____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ September 20, 1992 ____________________________________________________ Serving the Lord by Johnie Edwards The apostle Paul set a good example of serving the Lord. Please take your Bible and read the account of his life in Acts 20:18-27. Paul has called the Ephesian elders down to the little city of Miletus to bid them good-bye, after having worked with them for three years. 1) He Was Humble. He said, ``serving the Lord will all humility of mind'' (Acts 20:19). There is just no room in the life of a child of God for selfish pride. If we expect God to exalt us, we must first be humble (1 Pet. 5:6). 2) He Had Compassion. Paul served the Lord ``with many tears'' (Acts 20:19). In fact he ``ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears'' (Ac. 20:31). Paul's ministry was not a cold, formal, indifferent work. Many preachers use the words, ``I tell you,'' but few say and do as Paul, ``I tell you even weeping...'' (Phil. 3:18). 3) He Was Faithful. ``And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you...'' (Ac. 20:20). Paul was faithful to tell them all of the truth of God. He said, ``For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God'' (Ac. 20:27). Men need to hear it all, and all of it must be preached. Paul was not interested in pleasing men (Gal. 1:10). 4) He Was Unafraid. ``And now, behold, I go bound in spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there...bonds and afflictions abide me'' (Ac. 20:22-23). Paul was submissive to the Lord regardless of the consequences. 5) He Was Strong. He said, as he talked of bonds and afflictions, ``But none of these things move me...'' (Ac. 20:24). Paul was so devoted and courageous that such things as bonds and afflictions could not move him from his faithfulness in serving God! Would such things have moved you? 6) He Was Unselfish. Selfishness is the order of the day as we have reared a selfish generation! But Paul said, ``Neither count I my life dear unto myself...'' (Ac. 20:24). He knew there was more to life than things of this earth. He wanted to ``finish my course with joy'' and this he did as he expressed it in 2 Timothy 4:6-8. ``For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have found a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith....'' As a result of all of this he could say, ''...I am pure from the blood of all men'' (Ac. 20:26). ___________________________________________ HABITS ARE LIKE CUCUMBERS A good father, after punishing his young son the third time for a repeated offense, took the boy to the pantry and brought out a quart bottle. In the bottle was a large cucumber. The neck of the bottle was so small and the cucumber so large that the boy wondered how it could ever have gotten there, and how he would ever get it out. After letting the boy puzzle over the problem for a while, the father called him out into the garden and showed him another bottle slipped over a little bud. He said, ``You see, son, the cucumber grew up in the bottle and when it was grown it could not get out. Habits are like that. If we grow into them when we are young it is very difficult for us to slip out of them later.'' Most all of us have, at one time or another, fallen into habits that we deplore, and have had to fight with all that we are worth to break. We realize then that if we had only stopped to think at the very beginning our way would be much easier now. The drunkard, dope addict, gambler, or criminal may even lose his life because of a habit he let grow so large that he could not escape its effect. Others lose business and have friends forsake them. Many others lose their souls because of habits. On the other hand good habits may also be like cucumbers. If we learn to do good, it will be very difficult to shun our opportunities. If we get used to attending services, the week just won't be right if we miss. If we give as we should we'll learn the joy of giving. Examine yourself and your habits. Form the good. Avoid the bad. -- Selected ___________________________________________ SOUND SPEECH OR SOUND SILENCE? by Connie W. Adams The book of Titus is a divine treatise on the subject of ``sound doctrine.'' Sound doctrine is to be employed in exhorting and convincing the gainsayers (Titus 1:9). The word ``sound'' means literally, ``in good health'' or ``wholesome.'' In reference to teaching it means free from any admixture of error. The design of ``sound doctrine'' is that the taught be ``sound in faith'' (Tit. 1:13 and 2:1,2). The fruit of ``sound doctrine'' is living ``soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world'' (Tit. 2:12). The vocabulary of ``sound doctrine'' is ``sound speech that cannot be condemned'' (Tit. 2:8). To employ ``sound speech'' is to speak ``as the oracles of God'' (1 Pet. 4:11). Doctrines that are sound can be expressed in language which is scripturally correct. It is when men have doctrines to uphold which are unsound that they must invent unsound terms with which to discuss these doctrines. Every religious movement has been characterized by its own peculiar vocabulary. A return to the faith and practice of the early church was, and is, impossible without a return to the language of the Scriptures in discussing religious topics. But the writer would like to point out that the word of God requires sound speech, not silence. Whatever is included in the term ``sound doctrine'' is to be spoken, not silently contained within. Within the church of our Lord there are a number of practices in some quarters which are contrary to ``sound doctrine''; practices which relate to the organization and divine mission assigned the church. There are some preachers who, in private conversation, talk pretty sound, but do not have the courage to speak publicly what they profess in private to believe. Such are greatly in error, for they suppose they shall be approved because of their sound silence. Brethren, if you have any convictions concerning ``sound doctrine'' then speak up, exercising the vocabulary of sound doctrine -- sound speech! A ``sound man'' ought to feel no hesitation in declaring himself openly on anything which concerns the whole counsel of God.'' ___________________________________________ Women Teachers by Johnie Paul Edwards The purpose of this article is to prove that women can teach, but without having dominion over a man. (1) 2 TIM. 2:2: ``And the things which thou has heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.'' The term men is translated from the Greek word ``anthropos,'' which is defined as ``a human being, whether male or female'' (Thayer p. 46). Thus, Paul requires men (male or female) to teach. (2) ACTS 2:17; 21:8-9; 1 COR. 11:5: Certain women had the gift of prophecy; the gift was to edify (teach) the church (1 Cor. 14:3-4); therefore, certain women were to teach the church. (3) ACTS 18:24-26: Here we read of Aquilla and Priscilla expounding unto Apollos the ``way of God more accurately.'' Priscilla was Aquilla's wife (Acts 18:1-3). Thus, we have record of a woman teaching a man. (4) TITUS 2:2-4: ''...that aged women likewise be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good that they may train the young women to love their children,....'' Paul commanded that the aged women teach the younger women. The New Testament clearly gives women the right to teach the word of God. It so teaches by command (1 Peter 3:15; Titus 2:3-5), apostolic approved example (Acts 18:24-26) and necessary implication (Acts 2:17; 21:8-9; 1 Cor. 11:5). (5) 1 TIMOTHY 2:11-12: ``Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection. But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness.'' This is the only passage in the New Testament that places a restriction on the teaching of women. This is not an absolute prohibition against the women teaching. Paul's prohibition is that women are not ``to usurp authority'' (KJV). Let's not make a law that God did not make. ___________________________________________ "Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious" (Psalm 66:1,2). ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________