We all know the REAL Christmas story, as it is recorded in the Scriptures. Forget this “Happy Holiday” thing—”MERRY CHRISTMAS” - but that is a whole different newsletter article.
In this newsletter space I wanted to take a look back at those shepherds who received the announcement about the promised Messiah. Luke 2:8 reads, “In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night”. There are so many things we can learn from each of the characters in the nativity scene. Let me share a few we can learn from these shepherds.
First thing we learn is right out of Luke 2:8. The Shepherds stayed with their flocks! Simple lesson, but it also teaches us a little about the sheep. The sheep NEED the shepherds! The sheep needed guidance. And the sheep needed to be fed. As I think about the shepherds here at South Side (our elders, overseers or pastors), I am reminded how much we need their wisdom within the assembly.
A second lesson we can learn comes out of that same eighth verse. Luke records that the shepherds were out there even at night. They watched their flocks by night to protect the flock. Wild animals and thieves could break in and try to steal the sheep. But not these Christmas shepherds—they stayed with their flock even at night. Again, reflect on the eldership here at South Side. One of their roles as the pastors of the flock are to protect us from any false doctrine or false teachers who might enter the flock and try to steal the sheep.
Luke 2:9 gives us the next lesson I would like to bring out. As the angels appeared to them, the text says that the shepherds were “terribly frightened”. I hope I am not stretching this, but let me suggest that these Christmas shepherds were humble shepherds. We have the greatest example of a humble shepherd when we look to the Good Shepherd—Jesus—who laid down His life for His sheep. All one has to do is read Philippians 2 to read about the great humility of Jesus! James 4:10 reads, “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you”. Humility is truly a quality of the shepherds here at South Side.
For the fourth lesson, we need to drop down to Luke 2:15 after the angels had left. The shepherds said among themselves, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us”. These Christmas shepherds did not trust their personal experience—they wanted to see for themselves! Same way “doubting” Thomas wanted to see for himself the resurrected Christ—I personally am glad he “doubted” - I want my faith to rest on the eyewitness testimony! Our shepherds are firmly planted on the eyewitness testimony of the Bible!
The fifth lesson, is that the shepherds told others about what they had seen. Luke 2:17 says that the shepherds “made known the statement which had been told them about this Child”. What a great example for our shepherds, and each one of us! Each one of us, our pastors included, are commissioned by Christ to go and share the message! May we at South Side learn from the Christmas shepherds to present the Gospel!
The final lesson (and I am running out of space) comes from Luke 2:20 which says, “The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen”. Shepherds spend time glorifying and praising God! In caring for the flock, the shepherds become examples to the sheep for worshiping and praising our God.
In conclusion—I am thankful for our shepherds—all six of them! Len, Lawrence, Larry, Denny, Myreon and Dick are all to be commended on their shepherding the flock here at South Side! I know they won’t mind me saying that I am thankful for someone else even more. I am most thankful for the Chief Pastor (or Shepherd) because when He returns, I will “receive the unfading crown of glory”. (I Peter 5:4).
Monday, December 01, 2008
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Bridling the Tongue
We did it! Yes! We pulled off a surprise for Stella Good and her 90th birthday! What a wonderful day for South Side as we honored one of our many faithful Christian women!
It was great to hear Stella talk briefly after lunch about her church family. It was also nice to hear her talk about her husband, who served as an elder here at South Side.
In honor of Stella and her faithfulness to our Lord and Savior Jesus, I am reprinting an article published in a 1967 Side Lites by her husband, George Good.
As an evangelist, I am always humbled by the perseverance of people who have been in the Lord’s assembly for a good part of their lives. I am humbled even more when I realize some of the battles these saints have been through (both physical and spiritual) . Life is full of many ups and downs—and persevering can be quite challenging at times. Life can even be tougher when one stands firmly on the Word of God.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving this month—lets remember to thank the Lord for the many faithful Christians—those who have fought the good fight and the many who are still fighting the good fight right now. Thank you Stella Good for your godly example to our church family. Thank you for your continued faithfulness.
Your evangelist,
Kevin
Elders Speak
“Bridling the Tongue”
By George Good
Otherwise be swift to hear and slow to speak. We are not to be teachers unless we know what to teach. The teacher does not have power of life or death over the listener, he does have the power of eternal destiny.
All men make mistakes, only One was perfect—Jesus the Christ, the Saviour of men.
If we are able to master our tongue, we can master sin. The head controls the tongue and the tongue has tremendous power. The horse is controlled with one little piece of iron, just as a bit is small, it does control the horse. Even the small rudder controls the great ship. And the tongue, tho small, can control us—note it’s power:
James in 3:6 identifies the tongue with fire! Money and the tongue seems to be our difficulty. The tongue represents the unrighteous world in our members—the tongue can defile the whole body. The tongue setteth on fire the course of nature. No one can tame this little organ in the mouth. Notice what is done with it—With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse! Can we bless and curse at the same time? Not if we have faith and love for our fellow man and for God.
Those who truly worship and honor God will be afraid to speak slanderously against men or God. Can blessings and cursings come from the same mouth? It cannot be for the Christian. A fountain cannot send forth sweet and bitter water at the same time. It is against nature to do this. A tree does not grow grapes and a vine figs. To one who knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)
Plan your life with God. If you are sinning, God has all power over sin. Remember James 3:7-8.
Side Lites, March 24, 1967
It was great to hear Stella talk briefly after lunch about her church family. It was also nice to hear her talk about her husband, who served as an elder here at South Side.
In honor of Stella and her faithfulness to our Lord and Savior Jesus, I am reprinting an article published in a 1967 Side Lites by her husband, George Good.
As an evangelist, I am always humbled by the perseverance of people who have been in the Lord’s assembly for a good part of their lives. I am humbled even more when I realize some of the battles these saints have been through (both physical and spiritual) . Life is full of many ups and downs—and persevering can be quite challenging at times. Life can even be tougher when one stands firmly on the Word of God.
As we celebrate Thanksgiving this month—lets remember to thank the Lord for the many faithful Christians—those who have fought the good fight and the many who are still fighting the good fight right now. Thank you Stella Good for your godly example to our church family. Thank you for your continued faithfulness.
Your evangelist,
Kevin
Elders Speak“Bridling the Tongue”
By George Good
Otherwise be swift to hear and slow to speak. We are not to be teachers unless we know what to teach. The teacher does not have power of life or death over the listener, he does have the power of eternal destiny.
All men make mistakes, only One was perfect—Jesus the Christ, the Saviour of men.
If we are able to master our tongue, we can master sin. The head controls the tongue and the tongue has tremendous power. The horse is controlled with one little piece of iron, just as a bit is small, it does control the horse. Even the small rudder controls the great ship. And the tongue, tho small, can control us—note it’s power:
James in 3:6 identifies the tongue with fire! Money and the tongue seems to be our difficulty. The tongue represents the unrighteous world in our members—the tongue can defile the whole body. The tongue setteth on fire the course of nature. No one can tame this little organ in the mouth. Notice what is done with it—With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse! Can we bless and curse at the same time? Not if we have faith and love for our fellow man and for God.
Those who truly worship and honor God will be afraid to speak slanderously against men or God. Can blessings and cursings come from the same mouth? It cannot be for the Christian. A fountain cannot send forth sweet and bitter water at the same time. It is against nature to do this. A tree does not grow grapes and a vine figs. To one who knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)
Plan your life with God. If you are sinning, God has all power over sin. Remember James 3:7-8.
Side Lites, March 24, 1967
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Fundamental Differences
As the presidential campaign winds to a close in the next month, you have probably noticed that there are some “fundamental differences” between the two candidates. These “fundamental differences” are seen in about every issue that the candidates debate about.
Fundamental differences can be seen in:
· Abortion
· What constitutes a family
· War in Iraq
· Economy
Some of these issues are not simply matters of opinion, but fundamental! Take the issue of abortion as an example. One candidate believes that life begins at conception and the other believes that during the pregnancy the mother has the choice about what to do with her body. (I won’t tell you who to vote for, but FYI, the Bible teaches, and agrees with science, that life begins at conception). Fundamentally different!
One more example: what constitutes a family. One candidate believes that a marriage should only be between a man and a woman and the other believes that the same privileges and benefits, including marriage, given to the traditional husband and wife relationship should be extended to same sex relationships. (Again, I won’t tell you who to vote for, but FYI, the Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin and an abomination, and those that practice it will not enter into the kingdom of God). Fundamentally different!
You can watch the rest of the debates and distinguish between the fundamental differences of the candidates. Then on November 4, you can go to the polls and vote for the candidate that holds the same fundamental ideas as you do. The purpose of this article is not to talk about politics, though, but rather some of the fundamental differences in the church.
The church of our Lord Jesus Christ has teachings that are fundamentally different than those taught in the world, and often times, in the religious world. All one has to do is ride around town and see all the churches—each holding to a different doctrine. And many of these teachings are fundamental differences.
I am glad that our ladies class here at South Side is going through a study on denominations in our world. My wife, who grew up here at South Side, said that she was taught lessons like this as she attended Sunday School here in her teenage years.
In many churches of Christ, though, this type of teaching would not be allowed because the thinking is that “we are all heading in the same direction anyway”. Hopefully as the ladies go through the study they will see that there are fundamental differences between what the New Testament teaches and what these different denominations are teaching.
These differences go beyond simply matters of opinion. Many of them are matters of faith!
The New Testament is fundamentally different than a church teaching communion is something offered at any other regularity than once a week on Sunday (Acts 20:7).
The New Testament is fundamentally different than a church teaching a person inherits sin and must be sprinkled as a baby to be saved (any conversion account in Acts teaches otherwise).
The New Testament is fundamentally different than a church teaching “faith only” is what saves, when the Bible teaches the exact opposite (James 2:24).
The New Testament is fundamentally different than a church teaching once a person is saved, they can never fall away (Hebrews 6:4-6).
The New Testament is fundamentally different than a church teaching immersion has nothing to do with our salvation (I Peter 3:21).
The New Testament is fundamentally different than a church supporting missions that do not promote New Testament Christianity when the Bible warns against this (II John 1:9-11).
The goal of South Side Church of Christ is to be fundamentally the SAME as the New Testament. And it does not matter how unpopular it may be—and believe me, it is unpopular to hold strong to the New Testament principles! When an outsider looks at South Side, we want them to realize that we are a Bible believing church!
Striving to be fundamentally sound!
Fundamental differences can be seen in:
· Abortion
· What constitutes a family
· War in Iraq
· Economy
Some of these issues are not simply matters of opinion, but fundamental! Take the issue of abortion as an example. One candidate believes that life begins at conception and the other believes that during the pregnancy the mother has the choice about what to do with her body. (I won’t tell you who to vote for, but FYI, the Bible teaches, and agrees with science, that life begins at conception). Fundamentally different!
One more example: what constitutes a family. One candidate believes that a marriage should only be between a man and a woman and the other believes that the same privileges and benefits, including marriage, given to the traditional husband and wife relationship should be extended to same sex relationships. (Again, I won’t tell you who to vote for, but FYI, the Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin and an abomination, and those that practice it will not enter into the kingdom of God). Fundamentally different!
You can watch the rest of the debates and distinguish between the fundamental differences of the candidates. Then on November 4, you can go to the polls and vote for the candidate that holds the same fundamental ideas as you do. The purpose of this article is not to talk about politics, though, but rather some of the fundamental differences in the church.
The church of our Lord Jesus Christ has teachings that are fundamentally different than those taught in the world, and often times, in the religious world. All one has to do is ride around town and see all the churches—each holding to a different doctrine. And many of these teachings are fundamental differences.
I am glad that our ladies class here at South Side is going through a study on denominations in our world. My wife, who grew up here at South Side, said that she was taught lessons like this as she attended Sunday School here in her teenage years.
In many churches of Christ, though, this type of teaching would not be allowed because the thinking is that “we are all heading in the same direction anyway”. Hopefully as the ladies go through the study they will see that there are fundamental differences between what the New Testament teaches and what these different denominations are teaching.
These differences go beyond simply matters of opinion. Many of them are matters of faith!
The New Testament is fundamentally different than a church teaching communion is something offered at any other regularity than once a week on Sunday (Acts 20:7).
The New Testament is fundamentally different than a church teaching a person inherits sin and must be sprinkled as a baby to be saved (any conversion account in Acts teaches otherwise).
The New Testament is fundamentally different than a church teaching “faith only” is what saves, when the Bible teaches the exact opposite (James 2:24).
The New Testament is fundamentally different than a church teaching once a person is saved, they can never fall away (Hebrews 6:4-6).
The New Testament is fundamentally different than a church teaching immersion has nothing to do with our salvation (I Peter 3:21).
The New Testament is fundamentally different than a church supporting missions that do not promote New Testament Christianity when the Bible warns against this (II John 1:9-11).
The goal of South Side Church of Christ is to be fundamentally the SAME as the New Testament. And it does not matter how unpopular it may be—and believe me, it is unpopular to hold strong to the New Testament principles! When an outsider looks at South Side, we want them to realize that we are a Bible believing church!
Striving to be fundamentally sound!
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Purity in Docrine
In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us (Titus 2:7-8).
The year was 1882 and samples of a fairly new brand of soap were sent to college chemistry professors and some independent laboratories. They compared this new soap with castile soaps, which were the standard for that day. The soap proved to be 99.44% pure. “99.44% pure” became so associated with this brand of soap, that even today, it is part of the registered trademark for Ivory Soap.
For the sake of this article, I want to compare Ivory Soap to the Church of Christ/Christian Church. And then I would like to use the Bible for the standard of purity. Just how pure is the church in doctrine? What is the standard we use to measure our purity?
I am afraid in many Churches of Christ/Christian Churches “purity in doctrine” is no longer important. At least that seems to be the case as I surf the internet and view some of the websites of our churches. One would think that if “purity in doctrine” was important to them, they would not put up some of the very weak statements of faith that I read. Many of them are so weak, in fact, they could be accepted in almost any denominational church. It is almost like they are embarrassed to make the connection between faith, repentance, confession, immersion, faithful living and our salvation! I personally agree with the Apostle Paul when he writes, “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” (Romans 1:16). What has happened to the boldness to share THE faith once delivered? Whatever happened to “purity in doctrine”?
One would also think that if “purity in doctrine” was important, they would not put some of the links on their websites that I find. I have been on some church websites, that if they didn’t teach faith only doctrine in their statement of faith, it was simply one or two clicks away because of a link purposely placed on the website. Whatever happened to “purity in doctrine”?
One would also think that if “purity in doctrine” was important, churches would use extreme caution when choosing curriculum for classes or which internet site or book to get the sermon from! Many of my brethren in Christ would much rather study from a “faith-only” book than a good solid book in line with the Scriptures! I have to wonder if some would rather study these “faith only” books or websites than to study from the Bible itself! We hand out false teaching in books and videos and then say we will adjust the materials to match the Scriptures. But I ask again: Whatever happened to “purity in doctrine”?
One would also think that if “purity in doctrine” was important, we would be extremely careful about the missions we support. Shouldn’t we only support missions that are going to promote New Testament Christianity? Isn’t “one Lord, one faith, one immersion” still essential in our missions? Shouldn’t our missions wear the name of the Lord instead of some denominational name? The Apostle Peter wrote, “if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name” (I Peter 4:16). Whatever happened to “purity in doctrine”?
In fact, I wonder sometimes if we have not changed the standard. It used to be that the BIBLE was our only source of authority! I believe some churches would rather use something written by Rick Warren or Bill Hybels as the standard, rather than the Word of God! If someone tries to point out the errors within the theology of men like these, they are labeled a legalist! I say, if that is the definition of a legalist, THANK YOU for the label! I would rather be simply classified as a Christian, though!
The church here at South Side, nor myself, is in no way perfect. But I would pray that we would try to stay pure to the Scriptures. The Apostle Peter encourages us to “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (I Peter 2:2)
The year was 1882 and samples of a fairly new brand of soap were sent to college chemistry professors and some independent laboratories. They compared this new soap with castile soaps, which were the standard for that day. The soap proved to be 99.44% pure. “99.44% pure” became so associated with this brand of soap, that even today, it is part of the registered trademark for Ivory Soap.
For the sake of this article, I want to compare Ivory Soap to the Church of Christ/Christian Church. And then I would like to use the Bible for the standard of purity. Just how pure is the church in doctrine? What is the standard we use to measure our purity?
I am afraid in many Churches of Christ/Christian Churches “purity in doctrine” is no longer important. At least that seems to be the case as I surf the internet and view some of the websites of our churches. One would think that if “purity in doctrine” was important to them, they would not put up some of the very weak statements of faith that I read. Many of them are so weak, in fact, they could be accepted in almost any denominational church. It is almost like they are embarrassed to make the connection between faith, repentance, confession, immersion, faithful living and our salvation! I personally agree with the Apostle Paul when he writes, “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” (Romans 1:16). What has happened to the boldness to share THE faith once delivered? Whatever happened to “purity in doctrine”?
One would also think that if “purity in doctrine” was important, they would not put some of the links on their websites that I find. I have been on some church websites, that if they didn’t teach faith only doctrine in their statement of faith, it was simply one or two clicks away because of a link purposely placed on the website. Whatever happened to “purity in doctrine”?
One would also think that if “purity in doctrine” was important, churches would use extreme caution when choosing curriculum for classes or which internet site or book to get the sermon from! Many of my brethren in Christ would much rather study from a “faith-only” book than a good solid book in line with the Scriptures! I have to wonder if some would rather study these “faith only” books or websites than to study from the Bible itself! We hand out false teaching in books and videos and then say we will adjust the materials to match the Scriptures. But I ask again: Whatever happened to “purity in doctrine”?
One would also think that if “purity in doctrine” was important, we would be extremely careful about the missions we support. Shouldn’t we only support missions that are going to promote New Testament Christianity? Isn’t “one Lord, one faith, one immersion” still essential in our missions? Shouldn’t our missions wear the name of the Lord instead of some denominational name? The Apostle Peter wrote, “if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name” (I Peter 4:16). Whatever happened to “purity in doctrine”?
In fact, I wonder sometimes if we have not changed the standard. It used to be that the BIBLE was our only source of authority! I believe some churches would rather use something written by Rick Warren or Bill Hybels as the standard, rather than the Word of God! If someone tries to point out the errors within the theology of men like these, they are labeled a legalist! I say, if that is the definition of a legalist, THANK YOU for the label! I would rather be simply classified as a Christian, though!
The church here at South Side, nor myself, is in no way perfect. But I would pray that we would try to stay pure to the Scriptures. The Apostle Peter encourages us to “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (I Peter 2:2)
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Seeker Sensitive?
Several months ago I was giving someone a tour of the South Side church building and when they walked into the auditorium they said, “Wow, this looks like a church”. I am not sure exactly what they meant by that, but I assume the pews, the stained glass windows, Bibles, hymnals, communion table, baptistery, pulpit, gave it away! But there are many in the Churches of Christ trying so hard to not look like a church. They don’t want to offend the “unchurched” (not my word, but their word). This type of thinking is called “seeker sensitive”. It is a very popular approach to the church today—popularized by the likes of Rick Warren and Bill Hybels.
Although not all churches doing some of the following things are “seeker sensitive”, these are red flags that a church is leaning that way:
* Moving or eliminating the communion table
* Promoting casual dress—including the evangelist in the pulpit (no suit and tie anymore)
* Removing the pews
* Adding lots of multimedia (movie clips, etc)
* Shortening sermons
* Using paraphrases instead of reliable translations in preaching and teaching
* Removing an invitation
* Often participate in interdenominational activities (The “seeker sensitive” often believes that we are not to judge other people’s faith)
* Expanding the song service, usually with contemporary songs on a screen
* Eliminating the eldership and promoting coaches
* Replace “saving the lost” with “reaching the unchurched”
* Evangelist becomes “the pastor”.
We saw a good example of this as we were traveling back from Delmarva Family Camp. We went by a church which had a sign outside of it that read: A church for a people who don’t like church. A church with a sign like that, seems to be a church that does what it can to be a “seeker sensitive” church. When I mentioned this to someone at South Side, they said, I wonder if there will be a heaven for people who do not like heaven.
By studying the sermons of the Old and New Testament, I wonder how many of the spokesmen for God were “seeker sensitive”? I would venture to say that even Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount would not be classified as “seeker sensitive”.
I wonder just how “seeker sensitive” the prophet Elijah was. I am sure these words were said in a way as to not offend the idol worshippers of his day:
Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened (I Kings 18:27).
“Seeker sensitive”? I think not!
I wonder if we would classify John the Immerser’s sermons as “seeker sensitive”? When he saw the Pharisees and Sadducees coming out to be immersed, he said to them:
You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham (Matthew 3:7-9).
“Seeker sensitive”? I think not!
How about the “seeker sensitive” sermon of the Apostle Peter on the Day of Pentecost:
Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified and Be saved from this perverse generation! (Acts 2:36, 40).
“Seeker sensitive”? I think not!
It is interesting that the Apostles were not afraid of offending the lost—and even after offending them, 3000 people were immersed into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins on that day!
I want to be part of a church that is not necessarily “seeker sensitive” but rather is promoting the plan of the New Testament! I am glad that South Side is the latter!
And besides all this, the true “Seeker” is God! He is seeking fellowship with the church! He is seeking and saving those who are lost! He is seeking faithfulness in the church! He is the one and true living God who does not wish any to perish, but for all to come to eternal life. He is the God who seeks the lost and wants them to believe and be immersed in order to be saved—and if someone disbelieves that he should respond to the Gospel, he will be condemned (Mark 16:16).
“Seeker sensitive”? I think not!
Although not all churches doing some of the following things are “seeker sensitive”, these are red flags that a church is leaning that way:
* Moving or eliminating the communion table
* Promoting casual dress—including the evangelist in the pulpit (no suit and tie anymore)
* Removing the pews
* Adding lots of multimedia (movie clips, etc)
* Shortening sermons
* Using paraphrases instead of reliable translations in preaching and teaching
* Removing an invitation
* Often participate in interdenominational activities (The “seeker sensitive” often believes that we are not to judge other people’s faith)
* Expanding the song service, usually with contemporary songs on a screen
* Eliminating the eldership and promoting coaches
* Replace “saving the lost” with “reaching the unchurched”
* Evangelist becomes “the pastor”.
We saw a good example of this as we were traveling back from Delmarva Family Camp. We went by a church which had a sign outside of it that read: A church for a people who don’t like church. A church with a sign like that, seems to be a church that does what it can to be a “seeker sensitive” church. When I mentioned this to someone at South Side, they said, I wonder if there will be a heaven for people who do not like heaven.
By studying the sermons of the Old and New Testament, I wonder how many of the spokesmen for God were “seeker sensitive”? I would venture to say that even Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount would not be classified as “seeker sensitive”.
I wonder just how “seeker sensitive” the prophet Elijah was. I am sure these words were said in a way as to not offend the idol worshippers of his day:
Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened (I Kings 18:27).
“Seeker sensitive”? I think not!
I wonder if we would classify John the Immerser’s sermons as “seeker sensitive”? When he saw the Pharisees and Sadducees coming out to be immersed, he said to them:
You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham (Matthew 3:7-9).
“Seeker sensitive”? I think not!
How about the “seeker sensitive” sermon of the Apostle Peter on the Day of Pentecost:
Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified and Be saved from this perverse generation! (Acts 2:36, 40).
“Seeker sensitive”? I think not!
It is interesting that the Apostles were not afraid of offending the lost—and even after offending them, 3000 people were immersed into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins on that day!
I want to be part of a church that is not necessarily “seeker sensitive” but rather is promoting the plan of the New Testament! I am glad that South Side is the latter!
And besides all this, the true “Seeker” is God! He is seeking fellowship with the church! He is seeking and saving those who are lost! He is seeking faithfulness in the church! He is the one and true living God who does not wish any to perish, but for all to come to eternal life. He is the God who seeks the lost and wants them to believe and be immersed in order to be saved—and if someone disbelieves that he should respond to the Gospel, he will be condemned (Mark 16:16).
“Seeker sensitive”? I think not!
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
The Love of Preaching
I love to hear good, solid, biblical preaching. You would expect to hear that from your preacher, though, I suppose. It is great to have many of you here at South Side that are as excited about good biblical preaching as I am. If you are like me, you expect to hear a good sermon when the church meets; whether on Sunday morning or evening, or at the county meeting. In fact, you may be disappointed when there isn’t a good, challenging message. Now there is nothing wrong with a few good songs, but nothing beats a good Bible-based sermon!
Along with this love to hear good preaching comes a lack of much patience for preaching that is not sound. I would much rather listen to a boring, but solid biblical preacher who stumbles on words than to listen to a polished preacher who may be able to motivate you, but couldn’t pass Bible 101.
I suppose that is why I love to go to family camps. From 9 AM—9 PM, with the exception of a few breaks, one can enjoy getting into God’s Word. I wish more from South Side could join my family as we travel to Delmarva and Hillsboro this month. I believe between the preaching, music and fellowship—you would love the camp meetings!
This is my twentieth year attending Hillsboro Family Camp in Ohio and my first one in Delmarva. And this is my first time to be asked to speak (at Delmarva). I consider it quite an honor to be on the same program as Lee Mason, Raymond Bennett, Kevin Yeager, and many others. I pray that I represent our Lord with my finest. And I also pray that I can do my best in representing South Side Church of Christ.
God has used preaching throughout human history to get His message out. Noah is called a “preacher of righteousness” in II Peter 2:5. And of course Solomon considered himself a preacher as recorded throughout the book of Ecclesiastes. John the Baptist was a preacher. Even Jesus, Himself, was a preacher. One of His greatest sermons recorded is in Matthew 5-7: the Sermon on the Mount.
The Apostle Paul told the church at Corinth in I Corinthians 1:21, “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe”.
Of course proclaiming the good news is every Christians’ ministry. Jesus commissioned the disciples to: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”
It was the Christians who “preached the Word” as they scattered away from Jerusalem because of persecution (Acts 8:4). Simply put, they shared the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus with everyone they had opportunity to talk with. And I am confident that they told the lost what they needed to do to be saved as they preached Jesus.
It has been wonderful to see several Christians here at South Side be excited about the Gospel! I pray that this trend will continue. You want your family, neighbors and friends to hear about the “one Lord, one faith, one immersion.”
One last thing: pray for boldness in preaching. But be prepared, because when you share the Gospel, you may be rejected. We should expect that because the early New Testament preachers were rejected. For that matter, Jesus Himself was rejected.
But there is great joy, even in heaven, when a sinner obeys the gospel. This makes any rejection worth the effort! May we continue to preach and teach the good news in all of it’s clarity!
Along with this love to hear good preaching comes a lack of much patience for preaching that is not sound. I would much rather listen to a boring, but solid biblical preacher who stumbles on words than to listen to a polished preacher who may be able to motivate you, but couldn’t pass Bible 101.
I suppose that is why I love to go to family camps. From 9 AM—9 PM, with the exception of a few breaks, one can enjoy getting into God’s Word. I wish more from South Side could join my family as we travel to Delmarva and Hillsboro this month. I believe between the preaching, music and fellowship—you would love the camp meetings!
This is my twentieth year attending Hillsboro Family Camp in Ohio and my first one in Delmarva. And this is my first time to be asked to speak (at Delmarva). I consider it quite an honor to be on the same program as Lee Mason, Raymond Bennett, Kevin Yeager, and many others. I pray that I represent our Lord with my finest. And I also pray that I can do my best in representing South Side Church of Christ.
God has used preaching throughout human history to get His message out. Noah is called a “preacher of righteousness” in II Peter 2:5. And of course Solomon considered himself a preacher as recorded throughout the book of Ecclesiastes. John the Baptist was a preacher. Even Jesus, Himself, was a preacher. One of His greatest sermons recorded is in Matthew 5-7: the Sermon on the Mount.
The Apostle Paul told the church at Corinth in I Corinthians 1:21, “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe”.
Of course proclaiming the good news is every Christians’ ministry. Jesus commissioned the disciples to: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”
It was the Christians who “preached the Word” as they scattered away from Jerusalem because of persecution (Acts 8:4). Simply put, they shared the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus with everyone they had opportunity to talk with. And I am confident that they told the lost what they needed to do to be saved as they preached Jesus.
It has been wonderful to see several Christians here at South Side be excited about the Gospel! I pray that this trend will continue. You want your family, neighbors and friends to hear about the “one Lord, one faith, one immersion.”
One last thing: pray for boldness in preaching. But be prepared, because when you share the Gospel, you may be rejected. We should expect that because the early New Testament preachers were rejected. For that matter, Jesus Himself was rejected.
But there is great joy, even in heaven, when a sinner obeys the gospel. This makes any rejection worth the effort! May we continue to preach and teach the good news in all of it’s clarity!
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Twenty Years and Counting!
The old saying is that “time flies when you are having fun”. It seems like yesterday that I began as an evangelist. It was twenty years ago this month (June 5, 1988) that the elders at the Central Christian Church in Tampa, FL, ordained me as an evangelist of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I had already been working as a youth evangelist. But as I graduated from Florida Christian College (May 1988), my desire was to preach. It was May 7, 1988, that the eldership at Lawshe Church of Christ in Seaman, OH, woke me up from my afternoon nap to interview me to become their evangelist. They liked me well enough that they flew me up so that I could preach two trial sermons on June 12, 1988. They were either desperate, or they really liked my preaching, as they wanted me to begin the following week! After packing up all my things in a large truck, I moved north and began full time at Lawshe on Father’s Day, June 19, 1988!
Being an evangelist involves a lot of things. Here are some specific things that Paul wrote to a couple of young evangelists in the first century.
Duties of an evangelist:
o Public Ministry of the Word
o (I Timothy 4:13)
o Herald the Message of Salvation
o (I Timothy 2:7)
o Remind the Saints of Basic Christian Virtues
o (Titus 3:1,2; I Timothy 4:16; 6:17-19)
o Rebuke Unchristian Attitudes and Actions
o (Titus 1:13; 2:15; II Timothy 4:3)
o Warn Divisive People
o (Titus 3:10,11)
o Preach the Word
o (II Timothy 4:1,2)
o Teach
o (I Timothy 4:11)
o Passing onto others what he has been taught
o (II Timothy 2:2)
o Set things in order
o (Titus 1:5)
o Train and install Godly men into leadership positions
o (I Timothy 3:1-12; Titus 1:5-9; I Timothy 5:22)
o Rebuke those who sin and deal with them
o (Titus 3:10; I Timothy 5:20)
o See that Widows are properly cared for
o (I Timothy 5:3-16)
o Responsible for proper conduct within the Assembly
o (I Timothy 2 - Paul instructs Timothy on the proper conduct of men in prayer, women, etc.)
o Guarding against False Teaching
o (I Timothy 4:1-6; Titus 1:10-14)
o Servant
o (II Timothy 2:24)
o Student
o (II Timothy 2:15) The word “diligent” (NASB) or "Study” (KJV) means to “become a master-craftsman.”
WOW! That is a lot of things! Thankfully here at South Side, I have a great group of elders who encourage and support me completely and assist me in doing the work of an evangelist! The congregation has also been wonderful in loving and taking care of my family. Thank you for your patience and encouragement. I consider it an honor and a privilege to be the evangelist at South Side Church of Christ.
Being an evangelist involves a lot of things. Here are some specific things that Paul wrote to a couple of young evangelists in the first century.
Duties of an evangelist:
o Public Ministry of the Word
o (I Timothy 4:13)
o Herald the Message of Salvation
o (I Timothy 2:7)
o Remind the Saints of Basic Christian Virtues
o (Titus 3:1,2; I Timothy 4:16; 6:17-19)
o Rebuke Unchristian Attitudes and Actions
o (Titus 1:13; 2:15; II Timothy 4:3)
o Warn Divisive People
o (Titus 3:10,11)
o Preach the Word
o (II Timothy 4:1,2)
o Teach
o (I Timothy 4:11)
o Passing onto others what he has been taught
o (II Timothy 2:2)
o Set things in order
o (Titus 1:5)
o Train and install Godly men into leadership positions
o (I Timothy 3:1-12; Titus 1:5-9; I Timothy 5:22)
o Rebuke those who sin and deal with them
o (Titus 3:10; I Timothy 5:20)
o See that Widows are properly cared for
o (I Timothy 5:3-16)
o Responsible for proper conduct within the Assembly
o (I Timothy 2 - Paul instructs Timothy on the proper conduct of men in prayer, women, etc.)
o Guarding against False Teaching
o (I Timothy 4:1-6; Titus 1:10-14)
o Servant
o (II Timothy 2:24)
o Student
o (II Timothy 2:15) The word “diligent” (NASB) or "Study” (KJV) means to “become a master-craftsman.”
WOW! That is a lot of things! Thankfully here at South Side, I have a great group of elders who encourage and support me completely and assist me in doing the work of an evangelist! The congregation has also been wonderful in loving and taking care of my family. Thank you for your patience and encouragement. I consider it an honor and a privilege to be the evangelist at South Side Church of Christ.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
From Darkness to Light
I am currently reading a great book entitled “From Darkness to Light”. Each chapter is written by a different author. It is part of the Restoration Reprint Series of books. The book is about how people left the darkness of denominationalism and came into the light of New Testament Christianity. Ever since starting to read it, I have thought that we need a book like this today! If I were to write my conversion from denominationalism to New Testament Christianity, it would include the following:
I remember as a child, at a fairly young age, going forward one Sunday morning and saying the “sinner’s prayer”. The Wesleyan church which we attended believed that a person should be immersed, but only as an “outward sign of an inward act”. The building where my Dad took us to church did not have a baptistery in it. So a group of us kids went to the Nazarene church in town to be immersed. As I was lowered in the water, I was reminded that this immersion had nothing to do with my salvation. What saved me, according to their teaching, was God’s grace when I went up and repeated the “sinner’s prayer”.
I spent a few years after this in the Jehovah’s Witnesses, including being immersed as an “outward sign of an inward act” - this time into the Jehovah’s Witnesses. And then I spent a few years not going to any kind of church or “kingdom hall” at all.
This all changed in 1984. I am so grateful for the grace of God that He sent into my life some people who would help lead me out of darkness into the light. Two of those people would be my neighbors, the James family, who constantly invited me to attend the Central Christian Church near my home in Tampa. I am glad that they did not give up on me, but kept persevering as I kept promising that I would attend sometime.
I decided to finally attend and was surprised when I saw people actually carry their Bibles to church with them, and they used them! In fact, I attended a Sunday School class like I had never attended before. God used my new Sunday School teacher Daniel Hefner to teach me some of the basics of the faith. Dan’s goal was that we would learn. In order to meet this goal, he had us memorize Scripture. You read that right! My adult Sunday School teacher had us memorize Scriptures that I still have in my memory today. These Scriptures included verses that would help us win others to come to New Testament Christianity.
I am also thankful that God placed Edgar Harris into my life. Edgar Harris was the evangelist at Central Christian Church. God used him to set me straight on the order of salvation—belief, saved, baptized (as the Wesleyans and Jehovah’s Witnesses taught)? or belief, baptized, saved? All he really needed to do was quote Mark 16:16—He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. Edgar Harris became the “Aquila and Pricilla” in my life, as he explained to me “the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26). Using the Jule Miller film strip series, he taught several newcomers the basics of the faith, right in his own study. Between that and his solid Biblical preaching, he convinced me from the Bible that salvation does not take place when one lifts up their hand and says a prayer. Rather it happens when a repentant believer is lowered and then raised in the watery grave of baptism. I remember going up to him and telling him after the fifth film strip that I needed to be immersed, this time into Christ to have my sins finally removed. That evening, October 21, 1984, Edgar Harris immersed me into Christ to have all my sins washed away!
There were many others who would influence me during this time of my life. God used each of them to lead me to the New Testament position. I was so convinced of the restoration of New Testament Christianity that less than a year later I was in Bible college training at Florida Christian College to be an evangelist.
The plea to return to the New Testament position is so logical. And that plea must begin with winning people to Christ the way it was done in the first century church (as we read in the book of Acts).
I remember as a child, at a fairly young age, going forward one Sunday morning and saying the “sinner’s prayer”. The Wesleyan church which we attended believed that a person should be immersed, but only as an “outward sign of an inward act”. The building where my Dad took us to church did not have a baptistery in it. So a group of us kids went to the Nazarene church in town to be immersed. As I was lowered in the water, I was reminded that this immersion had nothing to do with my salvation. What saved me, according to their teaching, was God’s grace when I went up and repeated the “sinner’s prayer”.
I spent a few years after this in the Jehovah’s Witnesses, including being immersed as an “outward sign of an inward act” - this time into the Jehovah’s Witnesses. And then I spent a few years not going to any kind of church or “kingdom hall” at all.
This all changed in 1984. I am so grateful for the grace of God that He sent into my life some people who would help lead me out of darkness into the light. Two of those people would be my neighbors, the James family, who constantly invited me to attend the Central Christian Church near my home in Tampa. I am glad that they did not give up on me, but kept persevering as I kept promising that I would attend sometime.
I decided to finally attend and was surprised when I saw people actually carry their Bibles to church with them, and they used them! In fact, I attended a Sunday School class like I had never attended before. God used my new Sunday School teacher Daniel Hefner to teach me some of the basics of the faith. Dan’s goal was that we would learn. In order to meet this goal, he had us memorize Scripture. You read that right! My adult Sunday School teacher had us memorize Scriptures that I still have in my memory today. These Scriptures included verses that would help us win others to come to New Testament Christianity.
I am also thankful that God placed Edgar Harris into my life. Edgar Harris was the evangelist at Central Christian Church. God used him to set me straight on the order of salvation—belief, saved, baptized (as the Wesleyans and Jehovah’s Witnesses taught)? or belief, baptized, saved? All he really needed to do was quote Mark 16:16—He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. Edgar Harris became the “Aquila and Pricilla” in my life, as he explained to me “the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26). Using the Jule Miller film strip series, he taught several newcomers the basics of the faith, right in his own study. Between that and his solid Biblical preaching, he convinced me from the Bible that salvation does not take place when one lifts up their hand and says a prayer. Rather it happens when a repentant believer is lowered and then raised in the watery grave of baptism. I remember going up to him and telling him after the fifth film strip that I needed to be immersed, this time into Christ to have my sins finally removed. That evening, October 21, 1984, Edgar Harris immersed me into Christ to have all my sins washed away!
There were many others who would influence me during this time of my life. God used each of them to lead me to the New Testament position. I was so convinced of the restoration of New Testament Christianity that less than a year later I was in Bible college training at Florida Christian College to be an evangelist.
The plea to return to the New Testament position is so logical. And that plea must begin with winning people to Christ the way it was done in the first century church (as we read in the book of Acts).
Monday, March 31, 2008
The Ancient Paths
When I was at Florida Christian College and taking Hebrew under the late Dr. W.W. Winter, I used the Hebrew name “Yirmeyahu” in class. I am sure you are wondering who “Yirmeyahu” was, never having heard that name in your Old Testament reading. It was simply the name Jeremiah, just spoken in the Hebrew dialect. There were basically two main reasons that I chose to use the name of the great prophet Jeremiah in Hebrew class. One of them is not that I was always crying (he is known as the “weeping prophet”).
The first reason was Jeremiah 20:9—But if I say, “I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name”, Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it. As a future evangelist in the mid 1980’s, this verse of Jeremiah became like a theme verse as I prepared to go out and preach the Gospel. Nothing could shut me up because the message was like a fire in my bones—I was weary of holding it in! Wouldn’t that be a great attitude for all Christians about sharing the Gospel?
The second reason was Jeremiah 6:16—Thus says the LORD, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ As I continued to be taught about the foundations of the faith at FCC, this verse was a constant reminder to go back to the “ancient paths”! If you will—go back and restore the New Testament Church! Go back to the “old paths” - the New Testament!
Too often in the New Testament church, we are more concerned about “new things” than we are the ancient order of things.
I remember being in Nazareth at the church building built overtop of the traditional home of Jesus. The guide was very proud of the building and as he lead us through the courtyard, he pointed out the new baptistery the church had put in. As the 40 or so Church of Christ members looked over, all we saw was what looked like a bird bath. It was obviously a place to sprinkle or pour water onto someone. As we continued on our tour into the ancient ruins underneath the modern church—we came upon something that looked like an ancient hot tub. It was obvious to us that it was an ancient baptistery used to immerse. We asked the guide what that was and he answered, “That was the ancient way of baptizing people”.
Wow! The old paths! The ancient ways! The old Jerusalem Gospel and the old ship Zion! What has happened to preaching and teaching of the Old stuff—just some good old fashioned Gospel preaching?
While at FCC I also was privileged to study under Dr. James Smith. “Doc Smith” as we called him (or “Doc”), is a great preacher and teacher of the ancient paths. He is also a great scholar. Doc Smith wrote the whole Old Testament commentary set for College Press. He also wrote a couple of those Bible Study Textbook Series Commentaries. In his one on “Jeremiah and Lamentations” he writes, “True reformers are not those who are advocating new things but those who give due weight to old truths. The person who walks the old path will find spiritual rest for his soul. He will live a life free from anxiety about the here and now and the hereafter as well.”*
South Side—lets be a church that is constantly looking back to the “old paths”! Lets be a church that is continually devoted to the Apostles’ teaching! Lets be a church that is restoring New Testament Christianity, always seeking the “old paths”! The Bible is our source of absolute authority—for the things we do in the church building and for our lives!
Have you ever felt all alone in this endeavor? Don’t feel bad, even Jeremiah was told that the people would not walk in the old paths! So, if sometimes you have this feeling—keep pressing on! For as we do, we ensure salvation for ourselves and for those we lead to Christ.
*Bible Study Textbook Series: Jeremiah and Lamentations, Dr. James Smith, College Press, 1972, p. 214.
The first reason was Jeremiah 20:9—But if I say, “I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name”, Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it. As a future evangelist in the mid 1980’s, this verse of Jeremiah became like a theme verse as I prepared to go out and preach the Gospel. Nothing could shut me up because the message was like a fire in my bones—I was weary of holding it in! Wouldn’t that be a great attitude for all Christians about sharing the Gospel?
The second reason was Jeremiah 6:16—Thus says the LORD, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ As I continued to be taught about the foundations of the faith at FCC, this verse was a constant reminder to go back to the “ancient paths”! If you will—go back and restore the New Testament Church! Go back to the “old paths” - the New Testament!
Too often in the New Testament church, we are more concerned about “new things” than we are the ancient order of things.
I remember being in Nazareth at the church building built overtop of the traditional home of Jesus. The guide was very proud of the building and as he lead us through the courtyard, he pointed out the new baptistery the church had put in. As the 40 or so Church of Christ members looked over, all we saw was what looked like a bird bath. It was obviously a place to sprinkle or pour water onto someone. As we continued on our tour into the ancient ruins underneath the modern church—we came upon something that looked like an ancient hot tub. It was obvious to us that it was an ancient baptistery used to immerse. We asked the guide what that was and he answered, “That was the ancient way of baptizing people”.
Wow! The old paths! The ancient ways! The old Jerusalem Gospel and the old ship Zion! What has happened to preaching and teaching of the Old stuff—just some good old fashioned Gospel preaching?
While at FCC I also was privileged to study under Dr. James Smith. “Doc Smith” as we called him (or “Doc”), is a great preacher and teacher of the ancient paths. He is also a great scholar. Doc Smith wrote the whole Old Testament commentary set for College Press. He also wrote a couple of those Bible Study Textbook Series Commentaries. In his one on “Jeremiah and Lamentations” he writes, “True reformers are not those who are advocating new things but those who give due weight to old truths. The person who walks the old path will find spiritual rest for his soul. He will live a life free from anxiety about the here and now and the hereafter as well.”*
South Side—lets be a church that is constantly looking back to the “old paths”! Lets be a church that is continually devoted to the Apostles’ teaching! Lets be a church that is restoring New Testament Christianity, always seeking the “old paths”! The Bible is our source of absolute authority—for the things we do in the church building and for our lives!
Have you ever felt all alone in this endeavor? Don’t feel bad, even Jeremiah was told that the people would not walk in the old paths! So, if sometimes you have this feeling—keep pressing on! For as we do, we ensure salvation for ourselves and for those we lead to Christ.
*Bible Study Textbook Series: Jeremiah and Lamentations, Dr. James Smith, College Press, 1972, p. 214.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Gospel in a Nutshell
My Mom loved to go to a restaurant where we could throw the nutshells on the floor. As you walk in, there was a big barrel of peanuts and you could fill up your pail and take it to the table with you. One of her last birthdays we celebrated together before her death, we went to one of these restaurants. Every time I go to a restaurant today where you can do this (which isn’t very often), I am reminded of different passages of Scripture referred to as the “Gospel in a nutshell”. Usually what is meant by that, is the Gospel is presented in a clear, concise package.
One such text is I Corinthians 15:1-8:
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
To summarize the Gospel from this passage:
* Jesus died, according to Scripture
* Jesus was buried
* Jesus rose from the grave, according to Scriptures
* All this was confirmed by eyewitness testimony
That puts the Gospel in a very clear, concise manner. If you will, the “Gospel in a nutshell”. If we believe that a person must start with hearing the Gospel—this would be at least a good place to start.
I remember hearing Ed Bousman speak of an experience he had one time at a meeting in Cincinnati of some big denominational preacher. As he described the sermon, he said it was one of the best sermons on the blood of Christ that he had heard. He continued on, though and said that the only problem with it was (and this is a BIG problem), the preacher didn’t tell us how to apply that blood. So I Corinthians 15 may lay out the groundwork for sharing the Gospel, but how do I apply it to my life?
One other passage I like to think is the “Gospel in a nutshell” is Acts 8:35:
Then Phillip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture (Isaiah 53) he preached Jesus to him.
Now you ask, where is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus in that passage! You would have to open up your Old Testaments to Isaiah 53 to find out about the death of Jesus—that is what the Ethiopian was reading. But Luke, the author of the book of Acts, summarizes the Gospel in the translated phrase “he preached Jesus to him”. “Preaching Jesus” is pretty concise and to the point. But what did it mean?
* To “preach Jesus”, is to share Jesus!
* To “preach Jesus” is to share His death!
* To “preach Jesus” is to share His burial!
* To “preach Jesus” is to share His resurrection!
* To “preach Jesus” is to share His love!
* To “preach Jesus” is to share His grace!
* To “preach Jesus” is to share how to apply this whole event to our lives.
All one has to do is to look at the very next verse in Acts 8 and you will find one of the things that “preaching Jesus” included:
As they traveled along the road they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
(Acts 8:36)
How did the Ethiopian Eunuch know he needed to be immersed UNLESS the preaching of Jesus included it? Now I challenge you to go back through the other conversion accounts in the book of Acts and see what sharing Jesus meant! Read through sermons! You will find the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. But you will also find the need for the non-Christian to believe this Gospel and to apply it to his or her life by repenting of sin, confessing Christ, being immersed into Christ for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit, and then continued faithful living!
Lets all learn the “Gospel in a nutshell”. And then lets all “preach Jesus” - share our faith in Christ!
Your evangelist,
Kevin
One such text is I Corinthians 15:1-8:
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
To summarize the Gospel from this passage:
* Jesus died, according to Scripture
* Jesus was buried
* Jesus rose from the grave, according to Scriptures
* All this was confirmed by eyewitness testimony
That puts the Gospel in a very clear, concise manner. If you will, the “Gospel in a nutshell”. If we believe that a person must start with hearing the Gospel—this would be at least a good place to start.
I remember hearing Ed Bousman speak of an experience he had one time at a meeting in Cincinnati of some big denominational preacher. As he described the sermon, he said it was one of the best sermons on the blood of Christ that he had heard. He continued on, though and said that the only problem with it was (and this is a BIG problem), the preacher didn’t tell us how to apply that blood. So I Corinthians 15 may lay out the groundwork for sharing the Gospel, but how do I apply it to my life?
One other passage I like to think is the “Gospel in a nutshell” is Acts 8:35:
Then Phillip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture (Isaiah 53) he preached Jesus to him.
Now you ask, where is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus in that passage! You would have to open up your Old Testaments to Isaiah 53 to find out about the death of Jesus—that is what the Ethiopian was reading. But Luke, the author of the book of Acts, summarizes the Gospel in the translated phrase “he preached Jesus to him”. “Preaching Jesus” is pretty concise and to the point. But what did it mean?
* To “preach Jesus”, is to share Jesus!
* To “preach Jesus” is to share His death!
* To “preach Jesus” is to share His burial!
* To “preach Jesus” is to share His resurrection!
* To “preach Jesus” is to share His love!
* To “preach Jesus” is to share His grace!
* To “preach Jesus” is to share how to apply this whole event to our lives.
All one has to do is to look at the very next verse in Acts 8 and you will find one of the things that “preaching Jesus” included:
As they traveled along the road they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
(Acts 8:36)
How did the Ethiopian Eunuch know he needed to be immersed UNLESS the preaching of Jesus included it? Now I challenge you to go back through the other conversion accounts in the book of Acts and see what sharing Jesus meant! Read through sermons! You will find the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. But you will also find the need for the non-Christian to believe this Gospel and to apply it to his or her life by repenting of sin, confessing Christ, being immersed into Christ for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit, and then continued faithful living!
Lets all learn the “Gospel in a nutshell”. And then lets all “preach Jesus” - share our faith in Christ!
Your evangelist,
Kevin
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Lunar Eclipse
Tonight my family and I watched the lunar eclipse together. The picture shows our view right before it was completely covered. It was a beautiful, clear and cold night here in Illinois. The next full lunar eclipse does not occur until December 20, 2010.When I see events like this, it reminds me of our Great Creator God, who with His word. On the fourth day of creation the Bible says, "Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so.16 God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also. God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day" (Genesis 1:14-19).
Great is our Lord and worthy to be praised!
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Confidence in Christ!
This month South Side has the privilege of hosting the Vermilion County Churches of Christ and Christian Churches County Meeting. And I, as the evangelist here, have the privilege to preach! This year it happens to fall on President Abraham Lincoln’s 199th birthday. Being in the Land of Lincoln, we will celebrate our heritage as a nation.
As I have been planning for this great meeting, I have come across some interesting facts in regard to Lincoln and his possible immersion into Christ. The debate on whether he was immersed or not has been around since Lincoln’s untimely death.
David Lipscomb mentions the debate in the July 24, 1873, edition of the Gospel Advocate:
Quite an interesting discussion is going on as to whether Mr. Lincoln was a believer in the Bible and in Jesus Christ. One of his biographers, an intimate, personal friend, pretty clearly proves that he was an infidel and ridiculed the Bible and the claims of Jesus to be the Christ until the end of his life. Others present pretty conclusive evidence that he did acknowledge a change in his opinion about Christ, before his death. He often, after the forms of public rulers, expressed a reliance on God and Christ in his public proclamations.
Gospel Advocate, July 24, 1873, 691.
There basically are two stories told about Lincoln and his invitation to be immersed. One takes place in Springfield, IL, and the other in Washington, D.C.
The immersion in Springfield is described by James DeForrest Murch:
There is a tradition among Illinois Disciples that John O’Kane, when state evangelist, discussed the state of Lincoln’s soul with him on several occasions; finally he was convicted and wished to be immersed. He reportedly knew that his wife, who had strong Episcopal and Presbyterian social obligations in Springfield, would be greatly embarrassed if it were known that a “Campbellite” evangelist had baptized him. But one night, Lincoln slipped away from the house with proper garments for baptism, met O’Kane and was immersed in the waters of the Sangamon River.
Christians Only, Standard Publishing, 1962, p. 155.
The other story was submitted by W.R. Lowe:
W. H. Morris told me that in 1862, while his regiment was in Washington, or just across the river in Arlington Heights, he held a protracted meeting of about two weeks, during which he baptized many of the soldiers of his regiment. Mr. Lincoln and his Cabinet attended his meeting. Mr. Lincoln and Secretary Stanton attended nearly every night and, near the close of the meeting, Mr. Lincoln came to him and said, “Morris, do you think it necessary for every person to be baptized?” He replied: “It is not a matter of think-so with me! It is a matter of revelation. Jesus said, ‘Go and teach all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’ ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.’ And Peter, by the Holy Spirit, said, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins.’” When he had made these quotations from the old Book, Mr. Lincoln said: “Well, Morris, I look at this matter just as you do, and I intend to attend to it.” Bro. Morris says he thinks from what he saw that Secretary Stanton and other members of his Cabinet persuaded him to defer the matter for the time being, and he never had a favorable opportunity after that, or, at least, he never attended to it.
W. R. Lowe, “An Interesting Incident,” Christian Standard, January 21, 1911.
I doubt a biography will ever be written about me. But if one is written, just for the record, I was immersed on October 21, 1984, at the Central Christian Church in Tampa, Florida, by evangelist Edgar Harris.
We should have confidence in Christ!
There is a tradition among Illinois Disciples that John O’Kane, when state evangelist, discussed the state of Lincoln’s soul with him on several occasions; finally he was convicted and wished to be immersed. He reportedly knew that his wife, who had strong Episcopal and Presbyterian social obligations in Springfield, would be greatly embarrassed if it were known that a “Campbellite” evangelist had baptized him. But one night, Lincoln slipped away from the house with proper garments for baptism, met O’Kane and was immersed in the waters of the Sangamon River.Christians Only, Standard Publishing, 1962, p. 155.
The other story was submitted by W.R. Lowe:
W. H. Morris told me that in 1862, while his regiment was in Washington, or just across the river in Arlington Heights, he held a protracted meeting of about two weeks, during which he baptized many of the soldiers of his regiment. Mr. Lincoln and his Cabinet attended his meeting. Mr. Lincoln and Secretary Stanton attended nearly every night and, near the close of the meeting, Mr. Lincoln came to him and said, “Morris, do you think it necessary for every person to be baptized?” He replied: “It is not a matter of think-so with me! It is a matter of revelation. Jesus said, ‘Go and teach all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’ ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.’ And Peter, by the Holy Spirit, said, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins.’” When he had made these quotations from the old Book, Mr. Lincoln said: “Well, Morris, I look at this matter just as you do, and I intend to attend to it.” Bro. Morris says he thinks from what he saw that Secretary Stanton and other members of his Cabinet persuaded him to defer the matter for the time being, and he never had a favorable opportunity after that, or, at least, he never attended to it.W. R. Lowe, “An Interesting Incident,” Christian Standard, January 21, 1911.
I doubt a biography will ever be written about me. But if one is written, just for the record, I was immersed on October 21, 1984, at the Central Christian Church in Tampa, Florida, by evangelist Edgar Harris.
We should have confidence in Christ!
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Front and Center!
What are the most important aspects to the Church of Christ? What are those things which we believe should be “Front and Center”. This phrase means to have “the most prominent position”. It means to be at the forefront. There are some things in the assembly that are more important than others.
Many Churches of Christ/Christian Churches, lose sight of the things that should be most prominent. There are churches more interested in entertainment than in evangelism. Many are more interested in an upbeat song service than a sermon with depth. Other churches put emphasis on buildings, programs and many other things that are never “front and center” in the Scriptures.
I have always taught that there are two main purposes in the church. No, you don’t have to write me a large check and go through a forty day program to tell you the purpose of the church. I can summarize it within the two columns of this newsletter!
Everything the church does, should fall into one of the following two categories. My prayer for the church is that the church would bring these two aspects back to FRONT and CENTER!
The first one is evangelism. Jesus commissioned us to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 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). And again Jesus told His disciples to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16).
The church is to preach the Gospel! We are to try to convert the lost (notice I did not use the popular term “unchurched” which is not found in the New Testament—I personally want to convert both the “unchurched” and the “churched” if they are outside of Christ). The church does this by sharing their faith and by the teaching and preaching the truth.
The second purpose of the church that needs to be brought back to front and center is building the church up. The Apostle Paul told the church at Ephesus that Jesus had given leadership gifts to the church. He then went on and told the church what these gifts were for. The Apostle writes, He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 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 4:11-13).
Notice the purpose of leadership is to equip the saints (that is the church) for works of service and build up the body of Christ. Notice it is NOT the role of leadership to do all the work in the assembly. No, rather, it is the role of leadership (evangelists and pastor/teachers—or elders) to equip the church for the work of service!
Wouldn’t it be great if every member at South Side brought these two purposes back to front and center—and yes, it takes every member?
In closing let me lists some other things that should be front and center in the church:
The Apostles’ Doctrine—what happened to a good Gospel sermon? I love good Christian music with good messages, but replacing the preaching of the Gospel with a song service is not taught in Scriptures!
Christian fellowship—the Biblical word fellowship has to do with participation and sharing. This not only involves a fellowship dinner, but giving of an offering—participating in the Gospel!
The Lord’s Supper—literally needs to be brought front and center! Many churches have placed the Lord’s Supper somewhere other than a prominent place in the assembly!
Prayers—The church needs to be known as a house of prayer.
If you didn’t notice—I believe we need to put front and center what the early church put front and center! Luke records it this way: They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42).
Alright church—FRONT and CENTER!
Many Churches of Christ/Christian Churches, lose sight of the things that should be most prominent. There are churches more interested in entertainment than in evangelism. Many are more interested in an upbeat song service than a sermon with depth. Other churches put emphasis on buildings, programs and many other things that are never “front and center” in the Scriptures.
I have always taught that there are two main purposes in the church. No, you don’t have to write me a large check and go through a forty day program to tell you the purpose of the church. I can summarize it within the two columns of this newsletter!
Everything the church does, should fall into one of the following two categories. My prayer for the church is that the church would bring these two aspects back to FRONT and CENTER!
The first one is evangelism. Jesus commissioned us to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 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). And again Jesus told His disciples to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16).
The church is to preach the Gospel! We are to try to convert the lost (notice I did not use the popular term “unchurched” which is not found in the New Testament—I personally want to convert both the “unchurched” and the “churched” if they are outside of Christ). The church does this by sharing their faith and by the teaching and preaching the truth.
The second purpose of the church that needs to be brought back to front and center is building the church up. The Apostle Paul told the church at Ephesus that Jesus had given leadership gifts to the church. He then went on and told the church what these gifts were for. The Apostle writes, He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 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 4:11-13).
Notice the purpose of leadership is to equip the saints (that is the church) for works of service and build up the body of Christ. Notice it is NOT the role of leadership to do all the work in the assembly. No, rather, it is the role of leadership (evangelists and pastor/teachers—or elders) to equip the church for the work of service!
Wouldn’t it be great if every member at South Side brought these two purposes back to front and center—and yes, it takes every member?
In closing let me lists some other things that should be front and center in the church:
The Apostles’ Doctrine—what happened to a good Gospel sermon? I love good Christian music with good messages, but replacing the preaching of the Gospel with a song service is not taught in Scriptures!
Christian fellowship—the Biblical word fellowship has to do with participation and sharing. This not only involves a fellowship dinner, but giving of an offering—participating in the Gospel!
The Lord’s Supper—literally needs to be brought front and center! Many churches have placed the Lord’s Supper somewhere other than a prominent place in the assembly!
Prayers—The church needs to be known as a house of prayer.
If you didn’t notice—I believe we need to put front and center what the early church put front and center! Luke records it this way: They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42).
Alright church—FRONT and CENTER!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
