Gospel Meeting September 9-13, 2009

THE MT. BAKER
CHURCH OF CHRIST
(1860 Mt. Baker Highway, Bellingham, WA)

Invites you to our

GOSPEL MEETING

with Evangelist

Dennis Ross

(Moscow, Idaho)

Back to the Bible Preaching!

September 9–13, 2009

Wednesday - Saturday:  7:00 PM
(Sunday, Sept 13th at  9:30 & 10:30 AM, 6:00 PM)

                                                 (From I-5 take Exit # 255 and go East 4.2 miles)
                                                 more information:  please call (360) 752-2692

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What You See is Not What You Get
Joe R. Price

Have you seen the giant waterslide video on the internet of the fellow going airborne off a ramp and hitting the pool of water a great distance away? It looks like a real daredevil feat and is very entertaining. The trouble is it’s a fake made in Germany to promote Microsoft Office Project 2007.

This reminds us we must be careful what we choose to look at with our eyes. What may be entertaining and pleasing to the eyes may in fact be false; a fabrication of the imagination that lures us into compliance with sin.

The lust of the eyes is like the fake video. It is notable that Job made a covenant with his eyes not to intently gaze on a young woman (Job 31:1). We cannot trust our eyes. The sin of lust that proceeds from the heart is often triggered by what the eyes see (Matt 5:28; 1 Jno 2:16; Gen 3:6). Like Job, we must make an agreement with our eyes not to gaze on anything that prompts and promotes sin. Attractions that entertain, please and amaze may hide their true nature: false, deceptive and damning. Lewd photos, vile movies and internet porn are among such culprits as the offer the pleasure of sin for a season. “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren” (Jas 1:16). What you see is not what you get.

Hypocrisy is like the fake video. Like the whitewashed tombs that outwardly appear beautiful, hypocritical religious teachers and leaders are marked by fakery. Inside – in the heart – there is the rotten decay of sin (Matt 23:27). We can present ourselves to others as being righteous, god fearing Christians. We can be at every worship service. We can teach a class, lead a prayer or serve the Lord’s Supper. And yet, our heart can be full of the world and sin. Hypocrites never fool God, but sometimes they fool people. When it comes to hypocrisy, what you see is not what you get.

The religious doctrines of men are like the fake video. A lot of work had to go into making that video look real. And, it took close examination to show it was phony.

False doctrine involves “deceptive words” (2 Pet 2:3). The teaching looks true, it “feels” right and it has many who follow it (2 Pet 2:2). To the casual observer, a doctrine may appear to be sound. But, upon closer examination its contrived nature becomes obvious.

For example, the doctrine that says you are saved without being baptized, but then you should be baptized to obey Jesus is a false. This doctrine looks real to millions, offering salvation by “faith” alone. But, look closer. Jesus plainly said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mk 16:16). Who will be saved? The one “who believes and is baptized”. That exposes the fakery. Jesus did not say, “He who believes is saved, and then should be baptized”. Do you see the difference? One is real, the other is fake; it is false doctrine. What you see is not what you get.

So, what are we to do? First, do not trust your eyes; you may be deceived (cf. Jno 9:41). Secondly, use the Bible to judge righteous judgment. You can rely on its teaching because it is God’s word (2 Tim 3:16-17; Eph 3:3-5). Finally, remember God is true, so rely on His word before anything men tell you (Rom 3:4; Jno 17:17). Then, what you see is what you get!

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

Plainly Preaching Christ

1. Jesus’ enemies complained that He did not plainly tell them who He was (He had, but they rejected it), Jno 10:24-25.
2. Jesus promised “plain” speech to His apostles, Jno 16:25 (12-13).
3. The apostles used plainness of speech, too (2 Cor. 3:12), Acts 20:20, 27; 1 Tim 1:7; 26:26.

I. HOW TO BE SAVED FROM SINS.

  A. Some Say, “You will run people off!” Matt 15:11-13
  B.    “What Must I Do To Be Saved?” Acts 2:37-38; 16:30-31.

II. THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, Matt 16:18.

  A. Some Say, “This is too hard and offensive!” Jno 6:60-61, 66
  B.    The Church is Vitally Important, Eph 5:25; Acts 20:28; 2:47; Eph 1:22-23; 4:4; Eph 5:23.

III. ASSEMBLED WORSHIP IS REQUIRED OF CHRISTIANS, Heb 10:24-25.

  A. Some Say, “You’re going to hurt people’s feelings!” and, “At least I’m here some of the time!” (Psa 122:1)
  B. Some have become Slack in Attending Bible Classes and Worship Services. Matt 6:33

IV. GODLY LIVING, Tit 2:11-12; Jas 4:4.

  A. Some Say, “Tired of hearing about it!” Psa 119:97 (Job 23:12)
  B. Abstain From Every Form of Evil, 1 Ths 5:21-22 (Gal 6:7, 9).

V. A JUDGMENT IS COMING, Acts 24:25.

  A. Some Say, “You’re trying to scare people!” Heb 10:31; 12:29
  B. We will be Raised from the Dead and Judged, Jno 5:28-29; 12:48 (2 Cor 5:10).

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

So it will be at the End (Matt 13:47-52)

1. The last two parables in Matt 13 are summary as well as substantial.
  a. The Parable of the Dragnet does not differ in meaning from the Parable of the Tares, Matt 13:41-43.
  b. The Parable of the Householder gives harmonious complement to the parable of the Sower (Matt 13:3-8).

I. THE PARABLE OF THE DRAGNET, Matt 13:47-50.

  A. The Net: All will be Gathered to Judgment (47); Matt 25:31-32; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 20:11-12.
  B. The Fish: Humans and their Moral Condition, 13:48-49; Jude 17-18; 2 Ths 1:7-8.
  C. The Result: Destruction of the Wicked, 13:50 (42); Matt 25:46; 2 Ths 1:8-9; Rev 20:10, 14-15; Rev 21:8.

II. THE PARABLE OF THE HOUSEHOLDER: WHAT WILL WE DO WITH OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE PARABLES? Matt 13:51-52

  A. Jesus Wants Us to Understand His Teaching, 13:51, Jno 8:43.
  B.    What Must We Do with What We Understand? 13:52; Jno 3:9-10; 7:49; Lk 11:46, 52 (Ezra 7:10); 2 Tim 4:2.
  -Teach ourselves, Rom 2:21.
  -Teach others, 2 Tim 2:2.
  -Provide good examples by obeying the word we teach, 2 Tim 2:15, 24-26.
  -We are bearing fruit by teaching the gospel (Matt 13:23).

Conclusion
   Will we be ready for the end of the age? If so, we must also be teaching the gospel of the kingdom to those who need its help and healing.

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NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

End of Life Counseling
Joe R. Price

As the health care debate rages in the United States the issue of how to prepare for the end of life has emerged as a point of dispute. The House bill contains a provision for “government-paid counseling to plan for end-of-life care” (End-of-Life Provision Loses Favor, The Wall Street Journal, 13Aug09). In part, the furor is over whether euthanasia would be part of this planning. The value of the life of the elderly is “the rest of the story” here. (Life is precious, from its conception in the womb to the last drawn breath.)

The gospel of Christ is not government-paid counseling. But, it does provide a great deal of divine counsel on preparing for the end of life. By learning God’s counsel about the end of life we can prepare for our own and help others prepare for theirs.

1. Death is certain. “It is appointed for men to die once…” (Heb 9:27). You will not live forever; there is no fountain of youth. Death is “that one thing that happens to all” (Eccl 9:3).

2. The time of death is uncertain. “If the Lord wills, we shall live…” (Jas 4:15). Those who live without appreciating that death may come at any time will be unprepared when it arrives (Lk 12:20).

3. Death ends your opportunity to obey God. After death, there will be no more chance to change your eternal destiny (Lk 16:26).

4. After death there will be a judgment (Heb 9:27). God’s truth will judge our works (Rev 20:12-13). Eternal death awaits the wicked (Rev 20:14).

It is time to obey the gospel; it is time to get right with God (2 Cor 6:2). Death is coming to us all. We can be ready for our time to die by obeying the Father’s will now (Matt 7:21; 2 Cor 4:16-5:1).

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Created by Chuck Sibbing.  08/17/2009