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BulletinGold
#105
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September
2009
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Vol.
9
Num. 7 |
Editors:
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David Bragg
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Edward
Thomason
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| BulletinGold |
BulletinGold
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In
This Issue:
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Articles
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Nuggets
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Poems
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Quotes
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The
Importance of Midweek Bible Study, by Ray
Crawford
Have You Seen __________________ Lately?
By Jim Faughn
Where Are the Elders? By Hardie
Logan
Questions About Worship, Cecil May, Jr.
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Prayer, by Craig Evans
Growing
Churches or Saving Souls? By Mack Lyon
The Church Is Not, by Andrew
Connally
When Was The Church Established? By
Travis L.
Quertermous
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A Love So Tremendous, by
Catherine J. Carter
My
Part
My
Hand in
God's Hand, by
Florence Scripps Kellogg
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quotes & sayings
for
bulletins and signs
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| Editorial by David Bragg |
Have you ever set out to put together a jigsaw puzzle? If so you
know that each piece has its place in order for the picture to come
together properly. You likely are also aware of your chances (one
in 4,298,387 approximately) of completing the task without losing a
piece. You take great diligence in placing pieces only to find
that, with just a handful of pieces remaining, one piece is
missing. At this point you will probably decide that, since it is
only a sky piece, it is not important to the picture and therefore you
do not need to be concerned about searching for it. Right?
Unlikely.
As you appraise the incomplete product you
become uneasy. That missing piece begins to haunt you. You
know that if you tried to go to sleep you would only dream about
it. That one stubborn piece can haunt you, laughing at you from
its hiding place. As you look at the hole in your puzzle you try
to ignore it, but it stands out like a sore thumb. Then you
realize that it is not just a sky piece, but rather it is a bright,
blue and beautiful part of something larger than itself.
Actually, it has an intricate part in the overall picture. Its
beauty is enhanced and complimented by its fellow pieces. IT IS
IMPORTANT!
Paul urged his fellow believers to look at
Christ’s church in much the same way that you might look at a
puzzle. Each individual member is intricately connected with the
body as a whole (cf. 1 Cor. 12). Each member is important.
Each member has its place. To understand just where you “fit
into” the New Testament church you have to clearly understand what the
church is, what its mission is, and where your time and capability can
best support the divine work, worship, and worth of the church.
While the thought is both humbling and amazing, it is absolutely true
that there is a place for you in Christ’s church.
David
Bragg
http://www.davidbragg.org/
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| Panning
for Gold Feature Articles: |
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The Importance of Midweek Bible Study
By
Ray Crawford
The
question was asked me recently, “Are we to believe that Wednesday
evening attendance is necessary?” I believe brother Garland M.
Robinson makes a good response to this question by asking, “If you are
a Christian, where else would you want to be?” This is a most
revealing question. It reveals the shallow and hollow depth of
devotion one has to the Christ who died for him. This question
speaks volumes concerning those who desire to be somewhere else during
the Wednesday night services.
It
is a simple fact that a person will make time for and be engaged in
whatever activity pleases him. The bottom line basically is that
people only do what they want to do. If you want to be a faithful
Christian, live a godly life, and go to heaven when you die, then you
will make every effort to achieve that end. One’s attitude and
heart is not right who must be begged, prodded and coaxed to attend
services of the Lord’s church at any time! Shame on those who do
not put forth the effort to be with those of “like mind” in the faith
every opportunity afforded.
- II Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth.” To meet at any time with the saints to study the most
precious Book that tells of everlasting life and what to do to obtain
it is the desire of everyone who truly wants to go to heaven. One
day we will stand before Jesus to be judged. We study the
scriptures to be approved of Him so that we might be found living in
accordance with His will when He comes to call all things to an end
(Acts 17:30,31).
- II Peter 3:18 tells us, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” This command is to grow in the
knowledge of God. How then could anyone refuse to grasp the
opportunity to do what we have been commanded?
Wednesday
night is an excellent time to meet and study. This time is to
supplement our personal home study. But if the truth is known,
few study at home and therefore have no interest in midweek study
either.
Seriously, what else on earth is more
important than God, truth, and righteousness? Read Matthew 6:33
and know that when we put anything ahead of God, the Bible, and church
and think we are fine, we are in for a rude awakening on judgment day.
- Ray Crawford, via The Lantern, the weekly bulletin of the Highway
church of Christ, Sullivan IL. Visit their website as http://www.highwaycofc.com
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Have You Seen __________________ Lately?
By
Jim Faughn
I
guess that it happens in every congregation. See if this scenario looks
familiar to you: A person or a family is not with the saints when
they assemble one week at a particular congregation of God’s
people. It is assumed that they must be out of town or something,
because it is unusual for them to not meet with the local congregation
to worship. Another week or two goes by and they are still
missing. After about a month or so (or more), somebody asks the
preacher, “Have you seen _____________ lately?” The preacher
informs the brother or sister that, yes indeed, he has seen them and/or
talked with them and that they are now worshiping somewhere else or are
not worshiping anywhere at all. There is shock and disappointment
on the part of the one who has asked about _______________. As
the word gets around, people wonder what in the world could have
happened and what could have been done to prevent this situation.
May
I offer one suggestion? Don’t depend on the elders or the preacher to
do all of the “checking up” on individuals. Why not make it your
responsibility (as well as the responsibility of the elders and
preacher) to let people know that you care enough about them to let
them know that they are being missed when they are not with us.
Let
me share with you one of my personal goals. It is just that; a goal.
Unfortunately, I sometimes fail to meet the goal, but it is always
before me and I honestly do try. It is one of my goals to make it
impossible for any former member of the congregation to be able to say,
“Well, I was gone for months and nobody ever checked on me. I guess
they didn’t care as much as they said they did.”
How
much of an impact would it have if every member of the local
congregation would notice when somebody is not attending as they
formerly did and made it a priority to live up to all of those “one
another” passages in the New Testament? Why don’t we try to find out
what that impact would be?
Will you join me in setting a goal similar to
mine? Will you make it a goal to never have to ask the question, “Have
you seen ___________ lately?”
- Jim Faughn serves as an elder and preacher for the Central church of
Christ in Paducah KY. He may be contacted at paducahcentralcoc@comcast.net
or through the church’s website: http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org
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Where Are the Elders?
By
Hardie Logan
The
more I read about things happening in the church, the more I want to
ask, "Where are the elders?" In many congregations where strange
things are happening, elders are there. And yet the strange things
still go on. So the question is valid, "Where are the elders?"
It
appears that since there are elders in these congregations and strange
things are going on, then either the elders are supporting the strange
things or they just don't care. Either way, the Lord's church, where
they are, is being overrun with strange teachings and the flock, of
which they are in charge, is in dire danger. How can men, who have been
entrusted by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28) to care for and tend the
church of God, allow this to happen? Do they not understand God's
warnings about faulty leadership?
Elders
are the God appointed leaders in the congregation. A leader is someone
in front of the army, not in the rear. When they give a direction, they
show they are behind it by leading the rank and file in the direction
they think it should go. They must determine the final direction and
show their determination in making it happen. The church and God depend
on them for this.
Yet,
in the church, many elders are in the rear of God's army. Many think
that because they don't see any problems, none exist. Many do not
study, many do not visit, many have become lackadaisical about the work
of elders, or they have forgotten it. And when some preacher, some
deacon, or some member comes along and sells them on some idea that
will "grow the church", they are all to eager to show their leadership,
not their wisdom, by hopping on the strange doctrine bandwagon.
In
the church, just like in an army, the leaders need to be seen and
heard. The rank and file need to know there is a goal, there is
direction, there is hope of fulfilling the goal. The rank and file need
the encouragement of seeing their leaders in action, not only to
protect them, but also to lead them in the right direction. The rank
and file need to have the confidence of knowing their leaders will help
them, will provide for them and see things through. This applies to
leading as well as protecting. Both have to be done by God's leaders.
And, one thing to remember: God's army can
falter because of a lack of leadership.
- Hardie Logan preaches for the Marshfield church of Christ, in
Marshfield, WI. He may be contacted at xnman01@gmail.com
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Questions About Worship
By
Cecil May, Jr.
Goodman Oaks in Southaven is the largest
church of Christ in Mississippi. Sunday morning attendance is
around 700. Steve Reeves, their preacher, suggests several
questions to be asked about what is to be done in worship:
1) Is there precedence for such an act of worship in the New
Testament? Can it be supported by a direct command of
Scripture? Is it an example from the early church meant for us to
follow today? Is it clearly an inference we are supposed to make
and follow from the Biblical text? “I write so that you may know
how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the
church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim.
3:15).
2) Is this activity intended to bring glory to God or is it geared
merely toward human entertainment and satisfaction? “For do I now
persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I
still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ” (Ga1:10).
3) Will it promote or hinder the unity of the body of Christ?
Paul commands us to “pursue the things which make for peace and the
things by which one may edify another” (Rom. 14:19).
Even when such questions are asked, different
answers may be given by different people. My concern here,
however, is that to many congregations seem never to ask such questions.
The only questions being asked by some today apparently are, “Do we
like it? Do we want to do it? Will it help attract crowds?”
- Cecil May, Jr.; via the weekly bulletin of the Harrisburg
church of
Christ in Harrisburg, IL. You may visit their website at http://www.harrisburgchurchofchrist.org
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| Nuggets
& Quick Riches - misc. goodies |
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Prayer
By
Craig Evans
Prayer is a vital aspect of a Christian’s
life. It is our opportunity to go before the throne of God and
express our great appreciation for Him, tell Him of our struggles, and
bring our innermost desires and requests before Him. It is an
awesome thought that we have access to God, who by His omnipotence
spoke the world into existence, and by His omniscience knows all about
us, and by His omnibenevolence sent His son to die on a cross to save
us from our sins. A God that is all-powerful, all-knowing, and
all-loving will hear me. This week as you enter God’s throne room
there are some things that you can pray for:
- The
brotherhood - that it may love one another and hold God’s word as
its standard of practice and attitude.
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The local
congregation - that we may be strong in God’s word, united,
caring, and evangelistic.
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World
leaders - that they may rely on God’s word for truth so that
peace may abound.
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Families -
that marriages would be strong, and parents would bring
their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and
children will honor their parents.
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The lost -
that they may come to a knowledge of God and put Christ on
in baptism and live for Him.
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The
hurting - that they may be comforted and see God as that
comfort.
Paul tells us in
1 Thess. 5.17 “Pray without ceasing.” Let us
never take the wonderful gift of prayer for granted.
—
Craig Evans
serves as youth minister for the Calvert City church of
Christ in Calvert City, KY. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com
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Growing Churches or Saving Souls?
By
Mack Lyon
Church growth is the LORD’S business.
“The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts
2:47). Let not man assume control of the Lord’s business.
“Church Growth” experts do not know as much as our Lord knows about who
should be added to His church.
The church’s role in church growth is to
preach the saving gospel to the lost. “He who believes and is
baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned”
(Mark 16:16). There we have Jesus’ own word for that. Since
He is the saved’s Savior, He will know who should be a member of His
church.
The church must focus on its role in saving
the lost. Jesus Christ said, “Go.” The modern “progressive
church” says, “Come.” To obey the Lord, the church must—
1.
Love the lost. Jesus, our example, loved the sinner Zacchaeus of
Jericho and invited Himself over to Zacchaeus’ house to spend the
night. He converted Zacchaeus that night. Read about it in
Luke 19:1-10.
2.
Seek the lost. Jesus said, “The Son of Man has come to seek and
to save that which was lost.” Jesus had to leave His heavenly
home to come into the world to save the lost. Why would we think
we can reach the lost without going into the world? God forbid that we
are on a “church growth” mission rather than a “soul-saving” mission.
3.
Teach the lost. They may not know they are lost. It is easy
to be lost in the woods and not know it. It is as easy to be lost
in sin and not know it. As we would show the person lost in the
woods the way out, we must show the person lost in sin the way
out. Christ is the way. Social services will not do it,
friend. Neither will polite pleasantries about nothings do
it. The gospel is God’s power to save the lost (Romans
1:16). Let’s be sure it’s the gospel we’re preaching to the
lost.
– Mack Lyon, speaker for the successful television ministry In Search
if the Lord’s Way, may be contacted through their website: http://www.searchtv.org/
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The Church Is Not
By
Andrew
Connally
The church is not made up of people who believe they are better than
others...
...but rather of those who believe they ought to be
better than they are.
The church is not made up of perfect people...
...but of people who follow a perfect Lord and
realize they ought to do the best they can.
The church is not made up of people who never make mistakes...
...but of those who acknowledge their mistakes and
try not to make the same ones again.
The church is not trying to withdraw from everyone...
...but rather to bring everyone into its fellowship
and love.
The church is not trying to set up arbitrary rules to hinder anyone...
...but to show how following the rule of Christ
helps us all.
The church is not trying to take the joy out of life...
...but to put real joy into life.
The church is not trying to make you feel ugly...
...but trying to instill the beauty of holiness in
your life.
The church is not trying to separate you from your money...
...but trying to keep your money from separating you
from God.
- Andrew Connally; via the weekly bulletin of the Harrisburg church of
Christ in Harrisburg, IL. You may visit their website at http://www.harrisburgchurchofchrist.org
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When Was The Church Established?
By
Travis L.
Quertermous
This is a question that often evokes serious
debate. Some say during the ministry of John the Baptist, others say
during the ministry of Jesus Christ. But if we let the Bible explain
itself, the answer is easy to find. About six months prior to His
death, Jesus promised, “I will build my church…” (Matt. 16:18). Notice
that this statement is in the future tense—He had not yet established
His church, but soon would. Also, in Matthew 16:18-19, Jesus identified
His church with the kingdom of heaven (as He often did, cf. Matt.
13:1-52). Thus, if we can learn when the kingdom was established, then
we can also know when the church began.
A
simple combination of three passages (Mark 9:1; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-4)
helps us to understand when the church (or kingdom) began. In Mark 9:1,
Jesus predicted, “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here
who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with
power.” (If the kingdom is not yet in existence, as many teach, there
must be some mighty old folks around somewhere!) So the kingdom would
come with power. According to Acts 1:8, the power would come with the
Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).
Therefore, the kingdom/church was established on the first Pentecost
after the resurrection of Christ. Thus, it is no surprise to read
at the end of Acts chapter 2, “And the Lord added to the church daily
those who were being saved” (2:47).
Has the Lord added you to
His church? Have you been saved (Acts 2:37-38)?
Why
not visit with us to find out?
- Travis L. Quertermous preaches for the church of Christ in Dexter,
MO. He may be contacted at minister.church@sbcglobal.net
or
through the church’s website: http://www.dexterchurchofchrist.com/
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| Hearts
of Gold - poetry |
A Love So Tremendous
By Catherine J. Carter
I saw my Savior writhing in pain,
I looked away but looked back again.
HOW could I look away knowing full well,
HIS suffering and HIS pain was to save me from Hell.
As I look in His eyes as He suffered on the tree,
His mouth whispered " I LOVE you",
YES, He was doing it for ME.
A love so tremendous,
A love so true,
He DIED for ME..........
and He died for YOU !
--Catherine J. Carter; via THE SOWER, a weekly publication of the
Arthur church of Christ, Arthur, IL. Ron Bartanen, who serves as
minister and editor, may be contacted at - ron33dor@yahoo.com You
may also visit their website at http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com
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My Part
God didn’t put me on this earth to have an easy time.
He put me here to fight a fight, to hold a battle line.
He put me here to help the weak and myself grow strong.
He put me here to lend a hand and help the world along.
He put me here to say a word of encouragement and cheer;
He put me here to sing a song for someone else to hear.
He didn’t put me here to whine, stick out my lips, and pout.
He put me here to do His work and Satan’s evil rout.
He didn’t put me here to seek rewards and starry crowns.
He put me here to do my part and see that love abounds.
So I’ll just seek to do my part as I travel through these lands,
And I will strive to do his will and leave all in His hands.
- Bulletin Digest; via the weekly bulletin of the Central Church of
Christ. Jim Faughn serves as their preacher. He may be
contacted at paducahcentralcoc@comcast.net
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My
Hand in God's Hand
By Florence Scripps Kellogg
Each morning when I wake, I say,
"I place my hand in God's today!"
I know He'll walk close by my side
my every wandering step to guide.
He leads me with the tenderest care
when paths are dark and I despair,
no need for me to understand
if I but hold fast to His Hand.
My hand in His! No surer way
to walk in safety through each day.
By His great bounty I am fed!
Warmed by His love, and comforted.
When at day's end I seek my rest
and realize how much I am blessed,
My thanks pour out to Him, and then
I place my hand in God's again.
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| Gold
Mines ---- quotes, sayings & sign messages |
A good sermon should be
preached over and over. Bad sermons should not be preached at all.
Church membership does not make one a Christian any more than owning a
piano makes one a musician.
The fellow who says he is as good as many church members should be
required to specify which members.
Some consider it a good sermon if it was directed at somebody else.
A sermon need not be a mile long if it is only a few inches deep.
People these days are so keyed-up and stressed out that it is almost
impossible to put them to sleep with an ordinary sermon.
- via The Encourager, the weekly bulletin
for the Dongola church of Christ, Dongola, IL. Gerald Cowan
serves the congregation as minister. He may be contacted at Geraldcowan1931@aol.com
Christian One-Liners-
"Don't let your worries get the best of you.
Remember, Moses started outas a basket case."
The problem is not the church in the world...
...it is the world in the church!
- via the weekly bulletin of the Harrisburg church of Christ in
Harrisburg, IL. You may visit their website at
http://www.harrisburgchurchofchrist.org
Most middle-class Americans tend to worship their work, to work at
their play, and to play at their worship.
- via The Lantern, the
weekly bulletin of the Highway church of Christ, Sullivan IL.
Visit
their website as http://www.highwaycofc.com
"I
don't know why some people change churches. What difference
does it make which one you stay home from?" - From the Internet
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| BulletinGold
Extra ---- recent postings on
our Blogsite |
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Burglar
and Preacher
The Biblical Scholar, Kevin
Raynor
How
Much Time Does It Take
Overcoming Doubt, Bob Spurlin
On Priorities, H. L. Gradowith
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