____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ August 16, 1992 ____________________________________________________ Pray Without Ceasing by Marc Shotts Paul told the Thessalonians to ``pray without ceasing'' (1 Thess. 5:17). James wrote ``the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much'' (Jas. 5:16). Knowing that Christians are to pray and that God has the ability to answer prayers, for what should Christians be praying? Notice the Bible reveals some things that should be prayed for: 1. Forgiveness of Sins John wrote, ``If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness'' (1 John 1:9). Christians are to go to God in prayer and ask for forgiveness for the sins we have committed. 2. Help in Time of Temptation Jesus encouraged his disciples when praying to ask God to ``deliver them from evil:'' (Matt. 6:13). When Jesus went to pray in the garden of Gethsemane, he told those with him to ``watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation'' (Matt. 26:41). Peter wrote ``The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations....'' (2 Pet. 2:9). When faced with temptation, Christians need to pray to God for deliverance and strength. 3. Daily Necessities of Life Prayer for the things we need everyday to sustain our life is looked upon with favor by God. When Jesus was teaching his disciples to pray, he prayed ``give us this day our daily bread'' (Matt. 6:11). Christians must realize all blessings come from God including the daily things we often take for granted. 4. Labourers to Enter the Harvest Jesus said to his disciples, ``The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest'' (Matt. 9:37-38). Today there is much spiritual harvesting to be done, but few labourers. Prayer should be made for more teachers and preachers of God's word to enter the work of the Lord. 5. God's will to be Done In the model prayer Jesus gave to his disciples, he prayed to God that ``Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven'' (Matt. 6:10). Petitions to God should be made by Christians that His will be done today also. The world today could benefit greatly if more people were doing the will of God. The Bible also mentions other things we are to pray for such as earthly rulers (1 Tim. 2:1-2), the sick (Jas. 5:13), enemies (Matt. 5:44), and the children of God (Phil. 1:9-11). Prayer is a privilege of every Christian that must not be taken for granted. ___________________________________________ Are Bible Classes Sinful? by Johnie Edwards Many in this area have been taught by preachers that it is sinful to study the Bible in a Bible class. As a result of this thinking, many do not attend Bible study. It is pretty evident that most of these people do not study at home either! Talk to them and you will see. 1) We Are Commanded To Teach: When Jesus sent the apostles out to evangelize the world, He said, ``Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you....'' (Matt. 28:19-20). 2) Teach Is A General Command: When Jesus said ``Go and teach'' in Matthew 28:19-20, He did not specify how the teaching is to be done. The folks who think it wrong to study the Bible in a Bible class with different ages have bound where Jesus did not bind! 3) Misuse Of The Word Division: Often Bible Classes are objected to on the grounds that division is wrong and 1 Corinthians 1:10 is offered as proof. Paul is discussing the wearing of names of men religiously and this passage has nothing to do with a Bible Class. Read it. 4) No Other Organization: Some seem to think that we have another organization when we study the Bible in a Bible Class. Not so. The Bible Classes are under the oversight of the elders. The elders are to see that the church is taught (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:1-3). The church is the ``pillar and ground of the truth'' (1 Tim. 3:15). How could Bible study be sinful? ___________________________________________ WHAT ABOUT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT? by Tom Edwards In The Patriarchal Age 1) Gen. 9:6, "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man." In The Mosaical Age There were various sinful acts during the Mosaical Age which resulted in death by stoning. Here are some: 1) Adultery (Lev. 20:10). 2) Blasphemy (Lev. 24:14). 3) Incest (Lev. 20:11). 4) Kidnapping (Exo. 21:16). 5) Rape (Deut. 22:25). 6) Sabbath breaking (Exo. 31:14). 7) Striking a parent (Exo. 21:15). 8) Unchastity (Deut. 22:21). 9) Witchcraft (Exo. 22:18). In The Gospel Age What about capital punishment during the New Testament Age in which we now live? Speaking of the civil government, Paul says, ``for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil'' (Rom. 13:4). The idea of the government bearing a sword expresses something much more than merely a ``slap on the hands,'' probation, or incarceration; it metaphorically stands for execution--capital punishment. Furthermore, the apostle Paul said in Acts 25:11, ``If then I am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die....'' Obviously, Paul recognized that there were some crimes that were worthy of death and, therefore, he would be willing to yield to this type of sentence if he had been guilty of such. Would Paul have stated a willingness to comply with something if that something was sinful unto God? The inference from this passage is that God does justify the use of capital punishment during our age for certain crimes that are ``worthy of death.'' ___________________________________________ 10 REASONS WHY THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS WORTH INVESTIGATING 1. You may read about it in the Bible. -- Romans 16:16. 2. It has no creed but the Bible, binds no name on its members but Christ's. -- Acts 11:26; 1 Pet. 4:16. 3. It speaks where the Bible speaks, and is silent where the Bible is silent. -- 1 Pet. 4:11. 4. It exalts Christ as the ONLY head of the church. -- Colossians 1:18. 5. Its acts of worship are patterned after the New Testament. -- John 4:23-24; Acts 2:42; Col. 3:16; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2. 6. It teaches that Scriptural unity can be attained on all disputed doctrinal questions. -- 1 Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:4-6. 7. The church of Christ pleads for the unity of all believers in Christ. -- John 17:20-23; Eph. 4:3-6. 8. It is not a denomination, nor a group of denominations, but the body of Christ. -- Colossians 1:18. Its founder is Christ Himself. -- Matthew 16:18. Does it seem unreasonable to you that the church that Christ said He would build is still in existence today unchanged in name, doctrine, practice, and organization?? 9. Its aim -- to save souls by preaching the Gospel, teaching godly living, and helping those in need. -- 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Titus 2:11-12; Eph. 4:28; Acts 4:34-35. 10. Its future -- eternal glory with Christ. -- 1 Thessalonians 4:17. -- Selected ___________________________________________ FREE BIBLE COURSE ...just send your request to the address shown at the end of this bulletin. Thank you. ___________________________________________ "Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and look now, and take note. And seek in her open squares, if you can find a man, if there is one who does justice, who seeks truth, then I will pardon her" (Jeremiah 5:1). ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________