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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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December 8, 2019
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Contents:
1) Be An Example (H.E. Phillips)
2) News & Notes
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-1-
Be An Example
H.E. Phillips
"These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth; but
be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in
charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give
attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the
gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the
laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these
things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear
to all. Take heed unto thyself: and unto the doctrine; continue in
them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that
hear thee” (1 Tim. 4:11-16).
The Holy Spirit by Paul wrote this epistle to Timothy, who was a
preacher of the gospel. The inspired instruction was for him to
behave himself in such a way as to not allow his youth to become a
stumbling block in his work. He said: “Let no man despise thy youth
. . .” Instead he was to be an example of the believer.
Every Christian should be the salt of the earth and the light of the
world. “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his
savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for
nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye
are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be
hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but
on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the
house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt.
5:13-16).
One becomes an example by his manner of life. He is to live so as to
have a good influence upon those around him. What Timothy was told
to do as a believer is what every believer should do. He was to be
an example in the following ways:
First, be an example in WORD.
That means our language must be an example of one who is a
Christian. It includes teaching the word of God and all
communication to others. We must speak as the oracles of God. “If
any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God . . . ” (1 Pet.
4:11). “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine”
(Titus 2:1). Sound doctrine is the gospel of Christ; the teaching of
Christ.
We must guard the tongue because it can cause great damage to others
as well as to ourselves. “For in many things we offend all. If any
man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to
bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths,
that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold
also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of
fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm,
whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little
member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a
little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity:
so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body,
and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of
hell” (James 3:2-6).
Our words will be a matter of judgment, and will determine where we
will spend eternity. Jesus said: “O generation of vipers, how can
ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the
heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the
heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil
treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every
idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in
the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and
by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matt. 12:34-37).
Second, be an example in CONVERSATION.
Conversation refers to the manner of life one lives from day to day.
Jesus said: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt.
5:16). “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared
to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present
world” (Titus 2:11-12).
Third, be an example in LOVE.
We must love God above everyone and everything. “And he said unto
him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the great and first
commandment” (Matt. 22:37-38).
A Christian must love his brother or he does not love God. “If a man
say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that
loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom
he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who
loveth God love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21). “Whosoever
hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath
eternal life abiding in him” (1 John 3:15). To hate your brother is
the same as murder in the sight of God.
Fourth, be an example in SPIRIT.
We must have the right mind or attitude toward God and His word, as
well as others. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus . . . ” (Phil. 2:5). “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” (Gal.
6:1). “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him
in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
Fifth, be an example in FAITH.
This means to be faithful in all things: in teaching the word of
God, and being an example of fidelity in doing what is required of
us. We are to hold the faith, and defend it against attacks from
anyone. “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be
strong” (1 Cor. 16:13). We must “walk by faith, not by sight” (2
Cor. 5:10). And “. . . faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).
Sixth, be an example in PURITY.
We must be pure and holy in body and mind. We should be clean in
thought, in life and in actions. This is important to young
preachers and to young people.
“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the
spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one
another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Pet. 1:22). “Pure religion
and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the
fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself
unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). “Lay hands suddenly on no
man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure” (1
Tim. 5:22).
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost
which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For
ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and
in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
We must MEDITATE upon these things and do them. “Meditate upon these
things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear
to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in
them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that
hear thee” (1 Tim. 4:15-16). We should learn and imitate these
examples.
— Via Daily Living, October 31, 2019
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Galatians 5:19-23
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality,
impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy,
outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying,
drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn
you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such
things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is
no law” (NASB).
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-2-
News & Notes
Many to be praying for:
We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Jeannette
Darden who passed away December 7, following an extended
illness.
Brooke Richardson (Katryna Hayes’ daughter) is now healing
from 5 broken ribs and a broken spine. She is walking on her
own and doing more each day, though it is painful.
Kaydance Richardson (Brooke’s daughter) had broken two bones
in her leg (the femur and tibia), her left arm, and a bone in back
of her shoulder. She is now healing from a second surgery.
Kelly Stoneheart will be having a double mastectomy and
reconstruction surgery on December 19.
Bennie Medlock has been in much pain, due to loss of
cartilage and bone rubbing against bone in his knee, and also has
gout. He is now on extra medication and will be seeing his
orthopedist December 23.
Emma Thomas will be having surgery on her hands December 17.
Kerry Williams has an inoperable aneurysm behind her eye and
has been on dialysis every week for the last two years, due to
kidney failure.
Danielle Bartlett recently received two stents, due to a
urinary track problem. Her follow-up appointment will be
December 15. If her previous problem reoccurs, surgery will
then be discussed.
A.J. and Pat Joyner have not been feeling well.
Shirley Davis is still going through her therapy in
recovering from her stroke.
Though Myrna Jordan is healed of her shingles, she still has
some lingering pain from it.
Jan Bartlett has completed her chemo treatments and is now
trying to get over a bad cold she has had for the last few weeks.
She will eventually begin radiation treatments to make any
recurrence of cancer even more unlikely.
Also for prayer: the family and friends of Katryna Brinkley
Hayes and Mary Ruth Corley Allen who both recently
passed away, Melotine Davis, Bud Montero, the Medlocks, Joyce
Rittenhouse, Jim Lively, Rick Cuthbertson, and Rex &
Frankie Hadley.
WordPress version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2019/12/08/gospel-observer-december-8-2019/
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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)
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)