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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:
'Tis the Season
"Behold, I Make All
Things New"
Resurrection Day
Sermon Outlines:
Noteworthy News:
"Heaven -- Where Is It? How Do We Get There?"
'Tis the Season
Joe R. Price
As we enjoy the
holiday season, please join me in taking a moment to remember some things of
the season that will help us be better people every day of the year.
First, may we
always remember how important it is to give.
Children are very excited to receive their Christmas presents, which is
innocent and natural. In the joy and excitement of receiving, may we never
forget how much better it is to give. The beloved apostle Paul reminds us
of “the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to
give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35). Take a moment today to consider
the happiness you bring to others by giving them good gifts. Our lives are
too often about “getting” – we must remember to be “giving” people. Jesus
gave His life to give us the gift of eternal life (2 Cor. 8:9; Rom. 6:23).
May we, as His disciples, always be “ready to give” (1 Tim. 6:18).
Secondly, may we
always remember to be thankful for what we receive.
Children, your
parents (and others) work hard to give you good gifts (Matt. 7:11). How
ungrateful it would be to not thank them for their generosity. So children,
remember to say “thank you” to your parents and others who give you gifts.
Each one of us ought to remember to be thankful to God for all the wonderful
gifts we receive from God (1 Ths. 5:18; 1 Tim. 4:4-5). His wonderful gifts
include the gift of His Son, the gift of His word, the gift of forgiveness
in Christ – the gift of “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places
in Christ” (Jas. 1:17; Jno. 3:16; Rom. 5:8; Eph. 1:3). “In
everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”
(1 Ths. 5:18). How sad – and sinful – it is to be unthankful to God
for all He has given us. We show our thankfulness to God for Christ and His
salvation through our devotion to Him.
Have a merry Christmas and a happy new year. May each one of us show the
love of God by living generously and thankfully in Christ.
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"Behold, I Make All Things New"
Keith Greer
In
Revelation 21, the eternal fellowship of man with God is displayed in the
visionary splendor of a holy city (21:1-2). Every source of death, sadness
and suffering is removed from this anticipated dwelling: sin and death are
conquered; “the former things have passed away” (21:3-4). He who sat
on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new,” and told John to
write these “true and faithful” words (21:5).
“New” is translated from kainos,
which often carries the connotation of quality; that which is fresh or
unworn. With this in mind, consider just three things said to be “new”
because of Jesus Christ:
1.
A new covenant
(Matt. 26:28; Heb. 8:7-13). The old covenant (the Law of Moses given to
Israel at Mt. Sinai) could never “make those who approach perfect”
(Heb. 10:1). The law, although holy, just and good, could not redeem
sinners from their sin (Rom. 7:12; Heb. 10:1-4). Because of sin, a
“better” covenant was needed (Heb. 8:6-8). The covenant of Christ is
“new” in this respect (among others), namely, “…their sins and their
lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Heb. 8:12; Jer. 31:34). When
Jeremiah spoke of a “new covenant” it implied the Sinai covenant was
“becoming obsolete and growing old;” it was passing away (Heb.
8:13). The redemption from sins through the Savior Jesus Christ is among
the things that denote His covenant (testament) as “new” (Heb.
9:13-15).
2.
A new creature
(2 Cor. 5:17). “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” When
the sinner is baptized into Christ he dies to sin and is raised to walk in
“newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4). The sinful and corrupt ways of one’s
former life are deliberately “put off,” and the “new” person
of “true righteousness and holiness” is “put on” (Eph.
4:17-24; Rom. 6:5-6). Sin is to no longer rule over him – he is now
“dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom.
6:7, 11). The Christian cannot “continue in sin” and expect God’s
grace to abound (Rom. 6:1). So, one must stop living in sin (Rom. 6:2).
Have you believed, repented and been baptized into Christ so that all things
are “new” in your life? If not, why not now?
3.
A new commandment
(Jno. 13:34): “that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you
also love one another.” The self-sacrificing love with which Jesus
loves His disciples is the fresh quality that makes this commandment “new.”
The old covenant commanded Israel to “love your neighbor as yourself”
(Lev. 19:18). But, the love of Jesus “did not please himself,”
instead, He bore the reproaches of sinners so we might be saved (Rom.
15:3). Thus, Christians are instructed; “Let each of us please his
neighbor for his good, leading to edification” (Rom. 15:2). Acting in
the best interests (good) of others; this is the love of Jesus that we must
have for one another (see also, 2 Jno. 5; 1 Jno. 2:7-11). By this love,
“all will know that you are My disciples” (Jno. 13:35). “We love
because He fist loved us” (1 Jno. 4:19).
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Resurrection Day
Joe R. Price
“Do not marvel at
this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear
His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of
life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation”
(Jno. 5:28-29). “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the
last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Cor. 15:51-52). These words
of truth encourage obedience to Christ and assure the Christian’s hope.
Victory over sin and death will be gloriously displayed on the resurrection
day (1 Cor. 15:52-55). What can we expect on that great day?
We can expect
to hear Christ’s voice commanding death to give up its captives
(1 Ths. 4:16). Christ, who has power over death and Hades, will command the
dead to rise, opening the graves of all men (Rev. 1:17; Jno. 11:25; Acts
24:15). It will be a day of complete victory over death (1 Cor. 15:54).
We can expect
all to be raised with incorruptible bodies
(1 Cor. 15:42-44, 22). No longer corruptible, the resurrected body will be
suited to live in spiritual environs (1 Cor. 15:50).
We can
expect personal judgment of our lives on earth (2 Cor. 5:10). With the
resurrection of the dead comes the judgment of all mankind (Matt. 25:30-46;
Rom. 14:12). We must prepare for the day of resurrection, for it will also
be a day of judgment. Are you ready? (Matt. 7:21-23; Rom. 2:1-11)
We can expect
the resurrection to happen in the twinkling of an eye
(1 Cor. 15:52). It will be instant and momentous. Will you be ready for
that day? Obey the gospel of Christ, faithfully serve Him and joyfully
anticipate the resurrection day.
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You can find the
complete outline of this sermon at
BIBLE ANSWERS
Bible Authority (#5): The Nature of Bible Authority
Scripture Reading:
Joshua 1:5-9
1. Two kinds of
authority are revealed in the Scriptures; generic & specific.
2. Understanding generic & specific authority will help us avoid extremes &
properly apply truth (2 Tim. 2:15).
I. THE TWO KINDS
OF REVEALED AUTHORITY.
A. Generic
Authority: Inclusive in Nature (Rev. 22:19).
-Examples of
generic authority:
1. “Go” –
Matt. 28:19. How?
2. “Assemble” – Heb. 10:25. Where?
3. “Apparel” – 1 Tim. 2:9. What?
B. Specific Authority: Exclusive in Nature (Rev. 22:18).
-Examples of specific authority:
1. Build an “ark” – Gen. 6:14.
2. “Sing” – Eph. 5:19.
3. Eat the “Lord’s Supper” – 1 Cor. 11:23-26.
4. “Modest” apparel – 1 Tim. 2:9.
II. EXPOSING &
AVOIDING TWO EXTREMES ABOUT BIBLE AUTHORITY:
A. “Everything
is Acceptable Unless it is Specifically Condemned.”
1. “It
doesn’t say not to!” Approval based on God’s silence (“silence is
consent”). Heb. 7:13-14
2. This
looses where God has bound, 1 Cor. 4:6.
B. “Nothing is
Acceptable Unless it is Specifically Approved.”
1. Ignores
general authority & nec. inferences.
2. Binds
where God has loosed.
C. We Must
Have Positive Authority from Scripture to Please God, Heb. 13:21 (Josh.
1:7-8; Isa. 8:20); 1 Ths. 5:21; 1 Cor. 4:6; 2 Jno. 9.
Conclusion
Without
Christ’s authority supporting it, what we say & do is sin, Col. 3:17 (cf.
Acts 4:9-12).
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NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the
light of Scripture)
"Heaven -- Where Is It? How Do We Get There?"
Joe R. Price
Barbara
Walters hosted an ABC News TV special last Tuesday night with the above
title. I watched most of it; perhaps you did, too.
In brief, it
was a survey of what major world religions, individual believers, skeptics
and people claiming near-death experiences believe about heaven.
Walters asked
Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, “where
is heaven?” He pointed his finger upwards and said, “Up there.”
Walters
interviewed actor Richard Gere, a Buddhist, who said, “I don't think
necessarily heaven and hell happen in some other life. I think it’s right
now.” (abcnews.go.com)
And so it
went: Muslim, Jew, Catholic and atheist. Some spoke of personal experiences
– glimpses of heaven; others of renewing marriages ended by death. All had
an opinion about heaven (choose the heaven of your choice!).
Unfortunately,
the show didn’t spend much time on Bible verses that speak about heaven.
Like the verse that says we must do the will of the Father to enter heaven
(Matt. 7:21-23); or the verse that says most people are on a path that does
not lead to heaven (Matt. 7:13-14); or the verse that says unless we believe
in Jesus we will be lost (not go to heaven, Jno. 8:23-24); or the verse that
says Christians are citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20); or the verse that says
Christians have an inheritance “reserved in heaven” (1 Pet. 1:4); or
the verse that says Christians who stop following Jesus will not enter
heaven (2 Pet. 1:8-11).
Almost 90% of Americans believe in heaven. But, most define heaven as
it pleases them. Most do not believe what the Bible says about it. Jesus
is “the Way” to the Father in heaven (Jno. 14:6). There is no other
way to be saved (Acts 4:12). Heaven is for those who obey Jesus, not just
profess Him (Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:8-9). Do you believe the Bible?
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