[Biblemat] Walking in the Light (8/3/08)

Sun Aug 3 18:37:06 CDT 2008

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

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INFORMATION:

Walking in the Light is published each week by Richard Thetford. You are
encouraged to visit the web site at www.thetfordcountry.com
<http://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

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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

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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!

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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).

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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.

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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?"

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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.

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SERMON

The New Testament Church Had a Pattern (With PowerPoint Charts) 

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

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1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C

Montrose, CO   81401

(970) 626-5558

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

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RICHARD THETFORD

1491 Canyon Drive

Ridgway, CO  81432

(970) 626-5558

E-Mail:  <mailto:richard at thetfordcountry.com> richard at thetfordcountry.com

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

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