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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
Trusting the
Promise of Christ
Sermon Outlines:
Noteworthy News:
Hangin' with the Gang
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
Trusting the Promise of Christ
Joe R. Price
In Matthew 6:33-34, Jesus summarizes an extended passage on laying up
treasure in heaven. In it, Jesus taught that 1) Our heart will be where our
treasure is (6:19-21); 2) No one can serve two masters (6:22-24); and 3)
When one lives by faith he refuses to be distracted by the cares of this
life because he trusts God's knowledge of his needs, God's power to provide
those needs, and God's diligence to do so (6:25-32). Jesus' summary in
verses 33-34 includes a promise that disciples can lay to heart and live by:
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these
things shall be added to you." Christ assures us that when the fundamental
priority of our life is pursuing the rule and reign of God - living by faith
- God will provide our material needs.
Seeking first the kingdom of God implies one is converted to Christ. It
begins by becoming a Christian. One must submit his will to the will of God,
and that begins with obeying His gospel to be saved from sin (Rom. 6:17-18;
Mk. 16:15-16).
Seeking first the righteousness of God in our lives means living by faith
and ordering our life in a way that is consist with the gospel of Christ.
God's grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live
"soberly, righteously and godly in this present age" (Tit. 2:11-12).
Inspired scripture contains the instruction we need to do so (2 Tim.
3:16-17). Living in harmony with the word of God is a priority in the life
of a disciple.
The Lord did not say this would be easy. Jesus said it would require
self-denial, sacrifice and commitment. That is why we need to properly
understand what being "anxious" means in Matthew 6:25-34. Doesn't the Bible
say we are to provide for our own by working with our hands (1 Tim. 5:8; 1
Ths. 4:11)? Why then, does Jesus say "take no thought for" such things as
what you will eat, drink or wear (Matt. 6:25, KJV)?
Jesus did not contradict what the Holy Spirit later revealed. To be
"anxious" or "take no thought for" such things means, "to have a distracting
care" (Vine, 89). Jesus warns us against being distracting from our task of
laying up treasures in heaven by placing undue stress upon the cares of this
life. We show a lack of faith in God to sustain us whenever we are
distracted from obeying God by a greater desire and interest to pursue
earthly goals (Matt. 6:30-32).
How do we overcome the temptation to put other things ahead of obeying
Christ? 1) Develop a singleness of heart toward obeying Jesus; make up our
mind to obey Christ, come what may (Matt. 6:22-24). 2) Trust Christ to keep
His promise (Matt. 6:33). He promises to sustain us, not make sure we have
all the luxuries of life. We must learn the difference. 3) Don't let
tomorrow's uncertainties distract you from obeying Christ with all your
heart and soul today (Matt. 6:34).
What are some practical applications of Matthew 6:33? Here are some, and I
encourage you to add to this list: 1) By regularly attending the worship
services of the church (Jno. 4:23-24; Heb. 10:24-25); 2) By giving of our
means with purpose, joy and liberality (2 Cor. 9:6-7; 1 Cor. 16:2); 3) By
studying God's word (2 Pet. 3:18; 2 Tim. 2:15); 4) By being zealous workers
for Christ (1 Cor. 15:58); and 5) By making time for God in our lives (Eph.
5:16). May we all "increase our faith" (Lk. 17:5-10).
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Fellowship and Unity of Believers (1)
Scripture Reading:
1 John 1:1-7
Intro.
1. 1
Jno. 1:1-4 - The apostolic message was opening declared (1:2, 3) to provide
& enable fellowship between man & God (1:3), & written that those who have
fellowship with God may have fullness of joy in Christ.
2. What is fellowship among Christians? What does it involve? How does it
impact our unity in Christ?
I. FACTS ABOUT FELLOWSHIP. (Platform)
A.
Defining Fellowship, 2 Cor. 6:14-16.
B. Fellowship: Partnership, Commonality of Saints in Christ, 1 Cor. 1:9
(Jno. 15:4).
1. Common salvation, Jude 3.
2. Common faith, Titus 1:4.
3. Common worship, Acts 2:42.
4. Common good, Acts 2:44 (4:32).
5. Common suffering, Phil. 3:10 (2 Tim. 3:12).
C. The Basis of Fellowship is Not:
1. Good intentions - Prov. 16:25 (Matt. 7:21-23).
2. Personal relationships - Eph. 5:5-11.
3. Unity in moral & doctrinal diversity - Gal. 2:1-5, 11-14 (Jno.
17:20-21; 1 Cor. 1:10, 13).
4. Supposed “clarity” of the subject - 2 Pet. 3:15-16 (Jno. 8:31-32).
D. The Basis of Fellowship is the Gospel, 1 Jno. 1:5-7; 2:3-6; 2 Jno. 9;
Jno. 14:23.
II. FOCUS OF FELLOWSHIP & UNITY.
(Practice)
A.
Fellowship Implies the Presence of Unity, Acts 2:42, 44; Amos 3:1-3.
B. Maintaining Unity among Believers is the Result of Mutual Fellowship
with Christ, Eph. 4:1-3; 1 Cor. 1:9-10.
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Fellowship and Unity of Believers (2)
Scripture Reading:
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
Intro.
Continue studying fellowship, with particular emphasis on some views on
fellowship that are not founded on the word of God.
III. SOME FALLACIES ABOUT FELLOWSHIP.
(Presumptions)
A.
That Bible “Fellowship” is Properly Applied to Social Activities, 1 Pet.
4:11 (1 Cor. 11:20-22, 34); Col. 3:17.
B. That Fellowship can only Exist in the Local Church, Gal. 2:7-9.
1. Separated
by time & distance, we are “one bread and one body,” 1 Cor. 10:16-17.
2. Contribution (koinonia) of Macedonia & Achaia brethren with
the Jerusalem saints, Rom. 15:26-27 (2 Cor. 8:4).
3. Support of gospel preacher, Phil. 1:5 (4:15).
4. Brotherhood exists, implying fellowship in Christ & unity of the
Spirit, 1 Pet. 2:17; Eph. 4:3.
C. That Fellowship may Continue when No Congregational Action is Involved
(even though sin is present), 1 Cor. 5:1-6.
D. That We May Have Ongoing (open-ended) Fellowship in Spite of Ongoing
Sin/Error, 1 Tim. 6:3-5 (doctrinal); 2 Tim. 3:1-5 (moral); 2 Jno. 9-11; 1
Cor. 1:9-10; 1 Jno. 1:5-6; 2:3-6 (Eph. 5:6-7, 11).
Conclusion
1. We
properly & gladly extend fellowship to those who teach truth (Gal. 2:9);
practice truth (Eph. 4:3) & endorse truth (3 Jno. 5-8).
2. We cannot extend fellowship to those who teach error (Rom. 16:17);
practice error (Eph. 5:11); endorse error (2 Jno. 10-11).
3. We have fellowship with God, & must not defile it by sharing in sin (2
Cor. 6:17-18).
Top
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the
light of Scripture)
Hangin' with
the Gang
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.
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