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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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November 5, 2017
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Contents:
1) Preparation and Working Together (Tom Edwards)
2) News & Notes
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-1-
Preparation and Working Together
Tom Edwards
Numerous Bible passages indicate the need for preparation. For
example: “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always
being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give
an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and
reverence” (1 Pet. 3:15, emphasis mine).
Peter's exhortation toward “always being ready” does not pertain to
only the preachers, the Bible class teachers, the elders, the
deacons, or to just a certain other few within the body of
Christ. Rather, it pertains to all of us who are
Christians! For in the Hebrew writer's rebuke of the brethren
who had become “dull of hearing” (Heb. 5:11) and had a “need again
for someone to teach” them “the elementary principles of the oracles
of God” (v. 12), he also points out that they, in view of how long
they had been Christians, should have already been able to be
teachers themselves (v. 12).
Teaching, of course, is very needful. For one of the important
works of the church is to edify, which Webster defines as “to
instruct or benefit, esp. morally or spiritually; uplift;
enlighten.” To edify is to build up; and when that is
pertaining to the spiritual upbuilding of Christians, then it
involves instructing, exhorting, and reproving with God’s word that
the child of God can grow thereby and conform more to the likeness
of Christ. This is one of the reasons why we have God's word
and need to not only study it, but also apply it. So that “As
a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by
waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery
of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth
in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head,
even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held
together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper
working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for
the building up of itself in love” (Eph. 4:14-16).
Notice especially that the “proper working” together involves “each
individual part.” Everyone, therefore, has an important role
toward the upbuilding of the church. This is also seen in 1
Corinthians 12:12-31 where members of the body of Christ (Christians
in the church) are likened to different parts of one's physical
body, such as the foot, the hand, the ear, the eye, etc. They
do not all have the same function, but they all work together for
the one body. So each Christian is needed.
In Chinese humor: “Said the feet to the mouth, 'You are the luckiest
thing on earth. You are forever getting the best of me. Here I
am, running around all day, wearing myself out, and all for the sake
of your eating.'
“Retorted the mouth: ‘Don't accuse me. How would you like it
if I stopped eating so that you could stop running around?’”
Again we see that they each had their own role to carry out, but it
would be for the one common good.
Sometimes, however, hindrances can get in the way, such as...
Self-Centeredness – An Obstacle Toward Working
Together
As the subtitle shows, self-centeredness can be a hindrance toward
working together – and this is so in any kind of relationship —
whether in the church, in a marriage, in family relationships, and
in other affiliations.
People are often too self-centered! It has been said that Dr.
Clyde Miller of Columbia University likes to sometimes play a prank
on his friends by using boring books that have been sent to him by
their publishers. He will attach a note, making it look as if
it were from the author, saying, “I hope you will be pleased by the
references made to you in this volume, and hope that you will not
have any objection to this use of your name.” As you might
have already imagined, Mr. Miller's friends will diligently search
through the book, just trying to find a reference to themselves.
A similar illustration concerns a novelists that met an old
friend. After talking for two hours, the novelist said, “Now
we've talked about me long enough – let's talk about you! What
did you think of my last novel?”
Self-Centeredness is to be Overcome
According to the Bible, a person is to actually place himself last
of all. For it is God who needs to be placed above ourselves
and above all others as well. Jesus indicates this when
saying, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your
strength” (Mark 12:30). Going along with that, Jesus also
declares, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy
of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy
of Me" (Matt. 10:37). A person would be putting others above
God and loving them more when compromising or disregarding God's
word in order to please them. But that would not be true love.
And rather than oneself being next on the list, others are to be, as
Paul declares: “...Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but
with humility of mind regard one another as more important than
yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests,
but also for the interests of others” (Phil. 2:3-4). Yes, we
are to be servants of the Lord; and we have a duty toward others:
“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without
strength and not just please ourselves. Let each of us please his
neighbor for his good, to his edification” (Rom. 15:1-2).
So in this order, we see the acrostic that some have given in
reference to true joy, which is...
Jesus first.
Others second.
Yourself last.
When we learn to put God first, others second, and ourselves last,
then we can really begin to work together in the best way – in the
home, on the job, in the church, in the community, in the world,
etc.
Notice that kind of attitude in the following relationships:
In marriage: “Husbands, love your wives, just as
Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her... So
husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He
who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own
flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the
church” (Eph. 5:25, 28-29). “but as the church is subject to
Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in
everything” (v. 24). “The husband must fulfill his duty to his
wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not
have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise
also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the
wife does. Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a
time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together
again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of
self-control. But this I say by way of concession, not of command”
(1 Cor. 7:3-6).
In the family: It has been said that “The family is
the most basic of all social institutions... It was the first social
group formed by human beings.” We've just considered the
husband and wife relationship, but how about the children?
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR
YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a
promise)” (Eph. 6:1-2). “Children, be obedient to your parents
in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord” (Col. 3:20).
In the work realm: We can see a principle in the
ancient master-slave relationship to apply to employer-employee
relationships: “Slaves, in all things obey those who are your
masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely
please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever
you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the
inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve" (Col. 3:22-24).
In the community: “Owe nothing to anyone except to
love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the
law. For this, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,
YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,' and if there is any other
commandment, it is summed up in this saying, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR
NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore
love is the fulfillment of the law" (Rom. 13:8-10).
In today’s lesson, we have considered the need to prepare ourselves
with God’s truth that we might be able to teach others also to their
edification. We also noted the danger of self-centeredness
that can hinder us from being as we should in various
relationships of life.
God certainly knew what He was doing when he made man. But
even more important than our physical makeup is that which pertains
to our inner man that has been created in the image of God and,
therefore, we should strive to develop that kind of godly
character.
Think, too, of the unity that exists between God the Father, Jesus
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. How well they all worked
together in the creation (Gen. 1:1,26; Heb.1:1-2; Psa.
104:30). How united as “one” they were — and are! Jesus
prayed that all His people will also be that way in relation to one
another: “I do not ask on behalf of these alone [the
apostles], but for those also who believe in Me through their word;
that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in
You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that
You sent Me” (Jn. 17:20-21).
During the spiritual renewal of Israel, after their return from
captivity, they were truly concerned with hearing the law of God and
conforming to it. Nehemiah 8:1 reads: “And all the people
gathered as one man at the square which was in front
of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book
of the law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel.
Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of
men, women, and all who could listen with understanding... He read
from it...from early morning until midday...and all the people were
attentive to the book of the law” (Neh. 8:1-3, emphasis mine).
For this gathering to be “as one man” truly indicates how united
they were in the common interest of hearing, reverencing, and
submitting to God’s word. How well — minds like that can work
together! And may that also be the kind of mind we continue to
develop even more, as we mature in Christ and work together for His
cause.
(All scripture from the NASB, unless otherwise indicated.)
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-2-
News & Notes
Folks to be praying for:
We extend our condolences to all the family and friends of Mae
Ila Highsmith Todd (the grandmother of Mark Cox) who passed
away October 29. Among her survivors are also 13 grandchildren
and 23 great-grandchildren.
Our sympathies also go out to the loved ones of Melissa Benson
(Samantha Rittenhouse's sister) who recently passed away.
Nolan McLaine, owner of Westside Auto in Homerville, Georgia
(whom Kevin Rittenhouse works for), has an aggressive leukemia.
Others for prayer: Shirley Davis, Anita Abbott, Charles Crosby, Judy
Daugherty, Pat Joyner, Misty Thornton, Michelle Rittenhouse, Rachael
Gerbing, Jarvis Williams, Cedell Fletcher, and Mary Vandevander.
The WordPress version of this bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2017/11/09/the-gospel-observer-november-5-2017/
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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, living for the Lord; for, if not,
salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday services: 9:00 a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m. & 5 p.m.
(worship)
Tuesday: 7 p.m. (Ladies' Bible class)
Wednesday: 7 p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 614-8593
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com (Gospel Observer
website with pictures in WordPress)
http://thomastedwards.com/go (Older version of Gospel Observer
website without pictures, but back to March 1990)
http://tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org/
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)