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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 Sept.
25-30, 2005
Full of Faith
Sermon Outlines:
Noteworthy News:
The World's Ugliest Dog
Gospel Meeting Sept. 25-30, 2005
THE
MT. BAKER
CHURCH OF CHRIST
(1860
Mt. Baker Highway, Bellingham, WA)
Invites you to our
GOSPEL
MEETING
with
Evangelist
Dennis
Scroggins
(Lometa, Texas)
Sept.
25–30, 2005
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)
(From
I-5 take Exit # 255 and go East 4.2 miles)
more information: please call (360) 752-2692
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Full of Faith
Joe R. Price
Two men in the
book of Acts, Stephen and Philip, are described as “full of faith”
(Acts 6:5, 8; 11:24). To be “full” means to be filled up with, to be
complete. By describing these men as “full of faith,” the Holy
Spirit helps us understand the nature of faith that pleases God. While
He notices different kinds of faith (little, weak and dead, Matt. 6:30; 1
Ths. 5:14; Jas. 2:17); He approves “full”
faith.
Today, we more commonly speak of being
“faithful.” Those described as “faithful” in the New Testament are
God (1 Cor. 1:9), Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:5) and Christians (Eph. 1:1; Col.
1:2). Christians who are named and noted in the New Testament as faithful
include Timothy, Tychicus, Epaphras, Onesimus, Paul, Moses, Silvanus and
Antipas. Oh, to be regarded by God as faithful!
Those
who are full of faith are full of God’s word. We will not be full of faith if the
word of God does not fill up our hearts and lives. In order to be filled up
with faith, we must “let the word of Christ dwell in (us) richly”
(Col. 3:16). Where the word of God is not found, faith will not exist (Rom.
10:17). To be “filled with the Spirit” means to let the Spirit’s
word permeate us (Eph. 5:18). It is the implanted word that saves the soul
(Jas. 1:21). Take steps to be filled with God’s word so you can be full of
faith. Read and study your Bible, believe it and live it. This helps you
become full of faith.
Those
who are full of faith are full of service. Barnabas’ fullness of faith was seen in
that “When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and
encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the
Lord” (Acts 11:23-24). One who is faithful serves the Lord by serving
others, like Epaphras, “our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful
minister of Christ on your behalf” (Col. 1:7). The person who is full
of faith does not have to be pushed, begged and cajoled to be diligent in
the Lord’s work. He is obedient and diligent in the kingdom: “fervent in
spirit, serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11).
Those
who are full of faith are full of courage. Faith requires the courage to “stand
fast in the faith” against the enemies of truth (1 Cor. 16:13). The
strength of the faithful comes from the Lord – they trust in Him and take
their stand with Him against the devil and his temptations (Eph. 6:10-18).
Those
who are full of faith are full of assurance. The hope of the faithful is a “sure
and steadfast” anchor of the soul, unknown to the faithless (Heb.
6:19). The faithful have a “living hope” because Jesus Christ lives
(1 Pet. 1:3). So, faithful ones live as “strangers and pilgrims on the
earth” while they anticipate the heavenly homeland (Heb. 11:13-14).
God says the faithful have obtained a good testimony (Heb. 11:39). Those who stand with the victorious Lord are “called, chosen, and faithful” (Rev. 17:14).
Does the Lord regard you as “full of faith”? Are you standing with Him? If not, remove every hindrance to your faithfulness. And, you will be a blessing to the church.
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You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
The Christian's Place in the World
Scripture Reading:
James 4:1-7
1. Christian must
constantly know his relation to the world, Tit. 2:11-12; Jno.17:16; 1 Jno.
2:15-16.
2. Knowing the world is not our home helps secure our eternal hope &
promote faithful endurance in life (Heb. 10:36).
I. SENT INTO THE WORLD
(EARTH),
Jno. 17:18; 20:21.
Christians are soldiers in
the enemy’s camp, Matt. 6:33; 1 Pet. 3:15; Phil. 1:10.
II. PREACHING TO THE
WORLD (LOST),
Mk. 16:15.
1) Gospel is for the
lost, Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:21.
2) We must be ready, willing, able to preach, Rom. 10:13-15; 1 Ths. 1:8
(2 Cor. 4:3-6; 1 Cor. 2:2; Gal. 1:10).
III. THE LIGHT OF THE
WORLD (OF SIN),
Matt. 5:14-16; Phil. 2:15.
1) World is in the
darkness of sin, Eph. 5:7-8 (1 Pet. 2:9; Jno. 8:12).
IV. NOT CONFORMED TO
THE WORLD (OF EVIL),
Jno.17:15; Rom.12:2.
1) We are to conform to
image of Son, Rom. 8:29
2) Losing our identity, 2 Cor. 6:17-18; 2 Tim. 2:19
V. LOVE NOT THE WORLD
(FLESH),
1Jn.2:15-17
1) Affections must be
turned away from selfish, sinful lusts to God & heaven, Col. 3:1-3;
2Tim.4:10.
VI. PASSING THROUGH THE
WORLD (MATERIAL),
1 Pet. 2:11.
1) Values &
contentment, Mt. 16:26; 1 Tim. 6:6-8.
2) Patient hope, faithful continuance, He.11:8-16.
VII. NO FRIENDSHIP WITH
THE WORLD (ENEMY),
Jas. 4:4; 1:27; Phil. 4:8 (Jn. 15:18-21).
Top
You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
"Here Am I, Send Me!"
Scripture Reading:
Isaiah 6:8-10
1. God has always
sent men to do His work here on earth, Jer. 7:25 (13); Ezek. 2:3; Matt.
10:16; 28:19-20.
2. Three men whom God called; how are we reacting to God’s call?
I. THREE MEN CALLED
BY GOD.
A. Jonah: “Here am
I, I’m not going” – Jonah 1:1-3; 4:1-5.
B. Moses: “Here am I, send Aaron” – Exo. 3:10 (3:11-4:17).
C. Isaiah: “Here am I, send me” – Isa. 6:8.
1.
Motives which prompted Isaiah’s response:
a. Majesty / glory of God, 6:1-4.
b. Personal sin, 6:5.
c. Forgiveness from God, 6:6-7.
2. Ready eagerness; cf. 2 Cor. 8:3-5, 11-12.
II. GOD CALLING
YET...SHALL I NOT HEAR?
A. The Call to be
Saints, 1 Cor. 1:2 (9); 1 Ths. 4:7 (Jno. 17:17); 1 Pet. 1:15-16.
-“Hear am I, send me…”
a.
To be the salt of the earth, Matt. 5:13-15.
b. To be a light in the world, Matt. 5:14-16; Phil. 2:14f.
c. To be a sojourner, 1 Pet. 2:11-12.
B. The Call to
Service in the Church, Ro. 12:3-8.
-“Here am I, send me…”
a.
To teach classes, worship services; bldg. upkeep, visit & help those in
need; to edify, to restore…
b. Use your gifts to serve church, 1 Pet. 4:7-11.
C. Call of
Evangelism, Mk. 16:15; Acts 16:9-10; Rom. 10:12-15 (Matt. 25:15, 19); Acts
8:4.
-“Here am I, send me…”
a.
Teach family, friends, neighbors, Jno. 1:40-42.
b. Teach our community, Acts 5:28.
c. Teach the world, Acts 17:6; cf. Rom. 1:15.
Conclusion
How do we
react, knowing that God has called us to action? Eph. 4:1
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NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the
light of Scripture)
The World's
Ugliest Dog
Joe R. Price
“Sam” won the
“World’s Ugliest Dog” contest for the third consecutive year last June at
the Sonoma-Marin Fair in California. Can’t argue with the judges decision!
(“World’s Ugliest Dog,” Snopes.com)
The Bible talks about
some “dogs” that are ugly, but not the four-legged kind. These walk on two
legs and are the object of reproach and disdain by God. Please consider:
Blind and slumbering
watchmen are ugly dogs.
The prophets who should have warned of danger were “dumb” and “greedy” dogs,
ignorant of the spiritual danger while they loved to indulge themselves
(Isa. 56:10-11). We must preach the word “in season and out of season”
or be counted among these “ugly dogs” (2 Tim. 4:2-4).
The enemies of Christ
are ugly dogs.
David prophetically described those who crucified Jesus as dogs in Psalm
22:16, 20. With fierce cruelty, such enemies of righteousness continue to
encircle God’s servants, tasting the blood of their prey. But, the Lord
delivered David, Christ, and will deliver His people (Psa. 22:19-24; see
59:6-15).
The profane person is
an ugly dog.
Jesus warned not to give holy things to the dogs (profane) in Matthew 7:6.
These are unholy; a pack of dogs who despise the gospel while scavenging for
innocent souls to devour.
Those who bind
without divine authority are ugly dogs.
Paul warned of those who bound circumcision, calling them “dogs” and the
“mutilation” (Phil. 3:2). Binding where the Lord has not bound is sinful
(Acts 15:24).
Those who return
to sin are ugly dogs. Depicted as dogs returning to vomit, returning to
sin is repulsive (2 Pet. 2:20-22). If you have done so, repent! (2 Pet.
3:9)
Sometimes, the ugliest dogs are found in the church!
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