____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ October 23, 1994 ____________________________________________________ A Note On Attendance At Assemblies by Wayne S. Walker The New Testament definitely teaches that God's people should assemble on a regular basis for Bible study and worship. ``And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching'' (Heb. 10:24-25). This passage is not speaking of a specific assembly, such as Lord's day morning worship, but of the practice of assembling. A person can forsake such assembling either by abandoning it altogether, or just by missing even an occasional service without scripturally justifiable reason. Nearly every congregation that I have been a member of, worked with, visited at, held a gospel meeting for, or even known about has problems with attendance to one degree or another. There are ``members'' who attend only the Sunday morning worship service--even arriving after the Bible study period. Some who are present for both Bible study and worship on Sunday morning do not return Sunday night. Others who normally assemble for all services on Sunday will not come back for the midweek service. Many who usually make it for all the regularly scheduled services may not gather during ``special'' services such as singings (sometimes even if they are held on a Sunday or Wednesday evening), gospel meetings, and the like. As a result, there is often a discrepancy between the Sunday morning worship number and the figures for other services. We realize that there are often visitors on Sunday mornings that are not present at other times. And we know that some members who can come on Sunday mornings may have situations due to age, health, or work that do not permit them to attend at other services. But it is a fact which can be well-documented that many who claim to be members of the Lord's church but choose to be absent from any given service without any scriptural reason. Why is this so? It is likely because they feel that the only ``necessary'' service is Sunday morning to take the Lord's supper. Oh, they may come at other times, when it is convenient, but they probably believe that if they can just make it for Lord's day worship to observe communion, they have fulfilled their religious duties for the week. Certainly, remembering the Lord's death in His memorial feast on the first day of the week is important. But there are other important reasons for people who call themselves Christians to be assembled at other times than the Lord's day--praising God, studying His word, and encouraging one another in our service to Him. And there is something else to be considered. I recall a story told by Cecil Willis. All the details may not be correct, but the gist of the account is as it was related by bro. Willis. Cecil was holding a meeting for a small congregation during a time of year when the weather was not particularly enjoyable. There was an elderly brother, blind and almost deaf, who was present for every service of the meeting. Since he could not drive or even walk to the building, he depended on others to provide transportation. On the closing night of the meeting, bro. Willis, having nearly to shout to make himself heard, asked him why he made the effort to be there every time when it was obvious that due to his lack of sight and hearing he could not benefit from much if any of what went on during the service. The old gentleman replied, ``Well, I just want everyone to know whose side I am on!'' The next time you are tempted to miss any service, be it Sunday Bible study, Sunday evening, Wednesday night, singing, gospel meeting, or whatever--even Sunday morning--for any reason other than that it is simply impossible for you to be present, ask yourself the following question: ``Am I letting people know whose side I am on?'' As the inspired writer said, ``Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward'' (Heb. 10:35). -- Via Gospel Truth (August 21, 1994) ___________________________________________ Jesus in John by Johnie Edwards The book of John is the finest book in the New Testament showing the divinity of Christ as well as other outstanding things about Jesus. Let's take a look at Jesus as revealed in the book of John. 1) Jesus Is Divine. John said, ``In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God'' (Jno. 1:1-2). Contrary to some, Jesus was not a created being but has always existed. According to Paul's writings, Jesus existed before He came to this earth. It is recorded, ``who being in the form of God...'' (Phil. 2:6). Jesus was not ``A God,'' not ``The God,'' but God, that is Deity! 2) Jesus Was Made Flesh. John 1:14 says, ``And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.'' Jesus, or deity, took on humanity. Jesus was God\Man. Paul taught that Jesus ''...took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men'' (Phil. 2:7). Nothing is said in this passage about Jesus giving up his deity, rather deity took on ''...the seed of Abraham'' (Heb. 2:16). 3) Jesus Created. John said, ``All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made'' (Jno. 1:3). This is exactly what Paul wrote the Colossians: ``For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him'' (Col. 1:16). The agency by which God created all things was by His Son, Jesus Christ. 4) Jesus Was The Means Of Truth. ``For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ'' (Jno. 1:17). No wonder Jesus could say, ''...I am the way, the truth, and the life'' (Jno. 14:6). The word of God is ``truth'' (Jno. 17:17). Because Jesus is the means of truth His ``words'' must ``abide in you'' (Jno. 15:6-7). 5) Jesus Was A Worker. ``I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day; the night cometh when no man can work'' (Jno. 9:4). Jesus came to do the works of God and He said in John 17:4, ''...I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.'' The works Jesus did served as a ``witness...that the Father hath sent me'' (Jno. 5:36). Jesus worked and He expects us to work also. 6) Jesus Was The Bridegroom Of The Church. Read John 3:29-30 to be impressed with the fact that Jesus, not John the baptist, was to be the bridegroom of the church. The church is the bride of Christ and Christ is its bridegroom. No wonder we are expected to wear the name of Christ and not John's. -- Via Ellettsville Church Bulletin (9/15/94) ___________________________________________ "ERROR MIXED WITH TRUTH" A worldly-wise lady said, ``All the religions have so much good in them! We shouldn't criticize or condemn any of them.'' To this a wise man replied, ``So has rat poison a lot of good in it; it is 98% corn meal, yet the 2% poison in it is enough to kill! ERROR MIXED WITH TRUTH CAN BE FATAL.'' -- Selected ___________________________________________ TRUTH IS NARROW! If you would like a simple demonstration of this fact, dial correctly six of the seven digits in a normal telephone number; then vary the seventh just slightly. The result of this minor variation is that you will find yourself 100% wrong in securing the desired person at the other end of the line. Miss just one digit, ever so slightly, and you fail completely. God's truth does not allow itself to be bent and twisted to suit the whims of men. -- Selected ___________________________________________ ``THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH'' by W. W. Otey The church was purposed before the foundation of the world, purchased by Christ on the cross, established by the agency of the Holy Spirit, is still on the earth for only one purpose or mission. That mission is to save the lost and to build up its members in holiness and righteousness till Christ comes to claim it as His bride. When the church turns aside from this mission it has failed for the purpose for which it was established. When the church as an institution, enters the field of social entertainment, community centers, athletic sports and institutionalism--then the church has betrayed Christ, her spiritual head, lost sight of its true mission and entered upon the road, which if followed, will end among denominations. -- Via The Old Path II (April 10, 1994) ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________