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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" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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May 11, 2014
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Contents:

1) Neither Protestant nor Catholic (Robert Hines)
2) News & Notes
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-1-

Neither Protestant nor Catholic
by Robert Hines

It's pretty easy to see that this congregation or church is not Catholic.  There is no Roman priest in charge of the parish or nuns to serve, no Vatican connection or leader status for the Pope, and no incense or infant baptisms in our worship and work.  Since it is obvious we are not Catholics most will say we must be Protestants.  

The assumption made is that Christians are either Catholic or Protestant.  If you are not one you must be the other.  But we are not Protestants either.  We are not of the Protestant Reformation that protested the excesses of the Catholic Church and sought to reform it.  Beyond Catholic tradition and Protestant theology we are, simply, Christians.  

We understand that this sounds strange in a religious world complicated with so many denominations.  If you ask a man today what he is religiously he doesn't say "I am a Christian."  He says he is a Baptist or a Methodist or a Presbyterian or a Pentecostal.  In the New Testament, followers of Jesus were content to be, simply, Christians (Acts 11:26).  

Christ's people were described by God in several ways in the Scripture, long before Catholics and Protestants existed.  To God they were His children (1 John 1:1-3).  To Christ they were His disciples (John 8: 31-32).   To each other they were brothers (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).  And to the world they were, simply, Christians (1 Peter 4:16).  

We are not claiming to be the first denomination, the best denomination, the most conservative denomination, the non-denominational denomination, or a denomination at all!  We simply follow the New Testament to be Christians, in the unity Christ called for (John 17:21) as an invitation to the world, there for all to see.  

-- Via The Beacon, April 2, 2013
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"But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the lovingkindness of God for ever and ever.  I will give thee thanks for ever, because thou hast done it; And I will hope in thy name, for it is good, in the presence of thy saints" (Psalm 52:8,9).
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-2-

News & Notes

Steve Jackson (Jackson Moon's grandfather) is undergoing tests for sleep apnea.  Let those of us who are Christians be praying that all will go well for him.

Let us also continue in prayer for the following:

Bob Tate
(Ken Robertson's brother-in-law) has been in the hospital undergoing tests to determine what has been causing his poor health.  Lately, he has not been feeling well, has lost much weight, and has been experiencing various symptoms. 

Steve Wolfgang's surgery on May 20 to prevent further nerve damage to his back went well, though there has been the normal need for pain medication.

Norma Burton, who is in her early 90s, continues to receive physical therapy, due to having fallen several weeks ago and breaking her hip, with the goal of helping her to be able to walk again.     

Richard Crews
no longer needs to wear the brace, due to his surgery for his rotator cuff, bicep, and ligaments; but will need to continue with physical therapy for a few more weeks. 

Let us also continue praying for the health of Virginia Fontenot, Shirley Young, Cheryl Crews, Peggy Lefort and Terry and Pam MacDonald.
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21)     
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Park Forest

CHURCH OF CHRIST
9923 Sunny Cline Dr., Baton Rouge, LA  70817
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 6 PM (worship)
Tuesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go (Gospel Observer website)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)