To imagine what it would have been like for those who, in the first century, received the books of the New Testament which had just been written and sent to them is beyond comprehension. Before the books were written, there were apostles and prophets who could tell them about Jesus, about His life and the new way of living He revealed. However, they were not always present. Then, for the first time, the churches had a handwritten copy of the Bible, and they could assemble and study together.
Not every person was able to read, so there were those who read these words given by God while others listened, trying to remember every word God had given to them. The Bible describes this. “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy…” (Rev. 1:3). Now, for the first time they held in their own hands the message from heaven. That verse adds one other vital truth about the one who is blessed because he has a Bible. It adds, “and keep those things which are written in it.” The real blessing is not found in just reading or hearing God’s words. That blessing comes when the words are taken and written in our hearts and manifested in our lives.
What a contrast between the church as it began and that which is part of our world! We no longer have heaven’s message in heavy scrolls but in beautiful, leather-bound books. The widespread use of cell phones allows many of us to carry the entire Bible in a compact device we keep in our pockets and purses. How blessed we are!
Yet what has happened? Across our lands believers assemble, yet Bibles are often not present. We have decided that study in Bible classes is more focused on what some modern man has written about the will of God instead of going to the original truths. Sometimes those studies become a discussion about what each person thinks about a matter instead of searching the words of the Bible to see what God has said about these same issues.
Pulpits are filled with gifted speakers, or those who have read their messages, and for the moment we are fascinated by their ideas, but it is far removed from what happened in the early church. They read the very words given by God, they heard the words given by God and they left worship determined to remember these words to change their lives.
Think about this contrast and then when you open your Bible realize you have the message from heaven. Read the Bible with the joy of those early Christians. Their lives were changed because they realized the treasures which were theirs because finally they held the words from heaven. Have that same joy because you have your own copy of these words!
Published with permission from ChurchOfChristArticles.com
Each of us finds truth at the cross of Jesus. As you stand at the foot of His cross, what great truths come into your heart? Sometimes our greatest understanding of truth comes in the midst of great trauma.
At His cross, I learn the truth about myself. There were so many who were impacted by His death and each had his own reason for being there. I wonder if I would have stood beside those who mocked Him? Would I be among those who walked by and kept going with little interest in what was happening?
Would I have stood beside His mother and sought to comfort her, or would I have not been there at all like those disciples who fled from the garden? The answer to these questions might be discovered by seeing what emotions I have during the meditation I do when I commune with Him around the His table.
At His cross, I learn the sinfulness of mankind. Think of all the evil that filled the hearts of those evil men whose agenda brought about His death. Three times Pilate asked these men, “What evil has He done?” (Luke 23:22). There is no answer to this question, for He never did even one thing wrong. The Jews could not find any evidence as to why He should die until two false witnesses lied about what He had said about the temple. Why was the mob so enraged? Why were the words spoken to Him and about Him so filled with such blasphemy? Evil is a reality in our world and it has never been seen more clearly than at the foot of the cross.
At His cross, I learn the truth about my inability to save myself. My own “goodness” could not take away the guilt of only one sin. The only hope I have of heaven is that hanging on that cross was the One whose sinless life could redeem me. My sinfulness means I owed a debt, and on that cross was One who paid my debt. There was nothing I could do to remove sin and God sent His son to pay my debt. I feel my sinfulness and helplessness at the cross.
At His cross, I learn about God’s providential love which surrounds me now. Jesus died for me, a mortal worthy of the torment of hell because of my rebellion. Now if God did that much for me when I was His enemy, how much more will He do for me now that I am His child? Mediate on these words, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for
us…For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Rom. 5:8-10). He loved me then and He loves me much more now!
Published with permission from ChurchOfChristArticles.com
As masterfully and humorously portrayed in the 15th episode of the first season of the Andy Griffith Show (“Those Gossipin’ Men”), gossip can seemingly appear, full-blown, out of thin air. It can be personally hurtful, but it’s part of the territory of living and breathing. Here are 6
things I particularly dislike about the ugly specter of gossip.
It’s Galling. It “reveals secrets” (Prov. 11:13). It separates friends (Prov. 16:28), yeah even “intimate friends” (Prov. 17:9). While cowardly, it still takes a lot of nerve!
It’s Obstructive. Billing itself as “helpful” and “instructive,” it usually serves the opposite purpose. It “reveals secrets” (Prov. 20:19) and is the hallmark of idle busybodies (1 Tim. 5:13).
It’s Spurious. As previously mentioned, gossip is as apt to be false and inaccurate as it is to be trustworthy. Even if there is a grain of truth, it can have an admixture of inaccuracy blended in. Tragically, it is often received as the truth and nothing but the truth.
It’s Sinful. Find it listed alongside “strife,” “jealousy,” “slanders,” and “arrogance” (2 Cor. 12:20). God calls the spreader of such “a fool” (Prov. 10:18). It’s an “evil weapon” (cf. Isa. 32:7) and “stubborn rebellion” (Jer. 6:28). See also Romans 1:29, 2 Timothy 3:3, and Titus 2:3.
It’s Inconsiderate. Few gossips would want to be treated the way they treat their subjects (Luke 6:31). Repeatedly, Christians are urged to “be kind to one another” (Eph. 4:32). We’re to love each other without hypocrisy and “be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give
preference to one another in honor” (Rom. 12:9-10). Gossiping is rarely wrapped in forethought and careful circumspection. It’s not “friendly fire.” It’s just fire.
It’s Presumptuous. Gossip is acting with entitlement, believing that it is fair and right to spread (whether true or false) information about the subject thereof. The gossip believes himself or herself qualified to share something about someone else, and such are usually mortified if the tale is traced back to them.
Yet, indignation should be tempered with realization. Few have so mastered the tongue that they are above the fray we mention here.
Let’s be convicted to practice saying good and kind things behind each other’s backs.
Remember to investigate before you propagate, and even then only carefully and prayerfully.
Usually, prayer and care will render the “juicy tidbit” dead on the floor of your mind, safely unspoken and incapable of doing any harm. Remember the famous words of 19th Century Michigan poet Will Carleton: “Boys flying kites haul in their white winged birds; You can’t do
that way when you’re flying words. Careful with fire, is good advice we know Careful with words, is ten times doubly so. Thoughts unexpressed may sometimes fall back dead; But God Himself can’t kill them when they’re said.”
There are those who will proudly proclaim that no one has to do anything in order to be saved and loudly complain about a perceived works salvation. So, let’s be clear and balanced here: Does the Bible teach that we don’t have to do anything? Not even close! Does the Bible teach
that we somehow merit our salvation by the works that we do? Nope, doesn’t teach that either. The truth, as often is the case, lies somewhere in between these two extreme ideas.
Does one have to do nothing to spend eternity in heaven?
John demanded that those who came out to be baptized return and “bear fruit” if they hoped to be saved (Luke 3:8–9). When many came to him asking what they needed to do he didn’t say that they didn’t have to do anything but instructed them in the ways of righteousness. When
Jesus came along he not only taught righteous living but also went about doing good, leaving us an example to do just as he did (Acts 10:38).
Obedience to God is absolutely essential! Yet we must also consider that just going about doing good doesn’t define Christianity or righteousness. Jesus also said that the gospel needed to be preached (Mark 13:10). Doing good and bearing fruit is a vehicle through which
we gain the opportunity to tell others about Christ, His love, and the hope we have in Him. Obey God, bear fruit, and preach the Good News. Faithful living is essential to our salvation (Matthew 25:21, 23)!
By Eddie Parish
Rosenberg, TX
If you are a Christian, you must…
…always let your speech be with grace
(Col. 4:6).
…always rejoice in the Lord
(Phil. 4:4).
…always obey
(Phil. 2:12).
…always be ready to give answer
to those who ask
(1 Pet. 3:15).
…always be confident
(2 Cor. 5:6).
…always be zealous
(Gal. 4:18).
…always pray
(Eph. 6:18).
…always pursue what is good, both for yourself and others
(1 Thess. 5:15).
…always abound in the work of the Lord
(1 Cor.15:58).
May we never forget
that we are not Christians only on Sunday mornings,
but always.
Used with permission from the Durango Church of Christ Bulletin
When I study the phenomenal growth of the New Testament church, there is no doubt that they
owed that growth to the divine source of the message they preached and the dedicated way in
which the early Christians spread the good news. They also believed that message with all
their heart, and that faith drove a sense of dedication and commitment no matter what
obstacles they encountered. But, along with factors like those, they grew because they needed
one another. They spent time together, not just in their assembly times, but at other times.
Luke highlights this fact. “They were continually devoting themselves to fellowship”
(Acts 2:42). “They were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart”
(Acts 2:46). “And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and one soul”
(Acts 4:32). They got together to pray (Acts 4:23ff; 12:5, 12). They got together daily for
preaching and teaching (Acts 5:42). Though the word is used in a wide variety of contexts,
you’ll find the word “together” over 30 times in Acts.
Isolation is the word to best describe the trend in the current culture. Much of it is self-imposed,
with so many withdrawing from social contact for such reasons as the ironically-named “social
media” and technology. We have created a virtual world that, to some degree, has replaced
authentic, face-to-face interaction.
“Community” is built upon commonality and like-mindedness. Sports, politics, civic and social
interests, and the like all draw people together into circles of sameness. Nothing should compel
any of us more than our faith in Christ, the salvation He freely gave us, and the incredible,
eternal future He has promised us. What an ironclad bond, this “like precious faith” (2 Pet. 1:1)!
There is no greater bond of closeness I can imagine than spending time with people whose
hearts are open and submissive to the commands of Scripture and whose lives are lived in
faith and hope in the promises of Scripture. They can help me grow and build my desire. Or, as
the Hebrews writer says regarding assembly times, we can “stimulate one another to love and
good deeds” (10:24).
When I was a teen, I remember a song that captured this sentiment perfectly, if simply:
“Fellowshipping with one another as we’re walking in the light, when we give our hearts to each
other you can feel the love inside. For there’s nothing as sweet as fellowship as we share each
other’s lives” (Lancaster). Not bitterness, isolation, suspicion, grudge-bearing, apathy, or
disinterest. Sweet fellowship! A church that grasps this will grow and thrive, strengthened and
sustained through trials, problems, and opposition. May we be a church that’s remembered this
way–“They were together!”
