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Clarification:
In a previous BulletinGold article titled "So, Is Church Attendance Necessary?"
a clarification needs to be made.
Here is a quote from the first part of the article:
1. It is because God commands us to not forsake the assembly. Hebrews
10:24,25 says, "Let us consider how to stimulate one another to
love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is
the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you
see the day drawing near." Of course one does not "forsake the
assembly" by missing a service. One forsakes the assembly when he
doesn't come to church anymore.
The last two sentences of the above paragraph state, "Of course one
does not `forsake the assembly' by missing a service. One forsakes
the assembly when he doesn't come to church anymore." It has
been correctly pointed out to me that missing a service, depending upon
the circumstances, can be forsaking the assembly. There is indeed a
difference in missing a service if one cannot be there because of
illness or some unforeseen circumstance which keeps him away and missing
a service because one has something "better" to do. I
believe that Hebrews 10:25 teaches that one is not to miss a service of
the church unless he is "providentially hindered."
Teaching God's Word, whether one does it from the pulpit or via an ezine
such as BulletinGold, is a very serious responsibility. I would
never include false doctrine in Bulletin Gold, and I apologize to all my
readers for overlooking the two sentences in the article I published.
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Panning for more
Gold
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preacher's articles this issue
Church Attendance
(Hebrews 10:25)
by: Perry Sexton
"Not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but
exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching." This verse is not too complicated to
understand. If we can understand Genesis 2:17, we should also be
able to understand Hebrews 10:25.
Please consider: (Gen. 2:17) "But of the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest
thereof thou shalt surely die." Note, "thou shalt not eat of
it." How many times could they eat of that tree and still be
pleasing to God (Cp. Gen. 3:6ff)? One command for us is: "Not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some
is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching" (Heb. 10:25). How many times can we forsake "the
assembling of ourselves together" and still be pleasing to God?
Let us consider some definitions: "not" (web.) means "in
no manner; to no degree: ... affirmation of the opposite."
"Not" is word #3756 in Strong's Complete Concordance, and
means "the absolute negative; (adv.) no or not."
"Forsaking the assembling" is something that we are not to do
(cp. Exodus 20:4, 5, 7, 13-17; I Cor. 6:9, 10) . To do
that which we are not to do is sin (I Jno. 3:4). The word
"forsake" (#1459) means to "desert, leave, abandon."
We are not to forsake any "assembling" of the church. The same
word is used in Matthew 27:46, "... My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me?" It is important to remember that the Father did not
forsake Jesus forever, but it is said of this one occurrence. The Greek
word for "assembling" is episunagoge (#1997) and means "
a complete collection; specially a church meeting (for
worship):--assembling (gathering) together." It is only used in one
other verse, II Thessalonians 2:1. There it is used twice and is
translated "gathering together." In Hebrews 10:25 it is used
twice and is translated "assembling" and "together."
The "assembling" is the gathering together of the church for a
religious service (ex. I Cor. 11:20, etc.). This is what one is not to
forsake: "the assembling of ourselves together." So if one
willingly absence himself from a church service, he has forsaken
"the assembling" and has broken a commandment of God.
There is a difference
between "missing" and "forsaking." To
"miss" is to be absent unwillingly. To "forsake" is
to be absent willingly. The bottom line is, we do what we want to do
(that is the key to it). It is a matter of where our treasure is (Matt.
6:19-21). If our heart's desire is to be with the saints in the presence
of God to worship Him, we will be there if at all possible. Where is our
affection (cp. Col. 3:1,2)? What is first in our lives (Matt. 6:33)? Do
we truly love God as we should (John 14:15, 23)? Are we living
acceptable lives unto God (Rom. 12:1)? Or are we numbered with the
"lukewarm" (Rev. 3:15, 16), and the "foolish"
virgins (Matt. 25:1ff)?
Hebrews 10:25 will meet us in the judgment (Rev. 20:12). We must obey
God if we expect Heaven to be our eternal home (Heb. 5:9; Matt. 7:21).
It will help us to remember all that Jesus has done for us and suffered
for us (II Cor. 5:14,15).
Perry Sexton, 8125 US Hwy 340, Shenandoah, Virginia 22849 psexton@vaix.net
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Are You Overdoing it?
by: Ed Thomason
Have you ever been
accused of "over doing it" or "going overboard" when
it comes to working for the Lord? Most of us might reply, "Not
often!" Others of us might think we "overdo" sometimes,
but we probably don't. Still, being an "over-achiever" and
"go-getter" when it comes to church work is something that we
as Christians should be known for.
The apostle Paul reminded the church at Corinth that they were to become
"over-doers" or "second milers" when it came to
working for the Lord. He wrote it this way, "Therefore, my beloved
brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of
the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the
Lord." (I Cor. 15:58).
Did you notice the word "abounding" in that passage? It means
"overflowing in abundance, exceeding expectations, doing more than
what is required." Did you also notice what Paul specifically
exhorts brethren to "overflow in abundance" doing? That's
right.... "The work of the Lord."
When it comes to the Lord's work, do others find us being timid or even
reluctant to be more involved? Shouldn't each of us be known as
"over achievers," with a volunteer spirit and willingness to
do far more than what is expected or what might be considered our
"duty?"
Of course Paul was writing to twenty year old Christians who have
endless amounts of energy to "abound" with. Right? Wrong! Did
you also notice the word "always?" It means "consistently
throughout our lives." There is no age specification in this
passage. Each of us should do more than our share of the work. We are
taught and expected by God to "abound in the work of the Lord over
our entire lifetimes."
How about you? Is your schedule full and overflowing when it comes to
the Lord's work?
Ed Thomason preaches for the New Madrid, Missouri, Church of Christ and
is webmaster for preachtoday.com. He can be contacted at ed@mydoghouse.com
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Dead or Alive
by: A Jay Kelly
As for you, you were dead
in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you
followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the
air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
Ephesians 2:1
Paul's letter to the Ephesians reveals the place of the church in the
economy of God as having existed in the Eternal Mind long before what
finite man calls the beginning. We need not let all that talk
about predestination in chapter one frighten us. God did not create
anyone for the specific purpose of destruction, but destruction is what
those who do not follow Christ will receive, according to our memory
text.
We were dead in our transgressions and sins. At one time, before the
blood of Christ cleansed them, each and every Christian was dead because
they were sinners. Each and every one of us would be dead right now if
it were not for the blood of Christ and if we lose that, we will be dead
once again.
In verse five and again in verse eight of this chapter, Paul reminds us
that our salvation came by the grace of God. There can be no argument
with that great statement, for it is grace that overshadows the entire
salvation process. Indeed, without grace there would be no Holy
Scriptures to which we may turn and find out what we must do to be
saved!
Paul reminds us of that very well. Christianity did not come from man
and neither did the church. The sacrificial death of Christ and the
resulting salvation were formed in the mind of God before creation ever
began.
Kind of gives you a chill, doesn't it?
A. Jay Kelley is the evangelist for the church of Christ in Colby,
Kansas. His e-mail is jkelley@nwkansas.com
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Felix and Evangelism
by: Ron Thomas
It is not often that we
think of evangelism in the context of Roman governor Felix. Felix was
the Roman governor that Paul stood before in judgment (Acts 24). History
does not speak too well of Felix; neither do the Scriptures attest to
him any moral virtue. So, how does evangelism fit in the context of
Felix? Let us understand the context in which we find Felix. As we said,
Felix was the governor (procurator) over Judea. He was appointed to that
position by Rome. It was in Caesarea that Felix's judgment seat was to
be found. Paul was standing before Felix because he was falsely accused
of profaning the Temple of the Jews. While Paul defended himself ably,
Rome found the surest way to peace was appeasement of the Jews. If they
let Paul go, knowing he was guilty of no capital crime, the Jews were
sure to react and react violently. Nevertheless, the Roman tribune
(the army commander who arrested Paul before he went to Felix) sent Paul
to a higher court than his and asked for Felix to render a verdict.
Felix never rendered an official verdict. He kept Paul in prison for two
years to keep the Jews quiet. During this period of time, Felix asked
for Paul and spoke with him about that which "bound" him. The
Scriptures says that Felix was troubled by that which Paul said
(preached). However, there was enough interest that Felix called him
back occasionally (Acts 24:26). Paul was evangelizing.
First, this episode gives us ideas about what we should be doing.
Sometimes we wonder the best way to handle opportunities presented to
us. If we look at what Paul said to the governor, I think we'll have
some guidance. Note what we should preach to the lost-- Jesus and him
crucified. Paul said in Acts 24:21 that he stood before Rome because of
the resurrection of Jesus. To speak of the resurrection of our Lord is
to speak of "Jesus and Him crucified." This means that we
state the facts of His life and how those of His day felt threatened and
killed Him. But it is more than just this; Jesus had a message of hope
and that message was a pointed one. In their threatened status they
determined the only way to effectively handle Him was to destroy Him.
This they did, or so they thought.
Second, we learn from the account of Felix what to expect in response.
One of the great frustrations of preaching the Gospel is the response
people give to the message. All children of God are to preach the
Gospel. Many become "shell-shocked" because they are refused
by those they speak to. This refusal comes in varying degrees. For some
it is an intense refusal, and for others, less so. Felix told Paul to
"go away." That is rather short and to the point. Paul had no
choice but to obey the order/command. But it was not left at just that.
It was not, "Go away and come back no more." But it was
"Go away for now and when I have a convenient time, I'll call for
you then."
This is how most people respond to the message of God. They can see the
value of it, and they would like to embrace it, but there is something
that stops them. What is it? There is a simpler answer than that which I
am about to offer, but what I want to consider is directly connected to
the simple answer. First, people think they have more time. There is
"time enough" to obey at a later date. We get up each day,
work, turn in for the evening, and start the cycle all over again. We
have done this so much that we think it will occur again tomorrow.
Second, people will often say to themselves, "Look. I am not that
bad." This justifies the delay to change. There is a part of them
that recognizes the need to change, but there is another part of them
that just does not want to.
Both these reasons are built upon the simple response of "I just do
not want to obey. God, I love you, but not that much!" The
Scriptures teach that there is a way that seems right to man, but ends
up in death (Proverbs 14:12). We can learn much from the
interaction between Felix and Paul. What Felix did is what people do
today.
Ron Thomas preaches for the Highway Church of Christ in Sullivan,
Illinois.
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Quick Riches
----misc. goodies this
issue
Which Way?
by: David A Sargent
A man performing
genealogical studies had occasion to visit several cemeteries and read
the inscriptions found on tombstones. He saw a tombstone on which
was engraved:
Pause now, stranger, as you pass by;
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, so soon you'll be.
Prepare yourself to follow me!
Someone had placed a piece of wood next to the tombstone. On it
was written:
To follow you I'm not content,
Until I know which way you went!
There are many voices today - all proclaiming, "THIS is the
way" or "THAT is the way" we should go. But the
"WAY" to life is NOT a DIRECTION. The "WAY" to life
is a PERSON! The "WAY" to life is NOT a RELIGION but
rather a RELATIONSHIP.
Jesus said, "I AM the "WAY", the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). Jesus
also said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and
broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are MANY who go in
by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which
leads to life, and there are FEW who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).
We "enter through the gate"- through our obedience to the
Gospel ("Good News") believing in Jesus (Acts 16:31),
repenting of our sins (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Him before men (Romans
10:9-10), AND being baptized (immersed) in water for the forgiveness of
our sins (Acts 2:38). We "travel" the road to life
eternal - through our continued trust in and obedience to the Lord (1
John 1:7).
Two ways. Two destinies. ONE choice!
Which "WAY" will YOU travel?
God bless you.
David A. Sargent, is the minister at the Church of Christ at Creekwood,
1901 Schillinger Rd. S., Mobile, Alabama. To subscribe to
"Living Water" and view archived issues, please visit our
website at: www.creekwoodcc.org
Please visit our Web site AND share a drink of "Living Water"
with a friend!
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KneEmail
"...At
the name of Jesus every knee should bow..." (Philippians 2:10.)
Mike Benson, editor; Matt Gehlhausen, managing editor
DIANA ROSS MCCAIN wrote an insightful article entitled, "The
Hardships of Worship..."
In it she described what it was like to worship in a Connecticut church
meetinghouse some two-hundred plus years ago. She observed:
"There
was no fireplace, no stove, no significant heat source of any kind.
Half-frozen man, women, and children, bundled up in their heaviest
garments, hunched into themselves to conserve precious body heat and
peered through clouds of condensation formed by their breath. In
the pulpit the minister himself might be preaching clad in a greatcoat
and mittens. At times it got so cold the Lord's Supper froze...
Comfort was not a primary consideration of those who
constructed early Connecticut meetinghouses. Here one comes every
Sunday to attend to the serious business of hearing the word of God and
how it might be applied to daily life. And that solemn duty was to
be carried out no matter what weather it pleased the Almighty to
provide."
THOUGHT: Wouldn't it be interesting to some day note the following add
in the local newspaper..., "Come worship with us. Our
building is cold in the winter; hot in the summer. We use neither
heat nor air conditioning. Our pews are not padded. We meet
not for physical comfort, but spiritual worship. You are cordially
invited" (John
4:24.)
KneEmail #345: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the
more as you see the Day approaching" (Heb. 10:25.)
To Subscribe/Unsubscribe, visit us on the web at http://www.oakhillcoc.org
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Hearts of Gold
----poetry this issue
Defend the Truth
by: Rose Ann Noey
Defend the truth, you men of God,
The truth which God has given.
When others say,
Oh, it's ok
To choose your road to heaven.
What road you choose, you should not care
As long as we're all striving.
Play fast and loose
With Bible Truth -
Make Faith your own contriving.
As gently calm as water seems
Upon the beach a-splashing,
Satan's a fox
Hiding dangerous rocks -
On which Faith's boat comes crashing.
Remember what the Bible says
In giving us a warning.
Our ignorant way
Makes easy prey
For those who're bent on harming.
But you, dear friends, build up your lives
Upon the Holy Faith.
And others snatch
From Satan's cache
Before the time's too late.
Defend the truth, you men of God.
Defend and take a stand!
There's just one road
To Heaven's abode -
And the Bible's that Heavenly Plan.
Based on Jude
Rose Ann Noey worships with the Church of Christ at Lincolnway in
Columbia City,
Indiana.
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Gold Mines
----quotes & sayings
for bulletins and signs this issue
When it seems you can't forgive, remember
how much you have been forgiven.
Christ's death is the measure of your worth to God.
God can mend your broken heart, but you must give Him all the pieces.
Deposit God's word in your memory bank, and you'll draw interest for
life.
Good intentions, like good eggs, soon spoil unless hatched.
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