____________________________________________________ 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 4, 1999 ____________________________________________________ Changing, To Avoid Change by Robert F. Turner The B-58 super-sonic bomber is equipped with a tracking device which is ``locked on'' two stars. A warning is sounded if the plane wanders as much as 1/10 of a degree off course; and on a long journey the pilot may make many corrections--CHANGES--in ORDER TO KEEP FROM CHANGING the destination of the plane. This process is routine, and the pilot welcomes the warnings because he is intent upon completing his mission. It is hard to imagine a pilot who would resent such assistance, for he knows that ``drift'' is difficult to detect without reference to some fixed and constant point. Of course some of my brethren would ``take a reading'' on the other planes in the formation, and ``stay with the brotherhood'' regardless of the result. Paul calls this ``measuring themselves by themselves,'' and says those who do so are not wise (2 Cor. 10:12). We who believe the scriptures to be divine, and all-sufficient, accept them as our fixed, infallible guide. Here the ``Way'' of Christ is made known. It is our intention to keep unswervingly to this course--in fact we hold that our very identity as the church of Christ depends upon our adherence to this route. We do not claim to be perfect--but we do claim to be striving for perfection. Such striving necessitates change. We would be blind indeed not to recognize that at times we stray from the course. Theories and/or practices may be accepted for a time that seem harmless--even beneficial. When we are warned of our ``drift'' our reaction may show our true allegiance. If we have ``joined a Church'' we wait to see what others will do. If we have been joined unto Christ, we compare our course with His word, and move accordingly. Our fundamental and all-absorbing aim is to follow Him. We change our teaching and practice readily, to avoid changing this most basic principle. Since Christ is the only ``creed'' accepted by the true church, we have not changed--''left the church''--until we no longer make necessary corrections. Then, we have CHANGED INDEED, and journey without hope. -- Plain Talk, May 1964 ___________________________________________ WE'VE GOT THE SPIRIT by Jim R. Everett Cheerleaders point to the opposing stands and shout, ``We've got spirit, how about you?'' The opposing leaders reciprocate with an enthusiastic, positive reply. This scene continues with each side, in turn, raising the noise level by several decibels until the whole stadium reaches a deafening crescendo and interest finally turns back to the contest. ``Spirit,'' as used in this context, has to do with enthusiasm which raises the emotional intensity level of the athletes. As Americans we have been so saturated with hype and fast-moving action that we have a tendency to find things that are designed to be intellectually stimulating and thought challenging boring--we have come to prefer hoopla to meditation. This has had an effect upon not only our intellectual structure but also our spiritual thought processes. Some view worship as boring and ``lacking spirit,'' because there is no up-beat, outward display of emotionalism. The solution offered by some is an infusion of emotions through artificial stimuli--mood-setting music, hand clapping, dimming lights, holding hands, sound effects, etc. One group reportedly used the sounds of grinding bones and screams to create a hair-raising atmosphere for participation in the Lord's Supper. However, emotionalism is not equivalent to ``spiritual,'' and it is not evidence of true spirituality. We may feel many things which are not based on truth. How we feel is a natural outgrowth of what we believe and what we believe must be based on what God says (Rom. 10:17). For instance, based upon what God has revealed about our sinful condition (Rom. 3:23) and offered salvation by His grace (Eph. 2:8-9), when we meet the gospel's conditions for salvation (Mk. 16:15-16), we know that we are saved. That knowledge produces a natural flood of elation (Acts 8:39). How expressive a person is depends on his emotional structure, but one is not more spiritual than another, because he is more expressive of how he feels. Artificially stimulated emotion is temporary. To maintain an emotionally charged atmosphere different stimuli must be sought, lest the routine lose its effectiveness and become boring. One cannot serve God without feeling, but emotions are the product of the relationship and not the evidence of it. -- Via The bulletin of the Cedar Park church of Christ ___________________________________________ USING OUR TALENTS WISELY by Tom Sutherland Life is what we make out of it. A Blacksmith takes five dollars worth of iron and makes it into horseshoes and gets twenty dollars for them. A machinist fashions the same iron into needles, and gets hundred of dollars. The watchmaker takes the same iron and manufactures mainsprings, and receives thousands of dollars. Similarly, one person uses his time and talents to advance his own earthly interests. Another takes the same opportunities, and through wisdom and the counsel of God's word, shapes and molds his life for eternity. He refines his character so that he is worth something to the world and God. It's entirely up to you and I whether we develop our lives into a noble accomplishment, our character into a thing of beauty, and our talents into a source of glory to God. A life without aim or purpose shows no intelligence or forethought. What have you done with the life God has given you? How have you used your talents to the glory of God? With reference to the one-talent man, Jesus said, ``And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth'' (Matthew 25:30). How will you answer God when you are asked what you have done with your talents? God has told us that He expects us to understand His will and do it. Ephesians 5:17 says, ``Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.'' 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 says, ''...When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power....'' ___________________________________________ ``Least in the Kingdom of God'' by Billy Norris ``For I say to you among those born of woman there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he'' (Luke 7:28). An angel told Zacharias, the father of John, that his son would be great: ``For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine or strong drink....'' (Luke 1:5-15). John was great because his mission was great. He came to prepare the way of the Lord (Luke 3:3-6). John introduced Christ to those who had come out to hear him, ``Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world...And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God'' (John 1:29-34). Though there were great prophets, there was none greater than John the Baptist. As great as John was, the least in the kingdom can be greater. How can this be? The least in the kingdom may have: 1. Greater knowledge. There was a time when John wondered and asked if Jesus was the ``Coming One'' or were they to look for another? (Luke 7:20). The least in the kingdom knows assuredly that Jesus is truly the Messiah. 2. Greater privilege. John was very occasionally associated with Jesus. The least in the kingdom is intimately associated with Christ...is in Christ (Romans 6:3). 3. Greater opportunity. John's mission was great, but his work was confined to a very limited area. One in the kingdom can have a part in carrying the message of salvation to the whole world (Mark 16:15). This passage shows that the kingdom of God had not yet been established on earth at this time. John could not have been in the kingdom, for had he been he would have faced the impossibility of being greater than himself. -- Via The Old Path II, February 21, 1999 ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES Let us pray that the recent fighting in our world will soon end, having reached a peaceful solution. Greg Frazier's mother recently fell and broke her hip, which she has already received surgery for. Let us pray for her speedy recovery. My landlord, Ken Kazee, who had been in the hospital for a hip replacement is now back home; but it will be several weeks before he can put much weight on his left leg. Let us keep him in prayer, too. Rick Fleeman, who usually preaches for us the first Sunday night of the month will not be able to tonight, so John Pitman will be preaching in his stead. Free Bible courses are available upon request. ___________________________________________ A Final Thought How To Be An Ineffective Teacher * Don't take being a Christian seriously. Read Matt. 6:33. * Don't practice what you preach. Read Rom. 2:21. * Don't pray for souls. Read Rom. 10:1. * Appear ``Holier than thou.'' Read Matt. 7:1-6. * Don't plan a course of action. Read Matt. 28:19,20. * Show no joy in being a Christian. Read Phil. 4:4. * Don't relay urgency in obedience. Read II Cor. 6:2. * Show no interest in studying the word of God. Read I Tim. 4:16. Let us do our best to be an effective teacher. -- Chuck Bartlett (via Sound Doctrine, January 31, 1999) ___________________________________________ Cross-Centered Preaching by Lowell Blasingame ``For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God'' (1 Cor. 1:18). I marvel that many of my brethren today who talk about a renewal of cross-centered preaching seem to know so little about what it means to preach the cross of Christ. To preach the cross is to preach the gospel, for Paul equates the preaching of one with the other (1 Cor. 1:17-18; Romans 1:16). But if one preaches the gospel as God's power for saving, he must teach man's need for obeying it for God will take vengeance on those who do not obey it (II Thess. 1:6-8). One cannot preach the cross without preaching this. To preach the cross of Christ is to preach the shedding of His blood, for it was while there that His side was pierced ``and forthwith there came out blood and water'' (John 19:34). To preach His blood, one must preach the church that He purchased with it (Acts 20:28), that those reconciled by the blood of the cross (Col. 1:20) are reconciled ``in one body'' (Eph. 2:16) which is His church. One can't preach the cross and not preach the importance of the Lord's church in our salvation. -- Via The Persuader, November 8, 1998 ___________________________________________ Feel Free To Visit The Gospel Observer Web Site 475 of our bulletins are now available online--and a new one is uploaded every week. The web address is listed below. ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________