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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:
Keeping
Appointments (Rick Holt)
Sermon Outlines:
Noteworthy News:
Waiting to Die...Waiting to
Live
Keeping Appointments
Rick Holt
We are a busy people. We have
many appointments that we keep each day of the week. Work, school, athletic
events, social events, doctors, meetings, etc., they all demand our time.
Many of us work a 40 hour week, sometimes more, in addition to the time we
have with our families and other activities. All of these occurrences take
up our time. We have to schedule our daily lives so we are on time for all
these events. Take our jobs for example, it is important that we are prompt
in reporting for work, or we can expect a meeting with our supervisor, or
are looked down on by fellow workers. Being late for work is never a good
thing---it suggests lack of commitment, indifference, laziness, etc. So we
make special efforts to make sure we are not late for our jobs, be it going
to bed a little earlier in the evening and waking up a few minutes earlier
each morning, or setting more than one alarm; we surely don’t want to be
late…or we will get in trouble.
Let’s not forget
other important appointments that we keep. We made a commitment as a
congregation to meet together on Sunday at 9:30 AM and 6:00 PM; and
Wednesday at 7:00 PM for the purpose of worshiping God as the body of
Christ. This means we are expected to be here at those times ready to
engage in worship and fellowship with each other and the Lord. Hebrews
10:24-25 states, “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to
love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the
habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the
day drawing near.” There was a problem the Hebrew writer was addressing,
the failure of some to attend the “assembling” of the saints.
Not the “assembly,” which
indicates one meeting; but the assembling, which covers a plurality of
meetings of the saints. Some had made a habit, (i.e. custom, manner,
routine, practice, tendency) of forsaking (i.e. abandoning, deserting,
leaving behind) the assembling together of the saints. We all know what a
habit is…and how hard it is to break. Forsaking the assembling of the
saints is a perilous habit. Do we put the same effort into being on time for
our assembling together as we do into getting to work? If not, why not?
Brethren, listen to the
scriptures, “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a
spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 2:5). “But you are A
CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN
POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called
you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9). Does our
promptness in being present for our assembling together reflect the facts
presented in these verses? When one is habitually late arriving to
services, it causes wonder and concern among the brethren. When one misses
the gathering together of us all, you are missed. The opportunity to have
fellowship with the saints and the Lord, to sing, to pray, to give, to
partake of the Lord’s Supper, and to hear the gospel message has been lost.
The opportunity has been lost whether it is a Sunday, Wednesday, or a gospel
meeting. What can we do for those who are weak in this area? “Let us
consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (Heb.
10:24). Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that
are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is
lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed” (Heb 12:
12-13). Let each one of us make every effort to be present at every
assembly of the saints, so, together, we can be built up in the most holy
faith. And encourage and strengthen those who are weak.
Brethren, there is another
appointment we all will keep, regardless! “For we must all appear before
the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his
deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad”
(2 Cor. 5:10). How will we answer for the times that there was something
else more important to us than to take the time to gather with the saints as
commanded? What will your answer be, brother or sister? “I stayed up too
late last night?” “I just did not feel like coming?” “I had company, and
did not want to leave them at home alone?” Brethren, listen to the
scriptures, "He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one
who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day”
(John 12:48). Brother or sister, will your answer stand in the Day of
Judgment?
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Bible Question Box: Forgiving Those who Sin Against Us
Scripture Reading:
Colossians 3:12-17
Jesus taught that our
forgiveness of those who sin against us directly affects the forgiveness we
receive from God – Matt. 18:21-35.
Question: Can you please clarify this for me?
-Eph.
4:32 is used to say we are to forgive as Christ forgives – meaning we
forgive when asked.
-Mk. 11:25-26 is used to say we forgive even if the person in sin doesn’t
ask for forgiveness.
-As Christians are we to forgive another if they do not ask us to forgive
when sinned against?
Answer:
Have a heart ready to forgive all sin, never failing to forgive whom God
forgives (Mk. 11:25-26).
I. WHAT
IS FORGIVENESS?
A. To
Send Away, Matt. 18:27; Rom. 4:7.
B. Forgiving Sinners is an Act of…
1. Mercy & grace, Psa. 51:1; Matt. 18:33.
2. Love, Rom. 5:8; 1 Jno. 4:7-11 (1 Pet. 4:8).
C. Being Forgiven is the Results of Obedient Faith, Eph. 2:8; Acts 17:30.
D. Forgiveness is Not…
II. WE
ARE TO FORGIVE OTHERS AS GOD FORGIVES US,
Eph. 4:32.
A. Always
(without limit), Matt. 18:21-22.
B. From Heart, Matt. 18:35; Col. 3:12-14; Psa. 86:5; Eph. 4:31.
III. WHAT
ABOUT WHEN SINNER DOES NOT SEEK OUR FORGIVENESS?
(Mk. 11:25-26)
A. Keep a
Heart that is Always Ready to Practice Forgiveness, Matt. 18:35 (Lk. 23:34),
Eph. 4:31; Rom. 12:17-21; Acts 7:60.
B. Actual Forgiveness Takes Place when God’s Conditions are Met, Acts
26:17-18.
Top
For more on The Seventh-day
Adventist Church, please go to
http://www.bibleanswer.com/adventist7.htm
The Seventh-day Adventist Church
Scripture Reading:
Colossians 2:11-17
SDA Church is among the fastest
growing Protestant denominations in the world (13.6 million members).
I.
ORIGIN OF THE SDA CHURCH.
A. Began
from Prophetic Failures of William Miller (Great Disappointment, Oct. 22,
1844).
B. Timeline of SDA Church.
II.
SOURCES OF AUTHORITY.
A. The
Holy Scriptures.
B. The Gift of Prophecy: Ellen G. White.
III.
SIN AND SALVATION.
A. SDA:
Men are Born Sinners (Original Sin). [Ezek. 18:20; Rom. 5:12-13]
B. SDA: How to be Saved - “Believe, repent & exercise faith.” [Acts
2:38; 3:19; Eph. 1:7]
IV. THE
TEN COMMANDMENTS & SABBATH.
A. SDA:
Ten Commandments are God’s Unchangeable Law & Binding on All.
B. SDA: Sabbath a Perpetual Command.
-Bible: Neh.
9:13-14; Deut. 5:1-3, 12-15; Exo. 31:13-17; Ezek. 20:12, 20; Col. 2:14-17.
V. OTHER SDA PRACTICES &
DOCTRINES.
A.
Tithing. [1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7]
B. Communion Service: Foot Washing & Lord’s Supper. [Jno. 13:12-17;
Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:23-26]
C. Death & Soul Sleep. [Gen. 2:17; 3:17-19; Rom. 5:12-15; 6:4, 11-13;
Lk. 16:19-31]
D. Annihilation of Wicked (no hell). [Matt. 10:28; 23:33; Mk. 9:43-48;
Rev. 20:10; 14:11]
E. Earth to Last Forever. [2 Pet. 3:10-13; Rev. 21:1; 1 Ths. 4:17]
Top
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the
light of Scripture)
Waiting to
Die...Waiting to Live
Joe R. Price
This week has been a death
watch in America and around the world. Terri Shiavo passed from this life
on Thursday, but the family feuding continues. Her decline to death is a
moral outrage; the Lord will judge. Jerry Falwell was put on a ventilator
due to a recurring bout with pneumonia, but is off it and improved. And
now, the world watches as Pope John Paul II weakens and the Roman Catholic
Church makes preparations for his death and the selection of his successor.
But, it is not just famous people who approach death. The advent of death
happens every day in hospitals around the world. At other times,
misfortunes happen and death comes suddenly (Eccl. 9:11). It wouldn’t hurt
us to read the obituaries from time to time and be reminded of death’s
nearness.
In one sense, we are all
waiting to die. Slowly but surely, the body declines until the silver cord
is broken (Eccl. 12:2-7). The certain approach of death gives all the more
urgency to “remember now your Creator in the days of your youth”
(Eccl. 12:1). The Christian heeds this call and puts the Lord’s will before
his own, knowing the brevity and uncertainty of life (Jas. 4:13-17).
So, in a real sense, although
Christians are waiting to die, we are also waiting to live. Yes, Christians
presently live with Christ (in spiritual life, Eph. 2:5; Col. 2:13). But
when death comes, mortality will be “swallowed up by life” for those
who presently walk by faith; in death they will be “with the Lord” (2
Cor. 5:1-8). This is our living hope in Christ (1 Pet. 1:3-5).
Yes, we all have an
appointment with death (Heb. 9:27). But, as Christians “wait to die” we
should also remember we are waiting to live – forevermore.
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