____________________________________________________ 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 17, 1997 ____________________________________________________ Who Is To Teach? by Gene Taylor Christian, what is your attitude toward teaching others? Do you think it is the job of only a certain few--the preacher or, perhaps, the elders? Or do you think you have a responsibility to convey the gospel to those who are lost? The instructions Jesus gave His disciples in Matthew 28:18-20 emphasize that it is the duty of every child of God to be involved in the task of presenting the gospel to the world. Yet, many Christians never teach others. Do they not see the need to reach those who are dead in sin? Do they really feel no action is needed on their part? Jesus, in John 4:35, spoke of the fields that ``are already white for harvest.'' He was speaking of people in the world who need to be brought to the Father by the gospel. The people of the world still need to be gathered into the kingdom of God. That ''field'' is still ready to be harvested and now it is larger than ever. Therefore, many workers should be busy in it. Jesus, on another occasion, said, ``I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work'' (John 9:4). Though He was speaking of His time on earth, the principle can apply to us. While we are living is the time to work. Rest will come in the place of eternal rest (Rev. 14:13). We must use our time wisely (Eph. 5:16). We must be zealous to accomplish those good works for which we have been created in Christ (Eph. 2:10; Titus 2:14). If we are going to be like the New Testament church, we will be seeking and teaching the lost. Study the first century church and its marvelous growth as seen in the New Testament. Why was its growth so dramatic? Acts 8:4 states a most significant reason for the astounding numerical growth. Scattered abroad by persecution, the disciples "went everywhere preaching the word." Though separated from the apostles, they diligently sought out those "good and honest hearts" who would listen to the message of truth. So great was their dedication, so effective was their teaching, the apostle Paul was able to say in Colossians 1:23 that the gospel had been preached to all creation. In just a span of about 34 years, the Christians had saturated the world with the teaching of the gospel. They accomplished that great task because every one of them recognized his responsibility to Christ and worked at fulfilling it. Just as inequity of ability exists today, I am sure their talents were not equal. Yet, that did not seem to hinder them. Neither should it hinder anyone today. Even the least knowledgeable and most timid disciple can teach someone. If he can only relate what he did to be saved, that would be enough to tell others. In addition, various helps are available such as tracts, bulletins, video tapes, etc., which can help make an adequate teacher out of everyone. Every child of God should utilize and enlarge the abilities he possesses. Each should be seeking to improve his knowledge of the word of God and improve himself as a teacher by diligently studying the Bible, our guidebook to heaven (2 Tim. 2:15). He must remember at all times that Christ is his source of strength (Phil. 4:13). Then, with prayer for help and strength from above, he can effectively teach the saving gospel of Christ to those who need it. -- Via Reflections of Truth ___________________________________________ "God often has to knock out our props before we can rest on Him" (anonymous). "The ones who pull the oars don't have time to rock the boat" (selected). ___________________________________________ The Need of Humility by Dwane Derrick Jesus taught, ``Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven'' (Matthew 5:3). We should not think of the one who is ``poor in spirit'' as the poor-spirited, dejected, self-pitying person who gives in when he should resist, who considers the battle as lost before the fight begins, who does not have the moral courage and persistence needed. These traits are not commended by the Lord. In fact, they are serious defects in character which need to be corrected. The word which is rendered ``poor'' in this passage, according to Thayer, means ``needy,'' ``destitute of wealth.'' Jesus is not speaking of those who are poor or destitute materially, but those who are destitute with respect to their spirit. To be poor in spirit is to be aware of one's spiritual need. It is that spirit of deep humility that causes one to recognize his frailties and weaknesses, that makes him constantly aware of his dependence on God. Being poor in spirit is the opposite of everything that is summed up in the word ``proud.'' Pride is the spirit of self-inflation. The proud person always thinks of himself more highly than he should. He has a self-inflated sense of his worth or importance. The heart that is filled with pride is so filled with self that there is no room for God. He is self-satisfied, self-sufficient, self-seeking, and self centered. This person will never even seek God. He is of the disposition that he can get along quite well without Him. He does not see himself as he really is -- a lost sinner. Paul said, ``For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith'' (Romans 12:3). Only the man who has emptied himself of pride can be saved. In one of the parables of the Lord we can see the contrast between pride and humility. In Luke 18:9-14 Jesus told of two men who went to the temple to pray. One man recognized his dependency upon God, and the other did not. The Pharisee was self-righteous and lifted up with pride. In his prayer he thanked God that he was not like other people, and proceeded boastfully to inform God of his own goodness. He considered himself a wonderful person and wanted to be sure that God was aware of what a good man he was. The publican, deeply conscious of his sins, humbly approached God as a beggar. He ``could not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven but smote upon his breast saying, God be merciful to me a sinner'' (Luke 18:13). According to Jesus, the man who was ``poor in spirit,'' the one who recognized his spiritual poverty and his dependency upon God, the publican, returned to his house justified; he begged for mercy and obtained it. The Pharisee, the one who was not conscious of his spiritual needs, the one who was so self-righteous that he felt no need of mercy, returned to his house unjustified. He did not humble himself before God, seeking His mercy, because he did not feel the need of such. He sought no mercy and he obtained none. Pride is seen all around us today. We see it in the world on the part of those who are unwilling to face the fact that they are lost in sin and in need of salvation. Poverty in spirit, or humility, is necessary for entering the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3). It is very evident that no one can be truly converted to Christ, who does not have humility, who does not realize his need of God's help. Pride is also seen in the church on the part of those who take great delight in boasting of their soundness in the faith and their loyalty to the truth. It appears that it is not the mercy and grace of the Lord that they glory in, but themselves. It seems that they feel the need to tell the world what they have done for Christ, rather than what Christ has done for them. This man, like the Pharisee, feels the need to blow his own horn and to be the center of attention wherever he goes. He wants recognition, and is hurt when he does not receive it. He may even find it necessary to minimize, or even deny, the accomplishments of others, in order to bolster his sense of self-esteem. The truly humble person knows that there is no reason to be proud or self-righteous, for he realizes that he had sinned against God (Romans 3:9-10, 23), and does not deserve eternal life. He knows that it is only through God's wonderful and merciful forgiveness that he can be regarded as righteous in the sight of God and escape the punishment that is due him. The humble person knows that whatever ability he may have, and however great that ability may be, he is still a fallible human being with limitations. He is not hurt when recognition does not come, because he only wants to serve the Lord. He does not feel compelled to minimize the importance of the accomplishments of others in order to bolster his self-esteem, because he is not looking for recognition among men. The humble person, the one who is ``poor in spirit,'' readily accepts the truthfulness of Christ's statement: ``Apart from me you can do nothing'' (John 15:5). The ``poor in spirit'' seek the kingdom of heaven, and therefore will receive it. The proud feel no urgency to find God, and therefore do not receive His blessings. The humble seek God constantly, and will be blessed because they have emptied themselves in order to have room for God and the unsearchable riches of Christ. ``A man's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor'' (Proverbs 29:23). -- Via Gospel Power, February 11, 1996 ___________________________________________ "It is too bad when a child is afraid of the dark, but is much worse when a grown-up is afraid of the light" (selected, author unknown). ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES Let us remember Stephanie Music and Amy Frazier while they are away at college. Brent Lykins will also be leaving this coming Monday for UK, but he plans to come back home for many of the weekends--which gladdens us to know. Mrs. Jackson has requested prayer for Janette Johnson who has a lot of health problems. Write or call today for a FREE Bible course. So far, we have had 22 different visitors for August--and there are still several services to go. If this is your first time visiting with us, please fill out a visitor's card. We would like to include you on our mailing list for this free bulletin. Do you have an e-mail address and would like to have this bulletin e-mailed to you? Just let us know. We are currently e-mailing the bulletin into more than 500 homes every week. ___________________________________________ TWO CRIPPLES Two cripples entered the church one day; Crippled -- but each in a different way; One had a body, strong and whole, But it sheltered a warped and twisted soul. The other walked with a halting gait But his soul was tall and fair and straight! They shared a pew. They shared a book. But on each face was a different look. One was light with hope and joy And faith that nothing could destroy. The other joined not in prayer and hymn, No smile relaxed his features grim. His neighbor had wronged him, his heart was sore; He thought of himself and nothing more; The words that were read from the Holy Book Struck deafened ears and a forlorn look. To one came comfort -- his soul was fed, The other gained nothing from what was said; Two cripples left the church that day, Crippled -- but in a different way. A twisted foot did one body mar, But the twisted soul was sadder far! -- author unknown ___________________________________________ SELECTED SENTENCE SERMONS "Going to church regularly is like making a path in the forest -- the oftener you use it, the less obstruction you'll find in the way." "The greatest fault is to be conscious of none but other people's." "It's not the greatness of our trouble, but the littleness of our faith that makes us complain." ________________________________________ 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@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________