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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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May 1, 2016
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1) Have a Heart...A Merry One (Bryan Gibson)
2) Benefits from Reading the Bible from Cover to Cover (Abraham
Smith)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
Have a Heart...A Merry One
Bryan Gibson
"A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the
heart the spirit is broken...all the days of the afflicted are evil,
but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast...a merry heart
does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones"
(Proverbs 15:13,15; 17:22). There's no debating, then, the value of
a merry heart.
That's not to say that sadness is all bad, or that one should (or
could) avoid it altogether. "Even in laughter the heart may be in
pain, and the end of joy may be grief" (Proverbs 14:13). Albert
Barnes, in commenting on this passage says, "Sorrow of some kind
either mingles itself with outward joy, or follows hard upon it." So
it's unavoidable, and it can also be quite helpful, even
spiritually. "Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad
countenance the heart is made better" (Ecclesiastes 7:3).
To remain, though, in the depths of sorrow and discouragement can be
hazardous to our souls, and the souls of others. Here are just a few
reasons: 1) It's hard to stay busy doing good when we're discouraged
-- it "dries the bones" or saps our strength. 2) We're more
vulnerable to false teachers, because they like to prey on the
miserable. 3) We're also more vulnerable to the lusts of the flesh,
looking for that "quick fix." 4) We're much more likely to cause
strife among brethren, because in this state we tend to see
everything in a negative light. 5) Our influence will be greatly
diminished -- no one likes to hang out with a joyless person, and
they sure don't see us as someone to imitate. 6) For the same
reasons, we may even turn some away from the truth.
So how do we maintain a merry heart, even in the midst of sorrow?
Proverbs not only commends the merry heart, it also tells us how to
keep it.
Find JOY in the truth, in the ways of the Lord -- not in what
"seems right" (14:12), but in what IS right. The satisfaction this
brings to our souls just can't be replaced. "The backslider in heart
will be filled with his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied
from above" (Proverbs 14:14). "The path of the just is like the
shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day"
(Proverbs 4:18). "He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and
whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he" (Proverbs 16:20).
ENJOY the fruits of our labors -- in the physical realm ("he
who tills his land will be satisfied with bread" -- Proverbs 12:11),
but especially the spiritual realm. "A desire accomplished is sweet
to the soul" (Proverbs 13:19), especially when that desire is to win
souls (Proverbs 11:30).
Develop gratitude and contentment. "A satisfied soul loathes
the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet"
(27:7). We're not entitled to anything, so let's learn to be
thankful for every "sweet" blessing -- from the least to the
greatest. "The leech has two daughters -- Give and Give! There are
three things that are never satisfied, four never say, 'Enough!' The
grave, the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water
-- and the fire never says, 'Enough!'" (Proverbs 30:15-16).
Gratitude and contentment -- we'll never be merry without them, and
what's worse, we'll lose our souls.
Don't drink the poison of envy, which in some cases
may be the source of our unhappiness. "A sound heart is life to the
body, but envy is rottenness to the bones" (Proverbs 14:39).
"Rejoice with those who rejoice" (Romans 12:15) -- that's the
antidote to this crippling sin of envy, and one more key to a merry
heart.
REJOICE in the hope of eternal life. "Do not let your heart
envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day;
for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off"
(Proverbs 23:17-18). Can't escape sorrow here, but we can there, and
that prospect will surely sustain through whatever difficulties we
face in this life.
Hard to find more fitting words with which to close: "Rejoice in the
Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4).
-- Via Plain Words from God's Word, April 28, 2016
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-2-
Benefits from Reading the Bible from Cover to Cover
Abraham Smith
In an earlier article, "Reading the Bible from Cover to Cover," we
considered several factors that hinder us from reading the Bible in
its entirety. Let us now examine the benefits we get from routinely
reading all of the Bible.
The road to understanding the Bible
The Bible is written in such a way that all the answers we seek are
not contained in one verse or one chapter. This is the reason the
Bible says, "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,
line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little"
(Isaiah 28:10).
There are many passages of scriptures that we cannot understand
without turning to other passages that may be in another book of the
Bible. An example of this is Mark 9:1. Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say
to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death
till they see the kingdom of God present with power." We must turn
to other passages to learn of what kingdom Jesus refers (Daniel
2:44; John 18:36), who is the King (1 Timothy 6:15-16), when the
King would begin reigning (Psalm 2:6; Acts 2:29-36), the
relationship of this power to the kingdom, and when the kingdom
would be present with power (Acts 1:8; 2:1-4), and how one can enter
into and become a citizen of this kingdom (John 3:3-5; Matthew 7:21;
and Matthew 18:3).
So, in order to understand certain passages, we must have knowledge
of other passages and see how they relate to the particular passage
we wish to understand. We must be able to make that connection
between the two passages. Reading the Bible regularly will increase
our ability to connect passages that must be connected in order to
be understood.
The more times we read any book of the Bible, the more specific
pieces of information from that book we will remember. Thus, we will
have specific pieces of information to link to other passages to
help us understand these passages of Scripture. The fewer the number
of times that we read a book, the fewer the pieces of information we
will remember.
When we read a passage of Scripture without understanding it, the
reason may be that this understanding will be provided by another
passage. The more we read other passages, the more likely we are to
associate these passages to the passage to be understood. Since we
do not know where in the Bible these other passages are located,
reading all the Bible regularly will ensure that we will be
acquainted with them wherever they may be.
Have you ever tried to put together a jigsaw puzzle? I have found
this task difficult when there are 1,000 or more pieces. What helps
me to put together a large puzzle is having a picture as a guide.
Sometimes understanding a particular passage is like that. This
scripture is like a piece of a puzzle. Like a puzzle, in
understanding the scriptures, we need an overall picture as a guide.
That overall picture is provided by our familiarity of each book of
the Bible containing each passage we seek to understand. But we get
this overall picture of each book of the Bible by reading it often.
I believe that we should study passages of scriptures in detail. But
unless we have the overall picture of a book of the Bible in which
to fit the passage to be understood, we may find ourselves studying
without understanding it. The book of Revelation is a good example
of this.
Other benefits to reading the whole Bible
Another benefit in reading the whole Bible often is that we become
familiar with the context of every book in the Bible. This
familiarity of Scripture gives us the ability to recognize when
passages are being taken out of context. Thus we will not be "tossed
to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the
trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful
plotting" (Ephesians 4:14).
There are many other things we would discover if we would make time
each day to read the Bible. We would discover that our inclinations
for sin would be less (Psalm 119:9-11). Our strength to do good
things would increase (1 Peter 2:2; Ephesians 3:3-5,16,17). Our
patience in difficult times would be maintained (Acts 20:32;
Ephesians 4:1-3). Our contentment would increase (1 Timothy 6:6).
Our peace would multiply (Philippians 4:6-9; Psalm 85:8). Our love
would be stirred as well as our joy (Hebrews 10:24; Galatians
5:22-23). We would desire more for our Creator (Psalm 31:23; Psalm
73:25; Deuteronomy 6:5-9).
In addition to this, we would learn what the will of the Lord is
(Ephesians 3:3-4; 5:17). We may also learn that we have been told
many things about the Bible that are not true. This false
information would cause us to have a distorted impression of the
Scriptures. We can help avoid such distortions if we set a time each
day for the reading and studying of God's precious words.
-- Via articles from the La Vista church of Christ
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-3-
News & Notes
Let those of us who are Christians be remembering the following in
prayer:
We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Dr.
Edward Brown (of Waycross, Georgia) who passed away April 5 at
the age of 87.
Due to his ANC (blood count) being critically low (350),
15-month-old Easton Cox had to miss his weekly chemo; but by
the following week, his ANC was up to 2000 -- and, since 1500 or
better is the "no increased risk of infection" range, he was able to
resume his treatment. He also had a chest x-ray and CT scan
the same day, with both looking good. Easton has been feeling
better.
And for some more good news: We had been mentioning for
prayer, not too long ago, Don Hill who was diagnosed with
stage 4 carcenoma of the lung and the brain. The tumor in his brain
was removed, and he underwent radiation and then chemo. After
that, he also received radiation treatments for his lung.
Probably the best gift on his wife Sandy's recent birthday was
hearing the good news, following a CT scan and MRI, that Don is now
cancer free -- which we, too, are thankful for! He also,
however, has Addison's disease (low blood pressure), which causes
falling. For it, he is now on some new medication and uses a
cane and a walker -- and in hopes of one day needing none of
these.
Benny Medlock will be having an EEG on the 12th, a sleep test
on the 23rd, and will soon be having 2 CT scans with dye and an MRI
with dye to determine what had caused his recent health
problem.
Penny Medlock is still at Saint Simons By-the-Sea. She
has been there since April 28 and is now also receiving additional
medicine to help her condition.
Let us also continue to remember in prayer James Medlock (who
has been undergoing tests for his health), Carol Drain (chemo
treatments), Wayne Peters (prostate cancer and recovering
from heart attack), Arthur Robertson (small stroke and leg
surgery), Mandy (recovering from brain surgery for a
malignant tumor), Mary Vandevander (who often cannot be with
us, due to her health), and Sue Wooten at the Baptist Village
Nursing Home.
WordPress version for this bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2016/05/11/the-gospel-observer-may-1-2016/
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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)
Tuesday: 7 PM (Ladies' Bible class)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 614-8593
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com
(Gospel Observer website with pictures in WordPress)
http://thomastedwards.com/go
(Older version of Gospel Observer website without pictures)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html
(audio sermons)