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Why Study The Bible
One of
the great challenges for Christians is to learn the word of God. We are
admonished, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (II
Timothy 2:15)
The
Bible is God's inspired word. Revelation was the process God used in making
known His will.
Study
the Bible because it is God’s word. "God, who at various times and
in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these
last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things,
through whom also He made the worlds;" (Hebrews 1:1-2) Knowledge of God
and an understanding of His requirements for our life come from studying His
word.
Study
the Bible because it is God’s final and complete message to man. Peter wrote, "As
His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue." (II Peter
1:3) Everything one needs to know to serve God here and go to heaven
hereafter is found in the Bible.
Study the
Bible
because it reveals God’s plan of salvation. Jesus said, “Go
into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes
and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."
(Mark 16:15-16) Most religious bodies do not teach God's plan of salvation. An
example of this is what is taught about baptism by the largest denomination in
the south. In their own words they say, "Baptism does not help a person to
be saved or to become a Christian."
Study
the Bible because it is God’s way of providing spiritual
understanding. The psalmist wrote, "The entrance of Your
words give light; It gives understanding to the simple." (Psalm 119:130)
All spiritual questions are answered from the Bible. Do you want to know how to
worship? Read your Bible. Do you want to know how to recognize the one church
Jesus promised to build? (Matthew 16:18) Read your Bible. To go to heaven it
takes an honest heart and an open Bible.
Do you
study the Bible with a strong desire to learn? Are you willing to obey from the heart the
truth that you learn from your Bible? Christ is, “the author of eternal
salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:9) Will you obey Him
now?
To be saved you must hear the gospel, (Romans
-
- - - Charles Box
Walking By
Faith
Christians
have both the obligation and privilege to walk by faith. Paul said, "We walk
by faith, not by sight." (II Corinthians 5:7) All things done by
Christians must be done "in the name of the Lord Jesus" or "by
His authority." "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
(Colossians 3:17) The Bible is the standard of faith for the Christian.
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
(Romans 10:17) Christians must have a deep respect for Bible authority in all
religious matters. Everything done by Christians must be authorized by the New
Testament. Living only by things authorized in the New Testament is what it
means to walk by faith.
God
authorizes by direct statement: Mark
God
authorizes by example: Christians are commanded to observe the Lord's
Supper. "And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, Take, eat;
this is My body which is broken for you; do this in
remembrance of Me. In the same manner He also took the cup after supper,
saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of
Me." (I Corinthians 11:24-25) In
churches of Christ we follow their Bible example.
Both by
precept and example Christians are instructed to observe the Lord's Supper
every Sunday. (Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:2) You may observe it in an upper
room, but that is optional, not binding, as one may observe by studying the
several passages concerning communion. Christians are also commanded to give.
(II Corinthians 8 & 9) By example we are taught to give on the first day of
the week. (I Corinthians 16:1-2) Many inspired examples in the New Testament
make it possible for Christians to "walk by faith."
God
authorizes by inference: An example of inference is in the conversion
of Saul of Tarsus. The Bible teaches that Saul was baptized. It says nothing of
his repentance. But, all Bible students know he repented. God commanded that all
that would become Christians must repent. "Truly, these times of ignorance
God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent." (Acts
God
commanded communion. Involved in the command is the authority to purchase or
provide the items necessary for communion and for serving communion. Many
inferences in the Bible make it possible for God’s children to "walk by
faith."
God
authorizes by expediency: Every thing God commands involves expediency.
God commanded singing. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all
wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16)
The song book is expedient to that part of worship. An instrument is not an expediency; rather it adds another type of music. It is
an addition to what God has commanded. We are warned strongly that we must not
add to or take from. (Revelation 22:18-19)
God
commanded worship. He said that we are not to forsake “the assembling of
ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day
approaching." (Hebrews 10:25) The place is an expedient. You might rent a
place to conduct worship or the church might own a place to conduct worship, whichever
would be most expedient.
Christians
can know God and have eternal life. "And this is eternal life, that they
may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You
have sent." (John 17:3) Knowing and obeying truth is possible. "If
you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32) Thank God we can
"know" how to go to heaven!
- - - - Charles
Box
News & Notes
1. Prayer List: In Need Of Prayers: Linda Bender, Mae Beverly,
Janice Box, Peri Chapman, Marie Curlee, Chris Duncan, Roy Goodwin, Montine
Hardin, Latrelle Harrell, Evan Hartsell, Billy Heartsill, Mary Jo Hoffman,
Jerry Johnson, Wanda Kyser, Mary Lawrence, Glenn Phillips, Mary Powell, Jack
Queener, Ottey Simno, Ralph Sims, Brenda Stallings (mother of Kimberly Hittell),
Earl Walden (Brother-in-law of Elizabeth Perdue) Mary Williams and Melissa
Woodruff. Crowne Health Care: Mable Harrell (grandmother of Dustin
Harrell), Kathy Johnson, Myrtle Perdue, and Iva Lou Wright.
2. Sympathy Expressed: Our love and sympathy is expressed to Todd
Newton and his family in the death of his father, Percy Newton.
3. Please Pray For: The following people are serving in
4. Mail For Jason Godwin: The only way to
communicate with Jason Godwin is through his e-mail,
jason.e.godwin@us.army.mil. This will be used until he comes home. The mailing
address is no longer any good.
5. Birthdays: Celebrating birthdays this week are: July 8th Cheryl Pierce and Kinley Woodard, July 9th Jerry Barr, July 10th Don Reynolds, July 12th Katie Harrell, July 13th Mack Thomas Acree and Gwen Henderson, and July 14th Willie Herring.
6. Work on
7. Bridal Shower: There will be a miscellaneous shower for Donna
Patterson and Steve Hoffman on July 8th after the evening services.
The congregation is invited and is asked to bring finger food.
8.
9.
10. VBS On A Regular Schedule: We are
planning to do
11. Put These Dates On Your Calendar: (a) July 8th-12th – Gospel Meeting – Mott Church of Christ – Speaker John Dickinson – Weeknights 7:30 (b) July 8th – 29th Homecoming – North Lowndes Church of Christ – 9:00 & 10:00 am and 6:00 pm (c) July 15th-17th – Gospel Meeting – County Line Church of Christ – Speaker Kyle Butt – weeknights 7:30 (d) July 15th-19th – VBS – Walnut Street Church of Christ – 6:30-8:30 nightly (e) July 22nd – Homecoming – Center Point Church of Christ – Speaker James Glass – 10:00 am & 3:00 pm (f) July 22nd-26th – Gospel Meeting – Salem Church of Christ – Speaker Steven Foster –weeknights 7:30 p.m. (g) July 27th-29th -- special sermons for youth -- College Street Church of Christ – July 27th 6:00pm, July 28th 5:00pm and July 29th 2:45 pm. (h) August 5th-8th – Gospel Meeting – Flatwoods Church of Christ – 7:30 nightly (Charles Box will speak on Monday night) (i) September 24th – 26th – Regions University – Spiritual Enrichment Forum – Embassy Suites, Montgomery.
Kindness
Charles
and I, along with a large group from the Walnut Street Church of Christ, will
be attending Backwoods Christian Camp this week. I have many fond memories of summers that I
spent there having fun and learning how to better live
a godly life. I couldn’t even begin, in this short article, to list the ways my
life has benefited from summers spent at BCC. But, today I would like to share
one thing with you that stands out in my mind as much as anything else. At BCC,
Kindness is the first rule and the last rule (stated twice for extra emphasis).
It could have been any number of things, such as, “Leave the wild critters alone,”
which does happen to be one of the rules. But nonetheless, the rule is
kindness. This is the first and last rule for a number of reasons.
First, kindness was the second greatest thing
Christ listed when He was asked the question, “Teacher, which is the great
commandment in the law?” (Matthew 22:36.) He said, “Love your neighbor as
yourself” (Matthew
Second, kindness is a “fruit of the Spirit.”
(Galatians 5:22). You see, as we diligently follow God, His ways will become
our ways; and He is kind. (Psalms 117:2).
God loves us, and He desires that we pass on to others the kindness that
He has shown us.
I fear that a lack of kindness is something
for which many will have to give an account in the day of
judgment. For God has said, “But why do you call Me
'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). And James
If you or your children have not experienced a week at a good Christian youth camp, I urge you to expose them to one soon. Christians need other great Christians to encourage them and build them up, and that is what they will find at camp.
- - - - Darrell Powell
The total
history of almost anyone would shock
almost everyone.
Don’t just own a Bible; read it!
(334-382-3001)