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"...Shepherd the flock of God which is among
you, serving as overseers..." (1 Peter 5:2)
Elders
Morris Bass, Rick Holt , Joe
Price |
"...let them serve as deacons,
being found blameless..." (1 Tim. 3:10)
Deacons
Aaron Bass, Rich Brooks, Mike Finn
John Hague, Dan Head |
"And take...the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17)
In this issue:
Gospel Meeting
Hold the Traditions
Sermon Outlines:
Noteworthy News:
"I made it
rain"
Gospel Meeting
The Mt. Baker church of Christ
(1860 Mt. Baker Highway, Bellingham, WA)
invites you to our
GOSPEL MEETING
with Evangelist
Harry Osborne
(Lutz, Florida)
Sept. 26 - Oct. 1, 2004
Monday-Friday: 7:00 PM
(Sunday: 9:30 & 10:30 AM, 6:00 PM)
Learn about New Testament Christianity!
Hear the gospel of Jesus Christ! (Romans 1:16)
Monday: The Inspiration of the Scriptures
Tuesday: First Principles of the Gospel
Wednesday: Godly and Loving Homes
Thursday: Thy Speech Betrayeth Thee
Friday: Almost Persuaded
(From I-5 take Exit # 255 and go East 4.2 miles)
For more information, please call (360) 752-2692
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Hold the Traditions
Joe R. Price
Every
one of us have some tradition that is a part of our life, even if it is
nothing more than squeezing the tube of toothpaste from the bottom!
Really, we all live with many traditions every day.
The word “tradition” with its shades of meaning is at times used with
disdain by New Testament Christians. We are warned against the dangers
of the religious and philosophical traditions of men (Mk. 7:8-9, 13;
Col. 2:8). On the other hand, the gospel of Christ is also described as
a “tradition” in the New Testament (1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Ths. 2:15; 3:6). So,
what is the difference?
Defining words is crucial to understanding any subject. The word
translated “tradition” in the New Testament (paradosis) means
“giving over, giving up…a giving over which is done by word of mouth or
in writing, i.e. tradition by instruction, narrative, precept,
etc....objectively, that which is delivered, the substance of a
teaching” (Thayer, 481). So, a tradition is something that is
handed over or handed down from one to another. For example, we
commonly think of traditions as generational, such as parents handing
down some family tradition to their children.
The traditions of men originate in the minds of men and are given
over or handed down to others through verbal teaching and/or
written words. The Jewish “traditions of the elders”, which
often conflicted with a “commandment of God”, are a case in point
(Matt. 15:2-3, 6). Religious doctrines and practices that were started
by men and handed down to others can never hold equal authority with the
word of God (Gal. 1:6-9). Hundreds of human religious traditions are
practiced today in the name of God. To bind human traditions upon men
as necessary in order to please God renders said traditions spiritually
worthless and deceitful (Col. 2:8, 20-23). Truly, to do so is to make
“void the word of God” (Matt. 15:6).
There are also traditions that have been delivered to man from God. The
Corinthians were praised by the apostle for keeping the traditions
“just as I delivered them to you” (1 Cor. 11:2). Since it is
“the faith” (gospel) that has been delivered from heaven to man by
inspired men, it is apparent that Paul is commending the Corinthian
Christians for staying true to the inspired gospel of Christ (Jude 3).
The gospel is called “traditions” because they have been given
over or handed down from God to man. Truth – the God-given
traditions – were transmitted to the world verbally and then in written
form (2 Ths. 2:15). We are expected to “stand fast and hold the
traditions” of God (2 Ths. 2:15). The truth handed over from God to
man is the God-approved instruction that contains all things that
pertain to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3; cf. Jno. 17:17). So, if we
do not live according to the “traditions” received from the
apostles (the gospel), our life is described as “disorderly”
before men and God (2 Ths. 3:6). God expects us to order our lives
after His revealed truth that He has handed down to us through the
apostles of Christ Jesus.
Let us all be careful to walk in the traditions given to us by God in
the gospel of Christ. There are no better traditions to hand down to
our children than these!
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Be Merciful as your Father is
Merciful
Scripture Reading:
Luke 7:36-43
Lk. 7:36-50: Simon the Pharisee
and the woman – Which one more nearly depicts our view of ourselves, of
others & of Jesus?
I. A
PICTURE OF GODLY SORROW,
Lk.7:36-38
A. Godly
Sorrow does not occur…
1. Just because the sinner “got caught” – cf. Ezra 9:6; 10:1 (Neh.
8:9).
2. In order to be seen & praised by others (Matt. 6:16-18).
3. As a prideful display of humility – cf. Matt. 23:5-8, 12; 6:5-6; Lk.
18:9-10, 14.
B. Godly Sorrow Comes from Conviction of One’s Own Sin (Psa. 38:3-5) –
7:37-38; Lk. 5:8; 18:13; Jno. 16:8; Acts 2:37; 2 Cor. 7:9, 10
II. A
PICTURE OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS,
7:39
A. It is
Void of Compassion & Mercy, 1 Jno. 3:17; Col. 3:12-13.
B. A Condescending Superiority.
III. OUR
NEED FOR MERCY COMPELS US TO BE MERCIFUL,
Lk. 7:40-47.
A. Know
our Sin – Lk. 7:40-42a.
B. God has Shown Rich Mercy toward us – 7:42b; cf. Rom. 5:6-8; Eph.
2:4-5.
C. The Affect of God’s Mercy – Lk. 7:42b-47
IV.
FAITH TO OBTAIN MERCY FROM CHRIST.
A. Her
Love was Result of her Forgiveness – Lk. 7:47-48; 1 Jno. 4:19 (4:10).
B. She was Saved by Faith – Lk. 7:50.
C. We Must have Faith to: (Heb. 11:6)
1. Go to Jesus for forgiveness (Matt. 11:28).
2. Admit sin, have godly sorrow & repent.
3. Love Christ (Jno. 14:15).
4. Love and forgive others as we have been loved & forgiven (Lk. 6:36;
Matt. 5:7; 6:14-15).
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Water Baptism: Who is to be
Baptized? (Part 3)
Scripture Reading: Matthew 18:1-5
Who is to be baptized:
Nobody? Everybody? Babies? Christians? Lost? Saved?
I. WHO
IS OBLIGATED TO BE BAPTIZED?
A. Those
to Whom the Gospel is Sent – Matt. 28:19; Mk. 16:15.
B. Its Prospects: All Who Desire Salvation – Mk. 16:15; Acts 2:21
(37-38, 41); 22:16; Rom. 10:13-15.
C. The Prerequisites of Baptism.
1. Hear (taught) gospel, Matt. 28:19; Ro. 10:13
2. Faith in Jesus as Christ – Jno. 8:24; 20:30-31.
3. Confess faith – Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:37.
4. The repentant – Acts 2:38; 17:30; 2 Pet. 3:9.
D. Moral & Spiritual Condition:
1. Moral capacity – Matt. 28:19.
2. Lost in sin, Mk. 16:16; Ac 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21.
3. Morally responsible & accountable.
II. WATER
BAPTISM IS NOT FOR:
A. Infants and Small Children,
Ac 8:12; Matt. 14:21; 15:38; Ac 21:5; Matt. 18:1-3; 19:14 (Rom. 5:12).
B. The Christian (already saved).
1. “After saving faith” (cf. Mk. 16:16).
2. “New birth before baptism” (Jno. 3:5).
3. “Essential to obedience” (Acts 10:48).
III. SUMMARY: BAPTISM IS…
A. For Believers Who Confess
Faith & Repent of Sins, Acts 18:8.
B. For Forgiveness of Sins & Fellowship with God, Ac 22:16; Gal. 3:26-27
C. For Salvation, Acts 2:37-38.
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NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the
light of Scripture)
"I made it
rain"
Joe R. Price
This has been an
extraordinary hurricane season for the southeastern United States, with
Florida taking the biggest beating (Charley, Frances and Ivan) with two
months left in the season.
Space fails us here to speak
at length of God’s control of the weather cycles: He created them, He fully
understands them and He uses them to accomplish His purposes. We are here
reminded of Elihu’s remarkable statement of God’s authority over and control
of nature:
6 For He says to the snow, ‘Fall
on the earth’; likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His
strength… 10 By the breath of God ice is given, And the broad waters are
frozen. 11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters
His bright clouds. 12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance,
that they may do whatever He commands them on the face of the whole earth.
13 He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for His land, or for
mercy. (Job 37:6,
10-13)
The power and terror of natural
calamity reminds the thoughtful person of his utter impotence before and
reliance upon the Almighty. Whether it be as a rod of correction or as
merciful relief, we cannot say unless the Lord reveals His intentions (as He
did at times; Gen. 6:13; 7:4; Deut. 11:16-17; 28:24; 1 Kgs. 17:1; 18:41-45).
But, we can observe His
power at work at such times and understand our need to be right with the One
who wields such strength. It should compel us to seek and Him (Acts
17:27-31). Israel did not repent and return to the
Lord when He sent them famine,
drought, crop failure, plagues, disease and warfare (Amos 4:6-11). God
“made it rain”, but Israel would not return to Him (4:7). Eventually,
Israel was told to “prepare to meet your God” (Amos 4:12). If we
fail to learn the lesson(s) taught by the mighty forces of nature, repent
and submit to God’s rule over us, our sin of obstinacy will finally be our
downfall (Amos 4:12-13).
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