You Boast in Your Arrogance
Joe R. Price

The uncertainty and brevity of life is stressed in James 4:13-17 as the inspired pen impressed upon us our moral responsibility to depend on God and not ourselves as we walk this earth.

13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Instead of making future plans and holding expectations without any consideration of life’s fragility and God’s will, we must respect the overriding will of God in all we do, always trusting and obeying Him.

When we refuse to consider, seek and do the will of God, we show ourselves to be arrogant. “Arrogance” in verse 16 is defined by Thayer as “an impious and empty presumption which trusts in the stability of earthy things” (Thayer, 25). Failure to consider God as we live is an arrogant approach to life. It presumes we are the center and circumference of all things. To increase the sin, to boldly believe that nothing can interfere with one’s plans is to, in effect, “boast in your arrogance.” 

The tragedy of the Minneapolis bridge collapse reminds us never to forget God as we live day by day. We have heard the stories of those who barely missed being on that bridge, or of those who had crossed it earlier that day. The dismay in their voices and faces was clear; they could not believe something like this could happen, and that it could have happened to them.

Accidents and unforeseen events come to us all (Eccl. 9:11). Like the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell, the people who lost their lives when the bridge fell were not worse sinners than all other men who live in Minneapolis (Lk. 13:4). The lesson Jesus taught is that “unless you repent” you will also perish (Lk. 13:5).

What will you do with the knowledge that life is uncertain and that death is only a breath away? Will you continue to live with no thought of God and void of obeying His will? To do so is to “boast in your arrogance” – “All such boasting is evil.” (Jas. 4:16)

Are you ignoring God’s will for your life? The duty of all is to fear God and obey Him (Eccl. 12:13). Failure to do what you know is good, is sin (Jas. 4:17). Do not boast in your arrogance; remember God and obey God!

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"Demas Hath Forsaken Me"
Jarrod Jacobs

Paul’s words, “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world...” are familiar to most students of the Bible. Demas was one of Paul’s friends and companions (Col. 4:14; Phile. 23-24). He associated himself with Paul, and other Christians. Have you ever wondered why Demas “loved this present world”? What was he doing? Paul did not reveal the specifics. However, there are lessons for us to learn from this short verse. Demas is the example of all who have (or will) become unfaithful to God in this life. When Paul said, “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world” we learn:

He Had Misplaced Love.
     Demas loved “this present world” rather than God. Though this is not an uncommon thing (even today, II Tim. 3:1-5, esp. v. 4), it is still tragic!! Those who are Christians must understand that our first priority in this life is to love God (Matt. 22:36-40). Why? Because He created us (Acts 17:24; Rev. 4:11), He sent His Son to die for us (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:6-9), and He has given us a Bible to read and study so that we might know God, and know He wants us to be with Him in Heaven (II Pet. 1:20-21; Jn. 14:1-3). Besides the physical blessings (Matt. 5:45), God provides spiritual blessings to those in Christ (Eph. 1:3).

     The saddest part of II Timothy 4:10 is knowing that Demas was a partaker of all these things and still turned away. Can we understand why this was so foolish? Even in the face of persecutions and death threats, Demas and other early Christians had it better than the richest Roman (II Cor. 4:17-5:1)!!

     How many of us in this great nation forget all the great blessings that are showered upon us by God?

He Rejected Christ As King.
     “This present world” ruled Demas, rather than God (II Tim. 4:10; Rom. 6:16; Matt. 6:24; II Pet. 2:19). Let us remember that when we put on Christ in baptism, we are declaring that our life is not our own, and we live for Christ (Gal. 2:20, 3:27)!

     Do we truly believe that Christ is King (I Tim. 6:14-15)?? If we believe this, we will not argue or refuse to do what Christ tells us to do!! Who will rule us? We will either serve God or sin (Matt. 6:24; Rom. 6:16). Look at who ruled Demas (II Tim. 4:10)!!

He Crucified Christ Afresh.
     This is the result of Demas turning from God and turning to the world (II Tim. 4:10; Heb. 6:4-6)! Peter said that Christians who turn from God like Demas did are like a dog turning to his own vomit or a sow that had been washed that then turned back to the mire (II Pet. 2:21-22). Hebrews 10:26-31 shows us that it is a fearful thing to stand in opposition to the God of Heaven!!

His Influence Was Ruined.
     Demas was once a good friend and trusted companion of Paul (Col. 4:14; Phile. 23-24). While not everything is recorded about Demas, we do know that he was known and had influence on the Colossian brethren (Col. 4:14). He was known by Philemon, and had influence upon Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, and Luke (Phile. 23-24). He also was known by Timothy (II Tim. 4:10). In addition to this, there were untold individuals that were influenced by him. His leaving the Lord had an impact on many.

     Regardless of the reasons, Demas’ influence for good was ruined when he turned and left the Lord for worldly, sinful pleasures! (Ezek. 18:24, 26)

Modern-Day Demas’
     Though Demas is dead, his attitude lives in the hearts of men and women who turn from God and turn back to their lives in sin! Modern-day Demas’ are those who say and do not (like the Pharisees, Matt. 23:3-6, 6:5, 16). Modern-day Demas’ are those who will not sacrifice the old man (Rom. 6:3-6; Col. 3:1-10). They “resurrect” the old man and willfully sin time and time again! Modern-day Demas’ are “fair-weather” Christians. They are only faithful to God when they “feel like it.” There is no difference between them and Demas (II Tim. 3:4).

     Modern-day Demas’ are those who forget who is the master and who is the slave. Some think that they can simply “pick and choose” what they will obey and leave the rest out. These people have forgotten the Lord who bought them (Rom. 6:16-18; II Jn. 9-11)!!

Are you on the verge of being a modern-day Demas? The Bible says it is possible (I Cor. 9:27; Gal. 6:1; II Pet. 3:17). Though the Bible is not more specific than to say, Demas “loved this present world,” it doesn’t have to be more specific. Anything that takes our focus off of God is based in “this present world” (I Jn. 2:15-17)!! An erring child of God can return to God if he or she has been unfaithful (Acts 8:22; I Jn. 1:9). So long as we have this day, it is not too late to return to the Lord! Don’t harden your heart, and turn away from the truth!!   (www.southside-churchofchrist.com)

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS

The Value of Attending Worship Services

1. Attend: “To stretch to,” to stretch the eyes & ears toward anything, to give consid­eration. (Synonyms: Be there, concentrate, focus)
2. Another form of “attend” is at­tention (attend: “to apply the mind or pay attention,” Webster); “be attentive” (Psa 17:1; Prov 27:23).

I. THE VALUE OF ATTENDING WORSHIP IN LIVES OF CHRISTIANS, Acts 20:6-7.

  A. Worshipping with Their Brethren was Important to them, Acts 20:6; Heb 10:24-25. cf. Psa 122:1; 42:4.
  B. There was a Singular Interest to Worship God on the First Day of the Week, Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 11:17-34. 14:26 (19, 23-25); Jas 2:1-4.
  C. It was an Opportunity to Teach God’s Word as much as Possible, Acts 20:7 (11). cf. Josh 8:34-35; Neh 8:1-3, 8; Acts 2:46 (42); 19:9.

II. THE PRACTICAL VALUE OF ATTENDING WORSHIP SERVICES.

  A. Our Attendance Provides & Promotes Personal Instruction & Edification (Acts 20:32); 2 Tim 2:15; 1 Ths 2:13; Phil 1:9-10; 1 Pet 3:15; 1 Cor 10:13; Col 2:6-7.
  B. Attendance Helps Concentrate Our Energies; Heb 10:24; Acts 2:46; 20:7 (2:42; 9:31).
  C. Attendance Helps Prevent Future Problems; Phil 2:4 (2 Pet 1:7); Eccl 4:12.

III. WHAT ATTENDING WORSHIP SERVICES DOES NOT DO.

  A. Does Not Excuse Sin of the Past Week (or the next), Acts 8:22; 1 Jno 1:9 (1 Cor 11:30).
  B. Does Not Satisfy All our Service to Christ & Others, Gal 6:9-10.
  C. Does Not Mean we are Immune to Temptation, 1 Cor 10:12.

Conclusion
1. When you attend worship: Be attentive.
2. Worship, learn, grow, strengthen your faith and help strengthen the church.

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS

Do not be Conformed to this World

1. Conformity to this world is a major problem among Christians.
2. Rom 12:2: What is “this world” & how do we keep ourselves from being conformed to it?

I. “THIS WORLD” - WHAT IT MEANS.

  A. Various Meanings (Usages) of AION:
    1. Forever (an unbroken age, eternity), Gal 1:5.
    2. The universe, Heb 1:2.
    3. This present time, Lk 20:34; Eph 1:21.
    4. Time after Christ’s return; eternal kingdom / life, Lk 20:35; Mk 10:30.
    5. The times; the spirit of the age; the moral & spiritual climate in which people live, Mk 4:19; 2 Cor 4:4; Gal 1:4; 2 Tim 4:10.
  B. System of Evil Opposed to God, 1 Jno 2:15 (kosmos); Jno 12:31 (2 Cor 4:4) 1 Jno 5:19 (Mk 4:19; Gal 1:4; 2 Tim 4:10; Rom 12:2).

II. WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD.

  A. Living like the World: To Accept & Live by the Standards this World Accepts & Lives by, Eph 2:1-3
  B. Loving this World (& the things of the World), 1 Jno 2:15-16 (2 Tim 3:4); 1 Jno 2:5; 5:3.
  C. Lusting after this World: Unlawful Gratification of Desires, 2 Pet 1:3-4 (2 Cor 5:17; Eph 4:22-24; 5:25-27); Jas 1:13-15.

III. MISCONCEPTIONS RE. WORLDLINESS.

  A. “Only sins like adultery, drunkenness & homosexuality constitute worldliness.” Gal 5:19-21; Matt 5:21-22, 27-28.
  B. “A practice must be specifically condemned before it can be regarded as worldly.” (Col 3:17)
  C. “Those in the world set the standard for what is judged to be worldly.” Jno 17:17
  D. “Things of the world are okay if done in the privacy of one’s own home.”  Eph 5:11-12
  E. “How my behavior affects another person does not condemn does not condemn me for what I am doing.” Matt 18:6-7; 1 Pet 2:11-12.

Conclusion  Not of this world, Jno 17:14-17; 1 Jno 4:4-6

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NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

"Same-Sex Marriage" Survey
Joe R. Price

“A 2007 Pew Research Center survey found that while a majority of Americans (55%) oppose same-sex marriage, a sizable minority (37%) favor it, figures that have varied only slightly since 2001. A 2006 Pew survey also found that a majority of Americans (54%) favor allowing civil unions, up from 45% in 2003.” (“Same-Sex Marriage: Redefining Marriage Around the World,” The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, July 11, 2007, pewforum.org)

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