____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ April 16, 2000 ____________________________________________________ A Scriptural Youth Ministry by John Hendrix In most religious circles a ``youth ministry'' essentially means an entertainment program for the young. There is nothing wrong with entertainment. There is nothing wrong with trying to get teenagers together to do things. There is nothing wrong with providing the young opportunities to have good, moral fun. These are all worthy goals, yet the church has no authority to fund, organize or control such things. ``Let not the church be burdened'' Paul told Timothy concerning care for elderly Christians who had able younger Christians to take care of them (1 Timothy 5:16). The same might be said for providing entertainment for the young. The church is Christ's kingdom, organized for Christ's work; it should be run under Christ's authority. The responsibility for good, moral upbringing of children is laid squarely at the feet of parents: ``And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord'' (Ephesians 6:4). Parents must take time from their own interests and care for the valid needs of their children. This includes providing safe and moral entertainment. Yet the church has a ministry that--in some ways--overlap with this obligation of the parents. The church is charged to edify itself (Ephesians 4:12), sound forth the gospel (1 Thessalonians 1:8) and uphold the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). This certainly includes teaching the truth to the young that are in the congregation. God wants us to teach the young: ``And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up'' (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, ``Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. . . .'' (Mark 10:14). . . . and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15). With very few exceptions, most of us agree that the church has a role in ``ministering'' to the youth in the congregation. That is why we have Bible classes for different age groups. We understand that an eight year-old needs certain attentions that a fifteen year-old does not, and a fifteen year-old can benefit from attention not normally afforded an adult. I will not go through the principles of that argument in this article. In some circles special efforts of the church for the youth tends to get a skeptical reception. Separate classes are accepted, but highly scrutinized. There is nothing wrong with this scrutinization, but everyone should proceed wisely. Some are quick to say, ``the same gospel that saves the older, saves the younger.'' This true statement reminds me of Paul's dire warning in Galatians 1:9 and 10. In terms of salvation, there is but one gospel, and it should be taught in simplicity and purity. Yet Paul also had this to say in Galatians 2: ``But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter . . . they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised'' (Galatians 2:7-9). Paul and Peter taught the same gospel, but tailored their teaching to the different ethnic groups. Peter could teach a Jewish man with certain assumptions that Paul could not have about a Gentile's knowledge. The facts of the gospel are the same, the commands of the gospel are the same, but the teaching methods had to take into account the different backgrounds. Paul spoke similarly about his own teaching methods among differing types of people: ``For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some'' (1 Corinthians 9:19-22). In teaching the gospel to the young, the congregation must minister to their special needs. This is a scriptural youth ministry, and an obligation to those who would save the rising generation in the congregation. Throughout man's history, we have used special teaching techniques for the very young. They put Bible stories and facts into rhymes and songs so that they may be more easily remembered and, yes, more fun to learn. Coloring books and puzzles may seem like activities for the home, yet a teacher of very young children can put these before a child and help him visualize Biblical truths--stories and commands--that would otherwise be too abstract for the young mind to absorb. Yet the emphasis must remain on teaching. I want my child to come out of class saying, ``we learned about Abraham and Lot,'' rather than, ``we colored pictures and put together puzzles.'' Be careful, though: the image colored on a page may be etched in the mind. These early lessons may lay the foundation for solid, meatier gospel teaching in years to come. Games of Bible quizzes--girls against boys, perhaps--can energize a Bible class while keeping the focus firmly on scriptural truths. This is not the ``bait and switch'' tactic that is so popular today. Some think to lure in an audience of children with movies, skating or hot dogs and, somehow, sneak in a Bible story or two between activities. This does not emphasize the Bible, but rather tacks it on as some bonus. ``Sneaking in the gospel'' is hardly a method worthy of the ``pillar and ground of the truth.'' We should honestly ask ourselves if this church activity is truly to teach and edify, or is teaching and edifying rather just a side objective? A joke or humorous story may serve well to illustrate--or make more memorable--some Bible truth. From a small child I remember well the ludicrous image Jesus painted of the man with a board in his eye trying to remove a speck of sawdust from the eye of someone else (Matthew 7:3-5). Yet the purpose was teaching hypocrisy, not getting a laugh. Too much laughter quickly trivializes the message. This is true for teenagers as well as adults. Teenagers are approaching--or have entered--a state of accountability to God. We must teach them the seriousness of their condition. Teens face sobering perils, we need to encourage that sobriety. The youth ministry of any congregation is serious business, worthy of all care and consideration by the elders and adults of the church. We can encourage and support methods that help teach the truth, but we must never worship the false gods of ``food, fun and games.'' Let parents see to the entertainment of their children. Let both the parents and the church see to their salvation and spiritual edification. -- Via The Exhorter, May 9, 1999 ___________________________________________ Selected Sentence Sermons You may need false teeth, but be sure your tongue is always true. "...it is better to be a poor man than a liar" (Prov. 19:22). ___________________________________________ Church and School by Jack Meyer The New Testament teaches that the church promised in Matthew 16:18 was established on the first Jewish Pentecost after Christ's ascension, as recorded in Acts 2. That institution is ``the pillar and ground of the truth'' (1 Timothy 3:14, 15). Paul says, ``Unto him be the glory in the church'' (Ephesians 3:21). The New Testament reveals that the church is the only institution for executing Christ's program. It also reveals that during the lifetime of the apostles no organization larger or smaller than the congregation was ever used for that purpose. Though congregations ``cooperated'' by sending money to support evangelists in different places, as well as in relieving distress, even then there can be found not one trace of any organization tying the churches together, over the churches, separate and apart from the churches, directing either the churches or their work. Nor is there any record of any congregation sending money to any organization except another congregation, as in Acts 11:27-30. An Adjunct To The Home A school giving secular education is an adjunct to the home, not to the church. It is the business of the family--not the church--to provide a secular education for its children. The family is admittedly a divine institution, ordained by Jehovah. So is human government. But the business of the human government is not the business of the church (John 18:36; 2 Corinthians 10:3,4). The family is charged with the responsibility of providing proper training for its children to handle themselves in the world. When the child enters high school, that high school supplements the work of the family. When the son or daughter goes away to college, the college supplements the work of the family. But the family is still responsible for placing son or daughter in the proper college, retaining sufficient interest and supervision to see that son or daughter is acquiring the correct education. That still is the responsibility of the family, not the church. A secular education, provided by the family, cannot be confused with the mission of the church as ``the pillar and ground of the truth.'' Individuals, then, may support Christian schools, to provide secular education under Christian influence. They --individuals--will thus carry on family responsibilities, and the schools will supplement the family's work; it will be an adjunct to the family. But if the church as such supports the Christian school, then there is the school, secular in nature, tied to the church, spiritual in nature, and actually an adjunct to the church. On the same basis one could justify any other organization--missionary society or what-not--as an adjunct to the church. But the school is an adjunct to the family; it carries on the work of the family in providing a secular education. What Is An ``Adjunct''? Webster's dictionary defines ``adjunct'' as ``Something joined or added to another thing, but not essentially a part of it.'' The place of the school is that of an institution not essentially a part of the family, but joined or added to it, in that it carries on the work of the family in providing a secular education. But if the school becomes an adjunct to the church (which certainly happens when the church contributes to the school), there is an institution not essentially a part of the church, but joined or added to it, in carrying on the work of the church. This would be a plain violation of every scripture teaching the fact and sufficiency of the New Testament church for carrying on the Lord's work according to his pattern. The New Testament would forbid connecting the church with any such institution, separate and apart from the church, or as an adjunct to it. Christian schools are, after all, predominately secular in their curriculums, and could lay no claim to being exclusively spiritual, or religious. It is clear, then, that individuals may support Christian schools--primary, grammar, high school and college. Let us so support Christian schools that they may grow and prosper, while remaining sound; but let no secular institution be joined to the church, and let the church as such keep itself separated from any secular institution. Let Christian schools stay in their proper place as adjuncts to the homes, and thus be consistently, properly, and liberally supported by individuals, not by congregations. He who keeps these principles straight learns the lesson of the exaltation of the church, the sufficiency of the church, and avoids the definite danger of the church being controlled or unduly influenced by the secular institution which it supports. Christian colleges, then, will not become ``church schools,'' for they are not church schools. They will remain Christian schools, owned, operated, and supported by Christian individuals. Those who cross the line here, either directly or indirectly encouraging churches as such to contribute to their campaigns, either yield simply to the temptation of financial opportunism, or else do not clearly see the difference in the functions of family and church, according to the New Testament pattern. -- The Gospel Guardian, Vol. 1, #40, February 16, 1950 ___________________________________________ Use It Or Lose It by Whit Sasser This expression is often heard in regard to physical exercise when the idea is being promoted that muscles have to be used in order to insure greater use of them in the future. To fail to do so will tend to slowly lead to muscular atrophy, a loss of what strength you presently have. But the same principle applies to things spiritual as well. In Mark 4:24-25, Jesus says, ``Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.'' When it comes to hearing God's word, understanding it and then applying it, God warns in so many words, ``use it or lose it.'' We all have some ability to get to know God and His will. We all have opportunities to fulfill the desires of our heart religiously; but if we neglect to use them, we may end up losing even that which we have. Conversely, the more we put into seeking after God, the more we will get out of it and the more we will be equipped for future success. Ecclesiastes 12 warns mankind to remember the Creator in the days of youth, before the evil days come and there is no interest. We go through changes in our lives, and some not for the better. One such change may be a degenerating interest in spiritual concerns. Don't let this happen to you. Use it, so you don't lose it. -- Via The Exhorter, July 25, 1999 ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES Let us continue to pray for Wilma Jones as she is recuperating from recent surgery. Nancy Atkinson (a former member where I used to preach in Ashland, Kentucky) has a father who will be undergoing treatment for bone cancer. Let us be remembering him in prayer as well. Steve Wolfgang (from Danville, Kentucky) will be preaching a three-day meeting in Philadelphia (where James Baker preaches) May 19-21. We welcome those of you who are visiting with us today and are glad for your presence. Please come again. ________________________________________ Avondale CHURCH OF CHRIST P.O. Box 421 1606 Glen Willow Rd., Avondale, PA 19311 (610) 268-2088 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 11:00 A.M. Worship 6:00 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:00 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (610) 925-3567 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________