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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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March 19, 2017
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Contents:
1) Reviving Our Zeal (John R. Gibson)
2) Help, Don't Hinder (Greg Gwin)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
Reviving Our Zeal
John R. Gibson
In recent years, Christians concerned about the danger of becoming
sluggish (Heb. 6:11-12), losing their first love (Rev. 2:4-5), or
falling into lukewarmness (Rev. 3:15-16) have suggested some radical
changes to the collective worship of the local church. Books such as
Spilt Grape Juice by Mike Root and Radical Restoration
by F. LaGard Smith, along with concepts borrowed from various
evangelicals and community church leaders, have had a great impact
in a number of places.
In his influential book in which he pushed for radical change, Smith
utilized manufactured quotes such as “Not Ritual, but spiritual” and
“Not Rules, but righteousness” and attributed them to Jesus (Radical
Restoration, p. 22). Some have lampooned their fellow-saints
with somewhat humorous statements such as, “Though we sing about
‘standing on the promises,’ we’re really just ‘sitting on the
premises.’” When you add to this the legitimate concerns about
complacency among Christians, in many locales a climate necessary to
introduce significant change has been established.
What kind of changes are we speaking of? Instead of sitting in rows
that face the front, we are urged to turn and face one another in a
circle as we sing. It may be suggested that “the mausoleum-like
meetinghouse” is holding us back, so we should seek a park in which,
in the presence of God’s glorious creation, we may be revived. To
make the Lord’s Supper more relevant and meaningful we may be urged
to dim the lights or increase the portion sizes of the bread and
fruit of the vine. Some have suggested that we would be helped in
our observance of the Lord’s Supper by turning to our neighbors and
sharing with them our testimony about what the death of Jesus has
meant in our lives.
While we should be genuinely concerned about sluggishness and
complacency, is the solution really found in these things? Will
these genuinely revive our zeal? The truth is that Smith was
absolutely correct when he warned that we must not be “quick-fix
artists who deal only with the symptoms of our malaise, not the root
causes” (Radical Restoration, p. 39). I believe he was also
right to say that we must “plunge ourselves with abandon into truly
being his people” (Radical Restoration, p. 108)! However,
what Smith has ended up doing and what is being proposed by an
increasing number of brethren is exactly what Smith warned against
doing. When problems of sluggishness and complacency do exist, these
are problems of the heart, while the answers being proposed are
simply quick-fix, external “solutions” to internal issues.
Read Eph. 5:18-19 and Col. 3:16 carefully and take note of what is
said about the externals such as seating, direction we look, etc.
Instead of these things which are not mentioned at all, what did the
Holy Spirit emphasize? Acceptable worship results from allowing the
word to dwell richly in one and making a melody in the thankful
heart. While there is nothing inherently wrong with being in a
circle, how does that fix the problem if the word of Christ is not
dwelling richly in a person? Does looking at other people really
instill the necessary grace or thankfulness (ESV and NASB) toward
God in our hearts?
While God can be worshiped in a park (John 4:21-24), if the only
times we can fully appreciate the greatness and goodness of God are
when we are outside enjoying His creation, have we not lost focus?
In reality, have we not become focused on self and the things we
enjoy rather than on the Almighty who is to be served?
If we read the accounts of Jesus establishing the Lord’s Supper in
Matt. 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and 1 Cor. 11, what do we learn about
the size of the portions to be consumed? Obviously, the answer is
nothing, since not a single word is said about it. The amounts of
bread and grape juice to be consumed are incidental or we would have
been given some instruction in this matter. So, instead of external
incidentals, the focus is on our mindset — “in remembrance .... let
a man examine himself” (1 Cor. 11:23-29). If we reach the point that
it takes dimmed lights and soft music in the background for us to
remember the crucifixion of our Lord, it is time to seriously
examine ourselves.
But what of the idea that while we are eating the Lord’s Supper,
instead of quietly reflecting on the death of Jesus, we need to
share with others what that death has meant to us? First, if we read
the instructions found in Scripture we find nothing even remotely
suggesting the practice. Second, would not my church neighbor be
better off considering the inspired testimony of New Testament
writers instead of hearing about my subjective experiences? Third,
do we not see the potential for confusion when people all over the
building (or park) are talking at the same time, even if they are
trying to keep their voices down? Wasn’t this addressed in 1 Cor.
14:26-33? Fourth, by what Scriptural authority would women speak
during the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 14:34-35)?
Anyone who sees anything in this article as a defense of complacency
or lukewarmness will have completely missed the point, for there is
no excuse for that. But nowhere in Scripture do we find even a hint
that one involved in heartfelt singing with others; quietly
reflecting on the Lord’s death; studying God’s word by listening to
a teacher; listening so as to be able to say amen to a prayer; et al
is being a passive spectator who is merely sitting on the premises.
It may not be exciting and exhilarating to some, but it’s what the
Bible calls worship.
Certainly there are times when complacency sets in and spiritual
renewal is necessary, but the need in such times is for greater
internal reflection and not more external manipulation. In such
times we need to thoughtfully consider what God has done for us and
then obey from the heart. The instructions to “Rejoice always, pray
without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thes. 5:16-18) are to be obeyed and
can be obeyed no matter the seating arrangements or the size of the
container for the fruit of the vine. When with the rational mind we
more deeply appreciate what it means to be in Christ and living with
the hope of heaven, then all the externals that some seem so
determined to change, even at the cost of dividing brethren, will
seem insignificant.
If we have become lukewarm, we don’t need to go to the park; instead
we need to “be zealous and repent” (Rev. 3:19).
(All quotes from the New King James Version, copyright 1995, Thomas
Nelson Publishing, Inc.)
— Via Articles from the Jones Road church of Christ, Athens,
Alabama, January 31, 2017
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Help, Don’t Hinder
Greg Gwin
What do you do when you see a fellow Christian make a mistake?
It may be a simple error of judgment, or it could be a more serious
blunder – a sin that can potentially send his soul into eternal
hell. What will you do?
Actually there are several options open to you. You could ignore the
situation totally. Or you might, in your own mind, ridicule his
foolishness. If you're a little bolder, you could gossip with
others about his error -- belittling him as you do so.
You see, there are a number of things you could do.
But, of course, there is only one thing you should do -- there is
only one God-ordained course of action. "He which converteth
the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death,
and shall hide a multitude of sins" (James 5:20). “Brethren,
if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore
such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest
thou also be tempted" (Galatians 6:1).
The fact is that we all need the help, encouragement and
strengthening that comes from our brethren. Sadly, too often
we do things that hinder rather than help our brother when he is
down.
The next time you are confronted with such a situation, remember
that -- if you want to please God -- your choice is already made. If
your brother has made a mistake, there can be no ignoring of the
problem, no backbiting gossip, no thoughts of ridicule or
humiliation. Go to your brother with the help he needs. Don't
forget that you are certain to need this kind of help in the future,
too!
— Via bulletin articles from the Collegevue church of Christ,
September 4, 2016
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News & Notes
For those who can pray, let us be remembering the following in
prayer:
Lexi Crawford, who is only 16, was diagnosed June 2015
with RMS (Rhabdomyosarcoma). Last January, it has again
metastasized into her bones.
After being in the hospital since last Monday, Misty Thornton
returned home Friday; but she will be having further testing this
week.
Though still on oral chemo, Kay Byars’ recent checkup led to
some concern. So she will soon be having a scan performed to
better diagnose her condition.
Tanya Terrones had served for 23 years with the military
police in such places as Afghanistan, Iraq, Korea, Panama, and had
also been to Italy, Egypt, and Thailand. In the last several
years of that time, she had also specialized in domestic violence
cases in Washington state. Migraines for her began in 1998,
two weeks after having been inoculated with an anthrax
vaccine. Then in 2004, while serving in Iraq, she was twice
involved in explosions caused by their vehicle running over an IED,
during her war-time tours. One of those explosions led to a
traumatic brain injury. Since then, her migraines have
increased to about 3 to 5 per week. Due to one of those
frequent migraines, she had to cancel both her medical appointments
last week that would have involved an MRI and a brain scan.
Rescheduling was made for both.
Penny Medlock had not been doing well, which required seeing
her doctor about a change or increase in her medication.
Also to keep in prayer: La Donna Andrews, Charles Crosby, Mary
Vandevander, Shirley Davis, Jim Lively, Joyce Rittenhouse, Brianna
Mackey, James “Buddy” Gornto, Billy Lowe, Tom Haney, Kelli
Fleeman, and Ray Richards
WordPress Version of this bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2017/03/21/the-gospel-observer-march-19-2017/
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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 p.m. (Ladies' Bible class)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 614-8593
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
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pictures in WordPress)
http://thomastedwards.com/go (Older version of Gospel Observer
website without pictures, but back to March 1990)
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