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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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April 28, 2019
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Contents:
1) What Is Relevant? (Robert F. Turner)
2) Understanding Expediency (Chuck Bartlett)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
What Is Relevant?
Robert F. Turner
When the Pharisees continued to doubt the divinity of Christ
despite obvious proof, the man who had been blind said, “Why,
this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is
from; yet He has opened my eyes!" (Jn. 9:30).
Somehow these words came to mind recently when I was told that
the church, baptism, Lord’s Supper, etc., were no longer
“relevant.” And what is “relevant”? “Just be a follower of
Christ, worship and obey Him.”
Why herein is a marvelous thing!! The church one reads about in
the New Testament consists of those who follow the Lord. The
“called out” “set apart” people (1 Peter 2:9) who have been
separated from the world by virtue of this very distinction —
that they are followers of Christ. And how did they become
followers of Him? They obeyed the call of His gospel (2
Thessalonians 2:14, Acts 2:37-41). These are the children of God
by faith in Christ Jesus, “for as many of you as have been
baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27).
When someone answers, “I mean, just practice the sermon on the
mount,” I simply turn and read some of that sermon (Matthew 5-7)
and find out immediately that the excuse-maker doesn’t like that
any better than he likes baptism, or other things Christ asks
His followers to practice.
“Worship and obey Christ” are very empty words in the mouth of
one who really means, “worship your self, and obey your own
inclinations.” How can one obey Christ without giving heed to
the things Christ commands? This means we have an external
authority — something outside our own feelings on a given
subject. We must turn to the words of Christ, the revelation of
His will, and become subject thereto.
What “worship” is this that consists of things that tickle MY
ears, and please MY feelings? The Lord says to partake of the
bread and fruit of the vine “in remembrance of me” (1
Corinthians 11:23-f.) So — we ignore the memorial He requested,
and set about establishing some sort of “Easter” festival —
“because we love Him so much, and wish to worship Him.” To
worship — whom??
The Pharisees could not see the truth because they did not want
to see anything contrary to their selfish hypocritical ways.
Following some pointed remarks by our Lord on this subject, they
asked, “Are we blind also?” (John 9:40-41) And Jesus replied,
“If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We
see.’ Therefore your sin remains.”
It is an ultra-conservative modernist(?) who makes “follow
Christ” relevant today, meaning only to reduce Christ’s
teachings to what he thinks important. His more modern brothers
have long since dropped the idea of divine authority, and
proclaim “God is Dead!”
(Brother Marshall Keeble once said, “That’s strange; I was just
talking to Him this morning, and He wasn’t even sick!”)
Better give attention to His word that will judge us. THAT’S
RELEVANT!
-- Via Roanridge Reader, Volume 34, Issue 16, Page 3,
April 21, 2019
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-2-
Understanding Expediency
Chuck Bartlett
Let me start by saying that this is a Biblical lesson. The
concept of expediency is taught in God’s word and it is vital
that we understand what it means. We shall first start with the
apostle Paul speaking on this when he wrote, “All things are
lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are
lawful to me, but all things edify not” (I Cor. 10:23). The word
expedient means to be helpful; however, not all things are
helpful.
The easiest way to understand what is considered expedient would
be the place of worship. Local churches are required to assemble
on the first day of the week to worship God (Acts 20:7; I Cor.
16:1-2; Heb. 10:25, etc.). The scriptures reveal that brethren
set up a time and place for them to fulfill the Lord’s desire (I
Cor. 11:17-18). Knowing that it is expedient for the brethren to
rent or purchase a place to assemble, there are many factors
that need to be taken into consideration.
Would it really be in the best interest of a local church
consisting of two families to go out and build a million dollar
facility? The answer is obvious – no, this would not be helpful.
Having a place to meet is expedient, but there are times wisdom
dictates that something that is lawful, in and of itself
(finding a place to meet) can be the wrong thing to do.
The same thing can be said for a congregation that wants to
evangelize. It’s an expedient to use TV as a tool to share the
gospel. But if a local church cannot afford to fund such an
effort, it would be unwise to engage in it. This is why
the Lord Jesus stated clearly the need for His followers to use
“righteous” judgment (Jn. 7:21-24).
Keep in mind that expediency is not some sort of loophole for
the local church to do whatever they want with church funds.
Staying with the discussion of the church building: it’s one
thing to rent or buy, it’s another matter altogether for a
church to rent or buy a meeting place to use it for social
events. It’s the lack of discernment that has opened the door
for religious groups to use the building for a daycare, Boy
Scout meeting place, providing chicken dinners and celebrating
birthdays and anniversaries. Folks, these do not fall under the
area of expediency. They fall under the realm of being
unscriptural.
The best way to clear this up is by looking at two passages of
scripture. First, in I Corinthians 11:22, after rebuking the
brethren for turning the Lord’s Supper into some sort of meal,
Paul said, “What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or
do you despise the church of God and shame those who have
nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I
do not praise you.” Now, before we examine this, let’s now
note a text in Romans 16, where Paul speaking about Priscilla
and Aquila, mentioned, “Likewise greet the church that is in
their house” (vr. 5).
Now, can brethren have social events in their own homes? Of
course they can. I don’t know where the brethren were meeting
when they were rebuked by Paul for turning the Lord’s Supper
into a feast. Could they have been meeting in someone’s home?
Possibly. Even so, does that mean the apostle could not have
said what he did in I Corinthians 11? Not at all. Brethren could
just as easily turn the Lord’s Supper into a feast even if
meeting in someone’s home. The fact is, the church comes
together to worship God His way (Jn. 4:24). When brethren have
finished their worship, the brother and sister can now go back
to the regular use of the home and even be hospitable (Rom.
12:13).
When brethren own a church building, it was bought with the
purpose for which it is to be used. The local church doesn’t use
its funds to build a kitchen or gymnasium onto the meeting
place. Why not? It’s because it isn’t expedient. It doesn’t aid
in worshipping God. In other words, it is not a help, it’s a
hindrance. You don’t mix the two. Those who don’t understand
expediency fail to see the error in using their church building
for whatever use they see fit. This doesn’t respect the word of
God.
— Via bulletin articles of the River Ridge church of Christ,
January 26, 2019
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-3-
News & Notes
Bud Montero has recently been diagnosed with Chronic
Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL); but, so far, he has none of its
symptoms.
Doug Pennock recently had some major dental work done
that he is healing from and having to temporarily adjust his
diet for.
Rick Cuthbertson is now being treated for blood clots and
is also continuing with his weekly chemo.
Melotine Davis often suffers from much pain and is now
preparing for back surgery.
Others to also be praying for: Pat & A.J. Joyner, Jim
Lively, Shirley Davis, James Medlock, Deborah Medlock,
Penny Medlock, Mary Vandevander, Michelle Rittenhouse, John
Stoval, Kayleigh Tanner, Amris Bedford, Danny
Hutcheson, Roger Montgomery, Rex and Frankie Hadley, and Tommy
Lin
WordPress version of this bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2019/04/28/the-gospel-observer-april-28-2019/
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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 sermon)