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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" (Matthew 28:19,20).
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April 7, 1996
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THE PAST STILL SPEAKS
by Chuck Bartlett
The idea for this article is not original with me. Last
week, two things happened. First, Brian Sullivan was out to
services and gave me his bulletin. Next, Ruth came across
an old Jordan bulletin and gave it to me. The connection I
want to make with these two bulletins comes from a poem
that was in Brian's bulletin.
The poem was about a person who had a bulletin that
he kept for years. Always planning on throwing it out, he
never did. Then one day he stopped and noticed the names
listed for the servants for the week. The man in the poem
pondered the names of the individuals who were no longer
there. There were names of those who had died in the Lord.
Others had died in a fallen state. Then there were the
names of people who simply stopped coming and were dead
while alive (I Tim. 5:6). The poem went on to suggest what
might become of the names in the bulletin now.
This brings me back to the Jordan bulletin of ten
years ago that Ruth gave me. There are names in that
paper that I do not know, and some I can identify. Out of
the 10 names, some are still attending, one has passed on,
while others have fallen away.
It is interesting to see what has gone on in the lives
of people over that past ten years. I don't want to make it
seem that whoever doesn't have his name recorded in the
bulletin isn't important; I just am trying to illustrate a
point. Look at the names listed on the back of this paper.
There are fifteen different names, including the
announcements. What kind of changes will there be in
another ten years, if time goes on?
Will some leave this world having lived faithfully up
to the end, or having died in a lost state? Will there be
some alive who have departed from the faith? Still yet, will
some names stop appearing, not wanting to be active? A
bulletin can say a lot over a period of time.
The fact remains, bulletin or not, changes do occur.
The only one responsible for the condition of man is man
himself. Paul wrote, ``Work out your own salvation with fear
and trembling'' (Phil. 2:12). Are there any guarantees that
there will not be any changes that are bad? Yes and no.
All saints have the assurance that the Lord will not
abandon them. The Lord is over the righteous (I Pet. 3:12).
As Jesus put it, ``My Father, who has given them to Me, is
greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of
my Father's hand'' (Jn. 10:29). No one can remove us from
our God's protection. Having said all of that, man is capable
of leaving the Lord on his own. Some choose to depart from
the faith (I Tim. 4:1).
So, where were you ten years ago--spiritually? Are
things better or worse with you? Whatever the answer is,
the person that is responsible for that condition is you.
No, having your name in the bulletin is not that
important, it's having your name written in the Lamb's book
of life that you should strive for (Rev. 22:18).
-- Via The Jordan Journal, January 17, 1996
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"MINI-SERMONS"
Some people think a 30-minute sermon is too long, so
they substitute a 600-column newspaper.
Many speakers need no introduction--just a
conclusion.
You can't get anywhere today if you are still bogged
down in yesterday.
95% devotion to God is about 5% short.
Macho does not mean mucho!
-- adapted from The Old Path II
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POSSESSING THE MIND OF CHRIST
by Everett Hardin
``Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus'' (Phil. 2:5). The foundation truth of this exhortation
is that Christians must become like Christ in Character;
apply the same rule to themselves that they see and
approve in Jesus. We should meditate upon all the
circumstances in which he was placed, and the spirit he
manifested on all occasions. What is that mind which was in
Christ?
1. It was a mind of tenderness and love. Every act of
his life was motivated by love. He gave his life a ransom
for us, and thus manifested to the world a benevolence
without parallel and beyond description. Greater love hath
no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his
friends'' (Jn. 15:13). When we are governed by selfishness,
covetousness, spite, and vengeance we do not possess the
mind of Christ. ``Be ye therefore followers of Christ as dear
children; And walk in love as Christ also hath loved us, and
given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for
a sweet smelling savor'' (Eph. 5:1-2).
2. It was a mind of humility. Though Lord of angels,
God blessed forever, he became a servant of servants. He
came, ``not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to
give his life a ransom for many'' (Matt. 20:28). He
affectionately served his enemies and the poorest and vilest
of mankind. He avoided the praise and honors the people
desired to confer upon him. More of this kind of humility in
our lives would end much of the strife that separates
brethren. ``Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
and before honor is humility'' (Prov. 18:12). A meek and a
quite spirit in the sight of God is of great price (1 Peter
3:4).
3. It was a mind of fervent devotion. The whole life
of Christ was distinguished for this. ``I must work the
works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night
cometh, when no man can work'' (Jn. 9:4). He was never
known to utter one murmuring word, but was resigned to
do all the Father's will. Devotion was the element in which
he lived and in which he died, and the challenge to us is
``to walk, even as he walked'' (1 Jn. 2:6).
4. It was a mind of meekness. Under circumstances of
great provocation, he displayed the most perfect self
possession and composure. They blasphemed him, mocked
him and called him foul names. Then they went further to
beat, buffet, and crown with thorns. He never reviled, but
committed his cause to God that judgeth rightly (See 1 Pet.
2:22). No matter what he suffered he never displayed
unhallowed passion, or a spirit of revenge. He wept over
his vilest enemies, and prayed for his murderers. The
rudeness, cruelty, and injustice of enemies, will not justify
Christians in reviling and revenge. The reasons for sin can
never be so great, but that we have stronger reasons to
avoid it.
Let us examine and study the mind of Christ. Let it
be constantly kept before our eyes, that we may always be
looking to Jesus. May conformity to it be the anxious desire
of our hearts.
___________________________________________ -- Via Stand, December 1995
WHY ATTEND BIBLE CLASSES?
by Steve Hardin
It is sad but true that many members of the church
are negligent in attending Bible classes. It is difficult for
me to understand why some do not feel any need to attend.
It is understandable when one is kept home beyond his
control because of sickness or some other real reason.
Laziness and indifference, however, should never cause us
to miss the services of the church.
We are commanded to study the Bible. In 2 Timothy
2:15, Paul wrote, Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth.'' In 2 Peter 1:5, Peter under direct
guidance of the Holy Spirit also wrote, ``And besides this,
giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue
knowledge.''
Our Bible study classes provide each of us with
excellent opportunities to fulfill these commandments. Yet,
ultimately it is up to each of us as individual members
whether or not we will take advantage of these
opportunities or let them slip away from us.
We each make our own choices, reaping the
consequences that go with our choices. One day we then
will stand before God and give an account for the choices
we have made in this life. In view of eternity, can you not
see the importance of taking advantage of every
opportunity to grow spiritually and prepare yourself for
the inevitable day when you meet the Lord face to face.
-- adapted (Via The Plain Path)
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A PORTRAIT OF SOUL WINNERS
Their EARS are open to the cries for help from a lost
and dying world.
Their EYES are ever searching for a receptive heart,
in which to plant the Word of God.
Their LIPS are always ready and willing to proclaim
the glory of God.
Their HANDS are always turning the pages of God's
Holy Word, seeking His will for them.
Their FEET are on the move to carry out the words
of Christ to preach the gospel to every creature.
Their HEARTS are beating and breaking with the
urgency to reach the lost before it's too late.
Their HEADS are bowed in a prayer to the Father in
heaven, to give them wisdom to carry out the mission.
Their FACES glow with the hope that is in them.
Their LIVES are like the light of a city set upon a
hill that cannot be hid.
-- Author Unknown (Via The Old Path II,
January 14, 1996)
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Tri-State
CHURCH OF CHRIST
713 13th Street, 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@wwd.net
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