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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" (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
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January 13, 2018
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Contents:
1) Habits (R.J. Evans)
2) Avoiding Bad Habits (R.J. Evans)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
Habits
R.J. Evans
It has been said that, "habits are like comfortable beds, easy to
get into, but hard to get out of." It has also been said that
"habits are like cable, each day as we do something in a pattern, we
intertwine one thread with another." And, of course, as the
threads are woven tightly together, a cable is formed. Using
this analogy, we need to realize that on any particular day, the
thread we added was probably too small to gain much of our
attention. But, after many threads have been woven in, we
discover that together they have become a practically unbreakable
cable or rope.
So it is with habits. There are good habits and there are bad
habits. Daily practices over the course of time become habits
that are practically unbreakable—so be careful what you weave.
To illustrate the above, concerning a bad habit, ask someone who has
developed a bad habit and has attempted to break it i.e. the person
who uses profanity, drinks alcohol, or takes drugs. It is my
understanding that chain smoking is one of the most difficult of all
habits to break.
But on the other hand, think of developing good habits. Think
of how much good and positive results that are produced from these
daily practices. Here are some suggestions or examples of good
habits that we need to be incorporating into our daily lives.
DAILY Bible Reading. "Also day by day, from the first
day until the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God"
(Neh. 8:18).
DAILY Bible Study. "These were more fair-minded than
those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all
readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether
these things were so" (Acts 17:11).
DAILY Prayer. "Lord, I have called daily upon You; I
have stretched out my hands to You" (Psa. 88:9).
DAILY Cross Bearing. "If anyone desires to come after
Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow
Me" (Lk. 9:23).
DAILY Meditation. "But his delight is in the law of the
Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night" (Psa. 1:2).
DAILY Exhortation. "But exhort one another daily, while
it is called 'Today,' lest any of you be hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin" (Heb. 3:19).
DAILY Teaching. "And daily in the temple, and in
every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the
Christ" (Acts 5:42).
DAILY Growth. "So the churches were strengthened in the
faith, and increased in number daily" (Acts 16:5) "And the
Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts
2:47).
Do you want to become more like Jesus? Do you want to
consistently grow and become stronger in the Lord? Then
consider carefully the good daily activities just mentioned, and
begin a life filled with good habits.
- via church bulletin for the Southside church of Christ, September
9, 1018
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-2-
Avoiding Bad Habits
by R.J. Evans
(Editor’s Note: In last week’s article we focused primarily on
good habits; this week we are focusing on bad habits. rje)
Whether we are aware of it or not, our actions in life consist
mostly of habits that we have developed. Both good and bad
habits play a huge role in our lives. How often do we stop and
think that God is interested and concerned about the habits we have
formed as we live from day to day?
Have we seriously considered any habits in our lives that are
displeasing and not glorifying God? If we are honest with
ourselves, we must confess and admit that there may be a number of
habits in our lives which are actually sins. God, through His
word, has something to say about this—He identifies them for
us. In this article, let us note some bad habits that all
Christians need to break.
Putting other things before God. If we aren't
careful, we allow our lives to become so cluttered and busy and full
of worldly activities that, before we realize it, less important
things are taking God's rightful place in our lives. Our jobs,
hobbies, recreation, entertainment, times with friends all have a
place, but they should never come before our time with God in
prayer, Bible study, and worshiping Him with other saints.
Jesus said, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matt.
6:33). God assures us that we will have all we need and have a
full life if we put Him first. (See also Lk. 8:14; 1 Thes.
5:17; Heb. 10:24-25)
Laziness. We do not have to read far into the book
of Proverbs to see that laziness or slothfulness is a big problem
(there are over a dozen passages in Proverbs that address this
sin). It is so easy to become lazy and to slack off from our
duties as a Christian. Some of our "duties as a Christian" such as
homemaking, working diligently at our secular jobs, rearing our
children, and, of course, Bible study, teaching, and worship require
time and effort. The Apostle Paul tells us to "be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:15)
and "whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men"
(Col. 3:23). Laziness is a bad habit that must be overcome!
Poor stewardship. God has entrusted us with the
responsibility of caring for our bodies, our souls, our money, our
relationships, and our use of time. Are we responsible in
these areas? We are not to allow bad habits of poor
stewardship to hinder our lives. The Apostle Paul has
instructed us to "walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
redeeming the time" (Eph. 5:15-16). He also tells us
that "you are not your own...For you were bought at a price;
therefore glorify God in your body and your spirit, which are God's"
(1 Cor. 6:19-20).
Murmuring and complaining. These are two things
that can destroy our good influence for Christ, even as far as
dividing a congregation. Proverbs 6 tells us that God hates
"one who sows discord among brethren" (v. 6). So, be very
careful about what you say to and about other Christians. Why
would the world want what we have if we aren't contented and
joyful? If we are constantly complaining and grumbling, then
we give the world the wrong picture of what a Christian should
be. We must rid ourselves of complaining habits if we are
going to be happy and have a positive influence on others. The
Apostle Paul plainly said, "Do all things without murmuring and
complaining" (Phil. 2:14).
The list above is just a limited number of bad habits (or sins) that
we must get rid of. Cultivating good habits in these areas
will help us have fuller and more meaningful lives as Christians,
and also enable us to have a good influence on all those who observe
our lives. Let us "put off the old man" with his bad habits
and "put on the new man" with his good habits (Col. 3:9-10).
By so doing, we can show all those in our world of friends and
associates what it is like to live a faithful, contented, joyful
life in Christ. Yes, we need to live our daily lives AVOIDING
BAD HABITS.
— Via church bulletin for Southside church of Christ, September 16,
2018
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News & Notes
Folks to be praying for:
Anita Young’s recent surgery went well. She is now in
the healing process.
Barbara Thompson has been having some terrible pain in her
shoulder. It had even caused her arm to lock in place for a
while.
Others to remember in prayer: Pat and A.J. Joyner, Bennie &
Deborah Medlock, James Medlock, Melotine Davis, Shirley Davis, Jim
Lively, Mary Vandevander, Doyle Rittenhouse, Rick
Cuthbertson, Michelle Rittenhouse, Everleigh and Hazel Greer,
Marilyn Roberts, John Stoval, Danny Hutcheson, Roger Montgomery,
Mary Aldrich, Rex & Frankie Hadley, and Tommy Lin
WordPress version of this bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2019/01/13/the-gospel-observer-january-13-2018/
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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
a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m. &
5 p.m. (worship)
Tuesday: 2 p.m.
(Ladies' Bible class)
Wednesday: 7 p.m.
(Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom
Edwards (912) 281-9917
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, but back
to March 1990)
http://tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org/
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html
(audio sermons)