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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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June 5, 2016
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Contents:
1) "If You Show Partiality, You Commit Sin" (R.J. Evans)
2) Some Things That May Surprise You About the church of Christ
(Ernest Finley)
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-1-
"If You Show Partiality, You Commit Sin"
R.J. Evans
We should ever be thankful that we serve an impartial God. If
that were not so, we would be in a hopeless condition. But we
are reminded a number of times throughout the scriptures that "there
is no partiality with God" (Rom. 2:11; Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:25).
To show partiality involves being prejudiced or biased in favor of
one person compared with another. Thus, it involves showing
unfair favoritism. The fact that God does not show respect of
persons is expressed so well by the Apostle Peter when he preached
the gospel to Cornelius, his relatives and friends -- the first
Gentiles (Acts 10:24). After his arrival we are told --
"Then Peter opened his mouth and said: 'In truth I perceive that God
shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and
works righteousness is accepted by Him'" (Acts 10:34-35).
In the days of Moses, when the heads of the tribes were chosen, they
were instructed to "Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge
righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is
with him. You shall not show partiality in judgment" (Deut.
1:16-17).
Well, just as God shows no partiality, we are commanded to do the
same. But often we have difficulty with this. After
giving Timothy instructions on how to deal with an elder who had
sinned, the Apostle Paul plainly told him: "I charge you before God
and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe
these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality" (1
Tim. 5:21).
Often we are tempted to think we are above certain people, and we
treat them accordingly. Perhaps we have convinced ourselves
that we are superior to others, or that certain people we know are
more important than others. The following is humorous, but it
touches on what we are discussing. Throughout my years of
preaching, I have heard many members of the church say something
like this about their local preacher: "We have the best
'little' preacher." Why is the word "little" in that
sentence? Does it mean they are bigger, older, superior, or
more important than the preacher? Some of those "little" preachers I
have known are pretty "big" in size. I'm still my aunt's
"little" nephew -- she is nine years my senior. I feel certain
that is the reason why she refers to me in that manner. The
above has always been somewhat amusing to me, but there can also be
a serious side to this way of thinking.
The scripture specifically warns against holding "the faith of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory with partiality" in our
assemblies (Jas. 2:1-9). If we rush to show friendliness,
kindness, attention and interest in someone who is well-dressed and
appears to be "important" -- while at the same time ignoring a
person who appears to be poor in our own estimation -- notice
carefully what James tells us. He says, "You have dishonored
the poor man" (v. 6), and most important of all, "if you show
partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as
transgressors" (v. 9). That's how serious this matter is!
In the local church we must be so careful to not show partiality by
purposefully ignoring or leaving someone out of certain
activities. When good deeds and good works are mutually
shared, we need to do our best to make sure that everyone is
included. We have observed over the years that some will speak
and be friendly to most of their brethren, but at the same time,
make it a point to avoid other Christians. The person being avoided
begins to think: Am I invisible? Am I not worthy of being
greeted or acknowledged? Would not these kind of actions be
showing partiality toward one, while discriminating against
another? Is this not being partial, and in practice, guilty of
what James warns against?
When we show partiality among ourselves, it reveals itself in
various other ways, none of which are good. It fosters a heart
filled with pride and superiority, we become rude, impolite,
unfriendly, lacking good manners, untrustworthy, and not having a
genuine love for our fellowman. Perhaps there are other bad
traits that accompany being partial; but again, the most important
fact to remember is: "IF YOU SHOW PARTIALITY, YOU COMMIT SIN."
-- Via the bulletin of the Southside church of Christ, Gonzales,
Louisiana, May 15, 2016
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Some Things That May Surprise You About The church of
Christ!
Ernest Finley
1. You may be surprised that everyone in the assembly is invited
to participate in the singing portion of the worship services. We
have no choirs, special groups or solos. We use no pianos, drums,
organs or guitars, etc. All music is a cappella (vocal) as the New
Testament indicates it was in the apostolic days (Eph. 5:19; Col.
3:16). Contrary to what you may have heard, the singing is good
singing, soul stirring and encouraging!
2. You may be surprised that visitors are NOT requested to make a
contribution. Local members contribute on the first day of the
week, each and every week. This is done without demand in the form
of "dues" or "assessments." Free-will giving on the basis of other
New Testament principles is impressed as the plan of scriptural
giving. No pie-suppers, crab feeds, raffles, or money-raising
schemes are used! We do not bum or beg from those outside the Lord's
own family. All contributions, if the Lord's Will is respected, are
freely given.
3. If you visit with us on any Lord's Day (the
"first day of the week"), you may be surprised to find that we
commemorate the death of Christ by partaking of the Lord's supper,
which was instituted by Christ and commanded and taught by Paul, the
Apostle (Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:23-26). In the first century,
"upon the first day of the week the disciples came together to break
bread" (Acts 20:7). Therefore, since every week has a first day, it
follows that the Lord's death must be commemorated every week! Not
once every six months, or only on "Easter Sunday"!
4. You may be surprised that no hyper-emotional appeals are made.
You will not be urged to act or move in response to the
invitation of the Lord until you have sufficient knowledge of the
Truth, to serve as a basis for your faith (Jn. 20:30-31; Acts
16:32).
5. It may surprise you that most Christians attend every assembly
of the church because they want to, enjoy it, know it is commanded
and because they realize that assembling to worship is vital to
their spiritual growth and service to God (Acts 2:42; Heb.
10:25).
6. You may be surprised to know that we have no man-made prayer
book, no church-authorized discipline, manual or creed and no
ritualistic worship (2 Tim. 3:16-17 & 4:1-4).
7. You may be surprised at the manner of our services. You
will not hear shouting, screaming or any other manifestation of
unbridled emotions. No one will fall out in a faint, roll around on
the floor or speak in "unknown" tongues. You will see that the
admonition of the apostle Paul that all things "be done decently and
in order," is sincerely observed (1 Cor. 14:40).
8. You may be surprised that the service is NOT conducted by a
man claiming to be a part of a special priesthood. Since the
Lord Jesus Christ is our High Priest and all Christians now make up
a general priesthood and can themselves approach God and offer their
prayers and sacrifices, it should be evident that no special earthly
priesthood is necessary today (1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Heb. 4:14-16).
9. With virtually all denominations having earthly headquarters,
it may surprise you that the church of Christ has neither earthly
headquarters nor an earthly head. Christ alone is head of His
body and the church's headquarters is in heaven, where Christ now
sits and rules with ALL authority (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23; Phil.
3:20-21).
10. Contrary to what you may have heard, you may be surprised to
know that the church of Christ is not intent on condemning
everyone to Hell, but invites all to come to our Lord in obedient
faith, in faithful service and worship and in Godly living, that
one may enjoy the benefits of His grace and strive for the hope of
eternal life (Tit. 2:11-12; 1 Jn. 2:25).
11. Finally, you may be surprised to learn that the Lord's church
is neither Catholic, Protestant, sectarian nor denominational. The
Lord's church in the first century was obviously none of these. If
we are correct in our claim that we follow His Word alone (admitting
that not all "churches of Christ" can honestly make this claim) and
in every way seek to be simply New Testament Christians, then we are
the same as it was in the first century. Being of the same
head, doctrine and practice results in being the same body the Lord
purchased or built and therefore antedates both Catholicism and all
Protestant denominations (Acts 20:28; Matt. 16:18).
We greatly desire the unity for which Jesus prayed; but, we believe
that scriptural unity is found only in Christ (Jn. 17:20-21). Both
Catholicism and denominational sectarianism stand opposed to this
unity. We stand upon the Word of our Lord alone, respecting His
authority in everything and speaking only as He directs us if we
"all be one" in Christ as He so fervently prayed (Matt. 28:18; 1
Pet. 4:11). PLEASE ATTEND OUR SERVICES AND SEE FOR YOURSELF!
-- Via the website for the Railroad Avenue church of Christ at the
following address: (www.railroadavenuechurchofchrist.org/ index.htm)
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News & Notes
Let those of us who are Christians be remembering the following in
prayer:
Penny Medlock had all her wisdom teeth extracted last
Thursday, which can take about 2 weeks to heal.
Carole Drain will be having her second-to-the-last chemo
treatment this Friday.
Let us also be keeping the following in prayer: James and Bennie
Medlock (who have been having some health tests), Easton
Cox (chemo patient), Mary Vandevander (housebound),
and Sue Wooten (in a nursing home).
WordPress version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2016/06/10/the-gospel-observer-june-5-2016/
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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, living for the Lord;
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)