Articles and News

WHY GO TO WORSHIP

A church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to "go to church" every week. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time..." This started a controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher.

"I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this...they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me those meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

"THY WORDS WERE FOUND, AND I DID EAT THEM; AND THY WORD WAS UNTO ME THE JOY AND REJOICING OF MY HEART..."--Jeremiah 15:16

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MY DRUG PROBLEM

I had a drug problem when I was young. I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug back on Sunday nights. I was drug to Bible classes. I was drug to weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions no matter the weather.. I was drug out of bed to go to school every weekday. I was drug: by my ears" when I was disrespectful to adults and teachers. I was drug to the woodshed disobeyed my parents.

Those drugs are still in my veins; they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin and break no laws in administration or consumption.

"TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO..." Proverbs 22:6

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WE GO EVERYWHERE TOGETHER

Bill was a successful businessman. He owned and operated a large furniture store. Bill was president of a civic club and a member of the school board; he was a devoted husband and father. He was especially close to his son, Jerry; they were constant companions. Sometimes Jerry "worked" with his dad at the store--many called him" Mr. Jerry." It was said that "jerry's smile sold more furniture than all his dad's good words.

There was one place Bill and Jerry never went together. Bill never accompanied his wife and son to worship. Jerry often asked his dad to go, but Bill was always "too busy."

Jerry loved Bible school; he liked his teacher and was among her most attentive pupils. One Lord's Day, the teacher asked, "When you get to heaven, what are you going to do first?" Without hesitation Jerry replied, "I'm not going to heaven! I'm going with my dad, we go everywhere together."

Not long after that, Jerry's teacher told Bill about his son's remark. He said, "That's just like him. He always wants to be with me...to go everywhere I go." She gently asked, "Where are you going?

Where are you taking Jerry?" Bill never answered. Nevertheless, the question kept ringing in his ears. Happily, Bill soon responded to the truth, and put on Christ in baptism (Gal.3:27). He became a faithful and dedicated Christian--he and Jerry could now go EVERYWHERE together! What about you and me? Where are we taking our children? "....the father to the children shall make known thy truth"--Isa. 38:19.

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SOWING AND REAPING

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption (death); but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Gal.6:7-9.

The modern marvel of computers has altered life so acutely, it is almost incredible to accept what they are able to accomplish. However, they are incapable of thought or creation in output--they can do what they are told to do! They are limited in outcome to the input of human beings. They can do fantastic things for good, or they can be transmitters of the most ungodly productions imaginable!! Someone has coined the phrase, "Trash in, trash out" to describe this magnificent machine.

So it is with people: sowing and reaping is an inexorable law of life, no one is capable of changing the law of cause and effect--sowing and reaping. For example, a farmer will tell us that it makes no difference to the ground at all as to the kind of seed buried: the result will be a production of "kind after kind," as affirmed in Genesis One.

If poison is planted, poison will come up; if turnips are planted that's what will result and he can eat it for dinner without fear. Applied in the spiritual realm, we learn that the same is true with humans, as Paul declares in this text: this an unchangeable law in a constantly changing world: "trash in, trash out" cannot be reversed! When a father tells his son, Sow your wild oats while you're young, get it out of your system and get on with your life," he makes a fatal mistake and sets the stage for the destruction of a life. A son should be taught the truth, as in Ephesians 5:1-6: "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sweet smelling savor. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with words: for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience."

Keep in memory: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad." 2 Cor. 5:10

The only wise choice is to sow to the Spirit, and reap life: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Gal. 5:22-25

The promise of God to the whole world, if we obey the gospel, is "...glory, honor, and peace to every man that works good; to the Jew first and also to the Greek,” Romans 2:10

Buford Pitman

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A MARVELOUS PROMISE

A Unique Outpouring

SOMETHING WONDERFUL AND UNIQUE was promised by God. A very special promise is mentioned by both Old and New Testament writers. It was something that was part of an eternal plan to bring a marvelous blessing to the whole world at the coming of a Savior and His new covenant - something that would be made available to everyone who has a thirst for divine righteousness and the forgiveness of sins. Upon them, God would pour out His Spirit. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Joel 2:28; John 7:38, 39; Isaiah 12:3; Acts 2:38, 39.

THE HOLY SPIRIT has always been active in human redemption, but this promise was unique – something most special, that could be enjoyed by people of all nations and languages. It would be something entirely new and different from anything ever experienced – a most marvelous and unique gift of God’s Holy Spirit made available to all who seek to know Him - to all those who would respond to the sacrificial death of Christ and the instructions He leaves in His new covenant.

NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS speak of when it would come – only after the death and resurrection of Christ and the inauguration of His new covenant and testament, which is put in force only after the death of the one who made it. John 7:37-39; 16:7; Hebrews 9:15-18. Before His death, Jesus, in the upper room with His apostles, promised to send to them the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, and the revelation of all truth. John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13.

THIS PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT was not available under the Law, only through the preaching of faith in Christ crucified. Galatians 3:2, 10-14, 21-29.

FULFILLMENT BEGAN on Pentecost when the apostles preached the first Gospel message of the new covenant. As Jesus had promised, He sent the Holy Spirit to direct His apostles in opening the new covenant with divinely inspired teaching. For the first time they publicly declared the message of Christ crucified, and as with Moses when the Law was delivered, there were signs and wonders to confirm the apostle’s teaching – the eternal gospel. Luke 24:49; Acts 1:2-11; 2:7-16, 33, 37-43. (Note that the teaching at Pentecost was by ‘men of Galilee’, the apostles. Their message was confirmed by miracles. Hebrews 2:2-4; Mark 16: 14-19; Acts 2:43; 5:12; 6:6; 8:18; 2 Cor.12:12).

AFTER HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, JESUS appeared to his apostles and commissioned them to launch a program that would take His message, not just to Jewish people, but to people of every nation offering to all the possibility of eternal salvation and the reception of the marvelous promises to be fulfilled through His gospel – things of which the Law was only a shadow. Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-19; Hebrews 10:1; Colossians 2:17. “Go into the entire world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized will be saved. …” Those who obeyed received the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2: 37-43; 5:32.

QUESTIONS for A Marvelous Promise

According to scripture is the statement TRUE or FALSE?

_____ 1. Did the Lord promise a new covenant where He would write on human hearts and remember sins no more? Jeremiah 31:31-34.
_____ 2. Was this promise fulfilled when God wrote on the hearts of His children under the new covenant? 2 Corinthians 3:2,3.
_____ 3. Through the prophet Joel, did the Lord promise He would pour out His Spirit on all people, not just on the Jews? Joel 2:28
_____ 4. Does Peter declare that Joel’s prophecy was being fulfilled on Pentecost? Acts 2:15-17
_____ 5. Did Jesus declare that after He was glorified, that those who came to Him would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit? John 7:37-39
_____ 6. Jesus told the apostles that after His death He would send them the Holy Spirit who would guide them in all truth. John 16:7-15.
_____ 7. The Lord gives the Holy Spirit by works of the Law. Galatians 3:2-14.
_____ 8. On the day of Pentecost, did those who heard and obeyed the message of Christ crucified, receive the remission of sins and the gift of the Spirit? Acts 2:37-42.
_____ 9. God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him. Acts 5:32
_____ 10. Those who obey the good news, the Gospel truth of Christ crucified, have their souls purified and are born again of the living and abiding Word of God. 1 Peter 1:22-25.

See 16 other sample lessons at : churches of Christ Net Tracts ( numbers 124-140).

Send your mailing address for a packet of lessons. J Lee Roberts, Lubbock, Texas

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"This material came thru the "Gospel Advocate," the author is a brother Tidwell; It is something all Americans need to be informed about, whether they agree with it or not--it is truth, which makes men free(John 8:32). Every member of the Lord's church should read it, and pray about it.

Selfishness has plagued humanity throughout history. Over the past generation, however, it has become a pervasive theme in our culture. Perhaps this explosion of selfishness appears most graphically in the embrace of an immoral and rampant sexuality by American society.

Sexual promiscuity challenges spiritual values at every turn. It is amazing how immoral America has grown. Although the selfishness of the sexual revolution touches our lives in many ways, the shocking changes in our nation concerning homosexuality and abortion must clearly illustrate how self-centered our society has become in its rebellion against God.

THE HOMOSEXUAL MOVEMENT

The selfishness of the sexual revolution has eroded our nation's commintment to the home. God's plan is for sex to be exclusive to marriage and for marriage to be between one man and one woman for life. Over the past 40 years, America has turned against God's plan for marriage. We see this change graphically in the increasing approval of homosexuality. For those of us old enough to remember, this change is outrageous. As recently as the early 1960's, in every single state, homosexuality was a crime. It was not tolerated, it was not endorsed, it was criminalized. In just a few short years our nation went from homosexuality as a crime to treating it as an illness and embracing it as a civil right.

SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENT

The acceptance of homosexuality in the American mainstream is shocking, but an even more insidious shift occurred through the sexual revolution in the 1960's. The ultimate expression of selfishness, the public endorsement of abortion, represents an unparalleled shift in American thinking. In the early 1960's, if you had put forward the right to abortion as a primary plank of American public policy--the idea that personal choice, convenience, or economic status would give a woman the right to murder her unborn child--people would have been shocked. By 1967, beginning with Colorado, many states legalized abortion, opening the door five years later for abortion becoming legal and largely unrestricted nationwide. This remains a blight on our nation.

The selfishness of our society presents a challenge to the church. God's people must courageously confront the profane trends about us. To equip Christians to deal with a depraved culture, the church must clearly teach what God commands. Taking a moral position directed by Scripture places us at odds with many of our friends and neighbors. We will seem old-fashioned and out of touch with the real world. The truth is, however, that following the will of God is the only way to bring wholeness to our lives and healing to our nation."