____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ April 7, 1996 ____________________________________________________ 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 ___________________________________________ "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 ___________________________________________ 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) ___________________________________________ 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) ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________