1860 Mt. Baker Hwy · Bellingham, WA 98226

Volume IV, Number 18 · July 9, 2000

Mt. Baker church of Christ: http://www.bibleanswer.com/mtbaker

BIBLE ANSWERS: http://www.bibleanswer.com

• Man's Wisdom & God's Truth
• "That's A Very Strict Church"
• Sermon Outlines:
• God's Advice To Youth (Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:1)
• "Is That Your Final Answer?!"
• Noteworthy News and Commentary: Flight Personnel Enraged by 'Air Rage' 

Sometimes men get it right. The following quotations are true because they agree with God's word, the Bible.

Long before any of these men lived, God spoke truth which we should believe and obey (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Before accepting the wisdom of men, be sure of God's word on the matter. -jrp

Consider these quotations:

"Men do less than they ought, unless they do all that they can." -Thomas Carlyle

{Read: 2 Corinthians 8:12}

"It is unfortunate, considering that enthusiasm moves the world, that so few enthusiasts can be trusted to speak the truth." -Arthur, 1st Earl of Balfour (1848-1930)

{Read: Romans 10:1-3}

"He who waits to do a great deal of good at once, will never do anything." -Samuel Johnson

{Read: Matthew 10:42}

"Maturity is not a matter of age. You have matured when you are no longer concerned with showing how clever you are, and give your full attention to getting the job done right. Many never reach that stage, no matter how old they get." -Thomas Sewell

{Read Hebrews 5:11-14}

"Rely more on the power of God and less on the power of money." -J. C. Penney

{Read: 1 Timothy 6:6-10}

"In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich." -Henry Ward Beecher

{Read: Matthew 16:25-26}

"Nor should we listen to those who say, 'The voice of the people is the voice of God', for the turbulence of the mob is always close to insanity." -Alcuin (c. 735-804) English Churchman

{Read: Matthew 7:13-14}

Ferman Carpenter

Most of us have heard someone say that certain congregations are too strict. Maybe some of them are, but maybe some of them are not. The only gauge we have to measure the "strictness" of a congregation is the Bible. God's word gives us instructions by which the church should be governed, how her people should live, and her mission. To overstep our bounds, either to be too strict or too lax, would be going against the teachings of the Bible.

Realistically, all churches of Christ should be equally strict. After all, the New Testament tells us that Jesus is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23). Since all congregations are to submit to the teachings of Jesus, all should have the same degree of strictness.

If a congregation has gone beyond the teaching of the Bible, and is imposing self-made standards upon its members, then it is too strict. But, on the other hand, if a congregation minimizes Bible doctrine and worship and lives without New Testament authority, then it is too lax. Thus by being too strict or too lax reveals a congregation that is not complying with the stands prescribed by God's Word. So, a sincere Christian would have to conclude that either course (too strict or too lax) is sinful and constitutes rebellion against the Master.

The true church of Christ will expect several things of its members: Be faithful in attendance (Heb. 10:25); Be generous, liberal, and sacrificial in giving (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-8); Be honest, moral, sober and upright in daily life (Tit. 2:11-15); Be sincere in commitment to God, His word and His church (Matt. 6:33).

The true church of Christ will accept the Lord's standard and expect its members to: Reject the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21); Reject ungodliness and worldly lusts (Tit. 2:12); Reject and abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thess. 5:22).

A true church of Christ will: Teach, reprove, rebuke, pray for and exert effort to restore the wayward member (2 Tim. 4:2); Admonish, try to reconvert and, if need be, withdraw from the impenitent and unfaithful (1 Cor. 5:4-5; 2 Thess. 3:10-15).

Yes, a true church of Christ is committed to the proposition that its members must walk in the steps of Jesus and be "faithful unto death." Such an attitude does not constitute excessive strictness but rather should be viewed as faithful obedience. Anything less is treason!

For the complete text of this sermon, visit BIBLE ANSWERS: http://www.bibleanswer.com/youth.htm

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:1

1. Youth face many choices - cf. Deut. 30:15.

2. Eccl. 11:9-12:1 - Divine advice -- Three "Rs".

I. REJOICE IN YOUR YOUTH - 11:9.

A. Being Young Is A Blessing From God-12:3-8 - Prov. 20:29. (1 Sam. 17:35-37(Psa. 27:1)

B. God Wants You to Enjoy Being Young!

1. Rejoice - "To be glad, to cheer up, be happy" - Pursue wholesome pleasure - 3:12-13, 22; 5:18; 11:8.

C. God Wants You To Know That You Will Answer To Him For Your Conduct While You Are Young.

-Accountability means you are responsible & that you will answer for your conduct. - 2 Cor. 5:10; Eccl. 12:14.

II. REMOVE THE CAUSE OF SORROW: SIN - 11:10.

A. Being Young Is Not An Excuse To Sin - Lk. 2:52.

B. Remove Sin From Your Life (The Cause Of Sorrow) - Psa. 119:9.

1. Become a Christian (H-B-R-C-B).

2. Live for Jesus - Be faithful (Matt. 7:21).

3. Run from sin & to good - 2 Tim. 2:22.

4. Be careful of the friends you choose - Prov. 1:10-16.

-2 Corinthians 7:1-

III. REMEMBER GOD - 12:1.

A. Think About God Now...Today And Every Day! - Prov. 3:1-2.

-Joseph, Samuel, David, Daniel & his friends, Timothy, Jesus.

B. Things That Will Help You Remember God:

-Josh. 24:15; Rom. 10:17; Heb. 5:9; 1 Ths. 5:17; Psa. 148:12-13; Eccl. 12:1.

For the complete outline of this sermon please visit BIBLE ANSWERS:

http://www.bibleanswer.com/finalans.htm

Scripture Reading: Job 40:1-5

Our "final answer" must agree with God's answers to be eternally saved! 1 Pet. 4:11; Gal. 1:8-9; Rev. 22:18-19

1. What does it mean to 'call on the name of the Lord?'

2. You can be saved like the thief on the cross by:

3. You will be saved by God as long as you:

1. The church of Christ is:

2. The one true Church is:

1. A false teacher is known by:

2. A false teacher is to be:

1. Bible fellowship is:

2. The Bible says to "have no fellowship" with:

3. When can Christians have fellowship with one who is in error or sin?

4. Romans 14 allows unity in diverse:

1. The use of instrumental music in worship is:

2. Morality is:

3. Marriage, divorce and remarriage is:

4. Modest dress:

NewsMax.com (July 7, 2000)

Airline workers trying to cope thousands of feet in the sky with out-of-control passengers say they've had it and won't take it anymore.

According to a Friday story in the Chicago Tribune:

Embattled and embittered personnel are letting passengers and members of Congress know that unruly customers who cannot control themselves and get physical with flight personnel who try to maintain order and civility aloft will be tolerated no longer.

They are joining hands worldwide in proclaiming this a "day of action against air rage," which they consider a safety hazard not only to air crews but to their passengers.

It's incidents such as these - on flights coming through Chicago's O'Hare International Airport alone - that have finally pushed the smiling helpers in the friendly skies over the edge:

• An Illinois man beat up an attendant on a flight inbound from England.

• A passenger who started removing his trousers as he walked down an aisle had to be subdued by several flight attendants.

• As his flight was landing, a male passenger beat and kicked an attendant.

• A British citizen on a flight from San Francisco was accused of head-butting a flight crew member, breaking the bridge of his nose.

http://www.newsmax.com/articles/?a=2000/7/7/85335 (edited for length, jrp)

Joe R. Price

Such conduct is deplorable and we are in complete sympathy with measures to retard and restrain such unruly behavior.

This misbehavior reminds me of two occasions in the life of Christ when He publicly and powerfully objected to the corruption of temple worship (Jno. 2:13-17; Matt. 21:12-13). Jesus did no wrong. Righteous indignation, born of devotion to true worship, fueled the Lord's zeal for His Father's house (Jno. 2:16-17; Psa. 69:9). The Lord took dramatic and drastic measures to demonstrate divine displeasure in man's perversions of worship.

Every faithful Christian needs a measure of righteous indignation. Zeal coupled with knowledge can be a forceful ally as we "contend earnestly for the faith," using the sword of the Spirit (instead of a whip of cords, Jno. 2:15) to "cast(ing) down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (Jude 3; 2 Cor. 10:5).

Like Jesus, our righteous indignation toward sin and error indicates faith and the zeal to apply one's faith to fruitful action (Jno. 2:17). To "be angry and sin not" encourages us to a level of disgust for evil and error which causes us to meditate upon how God wants us to respond, to "offer the sacrifices of righteousness" unto Him, and thus "put (our) trust in the Lord" (Eph. 4:26; Psa. 4:4-5). Brethren, we should be outraged by sin and error. Should not zeal for God's house, the church, eat us up?! (Jno. 2:17; 1 Tim. 3:15)

 The Spirit's Sword is a weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA

Send all questions/comments to the editor at: ssword@bibleanswer.com