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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:
Evidences for God
and the Bible
"What Must I Do To Be
Saved?"
Sermon Outlines:
Noteworthy News:
Rumors and Reckless Hyperbole
EVIDENCES FOR GOD AND THE BIBLE
June
17-19, 2005
with
David M. Bonner
Come Hear Faith
Building Lessons
Fri 17th
7:00 PM: The Age of the Earth
Sat 18th
5:00 PM: Science vs. Evolution
Sun 19th 9:30 AM: Scientific Evidences for God
10:30
AM: The God of Creation
6:00 PM: Scientific Evidences for the Bible
We invite you to come study the evidence
David M. Bonner presents to establish the existence of God, the Bible as the
Word of God, and to expose the numerous scientific and Biblical problems
with the popular theory of macro evolution. Dr. Bonner is well acquainted
with the tenants of evolutionary theory, having graduated from Stephen F.
Austin State University with a double major in chemistry and biology, with a
special emphasis in evolutionary biology studies. In addition, Dr. Bonner
holds a doctorate degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center
at San Antonio, Texas, as well as two post doctorate degrees. Please join us
as this man of faith reveals and refutes the errors of evolutionary science,
and shares the positive evidence for God and the Bible.
All are welcome!
Come & bring a friend!
Top
"What Must I Do To Be Saved?"
Joe R. Price
The person who asks this
question has come to a point in where he knows he is lost. One's willingness
to accept the presence of sin in his life is a significant step toward being
saved from it. In the book of Acts this question is asked on three separate
occasions. Each time the answer is given directly and without hesitation. It
is answered with clarity and urgency. And each time, the answer is obeyed
and the sinner is saved. If you are not a Christian you will find yourself
and your spiritual condition in these examples of conversion. Listen
carefully to God's answers to the question so you can be saved from your
sins.
1. People on Pentecost. Now when they heard
this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the
apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said to them,
"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit" (Acts 2:37-38). This Jewish audience on the day of Pentecost knew
their prophets spoke of a Savior, but they had rejected Jesus as the
fulfillment and crucified Him. Now, the miraculous event of that day not
only got their attention (so the apostles could preach the gospel to them),
it gave proof that the message of the apostles was from heaven: Jesus is
Lord and Christ. They had crucified their Savior! Hearing the gospel caused
them to believe that Jesus is the Christ. Now, what were they to do to be
saved from their sin against Him? They must repent and be baptized (Acts
2:38). Notice, they were not saved at the point of faith, otherwise the
answer to their question would have been very different. When people tell
you that salvation comes at the point of faith they are not giving you a
Bible answer. On Pentecost about 3,000 received the gospel and were
baptized; the Lord saved them and they were added together (Acts 2:42). The
church began and the Lord continued to add those who were being saved (in
the same way) to the church (Acts 2:47). Have you repented and been baptized
for the remission of your sins? You must, to be saved from your sins.
2. Saul of Tarsus. And he said, "Who are You,
Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard
for you to kick against the goads." So he, trembling and astonished, said,
"Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go
into the city, and you will be told what you must do" (Acts 9:5-6). Note
that Jesus did not tell Saul he was saved. He was not, for after three days
of fasting and prayer, the preacher Ananias fulfilled Jesus' instruction by
telling Saul to "arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on
the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16; 9:9, 11). Prayer did not save Saul; after
three days he had sins that needed to be washed away. Seeing Jesus did not
save Saul; only when he arose and was baptized were his sins washed away.
Saul was a repentant believer who was saved when he was baptized into the
death of Christ (Rom. 6:3). Have you, due to a repentant heart, been
baptized so that the blood of Christ will wash away your sins (like Saul's
were)? You must, to be saved from your sins.
3. Philippian jailer and family. "Sirs, what
must I do to be saved?" So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
you will be saved, you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the
Lord to him and to all who were in his house" (Acts 16:30-32). He knew he
needed salvation, but how? He had no faith in Jesus Christ. So, Paul and
Silas spoke God's word to him to establish faith (Rom. 10:17). Once he
believed he showed evidence of repentance (washed their stripes) and
"immediately he and all his family were baptized" (Acts 16:33). Like those
on Pentecost (Acts 2) and Saul (Acts 9, 22), the jailer and his house
"believed in God" and were saved when they repented and were baptized (Acts
16:34). Have you believed in Jesus like the jailer and his family, by
repenting and immediately being baptized? You must, to be saved from your
sins. Why not now?
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Fundamental Faith (2)
Scripture Reading:
John 8:21-29
Continued from last week…
-Review: Heb.
11:1: Now faith is…
a. Substance of
things hoped for (Rom. 8:24-25).
b. Evidence of things not seen (Jno. 20:29-31; 1 Pet. 1:8-9).
II. FOCUS OF
FAITH: GOD.
Heb. 11:6
A. Jesus Said
without Faith in Him we Die in Sin, Jno. 8:23-24, 8:58; 14:7-11, 1-6; Matt.
11:28- 30; 28:19-20; Heb. 9:28; Heb. 5:8-9; Acts 15:8-9 (Eph. 2:8-9; Gal.
3:26-27; Acts 10:34-35, 47-48).
B. The Focus of Faith is Not…
1. Feelings, Prov. 14:12; Heb. 3:12-13 (Matt. 7:21-23); Acts 26:9.
2. Family, Lk. 18:28-30 (Matt. 10:34-39).
3. Funding, 2 Cor. 8:1-5.
4. Fun, 1 Cor. 11:22, 34.
5. Self, Lk. 9:23.
III. FULLNESS OF
FAITH: ENDURES.
A. A Full
Faith Works, 1 Ths. 1:3; Jno. 6:28-29 (Jas. 2:22); Heb. 13:21.
B. A Full Faith Remains Diligent & Patient, Heb. 6:9-20; 1 Pet. 1:7 (Jno.
8:51).
C. A Full Faith is Fully Assured, Heb. 10:22; Eph. 3:12, 16-19.
IV. FINALITY OF
FAITH: ETERNAL LIFE,
2 Tim. 4:7-8.
A. The Crown
of Life, Jas. 1:12; 1 Cor. 9:25.
B. Result of Being Faithful unto Death, Rev. 2:10; Matt. 10:21-22 (Heb.
12:3-4; Rev. 3:10-11).
Conclusion
Let us
have faith unto the saving of our souls, Heb. 10:39.
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Bible Question Box (June, 2005): Transgender?
Scripture Reading:
Proverbs 3:1-8
Question: “Is
it acceptable to change your sex? … It’s clear in the Bible that
homosexuality is a sin, but how would you argue against transgender people?”
-Bible answer: No.
1. God created genders w/ identity & roles, Gen. 1:27
2. God created sexual function; fulfilled in marriage; 2:18, 25; Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor. 7:3-4).
3. Growing support for transgender (TG) behavior.
-TG is sin because:
1. God
created gender, giving males & females unique, vital & distinct identities &
roles (reproduction, roles, nature) Gen. 1:26-28; Gen. 2:18-22; Rom.
1:26-27.
2. TG
behavior:
a.
Disregards our God-given gender (and their differences), cf. Deut. 22:5; 1
Cor. 11:14.
b. Provides for & promotes sin of homosexuality, Lev. 18:22; 20:13.
c. Shows evidence of discontent, lust, lack of self-control,
self-defined living, Rom. 1:24.
d. Dishonors marriage & the home as ordained by God, Gen. 2:23-24; Heb.
13:4.
3. Defenses of TG include:
a.
“People are born that way.” (Eccl. 11:5; Jas. 1:13-15)
b. “God looks at the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7)
c. “We are just accommodating what we already are on the inside.” (Prov.
23:7; 3:1-8; Eph. 4:17-24 (Ezek. 18:31-32)
4. Contrast & summary of Bible v. TG behavior.
Conclusion
1. Temptations of
sin are not inevitable & insurmountable; ultimately, we choose what our
character & conduct. You choose the person you will be! (Jas. 4:7-10)
2. We must uphold the honor & distinction of male & female; not destroy it
by the lusts, longings & lewdness of men (Rom. 13:11-14).
Top
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the
light of Scripture)
Rumors and
Reckless Hyperbole
Joe R. Price
An Al Qaeda training manual seized in
the U.K. says “spreading rumors and writing statements that instigate people
against the enemy” is one of its top missions (“Shamnesty International,”
Melana Zyla Vickers, Tech Central Station, June 3, 2005). Rumormongering.
Amnesty International released its
annual report on human rights abuses this week, calling the U.S. Guantanamo
Bay terrorist detention facility “the gulag of our times.” Today’s
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial is right to describe this as “reckless
hyperbole” (“The Amnesty International report: Reckless hyperbole,”
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Jun 3, 05).
Shamefully, those who deal in rumors
and reckless exaggerations do not see themselves as detractors from the
truth, but as defenders of it.
Consider “idle babblings” (2
Tim. 2:14). Like “reckless hyperbole,” empty chatter (without Scriptural
context and content) harms reputations, influences and the progress of the
gospel. When we contend earnestly for the faith it is not necessary to turn
up the rhetoric, generating heat but no light. Amnesty Int’l compares the
Guantanamo camp of 540 detainees to, in the editor’s words, “communist slave
labor and death camps where countless millions were brutalized and killed” (Ibid.).
Slightly exaggerated, wouldn’t you say?
Yet, sometimes that’s all it takes to “defeat the enemy.” Evil
suspicions, name calling, innuendo and exaggerated pronouncements against
brethren must stop, or such biting and devouring will surely consume us
(Gal. 5:13-15). Clear heads, humble hearts and open Bibles must prevail
whenever Christians disagree on a Bible subject. Love “thinks no evil”
and “hopes all things” (1 Cor. 13:5, 7). If we cannot address
disagreements without the infusion of idle babblings and evil
suspicions we will ruin our listeners with the strife we perceive as
“defending the faith” (2 Tim. 2:14; 1 Tim. 6:4). So, contend for the
faith. Do so with God’s word of truth; not with rumors and reckless
hyperboles.
Top
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