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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" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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January 11, 2015
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Contents:
1) A New Year (Gary Henry)
2) Some Worthwhile Goals for 2015 (R.J. Evans)
3) News & Notes
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A New Year
by Gary Henry
The new year ahead of us will be, in some ways, like every other
year that has ever been. It will repeat cycles that are centuries
old. There will be the ageless round of days and seasons. There will
be births and deaths, joy and sorrow. There will be triumphs and
defeats, honor and shame. Solomon, the wise, perceived this truth:
"What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will
be done, and there is nothing new under the sun" (Eccl. 1:9).
But in other ways the new year will be unique, a solitary set of
events that have never before taken place and that can never happen
again. As long as the world lasts, there will never again be exactly
the same combination of circumstances. Never again will we be at
precisely this point in our lives. Never again will we be able to
see things from exactly the same viewpoint. Doors will open that
have been shut, and may never be open again.
Because of the one-time opportunities the next twelve months will
bring, the new year will be what we make of it. The Scriptures
counsel us to make "the best use of the time" (Eph. 5:16). We may
joke about "new year's resolutions," but without resolve the new
year will be less than it should be. We ought to rise early and work
late, crafting the year's moments into worthwhile achievements. The
unique value of the coming year will be damaged if we fail to act
energetically. This year is ours to do with as we choose.
Sadly, many of life's greatest deeds are often left undone. Rather
than "seizing the day" and proactively doing the good that is within
our reach, we presume that there will be plenty of opportunity later
to take care of these things. Through simple neglect and the mere
postponement of effort, we let months and years slip by unused. The
result is that our lives are unimproved. Solomon said, "Through
sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks"
(Eccl. 10:18). If you're like me, your life's "house" is leakier
than it should be, considering the amount of time you've had to work
on it.
Looking at the opportunities we failed to make use of in past years,
we often wish we had been more decisive and more consistently
exercised our will in the direction of good. For most of us, regret
is an all-too-real component of our emotional life. And of course,
that is because we have failed to discipline ourselves. As someone
has said, there is no alternative: either we live with the pain of
discipline or we will live with the pain of regret. But the pain of
regret can best be diminished by acting wisely in the present.
During the new year, we will again be presented with daily
opportunities to use ourselves actively for God's purposes. What
will we do with those opportunities? For myself, I have resolved to
do each day things that tomorrow I will be glad I did yesterday! I
hope you will join me in this resolve.
We ought to keep in mind, however, that the true value of the new
year consists in what God will make of it, and not we ourselves.
Ultimately, we are able to speak and act for good only because of
the graciousness of God. Honor for the new year's accomplishments
should be His. To Christians, Peter wrote, "As each has received a
gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied
grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever
serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies -- in
order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (1 Pet.
4:10,11).
A year is not much time, really. Before we are ready, it will be
this time next year. When that time comes, what will be our memories
of this year? This writer's wish is that you may put first things
first all through this year. When the next twelve months have come
and gone, may you have grown, with God's help, toward Him in many
ways. May you walk with Him, and live for Him each and every day!
-- Via WordPoints.com, January 3, 2015 http://
wordpoints.com/new-year/
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Some Worthwhile Goals for 2015
by R.J. Evans
We have come to the end of another long mile of life's journey here
on earth. The passing of another year means we are just that
much closer to death, the judgment, and eternity. In this
article, let us give consideration to some worthwhile goals for
2015. Let us seek to --
1. Be more faithful in church attendance (Heb.
10:25). We should try to remove all hindrances that might be
keeping us away from the assemblies of the church. While it
might be true that due to health reasons, night driving, etc., there
are those who cannot attend all the services of the church. But
there are some members who make very little effort to be present for
all the assemblies, while others rarely ever miss a service.
We should never seek to find a reason or excuse for not attending,
while at the same time, work at our jobs or attend school
regularly. Perhaps we need to examine our lives and ask
ourselves these important questions: Am I putting the kingdom/church
first in my life (Matt. 6:33)? Am I doing my very best to be
present every time the church meets (Matt. 18:20; 2 Cor. 13:5)?
Also, if you have had trouble getting to services on time, then may
we suggest that you begin preparing a few minutes earlier.
This will enable you to be present before the services start.
2. Give liberally, cheerfully, and with purpose (2 Cor.
9:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2). When each of us accepts this challenge,
the congregation can continue to meet its present financial
obligations to carry on the work the Lord has authorized in His
Word. In fact, it will help open doors for us to do even more in the
future. It is important that we learn to give
sacrificially in order to be like God (Jn. 3:16). David said,
"Neither will I offer unto the Lord my God of that which cost me
nothing" (2 Sam. 24:24). "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7),
"And remember the words of the Lord Jesus that He said, 'It is more
blessed to give than to receive'" (Acts 20:35).
3. Be more humble and unselfish. We must guard against
making "self" the center of attention, and then expect everything to
revolve around us. The Word of God warns against pride and
selfishness. "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble"
(Jas. 4:6). Paul said, "Let nothing be done through selfish
ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others
better than himself. Let each of you look not only for his own
interests, but also for the interests of others" (Phil. 2:3-4).
4. Be friendly and hospitable. As a rule, these two
factors will be what makes our first impression upon anyone who
visits our services. Thus, it is understandable why Paul
instructed Christians to "Greet one another with a holy kiss.
The churches of Christ greet you" (Rom. 16:16). Any time we
show unfriendliness and a lack of warmth to any individual, we make
a lasting, negative impression upon that person.
Unfortunately, some have judged an entire congregation on the basis
of the unfriendliness of one or two members. All Christians
are commanded to "Be hospitable to one another without grumbling" (1
Pet. 4:9).
5. Be more prayerful. God has commanded us to
pray. "Therefore I desire that men pray everywhere, lifting up
holy hands, without wrath and doubting" (1 Tim. 2:8). "Pray
without ceasing" (1 Thes. 5:17). Before our Lord gave the
Parable of the Persistent Widow, Luke states, "Then He spoke a
parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart"
(Lk. 18:1).
6. Be of assistance to others. Our Lord taught a
tremendous lesson concerning helping others and being a good
neighbor in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk. 10:25-37).
After the lawyer, who had come to Jesus, realized what being a good
neighbor involved -- showing mercy and assisting someone in need --
Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise" (V. 37). The Apostle
John instructed, "My little children, let us not love in word or in
tongue, but in deed and in truth" (1 Jn. 3:18). The Apostle Peter
described the life of Jesus while on earth as one "who went about
doing good" (Acts 10:38). In our daily lives, "as we have
opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of
the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).
7. Study the Bible more diligently. Take time each day
for Bible study and meditation. Make it a consistent practice
in your life as a Christian to attend all the Bible classes offered
by the church. As a parent, it is so vital to the spiritual
development of your children that they attend all the Bible classes
regularly. Don't starve yourself and your family spiritually! We
must feast upon God's Word. "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk
of the word, that you may grow thereby...but grow in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet.
3:18). Increasing in Bible knowledge is so important,
especially in view of such passages as Hebrews 5:12-6:1-8.
8. Become a Christian if you are not one. We become a
Christian by obeying the gospel of Christ. Have you obeyed the
gospel yet? (Mk. 16:15-16; Act 2:38; Rom. 1:16) Remember, Jesus is
the "author of salvation to all who obey Him" (Heb. 5:9).
Let us all make it our goal to be what Paul told Titus: "in all
things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works" (Titus
2:7). It is our prayer that all our readers will endeavor to
incorporate all the above worthwhile goals into their lives, and in
so doing, have a very happy and prosperous 2015!
-- Via the bulletin for the Southside church of Christ (Gonzales,
Louisiana), January 4, 2015
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News & Notes
We extend our sympathies to the family and friends of Alvin
Ernese Potter of Brunswick, Georgia, who passed away
January 13 at the age of 90.
Mary Vandevander was taken to ICU January 7, due to
Bronchitis, and transferred on the 12th to a Care Center where they
will be helping her to regain her strength.
Jewell Wilson is back in the hospital, as of January 16,
following a previous stay there just several days prior. She
has begun medication for atrial fibrillation and also for infection
in both eyes that might possibly be the cause of her mental status
becoming cloudy at times -- and for which she will be undergoing
more tests to determine and remedy the problem.
Let those of us who are Christians also be remembering the following
in prayer: Myrna Jordan, Danielle Howard, Ginger Ann Montero
(abdominal pains), Pat Seif (cancer), Penny Medlock
(glaucoma), Marie Turner, Jim Lively, Ronnie Davis (eyesight),
Judy Daugherty (recovering from recent fall), Rex and
Frankie Hadley, Jesse Bailey (cancer), Deborah Medlock,
Shirley Davis, Dexter Roberts (cancer), Sue Wooten (at
nursing home), Deena Hensley Fields (weakness in leg, due to
recovering from sciatic pain), Dolly Downs Moody (recently
underwent cancer treatment and still needing to receive white blood
cells weekly and to recover her strength), and Colleen Henson.
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom.
10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John
3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts
8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins
(Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet.
3:21)
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can
be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 5 PM (worship)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 614-8593
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go
(Gospel Observer website)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html
(audio sermons)