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Christians
"They walk in all humility and kindness,
and falsehood is not found among them. They love one another. They rescue the
orphan from violence. They do not refuse
to help widows. He who has, gives, ungrudgingly, to he who lacks. If they see
a stranger, they take him home and entertain him as a brother. When one of
their poor passes from the world, anyone of them who sees it provided for his
burial according to his ability. And, if they hear about one of their number
being in prison or being oppressed for the name of the Messiah, all of them
provide for his needs. Thus they labor to become righteous as those who expect
to see their Messiah, and to receive from him the glorious fulfillment of the
promise made to them. Truly, this is New People, and there is something divine
in them."
BULLETIN DIGEST Written
to the Emperor Hadrian (117-118 AD.) just a few years after the death of the
Apostle John
For Whom the Rooster
Crows
John
Donne (1573-163 I)
wrote, "...Therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."
It would be helpful if at defining moments in our
lives a bell would ring to signify that we should take notice. Bells,
regrettably, do not ring at pivotal points, but there are other red flags and
warnings if only we will observe them. In Matthew 26:69-75, Peter's denial of
our Lord serves notice to us on several important points.
Note that the trek away from the Lord gets easier
and more emphatic with each successive step. First when Peter was approached and
the girl charged, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," the Bible says, But he
denied it before them all". (v. 70)
The second time, the text says, "But again he
denied with an oath, I do not know the Man!" (v. 72). This time Peter was a
little bolder and swore an oath in denying any allegiance to Jesus.
The third time, the Bible says, "Then he began
to curse and swear, saying, I do not know the Man!" (v. 74). This time Peter
uses invectives to convince the enemies of the cross that he has no loyalty to
the Lord. Lesson: Departing from the living God gets easier with each step.
It was when the rooster crowed that Peter
remembered the words of the Lord when He had warned Peter of this very
possibility... "So he went out and wept bitterly" (v. 75). Usually there's a
"rooster that crows" to warn us too. A pleading mother or a praying father ... a
caring husband or wife ... an elder or preacher who warns us of the dangerous
path of apostasy (Heb. 3: 12-13).
Many could avoid much spiritual heartache,
heartbreak and eternal ruin if they would just hear the rooster crow and do what
they know they need to do in returning to the Lord's side. Think about it.
~ Randy Medlin
Let Our Actions Speak Louder Than Our
Words
Have you ever told someone you would do something, only to never get it
done? Have you ever been made a promise, only to be let down? I think we
all know what I mean when I say that "actions speak louder than words".
This saying is nothing new. It has been around for quite some time. Perhaps
the reason is because for quite some time many individuals have been doing a
whole lot of talking, but they haven't been doing much walking.
Oftentimes we humans feel the need to "say the right thing at the right
time". Oftentimes the church seems to think this way as well. However, I
encourage us to consider the words of the late Mother Teresa regarding
"saying the right thing at the right time". In an interview several years
ago she stated, "People do not expect from the church a constant flow of
statements. Instead they expect love, care, and concern. Their statements
will be made through their lives and their commitments to Christ."
Whether you agree with Mother Teresa's "doctrine" or not is irrelevant.
What is relevant is the fact that Mother Teresa must have had this concept
of actions speaking louder than words figured out. She rarely voiced her
opinion, yet always worked joyfully in the slums of Calcutta, India.
So how about you? What type of person are you? Are you someone who is
constantly talking about what you are going to
do? Are you someone who is constantly talking about what is wrong
with the church? Or, are you someone who just simply ACTS?
Are you someone who goes about doing good and tries to make matters
right when they are wrong? Friends, we as Christians have all been issued a
challenge by our darling Savior Jesus Christ. This challenge is for us to
feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Provide homes for the homeless. Visit
the sick and imprisoned. As we at the New Antioch church continue to grow,
God will continue to provide us with opportunities to do these very things.
As we at New Antioch move forward, we will be given new opportunities to
rise to this challenge. As we at New Antioch get closer to the God we
serve, we certainly hope that you are not someone who is left behind wondering what you said
that was wrong. ~Justin Parker
Motivation for
Soul-Winning
I've been thinking about
motivation for evangelism. What thoughts should fill our minds as we
contemplate the condition of souls that have never obeyed the gospel of Christ?
Let's meditate together on the following:
Every human being on the face
of the earth is lost outside of Jesus. Paul says that there is no condemnation
to those who are "in Christ " [Romans 8:1]. In other words, those who
are not in Christ are condemned. They are condemned by sin in their lives. No
man, woman, boy or girl beyond the age of accountability is immune-all are
sinners [Romans 6:23]. And the only way we can get into Jesus is to be
"baptized into Christ" [Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3-4].
The Gospel is the only power
that God has to save. Paul said he wasn't ashamed of it and that he was eager
to preach it [Romans 1:15-16]. He said that we stand in it and are saved by it.
[1 Corinthians 15: 1-4] . The preaching of the gospel is the means that God has
ordained for the transmission of it to the world. Only by sharing the
gospel will men be saved. God does not miraculously plant the knowledge of the
gospel in the hearts of lost people [Mark 16:15-16; 1 Cor. 1:21].
Jesus is the only Savior.
Salvation is not found in New Age religion, Mohammed, Confucius, Buddha, or in
Judaism. It is found in Jesus alone. Peter clearly stated the matter when he
declared: "There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name
under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved" [Acts 4:12].
Jesus is only going to save
His church. That is not politically correct, but it is true. Paul said that
Jesus is the "head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior".
[Eph. 5:23]. If He is going to save His body and His
body is the church, then people must be a
part of His body to be saved. The church does not save but is composed of the
saved.
If we really believe that
these things are true-really, really believe them-what motivation will
that provide to reach lost souls? When we understand and are convicted that the
truth and truth alone will make men free, we will be compelled to share it!
by Les McGalliard, North McArthur Church of Christ
Power
And the Promise of Prayer
By Larry Fitzgerald
Cisco, Texas
via Bulletin Digest
The most
important point in this article is: Our God answers prayer! "Call unto
me, and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things, which thou
knowest not" (Jeremiah 33:3). Do you believe that God answers your prayers?
Jesus believed in answered prayer. He said: "Whatever you ask in my name, I
will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in
my name, I will do it" (John 14:13-14).
.
If you believe that Christians' prayers are answered, then you will rejoice to
know how prayer helps in the Christian life.
1. Prayer helps in time of trouble. Trouble is a common event in every
person's life. It is wonderful to have God's help in time of need. But why do
we wait for problems to attack us before we pray? We need to pray constantly,
each day.
2. Prayer helps in the time of sorrow. In times of despair and sorrow
God offers His peace. All preachers have had this experience. I knew a fine
Christian lady. When she was upon her death bed she called the family in and
told them that she was looking forward to her new home with Christ. Then they
prayed together. You could see a difference in the family sorrow at the funeral
services.
3. Prayer helps us to find God's will for our
lives. The Bible says: "Do not be foolish but understand what God's will is"
(Ephesians 5:17). God's will can only be found through full surrender to God,
prayer and reading your Bible. "Thy will be done " (Matthew 6: 1 0).
4. Prayer helps us to overcome temptation. What do so many of us do when
temptation comes? We embrace it instead of turning to God in prayer. The Bible
gives us a guarantee of overcoming power ( 1 Corinthians
10:13).
There are probably a dozen or more ways that you can think of where the
privilege of prayer aids our lives. But let us not forget that a Christian's
prayer helps in times of trouble and sorrow. And prayer helps us find God's
will and aids us in overcoming temptation. Prayer then is one of the greatest
forces in any Christian's life.
READY.
. . SET. . . GO
Obviously a runner could never finish a race if he never got
started. With regard to spiritual matters, the Bible emphasizes a beginning
point - the need to start - but it lays equal emphasis upon 'finishing the
course.'
Jesus told Nicodemus "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God" (John 3:3). Jesus then said "Except a man be born of water and of the
Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Clearly, "see the
kingdom of God" (v. 3) and "enter the kingdom of God" (v. 5) are equivalent
phrases since Jesus used them both in this context. Nicodemus confused this
statement with natural (fleshly) birth and wondered aloud "How can a man enter
his mother's womb when he is old?" He missed the analogy intended to explain a
spiritual truth: the new birth is not of human origin, it is the work of God and
He has chosen that both water and Spirit are involved in the process. If we
were to deny that the Spirit is involved we would be on the very same ground as
if we denied that water is involved.
But the new birth is just that-a beginning point. The Bible emphasizes the
necessity of "finishing our course" and "keeping the faith," as was the case
with Paul (2 Tim. 4:7); of adding to our faith virtue, knowledge, temperance,
patience, etc., as admonished by Peter (2 Peter I :5); of continuing to "walk in
the light" in order to have fellowship with one another and be cleansed in the
blood of Jesus Christ (1 John 1 :7).
Your race is not over when you start, and it isn't competition against another
person (causing others to come in second or third). The emphasis is upon
finishing your race. Have you started yet?
Bill Becker
Which Will It
Be?------"Success Or Failure"
By Claude Flynn Via Dalraida Bulletin
JESUS said, "I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly".
[John. 10:10]. The Bible teaches the possibility of failure, but not the
necessity of failure. Jesus has given us the power to "Come unto Him", "Become
like Him", and "Overcome through Him". With this power available to us, we can
live productive and positive Christian lives.
A noted psychologist was asked to give the reason why so many people fail in
their efforts to make life successful. The answers he gave were very
interesting.
§ Finding fault with the other person, but never see your own faults.
§ Doing as little as possible and trying to get as much as possible for
it.
§ Spending much time showing up the other person's weak points, and too
little correcting your own.
§ Slandering those we do not like.
§ Procrastination-putting off until tomorrow what we should have done
yesterday.
§ Deceit-Talking friendly to someone' s face, and stabbing him in the back
as he turns.
§ False thinking-Thinking that we are going to reap a good harvest when we
have not sown good seeds.
§ Disloyalty to those who have trusted us.
§ Egotism-The belief that we know it all, and no one can teach us
anything.
20 Rules of
Wisdom
White's Creek church of
Christ; White's Creek, Tn.
Via Bulletin Digest
§
God wants spiritual fruit-not
religious nuts.
§
Dear God, I have a problem-it's me.
§
Growing old is inevitable, growing
UP is optional.
§
There is no key to happiness. The
door always is open.
§
Silence is often misinterpreted,
but never mis-quoted.
§
Do the math. . . . . . count your
blessings.
§
Faith is the ability to not panic.
§
Laugh every day, its like inner
jogging.
§
If you worry, don't pray. If you
pray...don't worry.
§
As a child of God, prayer is kind
of like calling home every day.
§
Blessed are the flexible for they
shall not be bent out of shape.
§
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN YOUR
HOME ARE THE PEOPLE.
§
When we get tangled up in our
problems, be still; God wants us to be still so He can untangle the. knot.
§
A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
§
He who dies with the most toys is
still dead.
§
We do not remember days, but
moments. Life is moving too fast-so enjoy your precious moments.
Presenting Your
Best to the Lord
by Hoyt Nelson
It was Wednesday morning
and the day for our regular mid-week Bible Study service that evening. A
friend said to me: "you sure are dressed up today... do you have a funeral?"
My answer was "no...it’s Wednesday and we have our mid-week Bible Study
services at New Antioch”. "Do you always dress like that for
just a mid-week service?" she asked. "Yes" I answered. "What in the
world for?" was her next question. I gathered that she thought such
"dressing up” was incredulous particularly for such a minor thing as a Bible
Study period. My answer to my friend was the same as it always has been
when questioned in such a manner. "I believe you should always dress in
respect to the person or institution you represent”, was may answer. I went
on to explain that when I stood before an audience either to preach the Word
or to teach a Bible class, I was representing my Lord Jesus Christ and His
Church. "Therefore", I said. "I feel that 1 should present to Him the best I
have and that includes my personal dress". She came back with the
expected answer. "I don’t think He even notices" she said. "Remember the
Bible says "...for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on
the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart"[
Samuel !6:7]. I acknowledged her quote from the scripture but replied:
"This is the very truth that spurs me to my dress. It always is a matter of
the heart and not of appearance, I don't dress for the benefit of the
audience. I dress in this fashion because it is a matter of my heart. You
see, I think I am responsible always for presenting my very best to the
Lord. Anything less would not be acceptable to Him. And I am always aware
of the Holy Word that says "for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he". [Proverbs
23 :7] So for me, it is a matter of heart set and not a matter of
appearance. Her answer then was "Oh!”. It never is a wasted effort when
you present the best you are or have to the Lord Jesus Christ. He may not
inspect your dress when you represent Him... but He does
inspect your heart!
What Is
Your Spiritual Temperature?
At this time of the year many of us suffer from
the effects of colds and flu. One symptom we may get is a change in our body
temperature. The human body maintains a normal temperature of 98.6 degrees
Fahrenheit. If our temperature climbs to 100 degrees or 103 degrees, or more, we
have a fever, and begin taking steps to get our temperature back to where it
should be.
Our spirits also have a temperature. In contrast
to the body, however, the Bible tells us to be spiritually "on fire". Christians
are commanded to be "fervent in spirit, serving the Lord" [Romans 12: 11]. The
term "fervent" literally means "at the boiling point". Basically, we can be in
one of three spiritual temperature states: cold, lukewarm or fervent.
Many in our world are cold spiritually. They
have no interest in Christianity at all. This condition is one of spiritual
death.
Some are in a condition of “lukewarmness”. The
church at Laodicea [Revelation 3: 15-17] provides a prime example. When one is
lukewarm, he has no desire to improve or to try harder. Lukewarm Christians are
not infidels, but they are not earnest believers. They do not oppose the Gospel
of Christ, but they do not seek to teach or support it either. They are not
irreligious, but they are not zealous. Christ indicated His complete
displeasure with such Christians when He said He would reject them. Lukewarmness
leads to worldliness, laziness and failure.
A few Christians are genuinely zealous for the
Lord. Their prayers and thoughts are directed to the advancement of the church.
They do all within their power to serve the Master. Worship, Bible study and
Christian fellowship are sources of great joy to them. They are constantly
seeking to grow and to progress spiritually.
Each of us needs to assess our spiritual
temperature, and make sure we are fervent in Christ's business.
By Louis K. Watts Via Glad Tidings of Good
Things
Serve the Lord With
Gladness
Christianity is not a voice in the
wilderness, but a life in the world. It is not an idea in the air but feet
on the ground, going God's way. It is not an exotic to be kept under glass,
but a hardy plant to bear twelve months of fruits in all kinds of weather.
Fidelity to duty is its
root and branch. Nothing we can say to the
Lord, not calling Him by great or dear names, can take the place of the
plain doing of His will. We may cry out about the beauty of eating bread
with Him in His Kingdom, but it is wasted breath and rootless hope, unless
we plow and plant in His Kingdom here and now. To remember Him at His table
and to forget Him at ours is to have invested in bad securities. There is
no substitute for plain, every-day goodness.
"...if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow me" [Matthew 16:24]
- selected
Without Understanding
In Matthew 15:16, Jesus asks a very interesting question, "Are you still without
understanding?" Now, obviously the context in which Jesus spoke these words is
when He was forced to knock some sense into the scribes and Pharisees about
tradition keeping. But it is unique that Jesus would ask such a forthcoming
question.
Oftentimes, I feel like the Jesus of Matthew 15. Oftentimes I
wonder who missed the point, how they missed the point, and whether or not they
even realize it. Just the other day my neighbor thought it good to tell me how a
good friend of his wasn't feeling well, but that it was alright no matter what
happened because he'd been saved despite some spiritual shortcomings. Excuse me?
Are you still without understanding? Have you missed the point or have I? It
isn't possible to run with the devil and walk in the light at the same time...at
least that's what I've come to comprehend.
I suppose the words of Paul in II Timothy 2:15 sound louder
now than ever before. Let us do whatever is necessary to stand upright before
God. Let us do what is necessary for others to do the same. Go with God and be
blessed. Then your understanding will be clear.
-Brother Justin
The Ring of
Ganges
I've heard it said that "character is how you behave when nobody else is
around." In other words, what you would do if you thought you could get away
with it... if you thought that nobody else would see you... says something about
the kind of person you are.
In ancient Greece, there was a story of a man named Ganges [gan- geez] who
stumbled upon a great treasure that had been abandoned or lost out in the
wilderness. Among the fabulous trinkets, Ganges found a ring and put it on.
Quite accidentally, while playing with the ring, he discovered that when he
turned the ring so that the stone and setting were in his palm, he became
completely invisible. When he turned it to its usual position, he would
reappear.
Philosophers like Socrates and Plato liked to contemplate the fate of a
person who found themselves in possession of such a ring. Would not the most
virtuous man, become corrupt, stealing from and hurting others because he knew
he would never get caught?
No offense to the Greek Philosophers, but that was pretty-much a waste of
mental energy. But, make it personal... ask yourself what you would allow
yourself to do... and perhaps it could be enlightening. Would you use such a
ring to get into the movies for free, swipe a little something here or there,
become a Peeping Tom, etc.? Would not the temptation be great? Some people
have found themselves in situations where they became invisible! Really! Not
because of a ring, but because of being away from home on a trip or at
college... or being part of a crowd. The truth is all of us think we are
invisible at some point. What we do in those situations lets us see our true
selves better than ever.
As Christians, we have a little extra incentive to do what is right. There
are two sets of eyes we can never escape. We know that the eyes of the Lord are
always upon us. (Ps. 139:1-4; Prov. 15:3; Heb. 4:13) And, if you haven't
figured this one out, you will always see what you do! Later on, your
conscience will be disgusted with what you let yourself do in those
situations... unless you do what is right to begin with. Listen to your heart
(the part of you that belongs to God) when you find that you are invisible and
not to the flesh (the part of you that listens to Satan). You'll be glad you
did.
--Stephen Seibert
| New Antioch Church of Christ