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Registration form for
Backwoods Christian Camp
The Heart Of A Christian
– Matthew Eighteen –
In
Matthew Eighteen a brief look is given into the heart of a Christian. The
Christian's heart is characterized by qualities far different from the world.
Within the heart of the Christian you will find (1) Humility, (2)
responsibility, (3) care, (4) concern, (5) compassion, (5) dedication to
fellowship, and (7) forgiveness. Do you have the heart of a Christian?
During
His personal ministry Jesus was asked many questions. Matthew 18 contains a very
strange question. The disciples asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom
of heaven?" (Matthew 18:1) This question provided Jesus an opportunity to
teach a great lesson on "Humility." Jesus set a little child before
them and said, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye
shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Children have humble and
loving hearts like the disciples needed. Children accept all other children as
their equals. The Lord wanted these men to understand that there could be no
superiority among them if His work was to be accomplished.
In
Matthew 18 we find a simple but powerful lesson on the subject of discipline
among the people of God. The way of God is always best in dealing with every
situation of life. Here God gives a
simple way to
solve personal issues
among His people. This is God's
principle for helping brethren that have sinned to be rescued! God's way is
simple, (1) Go and tell him his fault, just you and him alone, (2) If he will
not hear, take one or two with you to plead with him, (3) If he will not hear
have the church plead with him, and (4) If he still refuses to hear treat him
as "a heathen and a tax collector."
Matthew
18 also deals with the great subject of forgiveness. Peter wanted to know how
many times he was to forgive a person that had sinned against him. He thought
seven times would be generous in giving forgiveness. The Lord told Peter to
forgive seventy times seven. This means that he was to forgive an unlimited number
of times.
The heart of
a Christian is characterized humility and understanding – Matthew 18:1-9: "Assuredly, I say to
you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no
means enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3) The disciples were
concerned about greatness in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus told them that unless
some changes were made (conversion) they could never enter the kingdom of
heaven. Humility, like a little child, would lead to greatest in the kingdom.
Humility involves loving, trusting, forgiving and being lowly in heart.
Children should be received because they are an example of a heart
characterized by humility. A failure to humble yourself may lead to your being
humbled by someone else or to being humbled by God on Day of Judgment. It takes
much humility to surrender in obedience to the teachings of our Lord.
The
Holy Spirit of God made clear personal responsibility in both attitude and
action. If one causes another to sin or hinders him in his right conduct or
right thought, "...it would be better for him if a millstone was hung
around his neck, and he was drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matthew
18:6) Do not cause others to sin and do not allow anything to cause you to sin.
"If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is
better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to
be cast into hell fire." (Matthew 19:9)
The heart of
a Christian is characterized by concern for others – Matthew 18:10-14: God is concerned about the
individual. Christians should share that concern. "Even so it is not the
will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should
perish." (Matthew 18:14) God's love will "...leave the ninety-nine
and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?" (Matthew 18:12)
The Father has no desire that even one be lost.
Those
that seek high places often despise the poor and helpless. "One of these
little ones" must never neglected or mistreated.
Even the smallest and lowest are important because God's angels watch over
them. The account of the lost sheep pictures Gods' deep love for even the
smallest among His children. God is especially concerned about His lost
children and as Christians we must share that concern.
The heart of a Christian is characterized by a desire for fellowship – Matthew 18:15-20: God provided a way for brethren to settle their differences. God's way always works. If your brothers wrongs you: (1) Go and tell him his fault, just you and him alone, (2) If he will not hear, take one or two with you to plead with him, (3) If he will not hear have the church plead with him, and (4) If he still refuses to hear treat him as "a heathen and a tax collector." Those things declared as improper and unlawful must be so declared by Heaven. Those things permitted as proper and lawful must be so accepted by Heaven.
This
action demands a lot of prayer. It would also make sense for us to confess our
own faults first. The prayers of the faithful reach the throne of God.
"Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall
agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for
them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered
together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:19-20)
Sincere, earnest prayer has a great influence with the Almighty.
We
must deal gently with the brother because he may not even be aware of the fact
that he has sinned against us. That is why we first talk to him and not to others.
This approach must be made with a spirit of meekness. God's desire in all of
this is that fellowship be restored. This is a matter that should be approached
with all seriousness. Souls are at stake!
The heart of
a Christian is characterized by forgiveness – Matthew 18:21-35: Jesus taught us just to
keep on forgiving (seventy times seven). (Matthew 18:22) Are we like the man
that owed several million dollars (Matthew
Christian
must have a spiritual heart that just keeps on forgiving. We must forgive
others in order to be forgiven by the Father. Jesus used one of His longest
parables to teach the lesson of forgiveness. The fault of the unmerciful
servant was his failure to realize the enormity and absolute hopelessness of
his debt without forgiveness.
To
become a Christian, you must believe in Jesus (Mark
- - - - Charles Box
News & Notes
1. Prayer
List:
2. Requesting
Our Prayers: Paige Barr responded to our Lord’s invitation. Please
remember her in your personal, private prayers.
3. Sympathy
Expressed: Our love and sympathy is expressed to: (a) Walter Johnson and his family in the death of his mother,
Mildred Johnson. (b) Joe
Arnold and his family in the death of his aunt, Gadie Arnold.
4. Wedding Invitation: Mr. and Mrs. David Dunn request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter Dusty Rain to Christopher Michael Bagents on Friday, the eighteenth of May Two thousand and seven at six o’clock in the evening, Walnut Street Church of Christ 306 Walnut Street, Greenville, Alabama.
5. Please
Pray For: The following people are serving in
6. Birthdays: Celebrating birthdays this week are: May 17th Mary Lawrence, May 18th Robert McCann, and May 19th Gene Till.
7. Special Guest Speaker:
Andrew Crowe will visit with us on Sunday night, May 20th. He will
meet with our elders and deliver the evening sermon. He is asking
8. Thank You: (a)
9. Graduates To
Be Honored: Our graduates for this year are Tyler Ray and Morgan Till.
They will be honored on May 27th following the evening services.
Please bring finer foods and honor these special people.
10. Crowne Health Care: (a) Each year
our people volunteer to help Crowne Health Care with their Yard & Bake
Sale. Our goal is to have 25 cakes or pies and lots of yard sale items. These
will be brought to the building by
11.
12. Backwoods Christian Camp: Our week at Backwoods will be July
8-13. Camp fees will again be paid from the Carl Sessions Camp Fund for all
Backwoods
Christian Camp
(Is It Worth A
Week Of Your Time?)
What is so special about Backwoods Christian Camp? Isn’t it rough
and rugged and without many of the modern conveniences that make life so easy?
No internet, no TV, and no CELL PHONES!?! Why would anyone want to go there?
Here are a few reasons why I go:
It is almost an everyday occurrence for a simple glance at the
beautiful river, mountains, or starlit sky to spark a meaningful conversation
about our awesome Creator. When I am at Backwoods, looking in any direction
makes me want to proclaim: “The heavens declare
the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalms 19:1).
Young people (and adults) who would normally have been playing
video games or watching TV if they had been at home find themselves wanting to
spend the late evenings in life-changing Bible studies. At BCC you can always
find someone to study or pray with. Many souls have been saved because of the
spiritual atmosphere that you will find there. Maybe you are in need of new
friends who genuinely care about you.
I’ve heard people talk about getting their “spiritual battery
charged” when they attend a week of BCC. This makes sense when you consider
that in one week at camp you will hear around five sermons, eight Bible
classes, fourteen devotionals or Bible studies, and be a part of at least 4
singing sessions (not including the occasions when singing breaks out at
various places throughout the days).
I guess a simple way of putting it is that a week at Backwoods
Christian Camp is what I wish life in the “real world” were like. It is filled
with worship of the almighty God, fellowship with Christians and others who are
seeking the truth, and so much joy. Christians there seem to forget the fears
they had about sharing Christ with those around them. I mean it when I say that
everybody is somebody when they are there. You are invited to spend a week at
BCC with the Walnut Street Church Of Christ
- - - - Darrell Powell
Try Jesus, if you don’t like Him the Devil will always take you back.
(334-382-3001)