion and did so. Jesus told him not to tell anyone what had happened but to show himself to the priest. Yet the former leper went out and "began to procla im it freely" (vs. 45). The matter spread so much that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city. Instead He taught in deserted places, allowing the people to come to Him. We have heard about Jesus so often that perhaps we fail to sense the excitement that the Galilean people had. They were genuinely touched by Jesus being with them. No matter where He went, there was a crowd. Jesus has done some remarkable things in the lives of Christians. He has transformed us from death to life. He gives us strength and comfort in our times of need. He has promised us an eternal home in heaven. We should take the example we find in Mk. 1 and respond accordingly. Obey Him, be amazed by Him and proclaim Him. Remember, there are still people who need to be impressed with Jesus! -------------- Shane Williams in The Lilbourn Light, Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080801/511659b6/attachment-0001.html From GLClair at aol.com Fri Aug 1 09:04:04 2008 From: GLClair at aol.com (GLClair at aol.com) Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2008 10:04:04 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] HILLIARD BULLETIN (A) for August 2008 Message-ID: On-Line Edition - HILLIARD BULLETIN Published 2 times each month by the church of Christ 4840 Cemetery Road ? P.O. Box 96 Hilliard, Ohio 43026 Phone: (614) 876-4089 Preacher & Editor: Garreth L. Clair Phone: (614) 850-7252 Email: _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) ================================================================== Volume 10 Number 8 (A) August 2008 ================================================================== ?THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION? Number 2 - Editorial ? Read the last issue lead article (Hilliard Bulletin - Volume 10 ? July 2008); ?FINDING TRUE RELIGION? The plan from the Godhead from the beginning was to make it possible for man to thrive on the earth physically and for man to seek God and find him on his own initiative (i.e. freely choose to serve God). This was the very nature of the sermon by Paul to the Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers at Athens. Paul told them, cf. Acts 17:16-30, 16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he beheld the city full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with Jews and the devout persons and in the marketplace every day with them that met him. 18 And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What would this babbler say? others, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took hold of him, and brought him unto the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by thee? 20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 21(Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.) 22 And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, Ye men of Athens, in all things, I perceive that ye are very religious. 23 For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this I set forth unto you. 24 The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 and he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined (their) appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us: 28 for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man. 30 The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:? (ASV) GOD CHOSE TO SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO BECOME A SACRIFICE FOR SIN; John 3:16, ?For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.? (ASV) 2 Thess 2:13, ?13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:? Titus 2:11-14, ?11 For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.? (ASV) 1 Peter 1:9-12, ?9 receiving the end of your faith, (even) the salvation of (your) souls. 10 Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that (should come) unto you: 11 searching what (time) or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them. 12 To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.? (ASV) As we can see from the previous references the plan of God was designed and carried out according to a long ranged plan after Adam and Eve sinned. Their sin brought about God?s pr-planned event that finally came to fruition in Jerusalem at approximately 33 BCE; at that time Jesus Christ was tried, falsely convicted, and crucified for the sins of mankind and to complete the plan arranged by the Godhead before the foundation of the universe was laid ? cf. John 17:24 ?Father, I desire that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.? (ASV) Eph 1:3-5, ?3 Blessed (be) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly (places) in Christ: 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: 5 having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,? (ASV) 1 Peter 1:18-21, ?18 knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, (even the blood) of Christ: 20 who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of times for your sake, 21 who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.? ALL MANKIND PRIOR TO JESUS DEATH AND RESURRECTION WERE LOST: Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, and all the Gentile people were without salvation until Jesus shed his precious blood on the cross of Calvary for the sins of man from Adam to the sounding of the trumpet of God at the last day cf. - Romans 3:9-22, ?9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin ;10 as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God; 12 They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not, so much as one: 13 Their throat is an open sepulcher; With their tongues they have used deceit: The poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 Now we know that what things sever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God: 20 because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law (cometh) the knowledge of sin. 21 But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction.? (ASV) THE FAITHFUL UNDER THE PATRIARCHAL DISPENSATION AND THE LAW OF MOSES DISPENSATION WERE SAVED FROM SIN BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST: Hebrews 9:8-29: ? 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. 11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvati When we seek God?s plan for man?s salvation from sin we find that the Bible reveals a clear chronological plan to bring about the opportunity for all mankind to be saved from sin ? thus being reunited with the Godhead from which the sins of Adam and Eve severed centuries ago. That plan is referred to by commentators, as God?s Plan of Salvation. The plan to which we refer is not man?s plan but is a plan revealed by God through the Written Word (i.e. the Bible) which cannot be wrong but is the only true way of breaking down the wall of sin between man and God. God?s plan of salvation for man under the current dispensation, (i.e. the Christian) which replaced the previous religious arrangements ordained of God and had its beginning at Acts 2:1-47; Study this passage well, for it tells of the establishment of the Lord?s Church. For the first time in history the gospel of Christ was preached; people were told what to do about their sins; 3,000 Jews were baptized becoming the first congregation of Christians located in Jerusalem about 33 CE. You will also notice if you read and study this 2nd Chapter of Acts at verse 47 the text says that Christ continues to add those being saved to that church. Indeed Christ is still adding the saved people to the church of Christ cf. Acts 2:47, ?praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved.? (ASV) THAT PLAN OF SALVATION THAT BRINGS THE Salvation TO MAN TODAY INCLUDES FIVE ITEMS. PLEASE NOTICE THE PLAN OF GOD FOR MAN?S SALVATION REVEALED: Hearing the gospel: Romans 10:17, ?So belief (cometh) of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.? (ASV) Believing: Mark 16:15-16, ?15 and he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.? Repenting of sins: Luke 13:3, ?I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish.? (ASV) Acts 2:38, ?38 And Peter (said) unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ? (ASV) Confess Christ as God?s Son:Romans 10:9-10, ?9 because if thou shall confess with thy mouth Jesus (as) Lord, and shall believethy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved: 10 for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.? (ASV) Be Baptized: Acts 2:38, ?And Peter (said) unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.? (ASV) Galatians 3:26-27, ?26 for ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.? (ASV) Baptism is ?for remission of sins? Baptism is a burial and a resurrection in water: (Scriptural Baptism is not sprinkling nor is it a pouring of water upon a person) TEMPORAL SALVATION: Salvation from sin in the present life is accomplished whenever one believes, repents, confesses Jesus Christ as God?s Son, and are baptized in water for the remission of sins. The process affords to a person God?s forgiveness of all sin to that point in time. After the Christian is converted; Jesus Christ adds them to the Body of Christ ? cf. Acts 2:47, ?Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.? (KJV) After a new born (i.e. reborn ? converted to Christ) Christian begins their life in service to God they are to continue to be faithful servants in the Lord?s Church. To be faithful the Christian must live according to the Lord?s directions for the remainder of their life in order to be acceptable in the judgment ? cf. Phil 2:10-15, ?10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;? (KJV) When the trumpet of God sounds and all that are in the graves hear his voice and come forth ? cf. 1 Thess 4:16, ?For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:? (KJV) Heb 10:30-31, 30 ?For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.? (KJV) 2 Tim 4:8, ?Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.? (KJV ) John 12:48, ?He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.? (KJV) 1 Cor 15:52, ?In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.? (KJV) THE FINAL REWARD: After a life of faithful service, the Christian will die, go to the grave, await the resurrection, be assigned to heaven and spend eternity in the presence of God and all the saved from all ages: from Adam to the entrance welcome by the Lord to Heaven ? cf. Matt 10:28, ?And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.? (KJV) Revelation 2:10, ?Fear none of those things which thou shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.? (KJV) Rev 22:12-14, ?12 and, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.? (KJV) ON-LINE EDITION Hilliard Bulletin ? (A) August 2008 _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) Issue A for August, 2008 **************Get fantasy football with free live scoring. Sign up for FanHouse Fantasy Football today. (http://www.fanhouse.com/fantasyaffair?ncid=aolspr00050000000020) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080801/3f56b87f/attachment-0001.html From jwquinn at sbcglobal.net Fri Aug 1 14:24:26 2008 From: jwquinn at sbcglobal.net (Jon W. Quinn) Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2008 14:24:26 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Expository Files 15.8 (August) Available Message-ID: In our 15th year of publication (1994-2008) Expository Files - August 2008 **Our 177th monthly issue** Expository Files is a monthly electronic journal dedicated to Biblical studies. It is edited by Warren E Berkley and Jon W. Quinn. This effort began with the January, 1994 issue and continues to this day. In addition to the four or so expository articles by different writers in each issue, there are special topical studies. In addition, each issue begins and ends with editorials by the editors. We have expository material from every book in the Bible, though there are still portions that are much more lightly covered than others. Thanks to our writers and our readers for making Expository Files such a success! ---------------------------------------------------------- Expository Files 15.8; August 2008 Co-edited by Warren E. Berkley and Jon W. Quinn ---------------------------------------------------------- This month's issue contains: The Front Page The Pew Study - Religion in America By Jon W. Quinn Sharing the Gospel "Pay Close Attention To Yourself and to Your Teaching" 1 Timothy 4:12-16 By Jon W. Quinn Jesus, the Law, and the Gospel of the Kingdom (Matthew 5:17-42, Matthew 19:3-12, Mark 7:14-23) By Ethan R. Longhenry Hope's Imperatives 1 Peter 1:13-21 By Warren E. Berkley Sweet Hour of Prayer Psalm 28 By Bubba Garner The Early Church and the Development of the New Testament By Jon W. Quinn Plan of Salvation The Final Page Bible Reading & Study, Like Traveling By Warren E. Berkley ---------------------------------------------------------- EF can be found at the following places: http://www.bible.ca/ef/ Every issue - 1994 to present; every article; html; arranged by book; topic and/or issue; Search engine http://expositoryfiles.homestead.com/index.html 2004-2006 in html by issue; 1994-2003 in zipped self executable format for IBM http://www.geocities.com/w_berkley/ EF in PDF by issue; Sept 2003 to present ===== Jon W. Quinn jwquinn at sbcglobal.net Bradley Church of Christ Bradley, IL 60915 From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Aug 2 03:03:52 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 04:03:52 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) GOD HAS SPOKEN Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Saturday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: GOD HAS SPOKEN "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is His reward" (Psa. 127:3). God placed children in the family with a father who is a man and a mother who is a wom- an. He gave parents the duty of oversight, bringing up their children in His nurture and admonition (Eph. 6:1-4). When they are taught the Holy Scriptures from early childhood, and are shown the paths of righteousness by the godly examples of both parents, children have a solid foundation for a truly successful life. Parents should exercise the prevailing influence upon their children, adn such an accomplishment requires much time, effort, planning, prayer, devotion, and sacrifice. Blessings are accompanied by responsibilities. The future of children rests heavily in the hands of their par- ents. It is much easier for children to be good because of their parents rather than in spite of their parents. The difficulty of the task of rearing children to be godly adults is greatly increased when one parent is uncooperative, indifferent, or hostile to God's truth. If one parent lives an ungodly life and sets an exam- ple of profanity and immorality, he or she heaps a heavy load upon the other parent! Take heed, you who are contemplating marriage and a family! Children have needs that must be supplied in a relatively short period of time. Instruction in righteousness tops the list. Discipline is an ever-present priority. Learning how to work is essential, along with perseverance. Social skills and proper be- havior toward all others are learned along with respect for the rights of others and respect for authority as fruits of discipline. If parents wish to rear children with the strength of Joseph, the devotion of Samuel, the faith and wisdom of Daniel, the depend- ability of Timothy and Titus, the diligence adn sacrifice of Epap- hroditus, they must be parents, not only in the fleshly relation- ship, but also in determined effort, leadership and dependence on the strength of the Lord, in Whose hands they have placed their lives and their hope. Blessed are children who have such parents! What a difference for good they can make by their lives of reverence and awe toward God! ----- Gilbert Alexander. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080802/6a9abdea/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Aug 2 03:04:05 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 04:04:05 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) ANANIAS AND ME Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my rec- ent files. Use to the glory of God. ANANIAS AND ME Often, when we read the Bible, we think of the people in God's Book as being special. Somehow, they were different than you or me. We think they must have had stronger faith, deeper convictions, better understanding than we do. The re- sult is that they come to look like spiritual superstars, not ordina- ry people. But, when we take a closer look at those people, we come to see tht they were like us in just about every way. One of those people was a man named Ananias. God wanted a special job done, and the Lord called on a man, just like me or you, to do that job. Saul of Tarsus has seen the risen Savior. The future apostle has been helped into Damascus. Now he is waiting for what God will do next. God sends Ananias. Take time just here to read (Acts 9:10-19). At first glance Ananias looks like another hero of faith. But, as we look more closely we will discover how much this man was just like me, or you. Ananias Was Willing: -- When God spoke to this man, his first response was, "Here I am." That is, I am ready and willing to do what You want. I believe the same is true of most people. Most people, even those without church affiliation or much spiritual background are still interested in a God they want to be real. Those of us with faith also want to know God and are, at most levels, interested in doing what God wants. As I interact with Christians, I see this all the time. Some want God's blessings, others want the Lord to be pleased with them. Most people, in most situations want to do the right thing. If you are reading this article, you are probably one of those people. You want the Lord to be happy with you, you want to do what the Lord asks of you. And, if the Lord gave you a task as He did Ananias, you, like most of us, would say , "Here I am." We are like Ananias, in that we want to do what God commands. I don't mean to sound like a polyanna when I say this. I think God sees the good in every person. Otherwise, why would He send His Son to die if people were a hopeless cause. God knows what good people can do, if they are simply challenged to do it. We need to be more like God in this regard. People want to hear from the Lord and they want to do what He asks. Many of them, though, like Ananias, are not so sure once the command is given. As we shall see, his willingness to obey was also tempered with some pride and some fear. Ananias Was Arguing With The Lord: -- I love Ananias' response to the Lord. Basically, he says "Lord you don't know Saul like I do! He came here to do harm and arrest people like me. Now you want me to walk into his place and offer myself up? You don't know what you are asking!" Amazing, that a man so will- ing to respond is also so hesitant to do what the Lord wants. Again, I see this in myself. I love the Lord and trust Him. But, then He allows me to experience some things I don't like, and just like Ananias, I begin to argue with Him. I try to tell God things He "doesn't know" about my life and why He should change things for me. I also see this when I read something in the Bible I never saw before. Now, I am telling God that He really doesn't mean what He wrote, it must mean something else. Some people do this with baptism. They want to be saved by a prayer of faith, then they rd that everyone in the New Testament was baptized when they believed. They read that baptism takes away sin (Acts 2:38 ; 22:16). But they will say "it really doesn't mean that." Like Ananias, they try to tell God what He really needs to know. This happens in many other ways as well. God tells me to love my neighbor, and I do, until my neighbor acts ugly toward me. Then God tells me to forgive those who sin against me, and I do, until the sin is really bad. On the list can go. With God's clear commands being met with reasons they cannot be obey- ed. Like Ananias, I sometimes tell God what He needs to know. Ananias Was Obedient: -- One of the great things in this story is God's reaction to Ananias' argument. The Lord just says, "Go!" and leaves it at that. God doesn't write Ananias off as a lost cause. He just puts His foot down and tells this willing man that he must also be an obedient man. This is an important point. Sometimes I meet people who think the mistakes they have made have ruined their chance to serve God. That isn't true. No matter how much or how long you have argued with the Lord, He still wants you to "go" and do what He asks. You can be just as good a servant as Ananias if you will believe in yourself as much as God does. The great part of this story is that Ananias, after the discuss- ion, finally went to Saul. Imagine what that was like. Knocking on the door of the man who has come so far to do damage to the church. Ananias knew, as a leader in the Christian commun- ity in Damascus, he was probably high on Saul's list of people to arrest. So, uncertain or maybe even afraid, Ananias knocked on the door. That took great courage and trust in the Lord. This is what happens when you stop arguing and start obey- ing. No one in your family may have ever been baptized for the remission of sins. It may take great courage to break with that tradition and do what the Lord commands. You may lose friends, or even family members will be angry. But, like Ananias, uncertain and afraid, you need to trust the Lord and do what He says. You may not have a neighbor who is easy to love. But, God still wants His children to stand out, not because they are always right, but because they always love. And, you may have a neighbor tht you need to forgive. Stop arguing and do the hard thing, the right thing and forgive that neighbor anyway. Ananias Was Achieving: -- I can only imagine the look on Anan- ias' face when Saul was baptized. The arch enemy of Christ. The man who had led the attack agains the church in Jerusalem. The man who had single-handedly chased most of the Christ- ians out of that city. Now, having come to Damascus to do more damage, he surrenders and is baptized. Ananias must have marveled, just as we would, that God could reach a man like that with His grace. Ananias must have realized that someone bigger than he had done all this. Although he had finally obeyed God and done what God wanted, he knew it wasn't him, it was the Lord and His awesome ability to save that brought Saul into the kingdom. He experienced success because he trusted God and obeyed. But he knew the success was from God. It is important to look at the process that brought this succ- ess. It starts with a willing man, someone who wants to know God and do what is right. It continues through the weak faith of one who argues with God, trying to teach the Lord what "He needs to know." It finds its success, though, when this person of faith, even weak faith, acts on his faith and obeys. Ananias probably didn't relish the idea of walking into Saul's place and trying to convert this enemy of Christ. But his obedience made all the difference in Saul's life, and in the lives of countless thous- ands and millions who have come to Christ because of the apostle's teaching. So: Trust The Lord: --Ananias was able to achieve so much be- cause he trusted in God, even as he went to Saul to baptize him. He could've dismissed this task as impossible, beyond his abili-ties, too risky and so on. But, he trusted the Lord and finally went and the history of the church was forever changed. We, too, need to trust the Lord, even when (maybe especially when) it doesn't make good sense to us. Just do what God asks and let Him create the results. So: Submit To The Lord: -- This is where the rubber meets the road. Ananias could have trusted God and then not gone to Saul. But, he went beyond listening to God, or even trusting Him. He trusted to the point of obedience. Yes, like us, he argu- ed with God, looking for an excuse to get him out of this job, but, ultimately he obeyed, and God did great things. So, stop argu- ing with God, and just do what He says. Trust in Him, be baptiz- ed into His Son, as Saul was, and watch the good that the Lord will do. --------- David Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 29, July 18, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080802/19887d5a/attachment-0001.html From tssullivan at charter.net Sat Aug 2 13:39:59 2008 From: tssullivan at charter.net (T. Sean Sullivan) Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 13:39:59 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] The Messenger Vol 003 Iss 027 Message-ID: <001501c8f4cf$2da2c9f0$6466a8c0@sean1a4c1f786> T he Messenger 2008 Published Weekly by Main Street Church of Christ 306 West Main Street, Newbern, TN 38059 731-627-3514 Bulletin Editor: T. Sean Sullivan VOLUME 003::ISSUE 027:: August 03, 2008 ARTICLE ONE: Why We Do What We Do #1 ARTICLE TWO: Why We Do What We Do #2 Article One: Why We Do What We Do #1 Introduction: In Matthew 21:23 the Chief Priests and the Elders confronted Jesus with a question. "By what authority are You doing these things?" That question was valid then and it stands valid today. By what authority do we do these things? By what authority do we sing? Pray? Partake of the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine? By what authority do we meet together? Why not have: a gymnasium or a piano? Can you give a clear and concise answer to those questions? All of us need to know why we do the things we do. And we need to be ready to give a defense of them (1 Peter 3:15). God is the final and only authority. Certain practices have been established for us and we must do only as He has authorized (1 Peter 4:11 "oracles" = authoritative words). Where are the authoritative words of God? The word of God has been given-we know this delivered message as the Bible (Hebrews 1:1-2)? God the Father gave "all authority" to His Son Jesus Christ and it is the words of Jesus by which we are authorized (Matthew 28:18-20). All authority has been given to Jesus in Heaven and on earth. Therefore we have NO authority to change or add anything to that which He has established. The New Testament provides a fully functional pattern of worship and practice that has been set for us. Let's consider further, subject of scriptural authority. What Is Scriptural Authority? In reality, it is God's authorization for our practices as declared through the revealed scriptures. God has given us direction by the means of the written word (Hebrews 1:1-2). That word is a complete and all sufficient guide for all that we must do (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3). It is God's word alone that leads us to righteousness, there are no other options or opportunities-nothing else will do (Galatians 1:6-8). Anything, other than, less than, or more than, the word of God, will lead us away from God. We need the scriptures to demonstrate God's authorization for what we do. We study the scriptures to learn and know what God expects so we might please God- being approved by Him (Ephesians 5:8-10; 2 Timothy 2:15). No man has the ability to authorize a practice separate from that which God authorizes. Today, "churches" have decided to do so many things with total disregard for what God wants. We cannot decide for ourselves how to please God. All that is known about our Creator is found in His word and His word alone tells us what is pleasing to Him. We Must Respect The Things That Are Said By God. God has said some things in the past: God spoke through the prophets to the children of Israel. God gave them commands and they were to follow those commands. We clearly see how serious God was about those commands when we consider: Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-2) or Uzzah (2 Samuel 6:1-8). God has some new commands for today: The former things-the Old Testament-is done away (Matthew 17:1-8; Colossians 2:14). The Old Testament is no longer authoritative: We cannot please God by following or practicing the things under the old law (Romans 3:19-24). God has spoken to you and I for a reason and He has accomplished this one specific way-for the period of time known as "the last days" God has spoken through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2). Jesus has revealed the standard of judgment (John 12:48-50), Jesus has proclaimed the way to eternal life (John 6:67-68). Jesus revealed God's will for your life and mine (Matthew 7:21). His recorded word is our instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Without this revealed communication we could not know what is right-what is pleasing. God's rewards are for those who do His will (Matthew 7:21-23; Hebrews 10:35). Heaven-eternal life is only for those who DO God's will. Those who go beyond or break God's law will be cast out (Matthew 13:41-42 "Lawlessness"-doing without authority.) We must do what God has decided is pleasing (1 John 3:4). In 2 John 9 tells us that we must abide "In the doctrine" tells us two important things: There are limitations to His doctrine and to be outside those limitations is to be without. Authority is a MUST Remember the important question the Chief Priests and Elders asked? Matthew 21:23 "By what authority are You doing these things?" This is the question that we must ask of ourselves? By what authority we do: Baptize for the remission of sins? Partake of the Unleavened Bread and the Fruit of Vine? Gather on the First Day of the week? If there is no authority from God's word then we must quit the practice. The importance of Authority is clearly stated by Christ in the words of (Matthew 7:21-23). Not everyone who claims the Lord will be accepted. Not everyone who does religious works will be accepted. Not everyone who does things in the name of Jesus will be accepted. Not everyone will be welcomed into heaven only those who do the will of the Father in Heaven. We cannot determine our own pathway or our own "good works". God's will is His own, we do not invent it as we go along, nor to we sway it by our inventions. If you want to go to Heaven there is only one way-by doing the will of the Father. Conclusion: Scriptural Authority is absolute in importance. The Bible is our guide to pleasing God, but it must be followed correctly, or a Paul said, "rightly divided". We need to study the word of God so that we know what to do, how to do it and also so that we are enabled to tell others why we do what we do. The Bible is the only true guide we have; we need to use it properly and diligently find its rewards. ~tss Article Two: Why We Do What We Do #2 Introduction: God has told us what to do! People tend to forget that the Bible is very much written by our Almighty Creator. The Bible is not just some men's take on what we should do in religion (2 Peter 1:19-21). God's revealed pattern for our lives is set-the New Testament is our complete and fully functional pattern. We need no other source of information (1 Corinthians 4:6). However, not every example or every word of the New Testament is to be emulated or followed. There are examples that pertain to specific situation that we do not have today. Acts 2:45 the brethren who stayed in Jerusalem longer then they had planned were running out of supplies, so those who had goods shared with those who did not, by selling and dividing the proceeds. This does not authorize the necessity of financial equality. We know from other passages that we must meet our brethren needs (1 Timothy 1:17-19). This example from Acts 2 was specific to one situation and is not to be forced on every situation. There are words that we can't claim as authoritative today. Luke 5:4-6 after catching no fish all night Peter was told to go out into the deep to try again. These are not words of authority for us to do the same. This again, was specific to that one event. We have to read and rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15)-we need to search the scriptures to know God's desires. Let's consider how to recognize scriptural authority in this lesson. The methods that we will use are not necessarily religious; in matters of interpreting any written words we search for and use these elements to understand what the words are teaching. Last week we look at Acts 15 where these three points of authority and the prohibition of silence were used. We are now going to examine these points in finer detail. Precept/Command: A direct statement or commandment is the most easily recognized part of scriptural authority; it is a command or directive issued from one having authority. Some examples are: Matthew 28:19 Jesus said "Go"; Acts 2:38 The apostle Peter said, "Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of your sins" by these examples we clearly see the voice of commands. Similarly Paul in 1 Corinthians 16:1 said, "As I have given command.so you must do also". We have direct statements or commands for the things that we do. Consider the acts of worship: meeting together (Hebrews 10:24-25), preaching (2 Timothy 4:1-5), prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18), singing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16), and the collection (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). We will consider, these things, more specifically in our next lesson. Approved Example: An approved example is an "authorized" practice of the church in the first century (recorded in the New Testament). The approval is found in the apostolic direction or recorded approval (whether in their presence or through epistles). The apostles being authorized by God would not endorse an unauthorized practice. Remember not all examples are binding; not all examples are authoritative. The authoritative examples are for all times and are not found in the examples of specific or special events. For example: one specific event is found among the brethren in Acts 2:44-46. The situation records them selling all to share with their fellow brethren in need. An example of a general situation that teaches what needs to be done everywhere is Acts 20:7 "The disciples came together on the first day of the week" -to worship that is an example for all times. We have no example of them meeting to worship on any other day. Approved Authoritative Examples are clearly approved by God and are not for a specific event but generally for all times. We can consider the example of meeting on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). The apostle Paul endorsed this practice by his presence. Also we can use Paul's example as authority for praying when times are good (Philippians 1:3) or when times are bad (Acts 16:25) and praying for one another (Philemon 1:4) and praying as a group (Acts 21:5). All these are approved examples for us to find authority in to do the same. Necessary Conclusion: Is that which, is neither expressly stated nor shown in example but must be clearly concluded as necessary. These conclusions must be based on the language and intention of the context. E.g. Acts 20:7"the disciples came together on the first day of the week". Since each week has a first day. We can safely conclude that we must gather to break bread every first day of the week. We must not force a conclusion. We must come to a conclusion that simply and sensibly fits. Another example may help clarify this. Jesus makes a statement in Matthew 18:20 "Where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there in the midst of them." This is not a command to gather. This is not an example of gathering. It is a statement from which we can safely conclude that Christ authorizes gathering in His name. Silence: This is probably the hardest for most to come to grips with. We must have authority for all things. We cannot do anything that has not been authorized. If God is silent concerning one thing or another we must respect His silence. Some think, "As long as I am not told, 'Thou shall not'". I can do what I want. This is not way the scriptures were intended. Each of us here should understand the principle of silence from this classic example: Mom says, "Go buy a loaf of bread." Some scriptures that declare that silence is authoritatively prohibitive: Acts 15:24 ".we gave no such command"; Jeremiah 10:23 "It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps". We must seek God's direction (Hebrews 1:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). If God hasn't told us what to do we are not capable of making up the directions ourselves. When we have no words of directive, example, or those that clearly lead to a conclusion, we have only silence and therefore no authority. Conclusion: To give a defense of our faith and our practices we must know by what authority we do what we do (1 Peter 3:15). We must study to show ourselves approved of God (2 Timothy 2:15). For a practice to be authorized only one of the above mentioned methods is required. For some practices we have all three, and others just one of the three. God has delivered His word so we might please Him by hearing and doing (James 1:17-22). We can please God today, by doing His will without guessing or doubting-we can do what He desires. Do you want to be pleasing to God? We are authorized to offer you this hope through Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). ~tss If you are enjoying The Messenger and you know someone else who would like to receive it. Please forward it to them or send me their email address and I will add it to the list. Sean -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080802/420cd29f/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 2886 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080802/420cd29f/attachment-0001.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 9535 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080802/420cd29f/attachment-0001.gif From crxtra at gmail.com Sat Aug 2 16:38:42 2008 From: crxtra at gmail.com (Steven C. Harper) Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 14:38:42 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] A> Look For The Invisible Message-ID: <000001c8f4e8$239ef870$6adce950$@com> From: TRUTH & REASON, a bulletin of the Glendale church of Christ, Glendale, AZ. Editor: Steven Harper August 3, 2008 Look For The Invisible Scientists recently reported that the Phoenix Mars Mission lander had tested soil samples that indicated water had once existed on the red planet. This, of course, is believed to be 'proof' that life may have existed there at one time - a theory that scientists have been trying to prove for many years. Some of these same scientists are seeking to 'prove' that life once existed on Mars so they can argue for the next jump in their theory - that life actually began somewhere besides earth and somehow migrated here on the backs of space crystals and evolved into the complex life forms we now know here on Earth. The irritating fact about this to those who know better is that they have spent billions of dollars in the search for the non-existent 'proof' that life originated elsewhere. They could save the U.S. taxpayers a lot of money and themselves some time if they would just pick up a Bible and read the very first verse: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen. 1:1). I doubt that is going to happen because so many of these 'scientists' are closed-minded to the idea that God created anything - much less that He even exists! This Mars mission is but an example of the futility of mankind's search for answers that are often within view or within grasp because what exists is simply not what they desire. These scientists want to believe that God did not create [and that He does not exist], so any evidence to that end is dismissed without fair consideration. No matter how many times someone may make the argument and try to get them to consider what God has revealed within the written word, they are simply unwilling to accept what is said because that would bring consequences they are unwilling to accept. More and more, 'scientists' ridicule any idea of God as Creator and mock and malign those who are willing to profess their belief. Their rejection of the clear evidence and their subsequent behavior, however, does not excuse them from the consequences of their unbelief (Rom. 1:20). A more familiar example to those who know God's word is that of the religious leaders of the first century who rejected Jesus because he was not the Christ they expected or wanted. All the proof that Jesus offered and all the testimony from God that was clearly seen would not convince them because that is not what they wanted to believe. That did not excuse them from having to answer for their rejection, however. Jesus plainly told them that His words would judge them in the last day (John 12:47, 48) and that they were without excuse (John 9:40, 41). We should pay close heed to the warnings about rejecting God's testimony! On another note, how many people are wandering around aimlessly in life, feeling lost and without answers to the problems of life, unaware of the answers that are within reach? Everyday people, too, are searching for answers that will not be found because they are simply asking the wrong question or looking in the wrong place. Maybe it is the young woman who once knew of God, but rejected Him and all she ever knew once she moved out, and began looking for that elusive 'happiness' in physical relationships, alcohol, drugs, or just the trappings of this materialistic society. Time and time again, she is discouraged and let down by her worldly friends who use her and abuse her, all the while telling her they are her 'friends' and that going back to what she once knew is 'backwards' and only one step above slavery. She doesn't see that she is, in fact, enslaved by the life she now lives. As soon as the effects of the drugs and the alcohol wear off, she is once again faced with the harsh reality in which she now lives and depression sets in once again. Many times, her own family tried to contact her and bring her back, but she always had an excuse as to why she could not come back. In reality, it was the fact she could not forgive herself and she was ashamed of all that she had done because she knew, deep down inside, it was sin. Whenever thoughts of getting out of that life comes to mind, she is convinced by others [or herself] that her family hates her and only lived to make her life miserable, so she keeps searching for happiness and meaning in places where it will not be found and continues her downward spiral until one day she ends her own life out of despair. Maybe it is the young man who once lived in a troubled home and is now on his own for the first time. Growing up with a father who beat him and cursed at him regularly and who was always willing to point out his faults and failures while his mother said nothing, he now hates his family and has become bitter and distrusting of anything having to do with faith or religion because his parents claimed to be Christians but never lived it at home. He immerses himself in music that fuels his anger and hatred of religion and society in general and it is not long before his associates have convinced him that the only way to survive is by brute force and the 'take-what-you-want' life. He joins an underground racist organization that, ironically, uses the Bible to justify their hatred of certain groups and the violence they use to get their way. Unfortunately, as a new member he is expected to prove his dedication to the group by committing crimes and he is caught breaking into a store one night and thrown into prison for a long time once it is found his crimes were related to his ties to the organization. Maybe some of these things describe you or someone you know and maybe they don't, but you might just have something in common with them and not realize it. Maybe you - like these two examples above - are looking for something, but you don't know what it is or where it is found. Maybe you are convinced that God is not the answer because of some very poor examples you have seen or known, but think only things or people or something you can see and touch and feel can make you happy. My plea is that you stop looking for happiness in the things you can see and start looking for the invisible. You see, many years ago, God told man that He would one day be found by a people who were not looking for Him even as He was rejected by people who knew Him better than anyone, but thought that they had no need of Him (Isa. 65:1-5). The people who told Him to go away were the ones who should have been seeking Him but they did not desire to find Him; the people who were not searching for God found Him because He was looking for them! God was waiting for the day when He would send His Son to die for the sins of all men (1st John 2:2) and those who were previously far from God and His enemies could now be adopted into His family. Though you may not be searching for God, He is searching for you. Though you may not think or know that you are spiritually lost, He knows - and He doesn't want you to stay that way (2nd Pet. 3:9). And those answers you are looking for? He has those, too. I know you are wondering how that could be since you don't even know the questions or what exactly you're looking for, but God knows and He wants to help you - if you would just listen to what He has to say. Admit that the material things of this life did not bring you happiness and your so-called friends have not made your life better at all. You don't necessarily have to go back to a bad situation, but admit where you are now is not what you need. Instead of looking for happiness in the visible, material things, or in earthly relationships, look for the invisible. Seek God and He will be found. He is the answer. If we can help you in that search, please let us know. We may not have the answers, but God's word does. -- Steven Harper -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080802/7f3b3dee/attachment.html From richardthetford at msn.com Sun Aug 3 18:37:06 2008 From: richardthetford at msn.com (Richard Thetford) Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 17:37:06 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Walking in the Light (8/3/08) Message-ID: Walking in the Light "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105) August 3, 2008 www.thetfordcountry.com --- INFORMATION: Walking in the Light is published each week by Richard Thetford. You are encouraged to visit the web site at www.thetfordcountry.com and then click on "Richard's Home Page" to view numerous sermons, articles, radio program scripts, class material and other information. If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to "Walking in the Light," please send their name and e-mail address to richard at thetfordcountry.com --- CONTENTS: "The Greatest Example of All" (Richard Thetford) "What Is Scriptural Baptism?" (Richard Thetford) "Is One Church As Good As Another?" (David M. Bonner) "A Christian" (Selected) SENTENCE SERMONS --- THE GREATEST EXAMPLE OF ALL Richard Thetford As a child growing up I recall my mother reminding me that I should be a "good example" because others are watching me and what I do may have a direct influence on their lives. As I look back, I remember looking to others as examples to follow, especially those in the church that were always consistent in their teaching, attendance, and love for the Lord. One never knows when someone else is watching us and in some respects patterning their lives after some of the things that we do. Therefore, we must strive to be the best example that we can possibly be. The Example of Jesus Christ The greatest example of all is Jesus Christ. We have been called to "follow in His steps" as stated in 1 Peter 2:21. If we truly want to pattern our lives after someone that was perfect, without any sin (1 Pet 2:22), then Jesus is the one that we need to have as our example. When things happen in our lives that upset us we may try to think of various ways to get back at those that caused us to be upset. Jesus is the one that we need to turn to when things are not going as we would like, because we can trust in Him and learn some good things from His example. Peter wrote: "and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed" (1 Pet 2:23-24). Yes, Jesus was and is the greatest example of all! --- WHAT IS SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM? Richard Thetford As I talk with people about baptism I can't believe all the different opinions that I've heard about what baptism requires, what precedes it, and why even be baptized. I underlined opinions because that is exactly what all this variance amounts to - somebody's opinion on the subject and in many cases they have never looked into the Bible to find out what GOD says about it. Scriptural baptism was administered by Christ, and therefore we must do what Christ has instructed us to do. He has all authority! "And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matt 28:18-19). Baptism Requires Water Scriptural baptism requires WATER (Acts 10:47). Not just a little water but much water as it states in John 3:23 "...because there was much water there; and they were coming and were being baptized". In Acts 8:36 it says "...they came to some water..." and in Acts 8:38 it says "they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch; and he baptized him". Can this be anything but immersion? What about sprinkling - did they come to a pot filled with water and "Philip sprinkled him"? No. You see, scriptural baptism requires much water because baptism represents a burial as stated in Romans 6:4 "Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life". Col 2:12 says "...buried with Him in baptism...". Obedience is to do the will of God, not the will of man. Action Before Baptism To be scripturally baptized one must first hear the word of God (Acts 18:8) and believe that God's word is true (Mark 16:16). This results in a change of heart (called repentance), which is to deny our worldly walk and to turn ourselves over to Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38). Then after confessing Christ as the Son of God (Acts 8:37-38), we are baptized INTO Christ (Gal 3:27) in order to have all of our sins washed away (Acts 22:16). Why Be Baptized? One might ask at this point "so why do I really need to be baptized?" I can think of several reasons why all of mankind needs to accept Jesus as their Lord and be baptized. Jesus is our great example and we should strive to please Him in all things. He said that if we love Him that we will keep His commandments (John 14:15). Jesus, being our example, was baptized (Matt 3:13-16) to show God His Father that even though He was without sin He was not above keeping all the commandments of His Father. As a result of His baptism, we read where God was pleased (Matt 3:17). Failure to be baptized is to reject God's counsel (Luke 7:30). Baptism is an act of obedience to God's word (Acts 10:33,48), and it washes our sins away (Acts 22:16). Without baptism we cannot be saved (Mark 16:16; 1 Pet 3:21). Therefore, we can learn from God's Holy Word that without scriptural baptism, WE CANNOT ENTER INTO HEAVEN. Jesus said in John 3:5 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God". Have you been scripturally baptized? If not, why not? Do you try to justify and reason within yourself that baptism by immersion is not really necessary? If you are of the opinion that baptism is not necessary for salvation, where do you get your facts for such a conclusion? We need to ensure that ALL we do is in accordance with God's will and not our own (Acts 5:29). --- IS ONE CHURCH AS GOOD AS ANOTHER? David M. Bonner Many times today you hear people say, "One church is as good as another!" In saying this they show they are not really all that interested in any church. If a man thinks one political candidate is as good as another or if he thinks one ball team, school, town, or country is as good as another, he shows he does not have that much interest in any of them. Is there really any other way to interpret that statement? JESUS BUILT HIS CHURCH. In Matt.16:18 Jesus said, "I will build my church" Jesus said He would build His church and He did just that, Acts 2. Is it possible for a church originated by man and following the doctrines of man to be as good as the church Jesus built and bought with his blood, Acts 20:28? If a church can follow the doctrines of man and be as good as a church following the teachings of Christ, then man is as good as God. But who could believe it? WHICH CHURCH IS THE ONE JESUS BUILT? If you were to lose your car, you could give the police a complete description of that car and they could pick your car out from thousands of cars in this area. The same is true with the church. The Bible gives us a complete description of the essential characteristics of the church Jesus built. Every church in the world that meets the description given in the Bible IS the church you can read about in the Bible. If two churches differ, can both meet the description? Both may be wrong, but both cannot be right. Why not see if you can find the NAME, ORGANIZATION, WORSHIP, WORK, and TEACHING of the church you are in, in the Bible. If you cannot, you should investigate to see if there is a church anywhere that meets the Bible description for the church. We believe we meet the Bible's description of the church in every area. --- A CHRISTIAN Selected A little boy once asked his dad what a Christian was. The father replied that a Christian was a person who loved and obeyed God. He loved his friends and neighbors and expressed his appreciation for other Christians. He even loved his enemies and prayed for them that they might be blessed. He prayed often and blessed God's holy name in reverent worship. The father explained that a Christian is kind and considerate, gentle and courteous in his speech and in his selfless attitude. He lives a life that is pure and holy and is a Christian through and through. The little boy thought for a moment and then asked another question: "Daddy, have I ever seen one?" --- SENTENCE SERMONS He who is a Christian in little things is not little. It takes a lot of faith and courage to be true to truth! Face the sunlight and the shadows will fall behind you. It takes a lot of courage to say, "Get behind me Satan!" - and mean it! Dare to be different, if to be different means to be right! If we trim ourselves to suit everybody, we will soon whittle ourselves away. A man can make money, but money can never make a man. No one is ever too old to learn, but may keep putting it off. A lot of happiness is overlooked because it doesn't cost anything. --- SERMON The New Testament Church Had a Pattern (With PowerPoint Charts) www.thetfordcountry.com --- 1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 626-5558 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/Editor Richard Thetford Building: (970) 249-8116 Home: (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com --- RICHARD THETFORD 1491 Canyon Drive Ridgway, CO 81432 (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080803/adf0555f/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 2950 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080803/adf0555f/attachment-0001.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 14927 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080803/adf0555f/attachment-0003.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 177 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080803/adf0555f/attachment-0004.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 10320 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080803/adf0555f/attachment-0005.gif From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Aug 4 04:25:15 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 05:25:15 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) CRUICIFIED WITH CHRIST Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Monday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an artic- le from my files: CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I life; yet not I but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and give Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20). This is a most interesting statement made by Paul. How is it that Paul could say that Christ now lives in him? It was because Paul had molded himself into the image of Christ. How did this happen? Paul began this process when he went into Damascus and was told by Ananias to "Arise, and be baptized and wash away thy sins" (Acts 22:16). Paul had lived in the flesh as a Jew and as a Jew could glory in who he was (Phil. 3:7-14). But at Paul's conversion, that changed. He no longer lived doing what he previously thought was right or what would give him a lofty repu- tation among the religious and political leaders. He crucifed self to live for Christ. Paul wrote to the Romans concerning the crucifying of the old man. "Know ye not, that so may of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life...Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Rom. 6:3,4,6). Notice Paul said he was buried and arose to walk in a new life. Why? Because the old man had been crucified; he had put to death the affections and lusts of the flesh (Gal. 5:24). Our new life will be focused on the things above, and not on things on the earth. We will have our minds set on Christ for He is now our life (Col. 3:1-4). Yes, we continue to live in the flesh, but now that Christ is enthroned in our lives, our actions will be pleasing to Him. Our lives will be lives of faith. Trusting Him and looking to His Word to find the direction for our lives (Rom. 10:17; Prov. 3:5). What is the motive of the Christian's life? One motive may be heaven, the prepared home for the faithful, and that is a great motive. But another motive Paul mentions here is the sacrifice of Christ for us upon the cross, "He loved me and gave Himself for me." As we walk in life thinking of how much Christ valued us by giving His own life for us, we should be motivated to live to please Him and to do the work He has left for us to do. May God help us to be "crucified with Christ" and to mold our life into the image of His dear Son. May our hearts and minds say as the song says: "Mold me, make me, as you'd have me be, Take me, use me, that the lost may see, Guard me, guide me, through this pilgrim land, Make me as clay in the potter's hand. ----------------- David A. Cox in Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 26, June 29, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080804/87b0ed37/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Aug 4 04:25:27 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 05:25:27 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THREE THINGS TO KNOW Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. THREE THINGS TO KNOW It is important to know some things for certain. You should know your blood pressure numbers, it is a matter of life and of death. You should know your social security number, it is a mat- ter of retirement and legal status. And, it is a wise thing to know your wife's birthday and your wedding anniversary. That might save your life, too. When Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, he told them he was praying for them. He was praying that they, too, would come to certainty about some important things. He tells them (and us) three things we should know for sure: Take time just here to read (Eph. 1:15-23). Paul writes to a church surrounded by a superstitious cult- ure. In the first century the people of Asia Minor beleived in spirits, demons and beings who could effect their lives. These mysterious "creatures" were unpredictable and had to be appea- sed with worship, offerings or sacrifices. So, people would often do a quick oath when bad things happened. It was the commonly accepted thing. This was the society in which the church at Ephesus was established. So, Paul writes to this body so that they will be certain of some very important truths. The Hope Of God's Call: -- Paul prays that we will know the hope of His calling. The apostle doesn't want us to be afraid of forces in our society, whether they are based on superstitions or facts. We have a hope that cannot be shaken. When God calls us into fellowship with Him through His Son, we enter into a hope that sustains us through all troubles. There are some important issues to realize with our hope. First, our hope is not based on ourselves, but His calling. If we are honest about our lives, we know that we do not live up to all that God wants us to be. None of us lives sinlessly. If we look at ourselves, we have little hope, because we have not done well enough to deserve God's mercy. But, if the call originates with God, then we can have confid- ence because He makes salvation happen, not us. We have hope, not because we have done enought but because God has done enough to make our salvation possible. In our world we need this kind of hope. Gas prices are soar- ing. Elections that could change our society in fundamental ways are looming. We have forces all around us changing our way of living in subtle and not so subtle ways. Like the people of Ephesus, we can feel as if these events will overwhelm us. But God calls us into His Son, and in that relationship we have a sure hope. The Glory Of God's Inheritance: -- Secondly, Paul wants us to know the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. He reminds us of the inheritance we enjoy as children of God. This is no small pittance. We are to experience the riches of His glory God has been generous to us in grace and mercy. We can live as if we have plenty of God's spiritual blessings. Too many of us walk around as if we were spiritual paupers. We consider ourselves to be weak, to be lacking, to fail too often But, again, God has not called us to a way of life that is spiritual- ly poor, but to an inheritance that will last through eternity. God has enough patience, grace, kindness to put up with any of us who have come to Him through Jesus, the Son. We must throw off the idea that we are scraping by as Christ- ians. God never promises us material wealth, but He does prom- ise that we will have all that we need in the spiritual realm. So, as many times as you need to turn to God for forgiveness, for- giveness will be given. As often as you need to repent of a sin and ask God to help you, He will help you as you face temptat- ion again and again. We have an inheritance that is beyond imagination. That is why Paul wants us to know what we have in Christ. The Greatness Of God's Power: -- Four times in verse 19 Paul uses a different Greek word for power. He describes God's working, His strength and His might. It is as if the apostle is wanting to overwhelm us with the knowledge of God's awesome ability. He describes this power in four ways. First, it was proven when He raised Jesus from the dead. At the cross, Satan thought he had beaten the Lord. He had used his evil methods quite successfully, using God's own people to kill God's only begotten Son. Then, God raised Jesus from the dead, proving that He has power over death, and that Satan would lose, no matter what. We can trust God's power for our lives because of the empty tomb of Jesus. Second, God's power was proven when He seated Jesus at His own right hand. Jesus has taken authority over all other forces in the world. This should give the Christian a great sense of contentment. No matter how high gas prices go, our Lord is Lord of all, even the oil companies. No matter what terrorists or foreign governments do, Jesus is in charge of even them. God's power is demonstrated in that Jesus has been given authority over evil. Third, God's power is seen in the Headship of Jesus. He is Head over all things (as we just saw), but specifically He is Head over His church. We should never worry about the future of the church, not as long as Jesus is its Head. He sits enthroned, rul- ing all of the creation, with a special attention to those He has saved. Finally, God's power is proven in the fulness of Jesus, who fills all in all. Jesus is the complete representation of the pres- ence of God Himself. The church, His body, reflects this presen- ce. The church is not just some mundane group meeting in a building. It is the glorious reflection of the presence of Jesus and God. This should help us rethink our attitude toward the body of Christ. We are the fulness of Him who fills all in all. The Chracteristics Of This Church: -- As Paul prays for our know- ledge of God's blessings, he reminds us that the church is a community of believers with several important qualities. First, the church is a praying community. Paul is praying for this group of people. If you read his other letters, the apostle mentions repeatedly that he was praying for the churches and the individuals in those churches. I don't know how much time Paul devoted to his daily prayers, but it must have been consid- erable. The church of Jesus Christ should be a praying community. In this text Paul's prayer is designed to enlighten them and build them up in faith. Prayer can do things that nothing else can do. In prayer, you may discover deeper meanings to God's Words. In prayer, you may find deepening faith that equips you to cope with the many challenges of our secular society. Second, the church is a loving community. Paul mentions their love for all the saints. Their love was not just local, it was for all who had given themselves to Jesus. And their love was not some hidden aspect of their church work. Paul had heard of their faith and their love. Too often we fail to recall the words of Jesus. "A new comm- andment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one anoth- er" (Jno. 13:34,35). The world should hear of our love for each other, not just the churches in other places. Love should be the standout quality that others find in the body of Christ. Third, Paul wants the church to be a thinking community. He prays that we will be enlightened and that we will come to know these three vital facts. God never intended His people to put away their reasoning. We can trust God's promises because we have considered them and thought about them. In our think- ing, we come to a deeper understanding of God and His Ways. Christians are sometimes criticized as unthinking, ignorant, superstitious people. But the fact is, God wants us to be serious about His Will. "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the Word of Truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). God wants us to know the word of truth accurately and handle it appropriately. We are to be a thinking people. Fourth, Paul wants us to be a confident community of faith. We should not be frightened or discouraged. Some churches adn individuals in them think they cannot do God's works. They are too small, or too insignificant, or too far off the beaten path. But God has blessed us, empowered us, and told us He would be with us. Jesus assures us, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:20). We can be confident, not be- cause of our size or abilities, but because God and His Son are with us. God's children should not live in fear. With Jesus as Head over all things, seated at God's right hand, there is nothing man can do to us that God cannot turn into victory. That is what He did at the cross, and He can do it in every body of believers. Lastly, Paul reminds us that we are a community of people with great power. God's power is aimed at and works through those who believe. We forget how powerful God is. If we prayed more, understood more clearly His blessings, we would call on Him to open more doors, defeat more enemies and lead His church in triumph. That is why Paul could say, "I can do all things through Him Who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13). The more we come to know the Lord who has called us, the more we will live powerful lives. God is not weak, and He doesn't want us living as if the only strength we have is our own human abilities. Christians need to know these great truths. But, if you are not a Christian, you need to see that all these blessings are found in Christ. You need to come to Christ and let Him forgive you by His grace. He died for you, and came back from the dead and rules eternally by God's side. In Him you have hope, in Him you have the riches of God's blessings, in Him you have power to face the uncertainties of life. How can you get into Christ? Listen to Paul one more time: "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ" (Gal. 3:26,27). Experience the fullness of your salvation today! ----------------- David Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 23, June 6, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080804/dc04d351/attachment-0001.html From ZekeFlores1 at cs.com Mon Aug 4 11:09:59 2008 From: ZekeFlores1 at cs.com (ZekeFlores1 at cs.com) Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 12:09:59 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S> To Live Is Christ Message-ID: Here's a lesson I hope you can use. Zeke Flores Kiber Street church of Christ Angleton, TX www.angletonchristians.com ****************************************************************************** * "To Live Is Christ" Phil. 1:21 (Phil. 1:12-26) Intro. The philosophy of the world is self centered. A. We live in an age where "I" am of greatest importance. 1) It's been said that the 70's was the "I'm OK, you're OK" decade & the 80's turned into the "ME" generation. 2) How many times do we hear, "What's in it for ME?" B. Many try to make themselves more than they are. 1) Worked with a guy who'd been everywhere, done everything, & knew everybody! He always tried to make himself more than he was, larger than life. 2) On the other hand, it's refreshing when someone who really is a big deal realizes the need for humility. During Ronald Reagan's administration he visited his ancestral hometown in Ireland: Ballyporeen. The name means "town of small potatoes." He remarked how humbling it was for the most powerful man in the world to realize he came form small potatoes! The truth is, all of us are from the"town of small potatoes".(1 Tim 6:7) C. In his letter to the Philippian church, Paul reminds us that there are greater purposes than ourselves for living and he sums it all up in the great hallmark statement of Christianity: Phil 1:21 1) What does it mean when you and I say "To live is Christ"? In the context, Paul tells us what it meant for him. 2) We will concentrate on three things from this passage. I. The furtherance of the gospel. Vss 12-14 A. Paul's crusade for Christ amid unfavorable circumstances. 1) His fervent desire for others apparently converted some of his own captors! a. Vs 13, 4:22 2) He was guarded by an elite company of Roman soldiers. a. Was thought that some even lived in the emperor's own palace. (Caesar's household) B. He knew the saving power of the gospel even for those who wanted him dead. 1) Rom 1:15-17 "Thus, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "But the righteous man shall live by faith." 2) That same power continues to work but it depends on you & me to spread it. 3) Sometimes we erect our own "prison walls" that keep us from spreading the gospel! C. Vs 14 - The result for others: "far more courage"! 1) Paul had previously encouraged the Philippian church in the same way. a. Acts 16:22-24 Paul & Silas beaten & thrown in jail b. Vs 40 They encouraged the brethren before they moved on. c. Encourage: "to give courage or confidence in words or teaching" 2) Paul & Silas were also encouraged a. 1 Thess. 2:1-6 b. Even with his apostolic authority Paul knew that the spread of the gospel was much more important than extolling himself. c. We must have the same attitude if we want to be Jesus' servants. II. Vss 19-23 "..to live is Christ.." A. In these vss, Paul makes clear who is #1 in his life. 1) Whether he lives or dies makes no difference as long as Jesus is exalted. B. Sometimes it's hard to take ourselves off our pedestal. 1) We are convinced that WE are always right! 2) The captain of a ship looked out one dark night & noticed lights in the distance. Immediately he instructed the following message be sent: "Alter your course 10 degrees south." The reply was: "Alter your course 10 deg north." The angry captain responded, Alter your course 10 deg south - I am a captain!" The reply: Alter your course - I am a seaman 3rd class." Now completely furious, the captain sent a third message: "Alter your course immediately - I am a battleship!" The reply came back, "Alter your course, I am a lighthouse." C. Paul knew what he was - a sinner who had rec'd grace. 1) 1 Tim. 1:15-16 a. He realized the source of mercy & marveled that it would be extended to him. 2) For this reason Jesus became the holy hub of Paul's life. a. Others make themselves the hub & Jesus a spoke. D. We must live our lives so that our own desires & wants are completely engulfed in the will of God. 1) Gal. 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ..." a. Fully realizing the cost to Jesus for our salvation should make us mirror his life more & more. 2) We learn that the more we put Him 1st, the more we put ourselves behind. a. "He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30 "The Christian life is the OUTliving of the INliving Christ" E. We can realize the love of God & let it carry us thru the adversities in this world! 1) Rom. 8:37-39 2) He has given us new life! Live to reflect your gratitude! II. Vss 24-26 While here, do all we can to encourage each other A. Paul was "between a rock & a hard place". 1) He wanted so much to "depart" to his reward a. Depart - to let loose as in a ship setting sail or the unyoking of animals (Vines) b. Paul was ready for some "loose living," free from the entanglements of this world. 2) Yet realized that staying would help these Christians grow B. We can help each other get thru the trials of this life - We're in this fight together! 1) Paul pleaded with them to help each other along a. Phil. 2:1-4 2) Remember when a bro or sis stumbles, it could be me! a. Gal. 5:25-6:2 b. The law of Christ is epitomized in love - John 13:35 3) If we love each other, we'll help each other grow. a. Eph 4:15 "..but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ.." C. Be an example to someone else 1) Remember the attitude Jesus had - Make it yours! Conc. Our lives are often measured by our goals & aims. A. To live for Christ is the highest aspiration one can have. 1) Have faith in Him Meditate on Him Hope in Him LIVE for Him! B. Begin by showing Him & others that you want to be obedient to Him. 1) John 15:13-14 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends, if you do what I command you." 2) He's done His part, now do yours. INV -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080804/e21e9ba6/attachment-0001.html From disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Mon Aug 4 21:10:47 2008 From: disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com (Ethan R. Longhenry) Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 22:10:47 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] S:> Handling Conflict Message-ID: http://www.deusvitae.com/faith/outlines/index.html Handling Conflict I. Introduction A. As long as humans have interacted, there has been conflict 1. It does not matter the size of the group 2. A marriage, a family, an organization, a company, or even a government or a country! 3. Whenever you have more than one human being involved, you will have matters of disagreement B. Part of the human makeup 1. After all, God made us all to be different in many ways (Romans 12:3-8, 1 Peter 4:10-11) 2. Difference has its value: our differing strengths and weaknesses can complement one another! 3. But difference means that there will be differences of perspective and opinion on various matters C. The question is not if, but when! 1. We can seek to end every kind of conflict, but this is unlikely 2. We do better to consider how we should handle conflicts when they arise so that the end result will involve the encouragement of souls and the edification of the Kingdom! D. God recognizes that we will have conflict, and has provided means by which we can resolve them E. Let us consider from the Scriptures how to resolve conflict II. Conflict and the Scriptures A. What is conflict? 1. A striking or dashing against each other, as of two moving bodies in opposition; a fighting; combat; Contention; strife; contest; Struggling with difficulties; a striving to oppose, or overcome; A struggling of the mind; distress; anxiety; Opposing operations; countervailing action; collision; opposition (Webster's) 2. We recognize that when there is clear disagreement, and both parties contend with each other, conflict is present 3. Yet when there is a mental struggle with another (for whatever reason), even if the other person is not made aware of it, conflict is still really present! B. God has spoken many times regarding conflicts C. Matthew 5:23-24 1. Context: a man in the midst of conflict 2. Jesus tells him to first go reconcile to his brother, then make his offering D. Matthew 18:15-17 1. Context: a brother sinning 2. Such presents a conflict between their conduct and God's standard! 3. Resolution: go to that brother in private, appeal to him 4. If that fails, bring in witnesses; if that fails, take it to the church 5. If they will not heed the church, let him be as a Gentile or tax collector E. Acts 15 1. Doctrinal conflict: Gentiles and the Law of Moses 2. Considered by Apostles, elders in Jerusalem 3. Cases made on the basis of the Scriptures, the work of God among the Gentiles 4. Resolution determined by the Holy Spirit, Apostles, elders F. Romans 14 1. Conflict: whether to eat meats or not 2. Paul advises the brethren to work together, not to put a stumbling block in the ways of others 3. The "strong": give up your liberty willingly to not cause offense 4. The "weak": do not condemn the "strong" for their belief G. Galatians 2:11-14 1. Conduct conflict: Peter's hypocrisy 2. Paul stands and opposes him to his face, indicates his error H. We can recognize that we will have conflict, and we have guidance here about how to handle conflict I. What are we to do? III. Handling Conflict A. We must first recognize that the conflict must, indeed, be dealt with! 1. In all the examples we've considered, we have not seen a conflict that was left open and unresolved 2. There is even an expectation to resolve conflicts when they arise! 3. If something has been said or done that causes enough difficulty to cause anxiety, anger, strain, frustration, or the like, and a disagreement is present about something, it ought to be dealt with in some way! 4. Proverbs 12:25; 14:10; 15:13 B. We can also see that the conflict must be dealt with personally and with the person(s) involved! 1. In the examples we considered, we did not see anyone talking behind the backs of others-- we see that the people themselves spoke to the other party in the conflict 2. It was not left to simmer and boil over in another time of difficulty! 3. It was also not taken to a preacher or elder or someone else for them to deal with it! 4. If we have a cause of conflict with another, we must follow God's commands and examples and ourselves deal with them C. Yet how should we deal with these conflicts? D. Pray 1. 1 Thessalonians 5:17, James 1:5-7, 1 Peter 5:6-7 2. God cares for us, desires us to cast our anxieties on Him, and desires us to seek after His wisdom! 3. If we can pray regarding the conflict unreservedly to God, it means that we either have a conflict that does need addressing or we've become quite hardened in heart! 4. We ought to ask God for wisdom in instruction about how to handle the conflict 5. We should pray for humility, gentleness, and respect, so that we may be able to win over our brother (cf. Colossians 4:6) E. Seek counsel 1. If you have questions about how to handle the conflict, or even if it is worth addressing with others, you can also seek counsel from brethren you trust and respect 2. The elders, the deacons, the evangelist, or another strong brother or sister 3. You can ask them what they think about the situation and what they think you should do 4. There is no need to bring up names at the beginning! F. Assess the Conflict 1. What is the nature of the conflict? 2. Is it a matter of Biblical significance, a matter of liberty, or a matter of personal preference (cf. Romans 14:17)? 3. Is the disagreement significant enough and bothersome enough to need addressing, or is it something that we must overcome personally? 4. If we pray about it and gain counsel about it, we can get other eyes to see the situation, and can better assess what to do next G. Consider Ourselves 1. Assuming the conflict is of significance, we should then consider ourselves 2. What are we trying to do in this conflict? Whose purposes are we serving? 3. Are we being humble servants of God who seek to encourage each other to work in God's Kingdom, or are we being judgmental hypocrites (Ephesians 4:11-16 versus Matthew 7:1-5)? H. Approaching the Conflict 1. We then must provide some forethought in how we will handle the conflict 2. No one likes being wrong, and no one likes being confronted with disagreements 3. We must take special care to conduct ourselves properly! 4. Psalm 4:4 / Proverbs 15:28: consider how we will speak 5. 1 Peter 3:16: we ought to speak with gentleness and respect 6. 1 Corinthians 13: our actions should be done out of love, and our words and actions ought to reflect the attributes of love 7. Romans 14:8-13: we must remember that we are approaching fellow children of God who have equal worth and dignity in the eyes of God, and we are no better or worse than they, and to treat them appropriately I. Speak with the Person(s) 1. Having done these things, we can speak with the person(s) involved with our concerns 2. If we win them over, well and good J. The Next Step (Matthew 18) 1. If the person(s) involved will not listen, then we must take it to witnesses 2. This may be when the elders get involved, if necessary 3. If they will still not hear, it may need to be taken to the whole church 4. If it is a matter of sin, then the person may need to be disassociated from 5. If it is not necessarily a matter of sin, you have at least done what you are required to do, and God will judge in the end (Romans 14:12) IV. Conclusion A. Conflicts are bound to come up whenever people are involved B. What are we going to do about them? C. Are we going to talk about it with everyone but the people involved, avoid confrontation, and let disagreements turn into strife, contention, and discord, which is sin (Galatians 5:19-21)? D. Or are we going to follow the commands and examples of the Bible and personally with love speak with the one with whom there is conflict so that resolution may be gained, and everyone can move on and get back to building up the Kingdom? E. The choice is ours! F. Let us strive to have the courage to follow God's will and handle conflicts when they arise! G. Invitation/songbook Ethan R. Longhenry / deusvitae at hotmail.com Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio [norwalkchurch.org] Homepage: deusvitae.com AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ: 28317056 Y! IM: discipuliiesus From disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Mon Aug 4 21:11:45 2008 From: disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com (Ethan R. Longhenry) Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 22:11:45 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] S:> Covetousness Message-ID: http://www.deusvitae.com/faith/outlines/index.html Covetousness I. Introduction A. An age-old difficulty B. A matter of desire, leading to all kinds of other sins and difficulties C. Covetousness! D. What is covetousness? E. What does God say about it? F. What's the problem with it? G. Let us consider the Scriptures II. Covetousness A. What is covetousness? 1. Strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good; Strong desire; eagerness (Webster's) 2. Greek pleonexia: greedy desire to have more, covetousness, avarice (Thayer's) B. Covetousness, then, a strong desire for obtaining things-- greed! 1. Covetousness can take many forms 2. Desire for more things-money, possessions 3. Desire for others-women, children, etc. 4. Desire for reputation, fame, etc. C. God has consistently condemned covetousness D. Condemned in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:16) E. Jesus condemns it (Mark 7:21-23, Luke 12:15) F. A sin of the Gentiles (Romans 1:29) G. Equated with idolatry (Colossians 3:5, Ephesians 5:5) H. An earthly impulse (Colossians 3:5) I. Everything points to its condemnation (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)! III. The Difficulty With Covetousness A. But what's really wrong with covetousness? B. It is the ultimate sinful desire 1. 1 John 2:15-17 2. Sin as desires of the eyes, flesh, pride of life 3. Covetousness represents this desire! C. James 1:14-16 1. Desire that leads to sin 2. While covetousness not the desire every time, it is the desire a lot of the time! D. Covetousness as idolatry 1. Paul equates covetousness with idolatry in Ephesians 5:5, Colossians 3:5 2. Idolatry condemned as a sin of the flesh in Galatians 5:21-23 3. How is this so? 4. Consider Matthew 6:24 5. Jesus indicates that one cannot serve both God and Mammon (money) 6. The covetous desire, when gone to seed, needs to be satisfied-- it becomes a master, not a servant, and thus is idolatry! E. Root of all kinds of evils 1. Covetousness can take many forms; one of the most popular involves money 2. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 3. The desire for money leads to all sorts of trouble and despair 4. Indeed, a root of all kinds of evils! F. Leads to other sins! 1. Jealousy and envy are born from a covetous desire, either for that which one has and desires to keep or for that which another has 2. James 4:2: fights and quarrels are the result of covetousness 3. Rivalries are often started for on account of covetous desires (cf. 3 John) 4. Contentions, strife, and other difficulties often arise on account of covetousness 5. Adultery results from a covetous desire for something people have no right to! 6. Gambling is dependent on people's covetousness, and thus sin 7. People will often find themselves in all kinds of sin because they are following after covetous desires! G. Covetousness, therefore, poses great problems-- it becomes an idol, takes over one's life, and leads to all kinds of sin IV. Conquering Covetousness A. Covetousness, as we have seen, is a desire born within the heart 1. It is an easy impulse to give into! 2. Every other pasture seems greener than ours! 3. If we could just have a little bit more, things would be better 4. I would rather be like so-and-so 5. This kind of dissatisfaction leads to covetousness in the heart! B. Covetousness is easy to fall into...how can it be conquered? C. Paul provides the key in 1 Timothy 6:6-8 1. Contentment! 2. cf. Philippians 4:11-13 3. If we are satisfied with our pasture, we don't need to want what is in everyone else's! 4. We can only conquer covetousness when we are satisfied with that which God has blessed us! D. Do we really think that we will be satisfied when we give in to covetousness? 1. Satisfaction is a learned art! 2. If you covet, and even get, you end up coveting for more 3. You learn quickly that the grass really wasn't greener to begin with! 4. You may yearn for the old patch of grass, or seek yet another one! 5. There will always be something more to covet...until you learn to be satisfied with what you have E. In the end, if we want a greener pasture, we are best off watering our own! V. Conclusion A. Covetousness is a deeply rooted and old sin B. We must not give into the desire to have what is not ours C. We must learn to be satisfied with our own blessings! D. Let us learn contentment and not give into covetousness! E. Invitation/songbook Ethan R. Longhenry / disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio [norwalkchurch.org] Homepage: deusvitae.com AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ: 28317056 Y! IM: discipuliiesus Sign up for Good News for Norwalk! goodnewsfornorwalk-subscribe at norwalkchurch.org From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Aug 5 05:00:22 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2008 06:00:22 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) A CLEAR CALL TO REPENTANCE Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Tuesday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: A CLEAR CALL TO REPENTANCE In the days of our Lord Jesus Christ, John, the baptizer, pre- pared the way for the Lord Jesus by "preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins" (Lk. 3:3). John was also saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" (Matt. 3: 2). Clearly a call to repentance was an important part of John's work to prepare the people for their Savior Jesus. The people of God, all of Israel, were in sin: from the poorest to the richest, from the shepherd to the king, and from the scribe to the priest! To be ready for the coming Messiah, they needed to repent of their sins. John called them to be baptized in water for the remission of sins and "therefore bear fruits worthy of re- pentance" (Lk. 3:9). Judgment had come upon the people of God. John warned, "And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (Lk. 3:9). It is said of Christ, "His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His thresh-- ing floor, and gather the wheat into HIs barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire" (Lk. 3:17). We are similar to the people of Isreal. Obviously we all sin and fall short of God's glory (Rom. 3:23). Daily we need to see God's clear call to repentance for each of us. Changing our lives to do what is right in the sight of God is a constant duty of love. Paul depicted the Corinthian's repentance in this way, "For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly man- ner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of your- selves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter" (2 Cor. 7:11). It is extremely important that we evaluate our lives, and re- pent of those things that are sinful before our God and Savior. We have a clear call to repentance that we must heed. "Repent, therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19). -------------- Ron Drumm. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080805/5e7b9224/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Aug 5 05:00:32 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2008 06:00:32 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) POINT TO THE WORD Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. POINT TO THE WORD The world in which we live has become more and more relat- ivistic. For many, perhaps most, people, there are no absolutes. Morality shifts and people feel that the circumstances dictate what is good and what is not. As a result, much of our culture has moved away from Biblical values. Now it is acceptable to be- lieve whatever sounds good at the moment. When the apostle Paul was doing his mission work, he came upon a group of people who were hearing something brand new. Paul had been teaching in Thessalonica. The Jews there had stirred up trouble. But, this next group of people went to the Bible to decide how true this new teaching was. "And the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thess- alonica, for they received the Word with great eagerness, exami- ning the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, along with a number of promin- ent Greek women and men" (Acts 17:10-12). These people of Berea were honest, open, receptive people. But when confront- ed with a startling new message, they turned to the one place they could trust. They opened their Bibles. From them we learn several important lessons. The Old Testament Matters: -- Sometimes I meet people who don't like the Old Testament. They tell me the gospel is in the New Testament and they don't want to look at the Old Testament After all, if we are going to teach people about Jesus, we need to study the New Testament. The problem with this is that Paul did not have a New Testa- ment. All he had were the 39 books of the Old Covenant. So, when the apostle went into a synagogue, the only tool he had to use was the Old Testament. He knew his Old Testament well enough to point people to Jesus from it (as Philip did in the con- version of the Ethiopian eunuch, Acts 8:29-35 JWS) Notice what he did in Thessalonica just before traveling to Berea. "And acco- rding to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ'" (Acts 17:2,3). Paul would open his Bible, without any New Testament books, and prove Who Jesus was simply by using the Word of God. This is vital for us to be able to do today. When we can go to passages like Gen. 3 and show that the Messiah would crush Satan (Gen. 3:15), we can demonstrate that Jesus was the suffer- ing servant of (Isa. 53), we can prove that centuries before the man Jesus lived, God had predicted what He would do and say. Paul used the Old Testament to teach about Jesus, and so should we. As Paul said, "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Rom. 15:4). Don't dismiss the message of the Old Testament. It was used to save people in the first century and can do so to- day as well. Eager To Know The Word: -- The people of Berea, Jews and Gentiles alike, were interested in what Paul was teaching. The good news of the gospel is often received with interest and appr- eciation. Who doesn't want to hear about grace and mercy? Who doesn't want to feel forgiven? Who doesn't want to believe that God loves him or her? But this new teaching was not accepted because it felt good. It was accepted because they were eager to study their Old Testament scriptures. And, they didn't just open their Bibles for a moment to check out Paul's teaching. They studied daily to see if Paul's message was genu- ine. In our modern world we can learn a great deal from these ancient believers. Too many of us, including Christians, love to hear new or startling messages. But, no matter how delightful they seem, they must be measured against the Word of God. Toward the end of his life, Paul would warn Timothy about this very thing. "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accu- rately the Word of Truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will spread like gangrene" (2 Tim. 2:15-17a). Paul gives his young friend clear instructions. He is to do what the Bereans did. First, he is to handle the Word of Truth accurately. That is, he is to be honest and fair as he presents the Bible's message. All of us know that it is easy to twist someone's words to mean something that person never said. This is sad in politics or a marriage, but it is sinful and destructive when it comes to faith. We all need to study the Word openly and honestly, so that we get God's message in our hearts, not the words of someone who thinks he or she knows what God has said. Secondly, Paul warns Timothy about people who love to split hairs and make arguments that sound fine and high minded But, he calls it worldly and empty. Too often we argue over minutia that really doesn't matter while ignoring the greater messages of the Scriptures. The Bereans were eager to know the Word, so they daily went into the Bible to see if Paul's mess- age was valid. They didn't waste time arguing the details. Finally, Paul warns Timothy that spending time on empty chatter will lead to spiritual problems, like gangrene. It will grow in people's lives and becomes a dangerous threat to faith and service. I suppose most of us have heard of someone teaching some odd thing at a church and the next thing you know the church is fussing and spiritual death is creeping into it, like a gangrene. The only solution to this is for each of us to do what the Bereans did and to to our Bibles every day to learn and know the message of the Christ. It is okay to hear new and excit- ing messages from the Word. After all, that is what led the Berea- ns to Jesus. But, all messages, new and old, must be put to the test of the Scriptures. Point To The Word: -- This was Paul's ultimate goal. And, if we look carefully, we will see that this was the goal of all the New Testament teachers. They opened their Bibles (our Old Testa- ment) and pointed people to Jesus. (As we have already pointed out, Philip began in Isa. 53 and preached Jesus to the eunuch, JWS). You see, Jesus is the ultimate expression of God's Will. In Jesus was seen a perfect life, lived just as God wanted it lived. "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we be- held His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (Jno. 1:14). When we look at Jesus, we are looking at God's final revelation to man. This revelation, althou- gh recorded on paper, was first lived in real life in real time among real people. That is where the Word found its fullest meaning, in the life and teaching of Jesus. When we point people to the Word, the live and teaching of Jesus, we allow them the chance to be saved. "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Thy Word is truth" (Jno. 17:16,17). Jesus reminds us that it is God's Word, as lived by Him, that sets us apart, that sanctifi- es us. This Word is God's Truth, proven by Jesus in His perfect obedience to God's Will. And, ultimately, it will be this Word, revealed in Jesus and liv- ed by Him, that will judge us in the last day. "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who will judge him at the last day" (Jno. 12:48). Jesus reminds us why it is so import- ant to go to the Word. It is the Word that will judge us. We will not be judged on our opinions, or the cleverness of our argu- ments. We will be judged by His Word. We will not be judged by the new or old teachings we hear or accept, we will be judged by the Word of God. Preach Jesus: -- So. like Paul and Philip, it is our task to point people to Jesus. Philip spent some time explaining the Old Test- ament prophecies about the Christ. As he taught the Ethiopian, an interesting thing happened. "And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, 'Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?'" (Acts 8:35,36). When Philip preached Jesus, he must have mentioned water and baptism. Baptism is in water, that was part of the teaching of Philip. Baptism is into Christ, that is the teaching of Philip. When the man from Ethiopia heard the story of Christ, he heard about baptism. And, when he heard about baptism, he wanted to be saved, by being immersed right then and there. "And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:38,39). You can go on your way rejoicing today. Search your Bible, Old and New Testaments. Come to Jesus, be baptized today. ------------- David Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 27, July 4, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080805/fac5d441/attachment-0001.html From dmartinbtbq at comcast.net Tue Aug 5 22:01:40 2008 From: dmartinbtbq at comcast.net (Don Martin) Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2008 21:01:40 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Elder's children, plural, singular or either? Message-ID: <00bc01c8f770$c0320300$6401a8c0@533034B8A6DF4D9> Hello Ruth, Thank you so much for your question and for making use of Bible Questions. Please do so again. http://www.biblequestions.org Also, check out Bible Truths http://www.bibletruths.net Go to the archives section of these sites for material and also go to the archives search page and type in any subject or word you wish to explore. New material is constantly being added to both sites. Any help you can give us in telling others of these sites will be greatly appreciated. If you are interested in really learning more about the Bible, there is an online Bible study course located in Bible Truths. While on the home page, scroll down and enter through the door. While on the Site Map Page, click on "Online Bible Study Course" in the directory. Click on http://www.bibletruths.net to go there. You asked: My question is this: Is this word really a Greek word? Can it be used both for single and plural? Everywhere else I looked in my Bible that said 'children' didn't use this word in the Greek. Reply: In the first place, the word used for children is tekna in I Timothy 3: 4 and Titus 1: 6. The grammatical information regarding tekna is nominative, accusative, or vocative plural (The Analytical Greek Lexicon, pg. 399, teknon is singular). One cause of confusion among those not conversant with the Greek grammar is when they use such works as Young's Analytical Concordance, they see teknon listed as the word in I Timothy 3: 4 and Titus 1: 6 (teknon is either nominative, accusative, or vocative singular or genitive or ablative plural, see the declension of omicron nouns using ergon in Beginner's Grammar of the Greek New Testament, 5th Edition, pg. 33, 34, by William Hersey Davis). Rather than providing grammatical detail, Young's concordance just presents the nominative singular form of our word. However, the actual word in I Timothy 3: 3 and Titus 1: 6 is tekna, plural in number. Plurals and singulars are not interchangeable. However, this is not to say that the plural does not include the singular. A determination of the singular application or inclusion when the plural is used is more a matter of interpretation. I recommend you read, "Elders, Their Work and Qualifications" in www.bibletruths.net (toward the end of the material). Also of interest is one of the polemic exchanges titled, "An Exchange Pertaining to Elder's Children." To read the article, enter through the door on the home page of Bible Truths and click on "Archives and Index" in the directory. When on the Archives page, click on the letter "E." To read the detailed exchange including the declension of the noun in question, click on "Polemic Exchanges" in the directory on the Site Map page. Thanks again for your good question and for your interest in spiritual matters. It is recommended that you print out this email for future reference (Web site addresses, etc.). You may print out any material you desire in both Bible Questions and Bible Truths (see the copyright provision at the bottom of the home page in Bible Truths). Cordially, Don Martin From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Aug 6 03:57:15 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2008 04:57:15 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) HOW DO YOU APPROACH THINGS? Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Wednesday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: HOW DO YOU APPROACH THINGS? Our attitude is the primary force that will determine whether we succeed or fail spiritually. How do you approach things? Do you often see difficulty in every opportunity, or do you see an opportunity in every difficulty? Our attitude determines the approach we take in leading our spirituality. Adopting a healthy attitude is essential for our spiritual lives! Paul is a great examp- le in thing when we consider how he overcame his past and ex- amine the optimistic view he held on his future. 1 Tim. 2:13-15 treats us to the grimy details of Paul's past. He was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Later he writes, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Paul had a terri- ble background to overcome. After his conversion, he possess- ed an extreme desire to know Jesus in a greater way. Forgetting his past, Paul turned his passion into laying hold on Jesus. See Phil. 3:8-13. His attitude was essential for his spiritual success! We are responsible for our view of life. Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap, Gal. 6:7. Think about it. Your spiritual life is filled with infinite potential! Don't hold it back by a poor out- look on life and neglect of the precious spiritual blessings God so richly bestows. Part of our problem today is that we have taken heed to the lie that life has to be fair, and if it is not, then it is an excuse to be sour on life. I hope we all grow to realize that life is not fair. While it is impossible to trim all situations and circumstances to fit our lives perfectly, it is possible to craft our attitude to fit every situation life hands us. We read, I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him Who strengthens me, Phil. 4:12,13. This is learned behavior. Developing a healthy attitude will influence our entire outlook on life. When confronted with a difficult situation, a person with an outstanding attitude makes the best of it while he gets the worst of it. It has been said, whet- her life grinds us down or polishes us depends on what we are made of. Consider for a moment the success of these men and the importance of their attitude: Joseph -- Gen. 39-42. Thrown into the pit, sold into slavery, jailed wrongly before coming to the throne to serve Pharaoh. Moses -- Exo. 2,3. He spent time in the wilderness before leading the people of Israel. Peter -- Matt. 26: 69-75. Peter denied Jesus three times. Matt. 26 concludes by telling us he went out and wept bitterly. He could have allowed this failure to wreck his life. However, his attitude propelled him to rise out of the ashes of failure to become one of the leading apostles in the early years of the church. It has been said that the opportunities of life lie directly in our problems. Thomas Edison wrote, there is much more opportunity than there are people to see it. Use the problems that confront you as opportu- nities to grow your spiritual life and trust in God. (It has been said, that Edison went through over a thousand failures before he ever perfected the light bulb, JWS). Christianity can be an extremely liberating experience. It frees us from the weight of sin and gives us a way to lead a foc- used and purpose filled life. An optomistic spirit can help us accomplish our spiritual goals. Remember, as long as we live, we are forming, changing, and reinforcing our attitude. You can change for the better! Are you aiming toward spiritual success? Not that I have already obtained it or have already become per- fect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard my- self as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing i do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, Phil. 3:12-14. ----- Matthew Allen via Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 24, June 15, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080806/5004d36e/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Aug 6 03:57:31 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2008 04:57:31 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THEY WERE BELIEVERS, BUT LOST! Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. THEY WERE BELIEVERS, BUT LOST! Many honest, sincere religious folk believe that when a per- son believes, he or she is at that moment saved from sin. The problem with that is that the Bible does not teach it! It is true that one must believe in order to be saved. As Jesus said, "Except ye believe that I am He, ye shall die in your sins" (Jno. 8:24). And again God said, "And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them that seek after Him" (Heb. 11:6). But faith alone will not bring you God's promised spiritual blessings. Take time, just here, to read: (Jas. 2:14-24). Something more than faith is required. That faith must also produce obed- ient works, as we submit to the Will of God. Abraham is good proof of that. And also note what James said in the Scripture mentioned above: He said, "Ye see that by works a man is justi- fied, and not by faith only." (2:24). In fact, there are many examp- les in the Scriptures of people who believed, but were not saved. Let's look at some of them: Faith Gives One Power To Become A Child Of God: -- "He came unto His own, and they that were His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He the right or power to become children of God, even to them that believe on His Name." (Jno. 1:11,12). God's Word makes it clear that one who beleives thereby has the right to become a child of God -- but he still must exercise that option. Faith gives one the power, or right, to become God's child. But you cannot become something you already are. Those who believe are given power, or right, to become children of God, but they are not children of God at the point of faith. There is still something for them to do to become a child of God. As the Bible says of Jesus Christ, "Though He was a Son, ye learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and having been made perfect, He became unto all them that obey Him the Author of eternal salvation" (Heb. 5:8,9). Faith Is Rewarded In Obedience: -- We must never minimize faith as one of the requirements for our salvation (Heb. 11:6). But look at the rest of Heb. 11 to see what kind of faith is necessary. With all of those great "heroes of faith" in Heb. 11, can you find a single case where a promised blessing was obtained before that faith was manifested in obedience to God? "By faith Abel offered a sacrifice" (vs. 4), "By faith Enoch...pleased God" (vs. 5) "By faith Noah...prepared an ark" (vs. 7), "By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed" (vs. 8). All through the rest of that chapter you will see the pattern repeated. People were told by God, what to do. They believed God, and they did what He said. Further, there is not an instance in all of the Bible where faith was rewarded before obedience. God's blessings are not given at the point of faith, but rather when that faith is demonstrated in obedient works that God Himself requires. Jewish Rulers Believed, But Rejected Christ: -- During His per- sonal ministry on earth, Jesus found those who believed, but yet remained in a lost condition, "Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the glory that is of men more than the glory that is of God" (Jno. 12:42,43). Here were many believers who were not saved, for their faith was not strong enough to lead them to confess Christ. Jesus said: "Every one therefore who shall confess Me be- fore men, him will I also confess before My Father Who is in heav- en. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father Who is in heaven" (Matt. 10:32,33). The Jews earlier had agreed among themselves, "That if any man should confess Him to be the Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue" (Jno. 9:22). So, although many of the rulers believ- ed on Jesus, yet theiri craven fear kept them from confessing Him. Surely, they were not saved at the point of faith. People On Pentecost Were Not Saved By Faith Only: -- In the first gospel sermon, after the death and resurrection of Jesus (Acts 2), the apostle Peter told the Jews, "Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye have crucified. Now when theyheard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?" (vss. 36,37). By Peter's preaching, those people realized they were lost. That they were "pricked in their heart" when they heard the message that God "hath made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified" shows that they believed. God's answer to them, by the mouth of Peter, was: "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins" (vs. 38). Their respon- se? "They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls" (vs. 41). In spite of all the efforts of false teachers to discount this example of conversion, it remains in God's Book as a clear- ly revealed pattern for any today who would seek to be saved. Those three thousand were not saved at the point of faith. Their faith had to be shown in their obedience to the Lord. And it was: "They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41). Their faith led them to respond in obedience to the Lord. Acceptable, saving faith, will do the same thing today. King Agrippa Believed, Yet He Was Still Lost:-- While the apostle Paul was a prisoner, he was allowed to make his defense before King Agrippa. He really didn't try to defend himself, but used this occasion to preach Jesus as the Christ. After referring to the Old Testament prophecies, Paul asked, "King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds" (Acts 26:27-29). Agrippa left that meeting without making any change in his life. There is no record in the Scriptures that he was ever "fully persuaded" to become a Christian. But note that Paul said, "I know that thou believest." Now, who will contend that Agrippa was saved while being "almost persuaded" to become a Christ- ian? The final picture of Agrippa, as revealed in Scripture, is that of a man still out of Christ. He was not saved at the point of faith. He was an unsaved believer. Cornelius Was Not Saved At The Point Of Faith: -- Cornelius is described thus in Scripture: "Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared God with alll of his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway" (Acts 10:1,2). Many people would say that such a good moral and religious man was already saved, but God knew better. He sent an angel to tell Cornelius to send for the apostle Peter, "Who shall speak unto thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved" (Acts 11:14). When Peter arrived, he said, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no Respector of persons; but in every nation he that feareth Him and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to Him" (Acts 10:34, 35). That is still true today. We must "fear Him" and "work right- eousness" to be pleasing to God. Peter then concluded that ser- mon in the same way that all the conversions in the book of Acts is recorded, "And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord" (Acts10:48). Please note that is exactly what Peter preached on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Cornelius was not saved at the point of faith, but he was saved when his faith led hm to do what the Lord said. A Lesson From Believing Demons: -- James writes very succinc- tly on the subject of acceptable faith: "What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him?...Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself. Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works, show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith. Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?" (Jas. 2:14-20). Read that again, and notice that "the demons also believe, and shudder." Now, do you really beleive that faith alone saves? The demons' faith was strong enough to make them tremble (or, shudder). Were they saved at the point of faith? Personally, I would rather follow the example of Abraham than to cast my lot with the demons! The only faith that saves is obedient faith. Go back and read again the entire eleventh chapter of Hebrews. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses and all those others named in that chap- ter were justified by faith. And, in every case, the pattern was the same: they heard what God said, they believed God, and so they did what He said. Friends, it is still that simple today. Go back and read again Acts 2:36-41. Those people heard the gos- pel, they believed, they repented and were "baptized in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of sins." Faith alone was not enough for them, they still had to obey what the Lord said. It is still true today: "Ye see that by works a man is justifi- ed, and not by faith only" (Jas. 2:24). Friends, don't be misled. The only faith that saves is obedient faith. Listen to the Lord and then do what He tells you. There is no other kind of faith that will save. --------------- Clem Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 30, July 25, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080806/338b566e/attachment-0001.html From garyshawndaniels at gmail.com Wed Aug 6 09:39:33 2008 From: garyshawndaniels at gmail.com (Gary Shawn Daniels) Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2008 08:39:33 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Pana Church of Christ Online Bulletin - August 6, 2008 Message-ID: <4899a950.1917400a.4ab8.ffff9fb3@mx.google.com> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080806/2f296e55/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 314463 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080806/2f296e55/attachment-0001.jpe From ZekeFlores1 at cs.com Wed Aug 6 10:46:06 2008 From: ZekeFlores1 at cs.com (ZekeFlores1 at cs.com) Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2008 11:46:06 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] W> Website update Message-ID: Brethren, I've updated our website and included some audio files of sermons preached here at Kiber Street in Angleton. I'd appreciate it if you could look it over and offer some suggestions for improvements. Website design is not my forte' ! www.angletonchristians.com Zeke Flores Kiber Street church of Christ Angleton, TX www.angletonchristians.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080806/c01be216/attachment.html From richardson9 at charter.net Wed Aug 6 15:19:00 2008 From: richardson9 at charter.net (richardson9 at charter.net) Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2008 13:19:00 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] tabernacle vs. church/heaven Message-ID: <20080806161901.X7WXT.10463.root@mp16> Brethren, Do any of you have PowerPoint presentations showing the "type-antitype" comparisons of the O.T. tabernacle and its spiritual fulfillments in the church & heaven? I'd appreciate seeing what you've got. Thanks... brotherly, Dan Richardson From bgreen at tycom.net Wed Aug 6 21:20:55 2008 From: bgreen at tycom.net (Bill Green) Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2008 21:20:55 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Bulletin Help Message-ID: <51A67DCEF7D543FE8C5DD2ABB2E2A028@your4105e587b6> Hello all, I am going to making a bulletin for the Bruce church of Christ. I would like to add a women's page with articles written by women, for women. My question is? Is there a place on the internet, or else where, where I can get good sound articles written by women for women? Also, does anyone else put a women's page in their weekly bulletin? Thanks for your time. Thanks again, Bill Green -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080806/d2f57ead/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Aug 7 05:06:10 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2008 06:06:10 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Thursday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here are a couple of questions and answers from my files: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS QUESTION: -- Do the commands mentioned in Acts 15:20-29 apply to us today? ANSWER: -- When the gospel was first preached, it was only to the Jews (Acts 2). But later, at the Lord's express command, the apostles went to the Gentiles. But the Gentiles did not have the religious background of the Jews, and this caused some prob- lems in the early church. Many of the Jews who became Christ- ians felt that the Gentiles should be required to keep the law of Moses. There was considerable dispute over this question, and finally, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, a meeting of the apostles and elders was held at Jerusalem (Acts 15). As God di- rected, by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:11-13; 1 Thes. 2:13), a decis- ion was reached that settled the issue. Letters were to be sent to the churches among the Gentiles, that the Gentiles were to be free from the Law of Moses, except for "these necessary things" (Acts 15:28). The "necessary things" for the Gentiles were four in number, things the Jews had long observed as part of the Law of Moses. "Abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from forniction" (Acts 15:29). These things had long been practiced by the Jews, now these comman- ds were sent to the Gentiles. One reason that God gave for ab- staining from blood was that "the life is in the blood" (Lev. 17: 11), and life belongs to God. The abstention from things strang- led is based on the same idea, that the blood remains in the flesh. To eat meat offered to idols was idolatry, and fornication was forbidden with other immoralities. The decree sent forth in Acts 15 was surely part of the gospel of Christ. It was intended for all of the Gentiles, and it certainly applies today as part of the gospel. The need for purity -- both in our worship and in morality in general -- is as great now as it was then. As the eating of blood was sinful then, so it is wrong today. --- Clem Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 23, June 6, 2008. ****************************************************************************** *** QUESTION: -- From where did Cain get his wife? ANSWER: -- There are several assumptions being made here. It is said that Cain went to the land of Nod where he got a wife. And that showed that God had made other men and women be-sides Adam and Eve. First, it is assumed that Adam and Eve had no other children. In Hebrew thinking, the girls were often not mentioned, as all in- heritance and rights passed through the sons. So, the first couple might have had some daughters already. Second, by the time of the murder of Abel, many years had passed, which could also mean that other children had been born, started their own families by marrying nieces and nephews and so on. Finally, it is a big assumption to think that God made many men and wom- en and placed them in other places. "Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and sett- led in the land of Nod, east of Eden. And Cain had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city, and called the name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son" (Gen. 4:16,17). Cain is banished from God's presen- ce and condemned to wander the earth. He settled in the land of Nod. "Nod" may not have been a literal land, but may have been his condition as an exile from God's presence. You can see that Cain is still in rebellion, since the first thing he does is build a city, a permanent home in defiance of God's punishment. (It would seem that Nod was a literal place since it is referred to as being east of Eden, JWS). Also, botice the text doesn't say when Cain married this woman. He may have been married when the anger in him caus- ed him to murder his brother. He may have married her just be- fore he went to the land of Nod. But the Bible doesn't say that he GOT his wife in the land of Nod. The Bible simply points out that Cain had a child by her in the land of Nod, or, while he was in exile. We are not told where he got his wife. The New Testament often refers to Adam. Always, he is the first to sin, the man who introduced sin into the world, and, there- fore, the father of all who sin. That simply means, that if other people were created by God, they could have escaped the guilt of sin Adam introduced to the world. And remember that Adam "His wife's name Eve, for she was the mother of all living" (Gen. 3:20). So, as I see from my tudy, Adam and Eve were originals, unique, and others were not made until they, by natural means, started having children. (We do not know how old Cain and Abel were when they first offered sacrifice to the Lord. If it follow- ed the pattern found in the Law of Moses later on, they possibly had to be at least 30 years old at the time, JWS). -------- David Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 30, July 25, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080807/15e6610f/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Aug 7 05:06:23 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2008 06:06:23 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) CHRIST AND THE HOME Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my ancient files. Use to the glory of God. CHRIST AND THE HOME From a positive viewpoint this passage commands parents to "bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." (Eph. 6:1-4). Unfortunately some parents have never lear- ned that it is THEIR responsibility to bring up their children. The wold is full of parental slackers. These duties have been shoved off onto nearly every organization in the world -- including the church. I am persuaded tht such organizations ought not to in- fringe upon the responsibilities of parents. According to Paul in 1 Tim. 5:8-16 inability of the parents to care for their marks the beginning place of the church in this particular. Parents should learn that the bringing of a child into this world involves the res- ponsibility of bringing it up in the nurture and adomontion of the Lord. Parents need to learn what the Lord expects of them as parents. Some are disposed to leave the rearing of their children to the community, schools, and such like. True, these have a trem- endous influence over our children, and we should exert every effort possible to maintain the right influence, but even then it is difficult. Every citizen has a voice in the policies thereof, and not all of them are godly minded. Whatever good they may do, it will not supplant what God expects of you as in individual Christian parent. There are others who expect the church to relieve them of their parental obligations. Some expect the church to provide social and recreational activities for their young. We speak of "the young people problem." I am persuaded that the real prob- lem is with the parents. A few parental slackers together with a few in the church with more zeal than knowledge can create a situation that will result in the wrong attitude toward the church on the part of our young people. Brethren, it will be a sad day for the church of our Lord when its success and value is meas- ured by the social, recreational, and entertainment features there-of. This is not just a matter of future possibility, or a threatening danger in some localities. It is a reality! Remember, it is usually caused by parental slackers and a willingness on the part of the church to infringe upon the responsibility of the home. I would not be misunderstood here. My heart is heavy with sympathy for the young people as they brave the problems of this modern day. It is not easy. Brethren, I am pleading that we open up our homes to them, and make proper provisions for social activities in their behalf. Then our young will have not only a clear concep- tion, but a deeper appreciation of both home and church. Parents are to bring their children up in the nurture and ad- monition of the Lord. Nurture carries the idea of training, pract- ice, or experience. Admonition means literally "a putting in mind". Many train and instruct children in proper behavior, or in the art of some vocation, and how to avoid the coming seducers of the world in the realm of business, but many fail to train and instruct in the Word of the Lord. Next we look at the responsibilities of children. Time limit forces me to only a brief observation of the beautiful passage in Eph. 6:1-3. Children need to learn what it means to "honor thy father and mother." Furthermore, this obligation continues even after tehy have homes of their own. I heard brother G.K. Wallace at the Freed Hardeman lectures this year tell of a preacher mak- ing five hundred dollars pr month, who had put his parents (or one of them -- I do not remember) in a home for the aged. Many of these homes call upon the churches to support such. I am not acquainted with the particulars in this case, but if such be true, I cannot blame him whtn he said he found it difficult to list- en to such a man preach. "But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." (1 Tim. 5:8). What is worse than an infidel? The answer is in the text. Brethren, I am persuaded that transient beggars and tramps are not the only ones preying as leeches upon the benevolent spirit of the church of our Lord today! Men often substitute human arrangements for the divine. However, my faith in the perfection of God's plan is strong enou- gh to force me to the conclusion that no prize -- no good -- sought through the substitution of human arrangements, can compensate for the evil done through a violation of the heavenly pattern. Blessings Of Such A Home: -- We must now turn our attention to our final point of consideration, namely, the blessings of the home in and over which Christ the one Lord reigns supreme. First, there is the blessing of mutual love which fills every nook and corner of such home. This love will provide for the greatest possible cooperation and assistance on the part of all concern- ed. It will produce a feeling of security worth more than the poss- ession of all the wealth of the world. To be loved is to be want- ed. Who can measure the happiness of that child, husband or wife, that is comforted by that secure wanted feeling? This love will also provide for that forbearance and charity which is often needed as the saving quality of the home in hours of disturban- ce--when internal problems threaten its future security. Second, there are the blessings derived from children in the home. These have long been recognized and extolled. Look for a moment at these verses of Scripture: "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiv- er full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate" (Psa. 127:3-5). "Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table" (Psa. 128:3). "Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers" (Prov. 17:6). In these verses we have some of the most beautiful word pictures ever painted by the pen of inspiration. Look at the migh- ty hunter. He fears no harm. He feels secure. He relies upon his many arrows. His quiver is full of them. When our frame stoops low, hoary hairs bedeck our brow, and physical infirmity handicaps our earning powers, we, too, may feel secure, fear no harm, because we rely upon our children who are like the arrows of the mighty hunter. What a blessing! Even the bless- ings of grandchildren are mentioned. Who can measure the joy in that realm? Unfortunately, in some homes children are unwanted. Usual-ly they fear they will hinder their happiness. However, it is well that we remember that true happiness and selfishness do not generally go hand in hand. Someong has said, "Happiness is such a gentle and tender flower that those who go forth to gath- er it crush it as they seek to lay hold upon it." This becomes all the more apparent when we remember that the greater per- centage of divorce comes from those homes which in selfish-ness have closed the doors to little children. But greatest of all such a home has a glorious destiny both for time and eternity. For time it is destined to reproduce itself in the homes of the children who go forth from the home to establish homes of their own. What an influence in shaping the order of a better civilizaiton! For eternity such a home is destined for all the glories of the eternal world. Here the redeemed of all the ages will meet as one happy family in one grand reunion around the great white throne of the Almighty God. Here the family circle will remain unbroken! Here we will be home forever! ----- Marshall E. Patton in The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 7, May 1952. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080807/7803394f/attachment-0001.html From mcmurray at Spiritbuilding.com Thu Aug 7 08:16:41 2008 From: mcmurray at Spiritbuilding.com (Carl (Mac) McMurray) Date: Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:16:41 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] Bulletin Help In-Reply-To: <51A67DCEF7D543FE8C5DD2ABB2E2A028@your4105e587b6> Message-ID: Hi Bill, Check out the online Women?s mag., WOMEN OF GENTLE SPIRIT, found at www.Spiritbuilding.com. It has archives of articles for women, by women, on teaching as well as ?women?s? issues. Mostly written by conservative Christians and what isn?t, is screened pretty well. mac > **** > * Bible Matters mailing list > * http://biblematters.net/mailman/listinfo/biblemat > * You are subscribed as: mcmurray at spiritbuilding.com > * Send postings to: biblemat at biblematters.net > New Forum addresshttp://www.network54.com/Forum/602460 > Join Bible Matters Group for forum at - http://www.network54.com/Group/158452 > > * List owner: Mike Hughes (macmikeal at me.com, http://www.mikealrhughes.com , > Mickey Chandler (mickc at churches-of-christ.com, > http://www.churches-of-christ.com/) > ***** > > > Hello all, > > I am going to making a bulletin for the Bruce church of Christ. I would like > to add a women's page with articles written by women, for women. My question > is? Is there a place on the internet, or else where, where I can get good > sound articles written by women for women? Also, does anyone else put a > women's page in their weekly bulletin? Thanks for your time. > > Thanks again, > Bill Green > > > _______________________________________________ > Biblemat mailing list > Biblemat at biblematters.net > http://www.biblematters.net/mailman/listinfo/biblemat > ?Man does not live by coffee alone, have a danish.? - Unknown http://www.spiritbuilding.com/BLOG/showBlog.php?blogID=1 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080807/24c800f6/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 1747 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080807/24c800f6/attachment-0001.jpe From dmartinbtbq at comcast.net Thu Aug 7 09:50:24 2008 From: dmartinbtbq at comcast.net (Don Martin) Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2008 08:50:24 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Did God create evil for discussion purposes Message-ID: <00b801c8f89c$ecd9c320$6401a8c0@533034B8A6DF4D9> Hello Fred, Thank you so much for your question and for making use of Bible Questions. Please do so again. http://www.biblequestions.org Please check out Bible Truths http://www.bibletruths.net Go to the archives section of these sites for material and also go to the archives search page and type in any subject or word you wish to explore. New material is constantly being added to both sites. Any help you can give us in telling others of these sites will be greatly appreciated. If you are interested in really learning more about the Bible, there is an online Bible study course located in Bible Truths. While on the home page, scroll down and enter. While on the Map Site Page, click on "Online Bible Study Course" in the table. Click on http://www.bibletruths.net to go there. You asked: I'm a Christian and a member of a local church of Christ. I will engage in a discussion with my classmates in college next week. I will affirm that God did not create evil. However, I want to ask you about the subject. What is the biblical answer tothe question that says, Did God Create Evil?I want to further define the question. Did God create evil Because: 1. He created the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden? 2. He created the apostate angel Satan? 3. He wants us to be faithful and prayerful? I pray that you will help me with these questions. Thank You. Reply: I would not affirm God created evil, not without definition and qualilfication. God cannot be tempted with evil and He cannot abide evil (Jas. 1: 13, Isa. 59: 1, 2). How then could He create evil? Also, evil is the violation of God's commandments or law (I Jn. 3: 4). It is, therefore, inconceivable that God created evil, as such. God did create man as a free moral agent (Gen. 2, 3). The fact God enjoined a commandment on man is illustrative of Adam and Eve's free moral agency (Gen. 2: 17). Evil is the result of God's commandment having been disobeyed, as seen; therefore, evil came into this world through man, not Christ (Col. 1: 16). It is sometimes contended that Isaiah 45: 7 is teaching that God is the author of evil in the sense that He created sin. The verse does read, "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things." The evil God "creates" is a reference to "calamities" (footnote) that he brought on the disobedient (cp. Amos 3: 6). Matthew Henry comments thus on Isaiah 45: 7: "That he is Lord of all, and there is nothing done without him (v. 7): I form the light, which is grateful and pleasing, and I create darkness, which is grievous and unpleasing. I make peace (put here for all good) and I create evil, not the evil of sin (God is not the author of that), but the evil of punishment. " (Commentary by Matthew Henry, accessed from the Links page in Bible Truths). I recommend you read, "The Problem of Evil and God" located in www.bibletruths.net This material examines this often philosophic question in more detail. Also, let me know how the discussion goes next week. When on the home page of Bible Truths, enter through the door and click on "Archives and Index" in the directory on the Site Map page. When on the Archives page, click on the letter "E." Here is an excerpt from the article: "...When we speak of the problem of evil and God, definition is needed. Simply stated, "evil" is used in two ways in the scriptures: There is moral evil and physical evil in the sense of calamity and disaster. Regarding moral evil, the scriptures are definitively plain in distancing God from such. God cannot be "tempted with evil" and he also does not "tempt any man" (Jas. 1: 13). Regarding physical evil or calamities God said:...." Thanks again for your good question and for your interest in spiritual matters. I recommend that you print out this email for future reference (web addresses, etc.). You may print out any material you desire in both Bible Questions and Bible Truths (see the copyright provision at the bottom of the home page in Bible Truths). Cordially, Don Martin From jmickells at juno.com Thu Aug 7 12:41:45 2008 From: jmickells at juno.com (Jimmy R Mickells) Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2008 12:41:45 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] (no subject) Message-ID: <20080807.124145.3676.3.jmickells@juno.com> Outreach The word ?outreach? is an expression that has been coined in recent years. If I understand what is meant by its use, it means an effort by a local church to reach out to those that are lost to save them from sin. That certainly is the work of the church. Paul, in writing to the young evangelist Timothy, said that the church is the pillar and the ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). It (the church) is to defend and preach the truth to a world of lost sinners. This same apostle commended the church at Thessalonica for doing this very thing, sounding forth the word of God (1 Thessalonians 1:8). When persecution arose against the church at Jerusalem, the saints that made up that church went everywhere preaching the word (Acts 8:4). In recent days, one was asked about a local church of Christ having a gym. The answer that was given, ?It is just an outreach tool to reach the lost.? What was the means that the New Testament church used to reach those that were lost in sin? Was it not the simply gospel message that was preached by its members? That is all they used to appeal to the inner man to respond to God?s calling. Paul, in his epistle to those at Rome, said that he was ready to preach the gospel to them (Romans 1:15). The very next verse says, that it is the gospel of Christ that is God?s power to save (Romans 1:16). When he wrote his first epistle to those at Corinth, he said, ?Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you?unless you believed in vain? (1 Corinthians 15:1,2). The New Testament church never built any kind of structure to draw or attract people so that they then might share the gospel with them. They didn?t have soup kitchens, offer medical care, give away free vacations nor did they have church sponsored basketball or softball. Actually, what has happened when a church has built a gym is that they have involved the local church in a work that God never gave her to be engaged in. At least a part of its work would then be recreation. Where would one find authority in the New Testament for such a work? If a local church can build a gym and justify having such by simply stating that it is outreach program, could they not build a hospital, a nursing home, a retirement community, etc. and find just as much authority for one as the other? Sure they could! The problem is that none of these things are authorized in the scripture. In my limited travels in this country and abroad, I continual see a need for gospel preachers that is not being met. Part of the problem is that men cannot find enough financial support to go to these areas to preach the gospel. While local churches are spending thousands of dollars to build gyms to play in, men and women are dying lost because there is no one to share the gospel with them. Are they really concerned about saving the lost or are they more concerned about entertaining their members? They will need to answer that question for themselves. I have had a good number of people through the years ask me, ?What do you offer at the church where you preach?? Usually what they want to know is, do you have entertainment, will you take my children on various outings, etc. The only thing that the Bible permits us to offer those that are lost in sin is the gospel of Christ. If that is not enough, then I?m just as sorry as I can be, but that is all I?m authorized to extend to you. We will do our very best to teach you and your children the Bible; to help in whatever way we can in your obedience to our God so that you can go to heaven when this life is over. We will encourage you to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and help equip you so that you might use your talents or abilities to better serve the Lord. May we each be busy doing our best to use the gospel of Christ to reach out to those that are lost and in sin. This is the outreach program that God is interested in. Jimmy Mickells ____________________________________________________________ Click to see huge collection of discounted designer watches. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/Ioyw6i3mdA2tF3SFJ3FhulPkpMuEtOsLzDyOy7Hr9CS9ShU8yV0Ph6/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080807/cd111b27/attachment.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Aug 8 04:51:51 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2008 05:51:51 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) PSALM 91 Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. PSALM 91 Have you ever seen a person whose faith could not be shak- en no matter what came their way? Have you ever stood amaz- ed at their calmness in the midst of the storm? Have you ever wondered what they had tapped into that somehow you had missed? Psalm 91 reveals the secret. The psalmist is one whose "cage can't be rattled" because he knows God's protection is not for everyone but only for those in close communion with God -- "who dwell in the secret place of the Most High" (vs. 1). Daily they go to the secret place to be with Him (Matt. 6:6). They pray, study, meditate, and praise in His presence. Solitude comes natural for them. Simply put, they adore God. He is not distant to them. They speak intimate- ly of Him. "He is may refuge adn my fortress; He is my God" (vs. 2). A sacred flame burns within them. And because it does, they enjoy special benefits that are missed by those who follow God at a distance. Those in the outer court will never know what be- longs to this inner sanctuary. Heavenly Protection: -- God's heart melts at this kind of devotion and love and He rewards this kind of saint with His special pro- tection. He says they will 'abide under the shadow of the Almigh- ty" (vs. 1). As this shadow moves over them, they know He is near and they care not what trouble may come. They are not afraid of the terrors of the night or of arrows by day (vs. 5). He sets His heart on them for three reasons. First, they have made God their refuge (vs. 9a). In danger, a bird flies to the thicket, a fox runs to his hole and these people run to God. It is like second nature to them. In times of trouble, He is their first thoug- ht. Second, He is their dwelling place (vs. 9b). It matters not if they live in a shack or a palace; their real home is with Him. Third, they have set their love on Him and they know Him. Mountaintop blessings come to this kind of saint. Listen to the "I will" promises in vss. 14-16: "I will deliver him." "I will set him on high." "I will answer him." "I will be with him in trouble." "I will honor him." "I will satisfy him." "I will show him My salvation." No wonder these people stay calm and steady! God promises that His angels will be used to "keep you in all your ways" (vs. 11; Heb. 1:14). I don't know all the ways ang- els are involved in our care but perhaps one day we will be amaz-ed at all they have done under God's direction to help us. I think of Hezekiah who had every reason to be terrified of the Assyria-ns. The king went to the temple, where the wings of the cherub- im overshadowed the place and prayed to God. That night the angel of the the Lord struck and killed 185,000 Assyrians (2 Kgs. 19:35-37). God rewarded Hezekiah for dwelling in the secret place. That's what this Psalm proclaims: "A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you" (vs. 7). Do these passages mean that the Christian will never have trouble, get sick or die a martyr's death? No. They do mean, however, that we are always under God's care and as long as we are devoted to Him, no lasting harm can come our way. Do we not stand amazed at the care and protection God gave Peter and James on numerous occasions? And even as James is killed as a martyr (Acts 12), we are not shaken. He was invincible until God was done with him. Even then, no lasting harm came to James, for he is just fine. Satan tried to abuse the contest of these passages when he tempted Jesus to jump from the temple. After all, Scripture said tht God's angels wouldn't allow Him to dash His foot against a stone. What a perverter of Scripture he is! Jesus knew the real meaning of these passages. He didn't throw Himself down but let us marvel at God's overriding protection in His life. Many times the enemies of Jesus sought to take Him but His hour had not yet come (Jno.7:30). God was running that timetable and they would not take Him until the Father was ready. Psalm 91 held true in the life of Jesus. Oh, What A Foretaste Of Glory Divine: -- Set your heart on God and He will set His heart on you. Live in the secret place under His shadow. On the mountaintop we will rejoice in God as He sets us on high (vs. 14). Despite all of Satan's efforts to alarm us and beset us with fear, we will tread upon the lion and the serp- ent as God crushes the devil beneath our feet (vs. 13). Won't it be wonderful to forever dwell in His presence while our great enemy burns with fire and brimstone? What blessed assurance! Praise be to our refuge, our fortress, and our God! ----- Jeff May in Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 1, Jan. 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080808/ddfb4a3f/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Aug 8 04:51:42 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2008 05:51:42 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) FUNDAMENTAL FEATURES OF CHRISTIANITY Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Friday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an art- icle from my files: FUNDAMENTAL FEATURES OF CHRISTIANITY Fundamentals are a vital concern for whatever the project or enterprise. Without a firm foundation, any endeavor is eventual- ly doomed to failure. Fundamentals are the things that under- gird something, the foundation on whichthat thing rests. The Christian system has certain fundamental things that underlie it. These are necessary fundamentals. Here ad some suggestions concerning those essential parts: Conversion: -- Conversion indicates a change. Change is what the "new birth" is all about (Jno. 3:3). Jesus said, "except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." That conver- sion is a change of the whole man--a change of his intellect, brought about by faith; a change of his will, brought about by repentance; and a change of his relationship, brought about by baptism. This fundamental change brings one "into" Christ, or into a new relationship with Him. "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are made new" (2 Cor. 5:17). "Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 18:3). Conversion is fundamental to Christian- ity; it's what makes one a Christian in the first place. Conviction: -- Conviction issues in two different directions: it may be the equivalent of faith, or it may be what is produced by the knowledge of being found guilty. First of all, it's being con- vinced, fully persuaded. That's faith. "Without faith it is imposs- ible to please Him," we are told in Heb. 11:6. We must be fully convinced that God is, and that He rewards those who diligently seek after Him. Faith is an essential part of Christianity; it is the bedrock foundation on which the entire system rests. But conviction can turn in another direction as well. It may mean one who is convicted by the law, one who is guilty of a crime, as charged by a judge or jury. Man has to realize his lost condition before he will turn to God. The people on Pentecost were "pricked in their hearts" (Acts 2:37) before they said, "men and brethren, what shall we do?" One of the purposes of the Word of God is to identify sin for what it is, and cause men to re- pent. "Godly sorrow worketh repentance" (2 Cor. 7:10). Sorrow for sin comes as a result of a realization that one is not approv- ed of God because of that sin. In either case--whether it is under- stood as faith, or being found guilty--conviction is a fundament- al part of Christianity. Consecration: -- To consecrate something is to set it apart, to make it sacred. In the case of Christianity, consecration is an in- dispensable part of service to God. As we have seen already, the Christian must be a new creature, one who had been born again. Once that is accomplished, he then must consecrate him- self to God through His Son, Jesus Christ. "Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed," we are told, "by the renew- ing of your minds" (Rom. 12:1,2). Notice that one must renew his mind in order to be consecrated to God. He must have a new focus, new desires, a new attitude toward the world, all of which has to do with his being set apart or consecrated to God. "Set your affection on things above, not on things of the world" (Col. 3:2), is another way of saying, "be consecrated to God rath- er than the world." Consummation: -- Consummation is bringing one's life to a suit- able end or conclusion. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling," says Paul in (Phil. 2:12). You have to work it out yourself; and you have to work it all the way out to the end, or as Peter says, "Given diligence to make your calling and election sure" (2 Pet. 1:10). Consummation, for our purposes, means to bring your sanctified life to a conclusion. "Gird up the loins of your mind, and be sober," says Peter (1 Pet. 1:13), "and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revel- ation of Jesus Christ." Live your life here in such a way that when it is concluded you will hear the commendation: "well done good and faithful servant..." Life is a miserable failure if it doesn't, by the grace of God, culminate in a heavenly abode. Fundamentals. Theyr'e necessary to who and what we are. Let us not become so enamored with where we are that we for- get where we are going. ----- Dee Bowman via Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 23, June 8, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080808/709a94d5/attachment-0001.html From kthomas at dnet.net Fri Aug 8 09:36:13 2008 From: kthomas at dnet.net (Kenneth E. Thomas) Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2008 09:36:13 -0500 (Central Daylight Time) Subject: [Biblemat] Ken Thomas' condition Message-ID: <489C59DD.000003.03992@KENSCOMPUTER> To all who are interested. Last Monday I suffered a stroke/ After three hours in the local hospital they sent me home. My eyesight has been adversely affected and I can hardly read my Bible nor the song book at services, I also have computer problems needing some assistance to repair. I usually have Mike Hughes take care of such via remote assistance but he is unavailable this morning. I don't know if my eyesight will be this bad permanently or not. I can see to get around but am not able to drive the automobile, I am requesting all of you to please pray for my wife and me. Thanks! Kenneth E, Thomas Kenneth E. Thomas 221Rolling Acres Trail Franklin, North Carolina 28734 http://www.geocities.com/kethomas_2000/index.html Email: kthomas at dnet.net 1 (828) 349-3514 - Home -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080808/b2b0be4b/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 289 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080808/b2b0be4b/attachment-0002.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 17940 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080808/b2b0be4b/attachment-0003.gif From kthomas at dnet.net Fri Aug 8 10:31:36 2008 From: kthomas at dnet.net (Kenneth E. Thomas) Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2008 10:31:36 -0500 (Central Daylight Time) Subject: [Biblemat] Fw: Ken Thomas' health Message-ID: <489C66D8.000018.03992@KENSCOMPUTER> -------Original Message------- From: Kenneth E. Thomas Date: 8/8/2008 9:47:15 AM To: Alice Beal Subject: Ken Thomas' health Dear brethren. Friends and relatives; Last Monday I suffered a stroke leaving my eye sight damaged. After three hours in the hospital they sent me home. I have to returen Monday for several procedures. I cannot see well enough to drive the automobile and reading is with great difficulty. I don't know if this will be permanent or not. I need repair work done to my computer which Mike Hughes usually does by remote but I cannot loate him this morning son far. Please pray for Dolores and me. ThanksQ Kenneth E. Thomas Kenneth E. Thomas 221Rolling Acres Trail Franklin, North Carolina 28734 http://www.geocities.com/kethomas_2000/index.html Email: kthomas at dnet.net 1 (828) 349-3514 - Home -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080808/fc823956/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 289 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080808/fc823956/attachment-0002.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 41190 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080808/fc823956/attachment-0003.gif From tedwards at onemain.com Fri Aug 8 15:39:05 2008 From: tedwards at onemain.com (tedwards at onemain.com) Date: Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:39:05 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] B> Gospel Observer 7/27/08 Message-ID: <489C6899.3638.19EEAF2@localhost> ____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ July 27, 2008 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) The Increase of Dishonesty (Jimmy Tuten, Jr.) 2) Don't Be Like the Mule (Dan Shipley) ____________________________________________________ -1- The Increase of Dishonesty by Jimmy Tuten, Jr. Dishonesty is by no means a new sin, but is a predominant factor in society. Brethren were warned of this tendency in New Testament times: "Provide things honest in the sight of all men" (Rom. 12:17). I have no doubt that the Apostle Paul had honesty in mind when he referred to his past conduct among the Corinthians, by saying, "receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man" (2 Cor. 7:2). The word "honest" in the former passage is from the Greek term, "kalos," meaning excellent. Modern usage defines it as "free from fraud," "fair in dealing with others," or simply upright and equitable. A Christian cannot be dishonest and please God at the same time. People today take dishonesty for granted and label honesty as "old-fashioned." Shoplifting is common, purse-snatchers are on the increase and pickpockets are working at will. A Look At Modern Society In all cities, the greatest fear of crime is among businessmen in the broad belt between downtown and suburbs. Loaded firearms are kept under counters, chain link fencing covers many windows, and in some cases customers have to ring a doorbell before they can enter a shop. This is what dishonesty does to society! Add to this high cost of precautions against stealing, etc., and the loss in money is great indeed. Guard service, extra lighting, mirrors, new windows and alarm systems are expensive. A supermarket may lose $25,000 to shoplifters in a year, but additional thousands are spent over the same period to try to prevent theft. It's alarming, is it not? The following figures from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Aug. 13, 1969) presents an interesting picture: "robberies in the United States cost businessmen $77,000,000 a year. Bad checks cashed in their stores cost $316,000,000. Damage from vandalism is $813,000,000. Burglars steal $958,000,000. These losses would buy 124,100 homes valued at $25,000 or finance the operation of three states the size of Missouri." Where is it all going to end??? Honesty Is Essential To Society Rousseau remarks, "A country cannot well subsist without liberty, nor liberty without virtue." Obviously our modern society thinks it can do without godliness and has invented some morals of its own. People have been conditioned to think that the ideal is "the greatest good of the greatest number." Everything depends on what is meant by this expression. We might exclude the soul and make the "greatest good" a secular paradise. Where then is moral loveliness in the form of godliness and honesty? Earthly pleasure at the expense of the soul is a great price to pay for one's folly. Society must change its attitude toward the virtue called honesty. Dishonesty is destroying the liberty we now enjoy. Honesty Is Essential To The Christian's Life Each Christian is a citizen of heaven (Phil. 3:20; Eph. 2:19), but his feet is upon the earth! There is no spirituality where honesty does not exist in the life of the child of God. (1) We must be honest in deed: Whether we are a teacher, a housewife, an insurance salesman, an artist, or whatever, we are to see to it that the stamp of honesty is on all that we do. Providing things honest in the sight of all men must begin with the Christian as an individual. Until the virtue of integrity affects us as individuals, no effect can be made on society. Honesty begins with the individual. Only then can we say, "We wronged no man" (2 Cor. 7:2). (2) We must be honest in word: We must not pretend to be what we are not; "better honest silver than counterfeit gold." It is disturbing to note that the greatest sin in word is that of lying. A lie is a false statement made with the intent to deceive, something intended to convey a false impression. There are different kinds of liars: those who say they have fellowship with God and walk in darkness (I Jno. 4:20), and those who say they love God but hate their brother (I Jno. 4:20), to name a few. The Christian must put away lying and speak to every man the truth (Eph. 4:26; Jas. 3:14). God hates "a false witness that speaketh lies" (Prov. 6:19). This attitude is demonstrated in the severity of punishment given to the ones who committed the first sin in the church, i.e., lied (Acts 5:3). The fate of all liars is revealed in the Scriptures. (3) We must be honest in our convictions: We must be true to ourselves and act out what we think. "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy" (Jas. 3:17). Hypocrisy has no root and cannot stand the test. Well did Job say, "knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon the earth, that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?" (Job 20:4-6). What God needs in the world today is a people who are steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the faith (I Cor. 15:58). (4) We must be honest in dealing with our brethren: Some of the greatest sins are committed in this area. They are too numerable to mention. But perhaps Paul's words will give insight into this field: ". . . we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, and we have defrauded no man" (2 Cor. 7: 2). We must deal fairly with those who are our brethren in Christ. But alas, brethren sometimes are the most vicious of liars. Conclusion If life is to be peaceful and holy, if it is to influence others for good, it must avoid the sin of dishonesty. "I exhort therefore . . . that we lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty" (I Tim. 2:1-2). -- Via Truth Magazine, XVI: 7, p. 3, December 16, 1971 ____________________________________________________ -2- Don't Be Like the Mule by Dan Shipley "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding; whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, otherwise they will not come near to you" (Ps.32:8,9 NASV). The difference between a mule and a man without understanding is that the mule has an excuse. Mules have no capacity for understanding. Things such as the instruction, teaching, and counseling mentioned in these verses would be wasted on the mule. They can be wasted on men. God teaches men the way in which they should go (v. 8). However, some men do not understand His teachings because they do not choose to do so. Hence, the admonition, "do not be as the horse or as the mule...." Men can be different from the mule; they can have an understanding in the will and way of God. In fact, God appeals to man's understanding in these very verses in telling him not to be without it. Important principles are involved here. Calvinism says that unregenerate man is like the mule; that he cannot understand. However, they forfeit their case by pointing unregenerate man to Bible passages that supposedly prove his inability to understand and expect him to understand the passages that say he can't. In addition, appeals and arguments based on Scripture are made to the unregenerate who allegedly have no capacity for understanding them. Calvinists have even been known to debate their positions with the "unregenerates." To them, that should be something like arguing with a mule. In the face of such glaring inconsistencies, it appears that the mule is not alone in his lack of understanding. Why would God say, "don't be like the mule" if man could not do otherwise? If it be objected that God is speaking to the regenerate here, then that would make them susceptible to NOT understanding, which is the very thing being regenerated supposedly makes possible. But the truth is, God addresses Himself to the UNREGENERATE; to the sinner. He instructs and teaches them in WORDS whereby they might be saved (Acts 11:14). Unregenerate men come to the Savior and salvation as the result of hearing and learning what God teaches (Jn. 6:45), NOT by the Holy Spirit's "bit and bridle" being placed upon his heart in some unsought and irresistible way. As indicated in our text, the mule comes near his master in response to the bit and bridle. Those made in the image of God come to their Master in response to His invitation; they come in a spirit of willing submission motivated by genuine love. You might say that the mule HAS to submit to his master's REIN; but that understanding man WANTS to submit to his Master's REIGN. The tragedy is not that sinful man cannot understand, but that many will not (Matt. 13:14,15). It comes to all who sincerely want it and diligently seek it (Jn. 7:17; Matt. 5:6). It comes to those who are willing to put aside pride, prejudice and indifference. God shows the way which we should go. Don't be like the mule. -- Via Plain Talk, May 1977 ____________________________________________________ "This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). ____________________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards at onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ____________________________________________________ From tforrestsr at netzero.net Fri Aug 8 13:50:33 2008 From: tforrestsr at netzero.net (tforrestsr at netzero.net) Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2008 18:50:33 GMT Subject: [Biblemat] Eccl Message-ID: <20080808.135033.1492.0@webmail11.vgs.untd.com> Ii have a question concerning Ecclesiastes 9:5. Does this verse teach that the person who passes has no more memory of the things on earth or what transpired in their life? Or does it teach we are soon forgotten after death? Thanks! Tom ____________________________________________________________ Visit New England and experience Old World charm. Click now! http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2241/fc/Ioyw6i4uGF4E0z4lPRtfKwjXMFDKg3MoMp9bVYtWfqQiI7pLvyP7gw/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080808/3801644b/attachment.html From GLClair at aol.com Fri Aug 8 19:15:34 2008 From: GLClair at aol.com (GLClair at aol.com) Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2008 20:15:34 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] Information - IS THE PREACHER TOO OLD? Message-ID: IS THE PREACHER TOO OLD? By Garreth L. Clair Occasionally someone with a need to become important begins to spread a rumor that the preacher is too old to do his work and the congregation is suffering because of his age. This is just one of those tactics that the Devil uses to undermine the truth and the peace in a local congregation. Remember this; you will never see the Devil in person; the Devil appears in human form sometimes as a brother in Christ or even as an "angel of light" - cf. 2 Cor 11:14-15, "14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (KJV) There are no age limits for the ministers of the gospel; the New Testament and early traditions indicate that there were good men preaching the gospel into their very old age. We may also see in the Old Testament that most of the great heroes of the 11th chapter of the Book of Hebrews were old men who continued until they died. No gospel preacher or any other elderly worker in God? s service should be discouraged from doing the work as long as he is mentally and physically abele to perform. CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING: LOOK AT THE LIFE OF MOSES: Deut 34:1-8, 1 And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan, 2 And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea, 3 And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar. 4 And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither. 5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. 6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. 7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. 8 And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended." (KJV) CONSIDER CALEB: Joshua 14:6-13, 6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea. 7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God. 9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. 10 And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. 12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. 13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance." (KJV) Indeed, we would do well to set at the feet of the aged ministers to learn of the great experiences that the older men have had with regard to their work over long years of faithful service. Therefore if a man is faithful, mentally alert, and able to speak clearly --- why should he stop teaching and preaching the gospel message to the lost and dying in this world and also in the pews of many church-buildings throughout the land? I have known of preachers with one arm, in wheel chairs, in their 80s, grey headed, and sometimes bald headed who worked harder and longer each day than most Christians half their age. As long as they are mentally and spiritually capable to perform, encourage them to keep up the good work. MORE INSTRUCTION REGARDING THE OLD ONES: Lev. 19:32, Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head , and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD. (KJV) Prov. 16:31, "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." Prov. 20:29, The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head. Prov. 23:22, Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old." (KJV) THE BEST WAY TO FORM REBELLION AMONG THE PEOPLE: (Seek the advise of the young - do not listen to the aged faithful) 1 Kings 12:6-19, 6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? 7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. 8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: 9 And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? 10 And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. 11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. 13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; 14 And spake to them after the counsel of the young men , saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 15 Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 16 So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. 17 But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. (KJV) A RECENT LETTER FROM AN AGED PREACHER: I have Reached A Milestone Now What? Ill health has forced retirement and so now what shall my life be - Shall I whine and complain a lot since my voice is taken from me? For some fifty years He allowed me to proclaim the salvation "in Christ:" And so I thought that?s what I?d do for the remainder of my natural life! But I have other talents as well - abilities not requiring a voice I can still read and I can write - So writing is another good choice! "The pen is mightier than the sword" Someone wrote long ago it?s so true God committed His word to written form - So why can?t I do the same thing too? Paul wrote "when you read you may understand." Writing of the salvation of the Jew & Gentile too some say I have the ability to teach via poetry so then that?s at least something that I can still do. --- Ephesians 3:1-6, 1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (KJV) --- By Kenneth E. Thomas - 2008 _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) August 8, 2008 **************Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/cars-BMW-128-2008/expert-review?ncid=aolaut00050000000017 ) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080808/479362e2/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Aug 9 03:59:51 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2008 04:59:51 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) GOD HAS SPOKEN Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Saturday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: GOD HAS SPOKEN The prophet Jonah was commissioned to go to Nineveh to warn them from God. That city was the capital of Assyria, diso- bedient Israel's greatest earthly threat. Unless God revealed it to him, Jonah could not see God's plan of chastening for Israel at the hands of the Assyrians. He had no cover of darkness, no bodyguards, no elite battalion of soldiers to protect him. Consid- er the degree of faith in God that was required for Jonah to go and preach doom to that great city. Jonah had some problems, and we would do well to exam- ine our own hearts before we speak or think scornfully of Jonah' s lack. Why should we be concerned about the welfare of our enemies? Jesus said to love them (Matt. 5:44-48). Jonah's con- cern for self may be mirrored in our own lives. The repentance of the city and God's mercy granted to them angered Jonah. Had his worning been in vain, or had he wasted his time? What is the value of over one hundred and twenty thousand people if they are your enemies or just people that you don't know? Jonah left the city, made himself a shelter, and sat in the shade to see what would happen to the city. God provided a plant to shade him, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant. Then God took away the plant and its comfort, adding hot wind and sunshine to compound his misery. Jonah felt more pity for the plant than he did for the city. The plant affected him person- ally in a beneficial way, while the fate of the city was a more indif- ferent matter to him. Are we more grieved at a lack of rainfall than we are for the lost ones around us? Do we grieve more for that for which we have not labored than for souls for whom we have put forth much effort? Perhaps we have not labored as hard as Jonah did for Nineveh. Do we wish ill for our enemies even as we warn them of the wrath to come? Do we favor them by giving them warning from God? We might do well to re-evalu- ate our priorities and our attitude toward self and toware others. --------------- Gilbert Alexander. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080809/bfa53949/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Aug 9 03:59:59 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2008 04:59:59 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) TOWARD A DEEPER DEVOTION TO GOD Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. TOWARD A DEEPER DEVOTION TO GOD (THREE BASIC EX- HORTATIONS). Pursuing a deeper devotion to God can be a frustrating exer- cise in that we can get lost in the details. Most of us have so many areas in which we need to grow and there are so many practices that we need to engage in for our spiritual good, the whole project can seem daunting. We can lose sight of the fore- st while tending to the individual trees. When we've lost our way, however, growing in godliness is like many other endeavors: we need to get back to the basics. And when it comes to the basics of spiritual growth, there is no more fundamental text than 1 Thes. 5:16-18. Here Paul lays down three exhortations of such primary importance that one commentator has called them "the standing orders of the Christ- ian church." Rejoice Always: -- Most Christians understand that there is a dif- ference between happiness and joy, and that we can experience joy even in teh midst of pain. Speaking of our hope, Peter wrote, "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials" (1 Pet. 1:6). But when we're hurting, it's hard to remember what we know about the joy of the Christian. So we need to train our minds to return to the joy that is always ours in Christ. In fact, we need to rejoice so regularly that joy is never very far away from our conscious thoughts. There is a strength and peace that come from joy that can't come from any other source, and there is nothing we can do that is any more conducive to spiritual growth than joy. Pray Without Ceasing: -- To pray "without ceasing" certainly doesn't mean that we never do anything but pray. It means that we pray very often, living a life that is characterized by frequent prayer rathen than one in which prayer is a rarity. There is even a sense in which we can learn to live in a prayerful attitude even when we're not praying per se. Like joy, prayer can be some- thing that continually hovers on the edges of our thoughts. As somebody said, prayer can be the atmosphere in which we live. But praying without ceasing can also mean that we pray with perseverance and don't give up. In Lk. 18:1, we are told of Jesus, "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always outht to pray and not lose heart." Unceasing prayer is the kind that keeps praying when others would quit, adn that's the kind that will help us learn a deeper devotion to God. Give Thanks In Everything: -- There are many things that are evil and although we might give thanks for the outcome of these things, they are not things in themselves that we would give thanks for. To give thanks "in everything" is as the ESV renders it, to give thanks "in all circumstances." Daniel is an example here. On the day it became illegal to pray, we are told tht he "went home, And in his upper room, with his windows open to- ward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days" (Dan. 6:10). Many of us might have prayed on such a day, perhaps, but would we have given thanks? Daniel did, and like him, we need to learn the habit of giving thanks even on dark and difficult days. Why are these three exhortations so powerful and valuable? I believe it is because they are "perspective adjusters," that is, when we do them, we find our sense of proportion, priority, and relative importance returning. When, even in the midst of hard- ship, we discipline ourselves to rejoice, we have our sights lifted above our immediate difficulties to the coming triumph of God over every difficulty. When, although we don't feel like it, we en- gage in prayer, we can't help but have our sense of priorities re- freshed. And when, despite hindrances and heartaches, we give thanks for what is still right and good in our Father's world, we are reminded that problems are never the whole story at any given moment. Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks are like having a very dirty pair of eyeglasses cleaned: afterwards, we can see so clearly that we're amazed to see again the things that we had lost sight of. So my brothers and sisters, let us rejoice always. Let us pray without ceasing. And let us give thanks in the midst of every circumstance. These are the ABC's of spiritual growth. Returning to them regularly can keep us from getting lost in the details of daily living. ------- Gary Henry in Truth Magazine, Vol. 52, No. 3, March 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080809/1b9369fe/attachment-0001.html From crxtra at gmail.com Sat Aug 9 14:47:09 2008 From: crxtra at gmail.com (Steven C. Harper) Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2008 12:47:09 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] A> Caring for the Caregivers Message-ID: <000001c8fa58$b7e62b00$27b28100$@com> From: TRUTH & REASON, a bulletin of the Glendale church of Christ, Glendale, AZ. Editor: Steven Harper August 10, 2008 Caring For The Caregivers At some point in our lives, we will meet someone whose main focus is being a caregiver. We might notice that, as caregivers, they are unable to do many of the things the rest of the world is doing because their main responsibility does not allow them the time or the freedom to go and do as they might want to do. Sometimes, we forget about the task of the caregiver and, often, they feel under-appreciated and forgotten. We would do well to not forget them and the good work they are doing because our Lord looks favorably on those who look out for others. Let us not forget that, as we go about the task of doing spiritual good in this world, we should also be doing things that show the world we are not ignorant or apathetic towards their physical and emotional needs. While the disciple's main task is addressing the spiritual needs of self and of the lost, we also are given the charge of caring for the needs of all men, whatever they may be. Jesus set the example for all disciples to come, looking out for the physical needs of others (cf. Luke 4:40), and for their emotional needs, too (cf. Luke 7:11-15). While He came to this earth to die for our spiritual needs, He did not ignore the other needs of the people; neither should we! Let us not forget that Jesus told us of the Judgment scene in which all stood before the King on His throne to be judged and He pronounced blessings on those who had cared for the physical and emotional needs of others while condemning those who ignored those same needs (Matt. 25:31-46). He also told us, "And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward" (Matt. 10:42). While it may seem like a small thing to do, it makes a great impact on our eternal destination and we should not overlook these 'little' things; neither should we overlook those who are looking out for these 'little' things and are, in fact, giving their lives for those who cannot look out for themselves. But even as I say this, I am sure some of you may not be aware of all those who are giving their lives to serve others and, even if you wanted to note the caregivers, you are not exactly sure who they are. Let's take a minute to note just a few worthy of our consideration and thanks. Parents. Parents are the world's first and longest continually-existing group of caregivers. Paul used this fact to illustrate his love and care for the Thessalonian brethren when he wrote, "But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children" (1st Thess. 2:7). He would also add later that they had "like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you" (vv. 11, 12) to live as they should. It is a mother who truly cherishes her child and a father that loves his children enough to exhort and encourage them to do what they should. Parents - especially mothers - give many years of their lives to the care of their children, and this great work should not be overlooked. A mother who spends time at home and sets the godly example for her children will lead her sons to one day look for a godly woman to marry and to love and respect their wives someday. The godly mother will lead her daughter to know the example and life of a godly woman and to see there is no shame in being a mother, but a great responsibility. She will teach her daughters the value of a husband who puts God first, rather than one who simply has lots of money in the bank account. And though many believing mothers miss hearing hundreds of sermons and four of the five songs sung during each worship assembly because they are busy caring for the children, the work they are doing will reach for generations because their children see and hear her put God first and others second, and someday they will "rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her" (Prov. 31:28). So should we. Fathers should not be ignored, either. The believing father who takes seriously the charge to "bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4) will make a big difference in the lives of his children that, too, will reach for generations to come. A father who spends time in God's word and makes sure his children see that he does, and that they spend time in God's word, too, will eventually lead them to know their Creator and their Savior and they will one day make that decision to also follow the words of salvation because of their father's influence. A father who spends time with his children in this important task and who lets his children know that he loves them will help keep a son from getting into trouble and a daughter from seeking love from someone else long before she should. And let us take the time to note those parents who are giving their lives to raising their children who have special needs. Not everyone is blessed to have healthy, trouble-free children, but that does not mean their task is any less worthy of note; if anything, they should be praised all the more who do it in a way that pleases God. Those fathers and mothers whose children have lifelong health problems must give not just 18 or so years but their whole lives to the care of those children. Sadly, many of those parents have to see their children die because of those health problems - those children they loved just as much as any mother loves her child. The only 'relief' they feel when their child dies is for their child, who now is free from suffering; they are not thinking about themselves or their new-found freedom from responsibilities, I can assure you. And those parents who are struggling to raise a child or children who are difficult should also be noted because of their care. The father and mother who do not give up on their child just because he or she is difficult should be especially noted. They care too much to simply give in or give up, but keep trying to reach their child by love and constant teaching and godly examples, with the hopes he or she will one day 'see the light' and understand that all they have ever done was out of love and concern for him or her. Though some parents with difficult children never see positive results, it was not for lack of trying. They took seriously their responsibilities, though their own children never would, and it hurts them every night to go to bed knowing that their own flesh and blood has turned his or her back on them and all they know to be right and good. They pray hard and often, hoping that something will open their child's eyes to the truth and the right way, and that they have done all they could possibly do in the way God would have them. They, like Job, appeal to God daily on behalf of their child or children (Job 1:5), and for mercy and longsuffering when they are walking in the ways of the world. The psalmist reminds us, "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit" (Psa. 34:17, 18). He hears the cry of those who are burdened with care - and with the care of others - and "comforts the downcast" (2nd Cor. 7:6). In like manner, we who follow in the steps of our Lord should be aware of those whose lives are dedicated to caring for others and be willing to step up and "Bear one another's burdens" (Gal. 6:2) - emotional, physical, and spiritual - when possible. If you see a father or mother who seems to be struggling with their responsibilities and who could use some help, step in, offer assistance, and lift them up. Let them know their efforts are appreciated and that the effort is worth it. Just the right words could do wonders for those who may feel like they are overwhelmed (cf. Prov. 25:11). Next week, we will look at another class or two of caregivers. -- Steven Harper -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080809/6b237381/attachment-0001.html From tedwards at onemain.com Sat Aug 9 15:04:20 2008 From: tedwards at onemain.com (tedwards at onemain.com) Date: Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:04:20 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] B> Gospel Observer 8/3/08 Message-ID: <489DB1F4.7024.336804F@localhost> ____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ August 3, 2008 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Bearing Fruit and Winning Souls (Irvin Himmel) 2) Sweet Hour of Prayer: Psalm 28 (Bubba Garner) ____________________________________________________ -1- Bearing Fruit and Winning Souls by Irvin Himmel "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise" (Prov. 11:30). Every life is like some kind of tree. A righteous life is like a good tree bearing good fruit. A wicked life is like a bad tree bearing bad fruit. Jesus said, "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit" (Matt. 7:17,18). Fruit of a Righteous Life A righteous person produces fruit that may be considered "a tree of life." This includes the following: (1) Good Influence In Word and Deed. The faithful child of God, "by his good deeds, is as a tree of life to those whose lives he sustains" (Whiteside). Many around us can be uplifted by the power of a good example. The Christian wields a wholesome influence as the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" (Matt. 5:13-16). Good words have added weight when backed by good deeds. (2) Food For Souls Through Teaching. The truly righteous man is more than a "Good Samaritan." He feeds hungry souls the bread of life. While people of the world often perform humanitarian acts that aid the temporal man, the Christian sees his main task as helping the spiritually destitute. (3) Encouragement That Helps Weary Souls. "Tree of life" means "that tree which bears fruit that contributes to the life and happiness and good health of those who eat it" (Lanier). The righteous have the right to the tree of life, that is, access to heaven (Rev. 22:14). And each life which reaches out to help others who have grown fainthearted is lifting them from death to life. "The effect of a righteous life on others is like that of a tree of life; and the result which flows from a life of wisdom is the winning of souls" (L. G. Thomas). Wisdom of Winning Souls The winning of souls is a wise thing to do, and the winning of souls requires wisdom. Where is the wisdom of winning souls? (1) Souls Are More Precious Than Gold. Every human being is endowed with a soul which dwells in a physical body. However, that which kills the body does not kill the soul (Matt. 10:28). The soul is one's most priceless possession. "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" said Jesus (Matt. 16:26). (2) Souls Won Are Saved From Death. While the soul does not die physically, it can die in the sense of being separated from God. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezek. 18:20). "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins" (Jas. 5:19,20). (3) Winning Souls Increases The Influence of Good. Every time one soul is won to the Lord the influence of good multiplies just that much on this earth. Each soul won to the Lord becomes a potential for winning additional souls. I can think of no better way to improve conditions in this world than by turning men and women from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God. (4) Winning Souls Brings Joy. The New Testament tells about people who rejoiced when they were baptized (Acts 8:39; 16:33,34). Sometimes people weep for joy when they obey the gospel. But there is joy in the heart of the soul winner as well as in the heart of the converted sinner. Paul referred to his converts at Philippi as his "joy and crown" (Phil. 4:1). It is a great thrill to have a part in leading someone to the Savior. How Souls Are Won The New Testament teaches Christians how souls are brought to Christ. Here are some truths to consider in this connection: (1) By The Gospel, Not A Direct Operation of the Holy Spirit. No apostle, no evangelist, no teacher in the New Testament instructed sinners to pray for God to send the Spirit to save them from their sins. In every case of conversion the gospel was presented, and by the power of God's word sinners were drawn to the Lord. Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me" (Jn. 6:44,45). Indeed, the gospel of Christ "is the power of God unto salvation" (Rom. 1:16). (2) Through Persuasion, Not Force. God does not attempt to coerce people against their wills to serve him. We should use every righteous means to convince people to accept the gospel, but we cannot force them to turn to the Lord. Paul said, "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (2 Cor. 5:11). To "persuade" means to prevail upon or win over by bringing about a change of mind by the influence of gospel promises, warnings, and exhortations. People who are baptized because of high pressure tactics turn back as soon as the pressure is removed. To pressure a person is one thing; to win him to the Lord is another thing. (3) Through Godly Living. Peter advised women whose husbands were not Christians that they might be won by the conduct of the wives (1 Pet. 3:1-4). Many who will not listen to the oral presentation of the gospel can be influenced when they see the gospel in action. We should live daily with the thought of winning others who may be watching our behavior. Bearing fruit is inseparably connected with winning souls in a righteous life. God does not want us to be barren or unfruitful (2 Pet. 1:8). -- Via Guardian of Truth XXXIV: 3, pp. 70-71, February 1, 1990 ____________________________________________________ -2- Sweet Hour of Prayer Psalm 28 by Bubba Garner I was involved in a car accident. It was minor, but it was my fault. It wrecked my whole week. It was all I could think about. Until my daughter had to get three stitches in her upper lip after a close encounter with a seesaw. She became my world at that moment. Until the next morning when the daughter of one of our families suddenly collapsed and had to be placed on life support. Her father had recently finished teaching a class on the Miracles of Jesus. "We could use one right now," he said in the somber, subdued waiting room. Life has a way of reminding you of what is truly important. Just when you have fretted over the fact that your team didn't win the big game or your car is not working right or one of the appliances needs to be replaced, you are shocked out of selfishness by something that has real value. In a moment, all of the trivial things that seemed important at the time are thrown aside so that your mind and heart can give full attention to the matter at hand. Since life is so uncertain and can change so quickly, it is also a subtle reminder that you have little control over what happens. Staying in touch with people is critical when critical times come. We keep them informed, we update them on any progress, we let them know what we are feeling. But we must not forget the superior form of communication, one where there is no limit on the number of minutes used, no access fees or connections charges. It is a free access to God that man has enjoyed from the beginning. Long before there were cell phones, email, and the combination thereof, there was prayer. What is it about prayer that it can sweeten even the bitterest of times? Prayer reassures us that the Lord is listening. David prayed in Psalm 28, "Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to Thee for help, when I lift up my hands toward Thy holy sanctuary" (28:2). Like a little child who raises his hands to be picked up by his father, David was certain that the petitions he was raising were being heard by his Father in heaven. The "sweet psalmist of Israel" (2 Sam. 23:1) understood the significance of the sweet hour of prayer. But David was not the only one who had the ear of God. The Father was listening to all the prayers offered in all the assemblies of His children on the last Lord's day. He was listening to all of the families who bowed and "returned thanks" around their dinner tables. He heard every cry from every waiting room, emergency room, and back bedroom. How incredible to think that He who created all the world cares about what's going on in mine. Our Lord listens. Prayer reminds us that God can do what we cannot. Psalm 28 is David's call for help. Perhaps it was written while he was on the run from King Saul or at a time when he felt surrounded by his enemies. But he did not strap on his armor and attempt to fight them on his own. The Lord had delivered him from the paw of the lion or bear that threatened his sheep. The Lord brought him a victory over the giant Goliath. The Lord's power would prevail over the enemies of His anointed. "The Lord is my strength and my shield," David confessed (Psa. 28:7). No other weaponry was necessary. There will be occasions when our safety is threatened by the seemingly impossible, a situation that makes us admit, "I can't do anything about it." But God can. No matter how scary the lion or bear, no matter how tall the giant, no matter how many the enemy, no matter how bleak the diagnosis, no matter how great the difficulty. This is still our Father's world. Trust in His strength to do what you can't. Prayer enables us to express our deepest cares. In this psalm, the heart of the man after God's own heart is opened wide. In his cry for deliverance from his enemies, David pleads for the Lord to "requite them according to their work and according to the evil of their practices" and "according to the deeds of their hands" (28:4). He is not calling for personal vengeance, but for the Lord to punish the wicked because they do not honor His work or His will. In any case, David does not hide the most intimate feelings of his heart. God wants to hear from His people, but He is not interested in the mere repetition of meaningless phrases that do not originate from the heart. He wants us to pour out our cares before His throne, to make all our "wants and wishes known." He will never betray our confidence; our faith in Him will never be disappointed. When David did that, he could boast, "my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped" (28:7). Perhaps our help has not come because we are still withholding from Him from Whom nothing is hidden. I never know what to say to someone in the wake of a disaster. But I've learned that it's not as important what you say at those times, but Who you say them to. Prayer can turn even the darkest hour into something sweet. -- Via Expository Files 15.8; August 2008 ____________________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards at onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ____________________________________________________ From listbox at claytons.net Sun Aug 10 03:09:48 2008 From: listbox at claytons.net (Terry Clayton) Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2008 01:09:48 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] Is the Preacher too old. Message-ID: <7AB7AC2F-FEA9-47B9-9351-6BF14B9E5B01@claytons.net> I want to thank you brother for this fine information. My father, Joe Neil Clayton, will be 80 on Nov. 28th of this year. He has been preaching for over 60 years, uses Corel Presentations for lessons, and gets better every week. His classes are strong, his sermons are full of scriptures and even after hearing him for all of my life, I am convinced that he has been a faithful servant of the Lord for all of that time. He serves in Loma Rica as the pulpit evangelist, the senior elder (because he is the older of the elders ;) ) and he teaches our young people as well. (So I guess he is also the Youth Pastor :>) I ask you brethren that know him or of him (His written works include: The Thunderous Silence of God) send him a note before his 80th. His email is joeneil at claytons.net His address is 12525 Douglas Way, Loma Rica, CA 95901 His loving Son; Terry John 3:36 (NCV) Those who believe in the Son have eternal life, but those who do not obey the Son will never have life. God's anger stays on them." -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080810/614d1da8/attachment-0001.html From tssullivan at charter.net Sat Aug 9 21:10:41 2008 From: tssullivan at charter.net (T. Sean Sullivan) Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2008 21:10:41 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] The Messenger Vol 003 Iss 028 Message-ID: <004401c8fa8e$4c5e07f0$6466a8c0@sean1a4c1f786> T he Messenger 2008 Published Weekly by Main Street Church of Christ 306 West Main Street, Newbern, TN 38059 731-627-3514 Bulletin Editor: T. Sean Sullivan VOLUME 003::ISSUE 028:: August 10, 2008 ARTICLE ONE: Why We Do What We Do #3 ARTICLE TWO: Why We Do What We Do #4 Article One: Why We Do What We Do #3 Introduction: In Matthew 21:23 the Chief Priests and the Elders confronted Jesus with a question. A very important question, "By what authority are you doing these things." That question was valid then and it stands valid today. By what authority do you do these things? Who authorized us to sing? To pray? To partake of the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine? By what authority do we meet together? Could you give a clear and concise answer to those questions? All of us need to know why we do the things we do and we need to be ready to give a defense of them (1 Peter 3:15). God has authorized certain practices for us and we must do only as He has authorized (1 Peter 4:11 "oracles" = authoritative words). The authoritative words of God are the collection known to us as the Bible (Hebrews 1:1-2). Our fully functional pattern of worship and practice is set for us in the New Testament scriptures. It is within the New Testament that we look for scriptural authority-God's authority. Let's consider, in this session, the subject of Generic and Specific Authority. All Authority Is Either Generic or Specific: Those two categories provide direction as to the "how", "when", "what" or "why" of the activities we are authorized to do. Generic authority INCLUDES "any" thing, method, or means of execution that falls within the authorized practice. An example of Generic authority is found in Matthew 28:19-20 when Jesus told us to "go". On the other hand, specific authority EXCLUDES "every" thing, method, or means of execution, which is not specifically directed in the authority for the practice. A basic example of specific authority is found in Genesis 6:14) "Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch." "Gopherwood" Excludes all other types of wood. Why? Because God authorized specifically "gopherwood". Noah had no authority to use any other kind. We must be careful with our points of authority. If we are at liberty to choose we must not bind our choices. If we are specifically told we must not attempt to enact different choices. Generic Authority in Practice: We have certain activities, which we are authorized to do. We are not given specific direction on how to carry out some of our activities. We have the liberty to use our own discretion in carrying out the authorized activity. We must not bind one certain way but rather see that anyway that the matter is accomplished can be right. Examples: We are authorized to gather together as disciples of Christ. Command: Hebrews 10:24-25; Example: Acts 20:7; Necessary Conclusion: Matthew 18:20. Within that authority we are not told where to gather together. We could meet together in a house, in a rented facility, a place we own, in a park-wherever we can gather together in a manner that allows for worship and service. One is not more right than any other. This is this authority by which we have procured this building: with its air conditioning (both hot and cold), the pews and their comfortable padding, even lights and carpets as well as all the other amenities that allows us to comfortably fulfill the authorized action of "gathering together". All these "amenities" enable us to fulfill the requirements of "gathering". With these things we are not doing more than gathering: they are not in addition to gathering, they facilitate gathering. Preaching and Teaching is another example of generic authority. We have authority: 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15. None of those passages specify how many people to preach to or how few to preach to. They do not speak of whether it is public or private teaching. We must use our own discretion to determine to whom we preach and how many we teach. Prayer is another example to consider. We have authority to pray: Matthew 6:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 and Acts 8:24. We are not told to sit, stand, or kneel while we pray. We are not told how often to pray-just never to quit praying. We cannot bind one posture or a specific number of prayers per day. Specific Authority in Practice: We have certain activities, which we are authorized to do. Among those activities are those which we are given specific direction how to carry out. We must not attempt to implement liberties in those specific areas. When God reveals that it must be done a certain way we have no right to make even the smallest of changes. We have an example in preaching and teaching. We are authorized: 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15. Within the reveal authority for teaching and preaching we have no room for teaching or preaching anything other than the word of God. Also again we will look at prayer. We have authority to pray: Matthew 6:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 and Acts 8:24. We are told to pray to God the Father, in Jesus' name (John 16:23). We have no authority for praying to Jesus or the Holy Spirit. One more example of specific authority is the collection. Scriptural Authority (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9). We are specifically told the Lord's treasury is to be used for the saints; we have no authority to use it on anyone else. Conclusion: 1 Peter 4:11 declares, "Let him speak as the (authoritative words) of God". If everything we practice is found to be authorized by the word of God we will be able to confidently give an account for what we have done in this life when we stand in Judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10). In some cases God has given us the liberty to use our own discretion. Other cases God is very specific-we must rightly divide God's word in order to know which is which (2 Timothy 2:15). There are passages that instruct us in the generics of salvation: Like Acts 16:31 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved". The specifics of that belief are not detailed for us here. However there are more detailed passages that teach us what is required to claim "belief" and find salvation. In Acts 2:38 Peter specifically instructs, "Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins". To know what is required for salvation we must consider all information that has been revealed and is recorded for us in the word. ~tss Article Two: Why We Do What We Do #4 In Matthew 21:23 the Chief Priests and the Elders confronted Jesus with a very important question, "By what authority are You doing these things." That question was valid then and it stands valid today. By what authority do you do these things? Who authorized us to sing, to pray, to partake of the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, or by what authority do we meet together? Could you give a clear and concise answer to the points of that question? All of us need to know why we do the things we do. And we need to be ready to give a defense of them (1 Peter 3:15). God has authorized certain practices for us and we must do only as He has authorized (oracles = authoritative words 1 Peter 4:11). Where are the words of God- they have been given (Hebrews 1:1-2). As Christians we recognize a fully functional pattern of worship and practice has been set for us in the scriptures-specifically the New Testament scriptures. We then look of God's authority-scriptural authority. Let's consider authority that we have for our practices of worship. Authority for Our Practices We are gathered here in order to please God. We are seeking a home in Heaven and we know that we must do God's will in this life in order find that home (Matthew 7:21-23). In the word of God we have everything we need to teach the true doctrine-the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9). We are equipped to reprove-judge--to recognize and warn that one is in the wrong (Gal. 1:6-8). We are able to offer correction, showing the way of truth (John 14:6). We know what God considers as right (John 14:15) and we have all the tools that allow us to do every good work (James 1:17-25). Scriptural Authority For The Things We Do. A. Assembling 1. Precept: Heb. 10:25 "Do not forsake the assembling.." 2. Approved Example: Acts 20:7 "Disciples came together to break bread" 3. Conclusion: Matt. 18:20 "Where two or three are gathered in My name." B. Preaching and Teaching. 1. Precept: a. 2 Tim. 4:1-5 "Preach the word." b. Matt. 28:19 "Teaching them to observe all things." c. Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the gospel" 2. Approved Example: a. Acts 2:22-38 Peter's sermon. b. Acts 8:5 "Down to Samaria and preached Christ to them." c. Acts 20:7 "Continued his message until midnight" 3. Conclusion: 1 Tim. 4:16 "And those that hear you." C. Prayer: 1. Precept: a. Matt. 6:9-11 "In this manner, therefore, pray." b. 1 Thess. 5:17-18 "Pray without ceasing." 2. Approved Example: a. Paul throughout his epistles was consistent in prayer. b. Acts 8:24 "Pray to the Lord for me." (prayers regarding each other) 3. Conclusion: a. 1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all your cares upon Him." D. Lord's Supper: 1. Precept: 1 Cor. 11:23-26 Command of Christ instituted in Matt. 26:26 2. Approved Example: When-Acts 20:7 "The first day of the week" 3. Necessary Conclusion: How Often-Acts 20:7 "The first day of the week" We know each week has a first day so therefore we do this every week on the first day. a. Parallel: The Sabbath . "Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy" in the O.T. They kept the Sabbath holy every week. E. Laying by in Store (Collection) 1. Precept: a. (1 Cor 16:1-2) "As I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also. b. (2 Cor 9:6-9) " Let every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. F. Singing: 1. Precept: a. Eph. 5:19 "speak to one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" b. Col. 3:16 " In psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Singing with grace in your hearts. Scriptural Authority in Light of 2 Timothy 2:15 We must study the context and know exactly what has been revealed. As an example consider the Lord's Supper in Matthew 26:26-29. Face value is that we need to partake a grape juice product and some sort of bread. Upon further study we learn that both of these items were "unleavened". Verse 17 says it was the first day the Feast of Unleavened Bread. No leavening or leavened products were allowed in the houses (Chametz: anything leavened or fermented). Therefore the juice had to be fresh grape juice and the bread was unleavened bread. Another example that many refuse to see is that of the closer study of singing. Further study of the passages related to singing in the New Testament reveals the use of mechanical instruments is unauthorized. Both Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 give us the same list: Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. One of the main arguments that are used to support the use of instruments is the word Psalms The original is psallo, it means: A set piece of music. I.e. A sacred ode (accompanied with the voice or harp or other instrument; a "psalm". (Strong's Definition) So why doesn't this authorize instruments? The word "psallo" does not contain direction of instrument but is dependent upon the context from which it is used to prescribe the instrument. Like our word "dig" if I just say, "dig." You do not know what to dig with. I must give further direction in the context. Use this shovel to dig. The context in these passages ascribes the "voice" and the "heart" as the instruments. If this word "psallo" authorized instruments then we, by nature of the passage in Eph. 5:19, would have to supply each one here with an organ. Ephesians 5:19 "To one another" would have to enforce that each one would play and instrument. (135 members therefore 135 organs) The Bible Commands To: Sing To God (Romans 15:9) Speak in Song (Ephesians 5:19) Make melody in your heart teach in song (Colossians 3:16) Admonish in song (Colossians 3:16) Sing with the spirit (1 Corinthians 14:15) Sing with understanding (1 Corinthians 14:15) Praise God (Hebrews 2:12) Give thanks (Hebrews 13:15) Sing psalms (James 5:13) Conclusion: We are here to do God's will. He has supplied the directions we must study and follow them. Some things are very apparent others require a little deeper look. All authority is clear and understandable (1 Cor. 14:33). God has authorized one pan of salvation. See the chart below to discover God's way of salvation ~tss If you are enjoying The Messenger and you know someone else who would like to receive it. Please forward it to them or send me their email address and I will add it to the list. Sean -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080809/4ce5a8a4/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 2886 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080809/4ce5a8a4/attachment-0001.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 9535 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080809/4ce5a8a4/attachment-0001.gif From kerux at bellsouth.net Sun Aug 10 07:05:00 2008 From: kerux at bellsouth.net (Kent Heaton) Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:05:00 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] A>Why Sunday Night & Wednesday Night Services Are Important (Kent Heaton) Message-ID: <49128E5ED1304FCAAABDCC53B618775F@D2381J91> Why Sunday Night And Wednesday Night Services Are Important (Kent Heaton) The Apostle Peter admonished the early Christians to speak with the authority of the Lord and establish all things by the oracles of God. He writes in 1 Peter 4:11, "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever." The burden of forth telling the word of God is upon the one who speaks. If anything is to be established as the word of God, it must come from the mouth of God. The chain of evidence must lead back to the throne of God unpolluted by man's interpretation and opinions and traditions. The purpose of this purity of word is that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ. James declares the penalty for taking lightly the burden of forth telling as he writes, "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness" (James 3:1). It is here that we find the heart of responsibility to trust the pure seed of truth and to establish all things with the courage of the knowledge for the consequence to neglect teaching the whole counsel of the Lord. Truth must be established upon truth as the prophet Isaiah declared: "Whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast? For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little" (Isaiah 28:9-10). All things must be established upon the foundation of "what saith the scripture?" >From the beginning of time man has been faced with the challenge to the word of God. Satan asks Eve in the Garden, "Has God indeed said?" From this time until the present men search for truth to the answer to the eternal question, "Has God indeed said?" Often they have answered it as Eve and turn from the holy word to an answer that is born upon wings of rebellion and self-will. Holy men and holy women have risen through the generations to answer the call of the Lord to say they will find no path and hear no truth unless it comes from the mouth of God. As people of God we must declare the same devotion as the early apostles who withstood the council of Jews in declaring, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19-20). We must follow the same course in speaking only where the Bible speaks and remaining silent when the mouth of God refrains from giving further revelation. It is not uncharacteristic for man to devise certain patterns to help facilitate the commands God has directed for him to do. Noah was told the build the ark out of gopher wood which was a specific command that could not be varied. The manner that Noah was to carry out that command is referred to as generic authority which allowed him to use whatever means was necessary to complete the task. He employed various means to harvest the wood, shape the wood and secure the wood to the frame of the ark. He kept the commands of the Lord by making the ark the correct dimensions as prescribed by the law and to cover the ark inside and out with pitch. Today, the people of God are commanded to worship the Lord in spirit and truth. There are certain commands God has given to man that cannot be changed without the transgressing of God's law. We are commanded to follow the pattern of obedience to become a Christian and unless this pattern is followed, salvation is denied. As a body of people making up a local congregation, we have a pattern of organization that cannot be changed at the whims of man. The only organization prescribed by the Lord in scripture is a plurality of men serving as elders who shepherd, feed and tend the flock of God in a given location; autonomous in the action of authority and oversight. The pattern of the work of the church is clearly defined in scripture as evangelism, benevolence and discipline (positive and negative). The message of the church is singular in its mission of teaching and preaching only the gospel of Jesus Christ untainted by the doctrines of men. The worship of the church must also follow the pattern established in the New Testament. Some commands are specific in their nature regarding time and place while others are not so restrictive. The early church was made up of those whom the Lord added daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:47). The pattern of the NT church is realized first in Acts 2:42 when the early church "continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." This communion was the public worship of the church assembled together for the work of the church. Further admonitions were found as the church shared their possessions with one another and daily gathered in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, eating their food with gladness and simplicity in their hearts. This action was a daily pattern of fellowship outside the bounds of public worship. The breaking of bread in verse 42 refers to the supper of the Lord and the breaking of bread in v46 refers to the common meal. The early church struggled in their infancy and yet abounded in spirit and number. The scriptures show a pattern of the early church as they gathered for public worship and fulfilled the commands of the Lord. The apostle Paul remained in Troas seven days to assemble with the saints on the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread (Acts 20:7). The pattern of the early church sets forth the necessity of the assembly where saints come together to remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jesus instituted the supper with His disciples exhorting them to continue this memorial in the future (Luke 22:14-20). When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth he reminded them with chastising words the importance of the Lord's Supper and how they were bringing shame to the purpose of the supper. The pattern of the early church sets forth the necessity of the assembly where saints come together to remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The partaking of the supper was a specific command and in the partaking specific elements of the supper must be observed (1 Corinthians 11:17-34). Failure to assemble on the first day of the week was a failure to discern the Lord's body and brings judgment upon that person. The Hebrew Christians were in grave danger and the writer of Hebrews exhorted them to remain faithful to the faith for which they had suffered much. Part of that exhortation was not to forsake the assembling of the church on the first day of the week. This text is found in Hebrews 10:24,25 where they are exhorted to not forsake the assembly. This assembly is measured by the next six verses that show the consequence of failing to assemble on the first day of the week (Hebrews 10:26-31). This passage is the mirror of 1 Corinthians 11 for condemnation awaits all those who would deny the remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. While the Law of Moses is no longer in effect, the principles of the Law show the manner that God views those who would trespass His law. The law of the Sabbath was established in Exodus 16:23 in connection with the manna God sent to feed the children of Israel while they journeyed from Egypt to Canaan. The command to keep the Sabbath was one of the Ten Commandments as found in Exodus 20:8. The keeping of the Sabbath was a weekly occurrence that demanded strict adherence. In Numbers 16 a man was found picking up sticks on the Sabbath and stoned to death for his disobedience to the Law of Moses. This illustrates the teaching of Hebrews 10 and 1 Corinthians 11 that failure to remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ will bring dire consequences upon those who do not assemble on the first day of the week. This command is specific and cannot be changed or modified by man. The means of carrying out that command is generic and is left to the desire of man to carry that out. The assembly is not restricted in time of day nor frequency. Whether disciples meet in the morning, afternoon or evening is not specified but only the day is commanded. The frequency of meeting is relative to the social opportunities available and the desires of the people. In many places in our world today it is difficult for saints to meet once a day but every effort is made to do so. In our country, with the ease of transportation, comfort, availability and opportunity; we are blessed to have numerous times we can meet and exhort one another. There are numerous commands of exhortation that we are enjoined to be a part of as an assembly of people (Ephesians 5:17-21; Colossians 3:15-17; 1 Corinthians 14:3-5; 15,16; 1 Corinthians 16:1,2). With all these opportunities we find that God has designed the church to be a whole of one that enjoys unity and growth (Ephesians 4:11-16). The key to this unity is found in what every part does its share. People of God are not seeking to do as little as they can but asking God, "What more can I do?" No one should ever look upon their service to the Lord as doing as little as they can to just get by and expect the Lord to find this pleasing. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 is about doing what we can do with what we have. The failure of the one talent man was not his gaining five more talents or two more talents but his failure to just do anything. He did nothing and while not guilty of any adverse crime was cast into outer darkness because he did nothing. The Lord expects His children to do more than the minimal. With so many opportunities to do more for the Lord why are so many doing so little? The attendance on Sunday night and Wednesday night drops dramatically because of many who fail to see the worth and value of the work of the church. We must be careful in establishing doctrines and traditions of men that have served to further the work of the church to teach, admonish and exhort the brethren and impose a system of righteousness based upon attendance. Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day for focusing on the wrong things in exclusion of the true nature of worship. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others" (Matthew 23:23). He further warned of the dangers of tradition in Matthew 15:1-9. The doctrines of men are not wrong as long as they are not imposed as requirements for salvation or faithfulness. Often, while they serve as helps to the growth of the people of God, through time traditions take on a life of their own as a law of faithfulness where God has not prescribed. When asked if a person is a faithful Christian the answer most often given is based upon whether or not they are in attendance when the doors of the church are open. God never intended for attendance to be a measure of faithfulness but the attendance of the heart to the will of love of God. There is a lesson of fruit bearing that shows a manner of faithfulness when the individual is involved in the work of the church and what is being sought through the leadership of the elders to be accomplished. In our culture, we have extended the services of the Lord to include a period of Bible study on Sunday morning and to continue the lessons on Wednesday night. This has evolved over the past 100 years into a Bible class system. This is a very helpful tool the church uses to instruct the people of God. To avail one self of these opportunities is invaluable to the spiritual growth of the family. However, these are programs that help to build up the faith of those who attend and the elders encourage everyone to be a part of this program. In the last 100 years, the church has also taken on an additional opportunity to meet as the assembly on Sunday evening. This came in large part to the shift in the work force of America that required families to work on Sunday morning. The Sunday evening assembly is a wonderful opportunity for the saints to gather to worship the Lord as it is the first day of the week. The Lord's Supper is offered in accordance with the pattern of the NT church and the admonitions of Paul from 1 Corinthians 11 should be heeded during this time as being just as valid as in the morning. The Sunday evening service should never become an orphaned child of the morning service if we are to be consistent with the word of God. How are we to view the Sunday morning Bible class, the additional service on Sunday and the Wednesday night Bible study? This answer must be given in accordance with the work of the church that seeks to build up the church through the work of evangelism and exhortation. The church is involved in many programs that seek to help the members grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Why should these programs be important to me as a member of the Trenton Church of Christ? The assemblies of the saints: whether Bible class, group meetings, gospel meetings, home studies, lectures, etc., show important characteristics of my faith. I show that God is first in my life (Matthew 6:33); Christ is first in my life (Luke 9:26); The Holy Spirit is first in my life (Romans 8:16,17). I show the world that God is first in my life (Matthew 5:13-16). I show my family that God is first in my life (Ephesians 6:1-4). I show my heart that God is first in my life (Matthew 6:19-34). I tell the church that God is first in my life (Ephesians 4:16). What is the measure of a man? Ephesians 4:13 says, "Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). When you stay home on Sunday night and Wednesday night and have little to do with the work of the church (when you are able to do so); what is the measure of your stature that belongs to the fullness of Christ? Will you one day wish you had one more opportunity to do more for the work of the Lord? Can you do so little and find satisfaction? We must all have the mind of Isaiah who when called with these words from the Lord "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" said, "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8). Why is Sunday night and Wednesday night important? Kent Heaton 207 NE Fourth Avenue Trenton, Florida 32693 (H) 352-463-6916 (O) 3793 (C) 352-283-3889 www.trentonchurchofchrist.com www.northfloridabiblecamp.com If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under. (Ronald Reagan) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080810/6fae1969/attachment-0001.html From richardthetford at msn.com Sun Aug 10 18:45:28 2008 From: richardthetford at msn.com (Richard Thetford) Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:45:28 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Walking in the Light (8/10/08) Message-ID: Walking in the Light "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105) August 10, 2008 www.thetfordcountry.com --- INFORMATION: Walking in the Light is published each week by Richard Thetford. You are encouraged to visit the web site at www.thetfordcountry.com and then click on "Richard's Home Page" to view numerous sermons, articles, radio program scripts, class material and other information. If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to "Walking in the Light," please send their name and e-mail address to richard at thetfordcountry.com --- CONTENTS: "But As For Me and My House.." (Richard Thetford) "The Blood of Christ" (Richard Thetford) "Baptism" (Owen Olbricht) "You Tell on Yourself" (Selected) SENTENCE SERMONS --- BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE.. Richard Thetford Joshua told the children of Israel exactly where he and his house stood in their relationship to the almighty God in Joshua 24:15. In a time where man was "doing their own thing" in their worship, Joshua told them to choose whom they would serve, the god's of men, or the God of heaven. He encouraged them to put away the foreign gods and to incline their hearts to serve the Lord God of Israel. This man of God, Joshua, was a faithful and trustworthy servant of God. This man that we have grown to love by reading of him in the pages of the Old Testament was doing the work of the Lord, encouraging all who would listen to him to turn from the ways of the world and serve the one true God. Sound familiar? Each Lord's Day across this great country of ours preacher after preacher stands before a congregation of people encouraging them to turn from the ways of the world and serve the true and living God of heaven. Many who hear the words of the preacher say to themselves that they will try to do better in their personal life and become more devoted to the Lord's work. Yet, this is only idle thought because they soon return to their homes and continue doing their own thing. However, there are a few that will listen to the preaching of the gospel of Christ and strive to do what they can to become obedient to our Lord. Every preacher should be as convicted as Joshua in their service to the Lord and are earnestly trying to encourage and help others serve the Lord. Are we really trying to serve the Lord or ourselves? It would be so good to have a congregation full of Joshua's that are proud to say "but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!" --- THE BLOOD OF CHRIST Richard Thetford The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:7: "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace". There are two things that Paul points out here that we have through the blood of Christ Jesus and that is redemption and forgiveness of sins. Most of us know what forgiveness is, but do we understand what redemption is? Webster's New World Dictionary defines redemption as: "to get or buy back; to pay off; to set free; rescue; to deliver from sin and its penalties; to fulfill as a promise; to atone for". This is what Jesus did for man. He rescued us from sin, He set us free from the bondage of sin, He bought us with a price, the price was His own body and shed blood on our behalf. Jesus became the perfect sacrifice and it is through His blood that we now can have this redemption, forgiveness of sins! What Does Christ's Blood Do For Us? In Matthew 26:28 we can read where the blood of Jesus takes away the guilt of sin. It also brings peace to our souls (Colossians 1:20) and reconciles (makes us compatible) us with God (Romans 5:10). Christ's blood does so much for us but the one thing that really stands out is the fact that it takes away ALL sin! John writes in 1 John 1:7: "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." When we understand this point, that as long as we "walk in the light", meaning doing ALL of God''s will, then we can have peace of mind knowing that our sins are completely washed away! In addition, Christ's blood sanctifies us (Hebrews 13:12), Justifies us (Rom 5:9), purchased the church (Acts 20:28), and enables us to overcome (Revelation 12:11). How the Blood of Christ Is Applied As we discussed earlier in 1 John 1:7, the blood of Christ is applied to us by walking in the light of God. To walk in the light means that we will DO what God instructs of us which means that we will be baptized into Christ's death (Romans 6:3-4). Then we can have communion and enjoy all the spiritual blessings with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16; Ephesians 1:3)! --- BAPTISM Owen Olbricht Baptism includes at least three aspects: Giving something, receiving something, and becoming something. Without these three aspects, baptism is incomplete. GIVING SOMETHING: In baptism one gives all that he is to God by: (1) Giving his heart in complete trust to God (Col 2:12) and (2) Dying to self in order to be alive to Christ (Rom 6:1-6). RECEIVING SOMETHING: Those who give themselves to Christ in baptism receive: (1) Salvation (Mark 16:16), (2) Forgiveness (Acts 2:38), and (3) A new start in life (John 3:3-5). Baptism itself does not impart these gifts; for these come from Christ. In baptism God has chosen to give gifts to man. BECOMING SOMETHING: Through baptism, one becomes a new creature and a member of the body of Christ. This takes place through the birth of the water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5). In baptism one strips off the garment of self and sin and puts on Christ (Gal 3:27). Those who do this then become members of the one body of Christ. Every person baptized into Christ becomes a new creature. --- YOU TELL ON YOURSELF Selected You tell what you are by the friends you seek, By the very manner in which you speak, By the way you employ your leisure time, By the use you make of dollar and dime. You tell what you are by the things you wear, By the spirit in which your burdens bear, By the kind of things on which you laugh, By songs which on your mind are engraft. You tell what you are by the way you walk, By the things of which you delight to talk, By the manner in which you bear defeat, By so simple a thing as how you eat. You tell what you are by the books you choose for the well-filled shelf, In these ways and more, you tell on yourself, So there's really no particle of sense, On any effort at false pretense. --- SENTENCE SERMONS When a man starts throwing dirt, you can be sure he is losing ground. Once time has been killed, it cannot be resurrected. Just because a sheep bleats a lot does not mean he produces a lot of wool. Fewer wants, not greater wealth, will bring contentment. To become truly rich, one must properly spend himself. God's way to heaven can be found in God's Book! You had better prepare for eternity. You will be there a long time! Confessing your sins is no substitute for forsaking them. Sin may be very sweet in the beginning, but it is bitter in the end. --- SERMON Preparing Our Heart to Seek the Law of the Lord (With PowerPoint Charts) www.thetfordcountry.com --- 1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 626-5558 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/Editor Richard Thetford Building: (970) 249-8116 Home: (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com --- RICHARD THETFORD 1491 Canyon Drive Ridgway, CO 81432 (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080810/04f6961f/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 2950 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080810/04f6961f/attachment-0001.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 14927 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080810/04f6961f/attachment-0003.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 177 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080810/04f6961f/attachment-0004.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 9078 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080810/04f6961f/attachment-0005.gif From thomasc at msu.edu Mon Aug 11 07:43:59 2008 From: thomasc at msu.edu (Craig Thomas) Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:43:59 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] S>Simplicity In Christ Message-ID: <20080811161834.A9090BC2B4@dumbledore.whizardries.com> Simplicity In Christ 2 Cor. 11:3 I. Introduction: 1. Success in any endeavor (e.g., athletics, business, etc.) depends on focusing in on the basic fundamental principles. 2. The same is true of Christianity: A. Paul expresses concerns along these lines in 2 Cor. 11:3. B. To keep ourselves on the right track, spiritually speaking, we do not need (1) To learn great, deep ?theological? principles. (2) Some huge, flashy program of spiritual renewal. (3) Tear-jerking emotional appeals. 3. What we simply need to do is to keep our focus on the basic principles of the gospel. 4. Today, let?s focus on three fundamental principles of the gospel Paul mentions in the second chapter of his epistle to the Colossians (read Col. 2:1-7). 5. We will learn nothing new, nothing we already do not know, but through a reminder we can strengthen our faith and walk ever closer to Him (2 Pet. 1:12). II. Discussion: 1. Spiritual Cement: ?hearts knit together in love? (Col. 2:2) A. Brethren: Col. 3:12-14 (?bond?; desmos: ?to bind, fasten with chains?; Vine); Phil. 2:2-4; 1 Thess. 4:9; 1 Pet. 1:22; Jn. 13:34-35 B. Family relationships: (1) Husbands to wives: Eph. 5:25, 28 (2) Wives to husbands and children: Titus 2:4 (3) Parents to children: Titus 2:4; Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21 (4) Children to parents: Col. 3:20; Ex. 20:12; Prov. 6:20 C. Other relationships: (1) Truth: Eph. 4:15 (2) Enemies: Matt. 5:43-48 (3) God: Matt. 22:37; 1 Jn. 2:3-5; 5:3 (4) Over-arching, defining trait! 1 Cor. 13:4-8 2. Spiritual Head: ?walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him? (Col. 2:6-7) A. Note Paul?s doublet for emphasis: ?rooted? and ?built up.? (1) ?rooted?: From ?rhiza? which is the Greek word from which we get the English word rhizome (underground root, stem, shoot); expresses the idea of being ?anchored.? (2) ?built up?: Idea expressed is building upon a sound foundation (see 1 Cor. 3:10). (3) Thus, Christ is not only our foundation (1 Cor. 3:11), but he is also what the whole superstructure of our faith is built upon (Eph. 2:20-21). B. So, we are ?rooted and built up? where? ?in Him?! C. Our faith must not be in a man, in any group of men, nor any institution of man. (1) Men, their magazines, schools, organizations, ecclesiastical hierarchies E Cannot save! Acts 4:12 E Will always ultimately disappoint us! Jer. 10:23 E May cause us great spiritual harm! Col. 2:8 (2) But, Christ will E Save to the ?uttermost?! Heb. 7:25 E ?will never leave you nor forsake you?! Heb. 13:5 E Never do us harm in any way! Jas. 1:17 D. Consider all Jesus is to us as we place Him alone as the centerpiece and focus of our faith! Eph. 1:3-11 3. Spiritual Foundation: ?established in the faith, as you have been taught? (Col. 2:7) A. Christ is not our spiritual head unless we?re in ?the faith? (Rom. 5:1-2; Eph. 4:5). B. From beginning to end, from center to circumference, the faith of Christ is a taught religion (Jn. 6:44-45; Matt. 28:19-20; 2 Thess.2:13-15; 2 Pet. 1:5). C. Christians are not ?established in the faith? by the enthusiasm of a ?pep rally? mentality, by the drama of entertainment, or by the cleverness of worldly wisdom; only by the faithful teaching of God?s word are men established in the faith (Gal. 1:11-12; 1 Cor. 2:4-5; 1 Tim. 4:16). D. If we hope to be ?established in the faith,? we?ll have to ?giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge? (2 Peter 1:5; there are no short cuts! 2 Tim. 2:15). III. Conclusion: 1. The swelling chorus of hearts ?knit together in love,? of souls ?rooted and built up? in Christ, and ?established in the faith? is the song of thanksgiving?abounding therein with thanksgiving.? 2. Brethren, if we do these things, if they characterize our lives, we shall dwell together in peace, joy, and love here and hereafter. 3. If not, we are destined for strife, quarrels, and unhappiness in this life; and destruction in the life to come. Adapted from an article written by Larry Ray Hafley entitled ?In Love, In Him, In Faith? (www.sermonwork.com). "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58) ************************************************************************* M M III Craig V. Thomas M M M M I Just a Christian (Acts 11:26) M M M M I 350 Pineridge Lane M M M M I Sandusky, MI 48471 M M M III E-mail: thomasc at msu.edu Phone: 810-648-5009 (home) Phone: 810-404-3402 (cell) ************************************************************************* "Perseverance is that quality of character that sees a thing through in spite of adversities and even though results are not immediately visible." John Witt "The greatest battles of life are fought out daily in the silent chambers of the soul." David O. McKay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080811/72f090fd/attachment.html From thomasc at msu.edu Mon Aug 11 07:43:57 2008 From: thomasc at msu.edu (Craig Thomas) Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:43:57 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] A>Choice and Tradition Message-ID: <20080811163007.42BDDBC2D2@dumbledore.whizardries.com> ?Choice and Tradition? Craig Thomas I recently visited a ?church of Christ? web site. On their homepage they introduced and explained themselves to the community and told visitors what to expect if they came to worship with them. One item they noted was ?a cappella? music (i.e., music without instrumental accompaniment). That is to be expected for those claiming to be a ?church of Christ? (Rom. 16:16) for God?s word so instructs (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). However, the reason stated for such a practice was ?This is a choice and tradition in churches of Christ ? How sad it is when brethren become so ashamed of the gospel that they essentially apologize and refuse to ?speak as the oracles of God? (1 Pet. 4:11). One may rightly say our ?choice? in music is dictated by tradition, but it comes through the ?traditions? we have received from inspired teachers (2 Thess. 2:15) as they spoke ?not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches? (1 Cor. 2:13). If we make our ?choices? in worship based merely on our preferences, as implied on this web site, our worship becomes ?vain? (Matt. 15:9) and not according to ?truth? (Jn. 4:24). Quite sadly the five or six paragraphs these brethren used to introduce and explain themselves to the community contained not even one scripture reference. ?Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them; They have no delight in it.? (Jer. 6:10) "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58) ************************************************************************* M M III Craig V. Thomas M M M M I Just a Christian (Acts 11:26) M M M M I 350 Pineridge Lane M M M M I Sandusky, MI 48471 M M M III E-mail: thomasc at msu.edu Phone: 810-648-5009 (home) Phone: 810-404-3402 (cell) ************************************************************************* "Perseverance is that quality of character that sees a thing through in spite of adversities and even though results are not immediately visible." John Witt "The greatest battles of life are fought out daily in the silent chambers of the soul." David O. McKay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080811/068411c7/attachment.html From ZekeFlores1 at cs.com Mon Aug 11 15:47:14 2008 From: ZekeFlores1 at cs.com (ZekeFlores1 at cs.com) Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:47:14 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S> The Nature of the Church and Jesus, The Misfit's Friend Message-ID: Brethren, Our website has been updated with two new sermons, You can download outlines in .RTF format or download adio files in .WAV format. Hope they're helpful. Zeke Flores Kiber Street church of Christ Angleton, TX www.angletonchristians.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080811/0f45e99e/attachment-0001.html From robertwater at gmail.com Mon Aug 11 19:24:23 2008 From: robertwater at gmail.com (Robert Waters) Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:24:23 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Jephthah's Rash Vow Message-ID: Jephthah's Rash Vow Judges 11:29-40 by Robert Waters Was Jephthah's vow as rash as some commentators suggest? Did Jephthah actually offer his daughter as a human sacrifice in the same manner as the pagans of his day--the people who God wanted destroyed because of such evil practices? Jephthah, a judge over Israel and evidently a godly man, promised the Lord that if He would help him defeat the enemy he would offer as a sacrifice whatsoever came through the door to meet him when he returned home. Note the text as rendered by the King James below: Jdg 11:31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering. When I first read this text a number of years ago I quickly jumped to the conclusion that Jephthah offered his daughter as a sacrifice in the same way that faithful believers of God offered up animal sacrifices. I thought such an idea was almost unbelievable, but figured God determined to use the space in the Bible for this to teach a lesson about making rash vows, and that whatever the vow, it must be kept. To read the rest of the article please click on one of the links below: http://www.totalhealth.bz/newadditions.htm http://www.totalhealth.bz/spiritual-health-jephthah.htm Robert Waters ** * * *TotalHealth. bz* *Focus On Truth * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080811/ff8ce5fe/attachment-0001.html From disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Mon Aug 11 21:36:41 2008 From: disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com (Ethan R. Longhenry) Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:36:41 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] S:> Hedonism Message-ID: http://www.deusvitae.com/faith/outlines/index.html Hedonism I. Introduction A. Hedonism-- a major issue in our society! B. One of those "big words" 1. Hedonism: the pursuit of pleasure as the purpose of existence 2. If it is not fun and does not provide pleasure, it does not lead to fulfillment! C. A lot of people live hedonistic lives! 1. How many people "live to play"? 2. How many young people go out and try to have as much "fun" as possible? 3. How many messages do we see in society that encourage such thinking and behavior? D. What should we think about such attitudes? E. What does God have to say about it? F. Let us consider the matter II. Hedonism A. As we have established, hedonism is the seeking of pleasure above all else B. When hedonism is the goal, people live in search of fun 1. Nothing else matters! 2. Anything "unfun" they have to do is done to lead to fun later C. The definition of "fun" varies 1. To many, "fun" involves sexual activity 2. Drinking or drug use 3. Excessive use of forms of entertainment-- movies, music, video games, etc. 4. Vacations, sports teams or activities, etc. 5. Perhaps some tomfoolery or other forms of silliness D. Many people, from teenagers to college students to full-grown adults with children of their own, spend their entire lives seeking after these physical pleasures E. How did we get here? III. Leisure and Hedonism A. The ability to seek after pleasure is generally a luxury! B. It generally means that one has the resources available to engage in such pursuits and the time available to do so! C. At other times, most people have not had this luxury! 1. Warning about "the good old days" (Ecclesiastes 7:10) 2. Nevertheless, there were days when the majority of time was spent working to provide food and other basic necessities! 3. When you are worried about survival, you don't worry so much about pleasures! D. People seek pleasure to either escape reality or because they have too much leisure! 1. For many in difficult straits, life is quite ugly to see 2. It is easier to escape-- to seek pleasure, something to dull the pain 3. For others, they have the time and resources to engage in "fun" 4. School originally came from the word schola, which meant leisure! 5. While few would consider it such today, in the ancient world, to sit around and learn or philosophize was a luxury-- it meant that you had slaves working your fields so that you could do such things! E. This is why hedonism is often seen among youth 1. Immaturity + opportunity! 2. While in high school or college, basic needs still being met by parents 3. Less responsibility because not fully adult 4. Why are parents "no fun"? They became "no fun" when they had to take care of you! 5. As people get older, they take on more responsibilities, and that becomes less "fun" in hedonistic terms! F. What does God have to say about this attitude? IV. God and Hedonism A. Hedonism is carnal! 1. The pursuit of pleasure is generally the pursuit of the satisfaction of bodily desires 2. 1 John 2:15-17 3. Christians are not to stay in carnal mindsets (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)! B. Hedonism describes the depravity of Gentiles 1. Romans 1:18-32 2. Paul indicates how God gave up the Gentiles to their desires (vv. 24, 26) 3. The description of such persons is not flattering (Romans 1:29-32)! C. Hedonism is friendship with the world 1. James 4:1-4 2. A picture of people tossed to and fro by passion! 3. People seeking after pleasures, and not being able to fulfill them! 4. James considers this friendship with the world, which is enmity toward God! D. Hedonism's basic error is trying to make pleasure into a god! 1. Sin often is when we take something good and try to make it the Ultimate 2. There is nothing wrong with having a good time, as long as it conforms to God's will 3. As we shall see, there is nothing wrong with enjoying life 4. But we cannot expect to be fulfilled by making pleasure the ultimate pursuit-- it will never satisfy! 5. One must find newer, greater, more riskier, and ultimately sinful endeavors to get the thrill of pleasure-- and then have to seek it all over again! 6. So many of the things sought after have terrible consequences! 7. Hedonism is to make pleasure an idol, and that is itself sinful (Galatians 5:19-21)! V. Life No Fun? A. As we see, God has condemned hedonism-- life is not always about "fun" 1. Life cannot be just seeking after pleasure 2. Life ought to be about more than just pleasures that pass away! B. But does this mean that the life of the Christian is "no fun"? C. By no means! D. God intends for His people to live enjoyable lives! 1. Ecclesiastes 9:7-9, 11:8-10 2. All tempered by Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 3. Life is not to be miserable, or "no fun" E. The issue is how one defines what is "fun" or "enjoyable" 1. If your definition of "fun" is drinking, tomfoolery, casual sexual interactions, and the like, sure, Christianity looks like "no fun" 2. Yet is drinking, tomfoolery, casual sexual interactions, and the like really "fun"? F. The secret: learning to enjoy the life you have! 1. Philippians 4:11-13, 1 Timothy 6:6-8 2. We can learn to enjoy the blessings of life and the things of God! G. The joy of salvation 1. We of all people should be happy, for we are most blessed! 2. We have redemption from our burden of sin, we have the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and the joy that comes from being satisfied with association with God (Matthew 11:28-29, Acts 9:31, 1 John 1:3-4) 3. We are to rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 4:4)! H. Finding pleasure in spiritual things 1. We can find great enjoyment and pleasure in spiritual endeavors! 2. We can enjoy the assemblies of the saints and other opportunities we have to associate with them (Acts 2:42, Hebrews 10:24-25) 3. We can enjoy helping those in need, promoting the Gospel of Christ, and the other ways in which we do God's will (Galatians 6:10, Romans 1:16, Matthew 5:13-16) 4. We can enjoy learning more about God in His Word (2 Timothy 2:15) I. It by no means needs to be hedonistic, but it does mean that the Christian life can be enjoyable! J. We just need to find enjoyment in that which profits and benefits and helps us grow in Christ, not that which is carnal and leads to condemnation! VI. Conclusion A. We know that many spend their entire lives in search of satisfying carnal desires B. That might be the world"s definition of "fun," but it leads to much pain, sorrow, a lack of satisfaction, and ultimately condemnation! C. Pleasure cannot be our god-- God must be our God, and we will be satisfied in Him D. We can enjoy life and still be godly people-- in fact, we can find joy in being the type of people that God would have us to be E. Let us learn contentment and learn to enjoy that which leads us to eternal life! F. Invitation/songbook ELDV Ethan R. Longhenry / disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio [norwalkchurch.org] Homepage: deusvitae.com AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ: 28317056 Y! IM: discipuliiesus Sign up for Good News for Norwalk! goodnewsfornorwalk-subscribe at norwalkchurch.org From texasjeffssmith at mac.com Mon Aug 11 21:46:00 2008 From: texasjeffssmith at mac.com (Jeff S. Smith) Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:46:00 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] A>Leading By Example Message-ID: Leading By Example By Jeff S. Smith Jesus Christ set the standard for authority and leadership in becoming the Chief Shepherd of his flock ? what we usually call the church. The Holy Spirit says that he ?loved the church and gave himself up for her,? even though he was her head and master (see Ephesians 5:25, 1:22). Authority, especially in the home and the church of Christ, is not a matter of selfish ambition, self-promotion or self-service, but one of selflessness and service to others. So many generations of men abused their scriptural headship in the home so that they could domineer their wives and intimidate their children, but a closer reading of the text reveals a much more emotional attachment. Headship was not to be about power, but about promoting the spiritual and physical welfare of those in one?s charge. Husbands were admonished to love and cherish their wives, to nurture and admonish their children, being careful not to alienate their affections or provoke them to wrath (see Ephesians 5:22-6:4). The same principle holds true as it concerns the oversight of local congregations. Men are appointed as pastors of the flock according to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit so that they might shepherd the congregation, ?not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock? (First Peter 5:3). Clinton Hamilton comments upon the verse: ?Elders in the discharge of their duties in relation to the brethren are not to be autocratic or ?bossy.? There could well be the tendency of elders to want to dominate or control with ?an iron hand?? (Truth Commentaries: First Peter, 294). In his seminal work on the office, Scriptural Elders and Deacons, H.E. Phillips wrote, ?A shepherd sets the example for the sheep to follow. He goes before them and leads rather than drives? (193). He references the words of Jesus in John 10:4: ?When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.? Phillips continues, ?The elders are not to be ?lords? in their rule, as a dictator or pope? and later writes, ?The most effective way of leading people is to be an example to them. That was the course that Christ and his apostles took. Example has a powerful drawing element? (194). Surely the same is true in the home, especially when parents are heard to command one of their children while personally exhibiting the opposite behavior. A parent who counsels against smoking, drinking, gossiping, laziness and anything else will find his teaching severely muted if he should practice those very things himself. Children, though in subjection, are too smart to be fooled for very long by parents who do not practice what they preach. Hypocrisy is the white noise that drowns out the pious sounds of an insincere teacher. Fathers who rule the roost with an iron fist sometimes are rewarded with compliance, but later discover that it is only temporary and far from genuine. When their charges gain enough maturity or independence to rebel, their rebellion is thorough and dramatic. That is why the New Testament solemnly warns ?Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.? When discipline is arbitrary, self- serving or vindictive, a child is discouraged by an apparent lack of paternal love and reason. Lording it over the flock at home is no more effective than lording oneself over a local church. The apostle John rebuked one Diotrephes who loved to have preeminence among the church, and so refused the authority of the apostles with malicious words and a refusal to accept anyone who might prove to be a rival for power (see Third John 9-11). The qualities enumerated twice by Paul in his discussion of the eldership are not only minimum requirements for the job, but they are prominent areas in which officeholders must already be examples to others. As preacher, Timothy had a leadership role in the church at Ephesus, especially before bishops were ordained. Paul told him to ?set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity? (First Timothy 4:12). Titus, also charged with appointing elders on Crete, was reminded to ?Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned? (2:7-8). Christians occasionally find themselves in other positions of authority as well ? in the military, on the job, in school clubs or organizations like the football team and band. The principles of leadership embodied in First Peter 5 and John 10 are equally useful outside the home and church as well. Leadership that is dictatorial or appears to exist for the sole purpose of consolidating power will only produce shallow and temporary loyalty. Even slave masters were told to ?stop your threatening? (Ephesians 6:9) and to treat those in subjection ?justly and fairly? (Colossians 4:1). If such was true of first century slaves and masters, how much more should it be true of twenty-first century heads and subjects in whatever their setting? Fathers, elders, governors and supervisors must all seek to exercise their authority as good stewards of that blessing from God (see Romans 13:1). God intends for leaders to promote the well-being of the led, not their own ambition, pride or sensation of power. It is very wise to consult the led rather than to rely on the false notion that perfect maturity and insight rest only in the few. Just as King Rehoboam could have averted division and disaster in Israel by heeding the sage advice of his counselors, so today?s leaders are well-served by hearing out the thoughts, ideas and concerns of the people they lead ? their children, the congregation, the team. Leadership succeeds when it engenders trust, cooperative participation and loyalty. As Phillips suggested, people are more likely to follow if they feel they are being led rather than driven. Jeff S. Smith Jeff Smith is the preacher for the Woodmont church of Christ and publisher of ElectronicGospel and its weekly podcast. Jeff is also the Program Director and Head Coach of Burleson Youth Association Buddy Ball. The contents of this email are personal and private. Please do not forward this communication, in whole or in part, to anyone without my express consent. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080811/c1707d03/attachment-0001.html From jessiefdaniels at gmail.com Mon Aug 11 23:09:31 2008 From: jessiefdaniels at gmail.com (Jessie) Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:09:31 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] Understanding Eccl. 9:5-6 The dead know not any thing Message-ID: Understanding Eccl. 9:5-6 "The dead know not any thing" What does this mean? Is this passage teaching that when one passes away that they have no memory of things that transpired in his life while he was on the earth? No! Let us read the verse (Eccl 9:5-6) For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun. a. For the living know that they shall die: The first part of this verse is simple; it teaches that we who are living know that we will die. "For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living (Job 30:23)." "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Heb.9:27)" b. but the dead know not any thing, when one is dead one of his family may be honored or brought low but he will never know it, for he know longer lives on the earth. "His Son come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them (Job 14:21)." It does not appear that they know any thing of what is done by those they leave behind. Abraham is ignorant of us; "Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting (Isa.63:16)." c. neither have they any more a reward; Those that have passed from this life have no more a reward for their toils about the world, but all they got must be left to others; they have a reward for their actions how they lived their life while on the earth, they will receive that reward on the other side, but not their worldly reward, all that they work for will be left to others. d. For the memory of them is forgotten. When one dies the memory of him is soon forgotten, "he shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more (Job 7:8-10)." e. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun. It is evident by this verse that it is speaking of the dead, those that have passed from this earth that they are know longer under the sun, and therefore they do not know any thing that is done under the sun. There are but few whose names survive them very long, the grave is the place where the survivors soon forget, for the memory of those that are laid there is soon forgotten. Eccl 2:18-22 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080812/f837180a/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Aug 12 02:24:57 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:24:57 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) CAN'T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREE Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Tuesday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: CAN'T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES It is easy to get so close to a temptation that we lose our per- spective. It may be something as small as a rumor that we knew shouldn't be passed along, but the urge to "tell it" blocked out our sense of good judgment. It may be something that we have made our mind up about that we are going to do. We are there- fore unable to see the right way! Adam and Eve faced a similar problem long ago. They be- came so preoccupied with "one tree" in their garden paradise that they couldn't see the forest for the tree (Gen. 2:17; 3:3). Just look at what it cost them. The Garden of Eden had been created especially for them (Gen. 2:8). In it they knew no evil, no trials, no sickness, and no death. They enjoyed the company of the Creator Himself. Yet they gave up all they had just to eat of the fruit of that "one" forbidden tree. Their mistake is eerily similar to ours. How often do we miss the entire forest of God's goodness for a single tree of temptat- ion? The moment of enticement seems so overwhelming, the idea so irresistible, and our logic so twisted. Please think about all Adam and Eve left behind in the Garden. We need to fill our minds with the truth of God's Word. We need to rely on Him for strength and guidance. Resist the temptations that come our way (Jas. 4:7). Then we can experien- ce the joy of God's blessing rather than temporary pleasure. Heaven (our inheritance) is imperishable, undefiled and will not fade away (1 Pet. 1:4). It is waiting for God's people. "Blessed is the man who endures temptation...he will receive the crown of life..." (Jas. 1:12). ------------- Shane Williams in The Lilbourn Light, Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080812/bfd8d9c9/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Aug 12 02:25:07 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:25:07 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) PSALM 27 Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. PSALM 27 In Psalm 27, David's emotions swing like a pendulum from one extreme to the other as he goes from great heights of con- fidene -- "The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?" -- to anxious lows -- "O Lord...do not hide your face from me." These are the imploring words of an afflicted man; a man who is seeking deliverance form those whose desire is to "breath violence" against him. David's fear is not those who would destroy him; instead he fears that the Lord will turn His face from him. Because of this, he pleads with God to hear his cry: "Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger...Do not leave me nor forsake me..." David knew his only hope for deliverance was through God's strength and faithfulness. As he continued to pray, his thoughts turned to learning the ways of the Lord. "Teach me Your way, O Lord...lead me in a smooth path." The way of the Lord is to fear no one, to seek to dwell in His house, and to wait on Him. When we apply these lessons to life's troub- les, then the Lord will make for us "a smooth path" upon which to travel. Teach Me, Lord...To Fear Not: -- In David's "threefold cord" of praise -- "the Lord is my light ... my salvation...the strength of my life"-- he confidently asked, "of whom shall I be afraid?" With poise David could face his enemies when they came against him . When armies encamped against him and when war raged, David was guided by the Lord's light, relied upon the Lord's sal- vation, and lived by the Lord's strength. Because the Lord taug- ht him to fear not, David could boldly say, "And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies." We may never have an army encamp against us, but surely in the depths of our spiritual struggles we have felt the attacks from the army of darkness through disappointments, temptat- ions, sorrows, and doubts. Standing strong in the face of oppos- ition, we hold tightly to the "threefold cord that is not quickly broken" (Eccl. 4:12). Through reliance on Him, we learn that He is to be our light that guides our salvation, that promises our strength, since we are weak and frail. Only when these lessons become ours can we say with David, "And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies." Teach Me, Lord...To Dwell In Your House: -- Of all the things that David could have requested from God, he chose to make his re- quest to "dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life." David loved to be in the presence of the Lord. He wrote in Psa. 122:1, "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord!'" InIn the house of the Lord it would be that David could "Behold the beauty of the Lord," make inquiry of Him, and be hidden from troubles. David's desire was to leave life's diffic- ulties and burdens behind and hide in the secret place of God's house. There is a secret place reserved for us in God's presence. It's a place of safety, a place where God meets us in secret, a hiding place. Through prayer we can go to God's house and seek His safety. While our enemies search vainly for us, we can rest. As with David, seeking to dwell in the Lord's house through prayer should be the priority of life. Paul said, "pray without ceasing." We must learn that in times of trouble we must seek this hiding place. "Lord, teach us to pray." Teach Me, Lord...To Wait: -- The summation of David's psalm is, "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!" The entire psalm is compos- ed to bring the reader to this point. Even when David's enemies ran at him, he waited and they stumbled. Even if an army en- camped against him to war with him, he would wait confidently without fear. When his adversaries rose up against him, he wait- ed and refused to lose heart. Through it all he waited for the Lord to be his light, his salvation and his strength. When life seems its darkest, "wait on the Lord!" When attacks come from every corner, "wait on the Lord!" When we've lost the "smooth path" and don't know where to go, "wait on the Lord!" As we face struggles, don't lose heart, but believe the promise that we "will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Knowing it is hard to wait, he writes, "Be of good courage." Lord, hear us when we cry! Have mercy upon us and ans- wer us. Teach us Your way and lead us in a smooth path. You are our light, our salvation and the strength of our lives. Like David, we will not be afraid. --- Clay Gentry in Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 1, Jan. 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080812/d4552ba5/attachment-0001.html From mail at mikealrhughes.com Tue Aug 12 07:50:04 2008 From: mail at mikealrhughes.com (Mike Hughes) Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:50:04 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Bible Class Goals Message-ID: One of the things I have been impressed about my time here at Wilmington is the substantial efforts put into the Bible classes. We have a curriculum for all grades. As an example the nursery is on a 2 year curriculum while the High School class is on a 4 year and etc. I can't take any credit for this as it was in place when I moved here. I know for the adult class that has been a 5 year curriculum we are now in the 3 round of going through the curriculum. It is set up by years and quarters. We have the same teacher and study for both Sunday and Wednesday. Now for the question. We are wanting to set some goals for the teachers we want to have general goals we would like to see each age group cover as well as specific goals for the quarters material. Have any of you had any experience setting goals this way. If so would love to see what you have set. Respectfully, Mike Hughes - Minister Wilmington church of Christ -- P.O. Box 278 303 N. 1st Street Wilmington, IL 60481 Web: www.mikealrhughes.com E-mail: mail at mikealrhughes.com Mobile: (815) 560-3200 AIM/iChat ID: im2macmike Office/Fax: (815) 476-0634 Wilmington, IL Podcasts - The Bible Says Wilmington Sermons Owner Bible Matters List Bible Matters Forum New Forum address: http://www.network54.com/Forum/602460 Join Bible Matters Group for forum at - http://www.network54.com/Group/158452 (OS X is like a jungle no Gates, no Windows, and a Leopard inside.) I'm tired of choosing the lesser of two evils. Make a real choice for President: www.BobBarr2008.com Power corrupts. PowerPoint corrupts absolutely. The contents of this email are personal and private. Please do not forward this communication, in whole or in part, to anyone without my express consent. From kerux at bellsouth.net Tue Aug 12 08:45:59 2008 From: kerux at bellsouth.net (Kent Heaton) Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:45:59 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] A>The Lamb's Book Of Life (Kent Heaton) Message-ID: The Lamb's Book of Life (Kent Heaton) The names we bear identify who we are. When someone says our name, an image of who we are appears in the mind and all of our characteristics known to that person are seen. One of greatest blessings of being a child of God is to know that our names are written in heaven. When the seventy returned to Jesus following their exhaustive work in preaching the good news of the Savior, they were filled with joy because "even the demons are subject to us in Your name" (Luke 10:17). Jesus commends them for the excellent work they did in the face of Satan and how powerful the gospel worked in the lives of those the seventy taught. Then Jesus said, "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). What a magnificent thought to consider on the pages of Jehovah's eternal record of this world, our names are inscribed. The name given to us by our parents represent our life and who we become. In death, we engrave our names on marble monuments to stand as a testimony of the days of our lives. In all of this, nothing gains a higher place than the thought our names are written in heaven. Paul rejoices with the saints at Philippi when he writes: "And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life" (Philippians 4:3). The book of life is that place in the mind of God that He ascribes eternal life and redemption. Only Jehovah possesses the book and adds names to its pages. Luke wrote that the Lord added those who were being saved (Acts 2:47). The Holy Spirit bears witness before the Father those whose names should be placed in the book of life (Romans 8:16,17). John writes about the book of life in the Revelation. He shows the declaration of Jesus of those who would be "clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life" (Revelation 3:5). He refers to those who "are not written in the book of life" in Revelation 13:8; 17:8 and 20:15. Those not written in the book of life were cast into the lake of fire. On two occasions, John refers to the book of life as the Lamb's book of life (Revelation 13:8; 21:27). The book of life is possible because of the Lamb (Revelation 5). How fitting to understand the book of life as the Lamb's book. "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7). Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). Life is in Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 1:1). The proofs of His life and work are evidence for us to believe and to find eternal life in Him (John 20:30,31). The book of life is the Lamb's book because eternal life can only be found in Jesus Christ. The Lamb's book of life is the place where all spiritual blessings are found (Ephesians 1:3). To enjoy these blessings and to have your name engraved upon its pages, you must be in Christ Jesus. There is no condemnation when we are in Christ because we are made alive in Christ (Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 15:22). The new creation is in Christ as we are all sons of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 3:26). The Lamb's book of life is filled with the names of all those who are "sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ" (Galatians 3:26,27). Not everyone will be saved as not everyone will have their name in the book of life (Matthew 7:21-23). The only way a name is placed in the Lamb's book of life is when one obeys the gospel of Jesus Christ. What a wonderful book! Kent Heaton 207 NE Fourth Avenue Trenton, Florida 32693 (H) 352-463-6916 (O) 3793 (C) 352-283-3889 www.trentonchurchofchrist.com www.northfloridabiblecamp.com If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under. (Ronald Reagan) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080812/d5eee03a/attachment.html From lovelace.bob at gmail.com Tue Aug 12 13:42:14 2008 From: lovelace.bob at gmail.com (Bob Lovelace) Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:42:14 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] The Transgender Thing (Bob W. Lovelace) Message-ID: <3f3d53410808121142n7e11cc04l8e60eebc6c0df21b@mail.gmail.com> The Truth In Print Vol 14 Issue 7, August 2008 A Publication of the Valley church of Christ 2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058) Website Address ~ The Transgender Thing The bible contains an abundance of information applicable to the direction that our society is going as regards sexual immoralities or perversion. One immorality perhaps considered less publicized than others is the "transgender" thing. Perhaps I should be more specific and say "transsexual" thing, i.e. the desire to live and be accepted as a member of the sex opposite to that of their own birth. Such often alter their bodies and physical appearance in order to present themselves according to this desire. In the New Testament alone there are several lists of the works of the flesh that will keep one out of the kingdom of Christ. You may read a few of them in this brief article. Galatians 5:19-21 (KJV) 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. When Paul said at the end of the list that those who do "such things" or "such like" one understands the enormity of a complete list of the works of the flesh, and that other lists are indeed helpful as well in knowing what is sinful and must not be practiced. For example in Romans chapter one you have many verses that describe those God gave up because of their refusal of His knowledge and will. And again, Paul gave I Cor. 6:9-18 that lists several immoralities and admonishes towards proper use of one's body. Those involved in the transgender thing often consider themselves grouped with homosexuals, transsexuals, bisexuals, gay and lesbians, etc. They see themselves united in a common cause of enlightening society, seeking social justice, fighting hatred against themselves and pushing for acceptance i.e. being considered descent and normal. At times, and increasingly so, such are pushing for religious acceptance with churches. Some denominational churches in communities are accepting those in perverted relationships and this is wrong. 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 (KJV) 9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (KJV) 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. If you are a member of the church and you think that some of our churches haven't had to deal with some of these you are wrong. From time to time you will even find some who desire to practice perversions pushing for acceptance in the church of Christ. The question of accepting a transsexual has even presented itself at times. Should someone have completed the so called transition process then they would have to repent (cf. I Cor. 6:11, Rev. 16:9). If not completed then repentance requires that one reverse the process as far as is possible. Some of these perversions contain the desire to act and dress "effeminate". Read I Cor. 6:9 above to identify such as not acceptable to local church fellowship. The Gospel gives a local church the right to disfellowship or not accept anyone who continues in sin (I Cor. 5:1-13). When I read definitions of the word for some reason I think of Liberache and the ways he used to dress and present himself. To me, though young then, there was always something degenerate there. Today transvestites are often trying to win beauty contests. Do they somehow think they are going to be as popular as Liberache? The parading they do in public is disgusting and they aren't the beauties they think they are! Being effeminate is nothing new, it is just that they have available today science that can assist and take it to a further extent than in the past centuries. Such things have had their issues in days gone by (cf. De. 22:5). This kind of thing was viewed as effeminacy in man and impudence in woman. Women today who try to look and dress like men are most often lesbians (cf. Rom. 1:24-27). In talking to other Christians about such degeneracy some points of wisdom worth sharing have been gleaned: 1. If married imagine what one puts their mate through unless their mate is just as degenerate as they are. 2. Consider the conjugal obligation in I Cor. 7:1-3 for the married. One does not have the right to take away their ability to perform! 3. A little sarcasm might help: This is not what Jesus meant when he said there are some who make themselves eunuchs for the kingdom's sake. 4. It's been said this is not like losing one's hair. Losing your hair is quite a contrast to butchering the human body to get a cheap imitation or look alike of the other sex. 5. How much more perverted can one get than to push their mate into being attracted to effeminacy? 6. In Jeremiah 44:19 women were proud they followed their husbands in immoralities. If the mate is not bothered by it then they too are perverted! 7. Some wives might not know where to go, or what they'd do, thus rather than stopping it they go along out of fear of being set out on the street with no income (cf. Matt. 6:33). 8. Beware! What they will do is go and be with those "others" they are wanting to be like (cf. Rom. 13:14). 9. Don't be shy about telling one you know who is seeking perversion that you will withdraw from them (cf. 2 Th. 3:14; Eph. 5:11). 10. Isn't it interesting that in Eph. 5:29 just before the man's "headship" (Eph. 5:30) the matter of proper conduct involves caring for one's physical body? 11. In marriage a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife (Matt. 19:3). Who gave him a right to change that thus forcing his wife to cleave to one who thinks he's a she? Or reverse this ? so that now he can cleave to one who thinks she's a he? God forbid. By Bob Lovelace ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ To learn more call, visit or visit our website at: From garyshawndaniels at gmail.com Tue Aug 12 22:42:52 2008 From: garyshawndaniels at gmail.com (Gary Shawn Daniels) Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:42:52 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Pana Church of Christ Online Bulletin - August 10, 2008 Message-ID: <48a249e2.0610c00a.6609.0dfe@mx.google.com> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080812/eadcf764/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 303047 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080812/eadcf764/attachment-0001.jpe From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Aug 13 08:21:41 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:21:41 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) INTIMACY WITH GOD Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Wednesday morning to each and everyone. May God bless y ou and yours. Here is an article from my files: INTIMACY WITH GOD "When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I call- ed My son" (Hos. 11:1). The constancy of God's love should have been strong motivaiton for Israel to love their Creator in re- turn. But it wasn't. In spite of God's constant overtures of love, grace, and mercy, His own children turned away. Israel pervert- ed their relationship with God by worshiping idols. God loved His people, even when they were rebelling against Him. Yes, the Israelites had to suffer the consequences of their sin; this did not mean, though, that God had ever stopped loving them. Even when He was seeking to correct their way, God loved them. The word love evokes pleasant and comforting thoughts. Or, at least it should. The Bible speaks often about God's love for His creation. His love was present in the lives of His children -- those who had responded to Him in obedience. Early in their history Israel wanted to be God's children; they longed for an in- timate relationship with God (Exo. 19:5,6). God called Israel "My firstborn son" (Exo. 4:22,23). God told Pharaoh, "Let My son go!" Israel was Jehovah's special people. Yet, the fact that God loved Israel did not prevent them from rebelling. God's love was not an insurance policy that would always keep Israel from harm -- a harm that was many times self-inflicted. Over and over again, God enabled His people to see that He still loved them. He wanted them to come back to Him. The word love evokes thoughts of intimacy. The intimacy shared between a husband and wife is a special bond. That unique relationship is special. It mirrors the relationship God de- sires to have with His children (the book of Hosea; cf. Eph. 5:22, 23). This relationship is so special that severe, harsh conseque- nces are meted out to those who fail to cherish the bonds of love and intimacy. "For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one's garments with violence, Says the Lord of host, Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously" (Mal. 2:16). The bond of love between brethren should be viewed as a special kind of love -- love that is peculiar to the in-Christ relation- ship we share as members of the same spiritual family. Instead of living in isolation, we need to cultivate a sense of dependency a sense of family among our fellow Christians. Loving each other is a matter of spiritual life or death. Sin destroys the intimacy of love. This was true of Israel's alienation from God. It is true in human, earthly families. It is true in the spiritual family of God. The alienating consequences of sin can only be overcome by God's love. God through Christ seeks our reconciliation. What God desires for us cannot be ex- perienced when we refuse to return to Him. It that is so, then why do we stay away? ----- Randy Harshbarger via Gospel Pow- er, Vol. 15, No. 24, June 15, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080813/d2a7459a/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Aug 13 08:22:03 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:22:03 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) UNDENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIANITY Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my rec- ent files. Use to the glory of God. UNDENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIANITY In today's religious world, most people just cannot conceive of "Undenominational Christianity." Their view is formed by the religious culture which surrounds them. All around them they see denominations, all of which are "selling" that particular denomination, with its practices and its promises. It is very much like Was-Mart and other big department stores. They are in competition with the others in their class, and they just strive to be the best in their class. But has anyone asked, "Is this real- ly God's plan?" The truth is that Jesus promised, "I will build My church" (Matt. 16:18). But over time, people became unsatisfied with what God had decreed, they became restless and wanted change. This attitude is not new, it is repeated in every generat- ion, in one form or another. Look at Isreal. God's system of jud- ges to rule Israel worked well, while the people submitted to God. But when the prophet Samuel put his two sons in as jud- ges over Israel, the people protested. And well they might: "And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice. Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah; and they said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said Give us a king to judge us" (1 Sam. 8:3-6). Instead of asking the prophet to set the system of judges right, by removing his two wayward sons, they asked for a complete change in the whole system. Specifically, they wanted to be like the nations about them. It is this attitude that drives the whole system of denomin- ationalism. But God's eternal purpose never included any denominat- ions! Remember that Jesus said, "I will build My church." Let's look at that church which Jesus built: Our Authority Must Be God's Word: -- In times past, God spoke through various prophets, but today "He speaks to us through His Son" (Heb. 1:1,2). On the Mount of Transfiguration, God spoke of Jesus, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well plea- sed. Hear ye Him" (Matt. 17:5). God speaks to us today through Jesus. (Through His Word, which is the New Testament, JWS). Jesus chose twelve men to be apostles (Matt. 10), men who were to be His spokesmen after He had returned to heaven. He told them, "The Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you...Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He shall guide you into all the truth" (Jno. 14:26; 16:13). That is the reason Jesus could say to the apostles, "He that heareth your heareth Me; and he that rejecteth you rejecteth Me; and he that rejecteth Me reject- eth Him that sent Me" (Lk. 10:16). Our authority, then, in all religious matters must be what the apostles have revealed to us in the Scriptures: "All Scripture is inspired of God" (2 Tim. 3:16). The apostle Paul wrote, "When ye received from us the Word of the message, even the Word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the Word of God" (1 Thes. 2:13). In fact, there can be no other authority in religion: "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!" (Gal. 1:8 NIV). And notice anot- her: "Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). For the church which Jesus built, the only authority is the Word of the apostles, guided by the Holy Spirit, and written in the New Testament. The Church Was Purposed Of God: -- Old Testament prophecies foretold the church which Jesus would build: "And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the Word of Jehovah from Jer- usalem" (Isa. 2:2,3; see also: Dan. 2:44). Identity of this "house of God" is revealed to us: "The house of God, which is the church of the Living God" (1 Tim. 3:15). This church was built "according to the eternal purpose of God, which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Eph. 3:10, 11). This is the church of which Jesus spoke when He promised "I will build My church" (Matt. 16:18). Its description is found in the Scriptures, also. Christ is the head of that church: "He is the head of the body, the church" (Col. 1:18). As Jesus said, "All authority hath been given unto Me in heaven and on earth" (Matt 28:18). There can be no other head of the church -- in heave or on earth! What That Church Is Called: -- This church is called "the king- dom" (Matt. 16:18.19). The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Colosse, "The Father...delivered us out of the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love...And He is the head of the body, the church: Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence" (Col. 1:13,18). And that "church of the firstborn" (Heb. 12:23) is said to be "a kingdom that cannot be shaken" (Heb. 12:28). That church is also called "the house of God" (1 Tim. 3:15). Let the Scriptures describe it: "So then ye are no more strang- ers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the Chief Corner Stone" (Eph. 2:19,20). The "house of God" is His family, or His household, and thus it contains His children. That church is the body of Christ: "He is the Head of the body, the church" (Col. 1:18). Again, "And He (God, the Father) put all things in subjection under His (Christ, the Son's) feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1:22,23). Then read carefully: There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God." Now, read those verses again, and see how many churches there are! It never ceases to amaze me that people will cry, "Join the church of your choice." The Scripture says that there is "one body" and that body is the church. Why not cry, "Worship the God of your choice." But there is only ONE of each?! And if we accept the authority of the Scriptures, we will not try to change that. Denominationalism Is Sin: -- Jesus Christ never intended that believers should be divided into different groups...which is ex- actly what denominationalism attempt so do. Read His prayer to His Father as He prays for the apostles: "Sanctify them in the truth: Thy Word is truth...Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that Thou did- st send Me" (Jno. 17:17-21). Please notice that the Lord Jesus intends that all believers be "ONE" in the same way that He and the Father are one. That means "one body (church), one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God" (Eph. 4:4- 6). When believers in Corinth were divided into different groups the Lord addressed the problem through the inspired apostle Paul very clearly. "Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfect- ed together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided?" (1 Cor. 1:10-13). First, notice the command: "All speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you." That certainly does not describe the denominations in the world today! Then, look at verse 12. These people were divided into differ- ent "denominations." If you could go back in time and ask them why they were not following Christ, I am sure that everyone of them would answer, "We are all Christians. We are just different kinds of Christians. He is a Pauline Christian, and she is an Apol- losite Christian, and he is a Cephasite Christian." But -- even if such were possible -- what about those who simply followed Christ? "Is Christ divided?" And where in the Scriptures do you find authority for dividing into different groups (denominat- ions)? That was wrong in Corinth then, it wrong in America today. How People Enter The Lord's Church: -- The Lord has not left it unclear how one becomes a member of His church. It begins with faith in Him as "both Lord and Christ." There is a great exa- mple in Scripture. When the first gospel sermon was preached after the death of Christ, the Holy Spirit came to guide the apost- les "into all the truth" (Jno. 16:13; Acts 2:1-4). As guided by the Spirit, the apostle Peter preached to the Jews on that day of Pentecost, concluding with: "Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified" (Acts 2:36). This was designed to produce the "faith that cometh by hearing, hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17). And it did: "Now when they heard (this), they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). God's answer to their question was simple: "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins" (Acts 2:38). And notice what the result was: "They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thous- and souls" (Acts 2:41). And notice the result of this: "And the Lord added to the church daily such as were being saved" (Acts 2:47). How many of them were baptized? "As many as received his word." That pattern is still true. In case after case of conver- sion in the book of Acts, the gospel is preached, people believe it and they are baptized in ordr to be saved. But isn't this precis- ely the Lord's promise? "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mk. 16:16). And when the Lord saves them, He adds them to His church. Philip went down to Samaria to preach Christ, "But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the king- dom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women" (Acts 8:12). Paul and Silas, in prison at Philippi, were released by a miraculous earthquake. The jailer then said to them, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house...And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, imm- ediately" (Acts 16:30-33). The pattern continues: people hear the Word, believe it, repent of their sins, and are baptized. Friend, you don't need to be in a denomination in order to be a Christian. Those 3,000 on Pentecost (Acts 2) never joined a denomination, they were never in a denomination. But they were Christians, members of the church which Jesus built. If you will follow the same pattern they did, you will be the same thing they were -- simply a Christian. ----- Clem Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 32, Aug. 8, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080813/0c4ce1d4/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Aug 14 02:42:52 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 03:42:52 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) THE CHURCH AND NUMBERS Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Thursday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: THE CHURCH AND NUMBERS Most brethren I know pay attention to the number of people who attend the services of the church. There is nothing wrong with taking a count and keeping up with the statistics, because every number represents a soul. But when it comes to the attendance number on the board, two false extremes often exist within the church. Some people don't want the church to grow. They may not come right out and say it, but their actions speak louder than words. Some members will be heard to say, "I like this church because it is small." Do they realize what they are saying? What if the congregation should grow? Does this attitude affect the evangelistic fervor of an individual? Perhaps we are not try- ing to teach people for fear that they will obey and the church will not be so small anymore! Surely we do not think in this way! None of us would purposely attempt to frustrate or hinder God's purposes. We cannot stand in God's way by insisting that the church be kept small. After all, increase comes from the Lord (1 Cor. 3:6). The New Testament church at Jerusalem grew quickly and largely. At the rate of growth mentioned in Acts 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 6:1 it is probable that this congregation numbered over 10,000 souls by the time Saul launched his vehement persecution against the church (Acts 8:1). The Scriptures show that the church first met in the Temple, a building and complex which, according to some educated estimates, could accommodate some 20,000 people. The Scriptures do not mention even one complaint that "the church is getting too big" for the disciples in Jerusalem. Our desire to be like the New Testament church should surely involve having the same joyful spirit for the grow- th of the church and the salvation of lost souls. There are those, however, who would force the church to grow even by unauthorized means. Some brethren believe that large facilities will produce a large church. They have a "if we build it, they will come" attitude toward church growth. Church- es have even been known to hire preachers who are especially adept at entertaining people in an attempt to raise their numbers. A stand-up comic may please the masses, but God will not be pleased when such is passed off as preaching. Some congre- gations have even been known to survey and poll their commun- ities to see jus what it is that the people want from a church. Then, they accordingly provide the community's wants. If it's food, they build banquet halls. If it's recreation, they build gym- nasiums. If it's baby-sitting, they build daycare centers. This is fueled by an intense craving for large numbers on the board. And for what? Certainly not for spiritual things. It could be that the idol many modern churches bow down to is the attendance board! What good is a church building filled with souls who are unconcerned fro spiritual things? They may abe at the church building, but these souls are still just as lost as they were. There is considerable difference between numbers added to the roll and believers who have turned to the Lord (Acts 11:21). God wants great numbers of penitent souls who will genuinely serve His cause. We must not stand in God's way of achieving this goal by refusing to be as fervent as we can be in preaching the Gospel. At the same time, however, we must not artificially force growth. The Great Commission did nto say, "Go ye into every congregation and make it grow!" It did command us to preach the Gospel to the lost and faithfully teach those we con- vert to the Lord. God will be responsible for the growth of the church. We must do our part of planting and watering and let God give the increase to our efforts (1 Cor. 3:6). ---------------------- Mark W. White via Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 26, June 29, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080814/7fa7a7a3/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Aug 14 02:43:02 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 03:43:02 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) PSALM 46 Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. PSALM 46 My wife returned home after two months at the hospital tend- ing to our son who was gravely ill following his birth. He had en- dured two major surgeries and a host of other medical problems It had worked its fatigue and anguish on both of us. She said, "The shunt is not working." My heart sank and the pit of my stomach knotted. "Now, what do we do?" I wish I could tell you a mesmerizing tale of resounding faith; of a stone slung to silen- ce a giant who taunted the God of Israel. All I can tell you is that I cried out to God for help -- in fear and doubt. Psalm 46 speaks to help us when our faith is sorely tested. It exalts the power of God to protect us. It gives us courage not to fear. It provides hope through the long night of trial that "God will help when the morning dawns." "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." The Psalm is laid out in three parts: God's protection its cen- tral theme -- over natural calamities (vss. 1-3), over national cala- mities (vss. 4-7), over both natural and national powers (vss. 8-11). The key word is "earth" (where natural powers and human kingdoms exert their force) appearing in all three sections (vss. 2,6,8,9,10). God's ability to protect over the powers of the earth highlights each section. Some unnamed national calamity had elicited this Psalm. The power arrayed against God's people was more than capab- le of sweeping them off the face of the earth. Have you ever been in an earthquake? I don't know the first thing about fear- ing a 9.0 quake on the Richter scale but I've witnessed images of unbelievable devastation when "the earth gives way." The Psalmist used this imagery to people who were all too familiar with such destruction. He urged his readers to trust that though "mountains be moved into the sea" and the sea issues forth its tsunami ("mountains tremble at its swelling"), the God of Jacob has proven Himself to be their help in time of trouble. He bids them: "Come, behold the works of the Lord" (vs. 8a). His prodig- ious deliverances in the Bible bear the unmistakable mark of His faithful love. History: -- Commentators have linked this Psalm to the national calamity facing Hezekiah and Judah against the monolithic pow- er of Assyria (2 Kgs. 18,19). We don't know for sure, but nothing else in biblical history fits as well. No cities stood intact before their massive army. Isa. 8:6-8 records that because of Judah's sin, the Lord was bringing against them the River (Assyrian Eup- hrates). It would overflow its banks sweeping into Judah "reach- ing even to the neck." Judah would stand on their tiptoes with their nostrils barely above water. All our modern wars have been fought on distant battlefields We have witnessed but little suffering at home. Until 9/11. We beheld but a glimpse of what is possible. What would be our reaction if they detonated an atomic weapon on our soil? As the soldiers of Judah listened to the dire warnings of the Assyri- ain emissary, they collectively gulped. If 9/11 threw us into a tail- spin, what would the real thing do? We, like Judah, are living in a fog. When calamity strikes, to whom shall we go? Will we depend on Wall Street, Pennsylvan- ia Avenue or Capitol Hill? Or will our refuge be God, the Lord of hosts? It is interesting that Isaiah says Judah rejected "the waters of Shiloh that flow gently." Psalm 46 says "there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God." The imagery of life-giving water flowing from Eden (Gen. 2:10); flowing from the temple (Ezk. 47:1,9); and flowing from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1) be- speak of God as the source of refreshment. The psalmist says that this city is the "holy habitation of the Most High" and "God is in the midst of her." It means where God dwells there is safety life, and peace; and only where God dwells should we place our trust. The waters of Assyria came up to Judah's neck, almost engulfing her. But 2 Kgs. 19:35 declares that the angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night. "And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies." Psalm 46 says, "God will help her when morning dawns; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear, He burns the chariots with fire." Poetic imagery? Yes. The facts, however, fit. At Wits End: -- The day is coming when we, too, will be at our wit's end and our strength will fail. We may have no grocery store to which to go. We may watch our enemy march through or land. We may be tired and broken with the despair of persecu- tion. We will watch the boat fill with water, and in utter terror awake the sleeping Master, crying: "Carest Thou not that we per- ish?" But we would be fools indeed to think that He sleeps! If we jbiw ub wgin we trustm we should "be still, and know that I am God" (vs. 10). Have we not seen His mighty works again and again in the pages of the Bible? All it took to send the River of Assyria reeling back to its channel in Mesopotamia was but one from among the hosts. Imagine if God sent twelve legions of angels! If these great Bible stories do not resonate in our hearts, then we will never cease our useless strivings. The God of Jacob is our fortress (vs. 7b). Jacob started out being conniving and selfish. In time he came to his wits' end and his strength failed. God said, "Let go of me." Jacob responded, "I will not let go unless you bless me." This time he grasped for dear life to the One and only One. We, like Jacob, must grasp Him, too. Our God is not just the Lord of hosts, but also the God of individuals. He molds each Jacob through their trials and tribu- lations. All the more reason to go again and again to the Psalms that hammer and chisel away at us until we are formed into the likeness of His Son. --------- Chuck Durham in Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 1, Jan. 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080814/d9e8c7d7/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Aug 15 05:07:26 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:07:26 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) QUESTION AND ANSWER Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Friday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is a quest- ion and answer from my files: QUESTION AND ANSWER QUESTION: -- Was the name "Christian" given as a derogatory name during the first century? ANSWER: -- Actually, followers of Christ were called by many different names during the time of the writing of the New Testament. Names such as: saints, believers, disciples, the redeemed, etc. But the name "Christian" came to be used and accepted very early in the Christian era, and with good reas- on. And where would you learn that the name "Christian" was a derogatory term, except it was applied by some enemies of Christ? Actually, the prophet Isaiah wrote about a new name which would be given to God's people. Notice what he says: "Unto them will I give in My house adn within My walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off...And the nations shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory, and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of Jehov- ah shall name...And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto My chosen; and the Lord Jehovah will slay thee; and He will call His servants by another name" (Isa. 56:5; 62:2; 65:15). The apostle Paul and Barnabas had spent about a year in An- tioch, preaching and teaching the church there. This was the first church of Christ of which we have record that there were both Jews and Gentiles worshiping together. Because these two men were inspired by the Holy Spirit in their teaching (Acts 2:1-4; 1 Cor. 2:11-13), we must assume their teaching was from God. Now read with me: "And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people, and that the disciples were called Christ- ians first in Antioch" (Acts 11:26). The Gentiles had seen God's righteousness, as Isa. 62:2 had declared would happen. Now, these "in the house of God" (the church) are called "Christians." Exactly as God had foretold through Isaiah. And the prophet leaves no doubt that the name came from God -- not from the enemies of the Lord. But let's read further. Paul preached to King Agrippa (see Isa. 62:2, above), and Agrippa was "almost persuaded" (Acts 26: 28). But he was almost persuaded to be what? "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Notice Paul's reply: "And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds" (Acts 26:29). Rather than repudiating the "Name" which King Agrippa assign- ed to the followers of Jesus, Paul tacitly accepted it and encour- aged him and others to become Christians -- as Paul himself was. Later, the apostle Peter wrote, "For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men's matters: but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name. For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?" (1 Pet. 4:15-18). Please notice that these to whom the apostle is writing are in "the house of God" (vs. 17). They (and we) are to "glorify God in this name" (Christ- ian). Rather, then, than being a derogatory name, the name "Christian" is the name which God has given, and in which we are to glorify Him in our lives. (It is a name in which we should glorify God and be most happy to be called, JWS). ----- Clem Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 27, July 4, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080815/0ce55c4e/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Aug 15 05:07:45 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:07:45 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) MEN HAVE PERVERTED THE GOSPEL! Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. MEN HAVE PERVERTED THE GOSPEL! In writing to the churches of Galatia, the apostle Paul said, "I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from Him that called thee in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not anoth- er gospel only there are some that trouble you, and would per- vert the gospel of Christ" (Gal. 1:6,7). Isn't it strange that some would hear the gospel of Jesus Christ in its pristine purity, and then pervert it? Yet it had happened (even during the days of the apostles, JWS). The word "pervert" is defined this way: "To turn from its right purpose, use, or meaning. To alter for the worse. To turn away, avert, divert." It's synonyms are: "Corrupt, distort, falsify, garble, misquote, misrepresent, misstate, stretch, twist." This may show you the sordid behavior of one who would pervert the gospel of Christ. The gospel is turned from its right purpose its proper use and its true meaning. It is no longer uncorrupted as God gave it in the first century. And it will no longer accomp- lish that purpose which God intended that it should (if given to people in a perverted form, JWS). (And if accepted and practic- ed in its perverted form, JWS). The Evils Of A Perverted Gospel: -- Notice an example of perver- sion. Water is a God-given power for quenching thirst. But you can add a saline solution to water, without even changing its appearance, adn it will no longer quench the thirst, but will make one even more thirsty. Bread is referred to as "the staff of life." Yet if you add a little arsenic to that bread, it will destroy life. Now, in the spiritual realm, we are to "hunger and thirst after righteousness" (Matt. 5:6). But if God's Word has been diluted and perverted, it will eternally condemn us. Therefore, the Word of God must be accepted in its original purity -- uncorrupted. Multitudes follow men today who pervert the gospel of Christ, and they will staunchly defend these spiritual perverts, even when shown by the inspired Scriptures that they do not serve the Christ. Many feel that a pious demeanor and a sepulc- hral tone makes it impossible for damnable error to be fostered. But our attitude should be that expressed in Isa. 8:20, "To the law and to the testimony! If they speak not according to this Word, surely there is no light in them." The preaching of each doctrine must be weighed in exactly this manner! (We should examine the teaching of each and everyone to determine if the teaching is according to the Word of God (Acts 17:11). JWS). The Subject Of The Gospel Is Perverted: -- The apostle Paul decl- ared, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16). This is a flat declaration of the gospel and its power. But even this was soon perverted, as Paul warned the elders of Ephesus: "I know that after my depart- ing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall men arise, speak- ing perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them" (Acts 20:29,30). Those false teachers would be speaking a perverted gospel to "draw away the disciples after them." Again the apostle wrote "Some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron" (1 Tim. 4:1,2). Yet this was to emanate from religious lead- ers. To warn against this perversion of the gospel, Paul told Timothy, "For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselv- es teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away thier ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables" (2 Tim. 4:3,4). We now live in such a time. The gospel is warped, twisted, wrested and perverted by men who claim to preach it, but who actually don't even believe it. The Subject Of Faith Is Perverted: -- All too often you hear the expression, "But my faith is this -- ", and there follows a fanciful idea or opinion that is foreign to the Scriptures. Yet we are told, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17). If it is not in the Word of God, it is not scriptu- ral faith. It is when each one formulates his "own faith" that the worth of the Bible is entirely discounted. Just recently one was declaring his belief in God, yet was strongly arguing, "God is dead." He began with scriptural faith, and then perverted it to his own selfish end, striving to make himself a god. Modernists extol their faith, but at the very same time pervert it to suit their fancy. They claim to believe in Jesus Christ, but deny that He was the "only begotten Son of God" according to the record God gives us. Rather, they confess Him to be a great teacher adn moral leader, but deny His deity. They reject the virgin birth, discount His miracles, scoff at His vicarious death for us, and ridicule the thought of a bodily resurrection. Yet they profess faith in Christ! It is a faith perverted to their own egotisti- cal reasoning, with all saving power drained from the gospel they preach. Sectarians profess faith in Christ, but they then pervert that faith to their own desires. They extol the Bible as the Word of God, but then dilute it with their "Book of Mormon," "Key to the Scriptures," "Pendleton's Manual," "Articles of Faith," "Discipli- ne," "Augsbury Confession" "Catechism" or other church creed- books. The simplicity and purity of the faith is thus destroyed. The Lord Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4). We cannot add to, or take from, that Word without perverting and corrupting it (Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:6; Rev. 22:18). A simple, trusting faith accepts ALL God has said, and will not fashion a creed on what God has NOT said. it is perversion to acknowlid- ge Jesus as Christ and Lord, and then minimize His authority by refusal to accept His Word and obey His commandments. The Subject Of Baptism Is Perverted: -- All religious groups who claim to follow Christ teach and practice baptism. (in some form or fashion, JWS). But there is as much perversion in this area as found in any field. The matter of infant baptism has from the first been recognized as being without any Scriptural foundation. This matter had forced a drastic change in Martin Luther's think- ing in the beginning of the Reformation movement. He had been going on the basis that he would follow God's Word in every detail. But when he confronted the matter of infant baptism, his prior training triumphed. He than took the position that he would accept any practice which the Word of God did not speci- fically condemn. Of course, that would have prevented his every effort at reformation. The Bible doesn't mention the sale of indulgences, but that was a practice that Luther originally opposed that started the whole Reformation movement! But from its innovation, no Scripture has been cited to substantiate infant baptism. Penitent believers were to be baptized -- not those incapable of believing. This is a perversion that is still in existence. Baptism has been taught by many as being essential to church membership, but not essential to salvation. This perverts the statement of the Lord Jesus, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mk. 16:16) and Peter's sermon on Pentecost, "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, unto the remission of your sins" (Acts 2: 38). Saul was told, "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on His name" (Acts 22:16), and Peter declares that "baptism doth also now save us" (1 Pet. 3:21). The Scriptures plainly reveal that baptism brings us "into Christ" (Rom. 6:3). It is in baptism that we are united with Christ "For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ" (Gal. 3:26,27). We are saved by the blood of Christ, shed in His death, and, "Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" (Rom. 6:3). It is by this baptism that we enter into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). Any alteration of this doctrine destroys the very purpose of the baptism of the gospel of Christ. The Subject Of The Church Is Perverted: -- The true picture of the church is obtained in looking to it as it is revealed on the pages of God's Word. Jesus said, "I will build My church" (Matt. 16:18). He gave Himself for the church (Eph. 5:25), He purchas- ed it with His own blood (Acts 20:28), He is the Savior of the church (the body, Eph. 5:23) and He adds the saved to His church (Acts 2:47). The church of Jesus Christ is unique and complete. There was and is no other existing by divine authori- ty, nor shall there ever be! That church housed all the saved during the days of the apostles, and for every subsequent age and time. To be saved is to be in that body of saved people, the church. Paul exclaim- ed, "Unto Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen." (Eph. 3:21). When false prophets declare salvation can be outside that church, or in any other, they have perverted the gospel of Christ Every man-made church stands in open competition to that church which Jesus built, and He has prayed against all of them: "Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that beleive on Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they may be in Us: that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me" (Jno. 17:20, 21). When men plead, "Accept Christ, then join the church of your choice," they pervert the gospel. God never has, and never will, give man a choice regarding churches in which he may be saved. This is a perverted and corrupt gospel that blights the religious world with discord, disunity and factionism. The Pure Worship Of God Is Perverted: -- The church fo the New Testament had a very simple pattern of worship which God acce- pted and blessed. But that worship has also been perverted by unholy men. Of the first disciples we read, "They continued sted- fastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:42). Still later, "And upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come" (1 Cor. 16:2). Still later, "And upon the first day of the weekm when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them" (Acts 20:7). And again, "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one anoth- er with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God" (Col. 3:16). As long as men accepted the full and complete authority of the Scriptures, we had no discord regarding New Testament worship. First of all, there was no gradation of any priestly honor in worship. There were not clergy ranks to lord it over the laity. There was no wearing of special robes, nor ecclesiastical honors. They were all merely children of God, brethren, who had fellowship in common worship. The Lord's Supper was never used to elevate priests. From the time of its institution, it was spiritual and simple. There were no instruments of music, no prayer wheels, no candles -- although one is as scriptural as the others. The oly way to overcome a perverted gospel is to reject those who pervert it. You aid and abet the works of Satan when you support and endorse false teachers (2 Jno. 9-11). Follow the Lord Jesus Christ and serve Him only. ---- Dillard Thurman in Gospel Minutes, May 2, 1969, reprinted in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 31, Aug. 1, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080815/dd47b64a/attachment-0001.html From kthomas at dnet.net Fri Aug 15 18:07:54 2008 From: kthomas at dnet.net (Kenneth E. Thomas) Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:07:54 -0500 (Central Daylight Time) Subject: [Biblemat] A short report Message-ID: <48A60C4A.000017.01204@KENSCOMPUTER> Dear friends and brethren, It is still with great difficulty due to the loss of vision that I am writing this short report thanking all for your prayers and other ways you are showing your concern for Dolores and me! The MRI yesterday showed that I did indeed suffer a atroke and not just a TIA as we had hoped it would be since less damage would have resulted. I can see to get around but not enough to chance driving the auto. I have great difficulty reading, so please overlook the typos. It could have been much worse than it was. We are indeed blessed by our Lord and by His people. Thanks again to you all, Love, Ken & Dee Thomas Kenneth E. Thomas 221Rolling Acres Trail Franklin, North Carolina 28734 http://www.geocities.com/kethomas_2000/index.html Email: kthomas at dnet.net 1 (828) 349-3514 - Home -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080815/7b4a0b42/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 289 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080815/7b4a0b42/attachment-0002.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 20466 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080815/7b4a0b42/attachment-0003.gif From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Aug 16 04:02:28 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:02:28 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) GOD HAS SPOKEN Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Saturday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: GOD HAS SPOKEN Worldly gain might be obtained at the cost of spiritual loss. Jesus said, "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in excha- nge for his soul?" (Matt. 16:26). Silversmiths at Ephesus made gain by promoting and encouraging idol worship (Acts 19:24-41) Saul of Tarsus gained much prestige among the Jews by his fer- vor in being a Pharisee and persecuting the saints; but when he had become a Christian, he said, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ..." (Phil. 3:3-11). Simon the erstwhile sorcerer, gained great fame in Samaria, claiming to be someone great; but he had to give it all up in order to become a follower of Christ (Acts 8:9-24). If Joseph Smith and Brigham Young had told people the truth of the gospel and had added nothing to it, and if they had faithfully followed the teaching of the New Testament, there would have been great gain for them in Christ, but loss of the worldly acclaim that their followers give them today. If the tele- vangelists and professed miracle workers of current fame would tell people the truth, disavow their claims of supernatural power, and humbly follow Jesus' teaching, they would lose their great empires of wealth and fame, but they could gain Christ by obey- ing Him. If preachers tell people the truth about adultery, homo- sexuality, materialism, profanity, the Christian's relationship to the world, the church of Christ and its purpose and work, God's plan of salvation, the authority of Christ, and the reality of heav- en and hell, many of them will lose their pulpits, and many others will lose popularity and prestige among men. But think of the souls that can be saved, the broken lives mended, and the satisfaction of a clear conscience and the assurance of hope. "Godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Tim. 6:6). Do we esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt? -------------- Gilbert Alexander. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080816/01cf1967/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Aug 16 04:02:38 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 05:02:38 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) PSALM 139 Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. PSALM 139 Moments of quiet meditation can serve to give us greater understanding and insight into the awesome character of Jehov- ah. The meditations of a mature spiritual mind delve even more deeply, basking in the revealed truths, all the while realizing that "such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it" (vs. 6). Psalm 139 appears to contain the ruminat- ions of a deeply reflective mind, and if I were to seek to describe the results of his contemplations in one word, it would be "com- fort." His Omniscience: -- The psalm begins with both a realization and a celebration of the glorious omniscience of God. Even as thoughts and ideas begin to formulate in our minds, even before they have found full expression, God knows them. The psalmist calls to mind, in his meditation, the action of winnowing of wheat and he sees in it God's scrutiny of his ways. Every life has good and bad, wheat and chaff, and God knows it all. God surrounds him and yet he has freedom to act as he desires with the know- ledge that God knows. His omniscience is beyond his ability to grasp and leads the psalmist to consider another aspect of God. His Omnipresence: -- "Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence?" (vs. 7). What a comforting thought to the mature saint! He is never alone. Who among us has not felt alone at times or spent a seemin- gly endless night in turmoil while awaiting the relief offered by the first ray of sunlight? It is certain that David felt that way at several points in his life (e.g., Psa. 22:1). For David, the meditat- ion of quieter and calmer moments helped him understand that he was never alone. God is everywhere. He fills the heavens above and the realms below. Escape from His presence is not possible. Perhaps for the enemy of God such a thought is dread- ful and terrible, but not for God's child. He can know that where- ever he is, God's guiding hand is there to direct his steps. His Creativity: -- Even before the psalmist knew anything of this world, or anything fo God, God knew him. As he developed with- in the womb, God was there. The words that describe God's in- volvement with him in his earliest stages help us to understand how he could but burst forth with the words, "I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well" (vs. 14). Consider the word "weave" in verse 13. Properly, it means to knit together and in a wonderful sense describes the weaving together of the bones, sinews, and all such things that make up a human being. In verse 16, one word is translated as "my unfor- med substance." It means that whcih is rolled or wrapped toget- her -- what an intriguing way to describe an embryo! Everything is folded up, so to speak, and as the child develops within its mother, God oversees the unfolding of all of its parts. Indeed, God knows the beginning, the development, and the ending of all things. Does this preclude free will, or remove all matter of choice? No, it simply emphasizes once again the magnitude of the omniscience and omnipresence of God. At what point could the psalmist exhaust the thoughts of God and thereby have no more reason to meditate upon them? They are inexhaustible and as numberless as the sand of the sea. As he closes his eyes at night, his final thoughts are of God's ways. When he awakens in the morning he recognizes that he is in the presence of God and occupies himself with medi- tation of Him. What About The Wicked?: -- As the psalmist considers yet again the omniscience and omnipresence of God, the idea of the wick- ed comes to mind. God knows their evil words and ungodly acts. In his contemplation of Heavenly wonders, the actions of the wicked are repulsive to the psalmist. In other psalms David had often expressed his need for God to sustain him in the face of persecution and abuse at the hands of those who did not love God. What a comfort to be assured in the quiet moments of med- itation that both the godly and the ungodly will be properly rewa- rded. As this great psalm comes to a close, the author embraces the presence of God. He wants any wavering way pointed out and corrected. He understand that living his life according to God's statutes now is to live in the everlasting way -- the way to eternal life. His prayer is that God would lead him in that path. -------------- Greg Litmer in Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 1, Jan. 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080816/ee32d9a4/attachment-0001.html From GLClair at aol.com Sat Aug 16 08:13:07 2008 From: GLClair at aol.com (GLClair at aol.com) Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:13:07 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] HILLIARD BULLETIN (B) for August 2008 Message-ID: On-Line Edition - HILLIARD BULLETIN Published 2 times each month by the church of Christ 4840 Cemetery Road ? P.O. Box 96 Hilliard, Ohio 43026 Phone: (614) 876-4089 Preacher & Editor: Garreth L. Clair Phone: (614) 850-7252 Email: _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) ================================================================== Volume 10 Number 8 (B) August 2008 ================================================================== YOU CAN MAKE IT RIGHT There is a saying, ?you cannot go back and make changes in the past.? Even though this is an accurate statement; a person can change the tenor (i.e. intention) of events that they may have participated in the past. Yes, no one can go back to the past and alter the present as a result of going back. Yet, one may alter the effects of dispositions, and actions that they have caused or been a party to in the past; regardless of how long in the past their actions precipitated an alteration in personal relationships, church actions, or any other action performed between a person and others anywhere that caused harm mentally or doctrinal between or to other persons or other institutions. I have known of persons who created divisions within their own family because of their actions. I have known of individuals within congregations (i.e. local churches), that caused separations (i.e. schisms and parties). These persons often disenfranchise themselves as a result of their own actions and often defect (i.e. leave) completely from the family or the church because of their own guilt feelings after awhile. Guilt is a great separator of people; many times the person who is responsible for schism in the family or in the church is so self-condemned whenever they come to their senses and realize what they have done; they are either full of self-loathing or commit suicide (Example ? Judas ? cf. Matt 27:3-7, ?3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, what is that to us? See thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, it is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. 7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.? (KJV) CONSIDER THIS: Regardless of the wickedness that a person may involve themselves in, God will forgive and accept them if they are willing to correct the evil that they have done. God is good and in His loving-kindness there is forgiveness for all evil if the offending person(s) are willing to seek forgiveness for their sins. In corroboration of this concept please notice the following Biblical references: Psalms 86:5-6, ?5 for thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. 6 Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. (KJV) Matt 6:14-15, 14 for if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (KJV) Matt 18:21-22, 21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven. (KJV) Matt 18:35, So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. (KJV) 2 Cor 2:6-11, 6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. 7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (KJV) 1 John 1:9, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (KJV) Dear friend or brother, come back to God, He will forgive your transgressions. Remember, HELL is an awful place to go, don?t choose to go there on account of your failures in the past, be a true Christian ? return to God and seek forgiveness for your wrong doings; you will be forgiven! Eph 4:26-27, 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun goes down upon your wrath: 27 neither give place to the devil. (KJV) Heb 3:13-15, 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called to day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (KJV) Heb 10:26-27, 26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (KJV) 1 John 1:7-9, 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (KJV) _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) July 28, 2008 ALWAYS RESTLESS Some Never Learn Small children are often into everything, everywhere. Small children are explorers, adventurers, dare-devils, and without fear. While children are small and unable to know their limitations, they are in pursuit of anything, from the cat?s tail, to the lamp on the side table by the couch; indeed, but don?t forget the electric socket and plug-ins on the walls and in lamps with no bulb installed ? these may be dangers for the little explorers. We all are amused and careful with our small children while they are involved in the early stages of growing and learning. Yet, when the same children reach an age when they are under-standing that some things are no! - No! We are not up to the task that requires our adult supervision and correcting impulses to take care that our children are learning while they are growing. The learning while they are growing process is also important to the spiritual development of our children. The spiritual development of our children is very important to the growing process because of the worldly influences that are fostered in many of the homes that provide playmates for our children in school (i.e. public and private). Unless we are aware of the dangers of peer pressure even at very young ages we may loose our children to the beggarly elements of the world very early ? cf. Titus 2:12, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (KJV) 1 Cor 15:33, Be not deceived: evil communications (i.e. companion s- ASV) corrupt good manners. (KJV) Prov. 1:7-15, 7 the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 9 for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: 15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: (KJV) CONSIDER THIS: It is very important that parents of young children monitor their children?s friends and find out what kind of environment they favor and pursue in life; children are imitators of their parents ? if the children?s parents use alcohol, curse, never go to Bible study, have poor disciplinary rules, and spend their time in frivolous pursuits, their children will imitate them in these matters. If your children are left to develop their own friends; this is a serious child rearing error. Children have no idea about influences, or what is right and what is wrong for them to do or to be. Parents; it is up to you to care for and nurture your children in important matters that are pertinent to their very survival as a healthy, spiritual, and intelligent person ? God requires this of you if you as a Christian parent. Isn?t it time for you to examine your parenting skills to determine if you are helping your children grow up or if you are hindering their proper growth pattern that God has given you? CONSIDER THESE VERSES OF SCRIPTURE: Eph 6:1-4, 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise ;) 3 that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Col 3:20-21, 20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. 1 Thess. 2:11, ?As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, (KJV) We must all consider the rearing of children as our greatest occupation after serving the one true God acceptably. We must turn back to the principle of our fathers and grandfathers, which were much more reliable than our modern standards of child rearing. We must return to God?s principles for raising godly children in an ungodly world. Dear friends; make no mistake about it ? the worldly movers and shakers are after your children, they want them to be like the society of unbelievers that have brought our world into a chaotic state. A state where it will take parents of unusual integrity (i.e. dedicated Christians) to move them forward as God?s future stewards of the church. _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) Thursday, July 24, 2008 NEVER, NEVER ?Sow those wild oats ? young person!? There is never a good time to be bad. In spite of the fact that many young people feel that they have a few years to make really bad decisions about morality, ethics, and social choices. The truth of the matter is; many young people kill themselves while young, damage their body so badly that they will live a short life, or disgrace themselves and their family. This notion that a person is not responsible until sometime after they have sowed their wild oats is not at all a productive outlook on life. A person ought to never, never decide that choosing to ignore God, Jesus Christ, and the church Jesus built is a good idea; the facts are just the opposite. A person may try to ignore the right choices in life but they will never find any happiness or contentment in such a standard of living. In the Bible we are given warnings and instructions regarding this matter of ?sowing wild oats? (i.e. living without considering God in our lives); please note the following: CONSIDER THIS: Eccl. 12:13-14, 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (KJV) Prov. 23:17-18, 17 let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. 18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. Prov. 15:16, Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. Matt. 10:28, and fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (KJV) Eccl. 11:9-10, 9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment . 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. (KJV) --- _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) July 23, 2008 REMEMBER OUR SHUT-IN: James 1:27 Galatians 6:10 THE CHURCH IS THE PLACE WHERE LOVE ABOUNDS ? WHERE TRUTH IS DISCUSSED AND LIVED ? WHERE GOOD PEOPLE ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER TO DO GOOD WORKS - TO BE HAPPY AND AT PEACE. GOSPEL MEETING PLANS - Spring 2009 We are in the process of arranging a lecture program here on Cemetery Road for this coming Spring. We will keep you up to date with the subject matter and the speakers as we confirm the schedule. There will be different speakers for each day of the lecture series. Look for future announcements about this great opportunity to hear several good men as they proclaim God?s Written Word. OUR ATTENDANCE IS DOWN As we look at the attendance figures for the past 12 months we find that some of our figures are down from previous months, perhaps this is due to health and other unavoidable hindrances; yet we all need to examine ourselves to see if we are as careful with our attendance at Sunday night worship and Wednesday night Bible study as in the past. If you have suggestions as to how we might improve our attendance please let us know. CONSIDER HELPING US: If you know of some solutions to our problem of attendance, we need to hear from you. The greatest association that we have on earth is fellowship with other Christians as we also have fellowship with God --- cf. 1 John 1:3-7, ?3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.? (KJV) **************Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/cars-Volkswagen-Jetta-2009/expert-review?ncid=aolaut00030000000007 ) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080816/d062a6d0/attachment-0001.html From crxtra at gmail.com Sat Aug 16 19:40:04 2008 From: crxtra at gmail.com (Steven C. Harper) Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:40:04 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] A> Caring for the Caregivers [2] Message-ID: <000001c90001$cc144ea0$643cebe0$@com> From: TRUTH & REASON, a bulletin of the Glendale church of Christ, Glendale, AZ. Editor: Steven Harper August 17, 2008 Caring For The Caregivers [2] Last week we introduced and looked at those whose main task is being a caregiver, with the focus being solely on parents as some noteworthy caregivers. While the term 'parent' may not be the first one we might think of when speaking about caregivers, hopefully we now see the valuable duty they serve and we now think about how we can encourage and assist them in their efforts. I am sure they will appreciate it. But let us now turn to another class of caregivers: Children. When we are young and still living at home [teens or younger], we think little of caring for others; usually, we expect someone else to take care of us and provide all our needs [someone like our parents]. There are exceptional young people, though, who at an early age begin looking around and see that they are not the center of the universe and actually take time to think about the needs of others. Some young folks make it a point to be an encouragement to others - to their friends and even to complete strangers. These young folks should be noted and thanked for their unselfish thinking and encouraged to continue their good example for others; we could certainly use more like them! But the reality of life is, there may some children who end up being caregivers for their parents, whether they thought it a possibility or not. Many times those children grow up and become parents and caregivers to their children, but many times they become caregivers to their parents, too. Some live as caregivers to both their children and their parents at the same time, making life as a caregiver a more-than-full-time job. While we may not think about it as children, as we get older we must think about the real possibility of taking care of our parents because they, too, are getting older. While we all would like to think of our parents as superhuman and that they will always be strong and vibrant, the reality is that many people are struck with debilitating illnesses and physical infirmities that weaken those once-strong bodies and they must have others do for them what they have been doing for others or for themselves all their lives. It may be that those children whom they raised will be the ones who will now be caring for them. That is the way it should be! Jesus, when asked about why His disciples did not follow the traditions of the fathers (Matt. 15:2), turned the question around on the Pharisees and asked, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God, he need not honor his father.' So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God" (vv. 3-6). Jesus noted that, according to the Old Law which they supposedly valued, they were to honor their fathers and mothers (cf. Exod. 20:12), but they had failed to do that in practice by claiming that the financial support that might have been received from the sons was now God's instead and, by doing, voided the command of God. Let us note in this context that Jesus equated "honor" with material support; God expects children to financially and materially support their parents when the time comes! But a faithful disciple and adult whose parents are in need will not have to be told or coerced; they will do it simply because it is the right thing to do, and they will do it out of love. They may not remember all that their parents did for them when they were younger [much of it done when they were too young to remember], but they remember enough and they feel that returning the favor is the least they can do for them. They think nothing of taking them into their homes even while they are still raising their own children and making them a part of the family and home; they treat them with respect and continue to honor them; and they speak no unkind words or complaints and make sure their own children learn respect and true honor by their deeds and not just the words. I am reminded of a couple of examples relevant to this, one a short story and another a cartoon. In the story, a young married couple with a couple of children takes one of the grandparents into their home because he is unable to care for himself any longer. Because of Alzheimer's and his hand tremors, when he sits at the table, he often drools and doesn't always get the food to his mouth, and he often knocks over his drink. Not long after he moves in, the parents decide they simply cannot tolerate the embarrassment of having him sit at the table with the rest of the family so they set him a separate table by himself in the corner where he will be less noticeable. A few days later, the mother comes into the room and notices that her girls are playing "house" and they have the dolls all sitting at the table, but one is sitting at a table off in a corner. The mother's curiosity gets the best of her, so she asks, "Why do you have one of your dolls eating all alone, without the others? Was she a bad dolly?" "No," replied the youngest, "that's the grandpa table." Grandpa was back at the main table that night. In the cartoon, the first frame shows a man driving a car headed to the right, with an elderly man in the front seat and a young boy in the back. The young boy [the son of the one driving] asked, "Dad, where are we going?" The driver answered, "We are taking grandpa to a place where someone can take care of him." In the next frame, the boy then asks, "Where am I going to take you when you get old?" The last frame shows the car headed back in the other direction with a more humble look on the face of the driver. The point I want to make from these two illustrations is that this is not something we can simply hand off to someone else. When possible [understanding some situations make it not possible], we have the responsibility as children - and sometimes grandchildren - to take care of our own. Paul said the one who refuses to do this is worse than an unbeliever (1st Tim. 5:8)! In this country, where everything has become institutionalized [create an institution to take care of it, eliminating any personal involvement other than paying others to do it], it is refreshing to see and hear of those who take on the duties God gave to them, and without complaint. Those who willingly take on these God-given charges should be thanked - and noted. Professional Caregivers. I know some of you might be thinking this is counter to what I just said, but hear me out. While I know the institutions are in it for the money, many of the individual caregivers who work for those institutions are not; they are there because they are caring people. Professional caregivers such as nurses and those who work in extended care facilities are often a special kind of people who do so much for others with little asked in return. [They aren't going to get rich working such jobs.] They work long and odd hours, they take care of complete strangers, and they often do unpleasant tasks that many people would complain about if left in their charge. In many cases, the caregivers are the only friend of those in the care facility because family has abandoned them or because the family that does show up treats them with no respect. But the caregivers do all these things and don't ask for thanks - and that is what they often get: no thanks. Next time you run into someone who has given much of their life to taking care of someone else, why not take the time to thank them for what is often a tiresome and endless task. Encourage them. Better yet, be like them. -- Steven Harper -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080816/267d08f0/attachment-0001.html From Churchmousejd at wmconnect.com Sat Aug 16 17:46:39 2008 From: Churchmousejd at wmconnect.com (Churchmousejd at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 18:46:39 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] Fwd: And here SHE is! Message-ID: -------------- next part -------------- An embedded message was scrubbed... From: KyCleta at wmconnect.com Subject: Fwd: And here SHE is! Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:19:04 EDT Size: 1655462 Url: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080816/1207c3d0/attachment-0001.mht From tssullivan at charter.net Sat Aug 16 20:32:03 2008 From: tssullivan at charter.net (T. Sean Sullivan) Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:32:03 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] The Messenger Vol 003 Iss 029 Message-ID: <001301c90009$0f986100$6466a8c0@sean1a4c1f786> T he Messenger 2008 Published Weekly by Main Street Church of Christ 306 West Main Street, Newbern, TN 38059 731-627-3514 Bulletin Editor: T. Sean Sullivan VOLUME 003::ISSUE 029:: August 17, 2008 ARTICLE ONE: Why We Do What We Do #5 ARTICLE TWO: Why We Do What We Do #6 Article One: Why We Do What We Do #5 In Matthew 21:23 the Chief Priests and the Elders confronted Jesus with a question. A very important question, "By what authority are You doing these things?" That question was valid then and it stands valid today. God has authorized certain practices for us and we must do only as He has authorized (oracles = authoritative words 1 Peter 4:11). As Christians we recognize that fully functional pattern of worship and practice that has been set for us as the scriptures-specifically the New Testament scriptures. We then look for God's authority-scriptural authority. If someone were to ask, "What are churches suppose to do?" They may be able to ascertain that churches are supposed to: feed people, supply daycare, organize inter-congregational sports leagues, Friday night bingo, and etc. Are these things really the work of the church? Where can we find the answer to this very serious question? We need to know what God intended for the work of the church. The Bible reveals very specific areas of work that can be done by the Lord's Church. We are authorized to work in three areas. Let's open our Bibles and consider our work as a congregation of the Lord's Church. Evangelism We are to evangelize. This means to preach the gospel with the goal of converting souls to Christ. This is very specific work that we are responsible to accomplish properly. We are to win souls to Christ by the power of the gospel and nothing else (Romans 1:16; Galatians 1:6-8). The New Testament examples: The first day the church came into existence (Acts 2:14-40)-Peter proclaimed the gospel message. We also see that Paul preached the gospel in many congregations (Acts 14:21-22, 25 Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Antioch of Pisidia, Perga, Attalia). Timothy and Titus were evangelists-commanded to "Preach the word" (2 Timothy 4:1-5; Titus 2:1). In evangelism we fulfill the command of Christ to preach and teach all things that He has commanded (Matthew 28:19-20). Edification Edification is strengthening and encouraging. When we choose to become a Christian we choose a difficult way of life. Jesus spoke of the one true way as the narrow and difficult (Matthew 7:13-14). We need help along the way. This is where edification becomes necessary. New Testament Examples: Acts 16:40 Paul edified the disciples in the Lydia's house. Acts 20:1-3 "Embraced them.encouraged with many words". 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Paul encouraged the brethren at Thessalonica to continue their practice of edifying one another. By edifying one another we accomplish the necessary relationship of brotherhood. God has seen fit that we would have this safety net of our brethren to help us along the way. We are commanded to care for one another: Romans 12:4-15 "Giving preference to one another". Ephesians 4:25-32 "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving". "Be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus (Romans 15:5). "Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us" (Romans 15:7). "Admonish one another" (Romans 15:14). "Greet one another (Romans 16:16). "Members should have the same care for one another" (1 Corinthians 12:25). "Greet one another "1 Corinthians 16:20. "Greet one another" (2 Corinthians 13:12). ".through love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13). We are to work toward the building up of each other toward completion. Ephesians 4:13-16 ".growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." Benevolence: Described: In attitude: a willingness to do good. In form: a generous gift or act of kindness. In function: taking care of those in need. The New Testament Examples: The first days of the church (Acts 4:34-37). The brethren's willingness to help the saints in Judea (Romans 15:25-27; 1 Corinthians 16:1-3; 2 Corinthians 9:1-7). According to these examples the collection of funds on the first day of the week is strictly for the saints. We are only authorized to help "the saints" with the Lord's money. We must also note the benevolence is never used as bait for evangelistic efforts. Individually, however, we can help anyone we want with wisdom and within our ability. Conclusion: We have work to do. We have a responsibility to help lead others to Christ, to encourage and uplift one another, and to supply one another's needs. These are the only works that we are authorized to do. This is what the church is supposed to do-nothing less, nothing more. Are you part of the Lord's church? ~tss Article Two: Why We Do What We Do #6-The True Work of the Church Introduction: If someone were to ask, "What are churches supposed to do?" They may be able to ascertain that churches are supposed to: feed people, supply daycare, have inter-congregational sports leagues, and put on the Friday night bingo. Are these things really the work of the church? Where can we find the answer to this very serious question? We need to know what God intended for the work of the church. The Bible reveals very specific areas of work that can be done by the Lord's Church. We are authorized to work in three areas. Let's open our Bibles today and consider our work and a congregation of the Lord's Church. What is the Work of the Church? Evangelism: We are to evangelize, this means to "sound forth" the gospel with the goal of converting souls to Christianity. This is very specific work that we are responsible to accomplish properly. We are to win souls to Christ by His doctrine not to anything different. The New Testament examples: The first day the church came into existence Acts 2:14-40; Paul preached the gospel in many congregations (Acts 14:21-22, 25 Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Antioch of Pisidia, Perga, and Attalia). Also, Timothy and Titus were evangelists "Preach the word" (2 Tim. 4:1-5; Titus 2:1) 3. In evangelism we fulfill the command of Christ to preach and teach all things that He has commanded (Matt. 28:19-20) Edification: Edification is strengthening and encouraging. When we choose to become a Christian we choose a difficult way in life. Jesus spoke of the one true way as the narrow and difficult (Matt. 7:13-14). Of necessity we need help along the way and this is where edification becomes necessary. We have New Testament examples: Acts 16:40 Paul edified the disciples in the Lydia's house; Acts 20:1-3 "Embraced them.encouraged with many words". Also 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Paul encouraged the brethren at Thessalonica to continues their practice of edifying one another. Benevolence: Benevolence in attitude is a willingness to do good. In form it is a generous gift or act of kindness. In actions it is taking care of the need of benevolence. We have New Testament example: The first days of the church (Acts 4:34-37); the brethren's willingness to help the saints in Judea (Romans 15:25-27; 1 Corinthians 16:1-3; 2 Corinthians 9:1-7). According to these examples the collection of funds on the first day of the week is strictly for the saints. We are only authorized to help the saints with the Lord's money. Individually we can help anyone we want with wisdom and within our ability. What about Recreation, Entertainment, and Community Benevolence? Many have "justified" the need for "Recreation, entertainment, and far-reaching benevolence" by stating "whatever the individual can do the church can do". The scriptures however, make a clear distinction between "individual responsibilities" and "church responsibilities". Consider 1 Timothy 5:16 "If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows." There are several individual responsibilities that the church cannot do. Working to make money, to care for his family (1 Timothy 5:8). Engaging in business (1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; James 4:13-17). Raising children (Ephesians 6:1-4). Marital Responsibilities (1 Corinthians 7). Many justify Recreation, Entertainment, and Community Benevolence by claiming it is for the greater good of evangelism. Evangelism is explained in Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; 2 Timothy 4:1-5. None of these places indicate a "baiting" process of recreation, entertaining, or benevolence. Teaching them, preaching the gospel, and preach the word-these actions are evangelism. Many justify Recreation and Entertainment as "fellowship: and therefore "edification". Every indication of fellowship in the scriptures is strictly spiritual-never is it associated with "parties, potlucks, or ball games". Fifteen references (Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 10:20; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 8:4; Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:9; Ephesians 5:11; Philippians 1:5; Philippians 2:1; Philippians 3:10; 1 John 1:3, 6, 7) all spiritual in context and meaning. What about Social Needs? The work of the church is focused on the spiritual needs of mankind. We are to evangelize: ".to make disciples of every nation". We provide edification: to spiritually strengthen Christians young and old. We offer benevolent care for the truly needful Christians, so they are not hindered from spiritual growth. As for social needs, we as individuals need to be actively involved in one another's lives so that we are encouragement for one another. As individuals we can care for one another's social needs separate from the church and the church's finances. The young people need more time together? Plan something as individuals, invited them to participate. Conclusion: The church has authorized work to do. We, as the church, have a responsibility to help lead others to Christ; encourage and uplift one another; supply one another's benevolent needs. These are the only works that we are authorized to do. This is what the church is supposed to do: nothing less, nothing more-the authority of God must be respected. Today's needs do not change the truth. If today's people need more togetherness the church's responsibilities do not change to meet those needs. We as individuals, have the flexibility to provide those needs if we are able. ~tss If you are enjoying The Messenger and you know someone else who would like to receive it. Please forward it to them or send me their email address and I will add it to the list. Sean -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080816/9e19d3b4/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 2886 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080816/9e19d3b4/attachment-0001.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 9535 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080816/9e19d3b4/attachment-0001.gif From richardthetford at msn.com Sun Aug 17 17:54:55 2008 From: richardthetford at msn.com (Richard Thetford) Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:54:55 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Walking in the Light (8/17/08) Message-ID: Walking in the Light "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105) August 17, 2008 www.thetfordcountry.com --- INFORMATION: Walking in the Light is published each week by Richard Thetford. You are encouraged to visit the web site at www.thetfordcountry.com and then click on "Richard's Home Page" to view numerous sermons, articles, radio program scripts, class material and other information. If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to "Walking in the Light," please send their name and e-mail address to richard at thetfordcountry.com --- CONTENTS: "What Manner of Persons Should We Be? (Richard Thetford) "Complacency" (Glen Young) "Ain't It Funny (Selected) "Duck Church" (Selected) SENTENCE SERMONS --- WHAT MANNER OF PERSONS SHOULD WE BE? Richard Thetford In 1 Peter 3:14 it says: "But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled." We need to be a child of God with a faith like that of Abel, ready and willing to suffer any kind of persecution for the sake of Jesus. Jesus gave His all for us - we should be willing to give our ALL for Him! We Should Be.... Here are several scriptures that we can look up and be familiar with that will show us what manner of persons we should be. From God's Word we can see that we should be attentive (Heb 2:1), obedient (Matt 23:23), one who imitates Christ (2 Thes 3:7), holy (2 Pet 3:11), pleasing to God (1 Thes 4:1), helpful (Acts 20:35), godly (2 Pet 3:11), prayerful (Luke 18:1), peaceable (2 Pet 3:14), humble (John 13:14), blameless (2 Pet 3:14), loving (1 John 3:16), and faithful (Matt 25:14-27) to name just a few. Why Should We Be This Way? We should strive to be this manner of person because we know that "all things will be dissolved" someday (2 Pet 3:11). Christ is going to come again (2 Pet 3:12), and we want to gain a home in heaven with Him (2 Pet 3:13). May we all strive to live a good Christian life here on earth so we can live with our Father forever (Rev 2:10; 2 Pet 3:8-9). --- COMPLACENCY Glen Young The greatest problem facing the church, today, is complacency. The dictionary defines complacency as, 'a feeling of quiet satisfaction.' Some may ask, "What is wrong with that?" Where complacency exists, there is no hunger or thirsting for righteousness (Matthew 5:6). Only those who have an overwhelming desire for righteousness will give the necessary effort to succeed. To possess something, we must first want it. I am afraid that we have become so oriented to the pleasures of this world that we no longer want to possess Heaven. The feeling of quiet satisfaction produces self-righteousness. We have become like the Pharisees of old. Although we don't put it into words, our hearts pray, "God, I thank you that I am not like other men, robbers, evildoers, adulterers. I attend services three times a week and give a tenth of all I get." Our hearts have forgotten how to pray, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."" See Luke 18:10-13. The feeling of quiet satisfaction cause us to demand of others what we do not demand of ourselves. This is spiritual suicide. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew 7:1-5 Now you, Christian, if you call yourself a child of God, if you rely on the Scriptures and brag about your relationship to God, if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the teachings of the New Testament, if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the doctrine of Christ the embodiment of knowledge and truth, you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, cheating, or breaking the law, are you dishonest in your dealings with others? You who say that people should not commit adultery, are you in a marriage which is adulterous because you have an unscriptural divorce? You who abhor idols, do you worship the gods of materialism and pleasure by devoting to them the majority of your time? You who brag about book, chapter and verse, do you dishonor God by your failure to handle aright the Word of Truth? As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the ungodly because of you." See Romans 2:17-24. Complacency will destroy the Christian because it is like the Judas goat which leads lambs to their deaths. The Christian follows, feeling satisfied and happy, then comes destruction. "Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" Matthew 7:23. --- AIN'T IT FUNNY Selected * How we set our clocks to arise at 5:00 A.M. to be at the job by 7:30; yet, when Sunday comes we can't get to the church building for the 9:30 A.M. Bible study to learn more about the one who gave us our jobs. * How we call God our Father and Jesus our brother; but find it hard to introduce them to our family and friends. * How small our sins seem; but how big ""their" sins are. * How we demand justice for others; but expect mercy from God. * How much difficulty some have learning the gospel well enough to tell others; but how simple it is to understand and explain the latest gossip about someone else. * How we can't think of anything to say when we pray; but don't have any difficulty thinking of things to talk about to a human friend. * How we are so quick to take directions from a total stranger when we are lost; but are hesitant to take God's direction for our lives. ARE THESE THINGS REALLY FUNNY? --- DUCK CHURCH Selected One fine Sunday morning, the ducks gathered for duck church. They waddled into their duck pews, sang from their duck song books, and listened to their duck preacher. The duck preacher said, "Ducks, you don't have to waddle. You have wings like eagles. You can fly! Fly, ducks, fly! The ducks all said, "Amen, Amen!" Then, when the service was over, the ducks got up and waddled home. New Testament Application: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was." (James 1:22-24) --- SENTENCE SERMONS God puts the church in the world, but Satan puts the world in the church. To grow tall spiritually, a man must first learn to kneel. Jealousy is to the soul what sickness is to the body. Revenge is sorta like biting a dog because the dog bites you. If you must kill time, be sure it is your own. People look at preachers out of the pulpit to know what they mean when in it. Experience should increase our wisdom and reduce our follies. If we let God guide, He will provide. Even folks on the level will have their ups and downs. --- SERMON Our Priorities of Life (With PowerPoint Charts) www.thetfordcountry.com --- 1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 626-5558 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/Editor Richard Thetford Building: (970) 249-8116 Home: (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com --- RICHARD THETFORD 1491 Canyon Drive Ridgway, CO 81432 (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080817/8e523448/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 2950 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080817/8e523448/attachment-0001.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 14927 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080817/8e523448/attachment-0003.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 177 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080817/8e523448/attachment-0004.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 6628 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080817/8e523448/attachment-0005.gif From thornhill1 at frontiernet.net Sun Aug 17 22:27:19 2008 From: thornhill1 at frontiernet.net (thomas thornhill) Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:27:19 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] The Buckhorn Teacher 8-10-08 Message-ID: <000e01c900e2$531c6af0$06fea8c0@your4dacd0ea75> Dear brethren, Sorry this issue is late, but my wife and I just returned from a two week trip to Alaska where we enjoyed both a land tour and a cruise. Most of the expenses were paid for by our children as they helped us celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. It was a little early since our anniversary is actually Sept.1 but it was enjoyable. brotherly, Tommy THE BUCKHORN TEACHER "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." 2.Tim.4:2 Buckhorn church of Christ - Thomas Thornhill - editor. 13675 Hwy 341, Randolph MS 38864-9117. Tel. 662-568-2960. Cell 662-419-5378. E-mail thornhill1 at frontiernet.net Vol.7 August 10, 2008 No.6 This is the article my son, Tom Jr, wrote on his return to California after his two meetings here in NE Mississippi July 13-23. I thought you might be interested in his thoughts. It is good to be back! Greetings brethren! After having been gone for a little over two weeks, having delivered 14 sermons to two different congregations in Northern Mississippi, it is good to be back home. My time away was very enjoyable as I had the opportunity to meet new brethren and become reacquainted with many others I have known for awhile. I also was privileged to again savor the slower pace of country living, green pastures and lots (and lots) of trees. The brethren there were good folks who love the Lord and desire to hear the truth just as much as we do. The gospel meetings were well attended both by the local members and visitors from other congregations. Some drove more than a hundred miles to hear the gospel message proclaimed. Services on Sunday evening were moved to 7:30 at both locations and as a result the Sunday night services were some of the better attended with brethren having heard the gospel at their own congregation several times that day (one congregation about thirty miles away had an afternoon singing) coming to hear more. Brethren, that is a testament to their desire to hear the word of God and their love for His brethren in other places. THAT is something that we should ALL give consideration to in this busy world. There are far too many in congregations throughout this land who look for excuses to GET OUT of attending multiple services on the Lord's Day and throughout the week. May that NEVER be our desire as it often shows a struggle with one's priorities. But I also made another observation as I talked with these brethren. We live in a huge city that is filled with ungodliness and sin at virtually every turn we take. This area of the country is known for its liberal morals and tolerance of just about everything. The papers here are filled with sad stories and statistics that tell the rest of the country and world what we really think of God as a society. We read of drunkenness, drugs, broken families, divorces, ungodly entertainment, thefts and many other actions which are clearly condemned in scripture. Such things have come to be expected in the big cities. But understand, such things exist EVERYWHERE, including small farming communities and towns. While the numbers may not be quite as high and the conduct not as freely tolerated, these communities deal with broken homes, addictions, worldliness, immorality and indifference just like we do. And that means that these brethren in rural America have to take a stand for the truth AND against immorality just like we do. And they are doing a good job. Like us, these brethren also live in communities where the WHOLE truth is not the popular thing to teach and live. In addition to worldly communities, they have to stand up against denominationalism (and Catholicism) and face being shunned by neighbors and family if they give a defense for their hope (1 Peter 3:15). But they do it. The point is that these brethren face the same troubles and struggles that we do. Just because they live in a smaller community doesn't mean they don't have spiritual issues they need to deal with. Satan is working to win their souls just as much as he is ours (1 Peter 5:8). Because they face such things, they need our prayers on their behalf just like everyone else (1 Timothy 2:1). I will readily admit that there are some ways that it is easier for those in rural communities to stand for what is right. The reasons are borne out in scripture. Jesus talks about how it is easier for a poor man to enter heaven than a rich man (See Matthew 19:16-30). The reason is because the rich man has more of this world's goods to occupy his time and like the rich young ruler in that text, they are less likely to "sell what you have and give to the poor... and come follow (Jesus)" (vs. 21). While I am not saying that those in rural life are all poor, in general they lead a simpler life and are more content (cf. Phil 4:11). And that attitude makes them more likely to obey the gospel or at least show respect for godly values. Those living in the big cities are more easily attracted to the bright lights of sin and lure of material success that will pierce men in many sorrows and in greediness lure them from the faith (1 Timothy 6:9-10). Now I am not necessarily saying we all need to pack up our bags and move from the big city. Just as Jesus prayed for His disciples in John 17 that God would not take them out of the world (15) but "that You should keep them from the evil one," we should not necessarily expect God to move us out of our environment. In the Bible we find churches in some of the most ungodly cities (Cf. Corinth, Thessalonica, Ephesus, Rome, etc.). We are where we are and we need to make the best of whatever circumstance we are in. BUT, we do need to keep vigilant and we need to pray for His help in dealing with whatever we face. There are advantages to the big city life as well. Generally speaking we have more brethren that we can turn to with our problems and more resources to deal with them. Furthermore, IF WE ARE REALLY SERIOUS about reaching the lost we have more opportunities to sow the Seed of the word of God. (Have you thought about that?) Plus, because of our greater prosperity, if we understand our need to give and we do so as we have prospered (1.Cor.16:1-2, 2.Cor.9:6-7) we have more opportunities to support the preaching of the gospel not only locally, but in other locations as well, including rural communities where preachers need support to work full time laboring in the gospel. So here I am again, back from my trip. This is where my home is. This is where my family is. This is where my spiritual family is. This is where my work in His kingdom is. You are all special to me and while I was gone you were continually in my thoughts and prayers. And it is my hope that I was in your prayers as well. I will readily admit that I enjoyed the slower pace and the much less stressful environment. I was able to relax and enjoy the stars and solitude of night between the lessons and work I was doing. But you, my brethren, were here and I looked forward to again being with you and working with you. And because of that I thank God for my safe return and the opportunities we have to keep working together serving Him here in Los Angeles (and Orange) County. Because of you I am truly blessed. Yes it IS good to be back. TATJR -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080817/19cdef09/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Aug 18 04:58:56 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:58:56 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) "INCREDIBLE" BEGINNING Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Monday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: "INCREDIBLE" BEGINNING The beginnings of things always intrigue us. We often mark them with great ceremony at the time if we anticipate their import- ance (weddings, ribbon-ctutting grand openings, signings, etc.). We frequently research beginnings if only later we realize some- one's or somehing's importance (the work of historians). It is therefore of no surprise that thinking men and women have often pondered the beginning of the physical universe. While many are content to not give it any consideration and perhaps assume that because it is here it has always been here, most observe and realize that all physical things have measura- ble deterioration and, therefore, cannot be eternal but must have had a beginning point. Essentially, there are two possibilities for how the physical began: 1) It happened by random chance, or 2) It happened on purpose. Expressed another way: 1) It happened by random chance, or 2) It happened by design. Stated yet another way 1) It began spontaneously from ignorant nothingness, or 2) It began intentionally from intelligence. In modern parlance it is the debate between "Big Bang" and "Intelligent Design" or "Evolution" vs "Creation." While some have attempted to harmonize the general theory of evolution and creation theory, at its core such an attempt is futile. To borr- ow from the apostle Paul, "what fellowship has purpose with accident, what communion has design with chance, what acco- rd has intelligence with ignorance, what agreement has creation with evolution," (adapted from 2 Cor. 6:14-16). The answer is none. When anyone is challenged to give a historical explanation for the existence of something physical, spontaneous generat- ion from nothing is never considered sound reasoning. Yet this is what modern science teaches is the best explanation for the beginning of all things. However, the ancient book of books, the Holy Scriptures, offers another explanation. Many find its explanation incredible, but it is far more credible than the spontaneous generation of something from nothing suggested by atheists and agnostics. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen. 1:1). Indeed, mankind is without excuse for not drawing the bas- ic conclusion that a powerful supernatural intelligence (God) is the cause of this physical existence (Rom. 1:20). Scripture reveals that God simply spoke things into existen- ce. "Then God said...and it was so," is an oft repeated phrase in Gen. 1. To be able to speak material things into existence demands a power that is beyond nature and beyond our compre- hension. It is super-natural. Therefore, it is understandable that atheists assume that this creation account (along with the rest of the first eleven chapters of Genesis) is mythical, legendary or, at best, allegorical, but certainly not literal. Yet, even some believers in God attempt to explain the creation using the natur- alistic assumptions of unbelievers. Forgetting that with God all things are possible (Matt. 19:26), many find these accounts incredible and unbelievable. How- ever, again borrowing from the sayings of Paul, "why should it be thought incredible by you that" God spoke things into exist- ence in six literal days? Of course, Paul was addressing Agrippa with regard to Jesus' resurrection (Acts 26:8). But be- ware! If you find a six-day creation incredible, you might have the sme problem with the resurrection from the dead. Most peo- ple do. Whenever we doubt the powers of God's spoken Word, we have no foundation for faith in any apect of His Word. As disciples of Christ, we would do well to follow His lead concerning the authority of the Genesis account. In responding to His adversaries about a point of great controversy regarding divorce, Jesus refers to the Genesis account of the beginning (Matt. 19:3-8). Jesus' authoritative use of Moses' account of cre- ation affirms that He believed it to be accurate. Indeed, we can- not claim Christ as our Lord and reject the accuracy of Moses' words (Jno. 5:46,47). To adapt Jesus' Words to the Sadducees and apply them to the present controversy over creation/evolut- ion, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the pow- er of God" (Matt. 22:29). Beware, a rejection of these beginning truths undermines the whole foundation of the rest of Scripture and, therefore, our faith in God's power to do anything. (If one does not believe in all the Bible says, he is an infidel and unbelie- ver even in God Who created all things in and by His own way, you can't have one without the other, JWS). ---- Andy Diestelkamp via Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 30, July 27, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080818/66cf5b25/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Aug 18 04:59:06 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:59:06 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) AND HE CANNOT SIN (1) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the first part of a study from my ancient files. Use to the glory of God. AND HE CANNOT SIN (1) "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (1 Jno. 3:9). This passage of Scripture is often misinterpreted because of a failure to interpret it in light of other passages; some of which are by the same author. When one's interpretation of a passage of Scripture contradicts the plain teaching of another passage in the Bible he may know that his interpretation is wrong. This is a very basic and essential rule of interpretation. In an effort to prove the false doctrine of the impossibility of apostasy, better known as "once saved always saved", many denominational preachers wrest such passages as 1 Jno. 3:9. To support their theory, these preachers insist that 1 Jno. 3:9 teaches that it is impossible for a "born again man" to sin at all. For example: Baptist preachers teach that only the "inward man" is born again, and that after this birth the "heart" or "inward man" cannot sin; and they mean by that that it is IMPOS- SIBLE for him to sin. They teach that only the outward man can sin after the new birth. The Bible does not teach this, however. The Bible teaches that man is a twofold being, but it does not teach that ony the inward man is born again, and that after the new birth all sins are committed by the outward man. Paul said, "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature;" (2 Cor. 5:17). Paul did not say, "Therefore if the inward man be in Christ he is a new creature;" He said, "If any MAN", and a man is both inward and outward man; both are in Christ, and both are born again. Jesus said, "Except a MAN be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (Jno. 3:5). This man, or this one (R.V.), includes all of a man, inward and outward man. If it does not, then the inward man would be in the kingdom, or church, and the outward man woulf be out of Christ, orout of His kingdom, hence a child of the devil. If this were true, the inward man would have to employ a child of the devil to do everything he would do for the Lord. One could not even preach without employing a child of the devil; one could not even think, because we use our brains to think, and our brains are a part of the outward man. Such but shows how utter- ly rediculous and absurd such a doctring is, and yet millions profess to believe it. Now observe another of the passages in 1 John: "But fi we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fell- owship one with another, adn the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us form all sin. If we say we have no sins, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us. My little children, these things I write unto you that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 Jno. 1:7-10; 2:1). One might be beset with a difficulty in deter- mining just what 1 Jno. 3:9 teaches, but he would know that it does not teach that it is impossible for the "born of God" man to sin. Why? Because, John plainly teaches in the above quotat- ion that we not only can sin, but do sin, have sinned, and expresses the possibility that we will sin. John was not talking about the sins of the outward man only. (We would never learn such from the Bible, we have to go to the Baptists to learn this). Without the inward man, the outward man would be dead (Jas. 2:26), and it therefore could not sin or do anything else. The Baptists tell us that if the inward man is born again, it is not only impossible for it to sin, but also that the outward man will be re- deemed in the resurrection, regardless of how many sins it com- mits, just so the inward man has been born again. If this were true there would be absolutely no need of, "confessing our sins". Why would it be necessary to have the blood of Christ to "cleanse us from all sin"? Why pray for the forgiveness of our sins? Why any of this "confessing", "praying", and "cleansing" if only the outward man can sin, since, say the Baptists, that the outward man will be redeemed in the resurrection, regardless of its sins? Will some Baptists answer these questions? Just as surely as the outward man sins, the inward man, or heart, is involved in that sin. Jesus is the author of this doctrine, not this scribe. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornication, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all of these evil things come from within and defile the man" (Mk. 7:21-23). Can a born again man commit adultery? If he can, he can sin with his inward man! Be- cause Jesus said that this sin comes from the heart, or inward man. However, according to Baptist doctrine, the born again man who commits adultery, or any other sin, could just say, "It was not I that sinned, it was just my outward man". Can a Christ- ian have an evil thought? Certainly he can. And when he does he sins with his inward man. Simon thought an evil thought as recorded in Acts chapter eight. And Simon was a born again person. But because of his one evil thought, Peter said to him, "Thy money perish with thee, because thou has thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money" (Acts 8:20). Peter inferred that Simon would perish if he did not repent, all because he had thought one evil thought. Note the difference in the rea- son that Peter gave as to why Simon would perish, and the rea- son tht Baptist preachers give as to why he was going to perish. Baptist preachers say he was going to perish because he had not really been born again, but Peter said that it was because he had thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money The sin of Simon is summed up by the apostle Peter as the thought of his HEART! "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God that if perhaps the thought of thine HEART may be forgiven thee" (Acts 8:22). Therefore, we know that 1 Jno. 3:9 does not teach that it is IMPOSSIBLE for the born again man to sin. Children fo God can sin, and are warned against apostasy thoughout the Bible. The book of Hebrews was written for the express and specific purpo- se of restoring some who had evidently departed from the living God, and for the purpose of preventing others from falling from grace. Some are mentioned in the sixth chapter who had fallen so far away that it was impossible to "renew them again to repen- tance". The following quotations are three examples of the teaching of the book of Hebrews on this point! "Take heed brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbeleif, in departing from the living God." (3:12). "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God." (12:15). The marginal reading says, "fall from the grace of God". "Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief" (4:11). (More will be posted on this subject tomorrow, the Lord willing. JWS). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080818/d5e21c10/attachment.html From ZekeFlores1 at cs.com Mon Aug 18 11:56:00 2008 From: ZekeFlores1 at cs.com (ZekeFlores1 at cs.com) Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:56:00 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S> What A Blind Man Saw Message-ID: Here's a lesson taken from a variety of sources. It can also be downloaded in formatted .RTF format or in audio .WAV format from our website along with another new lesson titled "Temptation's Trouble." Also on the website is a new "featured article" titled "Another One Bites The Dust." It begins "It seems that almost every other week, we hear of some young celebrity's trouble being splashed all over the newspapers and gossip shows. Maybe it's Britney and her legal and child custody battles with K-Fed. Maybe it's Paris and her bad driving. Maybe it's Lindsey and her drug/alcohol trouble. Maybe it's Miley and her naughty pictures. More and more we see young stars being overcome by the vices of fame and fortune. Is there any young celebrity that is actually a role model for all the teens that look up to them?" I hope the material is useful. Zeke Flores Kiber Street church of Christ Angleton, TX www.angletonchristians.com ************************************************************************* What A Blind Man Saw Acts 9:1-19 Intro: The TEXT re-introduces us to Saul of Tarsus who later became the apostle Paul. A. Though a young man at this time, he was already a "honcho" of sorts in the opposition to the early church. 1. Acts 7:58- 8:3 2. Persecution was his plan and zeal & brutality was how he carried it out. 3. Having helped ravage the church in Jerusalem, he was anxious to crush the Lord's people in Damascus. B. But a strange thing happened on the way to Damascus. 1. Struck blind by the glory of Jesus, Paul saw some things over the next few days that led to some major changes in his life. 2. Let's see what a blind man saw. I. Saul Saw Jesus Is Lord - vs 5 A. Before this, Jesus was just another rabble-rouser to Saul. 1. He saw Jesus as a threat to his religion and "The Way" had to be stamped out! B. But Jesus is Lord (Master) and has the right to command and the right to expect obedience. 1. Acts 2:36, Eph 1:20-22, John 12:48 2. How you perceive Jesus is critical as to where you'll spend eternity! Is He your Lord? a. Salvation depends on it - Rom 10:9-10 C. He also saw that to persecute Jesus' followers is to persecute Jesus Himself. 1. So closely does Jesus identify with His sheep that when they undergo difficulties, He empathizes. a. 1 Cor 8:12 II. Saul Saw His Conscience Was Not A Reliable Guide A. He learned he couldn't rely on the traditions of his religion. 1. Jesus said that men would kill His disciples thinking they're offering service to God - John 16:2 - and Saul was just the man for the job! a. He said: Gal 1:13-14, Acts 23:1, 26:4-5 b. Yet he: Acts 26:9-11 2. Though Saul had been as faithful for his father's traditions as a Jew could get, he was ill-prepared for the Messiah. - Matt 15:8-9 a. In 1903 the Russian Czar noticed a sentry posted for no apparent reason on the Kremlin grounds. Upon inquiry, he discovered that in 1776 Catherine the Great found there the first flower of spring. "Post a sentry here," she commanded, "so that no one tramples that flower under foot!" Some traditions die hard! Leadership, Summer, 1989, p. 43. B. Neither could he rely on his own good works. 1. No doubt he was a morally-minded man (except for killing Xians!) but it's not our own righteousness that will save us. a. Isaiah 64:6, Titus 3:4-5 b. Though we're created for good works (Eph 2:10), they're no good apart from faith (James 2:22). III. Saul Saw He Was A Sinner - vv 9, 11 A. For three days in the darkness, Paul thought and prayed. 1. He was convicted by the guilt of his sins and didn't deny it. In fact, the thought that he'd sinned so against the Lord was always on his mind a. 1 Cor 15:9, 1 Tim 1:13, 15 B. Yet Saul didn't simply wallow in his conviction, he realized something had to be done. Thing is, one must act on the right convictions! 1. "I am tired of hearing about men with the ?courage of their convictions.' Nero and Caligula and Attila and Hitler had the courage of their convictions ? but not one had the courage to examine his convictions, or to change them, which is the true test of character." Sydney Harris in Bits & Pieces, October 1991. C. We must all, every one of us, realize that the worst sin in the world is MY sin, for we will suffer the consequences for no one else's. 1. "The soul who sins shall die!" Ezek 18:4 2. It matters not what it is or whether you think your sin is "not as bad" as someone else's. IV. Saul Saw Obedience To Jesus Is The Only Way To True Sight - vv 17-19 A. For Saul, the only way to receive back his sight was to simply submit to the commands of Jesus. 1. Saul was enlightened in more ways than one that day. Not only did he receive physical sight, he saw things in a way he never had before. 2. He saw now that Jesus was the one whom the prophets foretold a. Acts 17:1-3, 18:5, 20:18-21 b. He didn't "see" this before that day in Damascus! B. People today need to see what Saul saw while blind! 1. Satan blinds people to what they need to see. a. 2 Cor 4:3-4 b. He doesn't want them to see: (1) Jesus as Lord (2) The immensity of their sin (3) The inadequacy of their conscience 2. God's word illumines, enlightens, and gives sight to the blind. a. Psalm 119:97-104 b. Let God's word OPEN YOUR EYES! Conc: Someone said, "There are none so blind as those who will not see."There is nothing so sad as willful blindness. A. Some people just don't want to know. 1. "being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart" Eph 4:18 B. Only YOU can make the decision whether or not you'll see. 1. In his book, An Anthropologist on Mars, neurologist Oliver Sacks tells about Virgil, a man who had been blind from early childhood. When he was 50, Virgil underwent surgery and was given the gift of sight. But as he and Dr. Sacks found out, having the physical capacity for sight is not the same as seeing. Virgil's first experiences with sight were confusing. He was able to make out colors and movements, but arranging them into a coherent picture was more difficult. Over time he learned to identify various objects, but his habits--his behaviors--were still those of a blind man. Dr. Sacks asserts, "One must die as a blind person to be born again as a seeing person. It is the interim, the limbo . . . that is so terrible." To truly see Jesus and his truth means more than observing what he did or said, it means a change of identity; changing from blindness to sight, from death to life. C. INV -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080818/25645609/attachment-0001.html From dmartinbtbq at comcast.net Mon Aug 18 15:50:08 2008 From: dmartinbtbq at comcast.net (Don Martin) Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:50:08 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (question/answer) Message-ID: <00ff01c90174$00b3fe80$6401a8c0@533034B8A6DF4D9> Hello Jim, Thank you so much for your question and for making use of Bible Questions. Please do so again. http://www.biblequestions.org Also, check out Bible Truths http://www.bibletruths.net Go to the archives section of these sites for material and also go to the archives search page and type in any subject or word you wish to explore. New material is constantly being added to both sites. Any help you can give us in telling others of these sites will be greatly appreciated. If you are interested in really learning more about the Bible, there is an online Bible study course located in Bible Truths. While on the home page, scroll down and enter through the door. While on the Site Map Page, click on "Online Bible Study Course" in the directory. Click on http://www.bibletruths.net to go there. You asked: I need to know what "blaspeme the Holy Spirit" means. Reply: As a rule, the unpardonable sin is a reference to Matthew 12: 31. Jesus said, "Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men." There are two plausible views offered in explanation of the sin that will not be forgiven. The first is, the context of Matthew 12: 31 pertains to the performance of miracles done by Jesus through the Holy Spirit (vs. 22-30). These miracles were absolutely undeniable, even on the part of Jesus' enemies. Hence, if one saw Jesus' undeniable miracles and rejected them, especially to the degree of the Pharisees (vs. 24), he blasphemed the Spirit and in his hardened, abandoned state, there would be no forgiveness. The second view suggests that since this last dispensation in which we live is the Holy Spirit's (He gave it, Jn. 16: 13), if one rejects the gospel he is sinning against the Holy Spirit and there will be no recourse offered him. I personally believe the unpardonable sin of Matthew 12: 31 is a combination of the two foregoing views. All sin that is repented of can and will be forgiven (all things understood, I Jn. 1: 6-10; Acts 2: 38). However, in an impenitent and rebellious state, there can be no forgiveness (Heb. 6: 4-10). Perhaps you would like to read some material on the Holy Spirit and miracles found in Bible Truths. While on the home page, click on the Archives button then scroll down to the subject index and click on "The Holy Spirit." http://www.bibletruths.net (click on to go there.) Thanks again for your good question and for your interest in spiritual matters. It is recommended that you print out this email for future reference (Web site addresses, etc.). You may print out any material you desire in both Bible Questions and Bible Truths (see the copyright provision at the bottom of the home page in Bible Truths). Cordially, Don Martin From dmartinbtbq at comcast.net Mon Aug 18 16:13:28 2008 From: dmartinbtbq at comcast.net (Don Martin) Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:13:28 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Which church did Jesus build? (question/answer) Message-ID: <018401c90177$42ed1720$6401a8c0@533034B8A6DF4D9> Hello Amy, Thank you so much for your question and for making use of Bible Questions. Please do so again. http://www.biblequestions.org Also, check out Bible Truths http://www.bibletruths.net Go to the archives section of these sites for material and also go to the archives search page and type in any subject or word you wish to explore. New material is constantly being added to both sites. Any help you can give us in telling others of these sites will be greatly appreciated. If you are interested in really learning more about the Bible, there is an online Bible study course located in Bible Truths. While on the home page, scroll down and enter through the door. While on the Site Map Page, click on "Online Bible Study Course" in the directory. Click on http://www.bibletruths.net to go there. You asked: Can you please tell me what Church did Jesus build? Was it Catholic, Jewish, Methodist, Pentecostal, etc? Reply: Your question is very important and timely. Jesus, indeed, did build a church, His church (Matt. 16: 18, cp. Acts 14: 23). There is only "one body" or church (Eph. 4: 4) and salvation and redemption are in Christ or his spiritual body, the church (2 Tim. 2: 10; Eph. 1: 7). For a more detailed answer to your good question, I recommend you read, "The Church Jesus Built" located in www.bibletruths.net When on the home page, enter through the door and click on "Archives and Index" in the directory. When on the Archives page, click on the letter "C." Here is an excerpt: "...Concerned reader, are you aware that there are thousands of different churches today with new ones being introduced every month? According to the World Christian Encyclopedia, the number of denominations throughout the world have surpassed 33, 800, with an average of 10 new ones organized each week (these numbers were provided in January of 2001). These churches are all distinguished one from the other in origin, founder, doctrine, and purpose or goals. Some of these churches are obviously false and evil. For instance, the "Church of Satan." Some are admittedly based on the claim of extra (apart from the Bible) revelation such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Some are predicated on tradition and the alleged infallibility of some man - Catholicism and the Pope. Within four miles of where I live, there are five churches that have attempted to have no identity but have absorbed the identity of all others (known as Community Churches, click on to read more), one which teaches "old fashionism" but inconsistently practices modernism (Mennonites), and one "gay" and lesbian Church. One church in my area has an ad in the local paper advertising their open disdain and rejection of the word of God and appealing to people who are bored with the word to come visit them! The gay/lesbian Church advertises their all lesbian choir and their all-accepting "love". Jesus promised to build his church. ".Upon this rock I will build my church.," Jesus promised (Matt. 16: 18, see "Upon This Rock" and "Kingdom of Heaven" in Great Truths, accessed from home page). Jesus did build his church or kingdom (Acts 5: 11, Col. 1: 13). We read of the origin and growth of Jesus' church in the Book of Acts (Acts 2: 14-47, 5: 11, 14, 14: 23, see Isa. 2: 2)....." Thanks again for your good question and for your interest in spiritual matters. It is recommended that you print out this email for future reference (Web site addresses, etc.). You may print out any material you desire in both Bible Questions and Bible Truths (see the copyright provision at the bottom of the home page in Bible Truths). Cordially, Don Martin From bgreen at tycom.net Mon Aug 18 19:52:18 2008 From: bgreen at tycom.net (Bill Green) Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:52:18 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Sermon help please Message-ID: The question of modern day miracles as come up. I want to do a sermon on miracles (of the New Testament) and God's Providence. I know this could (and should) be two sermons, but I only preach every other Sunday. So I want to cover both parts in one morning. What I have in mind is going over miracles first (their purpose and duration) then looking at God's Providence today. If you have an outlines or ideas. Please send them my way. Brotherly, Bill Green -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080818/485e280a/attachment.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Aug 19 04:48:25 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:48:25 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) AND HE CANNOT SIN (2) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the second part of this particular study. Use to the glory of God. AND HE CANNOT SIN (2) In view of the foregoing (in part 1), it is manifest to any honest student of the Bible, that 1 Jno. 3:9 could not meant that it is impossible for a child of God to sin. A Baptist scholar, Mr. Charles B. Williams, translated the passage as follows in his translation of the New Testament: "No one who is born of God makes a practice of sinning, because the God-given life-princip- le continues to live in him; and so he cannot practice sinning, be- cause he is born of God." "Doth not commit sin", literally means "does not make a practice of sinning"; he does not habitually sin as he once did, and the reason given is because the seed, or life-giving principle, continues or remains in him. In Lk. 8:11 the seed is called the Word of God. The seed does not remain in a man unconditionally, otherwise why would the Bible say, "There- fore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip" (Heb. 2: 1). The ASV says, "lest haply we drift away from them", which is an emphatic way of saying that we could forsake God's Word and be lost. Truly the security of the born of God man is condit- ional; he must be faithful to his responsibilities. "For it had been better fro them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it to turn away from the holy comm- andment delivered unto them" (2 Pet. 2:21). Hence one can turn away from the seed! But John also says: "and he cannot sin", and the reason stated for this is: "because he is born of God". The word "can- not" does not always mean impossibility. Jesus pointed out to His disciples that they were the children of the bride chamber, and He said of them, "...as long as they have the birdegroom with them the cannot fast" (Mk. 2:19). Did Jesus mean that it was impossible fro them to fast? No indeed! But it was out of order for them to fast while He was there with them. It was inapp- ropriate; it was untimely for them to fast as long as He was with them. They could not afford to fast under such a circumstance! Jesus was once asked: "By what authority does Thou these things?" (Mk. 11:28). Whereupon, Jesus responded with a very timely question of His own, by asking, "The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?" His inquirers then reasoned among themselves that if they said it was from heaven Jesus would ask them why they did not accept it. And they further reasoned tht if they said from men, the people who accepted John as being a heaven sent prophet would be offended. So they said, "We cannot tell". But this does not mean that it was impossible for them to answer. It means that if the answered either way it would be embarrassing on them; hence it would be inappropriate for them to answer at all. Even so a child of God "cannot" sin because of the consequences of sin; it is inapprop- riate fro him to do so. Why? Because he is born of God, and such a relationship and environment makes sinning highly out of order, and the improper thing to do. The men who held Peter and John captive because they had healed a man who had been lame from his mother's womb, and because they preached the resurrection of Christ, said of them: "What shall we do to these men? for that a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them which dwell at Jerus- alem; and we cannot deny it" (Acts 4:16). This does not mean that it was impossible for them to have denied that such a mira- cle had been wrought, but it means that because it was widely known as being a fact, it would have been a futile attempt on their part to have gone around denying it. Hence under the cir- cumstances, to have denied it would have been extreme folly. Just so it is foolish for one who is a born of God person to sin. In the same chapter of Acts the record tells us that Peter and John said, when told not to preach the gospel anymore, "For we cannot but preach the things that we have both seen and heard" (Acts 4:20). This does not mean that it was impossible for them to have preached something else, but it does mean that they could not have consistently preached anything else. It means that if they had not preached just what the Lord wanted them to preach, they would have been eternally lost in hell. In the same sense every gospel preacher should say, "I cannot preach any- thing but that which the Bible teaches". But this does not mean that it would be impossible for a preacher to preach things not in the Bible. (Actually, the majority of so-called preachers are teaching things that are not in the Bible and are failing to preach all the things that are in the Bible. This type of practice will lead them to be sentenced to hell in the judgment. But is it impossib- le for them to preach all the truth? No! But they have chosen to preach that which is false. And as long as they do such they cannot go to heaven, JWS). The writer of the book of Hebrews describes the old taber- nacle of the Mosaic system. "And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak part- icularly" (Heb. 9:5). However, the writer did nto mean that it was impossible for him to discuss the old tabernacle more meticul- ously. He meant that it was untimely and out of order to do so because of more important matters that needed to be pointed out. Therefore, in 1 Jno. 3:9, the Holy Spirit does not mean that it is impossible fro a born of God man to sin. Remember that 1 Jno. 1:7-10; and 2:1 clearly teach that he can sin; has sinned, and that it is possible fro him to sin in the future. The passage simply means that the relationship and circumstances of being a born of God man, make it wholly out of order for that one to sin, 1 Jno. 3:9 teaches in a very emphatic manner that it is poss- ible for such an one to sin, and solemnly warns of the eternal consequences of the same. For if after they have escaped the pollutions fo the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and over- come, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. (2 Pet. 2:20). ------- Basil Overton in The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No.6, April 1952. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080819/139ca40c/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Aug 19 04:48:05 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:48:05 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) QUESTION AND ANSWER Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Tuesday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is a quest- ion and answer from my files: QUESTION AND ANSWER QUESTION: -- Was Jesus Christ A Created Being? ANSWER: -- There are many passages of Scripture that bear on this subject. Let us look at some of them. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him; and without Him was not anythi- ing made that hath been made" (Jno. 1:1-3). Note that "all things were made through Him." If Jesus Christ was a created being, then He created Himself!! He was with the Father "in the beginn- ing." There could not have been any time before "the beginn- ing" for Him to have been created. Several passages of Scripture speak of the "eternal God" (Deut. 33:27; Rom. 16:26; etc.). And God well defines what that means in His conversation with Moses at the burning bush: "And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the child- ren of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is His name? What shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say into the child- ren of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" (Exo. 3:13,14). The phrase, "I AM" shows that God is eternal. It isn't simply that God was, or will be -- but GOD IS. But then look at Jesus, when He was confronted by the Jews who did not believe Him to be the Christ: "The Jews there- fore said unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am" (Jno. 8:57,58). Please notice that Jesus used the same expression as God did with Moses: "I AM." He further said, "Have ye not read that which was spoken unot you by God, saying, I AM the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living" (Matt. 22:31,32). Jesus uses the exact same language of Himself: "I AM." That express- ion indicates His eternal nature, the same as the Father. John writes of Jesus as "the Lamb of God" and says, "These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall over- come them, for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also shall overcome" (Rev. 17:14). And the apostle Paul writes, "That thou keep the commandment, without spot, without repro- ach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in its own times He shall show, Who is the blessed and only Potent- ate, the King of kings and Lord of lords" (1 Tim. 6:14,15). The same attributes that the Scriptures assign to the Father are also used to describe Jesus Christ. Jesus, during His ministry on earth, referred to His relation- ship with the Father, "I and the Father are one" (Jno. 10:30). The adjective "eternal" is applied to the Father (Rom. 16:26; etc.), to the Holy Spirit (Heb. 9;14) and to Jesus (1 Tim. 1:17). "Eternal" means without beginning and without end. And Jesus is eternal in the same way that the Father is. He interrupted His presence with the Father in Heaven in order to come to earth to become our Savior. Notice this reading: "Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, He also Himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death He might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bond- age" (Heb. 2:14,15). And of His earthly sojourn, we read: "For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9). In other words, He was the only member of the Godhead that took human form. But that made Him no less God than He, the Father and the Spirit were before or after. --- Clem Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 31, Aug. 1, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080819/cd590fc7/attachment.html From garyshawndaniels at gmail.com Tue Aug 19 12:34:56 2008 From: garyshawndaniels at gmail.com (Gary Shawn Daniels) Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:34:56 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Pana Church of Christ Online Bulletin - August 20, 2008 Message-ID: <48aaf5f1.0f87460a.5ecc.502f@mx.google.com> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080819/d2b5f8b0/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 281374 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080819/d2b5f8b0/attachment-0001.jpe From tedwards at onemain.com Tue Aug 19 16:31:04 2008 From: tedwards at onemain.com (tedwards at onemain.com) Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:31:04 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] B> Gospel Observer 8/10/08 Message-ID: <48AAF548.20873.D7829E@localhost> ____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ August 10, 2008 ____________________________________________________ Praise Jehovah! Psalm 135:1-6 by Wayne S. Walker The Hebrew word for Psalm is "mizmor." However, in the Hebrew Bible, the name for the book of Psalms isn't "Mizmorim" (or whatever the plural of "mizmor" is) but "Tehellim" which simply means "praises." Now, not all of the Psalms are specifically intended to praise God. Some are expressions of repentance, many are cries for God's protection, and others are even calls for God's judgment upon His enemies. However, the book of Psalms has in general been called the Hebrews' hymnbook, and the last 5 Psalms, along with several others, all begin with the words "Praise the Lord!" This is true of Ps. 135. "Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD; Praise Him, O you servants of the LORD! You who stand in the house of the LORD, In the courts of the house of our God, Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant. For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His special treasure. For I know that the LORD is great, And our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep places" (verses 1-6). Notice that the word "LORD" is in all capital letters. The ancient Hebrew language did not have written vowels, so the name which God chose for Himself and revealed in the Old Testament is represented in writing by four consonants, usually transliterated into English as YWHW. Because of a fear of accidentally taking the Lord's name in vain, the Jews became very superstitious about using it and refused to pronounce it, substituting the Hebrew word for "Lord" which is "adonai" in its place. Thus, over a period of time, the actual pronunciation of God's name was lost. Later, when a system of vowel points was added to the Hebrew language by the medieval scribes, they used the vowels of the word "adonai" to fill out the name for God. The traditional way that this has been represented in English is Jehovah. We sing songs such as "Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah" and "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah." In fact, the American Standard Version reads, "Praise ye Jehovah." Many modern scholars think that in Hebrew the name was probably pronounced Yahweh. However, most English translations follow the Jewish practice and substitute the word "Lord" for the name of God, but put it in all capitals to show its origin. These six verses give us three reasons why we should praise Jehovah. God First, we should praise Jehovah because He is God (vs. 1-2). What does it mean to be "God"? We have a couple of English words which express the quality of being God. One is "deity" which comes from the Latin word "deus" meaning god, and "divinity" which comes from the same Latin root through the French. Both of these words are defined as the state of being God. But again, what does that mean? I guess that the best way to express the idea is to say that being God means having absolute infinity or unlimitedness. We generally identify God as being omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, or unlimited in power, knowledge, and presence (Ps. 139:1-14). There is something else that being God means. The name which God chose to call Himself, I AM WHO I AM, suggests the idea of one whose existence is self-sustained and eternal (Exo. 3:13-14). This terminology is linguistically the basis for the name which we know as Jehovah or Yahweh (Exo. 6:2-3). Many authorities suggest that the nearest translation of this name is "the eternal one" (Deut. 33:27, Ps. 90:2, Isa. 57:15). Because of who and what He is, God is absolutely eternal, without beginning or end. Unlike the nature of God, all of us who live in this earthly life have a beginning point, birth, and an ending point, death, at least from a physical viewpoint. Because we are beings bound by time, it is difficult for us to grasp this aspect of God's nature, but it is taught in the Scriptures. One other concept inherent in the idea of being God is master or ruler. The Hebrew term "adonai," usually translated "Lord," suggests this idea. "Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men. He turned the sea into dry land; They went through the river on foot. He rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations; Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves" (Ps. 66:5-7). Again, simply because of who and what He is, God is the ruler or master who's in control of the entire universe, and thus is worthy of our praise. Good Second, we should praise Jehovah because He is good (vs. 3-4). The specific reason that the Psalmist gave for knowing the goodness of God was His treatment of Israel. He said that He chose Jacob for Himself. We remember that God made promises to Abraham about His descendants (Gen. 15:13-16,18). And he kept those promises (Josh. 21:43-45). The inspired writer of the Hebrew letter uses this fact to argue that God is good (Heb. 6:13-18). Because our God is one who has always kept His promises, such as those He made to Israel, we can trust that He will always continue to do good for His people. We also know that God is good because of His provisions for mankind on earth. Paul said that He did good in that He gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons filling our hearts with food and gladness (Acts 14:17). In fact, every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights (Jas. 1:18). God is so good to have provided for all our material needs in this life. "God is great, God is good, Now we thank Him for our food." Furthermore, we know that God is good because of His offer of redemption in Christ. Yes, God provided for our physical needs, but our spiritual needs are even greater, and God provided for them too. He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ, including redemption through His blood (Eph. 1:3,7). All responsible human beings have sinned, stand condemned in God's sight, and deserve punishment in hell. Yet, God wants all people to be saved and is not willing that anyone should perish. Therefore, He sent His Son to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins by the shedding of His blood that salvation from sin and the hope of eternal life might be made available to all who would obey Him. So there can be no doubt to the honest observer that our God is good and therefore should be praised. Great Third, we should praise Jehovah because He is great (vs. 5-6). According to the Psalmist, God's greatness is seen in His place above all gods. All other beings or things called "gods" are in actuality mere figments of men's imagination or dumb idols made by men's hands, but the God revealed in the Bible, and who in fact revealed the Bible, is a being who is intelligent and active, in contrast to the idols who are dumb and motionless (Isa. 46:5-10). The Bible is full of incontrovertible examples of where God foresaw the future and prophesied what would happen, something neither man nor non-existent pagan deity ever did. That in itself shows the greatness of God. However, for all mankind, God's greatness is seen additionally in creation. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.... Then God said, 'Let there be light;' and there was light" (Gen. 1:1-3). We have visited many caves through the years, and when the lights are turned out they are dark -- very dark! Imagine someone in a dark cave without any electricity or other source of light who says, "Let there be light" -- and there is light. We cannot do that, but God did. Man can "create" items out of already existing materials, but God created everything out of nothing, "so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible" (Heb. 11:3). Such great power surely demonstrates the greatness of God Then, for those of us who live this side of the cross, God's greatness is seen in His providential guidance of history. We remember the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, as interpreted by Daniel, in which the Babylonian king was the head of gold, which would be followed by a second, inferior, kingdom, then a third, and finally a fourth during which God would set up His kingdom (Dan. 2:36-44). Later visions of Daniel identify the second and third kingdoms as Persia and Greece (Dan. chapter 8). The New Testament identifies the fourth kingdom as that of Rome (Lk. 3:1). The existence and activities of all these kingdoms contributed to the circumstances of which Paul said that in the fulness of time God sent forth His Son to redeem us (Gal. 4:4-5). Thus, God used the events of history, even the activities of His enemies, to bring about the conditions that enabled Him to fulfill His plan for the redemption of mankind. Only a God as great as the one revealed in the Bible could work through history to accomplish His will, and hence we need to praise Him for it. Conclusion There's a song in the Hymns for Worship Supplement, #99, that is based upon the first six verses of Psalm 135 and summarizes the reasons for praising Jehovah that are outlined in this passage. "Praise ye the Lord, Jehovah is His name. Ye who are servants sing unto His fame. Stand in His house where He can be adored. Forever in His courts, Praise ye the Lord! Praise ye the Lord, for He is full of grace. Yes, praise is pleasant here and every place. He chose a people for Him by His word. Ye who His treasure are, Praise ye the Lord! We know the Lord is holy and is great. He dwells above all gods in heaven's gate. He does whate'er His wondrous plans afford. In heaven and earth and sea, Praise ye the Lord!" We should praise God in our prayers. We should praise God by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. "Hallelujah! I am rejoicing, Singing His praises, Jesus is mine" (Henry J. Zelley). However, we also can and should praise God by our lives. Those who are Christians should think, speak, and act so as to do everything to the glory and praise of God. And even those who are outside of Christ, when they make a decision to come to the Lord in obedience to His will so as to seek salvation from sin, are in essence giving praise to God. "Sing on, O blissful music, With every note you raise, My heart is filled with rapture, My soul is lost in praise" (Fanny J. Crosby). -- Via Expository Files 15.3; March 2008 ____________________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards at onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ____________________________________________________ From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Aug 20 03:35:16 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:35:16 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) SCATTERED Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Wednesday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: SCATTERED If you and I had been among the early Christians forced to leave Jerusalem because of persecution (Acts 8:1), what would we have said to our new neighbors? Would I have talked about how much I missed the church where I used to go? Would I have complained about how hard it was on the kids to start over in a new place? Probably so! Yet there isn't a hint of complaint among those displaced Chrisitans -- only an eagerness to continue talking about Christ. After being "scattered throughout the regions of Judea ans Sam- aria," they "went everywhere preaching the Word" (Acts 8:1,4). What began in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost was not tied to geography, peace, or prosperity. The good news of sal- vation through Jesus Christ was preached and it spread throug- hout the world (Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:19,20; Col. 1:23). When difficult circumstances come in our lives -- whether a lost job, some family need, even relocation to another city, state, or country -- can we still see the urgent need to be Christians? May each of us be like those early Christians, willing to accept their difficulties and joyfully proclaiming His Word wherever they went. ---------- Shane Williams in The Lilbourn Light, Vol. 9, No. 3 July 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080820/e7ee3c8a/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Aug 20 03:35:29 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:35:29 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) WHAT ABOUT BAPTISM, IS IT REALLY IMPORTANT? Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my rec- ent files. Use to the glory of God. WHAT ABOUT BAPTISM, IS IT REALLY IMPORTANT? Many people do not believe that water has anything to do with the salvation of the sinner. Water baptism is routinely mini- mized and discarded as being not essential in God's plan for the salvation of the sinner. Let us look at some things we find in the Bible that may cause one to change his mind: First let us look at the Old Testament and see what part water played in the blessings man received from God. The case we want to notice is concerning the healing of Naaman. In 2 Kgs. 5 we learn tht Naaman was a great man but he was a leper. He could not cleanse himself of this terrible disease. But he learned that there was a prophet of God in Samaria and the he "would recover his leprosy." This was good news for both Naa- man and the King of Assyria. Immediately, plans were made for Naaman to go to this prophet. When Naaman reached the house of Elisha he learned what would be necessary for him to do to recover from the leprosy. He was told by the prophet of God, "Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean" (2 Kgs. 5:10). I ask you to note what it was that stood between Naaman and his being cleansed from his leprosy. It is clear that it was obedience to the command of God to "...go and wash in Jordan seven times" and he would be cleansed. So we see water stood be- tween Naaman and being cleansed from his leprosy. At first he rebelled and later decided that if he wanted to be cleansed he must do what God said. The record says, "Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the say- ing of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." Some one may ask, "What does 'dipping in the River Jordan' have to do with being healed from leprosy?" I could tell a leper that and it would mean exactly nothing. There would be no healing of leprosy. But, in the case of Naaman it was his obedience to God's Word. Many today seem to misunderstand the biblical teaching of baptism. This is especially true concerning the essentiality of baptism. Let us all put out of our minds any preconceived ideas as to this subject and let us allow God to speak to us through His Word. Baptism stands between the sinner and salvation. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mk. 16:16). All men would understand if Jesus would have said, "He who believes and is baptized will receive a castle located on 20 acres of land in the beautiful state of Alabama." Why is it tht the simplicity is lost when dealing with our salvation from sin? The probable reason is that many are deceived. They have allowed men to rob them of the hope they can have in Jesus Christ. Will we accept what Jesus has taught us or be deceived by the creeds and traditions of men? If we build our house on the sand, viz fail to do what Jesus says, our house is doomed. It will fall. He refers to such a one as "foolish" (Matt. 7:24-27). Baptism stands between the sinner and the remission of sins. Look at Acts 2:38 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Both repentance and baptism are in order to obtain the remiss- ion of sins. Why can not men respond to the gospel the way they did on the day of Pentecost? The Bible reveals, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:41). Baptism stand between the sinner and having his sins wash- ed away. Saul of Tarsus asked, "...Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do" (Acts 22:10). Jesus told him to go into the city and he would be told what he must do (Acts 9:6). Observe here that Jesus told Saul he would be "told what he MUST do." This was not something that Paul could do if he wanted to, or if it pleased him, or if he could do it conveniently. But it was a "must." It was something tht was absolutely necessary. Ananias told Paul, "Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). He needed to be baptized in order to have his sins wash- ed away. Baptism stands between the sinner and rejoicing because of forgiveness. The Ethiopian eunuch did not go on his way rejoic- ing until after he was baptized (Acts 8:39). Saul of Tarsus was in scuh agony of the soul that he did not eat or drink until after he was baptized (Acts 9:19). The Philippian Jailer did not rejoice until after he was baptized (Acts 16:33,34). Becoming a child of God is the greatest decision anyone will ever make. There should be great rejoicing when a soul obeys the gospel and is forgiven of his sins. However, this rejoicing only follows baptism. There are many other questions that are in the minds of many people about baptism. But when we look at these things, I hope you will see, from the Bible, that baptism is absolutely necessary for the forgiveness of sins. I hope all will be able to see there is no salvation without it. There is no power in the water in and of itself. It is not the water itself that saves, but God simply chose this action to cleanse one from sin. If you love the Lord, you will do what He says. "If you love Me, keep My comm- andments" (Jno. 14:15). In Jno. 15:23 Jesus said further, "...If a man love Me, he will keep My Words..." Let none of us forget, we will stand before God in judgement Do we know the standard that will be used in this judgement? Yes, Jesus tells us, "He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not my Words, hath one that judgeth him: the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (Jno. 12:48). ------------- Cecil F. Cox in Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 32, Aug. 10, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080820/9465d6ee/attachment-0001.html From kerux at bellsouth.net Wed Aug 20 16:02:37 2008 From: kerux at bellsouth.net (Kent Heaton) Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:02:37 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] A>Mullet Fishing (Kent Heaton) Message-ID: <5AAF0DE54DDB479EA84935436E6E4EE8@D2381J91> Mullet Fishing (Kent Heaton) Smoked mullet is a delicacy that is a most enjoyable experience for the palate. On a few occasions, I have accompanied the experts of mullet harvesting to the Gulf waters to bring back a hearty catch of these delectable species. Casting nets far out to entrap them and bringing them to boat, we haul the load onboard. It is then we separate everything that is included in the net, throwing what we do not want back into the water. The fishermen of Galilee experienced the same type of harvest. Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen that left their nets to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:18-22) Net fishing was a familiar scene and on one occasion, Jesus used it as a parable to teach His disciples. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 13:47-50). The story is striking. Jesus does not let His disciples forget that in all of His teaching of love, compassion and mercy - the judgment of His Father awaits all men. This is an important truth the Lord does not want to be lost on His hearers. The Hebrew writer says, "Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). Paul declared on Mars Hill, "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:30-31). Likened to the drawing of nets full of things that are good and bad, all men will be drawn to the judgment bar of the Lord and separated as "the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats" (Matthew 25:32). Jesus preached salvation but some of the most fearful and dreaded accounts of the punishment of the wicked come from His lips. How can we miss the value of His lesson to remind us of the great and notable day of the Lord when in the final moments of God's scheme of redemption is completed. All men who have ever lived, living now or will live preceding the coming of the Son of God will stand before the judgment bar of God (Romans 14:11). Jesus declares the truth of a place of punishment. The "furnace of fire" is a real place (Matthew 13:42; Revelation 20:10-15; 21:8). This will be a place of "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; Luke 13:28). This will be at the end of the age or the end of time. "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat" (2 Peter 3:10-12). Mullet fishing is an enjoyable time. The final mullet fishing will not be so enjoyable for most people (Matthew 7:13,14). Live for the Lord each day so that when harvest time comes you will be found as the saved among men. Kent Heaton 207 NE Fourth Avenue Trenton, Florida 32693 (H) 352-463-6916 (O) 3793 (C) 352-283-3889 www.trentonchurchofchrist.com NEW: AUDIO FILES www.northfloridabiblecamp.com If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under. (Ronald Reagan) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080820/6eeac66e/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Aug 21 03:20:10 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:20:10 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) I WON...NOTHING! Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Thursday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: I WON...NOTHING! Wouldn't it be exciting to win a shopping spree at one of our favorite stores? I remember years ago watching one take place on TV. The winners were only given a few minutes to accumu- late as much merchandise as possible. Whatever they were able to get into their shopping cart in a certain amount of time was theirs to keep. It was all free! It was obvious that the participants knew exactly what they wanted. They had worked out a strategy. When the clock start- ed, they went right for the most expensive items. Suppose one of the winners filled up his cart with things of small value; cheap merchandise or things that weren't very de- sirable. We would say, "He's foolish. Why doesn't he take the valuable items?" That's the picture shown in the prophet Jeremiah's descript- ion of the people of Israel in their relationship to God. "My people have changed the glory of God for what does not profit." (Jer. 2:11). They spent their days piling up things that were useless and empty. They turned from Go, the source of all good things, and instead trusted objects that were worthless. What about us? As Christians, do we realize that life is a great prize, giving us opportunity to store up valuable treasures in heaven? Let's not waste our time running around being win- ners of nothing! "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt. 6:19-21). --------- Shane Williams in The Lilbourn Light, Vol. 9, No. 3, July 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080821/225c15f3/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Aug 21 03:20:22 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:20:22 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF REBEKAH (1) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the first part of a study on this particular subject. Use to the glory of God. THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF REBEKAH (1) The Bible is unique among sacred literature in recording both the strengths and weaknesses of its heroes. We remember Noah as the one who built the ark, but he is also the same one who became drunken and lay naked (Gen. 6-9). David is a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22), but he is also the man who committed adultery with Bathsheba and, in order to cover his sin, ordered the murder of her husband Uriah (2 Sam. 11). Reb- ekah, the wife of the patriarch Isaac, is also a biblical character whose strengths and weaknesses are revealed in Scripture. Her Strengths Made Her A Suitable Mate For Isaac: -- Following the death of Sarah, Abraham sought to find a wife suitable for his son Isaac, who was forty years old. Abraham had his serv- ant take an oath to find a wife suited for his son among Abraham 's family in Haran. In the event that the woman would not return with him, the servant would be free from his oath, but under no condition was Isaac to leave the land of promise (Gen. 24:1-9). The servant journeyed approximately 400 miles to Haran. How would he determine whom to take for Isaac's wife? He first stopped at the city well. Inasmuch as drawing water for the fami- ly was women's work, this was an appropriate place to meet women, much like we used to go to the local drive-in restaurants when I was a young man. The servant asked God providentially to oversee his mission and asked that God give him a sign as follows: "Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also; let the same be she that Thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that Thou hast shewed kindness unto my master" (Gen. 24:13,14). When Rebekah came to the well, she did exactly as the ser- vant had prayed that one would do, so the servant knew that God was guiding him in the selection of a wife for the son of his master. But, were the conditions that the servant listed arbitrary or did they reveal something about Rebekah's character? Look what the servant learned about Rebekah's character from this incident: Rebekah Was Kind: -- When a stranger wanted a drink, she gave it to him. She could have curtly turned away and refused his request, but she did not. Rebekah Was Industrious: -- She watered ten camels (cf. to watering a thirsty elephant in order to get a ticket to the circus). A thirsty camel can drink twenty to twenty-five gallons of water. Drawing water from a well was not like opening a spigot with a garden hose attached adn running it to a trough. A person had to go down steps into a well and carry a jar or jug of water. With water weighing aout eight pounds per gallon adn a camel drink-ing twenty gallons of water, she moved about 1600 pounds of water, while the servant of Abraham watched! Indeed, she was an industrious woman, for no lazy woman would have undertak- en such a task. Rebekah Was Hospitable: -- Upon learning who Abraham's servant was, Rebekah invited him and the other servants into their home, no doubt adding to her own work in so doing, inas- much as cooking and preparing a meal are usually woman's work. That evening Abraham's servant related what had transpired adn asked for the hand of Rebekah in marriage to Isaac, his master's son. A marriage covenant was entered between the two patriarchs so that Rebekah would marry Isaac. The next morning the servant wished to return to Abraham, but the family asked that Rebekah be allowed ten days to be with her family before departing. The servant insisted that he be released imm- ediately to return to his master. Laban said, "We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth" (Gen. 24:57). When Rebekah replied, she said, "I will go." (More will be posted on this subject tomorrow, the Lord willing, JWS). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080821/44b365d4/attachment-0001.html From robertwater at gmail.com Wed Aug 20 18:11:43 2008 From: robertwater at gmail.com (Robert Waters) Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:11:43 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Religious Authority - Time for Change Message-ID: *Religious Authority* Time for Change by Robert Waters The cry that the church can do anything so long as God has not condemned it continues and seems to be louder and more frequent than in times past. It seems that some who seek change in the Lord's church scoff at the idea that where the scriptures are silent we should be silent. Bear with me please as I try to shine a bit of light on the matter. We are dealing with the idea that it is ok to add to God's word. For example, if a church uses the fruit of the vine and unleavened bread in taking the Lord's Supper they have obeyed even if they add apple sauce to the memorial supper. This is the concept that is supposed to be the alternative to CENI (command, example & necessary inference) that some assert is unscriptural and responsible for most of the strife and division among churches of Christ. There were Jews in the early church who sought to add to God's word regarding the matter of salvation. If we can show that God disapproved of their actions then we will have demonstrated that God disapproves of all such additions to the word. The apostle Paul, in his effort to establish sound churches, encountered some disciples of Christ, of Jewish decent, who added to God's word on the matter of what to do to be saved. They said: *Faith + Repentance + Baptism + **Circumcision** = Salvation.* But Paul thoroughly refuted their thinking and teaching and in so doing made an example of them for any in the future who might seek to add to the word of God. Below is the applicable text: Ac 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. Ac 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: Now, some might seek to separate the circumcision issue from other additions to God's word by making the argument that the adding of circumcision was wrong only because they were making it a salvation issue. But what did Paul say was wrong with their teachings and practice? He said *"We gave no such commandment."* [Therefore, how different is what they did from any additions to what God has said? We certainly cannot reason that any new proposed or realized addition is ok because God did not say NOT to do it, as was the case with the circumcision issue. How large a book would the Bible be if God included everything He did not want us to do in religion?] Now, if a church determines that it is going to add apple sauce to the Lords' Supper do those of us who would object to it have any scriptural reasoning for objecting? Should we be required to produce a passage that says: "Thou shall not add apple sauce to the Lord's Supper?" Of course we do not need to do that. We do not even need to show a passage that says to not add anything to the Lord's Supper because God has made general statements that clearly answer the matter, and they were written long before brethren began scoffing at the idea of the *silence of the scriptures*. Pr 30:6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Re 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: Someone might argue that adding circumcision was wrong only because Paul specifically condemned it. But that dog will not hunt either. It was wrong even before he condemned it and it was wrong for one reason only: God *"Gave no such commandment." *The reason Paul rebuked the error was because it was not authorized?it was an addition to God's teaching on a particular matter. It was contrary to the *pattern* for what to do to be saved. They were speaking where God had not spoken. They ignored the *silence of God*concept. There needs to be some changes in the brotherhood, but condemning sound teachers and calling them *legalists* and *patternists* because of their convictions will not bring about the type of change that is needed. The change we need is that people quit listening to men and start listening only to God. Friends and brethren, if you want to please God in your worship and religious practices then do what He says?nothing more and nothing less. This is the change that we need to see in the church and the world. * * *TotalHealth.bz* *Focus On Truth * -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080820/83741ef5/attachment.html From disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Thu Aug 21 14:53:51 2008 From: disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com (Ethan R. Longhenry) Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:53:51 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] S:> The Power of Influence Message-ID: http://www.deusvitae.com/faith/outlines/index.html The Power of Influence I. Introduction A. An often denied or minimized feature of humanity B. The power of influence! C. We do not want to see ourselves as being easily influenced 1. We would like to think we are above the fray 2. We make our decisions independently! D. In reality, many of our choices are conditioned by influences around us 1. Family, upbringing, culture, society 2. God and Jesus and the Bible should really be our main influence E. What shall we say about the power of influence? F. What can we do about it? G. God has provided some understanding for us in the Old Testament 1. Romans 15:4 2. While we may recognize that we are under a different covenant, there is wisdom and understanding in God's ways 3. Let us begin by considering Deuteronomy 13:6-18 II. Deuteronomy 13 A. Moses is exhorting the people to faithfulness to God before he is taken from them and they enter Canaan B. God's ideal 1. God is intending to establish a "holy nation" (Deuteronomy 14:1-2) 2. Therefore, God's ideal is that Israel represents a people who are devoted to Him 3. All the cities will stand firm in serving the LORD 4. The LORD and His will should come first in all things to all the people 5. Therefore, any aberration from this will not be tolerated! C. Deuteronomy 13:6-11 1. A quite stunning passage and command 2. Quite offensive to modern ears 3. Kill one's own children or even wife? 4. How could we bring ourselves to do such things? D. Deuteronomy 13:12-18 1. Doesn't seem to get any better! 2. Destroy a whole town, cattle included, because of a few people? 3. How barbaric sounding! E. What is going on here? F. God is indicating how strongly He feels about the danger of the power of influence! G. What are we to gain from this? III. Negative Influences A. While we are not called upon to kill anyone, God does speak regarding the issue of negative influences in the NT 1. 1 Corinthians 15:33 2. 1 Corinthians 5, Galatians 5:7-9, Romans 16:17-18, 2 Peter 2 3. Matthew 10:34-37 B. There is great reason for concern! 1. Friends can influence people for good or evil 2. Not a few have fallen away because of the influence of friends or loved ones! 3. Christians must always be on guard against leaven within the body of Christ! C. God's commands in Deuteronomy 13 illustrate these concerns 1. Remember, Israel represents the chosen people of God! 2. They were to be a set apart people, holy to the LORD, and different from the nations (Deuteronomy 14:1-2, etc.) 3. They were to serve only the One True God, and Him without an image, in the midst of polytheists and idol worshipers! 4. All of the influences around them would guide them to commit sin against God! D. Thus we can understand God's severity! 1. God knows humans better than humans know themselves! 2. Temptations to stray from God must be removed, or people will succumb (cf. James 1:14-16) 3. The more intimate the relationship, the greater likelihood of stumbling! 4. Thus pity was not to be had even on one's wife or children, because they are more likely to lead you astray than anyone else! 5. The same is true with the city: if a little leaven is allowed, soon everyone will be doing the same thing! E. God's purpose: to be feared (Deuteronomy 13:11) 1. If Israel hears about the severity of the consequences of accepting other idols, they will be chastened, fear, and not engage in such folly! 2. When strong stands are taken against forms of negative influence, people sit up and notice! 3. Consider Acts 5:1-11! 4. Hence part of the reason for disassociation for sin and false teaching: so that no one else gets caught up in such wickedness! F. Israel's Failure 1. Israel failed not because they did these things but because they did not do so! 2. They entered the land and allowed the people to influence them 3. Judges 6:27-30: complete reversal of God's plan! 4. Because Israel did not heed God and remove the negative influences, they were overcome with idolatry 5. 1 Corinthians 10:6 indeed! G. Idolatry 1. Let us not think that because we are not surrounded by graven images that we are free from the seduction of idolatry 2. The people of Israel were led away to serve other gods whom they did not know, even at the instigation of their own people! 3. The same can be true today for the idols among us 4. Money, celebrity, sex, individualism, America itself, naturalism, comfort, and many other things can become idols! 5. We might be tempted to take our eyes off Jesus and to seek these things in idolatrous ways, and may even be tempted to do so by those whom we love! 6. We must remember Matthew 10:37-38, and act appropriately! H. If God desired Israel to destroy anyone who became a negative influence, what do we think God would have us to do today to negative influences close to us (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18)? IV. Positive Influences A. The power of influence can go both ways! B. Hebrews 10:24-25, Acts 2:42-44, 1 Corinthians 12:12-28, 1 John 1:7 1. We are not just to avoid negative influence-- we must cultivate positive ones! 2. The true positive influences are those brethren who have put the Lord first in their lives, and who abhor all idols (Matthew 6:33, Romans 12:9) 3. Just because someone goes to church and would seem to be spiritually minded does not make it so, just like not all Israelites were devoted to the LORD C. We must find these positive influences and constantly be refreshed by them! D. Remember God's ideal for Israel 1. A holy nation where service to God was expected and any aberration was duly punished! 2. Thus it should be for spiritual Israel-- a body holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:23-28) 3. That is why God intends for the church to disassociate from unrepentant members in sin or false teaching-- so that it will not grow and overcome the church (1 Corinthians 5, Galatians 5:9, Romans 16:17-18) 4. We should be encouraging each other to stand strong against the temptations of the world, to represent the true Israel in the midst of the nations! E. We cannot be maverick Christians-- there are too many temptations out there! F. We must surround ourselves with positive influence that encourage us to fully serve God! V. Conclusion A. None of us are islands B. We are influenced by those around us, both consciously and unconsciously C. Will we choose to be influenced toward serving God or influenced to go away from Him, to serve gods that we don't know? D. Let us surround ourselves with positive influences, and guard against negative ones! E. Invitation/songbook Ethan R. Longhenry / deusvitae at hotmail.com Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio [norwalkchurch.org] Homepage: deusvitae.com AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ: 28317056 Y! IM: discipuliiesus From disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Thu Aug 21 14:54:45 2008 From: disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com (Ethan R. Longhenry) Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:54:45 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] S:> Deceit Message-ID: http://www.deusvitae.com/faith/outlines/index.html Deceit I. Introduction A. A whole host of iniquity is covered by the word deceit 1. Literally, a catching or ensnaring. Hence, the misleading of a person; the leading of another person to believe what is false, or not to believe what is true, and thus to ensnare him; fraud; fallacy; cheat; any declaration, artifice or practice, which misleads another, or causes him to believe what is false (Webster's) 2. Greek dolos: craft, deceit, guile (Thayer's) B. For generations, some have desired to gain advantages by defrauding others 1. Lying to others for personal gain 2. Cheating others of what is theirs, or to make them seem better than they are 3. Swindling from others C. As one can imagine, God is not pleased with such activities! D. Let us consider them in greater depth II. Lying A. What is lying? 1. It would seem to be quite simple to understand lying, but it can get complex 2. Some think that unless you tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth all the time, you lie 3. Some say that one lies even if one believes he is telling the truth but is honestly mistaken! 4. Lying is telling a falsehood, indeed, and we can say that it is telling a falsehood in order either to exonerate oneself from consequences or to harm others B. A common sin! 1. Why do we have so many contracts to sign, lawsuits to face, and so forth? Why is "yes" and "no" not good enough (cf. Matthew 5:37)? 2. The problem is that people break faith, either by lying or by not meeting one's obligations! 3. Few people are pathological liars-- they lie all the time, and cannot seem to help it 4. Most people, however, are situational liars: they won't lie most of the time, but in a moment when one's self-interest is made better by the lie rather than the truth, they will tell the lie 5. Seen often with little children-- if it is not dealt with seriously then, why be surprised when they keep lying as teens and adults (Proverbs 22:15)! 6. We also see the prevalence of "white lies": mistruths spoken so as not to cause offense or emotional injury to another 7. Some professions exist on the basis of lies/deception-- con men and even those who go after con men, undercover police officers! 8. And many people live a lie: they put on the pretense of being one way, but are really quite different (James 1:23-25) C. God does not look kindly on lying 1. Colossians 3:9 2. 1 John 2:21 3. Revelation 21:8 4. Many other passages! 5. We can see that God condemns lying as sin, and Christians should have no part in it! D. Lying undercuts everything Christians stand for 1. 1 Corinthians 4:2: Christians must be trustworthy 2. If we cannot tell the truth in lesser matters, how can people trust that we speak the truth in spiritual matters? 3. If no lie is of the truth (1 John 2:21), and Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44), how can we lie and still be part of God, who is righteousness and truth? E. The lie may seem insignificant to you, but it is significant to God-- lying is part of that which is evil, Satanic, and wrong, and we should have no part of it! F. Let us stand firm for the truth and what is right, and not speak falsehoods! III. Cheating A. Another difficulty of mankind is the propensity to cheat B. What is cheating? 1. To deceive and defraud in a bargain; to deceive for the purpose of gain in selling; to deceive by any artifice, trick or device, with a view to gain an advantage contrary to common honesty (Webster's) 2. We can draw two common applications from this 3. One is in the realm of commerce: to defraud in some way in a bargain 4. The other is in the realm of honesty: to appropriate answers or materials of others and to pass them off as your own C. Another sin that we see often! 1. The problem of cheating can begin early, when children are inclined to use the answers of another as opposed to admitting their inadequacy 2. If left unchallenged, it can lead to plagiarism and cheating in the future! 3. Jesus recognized that the "sons of the world" live by cheating (Luke 16:1-8) 4. Since there is often advantage to fudge numbers or to deceive in order to gain benefit, many resort to cheating 5. Many make a good living by preying on others-- and may never do anything illegal! D. Not appreciated by God! 1. In the old covenant, God was concerned about having just measures (cf. Leviticus 19:36) 2. He condemned Israel for using false weights (Amos 8:5) 3. One of the commands-- do not defraud (Mark 10:19) 4. Christians in Corinth, sadly, were defrauding each other (1 Corinthians 6:8) E. We should not defraud one another, or anyone else, but strive to be honest in our dealings! IV. Swindling A. What is swindling? 1. Similar to cheating, but taken to a greater degree 2. To cheat and defraud grossly, or with deliberate artifice (Webster's) B. How often have we seen schemes designed to swindle others? 1. "Pyramid schemes" 2. Fraudulent home construction companies 3. More recently, identity theft C. All such forms of swindling involve a structure through which one deceives others to obtain their money or property! D. As can be imagined, God does not look kindly upon swindling! 1. Those who do so will be condemned (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) 2. Christians who participate in it must be disassociated from (1 Corinthians 5:11-12) E. We should have no part in such things! V. Difficulties with Deception A. All of these sins involve the deception of others for personal gain B. While it may seem advantageous, it violates God's principles! C. After all, would we want to be deceived, lied to, cheated, or swindled? D. By no means! Why should we do so to others (Luke 6:31)? E. Colossians 3:9-10: such is not the way that those who are renewed in Christ conduct themselves! F. Therefore, there can be no excuse for deception for the benefit of ourselves and harm of others, no matter how insignificant, innocent, or harmless we might think it is! VI. Conclusion A. This world seems to be governed by deception in various forms B. There is plenty of lying, cheating, and swindling going on C. We should have no part of it! D. Let us be people of truth, not falsehood, and do what is pleasing to God! E. Invitation/songbook Ethan R. Longhenry / disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio [norwalkchurch.org] Homepage: deusvitae.com AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ: 28317056 Y! IM: discipuliiesus Sign up for Good News for Norwalk! goodnewsfornorwalk-subscribe at norwalkchurch.org From jessiefdaniels at gmail.com Thu Aug 21 17:43:16 2008 From: jessiefdaniels at gmail.com (Jessie) Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:43:16 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] Why Miracles in the early Church Message-ID: The Church of Christ at Ragland, WV www.thegospelguardian.com Why Miracles in the Early Church? By Jessie Daniels Miracles in the early Church were simply for one purpose, and that was to reveal the word of God. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Tim 3:16-17) Jesus speaking to his apostles said, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." (John 16:12-14) Jesus said that he had many things that the apostles needed to know but he knew that the mind of man could not hold all the information without error so he said that he would give them the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and that is why that Jesus said when the time shall come you may remember. (John 16:4) It wasn't time for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, not until the day of Pentecost when Holy Spirit baptism was given to the apostles of Christ. Again Jesus said, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin," (John 16:7-8) The Holy Spirit was the one that was to convince the world of sin and of righteousness, but the question is how was the Holy Spirit going to do that? Through the revealed word of truth which was preached by the apostles and given by the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the apostles of Christ as Jesus said, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26) There was a two fold office of the Spirit the reminding office and the reveling office in the apostles of Christ, it was not a promise to you or to me or any one else as far as that is concerned, for Jesus said whom the world cannot receive meant mankind in general. It was only for the apostles of Christ. I know that some times the argument is made that in whom the world cannot receive meant the alien sinner because the sinner is in the world and therefore cannot receive the Holy Spirit, I know that the alien sinner does not receive the Holy Spirit, but this passage was not referring to the alien sinner. Jesus made a special promise to the apostles. "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.? I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." (John 14:16-17) This verse was speaking of the apostles that they were the ones that receive Holy Spirit baptism. That was how we received the word of God. Notice what the apostle Paul said, "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.?For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God."(1 Cor.2:10-11) God's plan of redeeming man could not be left in the hands of mortal man so God sent the baptism of the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles into all truth. (John 16:13) "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." Therefore it took the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles of Christ into all truth that they would be no error. God could not depend on mortal man to reveal his word without mistakes or error therefore it was revealed to the apostles by the Spirit of God. That is why there were miraculous gifts in the early Church so there would be not error and without mistakes the word of God could be revealed. And the miracles were the proof that what they spoke was from God. All scripture is given by inspiration of God. (2 Tim 3:16-17) Starting at the sixteenth chapter of Mark's gospel when Jesus gave the great commission to go into all the world, Jesus said, "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."(Mark 16:20) it is evident by this single verse that the miracles in the early Church was for the confirming of the word of God, there are many more proof text that we will be looking at in this article. First of all let us look at how those that were not apostles could perform miracles. The apostle Paul writing to Timothy his son in the gospel said, "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery."(1 Tim 4:14) Paul was very enthusiastic to urge Timothy to stir up the gift of God which was given by him. "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands." (2 Tim 1:6) Then we come to the eighth chapter of Acts where Philip the evangelist when down to the city of Samaria and there he preached Christ unto them. The scriptures teach that he performed many miracles. Though Philip himself possessed the gifts and performed miracles, he could not impart the gifts to others by laying on of his hands. Only the apostles could do that. That is why they sent Peter and John to lay hands on them that they may receive the Holy Spirit for it had not falling on none of them. Why did not Philip lay hands on them so they could receive the spiritual gifts? Because Philip was not an apostle and only the apostle's could impart spiritual gifts by laying on of there hands. Everything began in a miracle, but continues through Law. (First, creation then procreation.) God created the first man and woman then placed within them the potentiality of procreation. Take the great oak tree at the beginning it was created, but now it is procreated. The acorn falls to the ground and through the seed of reproduction the tree is reproduced. Likewise, God created the Church at the beginning by miracle "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." (Luke 24:49) You remember, Jesus promised his disciples the baptism of the Holy Spirit to guide them into all truth, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13) Likewise, God created the Church by miracle to bring peace between the Jew and Gentile as prophesied in the book Isaiah chapter 2:4. "For he is our peace, who hath made both (Jew & Gentile) one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; ?Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain (Jew & Gentile) one new man (the church), so making peace;?And that he might reconcile both (Jew & Gentile) unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:?And came and preached peace to you which were afar off (Gentile), and to them that were nigh(Jew)." (Eph.2:14-17) Then procreation is provided through the potentiality of the seed of the Kingdom, which is the word of God. "The seed is the word of God." (Luke 8:11) So long as the seed exists, the power of reproduction is present. Miracles in the early church were needful because the church was in its infant stage, and the miracles were to bring the church out of its infant stage into maturity. Just as the ship that is docked in the harbor the tug boat pulls the mighty ship out of its harbor to the open sea that it could sail on its own power. The miracles in the early Church were the tug boat that pulled the mighty ship of the Church out of its channels that it may sail on its own power. Notice what the apostle said about these miracles. "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.?For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.?But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.?When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.?And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." (1 Cor 13:8-13) Notice that Paul said that charity will never fail, but prophecies would fail, tongues would cease, knowledge would vanish away. Why would knowledge vanish away? Because these things were needed when the church was in its infant age. Paul speaking of the church said, "When I was a child I spoke as a child I understood as a child." All of this was referring to the church in its infant stage. He continues, "When I became a man I put away childish things referred to the church that it would come out of its infant stage into maturity or as Paul said, " but when that which is perfect or (complete) is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." (Verse 10) The word of God did not come all at the same time. Paul said that we know in part and prophesy in part. Simply worded, the apostle said that the word of God would come at different times, that it did not come all at the same time but in parts, one apostle would reveal one thing at one time and another would reveal something at another time, that is why Paul said, "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part." (Verse 9) James says, "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (James 1:25) James makes it very plain that the law of the Lord is prefect or complete, and therefore the church is no longer in its infant stage and the miracles have ceased and no longer needed. As goes the proposition so must be the demonstration. If men clam to have these miracles, let them demonstrate it by raising the dead. Instead of claiming they have raised someone from the dead, let them put up the demonstration by doing it! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080821/0f9f8d66/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Aug 22 02:15:24 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:15:24 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) MISUNDERSTOOD Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Friday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: MISUNDERSTOOD It is easy to be misunderstood. Usually it is because some- thing we say or do is taken by others in a way which we did not intend. Perhaps you heard about the auto repair place who used this phrase in their advertising: "Try us once and you'll never go anywhere again." That's probably not the real impress- ion they intended to leave. When we're misunderstood it is be- cause we haven't communicated properly. Jesus was misunderstood during His ministry, but unlike many of our troubles, it wasn't His fault. Even the people who lived near Him and observed Him closely didn't understand His mission. In Mk. 6:1-6, we read of those who failed to see Jesus for Who He really was because tehy knew His physical family. Vs. 3 tells us that they took offense at Jesus. They didn't see that He was the Messiah, sent from God. The question Jesus asked in Mk. 8:29 is so essential, when you consider how many failed to see Jesus in the proper light. There He asked His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Christ." He say Jesus for Who He was -- the Messiah, the Savior, the Son of God. (He did so with help from the Father in Heaven Matt. 16:16,17, JWS). When people misunderstand Him today, it isn't because He is unclear concerning who He is and His mission. Do you under- stand Jesus? His purpose for being here was our redemption! His love for us was so great; He died on the cross to pay the price for our sins. What will you do with that knowledge; ignore Him or serve Him? We may occasionally misunderstand one another. It may cause us some temporary problems and frustrations but let us never misunderstand Jesus' purpose for coming to this earth. Coupled with that, let us not forget the need to fix our eyes upon Jesus in our lives, serving Him in love. ---- Shane Williams in The Lilbourn Light, Vol. 9, No. 3, July, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080822/7e9bf4d2/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Aug 22 02:15:33 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:15:33 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF REBEKAH (2) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the second part of this particular study. Use to the glory of God. THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF REBEKAH (2) Rebekah Had A Pioneer Spirit: -- She manifested the same kinds of traits that the early English wome displayed who would board a ship in England, sail across the Atlantic, and be separat- ed from their family in order to start a new life with her husband in an unexplored country. The same spirit was shown by the American woman who would pack what she could of her poss- essions in a chuck wagon, leave her father and mother, and trav- el with her husband and children across the unexplored plains and mountains of mid-west and western America in search of a better life. Rebekah is a strong woman, willing to assume just such a role for her and her yet unborn children. But Rebekah's strengths also became some of her weaknesses, as will be seen shortly. Rebekah Was A Spiritual Woman: -- Her spirituality is evident from her inquiring of the Lord when her twins were acting abnor- mally in he womb (Gen. 25:22). There are many women who never inquire of the Lord's Will about anything; they never sear- ch His Word to find out what He wishes for them to do in life. A second evidence of her spirituality is her heart being broken by Esau's marriage to Hittite women (Gen. 26:35; 27:46). There are Christian women who seemingly are little troubled to see their children date and marry non-Christians, but this was not true in Rebekah's case. She was troubled that one of her children be- came enamored with women who would lead him away from God. Her Weaknesses Hurt Her Family: -- Rebekah had many good attributes, but some of her character traits definitely harmed the family. She Showed Partiality To Her Children: -- Both Isaac and Re- bekah showed partiality to their children. Jacob was Rebekah's favorite, for some unrevealed reson, but Esau was Isaac's favor- ite because Isaac liked the game which Esau killed and cooked for him (Gen. 25:28). Their partiality contributed to the rivalry be- tween the two boys and eventually drove them apart. Rather than bonding together as the twelve sons of Jacob did to estab- lish one nation of people, Esau and Jacob were never united (Gen. 25:23). They became the fathers of two different warring nations: Edom and Israel. (Later on, Jacob became partial to- ward Joseph and thereby caused animosity between him and his brothers, (Gen. 37:3,4). JWS). Rebekah Was Domineering, Manipulative, And Conniving: -- Rebekah's strength was her strong pioneering spirit, but such a strong spirit can become domineering. When one reads the machinations that Rebekah and Jacob devised in order to secure the birthright blessing for Jacob, one sees character traits in Rebekah that are not pretty. First of all, when Rebekah overheard Isaac's plans to give the firstborn blessing to Esau, she acted against the will of her husband. The viruous woman is described as follows: "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life" (Prov. 31:11,12). Certainly Isaac could not trust Rebekah on this occasion since she was undermining what he intended to do. In order to accomplish what she desired, Rebekah stooped to deception and lies. She did not have enough faith that God could fulfill His promises in His own time and in His own way to allow God to work out His Will. Instead, she thought she needed to take matters in her own hands and secure the birthright bless- ing for her favorite son. In this she was like Sarah who provided Hagar for Abraham to bear children because she thought God needed her help. Rebekah instructed Jacob to kill two kids of the goats, whe would cook the food so that Jacob would think it was what Esau killed, and Jacob could go in to receive the blessing from his aged, nearly blind father. The deception work- ed and Isaac gave the firstborn blessing to Jacob. But, the incid- ent manifests the rivalry between the two children, the in-work- ing between Isaac and Rebekah, adn the characterr of both Rebekah and Jacob. None of it is pretty. (We need to remember that it is said that Esau despised his birthright by selling it to Jacob for a mess of pottage. JWS). Rebekah paid a high price for her sin. After Jacob, her favor- ite son, departed to Haran to search for a wife (as a ruse to get him away from the threats of Esau to kill him, JWS) she never saw him again. She died before Jacob returned to his family. She was buried in the care of Machpelah (Gen. 49:31). Conclusion: -- Perhaps we need to be reminded that none of us has attained to the perfection that was found in Christ. Each of us has strengths and weaknesses in his character. But this should not leave the impression that one can close his eyes to sin, ignoring those character flaws that separate us from God and bring havoc to our families. Instead, may Rebekah's weak- nesses remind us of the sorrow that such sin can create in the family and, thereby, encourage us to overcome those character weaknesses in our own lives which are hurting those whom we love. --------- Mike Willis in Truth Magazine, Vol. 52, No. 4, April 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080822/732529ca/attachment-0001.html From tedwards at onemain.com Fri Aug 22 08:17:16 2008 From: tedwards at onemain.com (tedwards at onemain.com) Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:17:16 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] B> Gospel Observer 8/17/08 Message-ID: <48AE760C.9050.25520C@localhost> ____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ August 17, 2008 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Elijah: Are You Listening? (Warren E. Berkley) 2) Pearls From Proverbs (Irvin Himmel) ____________________________________________________ -1- Elijah: Are You Listening? by Warren E. Berkley Elijah's first job involved great divine power but he delivered a message to a very unpleasant human audience. Elijah said to Ahab: "As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word" (1 Kngs. 17:1). This was the beginning of a roller coaster ride for the prophet from Tishbe in Gilead. During the days that followed, he was briefly exiled in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, fed by the ravens and the brook. When the brook dried up, the Lord sent him to Zarephath of Sidon. He was fed by a widow, in keeping with the Lord's promise. When the widow's son became ill, she blamed Elijah: "What do you have against me, man of God? did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?" (1 Kngs. 17:18). Elijah petitioned the Lord to restore his life, "and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived." In an extraordinary moment of celebration, the widow said, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth" (1 Kngs. 17:24). After that, Elijah answered the Lord's call again, to present himself to Ahab. It was a time of great famine and Ahab had summoned Obadiah to help find some way to keep the livestock alive. As Obadiah traveled through the land on this mission, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized the man of God, and Elijah said to him, "Go tell your master, 'Elijah is here'" (1 Kngs. 18:8). Obadiah was upset with Elijah. "What have I done wrong?" he said. He reminded Elijah of how he had protected the prophets from the cruel hand of Jezebel. Obadiah feared for his life. "Elijah said, 'As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today'" (1 Kngs. 18:15). Obadiah carried the message to Ahab, and when Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, "Is that you, you troubler of Israel?" Elijah responded by telling Ahab the truth: "I have not made trouble for Israel; but you and your father's family have. You have abandoned the Lord's commands and have followed the Baals." This exchange led to the great contest with the gods of Baal on Mt. Carmel (1 Kngs. 18:16-46). The false prophets were publicly humiliated, utterly defeated and slaughtered in the Kishon Valley. Elijah then said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink now!" (see James 5:18). As the writer concludes the record of the event: "The power of the Lord came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel." Meanwhile, Jezebel was so furious, she threatened to put Elijah to death (1 Kngs. 19:1-13). He fled to Beersheba, sat down in despondency under a juniper tree. The account says, "Elijah was afraid and ran for his life." "When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. 'I have had enough, Lord,'he said. 'Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.' Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep" (1 Kngs. 19:3-5). Asleep and depressed, an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." He arose and found a provision miraculously supplied, then went forward. He traveled forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God, where he took up residence in a cave. Here the Lord appeared unto him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" In answer to his despondent words God manifests to him his glory, and then directs him to return to Damascus and anoint Hazael king over Syria, and Jehu king over Israel, and Elisha to be prophet in his room (1 Kings 19:13-21; comp. 2 Kings 8:7-15; 9:1-10). Some six years after this, Ahab and Jezebel suffered the violent deaths Elijah had prophesied. He dealt with Ahaziah, who had succeeded his father Ahab. Finally the time came for Elijah to be taken up into heaven (2 Kngs. 2). Elisha was his successor. Elijah had to learn to experience the extraordinary, while living in the ordinary. He had to learn to be exhausted, but not discouraged; blamed but not blameworthy. He overcame discouragement by getting up, listening to the Lord and doing His will. God can mend the broken heart and restore us to usefulness, when we listen to Him. Are you listening? -- Via From Expository Files 11.12; December 2004 ____________________________________________________ -2- Pearls From Proverbs by Irvin Himmel Frankness Finds Favor "He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favor than he that flattereth with the tongue" (Prov. 28:23). Although there are people who do not care what others think about them, most of us desire the esteem and good will of our acquaintances. Our words and actions toward others reflect our inclination to find favor with them. On the surface it seems that rebuking someone is not the way to gain his respect and admiration, but frankness finds more favor then flattery. Rebuke The Hebrew word for "rebuke" (yakach) in this proverb means to decide, judge, reprove, or correct. We rebuke a person when we take him to task or reprimand him. (1) Rebuking requires courage. It is much easier to brag on someone than to tell him that he is wrong. When God charged Nathan the prophet to go to David and convict him of the sin of adultery, it took boldness on Nathan's part to fulfill the assignment (2 Sam. 12). David was the king of Israel. He had great power. Already he had arranged to dispose of Uriah the Hittite. If he became angry toward Nathan, the prophet might be imprisoned or put to death. Nathan courageously went to David and pointed out his sinfulness. (2) Rebuking may be painful. Possibly there are some who relish telling another his faults, but a conscientious person, keenly aware of his own shortcomings, finds no pleasure in confronting another about his transgressions. "Nothing is more irritating or hardening than to be rebuked by one who evidently enjoys his office. But if the one who points out our fault is evidently deeply pained himself, we must be very obdurate if we are insensible to such an appeal. The wayward child is conquered, not by the rod in his mother's hand, but by the tears in her eyes" (E. Hurndall). (3) Rebuking shows love. Paul found it painful to rebuke his brethren but love compelled him. He expressed his feelings this way: "For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you" (2 Cor. 2:4). (4) Rebuking is commanded. God told the Israelites, "Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him" (Lev. 19:17). The command to rebuke one who sins was to avoid developing hatred toward him and to avoid complicity in his sin. Jesus taught that if a brother trespasses against thee, "go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone" (Matt. 18:15). Again, Jesus commanded, "if thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him" (Lk. 17:3). (5) A rebuke is a call to repentance. The aim in castigating someone is to produce godly sorrow which in turn brings about repentance. The design of a rebuke is not punishment. Read Paul's remarks in 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 on this point. (6) A rebuke may cause temporary displeasure. The one who is reproved may not like his medicine. He may get angry and attempt to justify his misconduct. Favor Afterwards In the long run rebuke is more likely to bring admiration and respect than displeasure. "We are so prone to self-love, and pride, that the most prudent, and needful rebukes are apt to create transient displeasure. Yet upon reflection most men will have a better opinion of a faithful reprover, than of a soothing flatterer, and will show him more favor" (T. Scott). When the rebuked person comes to his senses, his heart will be grateful toward the individual who pointed out his fault and convicted him of his sin. Failure of Flattery As Proverbs 26:28 states it, "a flattering mouth worketh ruin." How many people do you know who have been brought to repentance through flattery? The real friend is not the flatterer but one who rebukes in the spirit of love. "He who gives us kisses when he ought to give us reproof, or who holds back deserved rebuke from cowardice, is more cruel than if he withheld from us an indispensable medicine simply because it had a bitter taste. And if a wound is to be probed it is surely better for the patient that it should be done by a skillful and tender hand than by one who has no sympathy with us and no acquaintance with our inner life" (W. Harris). Firm, frank, and kind rebuke finds more favor than flattery will ever produce. -- Via Guardian of Truth XXXI: 4, p. 108, February 19, 1987 ____________________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards at onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ____________________________________________________ From kerux at bellsouth.net Fri Aug 22 15:07:42 2008 From: kerux at bellsouth.net (Kent Heaton) Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:07:42 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] A>Reverend Is His Name (Kent Heaton) Message-ID: <590E9DF496D14491B4AC22FA9EA98CE2@D2381J91> Reverend Is His Name (Kent Heaton) The book of Psalms is a powerful testimony to the majesty, praise, glory and awesome power of Jehovah God. Isaiah wrote the words of the Lord, "To whom would you liken Me and make Me equal and compare Me, that we would be alike . Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me" (Isaiah 46:5,9). How majestic is the name of the Lord and holy. The Lord instructed the children of Israel not to take His name in vain as He prescribed the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain" (Exodus 20:7). The name of God is "Jealous" (Exodus 34:14) because the Lord God is a jealous God. To be jealous is to be "intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness; hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage" (Webster). The Lord is intolerant of those who would seek to put other gods before Him or take His name in vain. No one can be equal with Jehovah God! An unnamed psalmist penned the words of Psalm 111 to declare the power of the Lord in creation. Seen clearly in the psalm is the overshadowing power of the providential care and grace of the Lord to the faithful. All men must stand in awe of the Creator of this world to declare the name of Jehovah God as the great "I AM" (Exodus 3:14). How great is our God and yet how small is man. In verse nine of the text the psalmist declares the name of the Lord is "Holy and reverend (awesome)". The holiness of the Lord is unquestionable. Peter exhorted the early disciples to be holy because God was holy (1 Peter 1:16). The name of God is "reverend" because it is a name to be feared and worshipped. The Lord is worthy of reverence because of His greatness, His grace, His sacrifice and His love. What man among men can take the name "reverend" to be feared, worshipped or adored? Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) wrote in The Treasury of David: "The whole name or character of God is worthy of profoundest awe, for it is perfect and complete, whole or holy. It ought not to be spoken without solemn thought, and never heard without profound homage. His name is to be trembled at; it is something terrible; even those who know him best rejoice with trembling before him. How good men can endure to be called 'reverend' we know not. Being unable to discover any reason why our fellow-men should reverence us, we half suspect that in other men there is not very much which can entitle them to be called reverend, very reverend, right reverend, and so on. It may seem a [small] matter, but for that very reason we would urge that the foolish custom should be allowed to fall into disuse." Spurgeon suggest that this is a small matter but God considers it a matter of greater importance. Asaph wrote in Psalm 50:21, "These things you have done and I kept silence; You thought that I was just like you; I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes." The triviality of man's respect for the name of God will not go unnoticed by the Creator. "Holy and awesome is HIS NAME" (Psalm 111:9). Kent Heaton 207 NE Fourth Avenue Trenton, Florida 32693 (H) 352-463-6916 (O) 3793 (C) 352-283-3889 www.trentonchurchofchrist.com NEW: AUDIO FILES www.northfloridabiblecamp.com If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under. (Ronald Reagan) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080822/3ddc7cb1/attachment.html From terrywbenton at bellsouth.net Fri Aug 22 17:01:59 2008 From: terrywbenton at bellsouth.net (Terry W. Benton) Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:01:59 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Good Science Textbook Analysis Message-ID: <59FCD1350F444DEEAACB7D745343FFFE@TerryPC> Below is a copy of a school science textbook analysis that is worth passing around to school teachers and parents so that they can be aware of the problems in modern text-books regarding the indoctrination of macro-evolution through subtlety and word meaning switches. -Terry W. Benton __________________________________________________________________ http://posh.roundearth.net/biology.htm Form 410.4 (a) Citizen's Request for Reconsideration of Library and/or Instructional Material Author: Miller/Levine Title: Biology Publisher: Prentice-Hall Location of Material: Lawrence Public High Schools Request initiated by: Parents for Objective Science and History, Spokesperson: Nancy Turner Complaint represents: Parents for Objective Science and History 1. To what in the instructional material do you object? Please be specific. (Details per outline below on accompanying attachments) I. Primary Problem : Confusion in the use of the term 'evolution' A. Case 1 - 'Evolution' = minor variations and adaptations B. Case 2 - 'Evolution' = major innovations of species, structures, organs, body plans C. Case 3 - 'Evolution' = naturalistic philosophy, Darwinism as dogmatic belief, or implied atheism II. Secondary Problems A. Omission of Information 1. Unsolved problems in evolutionary theory 2. Discussion of contradictory scientific data 3. Alternative scientific interpretations of existing evidences B. Study Questions which lead to confusion of scientific fact with theory, or philosophy C. Problems of Missing or False Information in Text: Appendix 2. What do you feel might be the result of using this material? 1.. Students will fail to learn the importance of defining terms carefully when attempting to think logically. 2.. Students will contribute to the vast ignorance of the real issues behind the controversies surrounding evolutionary theory by continuing the common practice of using one term to mean at least three very different ideas. 3.. Students will be less inclined to contribute to the investigation of origins, evolutionary processes and mechanisms if they are led to believe the field is closed to questioning. 4.. Students may contribute to prejudice against scientists with non-mainstream ideas about evolution, or interpretations of scientific evidence which are at variance with the evolutionary beliefs of the majority of scientists (although the progress of science has so often been furthered by those who dared to think against the common current). 5.. Student's own theistic belief systems may be unnecessarily discriminated against if they are not made aware of the many scientific interpretations of existing biological evidences which are consistent with theistic presuppositions. 3. For what age group would you recommend this material? This material is consistent with the high school audience for whom it is intended. 4. Is there anything good about this material? Parents reviewing this textbook enjoyed the visual aids, the overall content, the clarity of the text's layout. Although none of the non-evolutionary material was being checked for problems, we found much of it interesting and well-written. At least one reviewer appreciated very much the text's treatment of human reproduction and sexually transmitted diseases. The text is clearly of high quality overall. 5. Have you read or previewed the entire material? No. If not, what parts have you read or previewed? All parts directly pertaining to, or addressing the concept of evolution were taken into consideration in this review. 6. Are you aware of the judgments of this material by critics inthis subject area? 7. What do you believe is the theme or purpose of this material? Obviously, the theme is the teaching of biology. Under the teachers's section (p. T6), it states that the text has a two-fold purpose. The first is to present conceptual development and thinking processes behind scientific discovery. The second is to provide a conceptual outlook toward science making "sure that the book would take an evolutionary approach to biology." The philosophy section concludes with, "Rather, evolution is presented as a unifying concept that interrelates all other areas of biology...." 8. Your recommendations for action toward this material? We recommend that the text continue in use and that teachers be trained to compensate for its weaknesses using material we have provided in our attached report on sample worksheets. 1.. We recommend that no religious material be presented in this context, but that religion and philosophy be kept out of the science classroom. 2.. We recommend that future textbook selection committees look for a text that incorporates the clearer definitions, the non-doctrinal presentation of evolutionary theory, and the more complete information about anomalous scientific evidence which we have provided on attached worksheets for the interim. 3.. We recommend that students with the curiosity to explore diversity of opinion be provided with ample resources to research a wide variety of scientific thought in the area of evolutionary theory, and that they not be 'protected' from the controversy by indoctrination, or censorship. 4.. We recommend that the district adopt the following statement formed by the Science Education Commission of the American Scientific Affiliation: "The State Board of Education and the local boards of education shall encourage teachers to make distinctions between the multiple meaning of 'evolution,' to distinguish between philosophical materialism and authentic science, and to include unanswered questions and unresolved problems [regarding evolution] in their presentations." 9. To whom did you talk in your school about this material? This review did not involve a particular school, or teacher. I. PRIMARY PROBLEM : Confusion in the use of the term 'evolution' A. Case 1 - 'Evolution' = minor variations and adaptations When the term 'evolution' is used in this sense, it refers to small changes within a species, such as finch beak variations and peppered moth adaptations to environmental changes. This process is observable and can be considered scientific fact. The reviewers consider presentation of this material to be appropriate and likely to be fascinating to students - possibly interesting them in careers in scientific research, or in making their own scientific observations of the natural world. The problems we find, with this usage of the term 'evolution', are instances in which scientific evidence for minor changes within a species are reported as evidence for the development of higher taxa from lower, or for major structural innovations requiring new DNA for plausibility. Examples of Case 1 Problematic Usage: P. 272, "Darwin and other scientists have accumulated a vast amount of evidence that proves that evolution has occurred." (There is a vast amount of evidence that microevolution has occurred, but the evidence for macroevolution has not been accumulated. Good science fobids the use of the term "prove" outside the mathematical deductive proofs. The term "evolution" in the text here should be identified as microevolution for this statement to be accurate.) P. 291, "Observing that evolution has occurred is relatively simple." (Observation of microevolution may be simple, but macroevolution has not been observed. In fact, scientists have noticed that species such as bacteria and flies do not evolve into higher order life forms throughout hundreds of thousands of observable generations. This type of statement implies that anyone questioning the proof of macroevolution is ignorant.) P. 303, "Evolutionary change occurs around us constantly. Scientists today have observed many examples of evolutionary change that have occurred in living organisms." (Scientists have observed microevolutionary change, and the remainder of the article on this page gives as an example of such change the development of insecticide resistance in insects. This is a valid example of microevolution. The problem with the text is that, once again, the fact that microevolutionary change has been observed is used to imply that 'evolution' is obvious and unquestionable when used interchangeably to convey the concept of micro- or macro- evolution.) P. 304, The student is directed in the guide for reading to learn from section 14-4 "How do new species develop from existing species?" Examples are given of fish which differentiate into fish with different characteristics, but no examples are given of fish which develop into a higher order life form. In this way, students are led to believe the process of microevolution has resulted in macroevolutionary leaps to entirely new taxa. P. 308, Figure 14-20 is another example of the above use of observed microevolutionary change to convey or imply the idea that macroevolutionary change is proven. The picture of many species of finch could just as well be used to convey the idea that, after millions of years of adaptive radiation and evolution, these finches are still demonstrably finches despite their variations and, contrary to macroevolutionary expectations, have not become different life forms. This is a good example of editorial bias within the book which extends to all chapters on animal development which assume common descent and macroevolution of all life forms. Proposed Solution: Educate students via Worksheet #1 (attached) to use the term 'micro-evolution' to refer to relatively minor variations and adaptations. Encourage them to notice when the term 'evolution' is being used ambiguously, or when evidence for microevolution is presented as proof that evolution accounts for the development of new species, organs, structures and body plans. B. Case 2 - 'Evolution' = major innovations of species, structures, organs, and body plans When used in this sense, 'evolution' refers to the belief based on inference from scientific evidence (rather than the directly observed, experimentally verified scientific fact of microevolution) that evolution (gradual, or punctuated equilibrium) accounts for the appearance in the fossil record of drastically different life forms, and the remarkable innovations of variant structures, organs and body plans in different life forms. It is factual to say that many scientists view this idea as plausible. What is not factual to say, or imply, is that all true scientists believe it, or to lead a student to believe it by implying that evidence for microevolution is sufficient to prove that such evolution has occurred. Examples of Case 2 Problematic Usage: P. 266, "The small furry creatures chasing one another among the bones and squabbling over the last scraps of dinosaur meat may not seem all that impressive. However, they and their relatives were the ancestors of elephants, horses, whales, and other mammals. Some of their descendants became intelligent enough to contemplate the extraordinary diversity of life, theorize about the processes that formed many kinds of creatures from a single original kind, perform experiments to test theories, and imagine events that occurred millions of years ago." (In this case, the theory that humans descended from small furry creatures, and that all life proceeded from a single kind of organism is dogmatically presented as fact. It may be the case that this occurred, but while so many scientists are skeptical of the evidence for macroevolution, it is not just to present this as an irrefutable fact. This type of conjecture discourages the student from considering legitimate evidence to the contrary, that is, from thinking scientifically.) P. 271, "If you look back far enough in time, you will see that all species have shared, or common, ancestors. Since species have descended from common ancestors, Darwin called this principle common descent." (One way to 'look back in time' is through the fossil record. Paleontologists are aware that this evidence does not demonstrate the continuous record of common descent, which is presented as fact in such statements as these. Darwin himself believed that a lack of fossil records of transitional species would undermine his theory, yet now, when that lack is patently clear, our modern text is presenting his theory as proven fact. This is poor science. It may still be true that common descent is the reality, but this is presented dogmatically and another example of poor science. Students should be made aware of the tenuous and theoretic nature of the fossil links between bacteria and man.) P. 284, "Snakes, for example, evolved from four-legged ancestors." (This is given as a fact, when there are credible scientists who see reason in the available evidence to doubt it. It may be cumbersome to continually qualify such statements, but it is more accurate. The students are led to accept this without question, and are not given the opportunity for critical thinking that might be introduced at this point. Scientific questions about why there are no fossil records of snakes with partial legs, or how intermediate life forms could have survived with the encumbrance of partial legs are not addressed, or alluded to. Once again, this may have been the case, but to introduce it as a fact teaches students to think dogmatically instead of scientifically.) P. 309, Figure 14-21 introduces dogmatically the concept that the bear, bird, dolphin, snake, alligator, and turtle evolved from the cotylosaur. The student must be taught to challenge this presentation, learning to ask how much of this is based on irrefutable fossil evidence and how much on conjecture, extrapolation, and artistic license. This figure presents as fact a series of hypothetical links between modern and ancient organisms without encouraging students to search for the scientific basis for the 'family tree.' As is the case throughout the book, it is implied that irrefutable scientific evidence exists for the presentation, but students are encouraged to trust in that evidence without questioning. They are shielded from knowledge that there are eminent scientists who regard such extrapolations from available evidence as implausible. It may be the case that such macroevolutionary leaps have occurred, but students being taught scientific literacy must be encouraged to evaluate the plausibility of the idea, not taught it as fact. This is known as an "ad hoc" hypothesis, which is poor science. P. 312, Punctuated equilibrium is introduced by way of explaining relatively rapid evolutionary changes. It should be pointed out that punctuated equilibrium theory developed in response to the utter lack of fossil evidence for transitional species (jumps, for instance, from cotylosaur to dolphin). It is a way that believers in macroevolution have reconciled their belief with the lack of evidence in the fossil record. Since the evidence shows a wide range of animal types exploding into the fossil record in a 'geological blink of the eye', punctuated equilibrium may be the more up-to-date theory. Students should be made aware that it is a theory which contradicts the notion of Darwinian gradualism. P. 725, "one thing is certain - birds evolved from ancient reptiles." (In this and in every section on animal development, the text states or implies that such macroevolutionary changes are proven, unquestioned, and irrefutable. Meanwhile, students are dissuaded from considering that many scientists see gaping holes in such logic, and that there are challenges posed by many scientific disciplines that bring into question whether or not such innovations are possible. As noted above, punctuated equilibrium provides a frame of reference which negates the need for such fossil evidence, but which leaves open the issue of mechanism. Still to be resolved, is the concept of the mechanism at work in the causation of rapid acquisitions of wholly new and innovative body plans, organs, and systems of interrelated organs. As Socrates might have pointed out, real learning comes from considering real questions.) Proposed Solution: Worksheet #1 (attached) will help teachers encourage students to use clearer terms to distinguish between microevolution and 'Case 2' usage of the term 'evolution' which may be called macroevolution. Students can be taught all the same elements of evolutionary theory as are currently considered foundational to their college studies in biological science, but at the same time, can be prevented from confusing inference with scientific evidence. Where scientific evidence for micro-evolution is extrapolated to show grounds for the majority opinion that macroevolution is plausible, students will understand the presuppositions involved in making this inference, and can make their own evaluations. This clarification of terms will in no way prevent them from learning what are the commonly held beliefs about evolution in the scientific community. It will help them consider science in the light of the scientific method. Worksheet #2 (attached) detailing some of the reasons not all scientists accept the evidence for microevolution as evidence for macroevolution will help students see science as a field open to people of diverse ideas and opinions, and help stimulate them to do their own research into these ideas before making evaluations. It will fit in nicely with the text's presentation of evolution as a theory which has itself undergone "a process of change," by broadening the students' understanding that evolutionary theory is not a field closed to controversial ideas. We have deliberately excluded references to authors who base their arguments on the validity of macroevolution as the overarching explanation for development of all life on religious presuppositions. It is our opinion that such arguments have no place in an effort to teach objective science. C. Case 3 - 'Evolution' = naturalistic philosophy In this case, the philosophical belief that undirected natural processes account for all the diverse and complex living organisms that exist is presented as the necessary conclusion to be drawn from scientific evidence for microevolution, or from the predominance of belief in the occurrence of macroevolution. There are, in fact, scientists who hold evolutionary beliefs, but consider them consistent with theistic presuppositions, or consider the evidence clear that some sort of intelligent direction must have been at work in the process of evolution. There are many parents who hold unclear ideas about evolution itself, but who are content that whatever mechanism operated to produce the panorama of life forms must have been directed by supernatural intelligence. There are believers in modification through descent who hold to belief in some sort of cosmic intelligence which they consider a guiding and directing force behind the formation of complex life forms. Many scientists honestly throw up their hands when it comes to explaining what the source of the information guiding genetic change might have been, but do not rule out what they cannot know. For every such person involved with the public schools, indoctrin- ation of students in naturalistic philosophy is unacceptable. The fires of prejudice are fueled by implications that belief in supernatural guidance of natural processes, or intelligent design of organisms is inconsistent with scientific fact. Examples of Case 3 Problematic Usage: P. 269, "In science, you will recall, observation, questioning, and constant testing of hypotheses must replace belief." (This statement could be construed as a demand that beliefs will necessarily be upstaged by scientific discoveries. Rather than dwell on this philosophical issue, the reviewers simply point out that the statement represents our own position in a nutshell: that we must teach students to differentiate between ideas confirmed through observation, experiment and testing and that which is, by its nature, a matter of belief - nonobservable, untestable theory. To confuse the two is to close hypotheses to questioning and to brand as skeptics, quacks, heretics, or ignoramuses anyone who dares defy what has become a quasi-religious dogma of presuppositions. Let us not imply that scientists are capable of operating in a vacuum of belief, but admit that everyone brings a combination of philosophical bias and fact to the table of investigation and discussion of the origins of life.) P. 285, "The very complexity of life and its processes supports Darwin's conclusion." (This statement refers to the structural and biochemical complexity of all organisms. Ironically, one of the most articulate and revealing refutations of Darwin's conclusion has been written recently by a biochemist with impeccable credentials who concludes that the irreducible complexity of organisms at the biochemical level is proof beyond doubting that natural selection is insufficient to account for the development of life forms. Whether complexity supports or refutes Darwin's conclusion is, in the absence of scientific evidence such as Behe has provided in Darwin's Black Box, a matter of philosophical presupposition. Statements such as this one step over the line between scientific information and philosophical speculation.) P. 291, "Evolutionary theory is the foundation on which the rest of biological science is built. In fact, the biologist Theodor Dobzhansky once wrote that nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." (This statement presents evolution as the unquestionable presupposition without which biological science itself would unravel and be undone. This is patently a philosophical, even a religious way of thinking about evolution. This is a faith-based approach to science. The text seems to be a catechism of evolutionary dogma when it describes evolution in such fashion. This is unacceptable indoctrination. It is especially offensive to those scientists, past and present, who have been able to make a great deal of sense of and contribution to the biological sciences without faith in evolution as the overarching principle of the natural world.) P. 313, "Only because all living organisms are related through common descent can we talk about universal characteristics of life. ?And only through application of evolutionary theory can we truly understand the way that organisms interact with each other and with their environments." (As above, this statement is true only if naturalistic philosophy is accepted as given. Scientists were talking about universal characteristics of life long before evolution was seen as the First Cause of all life. There are also some potentially flawed perceptions of the way the organisms interact with each other which spring from the unquestioning acceptance of evolutionary theory, or from the application of microevolutionary concepts to human social interactions. The text states truly, to give it credit, that "the influence of evolutionary thought extends far beyond biology," but implies that all such influence is positive, whereas many philosophers trace extremely negative trends in human interaction to its influence. Students should either not be faced with such subtle philosophical argument, or should be allowed to face it with more well-rounded information on alternative perspectives.) P. 335, "all living things - all of us- share a common past and a common destiny on this planet. If you remember nothing else from this course ten years from now, remember this." (One of the text's authors makes explicit his vision for the students. He seems, in his letter, to be thinking of the need for students to be concerned with the interrelationships among all living things and the need for us to carefully steward the planet and its organisms. He goes beyond this commendable goal, however, in engaging in metaphysical speculation. Elsewhere on this page, he describes Darwin as having found "order in the chaos of the living world." It would surprise scientists such as Linnaeus and Mendel, who believed for vastly different reasons than his in order in the universe, to hear that Darwin had 'found' what they took as given and foundational to their profound contributions to science. The destiny of beings is a matter of philosophical and religious, not scientific, theory.) P. 658, "it is important to keep this concept in mind: Evolution is random and undirected." (Bold as in text) (Some students will be comfortable with the atheism at the root of evolution-as-philosophy. Others, however, will be able to accept the concept of macroevolution as plausible only as far as they can reconcile it with theistic belief systems of one kind or another. Theistic evolutionists, for example, are able to perceive a creator as the intelligent designer of the evolutionary process. Some religious beliefs can accommodate the idea of physical macroevolution, but must involve a creator at the point of the vast departure of man in rationality and spirituality from other beings. When even this much of individual faith is denied expression, however, the strong current of philosophical/religious indoctrination that runs through this text is made apparent. Naturalistic philosophy holds the natural world and its laws as sufficient to account for and explain all that exists. Meaning and purpose of life are contained within the sphere of the material world. It is one philosophical perspective, but better studied in a philosophy than a science classroom. It is possible to present microevolution as a different theory than macroevolution, and both without presenting evolutionary theory as the ground of all scientific truth, or the necessary presupposition for all scientific investigation.) Proposed Solution: Concepts included in Worksheet #3 (attached) will help teachers and students differentiate between scientific fact, scientific theory and philosophical or religious belief. We recommend that there be a prohibition against indoctrination in naturalistic philosophy in public schools and that as future textbook updates become necessary, texts be eliminated which cross the line between science and philosophy, or religion. Ideally, teachers help fight prejudice by teaching students to define terms clearly, refuse to use ad hominem arguments, and research opposing positions with respect before making evaluations. Public school libraries should contain non-religious, scientific reference materials which explain alternative ideas about evolutionary theory. II. Secondary Problems A. Omission of Information The text omits discussion of unsolved problems and unanswered questions in evolutionary theory, discussion of anomalous scientific data, and discussion of alternative scientific interpretations of existing evidence. Although it presents evolution as a theory which has 'evolved', it does not address any of the open questions still being addressed by evolutionary scientists. Proposed Solution: Worksheets #4-6 (attached) present a few of the most interesting concepts which have been omitted. Worksheet #3 (attached) has already been introduced, and includes information about the presuppositions necessary for belief in macroevolution which have been omitted in the text. B. Dogmatic Study Questions There are a number of non-scientific review questions in the text which lead the student to a conclusion consistent with positive belief in macroevolution,or naturalistic philosophy and do not allow for alternative answers not covered in the text. Worksheet #7 (attached) is suggested for teachers' information about possible valid alternative answers to such questions to which they should be open and respectful. The questions could easily be rephrased to clarify whether the student is being asked what he believes, or what many evolutionary theorists believe. We suggest that teachers make such clarifications of review and test questions. In this fashion, students can learn all the currently accepted correct answers to questions about evolution without having to make as statements of fact ideas which are inconsistent with their own conclusions about evolution. For example, a non-believer in macroevolution could easily answer the question, "Did all life forms develop via evolution from single celled organisms, according to the majority of evolutionary scientists?" He/She could answer "Yes," without compromising his/her beliefs. Please Note: The committee reviewing this text has worked very hard to present its conclusions in a clear format and to provide solutions for problems which have been identified. An integral component of the recommendations is the set of worksheets, which follow. These can be used as supplemental reading for students, and guides for teachers toward opening up and clarifying the discussion of evolution without denying the fact that it is the most widely held theory of origins in today's scientific community. In all cases, the tone is respectful of the various schools of thought in this discussion, and in no case has religious dogma been introduced. The worksheets should be understandable to the high school student. No attempt is made at indoctrination, or elimination of the teaching of evolution. The materials can be used whether or not a particular school district will be testing students on terms, concepts and conclusions of evolutionary theory. C. Misinformation in text: See Appendix Worksheet #1 Definitions of 'Evolution' There are many different ways the word 'evolution' is used. When we are studying the scientific idea of evolution, it is very important to be quite clear about the sense in which an author, scientist, teacher, or fellow student is using the word. Just as, in the study of logic, the definition of terms is the necessary prerequisite to having an intelligent and helpful argument, this clarification of meaning is critical to any discussion or study of the concept of evolution. When potential confusion is high because of the various ideas a word is used to convey, it is helpful to use an alternate word, which expresses a more precise meaning. Here, for example, are two words we may use when discussing evolution, which convey two very different meanings. You and your friends, parents, or teachers may want to create different ways of expressing the two definitions of 'evolution', or use the following terms to help clarify your thinking and discussion about the subject. 1) Microevolution Changes and adaptations within a population of life forms. These small-scale, or minor, changes do not result in leaps between one kind of life form and another, but in a wide variation of types of this same form. Although we observe many varieties within the group, a finch remains a finch, a virus a virus, a moth a moth, etc. 'Micro-evolution' is the term which accurately describes what we observe. Some scientists prefer calling microevolution subspeciation to differentiate it from change in which new genetic material must be acquired by the organism. At this level, the changes we observe are a function of recombination of existing genes. No new information is gained in the change of a color, beak size, and similar minor variations. Note: All students need to know that while variations happen they do have the following traits: l. They have limits. (Insects can become resistant to pesticides, but not a sledgehammer.) 2. They still remain in the same animal family or plant family. 3. The genetic information was already present in order for the adaptation to occur (Finches - no new appendages/organs grew, just variations in a beak already there) 4. The gene pool is now more limited. (A chihauhaus cannot breed with a great dane as the genetic information is no longer present.) 2) Macroevolution Large-scale, or major changes from one kind of life form to another, involving innovations in structure or body plan, or new organs. If a snake becomes a bird, a dinosaur a bear, or a bacteria develops into a man, 'macroevolution' is the term to use. A fin becoming a leg, a circulatory lung a bellows lung, or a scale a feather would be examples of 'macroevolution'. New genetic information must be acquired by the organism in order for it to develop these drastically different structures. Scientists who support the concept of macroevolution may differ in their understanding of the mechanism by which it occurs, the length of time necessary for it to have occurred, or the sequence in which one type of organism turned into another. Critical Thinking Exercises-- Worksheet #1 1.. Observe in your Biology text, or in articles about animal development, how the term 'evolution' is used. When evidence is given for evolution, observe and take note of which type of evolution is being supported, or demonstrated by the evidence. Keep a chart of the examples you find, listing them under the headings "MICRO" and "MACRO." 2.. Interview a variety of people, asking, "What does the word 'evolution' mean?" Categorize their responses as 'Micro', 'Macro', 'Ambiguous' (when someone uses the term to cover both meanings), or 'Other' (the term is used in non-scientific contexts to mean 'change over time', or 'development', for example). Report on the new ways you find people expressing their idea of evolution, and on your observation of the way most people mean 'evolution.' Worksheet #2 Diversity of Evolutionary Ideas The theory of evolution has changed over the years. As scientists uncover more fossils, conduct more experiments involving genetic mutations and investigate living organisms more closely, their ideas about how evolution might have occurred develop and change. Since they research different animals, and bring to their work a variety of presuppositions and expectations, the scientific plausibility about the 'how', 'when', and 'whether' of evolution varies. There are many questions about various aspects of evolution, and scientists often debate heatedly among themselves about their preferred solutions to evolution's puzzlements. The process of forming and testing hypotheses, investigating and observing the smallest details of life forms, and publishing and discussing (even arguing about!) findings and theories is all part of the exciting world of science. Here are some of the ideas that scientists are 'chewing on' right now. What are your thoughts about the questions they face? Identifying the Mechanism of Evolution If macroevolution has occurred, how did it happen? Darwin's explanation was that the gradual process of natural selection could account for the development of all life forms over millions of years. Some scientists still hold this view. Others theorize that gradual accumulation of genetic changes could not have worked to produce large-scale changes, or that the lack of transitional species in the fossil record implies rapid, major changes occurred, which natural selection could not have produced. Discovering How, or Whether, New Genetic Information Is Be Acquired Natural selection is the idea that mutations in genetic information are preserved in a population when they increase an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment. Some scientists believe natural selection is the mechanism of both micro- and macroevolution, though they disagree about whether minor mutations accumulated gradually, or major mutations account for rapid developments. Others observe natural selection operating as the mechanism of microevolution, or subspeciation, but cannot agree that it can account for changes in which the acquisition of new genetic information is required. Can an organism develop, and transmit through reproduction, new genes, which give the information needed for the growth of new structures and body plans to the next generation? Do mutations result in increase, or decrease in genetic information within the organism, or just a reshuffling of the DNA code? Sorting Out the Sequence of Common Descent Life forms with homologous structures are said to have evolved from a close common ancestor. Animals with such similarities indicating they are near neighbors on the hypothesized evolutionary 'family tree' may have biochemical similarities, which would seem to reclassify them in different relationship to other organisms. For example, horseshoe crabs are structurally similar to crustaceans, but by blood chemistry are more closely related to spiders. Scientists struggle with the question of whether similarity of structures can be evidence of common descent. Which sort of similarity is more indicative of a relationship between animals? Accounting for Lack of Fossil Evidence Darwin believed that scientists would find fossils of animals which represented transitional forms between, for example, reptiles and birds. He said that lack of such evidence would undermine his theory that natural selection worked to produce macro-evolutionary changes over time. Since his times, paleontologists have found millions of fossils, but no undisputed transitional forms. Scientists disagree about how to interpret this evidence. Some say macroevolutionary change occurred too slowly to be observed in the fossil record; others, that it occurred too rapidly to involve transitional forms; still others, that it could not have occurred at all via natural selection. See Ernst Mayr's, Stephen Jay Gould's, and Michael Denton's writings for more information about three different ways evolutionists think about this issue. Their books can lead you to other scientists who agree and who disagree with their positions. Accounting for the Cambrian Explosion The earliest appearance of fossils lies in what scientists refer to as the Cambrian layer of rock strata. Suddenly there was an explosion of highly organized life forms in a period of time geologists consider relatively short. Evolutionist Richard Dawkins writes in The Blind Watchmaker that it "is as though they were just planted there without any evolutionary history." All the major animal phyla appeared, contrary to Darwin's expectation of progressive diversity through evolution of new phyla. The Cambrian fossil evidence reveals an amazing diversity of life forms, some of which are now extinct, and others which are still with us in much the same form. How can gradualism account for such rapid diversity? How can punctuated equilibrium address the evidence? What other explanations can you think of for the Cambrian explosion? Facing Facts About Mutations Scientists have experimented with organisms such as bacteria and fruit flies, inducing genetic mutations and observing the results. (Such life forms reproduce very quickly, so many generations can be observed within a scientist's investigation.) The vast majority of mutations proved harmful to the organisms, or prevented reproduction. Geneticists have confirmed the experience of animal breeders that species stubbornly remain what they are, despite any number of variations. Dogs remain dogs, flies remain flies. These findings are confirmed by the fossil record, which shows species appearing suddenly and remaining within consistent boundaries. The theory of punctuated equilibrium is an evolutionary model for describing this phenomenon. Scientists such as Stephen Jay Gould defend this theory. Other scientists view this as evidence that macroevolution did not occur, or that some other mechanism besides accumulated mutations must have been at work. Facing the Difficulties of Complexity Many features of animals are interrelated in an extremely complex fashion, which poses a problem for us in imagining the gradual development of such intricate systems. For example, the long neck of the giraffe requires a sophisticated system of blood pressure sensors and controls be in place for its survival. For a reptile to transform into a bird, respiratory, skeletal, digestive, reproductive and nervous system changes would all have had to occur simultaneously. Scientists recognize the difficulties in supporting the theory of gradual change, but have not found a mechanism of genetic information acquisition which could lend credence to the theory of rapid leaps in evolutionary development. Scientists supporting the punctuated equilibrium model hypothesize that 'hopeful monsters' appeared via unique and fortuitous combinations of genetic mutations and, having such a drastic advantage over others in their population, reproduced widely and successfully. Some evolutionists, such as Michael Denton (Evolution: A Theory in Crisis) see the evidence as pointing to some form of intelligent design. Michael Behe, a biochemist, supports this theory in his book, Darwin's Black Box, based on his observation of irreducible complexity at the molecular level. Critical Thinking Exercises 1.. For each of the research areas above, investigate at least two different ways of thinking among modern evolutionary scientists. Identify the school of thought represented by the scientists you report on (Neo-Darwinist, Punctuated Equilibrium, Intelligent Design). (You may need special permission from your teacher, or parents, to investigate the thoughts of Theistic Evolutionists, or Creationists as these involve religious beliefs.) Include the credentials of each scientist whose opinions you include, and document the sources of your information. You might also include a bibliography, which would help classmates investigate the way different scientists address these issues. 2.. Read several issues of one scientific journal such as "Systematic Zoology", "Natural History", "Paleobiology", or "New Scientist". Identify one area of controversy and report on the arguments of at least two different scientists and the evidence each uses to support his proposed solution. Follow their debate in the next few issues of the journal, and notice what other scientists in their field are saying about their conclusions. Worksheet #3 Facts, Theories, Science and Philosophy Science is the study of every aspect of our world with a view to explaining it all more and more clearly. It is the domain of inquisitive, curious minds and of all who wonder how and why things happen in the natural, physical world. We owe a great deal to all who pursue scientific understanding. There are other fields of study in which different types of knowledge and understanding are pursued in different ways. Philosophy, for instance, is the search for truth through logical reasoning rather than factual observation. We can expect that people searching for truth in different ways will find their paths intersecting, their fields of study overlapping. No scientist begins his studies without some philosophical beliefs about the world. Philosophers incorporate knowledge gained from scientific study into their models of thinking about truth. This is an important concept to understand as you study science. Here are some key terms, which will help you think about different ways of understanding our world. Science: Process whose goal is to understand the natural world. (Biology, Miller/Levine) Theory: Time-tested concepts that make useful and dependable predictions about the natural world. (Biology, Miller/Levine) Hypothesis: Possible explanation about some event in nature. (Biology, Miller/Levine) The authors also state: "When a hypothesis is tested and confirmed often enough that it is unlikely to be disproved by future tests, it may become worthy of being called a theory." Objective: Belonging to the sensible world and being observable or verifiable, especially by scientific methods. (Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary) Fact: A piece of information presented as having objective reality. (Webster's) Experiment: An operation carried out under controlled conditions in order to discover an unknown effect or law, to test or establish a hypothesis, or to illustrate a known law. (Webster's) Infer: To derive a conclusion from facts or premises. (To infer implies arriving at a conclusion by reasoning from evidence; if the evidence is slight, the term comes close to surmise.) Inference: The act of passing from one proposition, statement, or judgment considered as true to another whose truth is believed to follow from that of the former. (Webster's) Proposition: Something proposed or offered for consideration or acceptance; a theorem or problem to be demonstrated; an expression of something that can be believed, doubted, or denied or is either true or false. (Webster's) Epistemology: The study or a theory of the nature and grounds of knowledge especially with reference to its limits and validity. (Webster's) Presupposition: That which is supposed beforehand, required as an antecedent in logic or fact. (Webster's) Cannot be demonstrated as true or false by empirical methods of science. Worldview: A way of looking at and interpreting the world. It is made up of presuppositions about the basic nature of metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics Assumption: The supposition that something is true; a fact or statement taken for granted. (Webster's) Naturalism: A theory denying that an event or object has a supernatural significance; the doctrine that scientific laws are adequate to account for all phenomena. (Webster's) This term can also be used to refer to a worldview that excludes any kind of design. Extrapolation: To project, extend, or expand known data or experience into an area not known or experienced so as to arrive at a usually conjectural knowledge of the unknown area by inferences based on an assumed continuity, correspondence, or other parallelism between it and what is known. (Webster's) Philosophy: l. orig, love of, or the search for, wisdom or knowledge 2. Theory or logical analysis of the principles underlying conduct, thought, knowledge, and the nature of the universe; included in philosophy are ethics, aesthetics, logic, epistemology, metaphysics, etc. (New World) Critical Thinking Exercises 1.. How is science limited in what it can know objectively (through the five senses)? 2.. How might a scientist's worldview determine how he views evidence? 3.. How might a scientist's ideas about epistemology (how do we know what we know? what are the limits of our knowledge?) affect his hypotheses and theories? 4.. Does scientific investigation imply a belief that truth can be known? 5.. What are some of the underlying assumptions of evolutionary theory? (Life from non-living material; natural processes operating at a uniform pace over vast periods of time; accumulation of positive mutations and genetic variations; random and undirected natural processes; etc?) See Appendix for evolution's seven basic assumptions. How might the theories change if one or more of these presuppositions changed? 6.. How has the theory of punctuated equilibrium evolved from change in the assumption of uniformitarianism? 7.. Can a scientist who has a non-naturalistic philosophy still observe and test the physical, natural world and come to valid scientific conclusions? 8.. If there is a supernatural dimension to reality, can a scientist who has a naturalistic philosophy come to valid conclusions? 9.. How does scientific methodology (forming hypotheses, designing experiments to test and verify them, sharing information with other scientists, testing each other's theories) help scientists with different philosophies contribute together to the body of scientific knowledge? 10.. Give some examples of important contributions to science by people with different philosophies, or beliefs. 11.. How can two scientists look at the same physical evidence and come up with different theories based on their presuppositions, or philosophies? How might different theories give rise to new, different hypotheses? How can their different views result in greater amounts of scientific knowledge? ? Look for information about the Law of Biogenesis, the Laws of Thermodynamics, and the Law of Gravity. l.. How is a law different from a theory? In what sense could each of them be called theories? In what sense are these more than theories (how have they been verified by repeatable testing, experimentation, measurement)? m.. If something is a hypothesis, does that mean it is not true? Are theories necessarily true, or untrue? Why is it important to know how far something is proven, and what would prove an idea conclusively? Are there things we believe without knowing exactly what the facts are about them, or how they work? How can a hypothesis that is disproved still be helpful in the accumulation of scientific knowledge? n.. Why is macroevolution called a theory and not a fact? What useful and dependable predictions does the theory make about the natural world? How would it be possible to observe, or test the theory? Does the theory's failure to predict some phenomena discredit it? If a competing theory also makes useful and dependable predictions about the natural world, is it important for some scientists to proceed to test that theory, too? If scientists are pressured not to consider alternative explanations, or test competing hypotheses, how will scientific knowledge be limited, or reduced? What might be the danger of only one philosophy being considered valid as the starting point for scientific investigation? Worksheet #4 Is Natural Selection the Mechanism by which Species Originate? Darwin proposed, and modern day Neo-Darwinists support, the idea that species originate through the process of natural selection. Sometimes this theory is referred to as 'survival of the fittest'. The idea is that the traits which best equip an organism for survival are most likely to be passed on in succeeding generations. Organisms with an advantage of some kind in behavior, or physical attributes that gives them greater success in reproduction will reproduce and replicate their traits with greater frequency in the population. As genetic reshuffling, or mutation of genes produces such advantages; and as these advantages, one by one, accumulate over long periods of time, creatures will emerge with vastly different organs, structures, and body plans from the 'ancestor' on the 'family tree', and be identified as a different species and eventually a different taxa altogether. Who questions this theory, and why? 1. Scientists who propose the punctuated equilibrium (PE) theory of evolution, while agreeing that macroevolution has occurred, disagree that gradual natural selection of traits over long periods of time could account for the phenomenon. Observing clear gaps in the fossil record between species, they propose that 'hopeful monsters' emerged with greatly variant traits already formed in combinations that would work together to give them a distinct reproductive advantage over others in their species. Although PE scientists do not yet propose a mechanism for the increase in genetic information required to produce these new types, their theory is one way of accounting for the fact that many interrelated physical changes must have occurred simultaneously for any one of them to have functioned successfully; and for the fossil evidence that species appear 'intact' with no transitional forms (such as part snake/part bird). If macroevolution always occurred in rapid leaps, there would be no such forms expected in the fossil record. 2. Animal breeders disagree that changes in organisms due to genetic reshuffling, or mutation could be the mechanism of macroevolution. Whether or not they think macroevolution has occurred, their experience with cultivating such changes shows a distinct limitation in the plasticity of species (the range of their ability to change from the original pattern). They can develop new characteristics in successive generations of animals, within clear boundaries (the horse, for example, is still a horse). If returned to their natural habitat, bred animals revert to characteristics typical of the original stock. 3. Some geneticists disagree that natural selection could be the mechanism of macroevolution. Their studies of quickly-reproducing organisms, such as fruit flies, enable them to observe the effects of induced and natural mutations upon thousands of generations. They conclude that the DNA programs a species to remain what it is - no new species emerge and many mutations are actually detrimental to the organism, rather than beneficial in terms of its ability to survive and reproduce. Mutations often leave the organism unable to reproduce, or create a hybrid creature, which cannot reproduce. The geneticist may agree, or disagree, that macroevolution has occurred, while agreeing that gradual accumulation of traits via natural selection could not be the mechanism by which it operates. 4. Some biochemists and molecular biologists disagree that gradual accumulation of new traits could have resulted in entirely new species. Their arguments often hinge on the astounding level of interdependency of mechanisms at the anatomical, or cellular level, which is called 'irreducible complexity'. They observe, as do the punctuated equilibrium scientists, that multiple changes would have to have occurred simultaneously for organisms to have survived at all. For example, for the transformation of a reptile into a bird, modifications of the digestive, nervous, respiratory, and skeletal systems must occur. A being with partial feathers, or an unperfected skeleton, could not fly or crawl and thus, would be unfit to survive. In another example, it is not enough for the neck of an ancient giraffe to have gradually lengthened over time. A sophisticated circulatory system would have to have evolved simultaneously, in synchronization with the lengthening of the neck. Without perfect blood pressure regulation, the giraffe with the longer neck could not have survived the raising and lowering of his head. Examples abound of irreducibly complex systems which, if any one component is absent, cannot function: blood clotting, electron transport, photosynthesis, bacterial flagellum, etc. Since natural selection theory depends on the ability of organisms to function at each intermediate step in their development, scientists may conclude that it could not produce macroevolutionary changes. 5. Some mathematicians conclude that the statistical improbability that accumulated mutations could result in new species renders the natural selection hypothesis impossible. Critical Thinking Exercises 1.. Investigate the arguments for and against the theory that macroevolution occurs by means of Natural Selection. Present a report giving a summary of the evidence for and against this particular mechanism as the agent of evolution of new species. Another idea may be for you and classmates to research opposite positions and present a debate to help other students understand the thinking of modern scientists on this issue. (Remember, you are not arguing whether or not macroevolution occurred, but whether or not natural selection is the mechanism of change from one species to another.). Research the ideas of scientists who propose alternative possibilities for the mechanism of evolutionary change. What are the weaknesses and strengths of their hypotheses? Describe the experiments they are conducting to test their theories. 2.. Show how the unclear use of the word 'evolution' for the concepts 'microevolution' and 'macroevolution' contributes to confusion about what natural selection is known to accomplish, and what it is thought to have accomplished. Worksheet #5 Critical Thinking Exercises Questions Still to Be Answered About Evolution 1. If natural selection is discredited as the mechanism of macroevolution, what else could account for the appearance of various species? If gradual macroevolution did not occur, is punctuated equilibrium the only alternative explanation? What might be the mechanism of macroevolution which occurred in rapid spurts? 2. If genetic recombination regroups existing DNA, and mutation reduces, harms, or restructures existing DNA, how can the acquisition of entirely new genetic material be accounted for? 3. If evolution explains the development of life, what explains the origin of life? (If Francis Crick's theory that aliens 'seeded' the earth with life is true, what explains the origin of alien life? OR, If humans engage in genetic engineering, is it plausible to suppose beings higher than humans do the same?) 4. Do gaps (lack of transitional species) in the fossil record discredit Darwin's theory of gradual macroevolution? Do they prove the punctuated equilibrium theory? 5. How does evolutionary theory explain the co-evolution of species which demonstrate finely tuned systems of reciprocity, interdependence, symbiosis and cooperation between animals, or between animals and plants? How do these systems fit into the idea that species are engaged in a struggle against one another for survival? 6. If the possibility of a mutation resulting in positive change is quite low, what is the likelihood of multiple positive mutations arising simultaneously? 7. What are the evolutionary advantages of sexual reproduction? Disadvantages? How might a male and female hopeful monster have emerged simultaneously to reproduce? 8. If anatomical similarities seem to link two animals as near relatives on the evolutionary 'family tree', but biochemical similarities show different relationships, which should be used to describe the path of common descent? Does similarity of one kind or another in organisms suggest their common descent from the same ancestor? Why? 9. How might macroevolutionary theory account for the sudden appearance in history of complex human languages? 10. What problems are raised within evolutionary theory by the fossil evidence of a Cambrian 'explosion' of life forms in a relatively short geologic period? * Note that these are questions being addressed currently by scientists of various opinions. Raising questions about evolutionary theory does not mean you do not believe in it, or that you are negating scientific evidence. Scientists who believe macroevolution has occurred, and those who are skeptical are all in the process of pushing forward our understanding of the origin and development of life by seeking answers to these questions. Worksheet #6 Critical Thinking Exercises Do Homologous Structures Indicate Common Descent? The textbook, Biology, by Miller & Levine, defines homologous structures as "parts of different organisms, often quite dissimilar, that developed from the same ancestral body parts." The authors state that, "If organisms had arisen independently of one another, there would be very little chance that they would have similar structures and biochemistries." The text defines convergent evolution as "phenomenon in which adaptive radiations among different organisms produce species that are similar in appearance and behavior" and divergent evolution as a "pattern of evolution, also known as adaptive radiation, in which one species gives rise to many species that appear different externally but are similar internally." Several intriguing questions arise with regard to such similarities. 1. How do we distinguish whether a similarity indicates common descent or convergent evolution? Is similarity a proof, in itself, of common descent? What other explanations might there be for similarities between species? 1.. The wings of a bird and a bat perform similar functions, but have different internal structures. They are presumed to have evolved independently of one another. 2.. The eye of an octopus is remarkably similar functionally to the human eye, but no common ancestor is hypothesized because of other dissimilarities between them. 3.. The internal structures of vertebrate fore- and hind-limbs are similar, but are thought to have evolved separately from pectoral and pelvic fins of fish. (Homologous structures evolving from different body parts.) 4.. How might various species have independently evolved the ability to fly? 2. Is the link between organisms to be based on appearance, on function, on internal structure, or on biochemistry? Can it be determined whether gross anatomical similarity (structural similarity), or similarity at the cellular level is a better indicator of common ancestry? Is there a hierarchy of importance in grouping animals as related by homologous structures, which is applied to all such classifications and which is used to resolve conflicts posed by similarities at different levels? The red panda has been reclassified with raccoons instead of with bears, because of biochemical similarity. The structural similarities of the red panda and giant panda (most notably, the 'thumb' with which both strip bamboo) is currently considered less compelling evidence of their relatedness. The giant panda is thus linked to the bear. If number of chromosomes were considered more substantial evidence, the red (lesser) and giant panda would be more closely linked than the bear and giant panda. The human arm, whale flipper, dog forelimb and bat wing are homologous structures said to indicate common descent from an ancient animal (Biology, page 284, Figure 13--17) The bear, dolphin, snake, bird and alligator are shown to have evolved from a common ancestor (Biology, page 309, Figure 14-21) If the internal structure of the dog and bear forelimb were shown to be more similar than the dog forelimb and whale flipper, how would the 'family tree' need to be changed? If the blood chemistry of the human is as similar to the snake as to the dog, does this prove independent evolution of species, or a new line of common descent? 3. How shall we classify animals which seem to possess elements of different groups? Are these interesting creatures examples of convergent, or divergent evolution? Are they linked by common descent, or independently evolved, or remaining true to an original form? 1.. The North American wolf and extinct Tasmanian tiger possess similar skeletal features, but the tiger had an offspring pouch common to marsupials like the kangaroo. Is a link to a common ancestor proved, or disproved by either similarity? How would the two animals have been classified according to the system of Carolus Linnaeus? 2.. The platypus has a beaver-like tail, a duck-like bill, a reptilian shoulder girdle and mammalian warm blood. It lays eggs, suckles its young, and the ability (in males) to inject poisonous venom. What is the best way to classify it? 4. Is any system of classification of life forms entirely objective? How can we discover what evidence is available for an hypothesized series of links between members of an evolutionary 'family tree', or what types of similarities were considered conclusive evidence of their linkages? Is it possible that a presupposition about relatedness between life forms could affect a scientist's perception of their similarities? (If we believe two organisms to be closely related, and see similarities between them, this is proof of common descent. If, however, we believe the two species to be unrelated, their similarities are examples of convergent evolution.) 5. Some of these issues are discussed in the text (Pages 320-325). The authors state that "Today, evolutionary theory proposes that living species have evolved from earlier species. This unifying biological principle thus provides both a purpose and a guiding philosophy to modern classification systems. For this reason, taxonomists attempt to group organisms in ways that show their evolutionary relationships." Is there any circularity of reasoning if macroevolution is presumed before animals are grouped together by similarities, and then said to be proven by the existence of such similarities? If the purpose of classification is to show that living species may have originated from earlier species, then could someone invent a system of classification which discredits the theory of common descent? If the evidence can be used to prove either guiding philosophy, should it be acknowledged that our presuppositions affect what we believe to be proven by scientific evidence? If a scientist set out to prove his theory that humans descended from the octopus, what evidence could he show of similarity between them? If a scientist wanted to show that the red panda descended from a different ancestor than the giant panda, would he place structural, or biochemical similarity higher in the hierarchy of classification? Note to the Student: Scientists may disagree on what the evidence proves about evolution and still learn a great deal from each others' observations of structures, biochemistries, and behaviors of organisms. Scientific data, results of experiments and tests, and new hypotheses about the origins and development of life can all be shared to mutual advantage among scientists with different presuppositions and thoughts about unifying philosophies. Worksheet #7 TEACHER REFERENCE Handling Problematic Study Questions This worksheet is an accompaniment to a review of Prentice-Hall's Biology, by Miller & Levine. One of the problem areas noted by reviewers was the presence of student study and review questions which either lead the student to supply only one of several possible answers, or are ambiguous as to whether the student is being asked for a factual vs a belief-oriented response. Because study questions are normally an important component of the methodology by which textual material is learned and reinforced, teachers should recognize the type of question which could be misleading, or have a tendency to promote indoctrination rather than education. Here are some examples. Page 282 - "1. Why is the fossil record incomplete?" The student might answer, as the text has specified, that it is incomplete because many organisms die without a trace, because conditions are not always right for fossilization of remains, or because fossils may have been eroded with soil layers. He may answer, however, that it is incomplete only if one presumes that some organisms must have existed between fossilized species. A student who does not believe macroevolution occurred would perceive the fossil evidence as consistent with his expectations - a complete record of many species emerging in history practically simultaneously. Such an answer should be given respect and the opportunity taken to point out that the interpretation of the available evidence, or lack of evidence, is a matter that involves philosophical presuppositions and beliefs extraneous to the study of the evidence itself. Page 285 - "1. What is the most plausible explanation for the structural and biochemical similarities that exist in living organisms?" According to the text, the student's answer should reflect the authors' belief that homologous structures are explained by, and proof of, the theory of common descent. If, however, a student believes they are insufficient proof for the theory, he may assert that the best explanation is the existence of a common creator, or that a plausible explanation has yet to be formulated. This student's reply must not be ridiculed, or dismissed in the classroom. If the teacher is uncomfortable with the introduction of such divergent responses, he could rephrase this question, "What do macroevolutionary scientists believe to be the best explanation for structural and biochemical similarities in living organisms?" Page 285 - Critical Thinking - "4. How does biochemistry support the idea that all living things evolved from common ancestors?" This is, in itself, a fair question. Since it is listed as a Critical Thinking question, however, it is particularly important that it be amended as follows: "What evidence from biochemistry supports the idea that all living things did not evolve from common ancestors?" Students can be directed to Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution, by university professor of biochemistry Michael Behe, for further research, as they will find no reference in the text to the existence of such scientific evidence, or of alternative scientific interpretations of biochemical evidence. (This type of omission illustrates the tendency of such questions toward indoctrination rather than education.) A teacher could also use the rephrasing method to clarify that the beliefs of macroevolutionary scientists are being called for here, rather than facts, student beliefs, or the conclusions drawn by non-evolutionary scientists. Page 291 - Journal Activity Students are advised to write about evolutionary theory and the controversy surrounding it. This is a highly commendable exercise. The text correctly points out that many people have strong opinions about evolution, while few actually understand what it is. Our recommendation to the teacher: be sure your students have access to a variety of scientific opinion and research. If students were expected to outline the 'truth' about the evolution controversy from this text alone, it would be tantamount to a catechism exercise in received doctrine, rather than an educational exercise. Page 298 - Critical Thinking - "3. Explain how natural selection might produce a modern giraffe from short-necked ancestors." Students should also be allowed and encouraged to explain how natural selection might be an implausible mechanism for the gradual development of a long-necked giraffe. For this research, they might consult Michael Denton's Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, or the works of various punctuated equilibrium proponents. The inclusion of such scientific information would actually make this an exercise in critical thinking. Page 789 - "2. Give three examples of convergent evolution among mammals." The student unwilling to give any examples should not be penalized. This is an example of the subtlety by which evolutionary beliefs are translated into doctrinaire assertions of fact in this text. The fair teacher could also rephrase the question, "Give three examples of what macroevolutionary scientists believe to be instances of convergent evolution among mammals." In this way, the student can convey his understanding of macroevolutionary theory without compromising his belief that it did not occur. TO THE TEACHER: This sampling of problematic student questioning should adequately convey the types of problems found with this text which are fairly easy to rectify with clarifications and amendments from you. In summary, we recommend: 1) Invite the students to research and present scientific views of evolution which may contradict, or be incompatible with the text's presentation 2) Provide research materials of a non-religious nature that present other theories on this subject. 3) Rephrase any questions (for tests, homework, or classroom discussion) which call for answers presenting the beliefs of macroevolutionary scientists rather that those of the student, or of non-evolutionary scientists. 4) Respect the divergent scientific answers to questions which are open to non-macroevolutionary responses. Secondary Problems - Appendix 1 Problems of Missing or False Information in the Text I. Omission of problems with the creation of life experiment. Life has never been created in the test tube nor have we come close. The text (p. 343-4) does not fairly portray the problems of the experiment produced by Miller and Urey. In fact, not one negative is even mentioned about the specifics of the experiment. In all fairness, at least three problems should be taught. A. They excluded oxygen from the experiment and used a reducing atmosphere. They knew oxygen would oxidize the amino acids they were trying to manufacture. However, it is a problem if one cannot get life to evolve with oxygen or without oxygen. B. They filtered out the product produced by the spark because it was thousands of times more likely to be destroyed than to be produced. In actuality, the product would not be protected from future lightning strikes. (The resulting product was 85% tar, 13% carboxylic acid (both toxic to life) and just 2% amino acids. Only 2 were created of the twenty needed for life.) C. The probability of forming even one protein randomly is extremely low. Amino acids exist in right and left handed configurations in roughly equal numbers. Proteins are composed only of left-handed amino acids and must carry 70-100 in precise order. Also, amino acids bond in many ways. Proteins use peptide bonds only. D. Finally, proteins are millions of times more likely to unbond in water, and if the process began in water, this would nullify the process. II. Vestigial Organs - False Information Page 284 uses vestigial organs as proof of evolution because it is an organ or structure that used to be of use but "whose main function is no longer valuable." It states that humans' miniature tailbones at the end of the spine, muscles that move the ears and the appendix are all vestigial organs. This is outdated, misinformation. The nine muscles attached at the small end of the tail bone are needed for reproduction in humans, and the appendix has been found to be very helpful with digestion. We may just not know how the ear muscles aid in facial movement as of yet. "The existence of functionless 'vestigial organs' was presented by Darwin, and is often cited by current biology textbooks, as part of the evidence for evolution . . . . An analysis of the difficulties in unambiguously identifying functionless structures and an analysis of the nature of the argument, leads to the conclusion that 'vestigial organs' provide no evidence for evolutionary theory." S.R. Scadding, "Do 'Vestigial Organs' Provide Evidence for Evolution?" Evolutionary Theory, vol. 5, No. 3, May 1981, p. 173. III. Misinformation about the horse and its evolution. Figure 13-5 p. 281. Othniel C. Marsh invented the horse evolution in the 1870's. The entire idea was discredited years ago. Modern horse skeletons have been uncovered in layers older than the four-toed ancestor. An animal nearly identical to the Hyracotherium ("Dawn Horse") is a small, four-toed, meat-eating animal in South America today. "By this I mean that some of the classic cases of darwinian change in the fossil record, such as the evolution of the horse in North America, have had to be discarded or modified as a result of more detailed information- what appeared to be a nice simple progression when relatively few data were available now appears to be much more complex and much less gradualistic." Dr. David M. Raup (Curator of Geology, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago), "Conflicts between Darwin and Paleontology." Field Museum of Natural History Bulletin, vol. 50 (1), January 1979, p. 25. IV. Misinformation regarding "Peppered Moths: Natural Selection in Action" (p. 297). Teachers need to state that after further study it has been found that this experiment does not account for natural selection. The text details Kettlewell's work and says, "Today Kettlewell's work is considered to be a classic demonstration of natural selection in action." p. 298. Unfortunately, Kettlewell did not use integrity in his scientific research. The following article can be found at albertareport.com/volume26/990405/story4.html April 5, 1999 Alberta Report Moth-eaten Darwinism A Disproven Textbook Case Of Natural Selection Refuses To Die The peppered moth: Predators may not be the answer. The London Daily Telegraph headline proclaimed, "Scientists pick holes in Darwin moth theory." "Evolution experts are quietly admitting that one of their most cherished examples of Charles Darwin's theory, the rise and fall of the peppered moth, is based on a series of scientific blunders," read the March 14 story. But the real news is that these quiet admissions have taken so long to reach the press. "Even though the study was discredited 10 years ago, it is still taught,"says Jonathan Wells, a post-doctorate biology researcher at the University of California in Berkeley, who has just finished an article on the subject.Scientists coined the term "industrial melanism" to describe the variation in British peppered moth populations. In the early 19th century, peppered moths were predominantly white with dark specks. Their colouring made them difficult to see on lichen-encrusted tree trunks, but as industrial pollution decimated the lichen growth, dark-coloured, or melanic, moths gained the advantage of superior camouflage. The number of melanics, which had previously been small, soared until anti-pollution legislation was introduced. Then the lichens grew back and the white colouring regained precedence.Or so went the theory advanced in the 1950s by Bernard Kettlewell (1907-79), an Oxford lepidopterist who studied the moths by releasing hundreds of each colour in Birmingham, England, and then counting the percentage of each that could be recaptured. Nearly every introductory biology textbook, including the standard high school textbook for Alberta students, Nelson Canada's Biology, includes Kettlewell's work as proof of natural selection. But there are problems with the moth research. Experiments during the 1970s showed that melanic moths made up 80% of the population in an unpolluted area, even though white ones were better camouflaged. Inconsistent correlations between lichen cover and moth colour appeared in more and more studies. Biologists tried to reproduce Kettlewell's results, breeding moths for colour in the lab and releasing them, but the survival rates of melanics and non-melanics did not seem to follow the theory.In the early 1980s lepidopterists pointed out that moths do not normally rest on tree trunks. In fact, they usually perch under horizontal branches. Many science textbooks are thus saddled with misleading illustrations that show dead moths of various colours pinned to tree trunks. "We were aware of the questions when we wrote the text," says Bob Ritter, who was a teacher at Austin O'Brien High School in Edmonton when he helped write Biology in 1993. "You have to look at the audience. How convoluted do you want to make it for a first-time learner? We want to get across the idea of selective adaptation. Later on, they can look at the work critically...Grade 11 students are still very concrete in the way they learn," says Mr. Ritter, who is now vice-principal of Edmonton's Archbishop MacDonald Catholic High School. "The advantage of this example of natural selection is that it is extremely visual."However, the myth is alive and well in university introductory courses as well. Its "advantages" as a teaching tool-that it is simple, visual and memorable-have made it perhaps the best-known modern-day "proof" of evolution by natural selection. "It's interesting that the story continues to be told, even though it's false," says biologist Wells. "The only other examples of gene frequencies affecting survival are bacterial resistance to antibiotics or insect resistance to insecticide. If you want to look at a visible trait, you are virtually without examples." "This does not disprove Darwinism," stresses Mr. Wells. "But it removes an important piece of evidence." He compares the moths to Ernst Haeckel's classic series of embryo drawings, still used in many textbooks, which illustrate the similarities between reptile, bird and mammal embryos. "The drawings were highly stylized to illustrate common ancestry," he notes. "The Journal of Anatomy and Embryology compared them to more accurate drawings last year, and the differences were evident."But Mr. Wells is doubtful that accurate information will be popular any time soon. "[My article] is currently under review for a biology journal," he says. "But frankly, I think they're going to bury it, because it goes too much against the Darwinian current."-- Carla Yu V. Omission of History and Misinformation contained in drawings of the "embryological stages" showing the "similarities of development." Figure 13-16 p. 283 in the student text shows the similarities between fish, chicken, rabbit and human in the embryonic stage. The Guide for Reading asks, "How do similarities in embryo development support the concept of common descent?" In 1874, famous embryologist Wilhelm His, Sr. exposed Ernst Haeckel's embryonic similarity drawings as fraudulent. While the text doesn't promote the "gill slits' that Haeckel's false drawings did, it does promote the same thing for which Haeckel altered the pictures - proof of common descent. It also uses the false drawings that Haeckel fabricated. The text's drawings have been compared with modern, recent, accurate photographs of the embryonic stages of the fish, chicken, rabbit and human. They are significantly different, showing the text used Haeckel's falsified drawings to promote Darwinism. (The modern photos originally appeared in M.K. Richardson et al., footnote 15, c Springer-Verlag GmbH & Co., Tiergartenstrasse, 69121 Heidelberg, Germany. Enclosed are the recent photos, found on pg. 87 from the book Refuting Evolution, by Jonathan Sarfati, Ph.D.) It is widely accepted that Haeckel's drawings are falsified and do not belong in a competent teaching text: "This generalization was originally called the biogenetic law by Haeckel and is often stated as 'ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny.' This crude interpretation of embryological sequences will not stand close examination, however. Its shortcomings have been almost universally pointed out by modern authors, but the idea still has a prominent place in biological mythology." Paul R. Ehrlich and Richard W. Holm, The Process of Evolution (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1963), p. 66. Note that in the teacher's text, p. 283, the sidebar has "Content Development Using the Visuals." Again, this teaching support uses the same falsified picture to make its point, so this sidebar (at minimum the first three questions and answers) should be marked in the teacher's text and pointed out to the student as invalid. The last question and answer in the sidebar is not accurate in that it does not tell the student how harmful 98% of mutations are, and so it is a misguiding question and answer as well. Terry W. Benton Visit: www.pinelanechurchofchrist.com Dan Billingsly vs. Terry W. Benton Exchange on the Four Gospels at: http://www.pinelanechurchofchrist.com/SiteFiles/157/Benton%20Billingsly%20Debate.doc -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080822/e39c5e45/attachment-0001.html From thornhill1 at frontiernet.net Fri Aug 22 18:32:23 2008 From: thornhill1 at frontiernet.net (thomas thornhill) Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:32:23 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] The Buckhorn Teacher 8-24-08 Message-ID: <001101c904af$5585cdb0$06fea8c0@your4dacd0ea75> THE BUCKHORN TEACHER "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." 2.Tim.4:2 Buckhorn church of Christ - Thomas Thornhill - editor. 13675 Hwy 341, Randolph MS 38864-9117. Tel. 662-568-2960. Cell 662-419-5378. E-mail thornhill1 at frontiernet.net Vol.7 August 24, 2008 No.7 "The Brotherhood" Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king." (1.Pet.2:17) The word "brotherhood" here is translated from adelphotes. It appears only twice in the New Testament, both times in First Peter (2:17; 5:9). The King James renders it "brethren" in 5:9, but the New King James renders it "brotherhood" in both verses. Of adelphotes Vine says "primarily, 'a brotherly relationship," and so, the community possessed of this relationship, "a brotherhood," 1.Pet.2:17 (see 5:9 marg.)" and Thayer says, "brotherhood;" the abstract for the concrete, a band of brothers i.e. of Christians, Christian brethren; 1.Pet.ii:17; v.9). It is clear that Peter uses the term to refer to what Vine calls "the community possessed of this relationship" throughout the world. In 5:9 he compares the sufferings of those immediately addressed in his epistle to that experienced by their "brotherhood in the world (nkj)." In 2:17, it seems to be a contrast to "all men." Hence, when we as children of God and brothers and sisters in Christ speak of "the brotherhood" we are speaking of ourselves along with all in the world that share in this great relationship. What a great throng of people! It is this throng that Peter especially tells us to love. It seems to me that in recent years we have lost much of that keep sense of brotherhood that we once enjoyed. Those of us who consider ourselves "conservative" and "non-institutional" have done a pretty good job of teaching that each local congregation is autonomous and independent of any other congregation in the world. We have shown that a failure to recognize this fundamental Bible principle has historically led to most of the wholesale apostasies of the past. We have rightly pointed out that the congregation of which we are members can exist and scripturally function as if there were no others like it in the world. We have also emphasized that each member of a congregation has a relationship and responsibility to the local church collectively and distributively that he does not have toward brethren elsewhere. I fear that during all of this we may have developed a mentality that is bit too "independent." As a result of this perverted sense of independence, brethren have almost isolated themselves from any real concern, contact or sense of fellowship with their brethren elsewhere - even other brethren meeting across town. An invitation can come (in some cases no invitation is sent) from faithful brethren elsewhere to their gospel meeting. It may or may not be announced at the receiving congregation, but it is generally ignored because it is not a function of "our" congregation. In some areas preachers of local congregations have little contact or interaction with preachers or other members of other congregations. This writer confesses his own guilt to a degree at times along these lines. We can remember a time when a church, in an area where there were several congregations, would have a gospel meeting that the house would be filled mostly by members from the other congregations. Often, we would travel miles to encourage another congregation in its gospel meetings. We were just as interested in seeing another congregation prosper in the Lord as we were to see the congregation where we attended. We showed an interest in and often inquired about how that brethren meeting at such and such a place were doing. That was before we conceived that "autonomous" and "independent" meant "isolation." Have we forgotten how to heed Peter's admonition to "love the brotherhood?" The brotherhood, of which Peter wrote, is not a brotherhood of churches organized as a unit or is it a brotherhood of Christians organized into a unit. It is a relationship that exists between all Christians. They share a common faith and have common interests. While New Testament congregations were not tied organizationally speaking, they were tied together doctrinally because they subscribed to the same standard. Paul declared that what he taught and ordained in one church he ordained in all (1.Cor.4:17; 7:17). They shared in a common faith. I do not have the right to meddle in the internal affairs of another congregation nor infringe upon its autonomy. It can decide, without any interference from me, its meeting times, when it will have a gospel meeting, how it can best use its treasury, who will do its teaching and preaching, lead its singing and praying, what kind of facilities it will provide to do its work, which of its members it may or may not discipline, etc. But, because of my duty to "love the brotherhood," I have an obligation to "speak the truth in love" to my brethren everywhere I have the opportunity to do so, just as I have an obligation to preach the gospel to every creature in the world because I love their souls. It is not interference into the affairs of other congregations when I demonstrate my love of the brotherhood by teaching them the truth and warning them of departures from the faith once delivered unto the saints (Jude 3) and even the Bible teaching that should govern them as they exercise their autonomy. Let us love and appreciate those of the brotherhood that we meet and work with regularly in the local congregation, but let us also broaden our scope of interest and "love the brotherhood" as a whole - enough to "correct, rebuke and encourage" (2.Tim.4:2 - NIV) as needed. Via The Reflector December 07. If you access the internet the above article can be found on Ed Bragwell's webpage - http://.edssermonsandthings.com/New_Reflector/Dec_07.htm -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080822/67b6bd75/attachment.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Aug 23 03:31:10 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:31:10 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) GOD HAS SPOKEN Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Saturday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: GOD HAS SPOKEN God has spoken to us in these last days by His Son, whose name is Jesus or Immanuel (Matt. 1:21,23; Heb. 1:1-4). His mess- age is the New Testament, the gospel of Christ, the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Heb. 8:6; Mk. 16:15,16; Rom. 10: 16; Jude 3). Do you firmly believe this? The firmness and fruit- fulness of your faith in these fundamental facts radically affect where you go in religion. Joseph Smith, an American born in the early 1800's, declar- ed that he was visited on 9-21-1832 by an angel named Moroni (not mentioned at all in the Bible) and that the angel told him about some golden plates hidden in "Cumorah," containing the message of God, which became the Book of Mormon. He further claimed that he had seen God and Jesus and had the Aaronic priesthood conferred upon him by John the Baptist. His Book of Mormon states that Jesus was born at Jerusalem (Alma 7:10), that three of twelve chosen disciples were granted permission t live on earth, never dying, until Jesus comes again (3 Nephi 28:6-8), and that Christ's church was in existence and people were being baptized into it between 120 and 100 B.C. Smith's claims were superior to that which was lawful for Jesus Christ on earth (Heb. 8:4; 7:12-14), and he claimed for his Book of Mormon a completeness and perfection not found in the New Testament (according to his proclamation of corruption of the New Testament), Here you have Jesus Christ, attested to by prophecy and miraculous works as the Son of God, and Joseph Smith, whose writings contradict the Scriptures. Whom will you believe? In whom will you trust the eternal destiny of your soul? Both of them claimed revelation from God. Which claims do you believe? Smith is one of many who have introduced new relig- ions, claiming divine revelation, but utterly lacking proof of their claims; yet, many follow their "destructive ways" (2 Pet. 2:1,2). There is no parity between the works of men and the works of God (Isa. 55:8,9). The Bible and the Book of Mormon are not compatible and not companion books. Listen well to God, and you will not be inclined to listen to the inferior messages of men. -------------- Gilbert Alexander. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080823/d03d2a1e/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Aug 23 03:31:20 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:31:20 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) OBSCENE MOVIES AND TV PROGRAMS Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my recent files. Use to the glory of God. OBSCENE MOVIES AND TV PROGRAMS Few things frighten me any more than the passing comm- ents I hear brothers and sisters in the Lord make about movies and TV programs they've permitted themselves and their child- ren to see. Just when I believe there may be a deepening spirit- uality among the Lord's people in our day, someone who is thought to be a part of the real strength of his or her congregat- ion tells me whast they rented at the video store last weekend or what they watched on TV last night -- and I find it difficult to be optimistic at all about where we are headed as a people. When it comes to telltale signs of spiritual shakiness, there are none more disturbing thant he problem we have with obscene movies and TV programs. How Bad Is It?: -- It is an obvious fact that pop entertainment has gone from bad to worse in the matter of obscenity (as well as violence and secular philosophy, which are, of course, no less a problem). In regular broadcast television, not to mention cable TV or the movies, the language has grown increasingly profane and vulgar, producers are daily pushing the limits on nudity and sexual content, homosexuality has come out of the closet and onto the tube, and the "moral" values that are promot- ed are further and further away from anything the serious Christ- ian can identify with. What is being pumped into our living rooms has changed for the worse so noticeably that even one secular writer previewed a recent TV season with an article entit- led, "The Family Hour Fades To Black." But the worsening of movie and TV content itself is not the whole problem. The acceptance of thsi fare by supposedly strong, faithful Christians is what is truly alarming. We may have an admirable devotion to the Lord in many things, but when it comes to entertainment we are bowing before the altar of televis- ion; we are going to the theater to see virtually any movie we be- lieve we will enjoy; we are letting our kids watch nearly anything they want at the movies or on TV; we are paying to get the cable movie channels, which rarely carry anything the Christian can afford to be interested in; and we are renting movies at the video store that not too many years ago would have been classified pornographic. Basically, we've sold our souls for a mess of foot- age, and it is impossible to contemplate what has happened without being concerned about the future. The Worrisome Aspect Of The Problem: -- Obviously, none of us can say we have been entirely consistent in our entertainment, least of all this writer. To my discredit, I have been places and seen things no Christian ought to. But the thing about the pre- sent situation that seems different to me is that I'm encountering mature saints who not only watch movies and TV programs, but who defend their practice as perfectly acceptable conduct for the Christian! It's one thing to give in to temptation and, when confronted, offer excuses about not being as strong as one should be. But, if, as is apparent, we have come around to the view that those who question our viewing habits are the ones with the problem, then we have entered a new and worrisome phase of the battle against obscenity. Increasingly these days I'm hearing responses like the following whenever I express amazement at a movie or TV pro- gram a fellow Christian says he has seen: Well, it didn't have much profanity in it. I hear it so much at work, it doesn't bother me. I just tune it out. If it bothrs or offends you, then it's not a movie you should see -- but didn't bother me. If you can't handle it, you shouldn't see it -- but I've been out in the real world enough, I can handle it. If it embarrasses you, your shouldn't see it -- but I'm mature enough that things like that don't embarrass me. We rented it and watched it at home. There's nothing really wrong when it's just us. Surely we can't fail to notice the common thread that runs through these remarks: that obscenity is acceptable entertain- ment for us if we personaly have been so "desensitized" that obscenity no longer bothers, offends, or embarrasses us. That we think this way is cause enough for concern. But that we are pleased with ourselves for thinking that way is truly frightening. If we have, in fact, lost our sensitivity to obscenity and are patt- ing ourselves on the back because of it, then we are not far from qualifying for Paul's description of those "whose glory is in their shame" (Phil. 3:19). But on the other hand, whether one is bothered or embarras- sed has very little to do with the question of whether one should or should not indulge in certain entertainment. The Lord, if He were on earth today, would be strong enough to "handle" far more than any of us -- but you would not catch Him entertaining Himself with the stuff we watch. What it comes down to is that we've turned decency upside down when we start defining how spiritually mature and strong we are in terms of how little embarr- assment we feel in the presence of obscenity. Whether we realize it or not, we have adopted the basic post- ure of the Gnostic libertines of the first century. These were brethren who believed themselves to be a select group of Christ- ians who had achieved such a high plane of strength and enlightenment that they could indulge in immorality and not be hurt spiritually. They liked to think the amount of fleshly indulg- ence they could "handle" was a sign of their advanced know- ledge and sophistication. But John, as well as other inspired writers, called this enticing doctrine what it always is: a lie. He wrote, "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice th truth" (1 Jno. 1:6). The New Testament Admonition To Purity: -- Need it be pointed out that the Scriptures call us to inner sanctity? Have we forgot- ten that the Lord said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matt. 5:8)? Have we forgotten that Paul wrote, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, what- ever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- medit- ate on these things" (Phil. 4:8)? Whatever any of us individually may or may not be "bothered" by, the passage is still there wait- ing to be dealt with which says that there are some things not "fitting" for the Christian to dally with, among them "unclean- ness" and "filthiness" (Eph. 5:3,4). Those around us, whose souls we hope to reach with the gospel, deserve to see in us a better example. We owe it to them, as well as to the Lord and ourselves, to demonstrate that the path of purity is better than any other path we may follow. --- Gary Henry, via, Lost River Bulletin, Vol. 58, No. 3, Aug. 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080823/0f7d0d0e/attachment.html From bruno55 at alltel.net Sat Aug 23 08:46:28 2008 From: bruno55 at alltel.net (bruno55 at alltel.net) Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2008 8:46:28 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] posting for bible matters Message-ID: <20080823134628.FLTU27873.ispmxmta06-srv.windstream.net@webmail-relay.alltel.net> Mike, Enjoyed the article by Jim Sasser on obsence movies. It reminded me of just how far society has digressed. I wanted to send this to Jim, but didn't have his e-mail address, so I will send this for posting and He can read it there. Thanks, Roger Bruner www.millstreetcoc.org Motion Picture Production Code (Adopted 1930) The sanctity of the institution of marriage and the home shall be upheld. No film shall infer that casual or promiscuous sex relationships are the common thing ... These [seduction and rape] should never be more than suggested, and then only when essential to the plot. They should never be shown explicitly ... Crime shall never be presented in such a way as to throw sympathy with the crime ... Brutal killings are not to be presented in detail ... Revenge, in modern times, shall not be justified ... Mercy killing shall never be made to seem right or permissible ... Dances suggesting or representing sexual actions or emphasizing indecent movements are to be regarded as obscene ... Laws ? divine, natural or human ? shall not be ridiculed. From GLClair at aol.com Sat Aug 23 11:43:29 2008 From: GLClair at aol.com (GLClair at aol.com) Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2008 12:43:29 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] Article - Dependence Message-ID: DEPENDANCE The word that forms the basis for this article defined is; dependence - / Pronunciation [di-pen-duhns] ?noun 1. the state of relying on or needing someone or something for aid, support, or the like. 2. reliance; confidence; trust: Her complete reliability earned her our dependence. 3. an object of reliance or trust. 4. the state of being conditional or contingent on something, as through a natural or logical sequence: the dependence of an effect upon a cause. 5. the state of being psychologically or physiologically dependent on a drug after a prolonged period of use. In our study of this word today let us use the first definition in the above list; cf. ?the state of relying on or needing someone or something for aid, support, or the like.? The sinner depends upon God for salvation from sin ? cf. Acts 2:37-38, ?37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.? (KJV) The Christian has placed their dependence upon God ? cf. Matt 11:28-30, ?28 Come unto me , all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.? (KJV) The Christian depends upon God for help in time of trouble, trial, and tribulation ? cf. 1 Peter 1:7-9, ?7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.? (KJV) Rom 12:12, ?Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;? (KJV) Rom 5:3-4, ?3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience ; 4 And patience , experience; and experience, hope:? 2 Cor 6:4, ?But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience , in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,? (KJV) Heb 10:36-37, ?36 For ye have need of patience , that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.? (KJV) The Christian depends upon God to raise them from the dead ? ?SOMEDAY? - cf. 1 Cor 15:51-52, ?51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep , but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.? (KJV) 1 Cor 15:19-23, ?19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.? (KJV) _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) Saturday, August 23, 2008 **************It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here. (http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080823/bf96ff0b/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 73 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080823/bf96ff0b/attachment-0002.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 73 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080823/bf96ff0b/attachment-0003.gif From disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Sat Aug 23 14:42:30 2008 From: disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com (Ethan R. Longhenry) Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:42:30 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] Good News for Norwalk: Volume III, Number 34: August 24, 2008 Message-ID: Good News for Norwalk For I am not ashamed of the good news, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16) A publication of the church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio Volume III, Number 34: August 24, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------ The Bible Our word "Bible" comes from the Greek biblia, which means "books." Such is a rather simple and unassuming name for what is arguably the greatest book ever written. It is hands down the best selling book in all of history, and its popularity has not declined over the past two thousand years. But what is the Bible? What message does it contain? What are we supposed to do with it? The Bible is a collection of 66 books written by approximately 40 or so authors over a 1,500 year period (ca. 1400 BCE - 100 CE). It is commonly divided into two large sections: the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament represents 39 books from Genesis to Malachi; it describes the creation of the universe, the earliest history of man, God's choice of Israel as His people, and the history of Israel and God's messages to Israel. The New Testament represents 27 books from Matthew to Revelation; it represents the story of the life of Jesus Christ and the beginning of His church, along with messages sent to the earliest churches. The Bible claims to be the unique revelation of the God of the universe to mankind. The God who reveals Himself within its pages claims to be the sole God of the universe (Deuteronomy 4:35), and His Son, Jesus Christ, claims to represent the singular truth and way to God (John 14:6). While in times past God directly communicated with certain people of His own choosing, and through them revealed His will to mankind (2 Peter 1:20-21), the Bible gives no indication that He is still choosing such people today. The Bible indicates that within its pages man will find everything he needs to serve God according to His will (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It is important to remember that the Bible itself is not God, and the Bible does not, by itself, represent faith. The Bible is best understood as a road map, the guide to life-- our instruction manual for our operation, so to speak. God would have us to understand His Word (2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Peter 3:18), but it is not enough only to know what God has said. We are also supposed to understand what the Bible teaches so that we can apply its lessons to our lives (Hebrews 5:14, James 1:22-25). The Bible directs us to God and His Son Jesus Christ, and provides the way by which we can have faith in them and be their servants (Hebrews 11, Luke 17:7-10). God has revealed His Word, the Bible, so that if you seek after God you may find Him and understand what He would have you to do (John 4:20-24, Romans 10:17). While many things in the Bible are difficult to understand, and you may require assistance in understanding them (cf. 2 Peter 3:16, Acts 8:31), know for certain that you can read and understand the Bible. God waits for you to open up His book so that you can understand how He would have you to to live, and we wait to assist you in any way you may need! Ethan R. Longhenry evangelist at norwalkchurch.org ------------------------------------------------------------ 2008 Fall Lectureship 31 August - 5 September 2008 with Norwalk native Keith Welch Families Today Monday, Sept. 1, 7:30pm: Preparing for Marriage Tuesday, Sept. 2, 7:30pm: The Husband's Role in the Family Wednesday, Sept. 3, 7:30pm: The Wife's Role in the Family Thursday, Sept. 4, 7:30pm: Children's Roles in the Family Friday, Sept. 5, 7:30pm: Problems Facing Today's Family Presented by the church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio 386 North Edgewood Drive, Norwalk, Ohio 44857 norwalkchurch.org Please come, and bring a friend! ------------------------------------------------------------ The church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio Thank you for reading the electronic version of our bulletin, Good News for Norwalk. If you live in Norwalk or happen to be traveling in the Norwalk area, we would certainly love to have you visit one of our assemblies! Our location: 386 North Edgewood Drive (just off US 250 just north of Norwalk's city limits) Norwalk, Ohio 44857 Our assemblies: Sunday morning assembly: 10:30am Sunday evening assembly: 6:00pm Our Bible studies: Sunday morning Bible study: 9:30am Wednesday evening Bible study: 7:00pm ------------------------------------------------------------ For More Information If you have any questions or comments about anything you have read here, or desire more information, please contact our evangelist, Ethan Longhenry, at evangelist at norwalkchurch.org. Good News for Norwalk is a publication of the church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio, for the promotion of God's truth in our world. For more information about the church of Christ in Norwalk, please visit our website at norwalkchurch.org. Ethan R. Longhenry / disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio [norwalkchurch.org] Homepage: deusvitae.com AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ: 28317056 Y! IM: discipuliiesus Sign up for Good News for Norwalk! goodnewsfornorwalk-subscribe at norwalkchurch.org From crxtra at gmail.com Sat Aug 23 17:49:56 2008 From: crxtra at gmail.com (Steven C. Harper) Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:49:56 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] A> Deliverance God's Way Message-ID: <000001c90572$932e3760$b98aa620$@com> From: TRUTH & REASON, a bulletin of the Glendale church of Christ, Glendale, AZ. Editor: Steven Harper August 24, 2008 Deliverance God's Way We are all probably familiar with the story of the Israelites' captivity in - and deliverance from - Egypt. It all began when Jacob moved his family down to Egypt from Canaan because of the severe drought that had stricken the region (Gen. 46:1-47:12); initially, Jacob's descendants enjoyed the favor of the Egyptians because of Joseph's standing, but after Joseph died and the Israelites began increasing in number (Exod. 1:6, 7), another king arose in Egypt who did not know Joseph and he began to fear the Israelites would turn against them if their nation should be invaded (vv. 8-10). This fear led the Pharaoh to subject the Israelites to slavery and he made their lives and their work very difficult (vv. 11-14). When he saw that his increasingly burdensome demands did not slow the growth of the Israelites' number, he then resorted to commanding that all male infants born to the Israelites be put to death (vv. 15, 16). Because the midwives feared God and refused to obey the ungodly command, God blessed them (vv. 17-21). Pharaoh then commanded all his people that all male infants of the Hebrews be thrown into the river (v. 22). God was with the Israelites through this difficult time, but though God watched over them, the Israelites remained in captivity. It was not yet time for deliverance. During this difficult time, Moses was born to Amram and Jochebed (Exod. 2:1, 2; 6:20) and, because of the decree, his mother hid him for three months. When she could no longer hide him, she made a floating bassinet and put Moses in it among the reeds by the river (v. 4). It was there the daughter of Pharaoh found Moses and was moved to take him in and raise him as her own (vv. 5-10). Though Moses was in a favorable position, it was not yet time for deliverance. When Moses was older [about 40] he went out to his fellow Hebrews to see about their burdens and, while there, saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew man. Moses intervened and killed the Egyptian (vv. 11, 12). Though some may have believed this was the way to secure their freedom from the Egyptians, this was not yet the time for their deliverance. Because there were witnesses to his deed and because he feared for his own life, Moses fled and went to Midian (vv. 13-22), where he lived for another 40 years. While Moses was in Egypt and for several years while he was in Midian, it was not yet time for deliverance. Now, we come to the time in the Bible record where we find God speaking to Moses in the burning bush and telling Moses he would be the one through whom God would deliver His people from Egyptian bondage (Exod. 3:1-4:17). God told Moses that he would be the one to bring the people out (3:10) and told him that He would do many wonders that would eventually convince Pharaoh to let them go (3:20). Though Moses was initially disbelieving, he did go with his brother Aaron and did all the Lord had commanded him as he sought deliverance for the Israelites (Exodus 5-12). We know that all of these things happened just as God said they would and that the Israelites were, indeed, delivered from the hand of Egyptian bondage by Moses and the great power of God. Though some may wonder even today why God waited, why the people did not rise up in rebellion, or why Moses did not use his influence while living in Egypt, we know this: God delivered the people and He did it in His time and in His way. We can speculate about all the "what ifs" and "why nots" of the Israelites' deliverance until time ends, but that does not change the fact that God did deliver them and He delivered them in His time and in His way. This fact should not be overlooked by us as we consider God's deliverance of mankind from sin, either. While we can make endless speculation about why God didn't send the atoning sacrifice [His Son] earlier than He did, the fact remains is that He did send His only Son for our salvation (John 3:16); while we may argue and endlessly speculate about what God could have done, the fact remains that God's deliverance of mankind from his sin was accomplished through Jesus Christ and no other (cf. Acts 4:12). Speculation and wranglings over what "could have been" is a fruitless exercise and we should be content with what God has revealed to us and with the plan of salvation that He established before time began to be accomplished in Christ (cf. 2nd Tim. 1:8-10; 1st Pet. 1:8-20). But, like some of the Israelites who complained when the plea of Moses caused them further hardships (cf. Exod. 5:20, 21), many today see God's way of deliverance as something "too difficult" or "too exclusive" or simply "too narrow." And, like some of the Israelites on the way to Canaan, they complain about the way or even seek to return to captivity rather than to simply continue trusting the Lord that His way is best and that the end is salvation. As strange as it may seem, some today simply do not believe the Lord knows what He was talking about and they think they know a better way! For example: Some Teach That All Will Be Delivered Eventually. The Universalist teaches that, in the end, no man will suffer the punishment of an eternal hell because, as they argue, "God is too loving" to send anyone to such a fate. According to this false doctrine, it doesn't matter what we do here on earth, for God will overlook our evil deeds in the final judgment and will bring all into eternal life in heaven. Let us remember that the Israelites were delivered only when God brought them out, and even those who crossed over the Red Sea were not assured of entrance into the Promised Land; those who complained in the wilderness and turned away from God did not enter. There was not 'universal deliverance.' Some Teach Salvation By Other Means. God's word plainly tells us salvation is found only in Christ Jesus (Acts 4:12), but many today [even among professing believers] claim God has "many ways" to eternal life. Let us remember, too, that the Israelites came out of Egypt only by the power and means of God. Some Argue Against God's Clear Commands. Jesus plainly said we must believe and be baptized to be saved (Mark 16:16) and the apostles taught the same message to men (cf. Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1st Pet. 3:21), but some men today argue that doing so would mean "works salvation" or they simply tell us they can't understand why we need to be baptized, and thus dismiss it as unnecessary for their salvation. These men teach a "faith only" concept of salvation with man having no part in it, so having to be baptized doesn't fit their theology and they thus argue against God's plain teaching found in the Bible. Can you imagine the Israelites trying that with Jericho? Remember, God said the city was theirs (Josh. 6:2); did that mean they had to do nothing? Keep in mind this isn't a question about what God could have done, but a matter of what the people had to do and how God gave them the victory over their enemies when they obeyed. When the people - by faith (Heb. 11:30) - marched around Jericho in the way God commanded, the walls fell by the power of God; yes, they had to do something, and they did so believing the word of God would be accomplished, though the means was [to say the least] unconventional. Who would argue that those walls would have fallen if the people refused to march around the city? Today, when we obey the command of God - when we have faith - and are baptized, we do so trusting in God's promise to deliver us from our sins and raising us up to spiritual life in Christ (cf. Col. 2:11-13). Though we may not understand how in baptism forgiveness is accomplished, we must trust God's word that it will be done when we obey because it is done by His working. Our act of obedience is absolutely necessary because God said it is then that He will do the work of making us spiritually alive - and not at any point before then. Though we may not completely understand why God said it must be done in this way, please understand it is God's way and it is the only way we can be delivered from our sins. Remember the road to salvation is narrow and difficult (Matt. 7:14). Follow God's way! -- Steven Harper -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080823/eeb42729/attachment-0001.html From richardthetford at msn.com Sun Aug 24 18:28:35 2008 From: richardthetford at msn.com (Richard Thetford) Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2008 17:28:35 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Walking in the Light (8/24/08) Message-ID: Walking in the Light "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105) August 24, 2008 www.thetfordcountry.com --- INFORMATION: Walking in the Light is published each week by Richard Thetford. You are encouraged to visit the web site at www.thetfordcountry.com and then click on "Richard's Home Page" to view numerous sermons, articles, radio program scripts, class material and other information. If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to "Walking in the Light," please send their name and e-mail address to richard at thetfordcountry.com --- CONTENTS: "The Divine Authority" (Richard Thetford) "Honesty, Error, and Truth" (Eugene Britnell) "Knowing the Lord is a Pursuit" (Selected) SENTENCE SERMONS --- THE DIVINE AUTHORITY Richard Thetford "And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority" (Matt 21:23)? Here we find two questions that these chief priests and elders asked Jesus concerning all the wonderful things that He did. They wanted to know by what authority He was able to do the things He did and who gave Him the authority in the first place. We know that God is the one who has all authority. The apostle Paul said "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God" (Rom 13:1). God later gave this authority to His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus said: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matt 28:18). God told all man to listen to His Son (Matt 17:5). Why Must We Receive Instruction From Jesus? First of all we MUST listen to the words of Jesus and obey Him because it is He that has all authority to instruct us in righteousness today (Matt 28:18). We learn from the Word of God that Jesus is the head of man and therefore we must obey Him. Paul writes in Colossians 1:18: "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." See also Colossians 2:19. In addition, we are commanded to do everything as Jesus has instructed us. "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him" (Col 3:17). If we do not receive our instruction from Jesus or change it to suit our own needs or wants then we WILL be destroyed. "And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people" (Acts 3:23). See also Matthew 7:21-23; Gal 1:7-9; 2 John 9-11)). The prophet referenced here is in fact the Son of God, Jesus Christ. What Has Jesus Authorized Us To Do? There are several things that Jesus has authorized us to do by His authority, given to Him by God, and passed on to the Holy Spirit, who instructed the apostles what to record in God's book, the Bible. Jesus has authorized us to preach the word to all creation. In Mark 16:15, Jesus told His disciples to "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." See also Luke 24:47. We also need to lead people to believe (Acts 10:43), and to repent. In Luke 24:47, Jesus told His disciples "that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." We know this was done when Peter preached His first sermon on the day of Pentecost and many responded to the gospel by repenting and being baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38). It is also necessary for us to confess Jesus (Phil 2:11), and to be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 10:48). But that is not all, Jesus has authorized us to worship Him (Mar 7:7; Heb 1:6), and to do so in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Those that do not obey Jesus and insist on doing their own thing, contrary to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, must be disciplined. The inspired apostle Paul addressed the Corinthian brethren that were having fellowship with a brother who was committing fornication. He instructed the church in Corinth to discipline that brother so he will be shamed into repenting and doing what is right before God (1 Cor 5:4-5). Let us ensure that whatever we do and whatever we say, that we are doing and saying those things to the glory of God (Col 3:17). Are you acting by Divine Authority in everything you do in the name of religion? If not, won't you repent and follow Jesus Christ, the one that has ALL AUTHORITY? --- HONESTY, ERROR, AND TRUTH Eugene Britnell There are many good people in the world who are honestly mistaken, but when a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, one of two things must happen: He will cease to be mistaken or, he will cease to be honest. If he does not obey it, he will no longer be honest. If he does obey it, he will no longer be mistaken. Honesty and error must separate when truth comes along. No man can be honestly mistaken if he has heard the truth. --- KNOWING THE LORD IS A PURSUIT Selected Healthy relationships do not just happen. Rather, they require cultivation, time and maintenance. Hosea, a prophet of the Old Testament, understood this principle and told Israel it was possible to really know God if they were willing to expend the time and energy to do so. He said, "Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; he will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth" (Hosea 6:3). --- SENTENCE SERMONS Choice and action, not chance, determines destiny. Looking ahead is a good way to keep from falling behind. Man's noblest efforts, without Christ, is only dust building on dust. Even though the outlook is sometimes dark, the uplook is always bright. God encourages men to be upright, but Satan urges men to be lowdown. Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned. He who neglects the present moment throws away all the time he has. Self-righteousness is never right. You cannot straighten out a snake, or sin, except by killing it. --- SERMON NO NEW SERMON THIS WEEK www.thetfordcountry.com --- 1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 626-5558 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/Editor Richard Thetford Building: (970) 249-8116 Home: (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com --- RICHARD THETFORD 1491 Canyon Drive Ridgway, CO 81432 (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080824/5eeccbdc/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 2950 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080824/5eeccbdc/attachment-0001.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 14927 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080824/5eeccbdc/attachment-0003.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 177 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080824/5eeccbdc/attachment-0004.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 9888 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080824/5eeccbdc/attachment-0005.gif From bgreen at tycom.net Sun Aug 24 21:43:04 2008 From: bgreen at tycom.net (Bill Green) Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2008 21:43:04 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] church in Hope, Arkansas Message-ID: <2CF7EE2F5A584DAD9C63A9E40B3F98C1@your4105e587b6> I am looking for contact info for the church meeting in Hope, Arkansas. Thanks for your help. Brotherly, Bill Green -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080824/205a0318/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Aug 25 05:08:12 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:08:12 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) QUESTION AND ANSWER Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Monday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is a quest- ion and answer from my files: QUESTION AND ANSWER QUESTION: -- Shall We Have A Conference When Problems Arise Concerning Biblical Subjects? ANSWER: -- When Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch from their first missionary journey, they found that Judai- zing teachers had stirred up the church, teaching that Gentiles had to be circumcised to be saved. Paul and Barnabas had been preaching among the Gentiles, and they did not so teach. Therefore if these teachers were correct, Paul could not be an in spired apostle. Paul and Barnabas disputed with them, but since they would not accept Paul's apostleship, the matter could not be settled. Since these teachers had come down from Jerus- alem, from where the apostles were, it was decided to take the matter there. Paul and Barnabas surely had nothing to lose, for they knew that they were right and that their position would be vindicated. The matter was then laid before the apostles and elders in Jerusalem (Acts 15:6). There was some little discussion, then Paul made his defense of what he had been teaching. As he wrote later, "And I went up by revelation; and I laid before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles but privately be- fore them who were of repute, lest by any means I should be run- ning or had run, in vain" (Gal. 2:2). That his defense was accept- able is shown in that Titus, a Gentile companion, was not com- pelled to be circumcised (vs. 3). Paul's work among the Gentiles was fully accepted, "They gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles" (Gal. 2:9). The matter had to go before the whole church, for the whole church was to be affected by the false teaching presented by some. In this open meeting, Peter spoke first. He had been the first to preach to the Gentiles (Acts 10 and 11), and "they hearke- ned unto him." Then Paul and Barnabas spoke, and the people "hearkened unto them" (Acts 15:12) and none opposed them. Then James made the final speech and pronounced the judg- ment, so it seems that he was the chairman of the meeting. "Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God" (Acts 15:19). Now, how was the matter settled, and who decided it? (When the church first met after Paul and Barnabas had arrived at Jerusalem, some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, 'It is nec- essary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.' Acts 15:5, JWS). Remember two things: 1) Jesus had said, "All authority hath been given unto Me" (Matt. 28:18). And 2) Jesus had promised the Holy Spirit to the apostles to, "Guide you into all the truth" (Jno. 16:13). He did not promise this to the church not to the elders. If the church could simply vote on such things, why did- n't they do that at Antioch? Why bring the matter to the apostles in Jerusalem? No, this was a vitally important matter, and only the apostles (as guided by the Holy Spirit) could settle it. (Actua- lly, as far as the requirement that the Gentiles that came to Christ had to be circumcised, Paul knew and taught the truth. He as an inspired apostle of Christ, knew the answer already. But since the teaching had come down from Jerusalem, he and Barnabas was sent by the church at Antioch to question the apostles there as to their teaching on this matter and if they had taught such to those that had come down from them? As far as inspired inform- ation on this matter, Paul said that the brethren of repute in Jeru- salem did not add anything to the matter that he as an apostle did not know already (Gal. 2:6), JWS). James, himself could not settle it. Nor could any others in the Jerusalem church. It was not to be decided by James, by the church, by the elders nor even the apostles. Notice what the Bible says, "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things" (Acts 15:28). The matter was decided by the Holy Spirit, and, of course, approved by the church. All church problems should be resolved the same way today. That is, by heeding the instruct- ions of the Holy Spirit -- which are found in the Inspired Word of God. Preachers, elders, professors and editors have no authori- ty to settle doctrinal issues. All doctrinal questions must be ans- wered by a "Thus saith the Lord." When the Holy Spirit has spoken, all of the disciples must act in agreement thereto. As to the two "divisive issues" (mechanical instruments of music in the worship of the church and having fellowship with denominations) we are not left without guidance. The Holy Spirit has revealed, in the Scriptures which govern the New Test- ament church, how we are to worship. So far, no one has found mechanical instruments of music therein. If ti is there, let some- one produce it and the matter will be settled quickly and Scriptur- ally. As to having fellowship with denominations, the Lord made it clear that denominations are opposed to His Will (Jno. 17:20, 21). And He tells us, "Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord" (2 Cor. 6:17). And the reason is given just as clearly: "If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting: for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works" (2 Jno. 10,11). Thus, there is no need for us to have a "conference to decide these issues." The Lord has already de- cided them, and the Holy Spirit reveals it. It is simply up to us -- as it was to the Jerusalem church -- to accept what the Holy Spirit has revealed on any issue. ---- Adapted from an article by Clem Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 33, Aug. 15, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080825/6944866d/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Aug 25 05:08:28 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:08:28 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE FIRST GOSPEL SERMON Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. THE FIRST GOSPEL SERMON The sermon preached by the apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2, is the first sermon wherein the "good news" of salvation in Christ is offered to man in the name of the crucified Lord Jesus. The facts, the commands, and the promises announced in that sermon were first in the "eternal purpose" of God (Eph. 3:8-11). After mankind had sinned, God made the promise to Abrah- am, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 22:18). And the apostle Paul shows that promise was speaking of Jesus, as the Christ: "Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ" (Gal. 3:16). That promise of salvation made first in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:15), was continued in the promise to Abraham and was repeated numerous times in promises made to the Old Test- ament prophets. The promise to Abraham was so important that the Jews often simply referred to it as "the promise." This ser- mon in Acts 2 was not only a remarkable sermon, but the things said and done at the conclusion of it are worthy of our deepest interest. This day began with the fulfillment of the Lord's promise to the apostles of the guidance of the Holy Spirit: "And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place...And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1-4). To begin this sermon, Peter recounted the events of the past few days, particularly the death and the resurrection of Jesus: "Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazare- th, a man approved of God unto you by mighty works and won- ders and signs which God did by Him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know; Him, being delivered up by the determi- nate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of law- less men did crucify and slay whom God raised up, having loos- ed the pangs of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it ... This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses" (Acts 2:22-24,32). Having thus laid the foundation with the reciting of the facts of the gospel, the apostle Peter then concluded: "Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified" (Acts 2:36). This declaration produced an immediate result. "They Were Pricked In Their Heart" vs. 37. "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, adn said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). The truth announced by the apostle was so startling, and his arguments about the prophecies of David were so convinc- ing, that people were convicted of sin: "They were pricked in their heart." Another version reads, "They were cut to the heart." Since Peter spoke "as the Spirit gave him utterance" (vs. 4), it was the Holy Spirit who "pricked them in their heart." This is the way the Holy Spirit convinced these hearers of their sins. And this is the way the Spirit still operates today. Through this gospel of Christ, preached by faithful men, sinners are convinced and convicted of their sins hby the teaching of the Holy Spirit. "The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (Eph. 6:17), has not lost any of its power sinc Pentecost. It is still "the power of God unto salvation" (Rom. 1:16), as it con- victs people of their sins and persuades them to trust in Jesus for their salvation. The apostle Peter later preached the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10). In recounting that event before the church in Jerusal- em, Peter told them how an angel had told Cornelius, "Send to Joppa, and fetch Simon, whose surname is Peter; who shall speak unto thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved, thou and all they house" (Acts 11:13,14). And later, with the apostles, Peter said, "Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe" (Acts 15:7). The gospel will change people's hearts. "What Shall We Do?" vs. 37. Having been convicted of their sin in crucifying the Son of God, the people honestly inquire: "Breth- ren, what shall we do?" Keep in mind that these people were convinced that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that they stood guilty before God for having killed Him. Again the Holy Spirit speaks, to answer their question: "And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). This is the answer of God, and to reject it is to reject God. To refuse to hear it and obey it is to refuse to hear and obey God. In this verse are announced God's terms for salvation from sin. And to reject them is to reject Christ and His salvation. As we read: "A man that hath set at nought Moses' law dieth with- out compassion on the word of two or three witnesses; of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" (Heb. 10:28,29). To reject the words of Acts 2:38 is to do "despi- te unto the Spirit of grace." "For To You Is The Promise" vs. 39. As noted before, God had promised salvation to all the nations through the seed of Abra- ham (Gal. 3:8,16). Peter, guided by the Holy Spirit, continued his sermon: "For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto Him" (Acts 2:39). That promise finds its fulfillment on this day of Pentecost. Salvation was offered to those who beleived, repented and were baptized in the name of (or by the authority of) Jesus Christ. These same terms are found in the writing of the apostle Paul in Gal. 3:26,27, "For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ...And if ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise." Note that the Scriptures show that we are the children of God "through faith, in Christ Jesus." That shows how (through faith) and where (in Christ) we become children of God. And note that we are "baptized into Christ." There is no other way to get "into Christ." "They That Received His Word Were Baptized". Peter continu- ed to preach: "And with many other words he testified, and ex- horted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked gener- ation. They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:40,41). Man has something to do to be saved. That is why God said, "Save yourselves." Of course, we know that we cannot save ourselves by offering our own sacrifice for our sins. But there are things we must do to save ourselves by the sacrifice of Christ. Remember that the Lord Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the king- dom of heaven; but he that doeth the Will of My Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21). You see, Jesus is the Author of salvation "Unto all them that obey Him." (Heb. 5:9). When God, by the mouth of Peter, told the people what to do, "They then that received his word were baptized" (Acts 2:41). That was simple. When they were told what God wanted them to do, they did it. We don't know how many heard the word on that day. But all of those people who "received his word were baptiz- ed." That same principle is at work when the gospel is preached today. When people trust the Lord, they will do what He tells them. All who receive His word today will be baptized, just as those 3,000 were. And for exactly the same reason they did it. Those people were seeking salvation. And when they learn- ed that salvation was only in Jesus Christ, they then responded to His word by doing what He told them: repenting and being baptized in His name (Acts 2:38,41). That was the natural react- ion to their being "pricked in their hearts." Because they felt the guilt of their sin, they did what the Lord said in order to be forgiv- en. "They Were Added To His Church" - vss. 41,47. "They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls...And the Lord add- ed to the church daily such as were being saved". In discussing Jesus Christ with the Jewish council, the apostles clearly stated "In none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Only Jesus Christ can save. And when He saves anyone, He adds him to His church. Remember that Jesus promised, "I will build My church" (Matt. 16:18). He built only one church, and He never built any denomination. Jesus adds the saved to His church. That is the church which "He purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28). That church is the bride of Christ: "For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the church, being Him- self the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself up for it; that He might sanctify it, hav- ing cleansed it by the washing of water with the word...For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to is wife; and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great: but I speak in regard to Christ and the church" (Eph. 5:23- 32). Those people on Pentecost (Acts 2), hearing the Word of the Lord by the mouth of Peter, understood that they needed to be saved. So, they repented and were baptized. When they did that, the Lord saved them and added them to His church. They were now Christians, children of God (Gal. 3:26,27). But they were not members of ANY denomination. They never joined any denomination, nor did they seek to be part of anything which the Lord did not build. Dear reader, why isn't that same pattern valid for your life? Some will say, "Well, that is too simple." But the apostle Paul wrote, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguil- ed Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ" (2 Cor. 11:3). Friend, the gospel IS simple. But it is God's Plan and Purpose for your eternal salvation. If you will receive His Word today, re- penting and being baptized -- just as t hose 3,000 did on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) -- the Lord will save you and add you to His church. Why complicate? Why look for some kind of mystical experience? Just do what the Lord said, and He will handle the rest. He will save you from your sins and add you to His church. What more could anyone want, or expect, from the Lord? -------------------------- Clem Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 26, June 27, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080825/6a82e95a/attachment-0001.html From Churchmousejd at wmconnect.com Mon Aug 25 11:32:54 2008 From: Churchmousejd at wmconnect.com (Churchmousejd at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:32:54 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] "ILLUSTRATIONS & OBSERVQATIONS">article Message-ID: REMEMBERING WHY WE ASSEMBLE King David wrote in his prayer for Jerusalem, "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go down to the house of Jehovah." Psa.122: 1. For us today, meeting to worship with the saints should be the highlight of our week. But I fear it is all too often taken for granted. We should consider it a great privilege to come to the place where we have chosen to worship God. We should come with an attitude of reverence. I am aware a certain amount of visiting is normal before and after services. What goes on DURING worship service is what we should be concerned with. I have spoken to many congregations over the years. And I can tell you it is very distracting to have someone flipping through a songbook, cleaning their fingernails, sleeping, staring out a window at something apparently more interesting than the lesson I was presenting or continuously whispering to the person next to them. It is even more so should you happen to be siting near them. Once, while visiting a rural congregation, two sisters behind us where talking so loudly during the song service, I finally asked them to hold it down. I have even heard people talking, flipping through songbooks or reading tracts etc. during the taking of the Lord's supper. Often I've wondered why these people did not have more respect for God, Christ and their fellow worshippers. Have they completely forgotten why they are there, or did they ever know? Doing things that just occupy one's time until the services are over tells me they need to reevaluate why they are attending at all. I think it betrays an underlying attitude they must come, or God (or perhaps the Devil) will get them. It's something they feel they have to do, just a duty they really don't want to do. Do they really think God is not aware of this? If they consider themselves a child of God, then act like it! Show the proper respect for God you should. This time of worship is to enlighten, to feed us spiritually. How long do you think your physical body would last if you never ate after sitting down at the table? The same is true of your spiritual body. It you don't feed it, it will die. If this sin is not repented of, one day, God will demand an explanation of you. I hope you have a good one! J.D.Williams -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080825/eb33c978/attachment-0001.html From Mikejohnson104 at aol.com Mon Aug 25 18:17:28 2008 From: Mikejohnson104 at aol.com (Mikejohnson104 at aol.com) Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:17:28 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] B>The Elon Challenger V 8 Message-ID: The Elon Challenger ELON CHURCH OF CHRIST New Hope, Alabama Seeking to challenge your interest in things spiritual & eternal (Eph. 6:10-18). Volume V Number 8 April, 2008 =================================================================== Authority 4 THE AUTHORITY OF THE APOSTLES Mike Johnson Many people today say that we only need the words of Jesus to guide us, failing to understand the authority of the apostles. Christ certainly has authority (Mt. 28:18, 17:1-8), but we must understand that authority also resides with the apostles. This thinking is seen with some who place a great deal of emphasis on the red letter edition of the Bible an edition in which all of the words of Christ are in red. They might say, "If it isn't in red, I don't accept it." Jesus always taught the truth, but He did not teach all of the truth during His personal ministry. We do need the words of Jesus, but we also need the teaching of the apostles and other inspired teachers. During Jesus' personal ministry, He told the apostles that after He left, the Holy Spirit would be sent by God, and He would teach them all things and bring to their remembrance all things that he had taught them (Jn.14:26, 28). In John 15:26, he said, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Jesus said (Jn. 16:8b) that when he left the Comforter (or Holy Spirit) would be sent, and "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." Before Jesus ascended to heaven, he gave the Great Commission in which he told them to go and preach the gospel to all nations (Mt. 28:18-20, Mk. 16:15-16). He also told them to go and tarry at Jerusalem and they would be endured with "power from on high." He revealed that He would send the promise of His father upon them (Luke 24:49-52). This promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost a short time later (Acts 2); the apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit, and the first gospel sermon was preached. Jesus told the apostles that they would be given the "keys" to the kingdom of heaven. After speaking of the church being built, Jesus said to Peter (Mt. 16:19), "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Later, in Matthew 18:18, he said the same thing to all of the apostles. A key is symbolic of "authority." The apostles would have the authority to "bind" and "loose." They did not have "legislative" power, but, guided by the Holy Spirit, the apostles had the authority to carry out heaven's decisions. They announced heaven's will to mankind. Paul, in II Corinthians 5:20, referred to himself and the other apostles as "ambassadors for Christ." The word ambassador means "one who is entrusted with a message from one sovereign to another." This office is one which entails great respect. An ambassador carries on the business of the sovereign in the way that he would conduct that business if he were present. The apostles functioned as representatives for Christ to mankind. It was "as though God did beseech" the Corinthians through them, and the purpose of their work was so that man might be reconciled to God (v. 20b). Thus, the apostles spoke for Christ. Paul, in Ephesians 6:20, while in Roman imprisonment, referred to himself as an "ambassador in bonds." He was an ambassador, but it is interesting to note that he, as an ambassador, had been imprisoned. For the Romans to treat Paul in this manner was to greatly insult the great king whom he served. The apostles were representatives of God and Christ. There were, consequently, serious repercussions to rejecting their message. In John 13:20, Jesus told the apostles, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." In Matthew 19, the apostles had just witnessed the rich young ruler refusing to sell all that he had. This prompted Peter to ask, ". . . we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?" Jesus told them, ". . . Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Jesus has ascended to heaven to His throne, and He will be seated on it at the day of judgment (Acts 2:31-35; Heb. 1:13; Mt. 25:31; I Cor. 15:24-28). The period of regeneration started on Pentecost (Acts 2) after the ascension when the gospel was preached. The people heard the Word and obeyed it, and this period will continue until the end of time. The twelve thrones and twelve tribes are not literal. The twelve tribes sustain no literal relationship to the apostles. This figure is used to refer to the true Israel which is the church (Rom. 9:6, Gal. 3:29). The apostles are our judges as, guided by the Holy Spirit, they revealed the mind of Christ to mankind. They told us what "truth" was on matters of faith and practice. During their lives, they judged in person; now we have their written communication (the Bible) so they still judge us in this sense as God's Word is our standard. After the church was established, we learn that it was the apostle's doctrine (Acts 2:42), not the teaching of Moses, which the early church continued in. Paul said, in Philippians 4:9, "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." In conclusion, God and Christ serve as our authorities. We must, however, recognize the role of the apostles as our authority for today as well. __________ THE BIBLE: THE ONLY INSPIRED CREED Richard Thetford Many religious denominations use something in addition to the Bible to authorize the various religious practices that they do. Yet the Bible is the only inspired creed. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim 3:16-17). When man adds or subtracts from God's inspired word (Rev 22:18-19), religious division occurs - and there is a lot of that today! The Bible is the only book that meets the needs of the whole world (Mark 16:15). It is pure (Psa 119:140), perfect (Psa 19:7), enduring (Luk 21:33; 1 Pet 1:25), and we will be judged by it (John 12:48). Therefore, since the Bible is the law in which we will be judged by, why would one want to follow creeds of man? Can man save us? Can man take the place of Christ and be the propitiation for our sins? Human creeds are not inspired,don't meet the needs of the world, are not perfect, and are constantly being revised. Is the Bible the only creed that rules your life? from Walking in the Light ____________ "THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS" Charles G. Maples, Sr. "The pursuit of happiness" is not only a "right" under our "Bill of Rights," but much more importantly, a "right" under God! He wants us to be happy, and so in agreement with such Scriptures as 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 2 Peter 1:3. He has given us clear instructions as to how we may attain unto that happiness. We need to be careful, that we understand just what true "happiness" is! While dwelling in this material "tent" we may; as many do; become very happy with "things," which do not transcend this realm, and which "we can't take with us!" (See I Tim. 6:9,10, 7!) Those people depicted in Jeremiah 12:1 were "happy," while "dealing treacherously...in wickedness!" The "rich farmer" of Luke 12 was very "happy" with his bursting barns, until the message from Heaven awakened him to his true condition..his SOUL, for which he had made no provisions, was being "required of him!" Such cases depict the state of most of the world; only temporary "happiness," at the very best! - No concept of what TRUE "happiness" is! Consider with me what we might call, "five essentials to true happiness." 1. REVERENCE FOR GOD, who "gives us life and breath and all things." (Acts 17:25). In Proverbs 28:14 the Inspired writer declares, "Happy is the man who is always reverent." Again we read, "... the conclusion of the matter; fear (reverence -cgm) God, and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecc. 12:13) We read in Hebrews 12:28 that we are to "serve God with reverence and godly fear." Reverence for Him is the very FOUNDATION of true "Happiness," and without this, all else (even the following) is useless! 2. TRUST in God - We are so prone to put out trust in things which may bring about what seems to be "happiness;" in "riches" (Mk. 10:24f); in men (Psa. 118:8), etc. Such is deceptive, and will be seen to be disastrous! Inspiration urges, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."(Prov. 3:5f) A deep and abiding trust in God; that He will surely do as He promises (and more!) in caring for us; will sustain and strengthen us for whatever the testings of life might be! Hear the apostle Paul in I Corinthians 10:13, "...God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." Jesus challenges us, "...but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt. 6:33) And, see a similar challenge issued to Israel by God in Malachi 3:10. Oh, but if we; each one of us; would accept the challenge, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart..!" Such would not only bring us true happiness here, but "...when His glory is revealed, (we) may also be glad with exceeding joy!" (I Pet. 4:13). 3. "Delight in the law of the Lord!" (Ps. 144:15) In the understanding of and doing of the will of God there should be the most fulfilling "happiness" that the child of God can possibly desire while here! Study; meditating on the Law of God; can bring great joy, as we come to understand His will with us. Hear the Psalmist, "I have rejoicing in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.! (Psa. 119:13,15) "Pleasing Him," which should be our "aim"(2 Cor. 5:9), in the DOING of His will, can bring to us pleasure like unto that of a child who sees that he/she pleases his parents. Indeed, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his DELIGHT is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night." (Psa. 1:1-2) Do you desire happiness? The Book of God is a treasure house, filled with genuine pleasure, awaiting any one who will but read, meditate and give himself wholly to it! (See 2 Tim. 4:13-16) 4. WORSHIP GOD REGULARLY! The Psalmist says, "I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord." (Psa. 122:1) We are urged not to "forsake the assembling of ourselves together..." (Heb. 10:25) In such we "..draw near (to the Lord) with a true heart, in full assurance of faith..." (V. 22) It is not surprising that some of the most unhappy children of God are those who do not regularly and faithfully worship together with the faithful! As we read of scenes in Heaven, we find heaven's hosts rejoicing in worship and praise of God and "The Lamb!" (See Rev. 4:11) Surely one cannot expect to enjoy heaven if he does not find great joy and gladness in worshiping the Lord while here! Again, the Psalmist urges, "Make a joyful shout to the Lord,...Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing." (Psa. 100:1-2) 5. "SERVE the Lord with gladness!" (Ibid) Jesus tells us that His kingdom is like a man who goes out to "hire laborers into his vineyard..." (Matt. 20:1) A line of a hymn we sometimes sing says, "To the harvest field I will GLADLY go in the SERVICE OF MY KING...!" It is not surprising that often the people who seem to be the happiest are the busiest! Those early disciples of Acts 2 were said to have "...continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine...ate their food with gladness and singleness of heart." (Vs. 42-46) Paul urged Roman Christians, "not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." (Rom.12:11) IN ALL OF THIS "Walk in the light, as He is in the light...fellowship one with the other...! (I Jn. 1:7) In that "Fellowship" we can enjoy the same wonderful "Happiness" that we hope for when this life is over! ARE YOU EXERCISING YOUR "RIGHT - THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS?" SURELY WE CANNOT HOPE TO OBTAIN "ETERNAL JOY" IF WE FALL SHORT IN THIS! __________ WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? The person who asks this question has come to a point in where he knows he is lost. One's willingness to accept the presence of sin in his life is a significant step toward being saved from it. In the book of Acts this question is asked on three separate occasions. Each time the answer is given directly and without hesitation. It is answered with clarity and urgency. And each time, the answer is obeyed and the sinner is saved. If you are not a Christian, you will find yourself and your spiritual condition in these examples of conversion. Listen carefully to God's answers to the question so you can be saved from your sins. 1. People on Pentecost. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:37-38). This Jewish audience on the day of Pentecost knew their prophets spoke of a Savior, but they had rejected Jesus as the fulfillment and crucified Him. Now, the miraculous event of that day not only got their attention (so the apostles could preach the gospel to them), it gave proof that the message of the apostles was from heaven: Jesus is Lord and Christ. They had crucified their Savior! Hearing the gospel caused them to believe that Jesus is the Christ. Now, what were they to do to be saved from their sin against Him? They must repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38). Notice, they were not saved at the point of faith, otherwise the answer to their question would have been very different. When people tell you that salvation comes at the point of faith they are not giving you a Bible answer. On Pentecost about 3,000 received the gospel and were baptized; the Lord saved them and they were added together (Acts 2:42). The church began and the Lord continued to add those who were being saved (in the same way) to the church (Acts 2:47). Have you repented and been baptized for the remission of your sins? You must, to be saved from your sins. 2. Saul of Tarsus. And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do" (Acts 9:5-6). Note that Jesus did not tell Saul he was saved. He was not, for after three days of fasting and prayer, the preacher Ananias fulfilled Jesus' instruction by telling Saul to "arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16; 9:9, 11). Prayer did not save Saul; after three days he had sins that needed to be washed away. Seeing Jesus did not save Saul; only when he arose and was baptized were his sins washed away. Saul was a repentant believer who was saved when he was baptized into the death of Christ (Rom. 6:3). Have you, due to a repentant heart, been baptized so that the blood of Christ will wash away your sins (like Saul's were)? You must, to be saved from your sins. 3. Philippian jailer and family. "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house" (Acts 16:30-32). He knew he needed salvation, but how? He had no faith in Jesus Christ. So, Paul and Silas spoke God's word to him to establish faith (Rom. 10:17). Once he believed he showed evidence of repentance (washed their stripes) and "immediately he and all his family were baptized" (Acts 16:33). Like those on Pentecost (Acts 2) and Saul (Acts 9, 22), the jailer and his house "believed in God" and were saved when they repented and were baptized (Acts 16:34). Have you believed in Jesus like the jailer and his family, by repenting and immediately being baptized? You must, to be saved from your sins. Why not now? __________ Duck Church One fine Sunday morning, the ducks gathered for duck church. They waddled into their duck pews, sang from their duck song books, and listened to their duck preacher. The duck preacher said, "Ducks, you don't have to waddle. You have wings like eagles. You can fly! Fly, ducks, fly! The ducks all said, "Amen, Amen!" Then, when the service was over, the ducks got up and waddled home. New Testament Application: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets. Via "Know Your Bible" __________ WORMS FOR SALE It is an old story, but is still worth telling. A lark, singing in the high branches of a tree, saw a traveler walking through the forest carrying a mysterious little black box. The lark flew down and perched on the traveler's shoulder. "What do you have in the little black box?' he asked. "Worms," the traveler replied. "Are they for sale?" asked the lark. "Yes, and very cheap, too, the price is only one feather." The lark thought for a moment. "I must have a million feathers. Most of them quite small. Surely "I'll never miss one of them. Here is an opportunity to get a good dinner for no work at all." So he told the man that he would buy just one. He searched carefully under his wing for a tiny, tiny feather. He winced a bit as he pulled it out, but the size and quality of the worm made him quickly forget the pain. High up in the tree he began to sing as beautifully as before. The next day he saw the same man and once more he exchanged a feather for a worm. "What a wonderful way to get dinner?and no effort at all!" he thought. We skip the next day, and the next, for we are sure you are way ahead of us. In any event, he lost a feather each day and each loss seemed to hurt less and less. Finally, after the loss of one of his primary feathers, he could no longer reach the top of the tree, let alone fly up into the sky. The lark no longer sang because he was ashamed of his fallen state. This is how unworthy habits possess us. First, painfully, then more easily until at last we find ourselves stripped of all that lets us soar and sing. This is how our freedom in Christ is lost; sacrificing one by one our Christian virtues for pleasures. __________ The smallest good deed is better than the greatest good intention. ____________________ Evangelist: Charles G. Maples Sr. Phone-256-530-0772 Evangelist & Editor: Mike Johnson Phone -256-776-2223 **************It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here. (http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080825/229d0a39/attachment-0001.html From brianyeager at wordsoftruth.net Mon Aug 25 19:31:48 2008 From: brianyeager at wordsoftruth.net (Brian A. Yeager) Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:31:48 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] G.O.T. Admits They Are A "Human Institution" Message-ID: <000001c90713$20c6c3c0$62544b40$@net> This article is available online with the audio file from the forum mentioned: (http://www.wordsoftruth.net/studyofinstitutionalism.htm) G.O.T. Admits They Are A "Human Institution" By: Brian A. Yeager In the present time, months and years past, many of the Guardian of Truth Foundation have argued that they are practicing "individual action in concert with others" rather than Institutionalism (Tom Roberts; Must We Divide Over Every Issue; 2008 Truth Magazine Lectures; Open Forum; audio available upon request). However, the moderator of the Truth Magazine Lectures this year plainly stated the following: "We are a human institution... We're not here to tell people uh, because we are some organization that they must do this or what we are trying to find the truth, and share it with others, that's what this forum is about" (Forum Moderator; Must We Divide Over Every Issue; 2008 Truth Magazine Lectures; Open Forum; (audio available upon request). As of August 25th, 2008, the audio for these quotes is on the Truth Magazine website (http://www.truthmagazine.com/2008_lecture_mp3_ppt.html). If the G.O.T. decides to remove this audio from their website (I wouldn't be surprised if they did) visit (at bottom of the page on the link): http://www.wordsoftruth.net/g_o_t_humaninstitution.html. I listened to this open forum and I have to say, these guys are all JUST AS LIBERAL AS MAX LUCADO, AL MAXEY, RUBEL SHELLY, etc. They reject the Scriptures as their source of authority and simply play on arguments twisting the Scriptures (II Peter 3:16-18). Then, they try to shift blame by saying that those of us asking for Scriptures for their UNAUTHORIZED practices are being divisive. HMMM. Tom Roberts and Ron Halbrook sound just like every liberal I have ever heard trying to justify their unauthorized practices as a liberty via I Corinthians 8 and Romans 14. Their arguments allow for church gymnasiums, fellowship halls, usage of the church's resources for social events such as weddings and funerals (Tom Roberts explicitly stated such in the above forum), etc. which are all the language of Ashdod (Nehemiah 13:24 and I Peter 4:11). Then, they build their straw men and tear them down. They talk of inviting their adversaries to their lectureship and wonder why they didn't come. I don't know who they invited, but how could anyone come and participate in that which they oppose. That'd be like a whore inviting me to a strip club to talk about lust. Here's my invitation to all G.O.T. board members, come on down any Tuesday or Thursday evening to El Paso, in the midst of the assembly, and let's see where the truth lies. I'll publish the audio online for all to hear. The church will be the institution overseeing the discussion (I Timothy 3:15) rather than a HUMAN INSTITUTION. No arguments, just book, chapter, and verse (I Corinthians 4:6). We know none can accept this invitation. WHY NOT? They cannot provide one Scripture to authorize their cause! The Liberals Forming Institutions Cannot Have A Bible Discussion! Ron Halbrook started his discussion by using Ecclesiastes 4:9 to justify human organizations conducting Scriptural work. Listen, Ecclesiastes 4:9 no more authorizes the formation of any human organization to do the work of the church than it authorizes a third party in the marriage bed using an argument of two women / men are better than one. Then Ron fatally errs in using Matthew 18:15-17 to justify his beliefs. Why is it a fatal error to his argument? Well, if you will read Matthew 18:15-17 you'll notice what "organization" God chooses to be involved in spiritual work. HINT - He does not say a bookstore, magazine, college, etc.!!! Ron, Tom, and other liberals cannot use the Scriptures to authorize their institutions because the Lord never authorized us to form any man-made institution to do His work either individually or collectively funded. These men would and have argued that mechanical instrumental music being used in worship is sinful because it is unauthorized (Colossians 3:17). Those in error on the subject would throw the same arguments these guys use for their institution right back at them. Brethren, when I came out of Institutionalism I had to learn that my human reasoning was flawed (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25, Jeremiah 10:23; cf. Isaiah 55:7-9). Ron, in his "lesson", tried to justify the G.O.T. by saying Judas carried a money bag and that was a treasury outside of the local church. I guess Ron has not figured out that the church had yet to be established (Acts 20:28; 2:47). Then Ron tries to argue about individual and collective action. Again, this sounds like other liberals who argue for their views. The extreme left argues "there is no difference between the individual and the local church". These ignore I Timothy 5:16, I Corinthians 7:2-4, and a host of other Scriptures showing the difference between individual work and collective work (again, only through the local church). Now Ron talks of "joint action" to invoke his institutions. As I said before, he's no different than all the liberals I have ever heard preach. Frankly, he makes me want to puke (Psalms 139:21-22). Like the other liberals, Ron sets up a variety of syllogisms to conclude his unauthorized practices, but he cannot provide God's command, example, or necessary conclusion authorizing a human organization being formed to carry out His work! Interestingly, Ron then argued that his involvement with the local church involves his fellowship with God while his participation in human organizations does not. I am not sure why this point is risen, but I know for sure he does not understand that ALL WE DO involves our fellowship with God (I John 1:3-7). He argues that we might use I Timothy 3:15 to argue against human institutions. RON, the point is that you have NO AUTHORITY AT ALL FROM GOD TO FORM ANY ORGANIZATION TO DO HIS WORK! Brethren, I am no prophet, but I know for sure this error will lead to more ungodliness (II Timothy 2:16). Conclusion Since the Scriptures are all-sufficient (II Samuel 7:1-7, II Timothy 3:16-17, and II Peter 1:3), we must therefore conclude human institutions doing God's work is not GOOD WORK! Notice an inspired example of how this subject should be handled: "And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day: And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel? And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you" (Numbers 9:6-8). Brian A. Yeager 3917 Tierra Roman Dr. El Paso, TX 79938 915-525-5794 brianyeager at wordsoftruth.net www.wordsoftruth.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080825/8b07b15d/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Aug 26 05:04:20 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:04:20 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) THE GRANDEST NAME Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Tuesday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: THE GRANDEST NAME I want to ask you a quesiton. Why be a Christian? Many times people reason, being a Christian requires very much of one. This is true. Being a Christian requires dedication and commitment to God and His Will. Being a Christian requires sac- rifice. It is not the easiest life one could live. As one looks at these things he may be tempted to rephrase the question. Why would any one want to be a Christian? Well, I can think of a num- ber of good reasons and we plan to discuss these in future issu- es of Gospel Power. One of them I shall discuss in this article. One reason to be a Christian is To Wear The Grandest Name Given Among Men Whereby We Must Be Saved: -- (Acts 4:12). Let me ask you, How does it feel to wear the name "American"? or to be an "American"? At the mention of this thrills us and we regoice. How grand and glorious it is to be an "American." But may I emphasize tht this grandeur and glory is multiplied again and again when we think about wearing the name "Christian." In Jas 2:7, speaking of those who persecuted Christians, James said, "Do not they blaspheme that worthy (honorable, ASV) name by which ye are called?" We want to emphasize, the name "Christian" is a "worthy" name! The name "Christian" is an "honorable" name. Someone may ask, "WHY?" Some believe the name "Christ- ian" was given to Christians by their enemies, in derision. They tell us the name was given as an object of ridicule. This is not the case. In Acts 11:26 we read, "...the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch." The words "were called" in this verse are from a word meaning a "divine calling." So according to the passage God was the One Who did the calling. J.H. Thayer in defining the word here translated "were called" says, "to give divine command or admonition, to teach from heaven, to be divinely admonished, instructed." So, ladies and gentlemen, this calling was not by their enemies in derision or ridicule but rather it was given to them by God. When we wear the name "Christian" we wear the name God gave to His people. It is a shame that many people today wear a name in religion that has come from man and not named by God. When we are Christians we can wear the grandest, greatest name given among men. This is the name in which the apostle Peter strongly affirms in which we can glorify God. "Yet if any man suffer as a Christ- ian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this be- half or in this name" (1 Pet. 4:16). In your work for Christ do you glorify God in the name Christian or do you call yourself by some other name? All men need to give this his serious and sober consideration. The apostle Paul sdaid that the name of Christ is above every name. "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name" (Phil. 2:9). He zealously and earnestly sought King Agrippa to become a Christian. "Then Agrippa said unto Paul. Almost thou persuad- est me to be Christian" (Acts 26:28). We must realize that there is something in a name. We should gladly wear the name God has given us. In religion we need nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else. ------------ Cecil F. Cox in Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 33, Aug. 17, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080826/e5ce4d42/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Aug 26 05:04:32 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:04:32 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) PSALM 103 Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. PSALM 103 "What Motivated You To Seek The Lord?" I asked twenty-two year old Megan, a new and vibrant Christian. Her answer, "Reading the Psalms." That surprised me! I expected to hear something like "seeing the example of a good Christian," or "reading about Christ in the gospels." When I asked how the Psalms had motivated her to change her life, Megan said that those who wrote them were so utterly open and sincere before God that she realized that she needed what they had. Megan was right! All the Psalms are "utterly open and sincere" and yet among them, the 103rd Psalm stands out. Char- les Spurgeon said of it with his 19th century prose, "It has ever seemed to us to be the Monte Rosa of the divine chain of moun- tains of praise, glowing with a ruddier light than any of the rest." Several spiritual truts jump out when reading it: The Unreserved Enthusiasm Of Genuine Praise And Worship:- In vss. 1,2,19-22, David praised the Lord with "all that was within him," literally all his inner parts (vs. 1). Not content with praising the Lord by himself, he calls upon the angels, the hosts, those who serve Him and all His works to praise Him (vss. 20-22). It is doubtful that such praise would have been accompani- ed by yawns, glances at the clock or blank stares. I wonder sometimes how many staid congregations would react to the enthusiastic praise of someone like David in their midst, with his hands raised clamoring to his Maker as he sang and prayed while encouraging othrs to do the same. Surely, one of the big- gest challenges of congrations composed of second, third and fourth generation Christians is continual spiritual revival to avoid the cold routine that God despises (Amos 5:21-24; Isa. 1: 11-17) and instead foster an atmosphere where genuinely enthusiastic (but orderly) worship is considered natural rather than an oddity. The Utterr Greatness Of God's Blessings In General: -- (vss. 3-7). Of there is an equivalent to Eph. 1 in the Psalms it is here. David enumerates blessing after blessing as "benefits" that come from the Lord. Jehovah has pardoned iniquities (vs. 3), healed diseas- es (vs. 4), redeemed from the pit (vs. 4), crowned with righteous- ness (vs. 5), given satisfaction (vs. 5), performed righteous deeds (vs. 6), judged the oppressed (vs. 6), revealed His Will through Moses (vs. 7), and revealed acts to the sons of Israel (vs. 7). Isn't the desire to constantly "count our blessings" a key to avoiding the whiney laziness that can seep into the lives of Christians as the years pass? The Magnitude Of God's Mercy In Particular: -- (vss. 8-18). This passage as much as any other belies the concept that the Old Testament emphasizes punishment without mercy. Spurgeon says that the psalm's emphasis on God's mercy indicates that it was written in David's older days when he had a "higher sense of the preciousness of pardon." Verse 8 praises Jehovah as "compassionate," "gracious," "slow to anger," and "abounding in loving kindness." He does- n't give us the punishment that we deserve (vs. 10). The inspired Psalmist uses far-reaching similes to try to help finite minds understand God's infinite mercy: "as high as the heavens are above the earth," "As far as the east is from the west" (vss. 11,12). The Psalm Corrects Misconceptions About God's Mercy: -- Some feel that God's grace implies that even those who are lack- adaisical in their service and approach to the Scriptures will be saved because, "after all, God is merciful." However, David mak- es it clear that Jehovah's mercy is reserved only for those who "fear Him" (vs. 17), "keep His covenant" and "remember His pre- cepts to do them" (vs. 18). However, the Psalm also contradicts the misconception of the other extreme -- that the requirement of obedience implies unblemished compliance with every nuance of God's revelation, and that anyone who is mistaken on any point (at least any that I consider to be important) has no hope. It plainly shows that those who fear God and keep His covenant and precepts (vss. 17, 18) still need His mercy! If their fear and obedience were flaw- less, why would they appreciate God's clemency so much? The correct concept that avoids both extremes is that those who attain God's great mercy are those who have learned throu- gh faith to have an obedient spirit (though they sometimes stum- ble), and those who strive to obey every precept (though they continue to grow). God's Relationship To Those Who Seek Him -- Judge Or Father? There is no doubt that God is a stern judge in His relationship with the wicked and rebellious Christians. However, too many Christians apply that figure of a judging God to themselves even when they are striving to follow Him. "I don't know if I'm good enough to go to heaven," they say. "I might have missed it on one point." This Psalm beautifully describes God's relationship with tho- se who seek Him is as a father-child relationship, not a judge-criminal relationship (vss. 13,14). "Just as a father has compassion on his children. So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust." A good father constantly warns his children of the unpleas- ant consequences of disobedience. However, he doesn't throw them out onto the street every time they are less than perfect. Why should it be difficult for us to see our Heavenly Father that way? Though rebellious children must be cast out when they are disobedient (Acts 8:20-23; Gal. 5:4), we can be confident that as long as we humbly seek God, strive to grow, and confess our shortcomings (1 Jno. 1:9), our Father will have compassion on us. It's Not All About Us! -- We are but dust and grass that pass away (vss. 14,15). There should be no place for the cockiness and self-centeredness that is sometimes all too apparent in some. This "Mount Everest" of the Psalms gives us hope on the basis of God's mercy that is "as high as the heavens are above the earth." May we turst in it and in Him! ---- Gardner Hall in Bibli- cal Insights, Vol. 8, No. 2, Feb. 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080826/dd511690/attachment.html From ZekeFlores1 at cs.com Tue Aug 26 09:20:11 2008 From: ZekeFlores1 at cs.com (ZekeFlores1 at cs.com) Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:20:11 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S> Time Past Is Sufficient Message-ID: Here's a lesson I hope you can use. Maranatha, Zeke Flores Kiber Street church of Christ Angleton, TX www.angletonchristians.com ************************************************************************** Time Past Is Sufficient... 1 Peter 4:3 Intro What would you do if you had the opportunity to do something fun, pleasurable, but sinful? Would you... A. Be discreet? 1. Make careful preparations, take precautions 2. Make sure it stays secret B. Secret sin? God's word says there is NO secret sin 1. "...you have sinned against the Lord and be sure your sin will find you out." Num 32:23 2. Sin has a habit of returning with strange timing and the most undesirable results! 3. Gal 6:7-8 a. An individual is driving down the highway and encounters a sign which says, "Dangerous Curve Ahead." Immediately, he must make a choice. He can either observe the sign and slow down, or he can maintain his same rate of speed, or he can defy the warning and speed up. Whatever response he makes, it will not change the truth of the sign. The curve remains dangerous, regardless of whether he acknowledges it or not. As in our driving on the highways, we must also make spiritual choices, and the choices we make have their consequences, whether we acknowledge them or not. b. In the same way, we can't mock, challenge or dare God by willfully sinning, expecting no consequences. C. Sometimes Christians set their sights too low and their affections on things that don't last. 1. "The world is passing away and also its lusts..." 1 John 2:17 2. Let's explore the better way. I. Keep Past Things In The Past A. Note where Christians once were. The past wasn't so hot! 1. Eph 2:1-3 2. Note the selfishness in these former lives: a. "the lusts of the flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind" 3. The apostle paints the same picture later in the letter a. Eph 4:17-19 4. What a portrayal! a. Sinful people chasing after sin thinking they're "enlightened" when all the while being in ignorance! b. Not a very rosy picture but we are all there and many more still are. c. Pollster George Gallup Jr. has long referred to America as a "nation of biblical illiterates." Only four in 10 Americans know that Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. A majority of citizens cannot name the four Gospels of the New Testament. Two-thirds of Americans believe there are few, if any, absolute principles to direct human behavior. Only half of Lutherans, Methodists, and Presbyterians believe in the devil, but 56 percent of Lutherans and 49 percent of Methodists believe in UFOs. One-third of Methodists and Presbyterians have faith in astrology. While nearly three-fourths of all Americans believe in hell, hardly any believe it to be their likely destination in eternity. B. What to do? MAKE A CHANGE! 1. Eph 2:4-7, 4:20-24 2. Laying aside the old self is laying it aside for good! a. Have heard "Let sleeping dogs lie." We must let dead sins stay dead! b. "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Cor 5:17 3. The reason this can be so is because some have finally discovered a REAL reason for living. 4. But, how does one make the changes stick? II. Arm Yourself With A New Purpose A. The reason people make changes is because they see value in the change. 1. I've begun working out and it's painful but with persistence I will become healthier. B. Christians must realize that there is more to this life than living for self. 1. 1 Pet 4:1-2 a. Through our baptism we make a commitment to God to change our thinking and our habits. (1) 1 Pet 3:21 (2) The "good conscience" ONLY comes from one that has God's will as its aim. C. Why would anybody make such a drastic change? 1. Comes a time when one must say "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!" 2. 1 Pet 4:3 3. No one will ever do it without recognizing the futility of his lifestyle. That's why Peter itemizes the things he does: a. Sensuality - Catering only to self pleasures b. Lusts - The longing for all forbidden things c. Drunkenness - Not only the drunkenness itself, but the things that lowered inhibition lead to d. Carousing - Letting loose, no restraint e. Drinking parties - Social activity with really only one thought in mind f. Abominable idolatries - Putting anything in place of God. (1) This is the most common and the idolatry can be anything from a spouse to religious error. 4. The list is comprised of everything people still do! D. When you decide to finally make a break for it, they'll think you're nuts! 1. 1 Pet 4:4-5 a. Story of a man ungrounded in Scripture, who fallaciously thought he could mix with the world and still be a testimony to God's salvation. At a party, drink in hand, friends related that they were so glad that the rumors of his religious conversion was not true! b. "Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Rom 12:2 2. What will be YOUR influence - Word or World? III. Don't Look Back A. Once the decision is made, look ahead - That's where your future lies! 1. "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62 2. Graphically illustrated in the story of Lot & his wife! (Gen 19:15-26) a. It's the age-old story of one's heart not being in it. B. When Cortez landed at Vera Cruz in 1519 to begin his conquest of Mexico with a small force of 700 men, he purposely either set fire to his fleet of eleven ships or had them destroyed some other way. His men on the shore watched their only means of retreat sinking to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. With no means of retreat, there was only one direction in which to move, forward into the Mexican interior to meet whatever might come their way. To be a disciple of the Lord, we also must purposely destroy all avenues of retreat. We must resolve that whatever price is required for being His follower, we will gladly pay. We have become citizens of the kingdom of God, and we will not retreat to the world. 1. We too must "burn our ships" in resolve to move ever forward to the prize. 2. "... one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead." Phil 3:13 3. Whatever your talents, we can ALL do that one thing! Conc Changing one's life is never easy but anything that's worth having is worth the sacrifice to obtain it. A. Whatever keeps you from making the change that leads to life - abandon it and turn to Jesus 1. Faulty lifestyle, religious error, reservations about the Christian life, bitterness toward your brethren, etc 2. God's grace is sufficient and will help you as will your brethren. 3. INV -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080826/549b551a/attachment-0001.html From terrywbenton at bellsouth.net Tue Aug 26 10:01:46 2008 From: terrywbenton at bellsouth.net (Terry W. Benton) Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:01:46 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Is Bible Matters Scriptural? Message-ID: <45569177A2B44E7DBD5A17B5920952B6@TerryPC> An electronic organization that orders and organizes materials from different preachers or Bible teachers is not the church. But, it operates by individuals pooling their spiritual resources (articles, sermon outlines, call material) through a controlled medium. The medium has an owner and moderators who control the level of information and participation. If the local church is the only medium through which spiritual information and teaching may be shared, then is it unscriptural to disseminate spiritual information through mediums such as Bible Matters individually through this agreed collectivity? I don't think so, but I am wondering if others might think it is unscriptural. Can the owners of Bible Matters invite preachers on the list to come to a non-electronic physical meeting to present sermon outlines? If not why not? If not, why can this set-up be done electronically but not physically? If it is scriptural for individuals to come together physically under the oversight of Bible Matters owners and moderators, though it is not a local church, then what is the difference between this setting and say the FC or GOT setting? Is there a sense in which funded mediums can be unsafe or unscriptural but non-funded organizations are safe and scriptural? I'm just wondering, and trying to grasp the issues as others see it. Right now I think Bible Matters is fine, but I'm wondering if someone will convince me that it is not fine (not authorized by any general authority)?. Terry W. Benton Visit: www.pinelanechurchofchrist.com Dan Billingsly vs. Terry W. Benton Exchange on the Four Gospels at: http://www.pinelanechurchofchrist.com/SiteFiles/157/Benton%20Billingsly%20Debate.doc -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080826/a4ccedf0/attachment-0001.html From dmartinbtbq at comcast.net Tue Aug 26 10:27:09 2008 From: dmartinbtbq at comcast.net (Don Martin) Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:27:09 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Bible Truths and Bible Questions updates Message-ID: <003601c90790$3555f2c0$6401a8c0@533034B8A6DF4D9> Don Martin announcing new material to our sites: I am pleased to inform you of new material to both www.bibletruths.net and www.biblequestions.org The new Current Truth for Bible Truths is, "The Law of Antithesis." To ready the material in full, when on the home page of Bible Truths, enter through the door (scroll down to the door). When on the Site Map page, click on "Current Truth" in the directory. Here is an excerpt from, "The Law of Antithesis." "Those who believe and teach that the scriptures are just a bunch of jumbled up words that require the special and esoteric assistance of the Holy Spirit to interpret are largely responsible for much of the chaos in the religious world (cp. Eph. 3: 4). The fact of the matter is God's word is subject to the same basic methods of interpretation and study as any literature. The more the Bible student realizes this, the more truth he is capable of ascertaining. One situation seen in literature and in the scriptures is the law of antithesis. The word "antithesis" is straight from the Greek (transliterated form). It is a compound word made up of, "anti," meaning against; and, "thesis, a setting....." The new Featured Question for www.biblequestions.org is, "What was the origin of Christmas and Easter?" (Below.) Our Bible Questions work continues to do well. We have not experienced the rate of setting up local contacts for baptisms as we have in the past, but we continue to provide Bible answers for Bible questions and the online study courses in Bible Truths remain very productive. Question: What was the origin of Christmas and Easter? Answer: If Bible Questions can cause people to think, it will have been worth the effort. Our question concerning Christmas and Easter reflects a thinking person. If we will learn to question origins and view different practices in the light of Bible authority, we will have formed an excellent discipline. The origin of Christmas. Christmas is from Christes Maesse, which means Christ Mass (Ency. Brit. Micro, vol. 2 pg. 903). This reference work states: "...during the 4th century the celebration of Christ's birth on December 25 was gradually adopted by most Eastern churches. In Jerusalem, opposition to Christmas lasted longer..." December 17-24th was the period of Saturnalia, a well-known festival in pagan Rome. December 25th was the birthday of Mithra, the Iranian god of light. The most reliable history tells us regarding this day: "...was adopted by the church as Christmas to counteract the effects of these festivals" (Vol. 7, pg. 202). The origin of Easter. The great church historian Mosheim tells us "Easter began in the second century (Mosheim's Institutes of Eccl. History, pg. 73). The council of Nicea, 325 A. D. ruled that Easter was to be universally celebrated on the same Sunday. Easter is Judaistic and paganistic in its origin. Some maintain "Easter" is derived from Eostre or ostara, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring. Acts 12: 4 (KJV) is an unfortunate translation. The word is Passover, not Easter (Easter, as such, was unknown in the first century). Beloved, Paul warned against observing "days, and months, and times, and years" (Gal. 4: 10). There were religious events unauthorized by God. The scriptures say nothing of Christmas and Easter. They are post-apostolic; hence, unauthorized by God's word (see Gal. 1: 6-9; Rev. 22: 18,19). Christmas and Easter owe their beginning to man, not God. Cordially, Don Martin dmartinbtbq at comcast.net From disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Tue Aug 26 14:40:49 2008 From: disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com (Ethan R. Longhenry) Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:40:49 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] S:> Corrupt Communication Message-ID: http://www.deusvitae.com/faith/outlines/index.html Corrupt Communication I. Introduction A. James 3:1-12 1. James describes the danger of the tongue 2. Leads often to sin! B. Many people who do well at avoiding sin in other areas of life have difficulty with this one! C. The author of Proverbs says much about speaking 1. Much is said regarding the fool and his talk! 2. "Babbling fool": Proverbs 10:8, 10 3. Brings ruin: Proverbs 10:14, 18:7 4. Brings discipline: Proverbs 14:3 5. Invitation to conflict: Proverbs 18:6 6. In quarrels: Proverbs 20:3 7. When does a fool seem intelligent? When he does not talk (Proverbs 17:28)! D. While few are always playing the fool, we all end up finding ourselves there! 1. "Putting one's foot inside one's mouth"? 2. How many times have we wished we could take words back? 3. How many stupid things have we said? E. Hence the difficulty with corrupt communication! 1. If we speak as we ought, we would have no reason for such woe 2. Even if corrupt communication is common, and we can rationalize it in our minds, such does not make it right or profitable F. Let us consider forms of corrupt communication, how to avoid it, and how to speak properly! II. Forms of Corrupt Communication A. Ephesians 5:4 B. Filthiness 1. Refers to base language! 2. We all know of many filthy words-- and words can be filthy! 3. Swear words are a part of these! 4. So are euphemisms for swear words! 5. The English language is quite diverse and full of expressive words that can communicate the same realities without being filthy! 6. There is no need for such language! 7. Likewise, carnal discussions or excessively worldly slang are filthy 8. How can we have our minds set on things above when our words are carnal (cf. Colossians 3:1-2)? 9. How can we be holy and pure if our language is defiled (cf. 1 Peter 1:16)? C. Foolish Talk 1. Foolish talk can involve many things 2. In short: if and when people hear me saying such things, will it lead them to have a favorable or unfavorable impression of me? 3. Would they find me to be a good servant of God, or some kind of buffoon or fool? 4. Gossiping, slander, and being a busybody is certainly "foolish talking" (Proverbs 10:18, Ephesians 4:31, 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12, 1 Timothy 5:13) 5. Acting and talking in mocking ways, excessive and hurtful sarcasm, and lampooning people in derisive ways involve foolish talking 6. It's one thing to have a little fun, and to be more informal among some people, but there is never an excuse to insult or deride anyone, even if in jest D. Crude Joking 1. While the word here could involve any form of humor, such is not likely its referent 2. The joking under discussion is that which is ribald, below the belt, or obscene 3. Ribald as vulgar 4. Therefore, all joking and jesting that is vulgar, carnal, sexual, and appealing to base desires is condemned! 5. If the humor must reduce itself to the lowest common denominator, should we participate in it? 6. If the humor must deride other people, is that really honoring God? E. Seeing the nature of corrupt communication-- how are we to speak? III. Proper Speech A. It is not as if we must speak in stuffily formal ways and be devoid of humor B. Nevertheless, we must be concerned about how we speak! C. Consider again Ephesians 5:4 1. Our speech should not be out of place, but should involve thanksgiving 2. We should speak positively! D. Ephesians 4:29 1. Consider also Colossians 4:5-6, 1 Peter 3:15c 2. Our language has a test to pass! 3. Does it encourage or discourage? 4. Does it exude grace or does it exude condemnation and judgment? 5. Does it build up or does it tear down? E. How seasoned is our language? 1. Is it overly salty, being obnoxious in what is left unsaid, its presentation, and the barely concealed attitudes underneath? 2. Is it tasteless and bland, providing little value? 3. Or is it properly seasoned, providing encouragement while directing others to greater godliness? F. Our speech is very important! 1. Words of encouragement leave strong impressions 2. Words of discouragement or corruption stain and tarnish reputations for years 3. It takes a lot to undo things that are said, if it can even be undone 4. As James says, the one who can properly exercise the tongue surpasses most of his fellows (James 3:2)! G. Giving thought to our words 1. Many times we may have the best of intentions, but our words may not communicate that 2. We must show concern not just for the substance, but also the way in which the message is communicated 3. We may intend to encourage but use words or show feelings that are really discouraging! 4. That is why thinking about how we speak, considering how we would like others to speak to us (cf. Luke 6:31), has great value! IV. Conclusion A. The tongue is certainly a danger, and it causes many problems! B. Corrupt communication is normal for the world, but it ought not be named among saints! C. We must consider ourselves and how we communicate with each other, and strive to be encouraging, graceful, and seasoned in our words D. Let us put aside inappropriate talk and speak with encouragement, giving grace to all who hear! E. Invitation/songbook Ethan R. Longhenry / disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio [norwalkchurch.org] Homepage: deusvitae.com AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ: 28317056 Y! IM: discipuliiesus Sign up for Good News for Norwalk! goodnewsfornorwalk-subscribe at norwalkchurch.org From dmartinbtbq at comcast.net Tue Aug 26 16:55:10 2008 From: dmartinbtbq at comcast.net (Don Martin) Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:55:10 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] "What is the Church?" Message-ID: <003901c907c6$69c5a790$6401a8c0@533034B8A6DF4D9> Don Martin with an article from the archives of www.bibletruths.net What is the Church? The word "church" appears to be derived from the Greek kuriakos, meaning belonging to the Lord. The Greek ekklesia and the Latin ecclesia are of particular interest. Ecclesia is the word from which we derive the idea of ecclesiastes or church matters. Ekklesia is the Greek word that the Holy Spirit used, word rendered "church," to designate God's people. Ekklesia was a word already in the Greek vocabulary prior to the writing of the New Testament. In common Greek usage, ekklesia denoted an assembly. This is easily understood when we realize that the collective noun ekklesia is made up of two words; klesis, a calling and ek, out. Hence, a calling out. Ekklesia is used in its common sense in Acts 19: 32, 39, 41 and translated "assembly." Moulton and Milligan stress the use of ekklesia in the Septuagint and comment that "it is the LXX term for the community of Israel" (The vocabulary of the Greek New Testament, pg. 195). Another work remarks, "Congregation or community of Israel, especially in its religious aspect as the people of God" (The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Vol., 1, pg. 651). The inspired Steven used ekklesia in the sense of God's community in his famous sermon (Acts 7: 38). As we develop our study, we shall find that the New Testament assigns to ekklesia a richer meaning than it heretofore enjoyed. What the church or ekklesia is. As we consider the scriptures, we discover what God's ekklesia actually is. The church and the kingdom apply to God's people, church from the standpoint of the called out and kingdom from the perspective of those over whom Jesus reigns. Jesus in his statement to Peter in which he promised to build his church, immediately said in the same breath: "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 16: 18, 19). I submit that Jesus is referring to the same people when he used "church" (ekklesia) and "kingdom" (basileia). The church came into existence in Acts 2 and Peter was the featured speaker who used the keys of the kingdom (he opened it by preaching the gospel, Acts 2: 14ff.). Please appreciate the biblical fact that if one is part of God's called out (the saved), one is subject to Jesus' reign. It was Jesus who said, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Lk. 6: 46). The notion that Jesus can be one's Savior without being one's Lord is totally foreign to the scriptures. It is, therefore, correct to say that the church is the kingdom. The church is the body of Christ. Paul wrote to the Christians at Ephesus the following: "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1: 22, 23). The fact that Jesus is the head to the church expresses the intimacy between Jesus and his church. The statement also articulates the idea of Jesus' authority. In the physical analogy, the body looks to the head for direction. The body without the head is out of control. Thus it is in the spiritual sense. Denominationalism is simply bodies without Jesus as their head, they are doing what they want to do and are not submitting to Jesus' authority and headship (Matt. 28: 18). The church as the bride of Jesus. The scriptures offer the idea of the church being married to Jesus. Paul said to the Corinthians, "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ" (2 Cor. 11: 2). In Paul's familiar analogy, it is evident that the church is the bride of Jesus (Eph. 5: 22-33). Denominationalism would have Jesus to be a polygamist by insisting that Jesus is married to all the extant man-made religions. However, Jesus promised to build one church, his church (Matt. 16: 18, cp. Eph. 4: 4, 1: 22, 23). Again, in the teaching of the ekklesia being the bride of Jesus, we see the intimacy between Jesus and his church. The church is said to be the "pillar and ground of the truth" (I Tim. 3: 15). It is in the setting of the installment of elders and deacons that Paul said that the church is the pillar and ground of the truth (I Tim. 3). Hence, I understand "church" in this case to allude to the local church with its organization and structure. What the ekklesia is not. Any complete exploration of a term or concept necessarily involves the positive and negative consideration. The church is not simply an after thought. Premillennial teaching would have us to believe that Jesus came to establish his kingdom and failed, as a substitute or after thought, Jesus then established his church. Such a notion is not only false, but also presents a weak and subject to the caprice of men God. Jesus did in fact establish his church/kingdom (see Col. 1: 13). The ekklesia belonging to Jesus is not a denomination. We never read of the church as part of a confederacy or group that was governmentally tied together with an overseeing board or headquarters. Elders were appointed in every local church and each local church was self-governing (Acts 14: 23; I Pet. 5: 1-3). The "seven churches of Asia" were simply seven local churches that met in the area of Asia (Rev. 1: 11). However, these churches did not share the same problems (chs. 2; 3). This fact is reflective of the independence of each of these churches. The church is not a party or clique. Paul cogently denounced the clique mentality (I Cor. 1: 11-15). Paul's abhorrence of cliques and the party spirit is seen in the fact that Paul was actually glad that he himself had not baptized more of the Corinthians, "Lest any should say that I had baptized in the name of Paul" (I Cor. 1: 14, 15). Denominationalism is basically men rallying around different men. An example is the circumstance of Lutherans rallying around Martin Luther, even in spite of Luther's request that men not do this. Last of all, the ekklesia is not simply a social, humanitarian club. I know that in view of common religion today, it is hard for man not to think of the church as a social club. However, it is degrading to think of Jesus' church as a glorified social order featuring fun and frolic (cp. I Tim. 3: 15). A semantical consideration of ekklesia as used in the New Testament. The Greek word ekklesia is found 115 times in the Greek New Testament, the first occurrence is Matthew 16: 18, the last Revelation 22: 16. Let us now consider some of the nuances and ideas that are presented in different usage of ekklesia and thus learn more about what the church is. First, I suggest that a clear distinction between the church universal and the local church is seen. The church as presented in Matthew 16: 18 is the church universal or simply the called out of the earth. There is only one family of God, Jesus having only one bride. In contradistinction, we read of the "seven churches which are in Asia" (Rev. 1: 11). Only the saved are in this church, the church universal (Eph. 5: 27). There can be and are hypocrites and pretenders in some local churches (Matt. 13: 36-43, 47-50). As mentioned, these were seven different local churches (cp. I Cor. 1: 2; 4: 17). God adds by means of baptism to the church universal and man joins the local church (I Cor. 12: 13, Gal. 3: 26, 27; Acts 9: 27). The church in the aggregate cannot be divided while the local church can be and often is (I Cor. 1: 11, 1: 2). The church viewed in an area. We read, "And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things" (Acts 5: 11). Considered it its context, church or ekklesia is here applied to the local church in Jerusalem (Acts 5: 11 is the first occurrence of ekklesia in Acts in the Greek New Testament). Churches (plural) in a number of areas. "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judae and Galilee and Samaria," we are told, "and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied" (Acts 9: 31). "Church" is thus applied to local churches in different areas. The unassembled church in an area. There is the teaching that there is no church unless it is assembled. However, this view is not supported in the scriptures. "And when they were come, and had gathered the church together," the historian informs us, "they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles" (Acts 14: 27). Notice that the church in Antioch of Syria existed before it was assembled. Other wise, how could they "gathered the church together"? The "together" would constitute the assembled church, but the church is recognized in its unassembled state, if you please. The assembled church in an area. The noun ekklesia is spiritually used in keeping with its basic secular meaning. "If therefore the whole church be come together into one place.," wrote Paul to the church at Corinth (I Cor. 14: 23). The expression "come together in one place" is the assembled local church. The idea of the assembled church is a little plainer in the language, "For first of all, when ye come together in the church." (I Cor. 11: 18). When Paul wrote, "let him keep silence in the church," he is not referring to the church universal or the unassembled local church, but to the assembly (cp. I Cor. 14: 35). There continues to be the movement that ekklesia should always and only be translated "assembly" in all of its 115 occurrences in the Greek Testament. This contention is not plausible. How can you gather the "assembly" together and how can the "whole assembly" be come together? (Acts 14: 27; I Cor. 14: 23.) We read of Paul before he turned to Christ thus, "As for Saul, he made havock of the church." (Acts 8: 3). How was Saul destroying the church? We are told that he "entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison." To render ekklesia assembly in this instance is unacceptable. Paul was not destroying the assembly by waiting until these Christians had assembled, but he was searching them out in their private houses. We also see in this case of "church" the distributive usage, "church" is used for the individual members that comprise the local church (there is even the distributive use of "church" involving the assembly. I say this because we see the assembled local church, but an action to be performed in the assembly that is individual in nature, I Cor. 11: 17-28). "Church" is seen used of the lacking full organization local church or churches. I know this because of the language, "And when they had ordained them elders in every church." (Acts 14: 23). These churches in Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch were viewed as churches before they had elders. "Church" is used regarding a local collectivity of God's people in the fully organized state. "Paul and Timotheus.to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons," we read (Phili. 1: 1). The language, "all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi refers to the church; hence, the fully developed local church. Last of all, "church" is used regarding the local church functioning as an organized entity. In this sense, "church" is corporately used. In Paul's teaching found in I Timothy chapter five, we observe the difference between true individual and collective action (church). Consider the language: "If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed" (I Tim. 5: 16). The only way the church can fulfill this duty of relieving those of the context is by corporately functioning through the activation of the treasury. While money is in the hands of individuals, it remains their money, but when contributed into the local treasury, it ceases to belong to them (Acts 5: 1-4, cp. I Cor. 16: 1, 2). Beloved, "church" or ekklesia means all of the above and fully viewed, "church" includes all that we have studied. "Is not there a better way to translate ekklesia other than "church"? Many have demanded that ekklesia be translated "congregation." However, "congregation" has the same essential meaning as "assembly" and we have noticed the implausibility of always rendering ekklesia "assembly." "But 'church' is so misused, we should avoid it," some insist. Just because a term is misused by some is no reason to totally abandon the word. In fact, if we use this criterion, there would not be a term that we could use, I suppose. "Church" is generic and flexible enough that it seems to be capable of being used in all the instances in which ekklesia is used in a spiritual climate. As we have seen, "church" is often radically different from the common thinking. To consider "church" as being people who submit to and obey their King is considered radical today and, yet, this is the basic idea of the church "viewed as a kingdom" (Matt. 16: 18, 19). In view of the merging modern family in which there is equal headship, many Americans do not think of the church as subject to her head, Jesus Christ. Notwithstanding, as the "body of Christ" the church is subject to her head, Jesus (Eph. 1: 22, 23). The church universal is one and singular when numerically considered (Matt. 16: 18, Eph. 4: 4). This same unity is seen in the fact that Paul taught "every where in every church" (I Cor. 4: 17). There were no denominations (different churches, teaching different doctrines such as we have today, cp. Eph. 4: 5). Even when "church" is viewed in the sense of the organized called out functioning as an entity in a local arrangement, it is observed as a self-governing body working under the oversight of the local overseers or elders (I Pet. 5: 1-3, Heb. 13: 7, 17). It is important that we understand the ekklesia or church because the saved are only in the church and it is the church that will be presented without spot or wrinkle (Eph. 5: 23, 27). From Mikejohnson104 at aol.com Tue Aug 26 19:23:34 2008 From: Mikejohnson104 at aol.com (Mikejohnson104 at aol.com) Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:23:34 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] B>The Elon Challenger V - 9 Message-ID: The Elon Challenger ELON CHURCH OF CHRIST New Hope, Alabama Seeking to challenge your interest in things spiritual & eternal (Eph. 6:10-18). Volume V Number 9 May, 2008 =================================================================== "WISDOM IS THE PRINCIPAL THING" Charles G. Maples, Sr. The above is one of the more than one hundred statements in the Proverbs, in which Inspiration indicates the vital role that "wisdom" is to play in our salvation. In that verse (Proverbs 4:7), its role is especially highlighted, in that He says, it is "THE PRINCIPAL THING!" In defining "principal" W.E. Vine says it means, "noble, mighty, dominion, paralleled to captain, governors, etc.," and Webster says, "highest rank, authority, or importance; chief, main." And so it may be that Inspiration is not only highlighting the importance of "wisdom" in God's scheme of redemption, but is at the same time indicating its rank above "understanding," which He also urges us to strive for! The word translated "wisdom" in this text is "sophia" and that which is translated "understanding" is "phronesis." Of these, W.E.Vine says, "While 'sophia' is the insight into the nature of things, 'phronesis' is the ability to discern modes of action with a view to their results; while 'sophia' is theoretical, 'phronesis' is practical." Both definitions are possibly helpful in view of the many times that Inspiration associates the two.(eg. Pbs. 1:2, 5, 6; 2:2, 6; 3:13, 19, etc.) There are large sections of scriptures in which the fruits of wisdom are emphasized. Let's consider a few points from one of those; Proverbs 8:22-35. In these verses, we have one of several passages in which "Wisdom" is personified. Wisdom states that "the Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I have been established from everlasting, from the beginning, before there was ever an earth...When He prepared the heavens, I was there,(v.27)...When He marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside Him as a master craftsman..." (vs. 29,30) We should note clear evidence that "Wisdom" is not claiming Deity; that she says "I was brought forth..." (vs. 24 & 25). Surely these statements emphasize the great importance of OUR charge, "Get Wisdom!" (4:5, 7; 16:16!) Indeed, it "is the principal thing!" But before we consider just HOW we are expected to "GET Wisdom," we need to give at least brief attention to the fact that Inspiration indicates that there are TWO KINDS OF "WISDOM:" One, that which James says is,"earthly, sensual, demonic."(James 3:15) This is the kind of "wisdom" to which the apostle Paul refers in Romans 1:22f, "Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man...," and in I Corinthians 1:20f, in his condemnation of the division that was in the church at Corinth, "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of world? For since, in the wisdom of God the world through (its) wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness (to the world) of the message preached to save those who believe." But the other, "wisdom from above...from God," is that which Inspiration is challenging us to "get," and that leaves us with the question of HOW do we "get" it? And so, HOW is this wisdom that is so vital that "the wise man" states that "He who gets wisdom loves his own soul!" (Proverbs 19:8), to be obtained? Consider that we are reminded that, "The fear of (reverence for-cgm) the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Proverbs 9:10) Reverence for God is essential to the true "understanding" of His Word, that we are likewise urged to "get," (Proverbs 4:5). We are told that "...the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:6). From this we understand that when we "apply (our) heart to understanding," we "incline (our) ear to wisdom" (Proverbs 2:2). And so, in the words of the apostle Paul, "Study to show thyself approved unto God..." (2 Timothy 2:15 -KJV) is essential to the "getting" of "Wisdom from Above." PRAYER is likewise set forth as a means of obtaining "wisdom from above." In James 1:5 we read, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally, without reproach, and it will be given to him." But, let us not expect that He will give us this wisdom in some miraculous way! As we are encouraged to pray for "our daily bread," (Matthew 6:11), we are likewise urged to "Go to the ant...consider her ways and be wise." (Proverbs 6:6) And so, as the lowly ant "gathers her food...," so it is that we are to "Search the Scriptures...with readiness of mind..."(Acts 17:11); and that, along with sincere prayers that God may help us to gain "understanding" and "wisdom." God (and this might be "wisdom" personified) says, "I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths."(Proverbs 4:11); in Proverbs 9:9 He says, "Give instructions to a wise man and he will be still wiser," and so, that we may diligently seek to "Serve Him acceptably, with reverence and godly fear"(Hebrews 12:28), we need to HEAR the Word of the Lord, come to an UNDERSTANDING of His INSTRUCTIONS, and with PRAYER for His help; gain the wisdom that is from above." In conclusion, let us hear the "wise man" a bit further, "Happy ("blessed" - NASV) is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all things you may desire cannot compare with her!" (Proverbs 3:13-15) A FINAL WORD: Although it is certain that we may not all be capable of becoming "wise," as the world considers such, it seems to me that we are in these Scriptures (and we have only "touched the hem of the garment," even with the book of Proverbs), not only assured that each one of us CAN have this "wisdom that is from above," we are commanded to strive for it! My question is, am I seeking to "gain a heart of wisdom?" And You? __________ THE FINAL JUDGMENT All nations will be present (Matthew 25:32). The word of God will be the standard of judgment (John 12:48). We will be judged on the basis of our deeds (Romans 2:6). No "signs" will be given prior to the return of Christ (Matthew 24:36). Christ will return at an unexpected time (2 Peter 3:10). For some, it will be a day of unspeakable joy (Revelation 21:1-4). For others, it will be a day of horror (2 Thessalonians 1:6-8). While we wait for the Lord to return, we have the opportunity to repent (2 Peter 3:10). David A. Padfield __________ Which Jesus Do You Follow? Steven Harper I know that headline question may seem strange, but I must ask because it seems some people are not following the same Jesus! The "Jesus" they follow apparently teaches some things that may be strange to you and me, but they are convinced it is the Biblical Jesus. So, I must ask you, the reader, which Jesus you follow. Is He: The One Who Condemns No One? This "Jesus" is very popular in our modern society; in fact, you might think He is a product of our modern society [which would not be far from the truth]. This "Jesus" who is so popular says nothing offensive and would not dare condemn what used to be called [in times past] "sin". He is the "Jesus" of love, encouragement and praise, but He would never utter a negative word about "sin" or the need for repentance. He is just "too loving" to do something like that! Of course, those who follow this "Jesus" are quick to point out the words of Jesus when He said, "Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matt. 7:1), and they will usually quote it with exclamation! To them, that little sentence is the great-est commandment in the world! No matter how erroneous their beliefs or practices, this passage is their answer! Even if you should try to explain the context of those words, they are not affected because they have already decided in their minds what it means: no condemnation should ever be made! Sadly, even those who do not claim to follow Jesus at all seem to know this passage exists and are just as free to cite it should you point out one's sins. Those who follow this "Jesus" will also go to the Bible and point out that when the adulterous woman was brought before Him by those hypocritical Pharisees, He simply stated, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her" (John 8:7). They might also add that Jesus, after He noted that her accusers failed to condemn her by stoning her to death, says to her, "Neither do I condemn you" (v. 11). They stop short [of course] and do not tell the whole story, though. For some reason, they stop at those words and fail to notice that those very words spoken to the Pharisees are words of condemnation! They fail to note that Jesus was pointing out the hypocrisy of these men and that they stood before Him just as worthy of condemnation as the adulterous woman! They also fail to note that Jesus, after the accusers left turned to the woman and told her, "go, and from now on sin no more" (v. 11). Can you see that Jesus said that the woman had sinned? Do you understand that this last statement was a demand for repentance? Yes, Jesus said He did not come into the world to judge (John 12:47), but to save. But note that Jesus went on to say, "The one who rejects Me and does not receive My words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day" (v. 48). No, Jesus did not come into the world to judge, but He plainly said that the words He spoke while on earth will be the very words that will judge us on the last day. You see, the Jesus that many think would never judge [condemn] anyone will be the Judge before whom all shall stand one day (2 Cor. 5:10). Jesus Himself told us of the Day of Judgment, when He would personally tell some to depart from Him because they stood condemned, and they would then "go away into eternal punishment" (Matt. 25:41, 46). When we consider the complete Jesus of Scripture, we find that He did condemn some, and that He will one day condemn many because they refused to heed His words spoken while here on earth, or the words of the inspired apostles and prophets who spoke God's will to us. But maybe this is not the "Jesus" you follow. Is the "Jesus" you follow: The One Who Teaches We Should "Just Love One Another"? This "Jesus" does not differ much from the previous in result, but those who follow this "Jesus" make it a point to make this proclamation about the "Jesus" they follow when someone points out their error. They are taken aback at someone actually pointing out error and they quickly reply, "Why are you telling me I am wrong? Jesus said we shouldn't condemn one another, but that we should just love one another!" Many who have said this sincerely believe that what they say is a direct quote from Scripture but I will say this very plainly: That "Jesus" does not come from Scripture! In fact, those words are not found anywhere in Scripture! Yes, Jesus said we should love one another, and the standard is to love one another as He loved us (John 15:12). Let us state first of all that this is, indeed, a high standard! But how did Jesus love us? Did He come here to say nothing at all about our spiritual condition? Did He "just love" us and say nothing that would point out our sins or say nothing that would condemn us? Did His love restrain Him from ever telling anyone they were wrong? Consider that the death of Jesus was, itself, an implication that all men were in sin. When John said that Jesus was a propitiation "for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2), he was, in effect, condemning the whole world of sin because the whole world had a need for a propitiation; after all, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). By the very act of giving Himself for our sins (cf. 1 Cor. 15:3), Jesus demonstrated that we were all in sin. But we should see it not an act of condemnation, but salvation! But when we remember that it was for love Jesus gave Himself for us (cf. Eph. 5:2), we see the manner in which we should "love one another." True love does not make excuses for sin, and it does not try to make it less than what it really is. True love for one another means that if we point out error, it is because we want them to do the right thing! We point out error not because we think we are "holier than thou" [as the Pharisees did] but because we recognize the standard of God's word and seek to help others live according to that standard and we expect that they would do the same for us. We recognize that if we are not following the will of God, we are in sin and error and, as such, we would stand condemned before God and Christ in the end. We recognize that when Jesus said, "Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matt. 7:1), He was saying that we should not judge others by a standard we would not want for ourselves. We do not want anyone to stand before God to be condemned, but want all to be able to hear those wonderful words, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matt. 25:21). The wise writer said, "Better is open rebuke than hidden love" (Prov. 27:5). Friends and brethren, if we never show our love by telling those who are in error that they are in error, how can we honestly say we love them? For you who are parents, would you keep your mouth shut if you saw your toddler walking towards a busy street for fear they might think you didn't love them? Of course not! So why do we think it is "unloving" to point out to adults that they are in great spiritual danger? Is this matter not infinitely more important than even our physical lives? Should we not readily point out error so that the lost may know they are lost and the erring will know they are in error? James plainly said, "whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins" (Jas. 5:19,20). It will be love that leads a man to turn a sinner from his wandering, not silence. If you claim to follow the Jesus of the Bible, you must be willing to accept Him for who He is completely. We cannot take the "loving" Jesus and reject the Jesus who rebuked those in sin. Only one Jesus can save us (Acts 4:12). __________ BRIEF EXHORTATIONS "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." (Matt. 24:37-39) The Pearl Harbor attack demonstrated that not only were an Admiral and General unprepared, but the whole nation as well. Nearly everyone, in their satisfaction with the trivia of everyday living, ignored all the evidence that an attack was coming. In spite of all the evidence, people were astonished when the attack came. The Bible repeatedly informs us regarding the Second Coming of Christ. Men are warned to flee from the wrath to come. They are warned that sudden destruction will overtake them. It will come as suddenly as the blinking of an eye and unexpectedly as a thief in the night. In spite of all the warnings, men continue to be preoccupied with their everyday trivia. When the Lord comes, they will be awakened with a blow far more destructive than Pearl Harbor. Let us not let that day take us unawares. Compiled by David Riggs __________ Authority 5 The Authority of God's Word Mike Johnson Previously, we have discussed the authority of God, Christ, and the apostles. We have also noted the role played by the Holy Spirit who guided the apostles "unto all truth" after Jesus ascended to heaven. We will now consider another aspect of authority The apostles were given authority to reveal God's Will to man (Mt. 18:18; Jn. 16:8). However, the apostles eventually died. How then are we to be guided today? We are to be guided by the inspired Word of God the Bible. Consider the teaching of Paul in Ephesians 3:3-5. This says, "How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit." The particular "mystery" that Paul has in mind is found in verse 6 ("that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body") but what he says would be true generally. This mystery was revealed to him, as an inspired writer, and he wrote it down so that it could be read and understood. This was called a "mystery" in the sense that previously it had not been revealed. Paul, and other inspired individuals, guided by the Holy Spirit, revealed the mind of God to man. I Corinthians 2:12-13 says, "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual." The NASB renders the last part "combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words." In I Thessalonians 2:13, Paul wrote, "For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe." Negatively, he states that they had not received his preaching "as the word of men"; positively, they had received it as the "Word of God." Paul was thankful that they had received him as an inspired teacher of God's Word. There are other passages in I Thessalonians where Paul points out that his message was from God. In chapter 4, he revealed that the commandments which were taught were "through the Lord Jesus," and the person who rejected their teaching "does not reject man, but God who has also given us his Holy Spirit" (vs. 2, 3, 8). Later, when instructing them about the second coming of Christ (4:15) Paul said, "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord .... " In I Corinthians 14:33, Paul said, " If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." Paul, and other inspired people, revealed God's commandments through the written word. The Bible is the inspired Will of God (II Tim. 3:16-17). It is the "oracles of God" (II Pet. 1:3); it is the final revelation for us (Jude 3); it is all that we need (Jas. 1:25); it will save us eternally (Rom. 1:16, Jas. 1:21) if we obey it (Jas. 1:22). __________ When a man won't listen to his conscience, it is usually because he doesn't want advice from a total stranger. ___________ Evangelist: Charles G. Maples Sr. Phone-256-530-0772 Evangelist & Editor: Mike Johnson Phone -256-776-2223 **************It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here. (http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080826/4f344f30/attachment-0001.html From garyshawndaniels at gmail.com Tue Aug 26 21:20:31 2008 From: garyshawndaniels at gmail.com (Gary Shawn Daniels) Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:20:31 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Pana Church of Christ Online Bulletin - August 27, 2008 Message-ID: <48b4ab85.1087460a.797b.1da2@mx.google.com> -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080826/fd9e715f/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 312187 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080826/fd9e715f/attachment-0001.jpe From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Aug 28 05:38:13 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:38:13 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) QUESTION AND ANSWER Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Thursday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is a question and answer from my files: QUESTION AND ANSWER QUESTION: -- Paul says he did not tak money from the church in Thessalonica (1 Thes. 2:9). Yet, in other places (Phil. 4) he says that he received help from churches. Did he support himself, or did he take income from churches? ANSWER: -- The answer to your question depends on what time in Paul's life you are reading about. Paul probably wrote the first letter to the Thessalonians early in his work (some scholars think it was the first letter he wrote). At this point in time the churches he was working with were smaller, still getting started, weak in leadership. So, he apparently did not take mon- ey from those churches, at least while in the city working with that church. "For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God" (1 Thes. 2:9). Paul obviously took satisfaction from the fact that he worked on his own, so as not to be a burden to the Christians in Thessalon- ica. The book of Acts sheds some light on this. A few weeks or months after leaving Thessalonica, Paul arrives in Corinth. "And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working; for by trade they were tent makers And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and try- ing to persuade Jews and Greeks" (Acts 18:2-4). This seems to have been Paul's method. He would arrive in a new city, go to work with his own hands as a tentmaker (or one who sews and makes canvas materials, like tents, sails and so on). On his days off (the Sabbaths) he would do evangelism in the synagogues. But, notice the change when his co-workers arrive. "But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul be- gan devoting himself completely to the Word, solemnly testify- ing to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ" (Acts 18:5). When Paul's companions arrived from Macedonia (the road from which went through Thessalonica), Paul has the means to devote himself to full time work for the kingdom. It looks as if Silas and Timothy brought donations from the Macedonian chur- ches to help support Paul, freeing his time for evangelism full time. Paul mentions this episode in his decond letter to the Cor- inthians. "I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to serve you; and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia, they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so" (2 Cor. 11:8,9). He says here that he took wages from other chur- ches, so he would not have to rely on the Corithians for his support. (In this case, it was not that the Corinthian church was young, small and unable to help in his support. But, rather, seemingly, he had been charged in some way of preaching for money and that he was not a true apostle. So, in order to nip this charge in the bud, he would not take any support from them, in order to quell the charges, JWS). So, it looks as if Paul would not take money from a church he was working with, at least as long as it was young and immat- ure. But , when needed, churches, including Thessalonica, would send support to help Paul in his ministry. The apostle refers to this in his later letter to the Philippians. "And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs" (Phil. 4:15,16). So, his pattern was to go to a new community, go to work with his own skills, then, if and when support came from a church he had previously worked with, he would devote himself to the full time work of preaching and teaching. -------------- David Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 34, Aug. 22, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080828/f2f4cf54/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Aug 28 05:38:29 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:38:29 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) OPEN THEIR EYES (2) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the second portion of this particular study. Use to the glory of God. OPEN THEIR EYES (2) APPLICATION: -- To The Alien: -- What are we going to tell him to open his eyes? Will we not tell him God's Truth, as did Peter in Acts 2, what he must do to change that alien status? He will have to "see" that he is in a lost condition and what it takes to change that. His eyes must be opened to the facts that he needs a Savior, and that Jesus is that Savior, but that Jesus will not save him until he meets certain conditions. If his eyes are opened to these simple facts, he can now obey the Lord with all the benefits allowed. To The Worship: -- How do we open the eyes of those in error regarding the worship of God? Do we not point to Jno. 4: 24, showing both the disposition and pattern for acceptable wor- ship? Having done that, we then step-by-step, item by item, verse by verse show the whole pattern of worship. If it is not shown in God's pattern of worship it cannot be acceptable; that is what is wrong with having instrumental music in worship. For the same reason we cannot observe the Lord's Supper on any day other than the first day of the week (Acts 20:7), only the first day of the week is in God's pattern. To The Work Of The Church: -- "For we are His workman- ship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10). God ordained the good works for us, and we are to walk in them. The only way we can know what God has ordained is by what we can read in the gospel. There we can find that the church was involved in preaching the gospel (1 Thes. 1:7,8) and in caring for the needy saints (Acts 11:29,30; 1 Cor. 16:1,2). By pointing out these facts, we hope to open the eyes of those in error concerning the work of the church. Is this not so? To The Organization Of The Church: -- Elders were to be appointed in every church (Acts 14:23) and those elders are limit- ed in their oversight to that one local church of which they are members (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1,2). He who will spread that over- sight to other congregations or portions thereof, shows his dis- pleasure at God's order of things, in spite of his denial to the con- trary. The "sponsoring congregation" arrangement is in violat- ion of these simple truths and these truths should open the eyes of those in error on the organization of the church. To Divorce And Remarriage: -- It is obvious that a lot of eyes need to be opened on this subject; and they can be opened in exactly the same way as in other areas -- by preaching God's truth on the subject. Matt. 19:9 is quite plain in that it applies to all men and not to just those called Christians. It is also plain in that it shows the only reason for divorce and remarriage (fornica- tion) and that the guilty party in such divorce cannot remarry. We must make up our minds as to whether we shall take God's Word on the subject or take what man has said about God's Word. Sometimes it takes a lot of preaching to open eyes on this subject. Yet, we hear some boasting of not preaching on the subject but just a few, very few, times. Brethren, the only way eyes will be opened on this subject is more and more plain preaching on it! To The Drinking Of Intoxicating Drinks: -- Most agree that drunkenness is wrong and utterly condemned in the gospel (1 Cor. 6:9-11: Gal. 5:19-21). But, the prelude to drunkenness, social drinking, is often upheld. Just as some try to do away with the teaching of Matt. 19:9, in speaking of divorce and remar- riage, others try to do away with 1 Pet. 4:1-3, as it applies to soc- ial drinking. So eyes continue to be closed on the dangers invol- ved. Brethren, eyes need to opened, not closed. To Fellowship: -- If you wish to fellowship every false teach- er around, run to those who teach such can be justified by apply- ing Rom. 14 to the practice. In spite of the fact that Rom. 16:17 and Eph. 5:11 forbid fellowship with the false teacher, these passages must be twisted to harmonize with the perverted form of Rom. 14. So eyes remained closed and the only way, bret hren, that those eyes are going to be opened is to preach God's truth concerning the subject over and over again. The above examples of application certainly do not exhaust the list for such need, but I think they do show what is happen- ing -- eyes remain closed because the truth simply is not being preached as it should be. Paul well knew that some would not like the truths which he pointed out. he said to the Galatians, "Am I become your enemy because I tell you the truth?" (4:16). Whatever reason (or excuse) which we may use for not doing so, let it be understood that eyes are remaining closed to the truth. Fellow preachers (teachers), souls are at stake, and one may be our own. If we are to present our hearers to be "holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight," we (and they) must "continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister" (Col. 1:22,23). Paul opened a lot of eyes during his ministry, and on the whole range of Bible subjects. Where he saw sin or error, there he directed his message. In doing so, he often made enemies; but he did open eyes so that his hearers could act in harmony with God's Word, could obtain the forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among the sanctified. What a shame that all gospel preachers do not follow his great example today. We should know that only when eyes are opened can they respond accurat- ely and intelligently. What a job we have! And, what an honor it is to have it! --------- Olen Holderby in Truth Magazine, Vol. 52, No. 4, April 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080828/142adb86/attachment-0001.html From jerry at eldorable.kscoxmail.com Thu Aug 28 17:52:09 2008 From: jerry at eldorable.kscoxmail.com (Jerry Blount) Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:52:09 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] A "normal" Christian worship service? gr In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Jerry Blount to the list Hi Today's post should be interesting to you. First a house keeping matter. . . Eric Hamilton has been working with us for a little over a year now to learn the ropes regarding preaching the gospel. He is 23 and will have completed his time working as our "Timothy" in December. I can tell you that we are extremely aggressive in personal work here at Pleasant Valley and he has learned those ropes. He has set up and began a very successful teen Bible study virtually on his own. If you would be interested in a young man coming to work with your congregation you can contact him directly. His email address is emhamilton at gmail.com Regarding today's article. We recently have had several studies concerning these variations of worship that have come into the churches all over the area around us. The reality is that in the Wichita area, we have seen churches offering everything from rock music to bribes in order get people into church. Here, the liberal churches of Christ have been embracing more and more of these behaviors and bringing shame on all of us. whether we participate or not. Last month one of those liberal churches. the South Emporia church of Christ (Wichita, Ks) invited our young people to some kind of wing ding. . . They promised to give them all free pizza and dilly bars if they'd come! The social gospel has so eclipsed the gospel of Christ in these churches that they don't even recognize the damage they are doing. Perhaps even more tragic, I doubt that many of that church's members realize that I have raised a doctrinal objection to their behavior with their leadership. They are still blindly following along. Jesus said."They are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit." Note how the focus of the invitation is blatantly social/worldly. Notice further what this says about their young people. they assume that their young people are not interested in godliness. they are therefore luring them with worldliness. Dilly bars, special appearances, entertainment etc. Let me ask a practical question. When you picture Jesus' cross. Do you envision the apostles working the crowd offering free pizza and dilly bars? Me neither! So. Is Jesus the Head of this church? All over our country, the older generation in many of these churches is feeling left out or disenfranchised in the very congregations they helped to build. They helplessly have had to watch as their congregation has moved further and further toward these liberal social/entertainment fads they call churches. It is important to note that an alternative exists. Jesus' church is still out there! (Eric Hamilton had this thought to add to my statement above concerning the older generation. Have they really been helpless? The fact that they've just watched has been partly their doing.. They haven't really taken a stand until things get out of control. Then they don't know why so they begin to actually search. This may be beyond the scope of this email, but perhaps by these liberal trends, some of these older members have been awakened to the fact that they need to do more than just watch.") To church leaders on this list who insist on going down this "wide road" to destruction. If you insist on continuing, we'll take good care of the Christians that you run off! (I know their dilemma well, I lived it when I left the Christian church in the 1970's) Dennis and Veronica are one of our recently converted couples. They at one time had come out of the church of scientology and were looking for the truth. To make a long story short they went to one of those new fangled 'Contemporary" services recently. (They visited a more advanced Christian church version.) Veronica wrote us Sunday evening after returning home. She gave a review of her experience. Sometimes it is hard to see the relevance to our studying some of these things if we are not doing them. I asked Veronica if she'd mind me forwarding this to you all. This kind of brings home the need for these particular studies. What is the recommendation to folks as they keep running into things like this? Picture the cross of Jesus... then ask yourself if this is really what Jesus died to establish. Enjoy this young Christian's review of her experience. Let me request that while you are reading it.. Consider how it parallels this event from the life of Jesus Matthew 21 15. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, 16. And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? A new Christian seeing clearly what many far advanced beyond her years refuse to see. .. Jerry Blount Pleasant Valley church of Christ 3317 Amidon rd. Wichita Kansas, 67204 3163204321 WWW.letJesusleadus.org A young Christian's assessment of a contemporary Worship service . . . -----Original Message----- From: Veronica Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2008 8:04 PM To: Jerry Blount; Teri Blount Subject: A "normal" Christian worship service I thought I'd share my observations from the Church service today. (Riverlawn Christian Church) We attended the contemporary worship service, which refers to the music. The earlier traditional service uses hymn books but at our service, young men went up on stage (notice I call it a stage rather than a pulpit) with their instruments and rocked out to contemporary Christian music. The congregation sang with them, reading the words from the screen behind them. While this was exciting and entertaining, it left me feeling hollow. The sermon was based on 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27 and he compared training for the Olympics to training to spread the word of God. The weird thing was that he read more factoids about the Olympics than he did Bible scripture. And he actually showed us a clip from Rocky IV to show the hard training Sylvester Stallone's character went through for his match against the Russian. OK, what was the point of THAT? It was entertaining, but it was distracting and completely unneccessary. It almost seemed like since the pastor didn't have enough subject matter from the Bible to fill his sermon, he had to fill it in with secular comparisons. Or maybe I'm judging too harshly b/c I'm "biased" to Christ's Church--the true Church. Anyway, I felt like I was learning more about training my body than training to serve God. The craziest thing the pastor said was, while holding the Bible up, "Nowhere in the Bible does it say, you have to do this or else. It's about your heart--your decision." Is he kidding me? God did give us the freedom to choose to follow him, but the consequences of NOT doing what he wants is all over the Bible. Another thing was that at the beginning, he told us to fill out visitor's cards and they'd mail us a "prize." So essentially he was offering a bribe in hopes of gaining new members. They gave us these pre-filled note papers with blanks to fill in with info from the sermon and space to take notes. So this is my note page: One truth: Training is necessary for a fully devoted Christ follower! Be in the word. 1 Tim 4:7-8 2 Tim 3: 16-17 Be in prayer. (I either missed the scripture he read here or he didn't read one) Be involved. Rom 12:10 John 13:34-35 Be faithful. Phil. 3:13-14 I had no problem with the subject of his sermon, just the way it was presented. The pastor was young--in his early 30s, a very good speaker and injected a lot of humor into his sermon but it just didn't feel "meaty" like those at our Church. It didn't seem to have much substance. Again, I may be judging too harshly since I'm feeling sort of "high and mighty." I know I shouldn't so I'll try to climb off of my throne. Soon. :) Oh, get this. The lead singer came up at the end and played his guitar during the closing prayer, making it sound like some motivational speech from a movie with a soundtrack. Again, WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THAT? To make the prayer more meaningful? I just don't get it. It was a distraction. It saddens me that this is considered a "normal" service. That we're the ones that have to defend ourselves with the Bible. It should be the other way around. Usually when I cry at Church, it is b/c I'm so grateful for all God has done for us--namely, the sacrifice of his son for our sins. Today I was crying with repentance for worshipping in a manner displeasing to God and I had to send up a prayer asking for forgiveness. Isn't that so sad? That I had to ask for forgiveness for worship? I will definitely watch my mouth from now on (not agreeing to attend a Church I know nothing about) b/c I have no desire to step foot in another "normal" Christian Church for worship service again. Thank you for helping us find the truth. Love, Veronica Yours in Christ Jerry Blount Minister for Pleasant Valley church of Christ 3317 Amidon rd. Wichita Kansas, 67204 3163204321 WWW.letJesusleadus.org No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.6.0/1601 - Release Date: 8/8/2008 9:02 AM No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.6.9/1637 - Release Date: 8/27/2008 7:01 AM No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.6.9/1637 - Release Date: 8/27/2008 7:01 AM No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.6.9/1637 - Release Date: 8/27/2008 7:01 AM No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.6.9/1637 - Release Date: 8/27/2008 7:01 AM No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.6.9/1637 - Release Date: 8/27/2008 7:01 AM No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.6.9/1637 - Release Date: 8/27/2008 7:01 AM -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080828/1513959c/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 28159 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080828/1513959c/attachment-0002.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 11333 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080828/1513959c/attachment-0003.jpe From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Aug 29 05:20:07 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:20:07 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) THE GREATEST INFLUENCE Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Friday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: THE GREATEST INFLUENCE In last weeks issue of Gospel Power I asked the question, Why be a Christian? I suppose this is a question that many have asked. We noted in last weeks article that becing a Christ- ian requires dedication and commitment to God and His Will. Being a Christian requires sacrifice. People have concluded that being a Christian is not the easiest life one may live. Some have wondered why anyone would want to be a Christian. We started a discussion of this last week and sought to make the point that one should be a Christian in order to wear the Grand- est name on mortal tongue. It is great that we may wear the name that God has given us. I gladly wear the name of Cecil Franklin because I was named this by my parents. But as a dis- ciple and follower of Christ, I gladly wear the name Christian, be- cause it is the name given to us by God. And I do not desire to wear any other. How about you? So, in answer to our question: Why be a Christian? We answer .... To wear the greatest name. I want to continue this discussion by pointing out in being a Christian, one possesses the Greatest Influence for good. He is the light of the world and salt of the earth. This world is in dark- ness and is not very palatible to the taste God requires of it. Men cannot see their way clear. Jesus said to his disciples, "Ye are the light of the world..." (Matt. 5:14). What a glorious power the Christian possesses. In a world full of darkness, the Christian is an influential light. Let this be clearly understood. The Christian is not the light within himself ...he is not the producer of the light...it does not originate with him. He is actually just a reflector of the Light Of The World, Jesus Christ. In Jno. 8:12, Jesus said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Paul wrote the church in Philippi and said: "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, with- out rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. Holding forth the Word of Life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain." (Phil. 2:15,16). As we hold forth the Word of Life and walk in the steps of Jesus we reflect His light into a dark and dismal world. Paul said in Eph. 5:8-13: "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord; walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth). Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather repro- ve them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light." Why Be A Christian? To possess this kind of influence. This world is lost in sin and is wandering around in darkness. The Christian's influence is needed. "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" (Prov. 14:34). The power of a righteous influence is clearly seen in Gen. 18:23-32. In this passage we learn that God decided to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness. Abraham asked Him if ten righteous ones could be found in these cities would He still destroy them? God told Abraham, "I will not dest- roy them for the sake of ten righteous people." But, would you believe that ten righteous souls could not be found, so the cities were destroyed. Concerning the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, Jesus said, "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (Matt. 24:22). Let each of us do all we can go guard our influence an be sure that it is a good influence. There are influences in the world that are evil. Remember the words of Solomon in Prov. 22:1, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold." Cecil F. Cox, adapted from Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 34, Aug. 24, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080829/cdd06a5d/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Aug 29 05:20:18 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:20:18 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) CHRIST AND THE HOME (1) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the first part of study from my ancient files. Use to the glory of God. CHRIST AND THE HOME (1) Divine Appointment And Purpose: -- If my conception of eternal truth is clear, there are three institutions that exist by divine app- ointment: the home (Gen. 2:18-24), the church (Matt. 16:18), and the state (Rom. 13). I am fully persuaded that each has its defin- ite mission, and ought not, therefore, to infringe upon the rights and privileges of the other. The Christian sustains a relationship to all three institutions. He should perform his individual duty in all three of these relationships. However, the performance of his individual duties in all three relationships does not mean that the missions of the institutions overlap, as some have erroneou- sly concluded. The significance of this premise will become more apparent as we proceed with the lesson. (In listening to Mr. Obama, who is a candidate for president of the United States, last evening, I can see that his party is set on controlling the lives of individuals and thereby becoming the Big Brother that has his nose in everything a person can do as an individual to make his own way in the world by his own individual incentiv- es. They desire to take away his wages by taxes and then give things back to him as a benevolent overseer of his life, JWS). That the home is of divine appointment is evident from Gen. 2:18-24. From this reference it is evident that the fundamental pur- pose of the home is SOCIAL. It was designed to satisfy man's desire for companionship. God created man a social being, and, therefore, said: "It is not good that a man be alone". In this relationship, when the home functions properly, man's desire for companionship is realized in the fullest possible measure. Here the deepest and the highest of earth's experiences are shared in company with those we love best. For this reason the happiest moments of our life are usually associated with the home. For the same reason the darkest sorrows earth can know are usually associated with the home. There we have shared these things with our dearest ones. God intended it so, hence, the home is a social institution wherein we live and rear our own children and it does not take a village to accomplish this. The home, then, is the foundation unit of our society. Relationships Of The Home: -- In the home we find varied relat- ionships. These we now notice together with their obligations under Christ the one Lord: 1. The Relationship Of Husband And Wife: -- The marital relat- ionship is the sweetest, dearest, and most intimate of all earthly ties. When boy and girl stand before the marriage altar and there pledge each to the other fidelity, love, loyalty, and devotion in sickness and in health, in prosperity and in adversity, each taking the other for better or for worse until death they do part, they thereby pledge a companionship that is unsurpassed in any other human relationship the earth has ever known or ever will know! However, aside from the social intent, marriage is two-fold in its design (1) From a biological viewpoint the purpose of marriage is that of procreation. God designed it to perpetuate the human race. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth..." (Gen. 1:27,28). (We see that God created Man and Woman to live together in marriage and to bear children. Two men cannot do this, neither can two women. So, any combination other than a man and a woman in a marriage or cohabitation, is a perversion of God's Will for man- kind and is therefore a most ungodly sin, JWS), We will have more to say about the blessings derived from children in the home later. (2) From a moral viewpoint the pur- pose of marriage is to prevent fornication. That one of the strongest desires of man might have virtuous and honorable satisfaction, God instituted marriage. When this desire is realiz- ed outside this particular relationship, God calls it fornication, and says those guilty of such "shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:21). In 1 Cor. 7:2, Paul says, "Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband". In the following verses Paul gives some particulars concerning the conduct of husband and wife toward each other that this sin might be averted. Thus, marriage, the very first relationship of the home, aside from its social intent, has for its purpose the perpetuation of the human race and that without immorality. Under Christ, the one Lord, this relationship of marriage and the home is discussed in the following Scriptures that you will do well to take time just here to read: Eph. 5:22-33. From the Scripture passage mentioned above, it is evident that the relationship of the husband to the wife is comparable to that of Christ to His church. Jesus Christ loved the His church without measure. He gave up the glories of the heavenly world and came to earth to know the sorrows of time, He "...took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:7,8). He made the supreme sacrifice -- all for his bride! He has her welfare in His mind at all times. Whatever requirements He makes of the church are not arbitrarily imposed for His own good, but for her eternal glory. Likewise the husband should love his wife keeping in mind always her welfare. Whatever re- quirements he may make of her should not be arbitrarily impos- ed for his own good, but for hers. The husband should love his wife so that he would be willing to deny himself to promote her happiness; to watch over her in sickness, and, if need be, to peril his own health and life to promote her welfare. Doing this, he will not go beyond what Christ did for the church. He should remember that she has a special claim of justice on him, anyway. For him she has forsaken the friends of her youth, en- dowed him with whatever property she may have, sunk her name in his, confided her honor, her character, and her happin- ess, to his virtue; and the least he can do for her is to LOVE her, and STRIVE to make her happy -- even as the Lord the church. (More will be posted on this subject tomorrow, the Lord willing, JWS). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080829/5f846b8c/attachment-0001.html From kthomas at dnet.net Fri Aug 29 10:55:08 2008 From: kthomas at dnet.net (Kenneth E. Thomas) Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:55:08 -0500 (Central Daylight Time) Subject: [Biblemat] A short report Message-ID: <48B81BDC.000008.02976@KENSCOMPUTER> Some have asked about my health and I appreciate your concern and still covet your prayers needless to say! The doctor has taken me off of the Plavix and started me on cumedin since the light stroke, She said it was not caused by any heart problem and that this was a good thing! My eyesight has not returned to normal as yet and I dare not try and drive our auto. Next month I have an appointment with the eye doctor and will know more afterwards. Our monthly expenses still are greater than our income and we are living on our SS plus what some good brethren have supplied and on our savings. I am getting some relief from the high cost of prescription medicine from a local entity which is connected with the local hospital for which we are indeed thankful. I will know the first of next year perhaps if I will get the Korean pension for which I have applied.I do so much appreciate every consideration of many of you more than I can express! You will please understand if I do not reply to every expression of concern personally, please! When and if my eyesight improves I shall do better the Lord willing as well as begin again to contribute articles on Bible Matters. Thanks to all who have encouraged me by asking and by your wonderful comments about my past efforts along this line. Love in Christ, Kenneth E. Thomas Kenneth E. Thomas 221Rolling Acres Trail Franklin, North Carolina 28734 http://www.geocities.com/kethomas_2000/index.html Email: kthomas at dnet.net 1 (828) 349-3514 - Home -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080829/d21f2e51/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 289 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080829/d21f2e51/attachment-0002.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 20466 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080829/d21f2e51/attachment-0003.gif From lovelace.bob at gmail.com Fri Aug 29 16:29:14 2008 From: lovelace.bob at gmail.com (Bob Lovelace) Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:29:14 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] They Don't Have A Right To Be Supported By Our Local Churches (Bob Lovelace) Message-ID: <3f3d53410808291429i5c289b69oe17aa5f2594785fd@mail.gmail.com> The Truth In Print Vol 14 Issue 8, Sept. 2008 A Publication of the Valley church of Christ 2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058) Website Address ~ They Don't Have A Right To Be Supported By Our Local Churches The matter of the Truth Magazine Lectureship has come up again (Guardian Of Truth Foundation's). I ask you to consider the following points: (1) What they cannot accept tells what they are; (2) Their use of old liberal institutional slogans tell what they are; (3) Their silly comparisons tell what they lack. I. What They Cannot Accept Tells What They Are. Paul spoke to the church at Corinth of the right of gospel preachers to be supported and said, "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel" (I Cor. 9:14). Gospel preachers who labored together each individually had the right to be supported by the local church. Again Paul said, "I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service" (2 Cor. 11:8). Nowhere do we read that they were ever supported as a "group." Today brethren have chosen to put themselves in a Human Institution where they "know" they have no right to be supported by the local church, one or several, and we find them belaboring the point that they do not involve themselves as a Human Institution with any local church treasury. That of itself speaks volumes. Is this not clear evidence that they are not like the evangelistic efforts we read about in our New Testament? It is indeed! And get this, sometimes they'll claim that whereas their brethren speak of the all-sufficiency of the local church they are somehow denying them their viewpoint of the all-sufficiency of the "individual." We aren't denying them anything! If they want to follow the New Testament pattern just mentioned then they can be as capable and active as they have ability and energy. Paul was very effective in his sufficiency as an individual and I think that we are all aware of that! Here is Paul's answer concerning local church responsibility to support preachers: 1 Corinthians 9:3-14 (KJV) 3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, 4 Have we not power to eat and to drink? 5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? 7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? 8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. One or more local churches could support individually Paul and any one of his faithful companions and fellow laborers, but local churches can't support the G.O.T. "group" in their evangelistic efforts! As the ministers in the New Testament record converted lost souls and brought them into Christ's kingdom they pointed them to God's organization the local church (Acts 14:23, Lystra, Iconium, Antioch). If the Human Institution is really just a group such as Paul often found himself in then why can't the local churches support each individual preacher in the G.O.T. for their part when it desires to do the stated purposes determined and carried out by the G.O.T. foundation (group) in the work of teaching the Word and providing that along with worship? Now brethren does it really look like what they do is comparable, as some of them say, to joint activities in the Bible? Can the G.O.T. send out a statement of planned and purposed teaching of the Word, along with worship, and ask our churches for financial support in fulfilling that purpose? The very fact that they do not involve the Human Institution with the treasuries of the local churches for support in proclaiming the Gospel shows what they are ? an unauthorized arrangement for teaching and worship. The local church is the pillar and support of the truth. II. Their Use Of Old Liberal Institutional Slogans Tell What They Are. Here we are far removed from the Institutional split and brethren of the 1950s and early 60s, and we are hearing liberal Institutional jargon such as: 1. Liberties are being denied via arguments from I Cor. and Rom. 14-15. 2. Change "factionalism" to Antis and you'll understand their point about binding where God did not bind often being associated with conservatism, faithfulness and taking the safe route. 3. Fear of doing something wrong thus not doing anything. How many apostasies have been sustained by this kind of argument? Does this approach sound familiar from past Institutional apostasies? III. Their Silly Comparisons Tell What They Lack. Silly analogies show what is lacking in respect for the authority of God's word. Perhaps I can paraphrase one: God commanded the Ark, but don't you think that Noah could have had other boats to do certain things with? Brethren we want you to see through our reasoned study that we are like those other boats Noah could have had. Boy! What a snow job. How many boats saved the eight souls? (cf. I Pet. 3:21) How many boats was Noah allowed to build with that "purpose" in mind? What is the "purpose" of the local church in I Tim. 3:15? Enough already. Noah in the Old Testament with the ark and right to have other boats for other purposes. The synagogue under the Old Covenant that is not contradictory to the Temple under the Old Covenant, Jesus and His disciples with their "bag" that was not in conflict with the Temple under the Old Covenant with its "treasury," Jesus even teaching in the synagogues and also the Temple ? all come together as proof of whatever it is that they want to make it proof of. It all adds up to we've finally done it. We set our own stage for a human institution in evangelism and worship and that's the way it will be. "Going onward" is rebuked in 2 John 9. By Bob Lovelace ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ To learn more call, visit or visit our website at: From garyshawndaniels at gmail.com Fri Aug 29 19:47:38 2008 From: garyshawndaniels at gmail.com (Gary Shawn Daniels) Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:47:38 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] A new Search Engine for our Websites! Message-ID: <48b88a33.0d86460a.7de9.76c9@mx.google.com> Dear Friends, If you're anything like I am, you work hard in preparing your sermons, bulletins, and website in hopes to bring at least one precious soul to Christ. Also, if you're like I am you have tons of congregational and gospel preachers websites listed in your favorites. To search through each website for certain material it would take weeks, months, and maybe years. I have a solution to this problem. I am building, by the power of Google, a search engine for just the websites operated by the brotherhood. The site will be called "Seek and Ye Shall Find". Its address will be www.seekandyeshallfind.net . As of right now, this address is linked to our family's website thegospelguardian.com. You can find the prototype of this idea at www.thegospelguardian.com\seek\ . Seeing how that this tool will be used by many on a day to day basis, I believe anyways, I am also adding free advertisement spots for Gospel Meetings, churches looking for preachers, and preachers looking for churches. I believe that this could be a tool that we all could use. If you like this idea of being able to search dozen if not hundreds of websites at one time for specific material let me know and send me the addresses to your websites. I will add them to the Search Engine. Remember, the prototype is still a work in process. Just let me know if you are interested in listing your sites. Thank you, for your time. In Christian Love, Gary Shawn Daniels Gary Shawn Daniels, evangelist 405 Clark St Pana, Illinois 62557 (217) 562-5215 garyshawndaniels at gmail.com Check out Sermons, Articles and Broadcasts at: www.panachurch.com www.thegospelguardian.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080829/a5a2b0b9/attachment.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Aug 30 03:05:42 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:05:42 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) GOD HAS SPOKEN Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Saturaday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: GOD HAS SPOKEN Truth Versus Lies: -- God has always spoken the truth. He can- not lie (Heb. 6:18). When the prophets of old spoke by the Holy Spirit, they always told the truth and never made a prophecy that failed to come to pass under the conditions God had set (2 Pet. 1:19-21). Thus, the Holy Scriptures are truth, and those things written or taught contrary to the Scriptures and denying the Scriptures are lies and deception. Satan is the father of lies (Jno. 8:44). Those who proclaim his falsehoods and pervers- ions of what God has said are in his camp and are guilty of teach- ing lies. Here, then, is a contrast so clearly defined that none should be confused as to what is truth and what is falsehood. Why, then, do so many follow error and teach it? The Script- ures tell us. Some are blinded by prejudice (Matt. 13:13-15). Some are choosing to establish their own system of righteous- ness (Rom. 10:1-3), and thus do not submit to the righteousness of God. In ignorance of the truth, some blindly follow the leader- ship of blind guides, being overcome by the wiles of the devil (Matt. 15:14; Eph. 6:11). Some love darkness because they part- icipate in evildoing and wish to justify themselves in their deeds, so they stay away from the truth (Jno. 3:19-21). Many gullible souls do not study for themselves, but rather accept what they are told because personal responsibility is too much work for them. Others simply do not believe the truth when they have heard it. Still others have become so infatuated with human wis- dom and knowledge falsely so called that they are utterly swept away by it (1 Tim. 6:20,21). Neighbor, where do you stand? Do you believe the particul- ars of truth set forth in the Bible? Your personal duty toward God is found in the New Testament. Will you accept it and obey Christ in order to be saved (Heb. 5:8,9)? Or are you one of those who know who know not God and who obey not the gospel (2 Thes. 1:7-9)? Feel free to respond to these writings. -------------- Gilbert Alexander. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080830/adf36f79/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Aug 30 03:05:53 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:05:53 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) CHRIST AND THE HOME (2) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the second part of this particular study. Use to the glory of God. CHRIST AND THE HOME (2) Relationships Of The Home: -- 1. The Relationship Of Husband And Wife, Continued: -- The previous mentioned verses of Script- ure also show that the relationship of the wife to the husband is like that of the church to Christ. The church finds great delight in being submissive to Him who is her Head, and who loves her with such wonderful love. Even so, the wife should not feel dis- honored because she has been given a place of subordination. Rather, like the church, she should find delight in honoring her husband by submission to his will in everything -- even as the church is submissive to the Lord. Remember he loves her with a love comparable only to that love Christ has for the church. I am persuaded that every worthy woman will find delight in thus honoring such a husband. Then, let her occupy her God given position with honor and dignity! I would that women had a deep- er appreciation of their throne of glory in the home. There is no position she can occupy with greater honors! There is no place she can serve better! Nothing else can take her place! When she is absent from this position -- no matter what good she may be doing elsewhere -- there is a silent evil reigning, which can be removed only by her return. It is not hers to fight battles, or to command armies and navies, or to control kingdoms, or to make laws. It is not hers to brave the way and bear the responsibilities of leadership. Her throne of glory is in the home. Here she should earnestly strive to show her gratitude for , and make her- self worthy of the love of the husband already described. Remember it is not possible to love that which is unlovely, nor to force affection where it is undeserved! May God help husband and wife to attain unto the divine ideal required of God. (The position of the woman has been set by God from the very beginning when she succumbed to the desires of the serpent, devil, and ate of the forbidden fruit, Gen. 3:16. It is also repeated by the inspired apostle Paul in his writings to Timothy (1 Tim. 2: 9-15). 2. The Relationship Of Parent And Child: -- The responsibilit- ies the one Lord has imposed upon those in this leadership are exceedingly grave. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thous mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:1-4). First, we will consider the parental responsibilities. You will notice that in the passage just read fathers are mentioned in part- icular. This is true, perhaps, because he is the head of the family and its government in a special way rests upon his shoulders. However, I do not hold that this excludes the mother. That par- ents are under consideration in the context is evident from vs. 1. The mother will, by virtue of the relationship she sustains and the nature of the work she performs, in most instances, enjoy a more intimate association with the children, and can, therefore, be most effective in the discharge of these responsibilities. The father's rule will many times be indirect -- through the mother. The old adage "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world" has lived so long because there is so much truth in it. You will notice also that in the passage under study we have stated both positive and negative duties. Negatively we read "Provoke not your children to wrath." The word "provoke" means to incite, arouse, stir up. There are at least three ways in which this may be done. (1) By unreasonable demands. If more is required of the child than is reasonable he will be discouraged and this is to be avoided (Col. 3:21). Hardly anything will stir the spirit of resentment to greater heights than the imposition of un- reasonable demands -- be he adult of child. This is just another way of saying we ought not to expect a man's head on a boy's shoulder. (2) By needless severity. It is possible for the punish- ment to be greater than the evil done. I know this is a matter of difficult judgment. However, the nature of the child, extent of evil done, and other circumstances should help determine the matter. If there ever was a time when we need to pray for wis- dom (Jas. 1:5), it is in this particular. That the one Lord intends for children to be punished for evil done is evident from many passages of Scripture. Here they must learn a fundamental lesson, or suffer severe consequences later. That lesson is res- pect fro duly constituted authority. There are many in the world today who have no respect for divine authority, little or no res- pect for civil law, all because they never learned respect for par- ental authority in the home. Children must learn that a penalty must be paid for evil done. Take time to read the following pass- ages of Scripture: Prov. 22:6; 19:18; 23:13,14; 29:15; 22:15; 13: 24. Let us pray for wisdom in the execution of this divine injunct- ion. (3) By manifestation of anger. Anger in the parent begets anger in the child. The child will conclude that if it is not wrong for the parent to be angry when his will is crossed, it will not be wrong for him to be angry under similar circumstances. He may not retaliate toward the parent, because of the superior power of the parent, but he will manifest the same spirit toward those objects over which he does have control. The child should be made to realize, as far as possible, that the punishment is admin- istered because it is RIGHT -- not because of ANGER. It is imper- ative that this distinction be made, if the divine objective is to be realized. ------------- Marshall E. Patton in The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 6, April 1952. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080830/a9dc0965/attachment.html From cfleming at mikrotec.com Sat Aug 30 08:46:49 2008 From: cfleming at mikrotec.com (cfleming at mikrotec.com) Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:46:49 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Biblemat] (no subject) Message-ID: <11564.76.8.166.3.1220104009.squirrel@webmail.mis.net> help... In the Jule Miller filmstrips there a comment about Genesis 1:1. It list five components etc. time, space etc. I need this before tomorrow's service if anyone has it close by and can send it. I cannot find mine. thanks, -- chris fleming McRoberts church of Christ From garyshawndaniels at gmail.com Sat Aug 30 13:15:35 2008 From: garyshawndaniels at gmail.com (Gary Shawn Daniels) Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:15:35 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Summer Youth Series! - Gary Daniels? Message-ID: <48b97fcf.0b86460a.4dd1.4a5a@mx.google.com> Dear Friends, Recently Brother Jerry Blount sent out an article speaking about the South Emporia church of Christ (Wichita, Ks) inviting their young people to some kind of wing ding. What a disgrace it is when churches turn from their work of preaching the gospel to a lost and dying world and turn to entertaining the kids. Being younger and remembering very well when I was a teen-ager, I see it as a slap in the face when the older generation thinks that the only way that they can appeal to the younger generation is through pizza and pop. Teen-agers are just as interested as the 'grown-ups' of the older generations in saving theirs souls! In Brother Jerry's article he had an image of the flyer for this wing ding. On that flyer, I have noticed that Gary Daniels will be the speaker. With that said, my dad just received an email asking if that 'Gary Daniels' was this 'Gary Daniels'! Of course, it is not! I'm Gary Shawn Daniels of Pana, Illinois and not of Wichita, KS. I normally go by Shawn Daniels. I thought I needed to clarify that. Thank you, Gary Shawn Daniels Gary Shawn Daniels, evangelist 405 Clark St Pana, Illinois 62557 (217) 562-5215 garyshawndaniels at gmail.com Check out Sermons, Articles and Broadcasts at: www.panachurch.com www.thegospelguardian.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080830/cb98a0b6/attachment.html From crxtra at gmail.com Sat Aug 30 14:59:02 2008 From: crxtra at gmail.com (Steven C. Harper) Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:59:02 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] A> What Would They Say About Me? Message-ID: <000001c90ada$db56b1d0$92041570$@com> From: TRUTH & REASON, a bulletin of the Glendale church of Christ, Glendale, AZ. Editor: Steven Harper August 31, 2008 What Would They Say About Me? One of the unfortunate events of life that we all must face is its inevitable end - death. As the famous Benjamin Franklin once said, 'In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.' The fact is, I may be able to get around paying taxes [either legally or illegally], but there is no escaping death. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us, "It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment" (Heb. 9:27). And, as the wise writer said, "All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return" (Eccl. 3:20). Though man certainly tries to avoid it - or delay it as long as possible - the day of our death will come. When our loved ones pass on, there is a time of grieving, and rightly so. The wise writer reminds us there is "a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance" (Eccl. 3:4); death is that time to weep and mourn and we are better for having gone "to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart" (7:2). When we face the fact of death at a funeral, we may be moved to think about our own lives and whether or not we are doing all we know we should be doing. Maybe we will even think about what happens after death and prepare accordingly. And if you have ever attended a funeral, you may recall some of the words spoken about those who have passed on from this life; many good memories are shared and kind words are spoken about the one who has passed. Seldom, if ever, will you hear negative things spoken about the one who has passed on. For some, in fact, they are better spoken of in death than they ever were while they were living! Why is that? What makes people say only positive things and recall only positive memories about the deceased? Is it as it appears - that no one ever did anything worth noting that was negative? Is it true, as some religious men say who speak at these funerals, that even those we know who never served God in their earthly life will enjoy eternal life in heaven and truly 'rest in peace'? The cold, hard reality is that many of the words spoken during this emotional time are either plainly untrue or are leaving out many facts. That is not to say that all the words spoken at funerals are untrue, but the fact is, many times we do not know all the facts and may be giving only a description of the person we knew; someone else may know something about that person, but is unwilling to reveal what they know [for fear of hurting feelings]. In reality, only the deceased one and God know him well enough to make a complete and completely honest statement about his life. But when we gather and listen to family and friends - and maybe even a preacher or minister - speak about the deceased, we listen attentively to know more about the deceased than possibly what we had before. Some family member will inevitably tell a story about something the deceased had done for them that was never forgotten; maybe someone will tell a funny story about the loved one now gone; maybe someone will talk about the loved one's dedication to his family, his work, or to the Lord. We listen closely and nod our heads to the things we remember, and then we forget our sorrow as those pleasant memories, for a moment, replace the sadness we suffered because of our personal loss. And when we leave, we might start thinking about our own lives and wonder what others might say about us. We might think back on some of the things that were said in the funeral and wonder if others would say the same about us [good or bad]. We might think about it long enough and reflect back on our lives just enough to cause us to recall some old promises we never kept, some vows that somehow were left unfulfilled, and some work that was never quite begun, much less finished. Maybe we take the time to repent of those past shortcomings and rededicate ourselves to doing the things we know we should do because we know the day is coming when it will be us in the coffin and it will be others saying words and recalling memories about us. And what will they say? Will They Recall Us As Faithful Disciples? We seldom make a conscious effort to live as if other people are watching, but whether we realize it or not, they are watching us. Many a poem has been written about a father learning - too late - that his past actions have influenced his son to truly be just like him, and not for good. Unfortunately, it is more than just our own family who sees us and takes note of our actions; the whole world is watching! And what is the image we are presenting to the world as one who wears the name of Christ? Jesus plainly tells us that the world is watching us and they will note that if they see us loving one another as He loved us, they will know that we are His disciples (John 13:34, 35); does the world know that about us? Would the world hesitate to say we are His because we have not always acted with love towards one another, or would they say there was no question about who our Master was? Would they see us as ones who practiced good works because that is what is expected of disciples, and would they glorify God because of what they saw in us (Matt. 5:16), or would they simply see us as hypocrites out to make a name for ourselves (cf. Matt. 6:2)? Would They Recall Us As Hard Workers? Our society is fast becoming one with an 'entitlement mentality'; that is, many young folks growing up do not believe they have to earn anything - they think they are owed it [whatever 'it' is]. It shows in the workplace where people show up, spend one-fourth of their time playing on the Internet or wasting time in computer games or something else, and complain at the end of the week that they don't get paid enough for the 'hard work' they do. Many small business owners can tell you the frustration of trying to find people who will actually work. The sad fact is, there are many people who profess faith in Christ who are among the worst employees when it comes to actually doing the work expected of them. The apostle Paul put it no uncertain terms: "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat" (2nd Thess. 3:10). Or, as someone so famously said, 'There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.' When we, as disciples of Jesus Christ, are unreliable and cannot be depended upon to accomplish the work for which we were hired and/or paid, we are bringing a reproach on the name of our Lord. May it never be! Will They Recall That We Often Shared Our Faith? It is one thing to present a good example to the world about our faith and work ethic, but how much more impact we have when we actually open our mouths and tell them the reason we are who we are! It would be a downright shame to come to my funeral and have someone say, "I didn't know he was a Christian!" Wouldn't it? If I wasn't already dead, I would die from embarrassment! Can you imagine having lived all your life and no one knowing that you believe Jesus is the Christ, that judgment is certain, and that there is such thing as hell? Let us pray, as Paul requested prayers on his behalf, that we might have the boldness to speak as we should (Eph. 6:18-20). When I am in the coffin, it will be too late to tell them anything. I know that we should not be generally concerned with the judgment of others or even ourselves (cf. 1st Cor. 4:3) because the Lord will be the final judge (vv. 4, 5); but we must set an example for the world to follow and we must live our lives like the world is watching, because they are. Now is the time to start living as you should so when your day comes, you won't have to wonder what they will say about you. Or what God will say. -- Steven Harper -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080830/d55085ac/attachment-0001.html From mail at mikealrhughes.com Sun Aug 31 13:48:49 2008 From: mail at mikealrhughes.com (Mike Hughes) Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:48:49 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Preachers / Churches Looking Message-ID: <04C7C010-C8C6-45B7-BD03-F649C40AD679@mikealrhughes.com> I know Shawn Daniels mentioned putting a listing of preachers looking on a website. I wanted to let all know we have such a list already. The churches looking has a map of the United States and you can pick the state you would like to see if there are any congregations looking in that state. The URL is www.mikealrhughes.com and you can get to the list through the menu. Mike Hughes - Minister ? Wilmington church of Christ -- P.O. Box 278 303 N. 1st Street Wilmington, IL 60481 Web: www.mikealrhughes.com E-mail: mail at mikealrhughes.com Mobile: (815) 545-6497 AIM/iChat ID: im2macmike Office/Fax: (815) 476-0634 Wilmington, IL Podcasts - The Bible Says Wilmington Sermons Owner Bible Matters List Bible Matters Forum New Forum address: http://www.network54.com/Forum/602460 Join Bible Matters Group for forum at - http://www.network54.com/Group/158452 (OS X is like a jungle no Gates, no Windows, and a Leopard inside.) I'm tired of choosing the lesser of two evils. Make a real choice for President: www.BobBarr2008.com Power corrupts. PowerPoint corrupts absolutely. The contents of this email are personal and private. Please do not forward this communication, in whole or in part, to anyone without my express consent. From richardthetford at msn.com Sun Aug 31 16:52:57 2008 From: richardthetford at msn.com (Richard Thetford) Date: Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:52:57 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Walking in the Light (8/31/08) Message-ID: Walking in the Light "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105) August 31, 2008 www.thetfordcountry.com --- INFORMATION: Walking in the Light is published each week by Richard Thetford. You are encouraged to visit the web site at www.thetfordcountry.com and then click on "Richard's Home Page" to view numerous sermons, articles, radio program scripts, class material and other information. If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to "Walking in the Light," please send their name and e-mail address to richard at thetfordcountry.com --- CONTENTS: "The Testing of Things" (Richard Thetford) "Preach the Word!" (Lalo Enriquez) "The Strength of a Church" (Selected) SENTENCE SERMONS --- THE TESTING OF THINGS Richard Thetford The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 "Test all things; hold fast what is good." The Christian's daily walk should be a walk where "testing" is continually done. We find in scripture where God tests man "But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts" (1 Thes 2:4). In addition, man is to test himself; "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-- unless indeed you are disqualified" (2 Cor 13:5). God tests our hearts to know if we are in fact loyal to Him (Matt 6:33; Col 3:1-2). We are to continually test ourselves to ensure that we are in "the faith." What Is To Be Tested? We have learned from 1 Thessalonians 2:4 that our hearts are to be tested because God certainly does. But what else can we learn that should be "tested" in our Christian walk? In 1 John 4:1 it says: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." This certainly is good advice for all of us. Test the teachings of man to make sure that those things being taught are in fact from God's Holy inspired Word and not something that man has made up on his own. Our faith is tested on a daily basis. How should we respond when our faith is tested? With JOY! Why? Because it produces endurance within us when we overcome. Each and every test of faith that we confront and overcome, we become a much stronger Christian (James 1:2-4). Our works must also stand the test before God. Paul wrote: "each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is" (1 Cor 3:13) and "But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another" Gal 6:4). How does our work stand up for Christ? One thing that is for sure, it will be tested on the day of judgment and each one of us will give an account of our deeds, good or bad (2 Cor 5:10). Why Test Things? As stated in our opening scripture, things should be tested so that we will know whether those things are good or evil. We want to hold fast to those that are good and discard the evil. Another reason we should test all things is to make sure that we do not become deceived. In 1 John 4:1-6 it says: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error." The Bible tells us plainly why we should test things. It is only through our testing of things that we can be glorified. Peter writes: "that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Let's make sure that we test all things to ensure that we are doing ALL to the glory of God! By What Are Things Tested? Before you and I can test something we must first know what the standard is that we should test these things by. The Word of God is THE standard in which all things must be tested by (2 Tim 2:15; 3:15-16). Human standards do not cut it. After all, who will we be judged by in eternity? The answer is GOD not man! Paul wrote: "For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise" (2 Cor 10:12). The wise thing to do is to "Test all things; hold fast what is good," because our eternal destiny depends upon it! --- PREACH THE WORD! Lalo Enriquez This is what Paul told the young preacher Timothy (2 Tim 4:2). Preachers today have the same admonition. We must preach God's word in all its fullness! We must balance our preaching with the Bible's doctrines, promises, commands, principles and comforts; also, it's rebukes, curses and warnings. And then, along with these things, preachers are also to relate the Bible's histories, stories and geography. All, with Jesus Christ as the focal point, have a divine purpose. These (and perhaps other topics) are what are included in "the Word." We may favor one over another, but never to the exclusion of any. All of God's word "is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Time 3:16). This great gift of the bible is given by God through the Holy Spirit "that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (v.17). A Gospel preacher must try faithfully to balance his preaching with ALL of God's word, and then make proper and careful application to daily living. David said, "How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them" (Psalms 139:17). --- THE STRENGTH OF A CHURCH Selected It is well t look at the strength of a congregation and then learn how to increase it. A Church's strength does not necessarily depend on the number of its members. Many times we misjudge strength because we estimate strength by the number of members. We "count noses" rather than seek spirituality, maturity and loyalty to God's Word. It is possible for a church to have a large membership and yet be a very weak congregation. We sometimes hear people say that a certain congregation is "strong." They make this statement often solely on the large size of its membership. Sometimes a few faithful members constitute a stronger church than great numbers of unconverted people. A membership half-converted and half-taught is a very weak church! Often times withdrawals or subtractions would increase the strength of a congregation; sometimes subtractions are better than additions. The Lord can, and very often does, work with very few faithful ones. --- SENTENCE SERMONS Proper cross-bearing ends in victorious crown wearing. A Bible in the hands is worth two on the shelf. The fact that a person talks godly does not mean that he walks godly. The easiest road to travel is the one that goes down. People who run into debt usually have to crawl out. God speaks to all who take time to listen. Have you read his word lately? Following Jesus Christ is not an escape from life - it is life! We can not serve God and mammon, but we can serve God with mammon. There are married failures, but marriage is not a failure. --- SERMON NO NEW SERMON THIS WEEK www.thetfordcountry.com --- 1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 626-5558 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/Editor Richard Thetford Building: (970) 249-8116 Home: (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com --- RICHARD THETFORD 1491 Canyon Drive Ridgway, CO 81432 (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080831/c98429d7/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 2950 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080831/c98429d7/attachment-0001.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 14927 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080831/c98429d7/attachment-0003.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 177 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080831/c98429d7/attachment-0004.gif -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 8925 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20080831/c98429d7/attachment-0005.gif