The Gospel
Spotlight(Electronic Edition)
(Romans 1:16)
The Gospel Spotlight is a
publication of the
Contents
By Don McClain
Ezekiel 33:30-33
30
"As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, ‘Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.’ 31"So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. 32"Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them. 33"And when this comes to pass—surely it will come—then they will know that a prophet has been among them."One older gentleman says to another comparable in age, "Boy, can that preacher preach!" - "Yes sir," the good brother responds, "He can flat tell how the cow ate the cabbage." I’m not quite sure of the origin of that last cliché, but I’m sure one of you kind readers will enlighten me. I do know that both are praising this preacher with their lips, admitting that the word’s they had heard from him were sound and worth listening to. But, here is the question – "Will these individuals implement those things into their lives?"
Our text is dealing with a people who listened to truth skillfully delivered, – and promptly complemented the preacher, but then failed to make the proper applications. They probably thought throughout the sermon, "Boy, I wish my good friend "Grouchy" was here, he needed this!" Why is it so difficult for us to see ourselves as the "guilty" ones? The preacher preaches on attendance, and brother Hemhaw, (who holds down a good job with banker hours and hasn’t missed a day of work in five years), shakes the preacher’s hand with fury. "Mighty fine lesson preacher – one of your best ever, I wish brother Skip woulda’ been here to hear it!" But – when Wednesday night roles around, where is Mr. Hemhaw? Where he usually is on Wednesday nights of course, he is at home watching his favorite TV program. When questioned about his whereabouts his face turns red. Not with shame, but with anger.
How many of us truly make an effort to be "Doer’s of the word and not hearers only?" (James 1:22). What could we accomplish if ALL of us had the same mind as those under the leadership of Nehemiah? "6So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work." (Nehemiah 4:6). What was the difference between those in our text, and those we read of in the book of Nehemiah? Was it the leader or preacher? Was it the message delivered? Or, was it the people and their response to the message heard? Until we learn to look past the preacher, and look to God and His will, and commit ourselves to His service we will forever relegate ourselves to being hearers, and not doers of the word. - Wanting our ears tickled, wanting to be entertained, and searching for the really good preacher who "Is to us as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; (2 Timothy 4:2-4), but never steps on our toes.
It is truly a compliment when individuals thank me for a sermon, and I truly take it as such. I truly appreciate your support and words of encouragement, but – the greatest compliment and joy any preacher could have would be that all apply the truths that they are taught. If you really want to encourage a preacher, be doers of the word and not hearers only!
Here is a test: The first sermon of this year, ("Arise and build" January 5th, from the book of Nehemiah), was a call for each one to dedicate and commit to the task of building up themselves spiritually through personal Bible study and regular attendance (Bible classes and worship services). Regular Bible reading and attendance were emphasized again on January 19th in the Lesson "Asking, Seeking and Knocking." How many have responded to these lessons by regularly studying their Bibles and attending BOTH Sunday morning and Sunday evening worship services? How many have responded by regularly attending Bible classes on Sunday morning and again on Wednesday night? . . . How many have just kept the same old "non-studying – none attending habits? Does anyone think that God is pleased with such listening habits?
Another important test is coming up . . . As we continue our study on personal evangelism, it is important that we are committed to being doers of the word. Are you? As we get more into the practical aspects of soul winning and we begin to make requests for participation – will you be a doer of the word, or a hearer ONLY?
Notice what God says at the end of our text - 33"And when this comes to pass—surely it will come—then they will know that a prophet has been among them." What will come? To what is He referring? - 27"As I live, surely those who are in the ruins shall fall by the sword, and the one who is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured, and those who are in the strongholds and caves shall die of the pestilence. 28"For I will make the land most desolate, her arrogant strength shall cease, and the mountains of Israel shall be so desolate that no one will pass through. 29"Then they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have made the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed." All because they were hearers and NOT doers!
What will be the result if we are hearers of the word but not doers? First, we will lose our own soul. Secondly, we will fail to help others come to know the truth thus aiding Satan in His efforts to diminish the church’s effectiveness in our part of the world. I was corrected by someone a couple of weeks ago because they thought they heard me say that the church of Christ was going to pass away . . . I said no such thing – they were not listening very well. What I said was, and I quote, . . . ... "in 1980 the church of Christ in the USA stopped increasing and started decreasing in total membership. It is clear that if this tend continues the church of Christ as we know it today will cease to exist in the USA in less than 50 years." (Taken from WHY CHURCHES GROW")
We need to be hearers of the Word – All of it! But hearing the Word is NOT GOOD ENOUGH – we must also be DOERS of the Word!
How well do you listen?
Don McClain
Finding The New Testament Church -
Donnie V. Rader
Suppose that you were to enter a shopping mall, and just as soon as you get inside, you see a lady who is greatly disturbed because she has lost her little boy. She needs your help. You need to find her little boy. Now, how would you go about doing that? You probably wouldn't just take off looking for any boy. Were you to do so, the lady would respond saying, "That's not my boy!" Would you tell her that one boy is as good as another? Obviously not. Though the world may be filled with little boys, there is but one that will please her. Neither would you set out to faind a boy that you liked. You wouldn't look for a boy with the color of hair, the age, the height or the name that you liked. Though that might please you, that wouldn't please the lady.
What you obviously would do would be to find out some identifying marks and characteristics about the boy so you could easily recognize him when you see him. Suppose then that the lady tells you that her boy's name is John. He is about four feet in height, has black hair, was wearing a red shirt, blue pants, and tennis shoes. With description in hand you seek to find her boy. Suppose you find a boy that looks about like the boy that she has described, but his name is Tom. Would you rush back and tell her this one will do? Would you be bold enough to tell her that names don't make any difference? If you did, she would strongly disagree and say, "That's not my boy!" Again, suppose that you find a boy who has the name John and in fact meets all the other characteristics but one: that being that his hair is red. You could easily see that one thing is enough to tell you that this isn't the boy you are looking for.
When have you found her boy? Only when you find the one meeting every single identifying mark that his mother has described.
The Bible teaches that there is one body, (Eph. 4:4). The body is the church, (Col. 1:18). It is plain to see that when Paul says there is one body he means there is one church. Within that we see that there is only one body. Just as when he says there is "one God" he means there is only one God. We all should desire to be members of that one chruch, which is the Lord's.
How would you go about finding the church that we read about in the New Testament? Would you go about it in a way that appeared to be silly when it concerned looking for the little boy? Would you look for any church and be satisfied with it saying, "One church is as good as another"? Would you set out to find the one that pleased you? It is evident that you need first to find out some identifying marks and characteristics so that you will know the one true church when you see it. And now as you seek to find it, you surely wouldn't think a church would be all right and pleasing to God if it merely met most of the characteristics found in the Bible. Surely you wouldn't think that names don't make any difference. Just one identifying mark that isn't there or is different is enough to show that it is not the one church. Just as there may be a lot of boys named John who aren't the right boy, so there may be many churches wearing a name that is authorized but are not the church of the New Testament. You have not found the church until you find one that meets all the identifying marks laid down in the pages of God's Word. Let's consider briefly some of these marks:
1. Origin. In this we ask the questions: by whom, when, and where? Jesus Christ said, "Upon this rock I will build my church." (Matt. 16:18). He established His church in the year 33 A.D. (Acts 2:47). The kingdom (church) was to come with power. (Mk. 9:1). The power came with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) which came on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:1-4). These events took place in 33 A.D. . It was established in Jerusalem as the prophet Isaiah had foretold. (Isa. 2:1-4).
2. Name: I sometimes hear people say that the church doesn't have a name. And that is true as far as it having one name to the exclusion of all others. Yet it does have a name. A name simply means that by which a thing is called. So whatever the New Testament church is called in the Bible, we could say that that is a name. I read of a number of local congregations being referred to as "churches of Christ." (Rom. 16:16). What would you call one of those local congregations? Would it not be a "church of Christ"? The church at Corinth was called the "church of God." (1 Cor. 1:2). Paul also used the expression "church of the first- born." (Heb. 12:23). Can the name of the church of which you are a member be found in the pages of the New Testament?
3. Organization: The term church is used in more than one way. Sometimes it is used to refer to the church universal. In this sense the church has no organization. Yet in the local sense it does. Paul said that the church at Philippi had bishops (elders, Titus 1:5, 7), deacons and saints. (Phil. 1:1) The elders are to oversee, feed (spiritually) and watch for the souls of the flock among them. (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2; Heb. 13:17). Each congregation is to have its own plurality of elders. (Acts 14:23). The word "deacon" simply means servant. So their function is to serve under the oversight of the elders. When we find churches tht have some kind of universal organization or local group that is overseen by deacons we can easily see that we haven't found the chruch of the New Testament.
4. Worship: The members of the New Testament church will be (1) singing, Eph. 5:19, (2) praying, Acts 2:42, (3) studying the Bible, Acts 2:42, (4) partaking of the Lord's Supper every first day of the week, Acts 20:7, and (5) giving as they have prospered, 1 Cor. 16:1,2). The last two items are limited to the first day of the week. (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1,2). Also these passages imply that they must take place every first day. (1 Cor. 16:1,2 NASV). Compare these with "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." (Exo. 20:8). When other items are added, that will not be the New Testament church.
5. Work: Each local congregation has work to do. It is to (1) preach the gospel, (1 Tim. 3:15), (2) edify itself, (Eph. 4:16), and (3) relieve needy saints, (1 Tim. 5:16; Rom. 16;25-31). In each of these, the church is all-sufficient to do the work God gave it to do. There is no need for additional organizations to do do the work of the church. When additional work is found in the budget of the church (i.e. recreation, entertainment, etc.) we have enough evidence that that is not the New Testament church.
6. Teaching: The teaching that the church of the New Testament endorses can be found in the pages of the New Testament. Peter said, "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God." (1 Pet. 4:11). The church of the New Testament can put a finger on book, chapter, and verse for the teaching it endorses.
7. Practice: The things that the Lord's church engages in can be found in the book of God Almighty. The people of God seek to do all things in the name of (by the authority of) Jesus Christ. (Col. 3:17). They seek to do just what is found in the doctrine of Christ, (2 Jno. 9). Thus they not only can, but will be happy to show anyone the verses tht authorize what they do. If I find a church that will engage in things I cannot find in the Bible, I have found a church that is not the church of the Bible.
Let's think back about the little boy once again. If I find a boy with different hair, a different name, height, shirt, pants, etc., I haven't found the boy I want. I must find a boy just like the description I have in hand. Likewise I must find a church just like the one described in the Bible. If I find a church with a different origin, name, organization, worship, teaching, or practice, I haven't found the chuch of the New Testament.
-----Donnie V. Rader,
Unto The End
by Jim R. Everett
How do you feel about someone who starts a sentence and never...? How about someone who starts a job but never gets around to completing it? Do you feel that you owe a man pay when he does not finish a job for which he has been contracted? Do you expect to win the prize, if you do not cross the finish line! For some reason we understand that truth as it applies to our physical world but seem to think that it will not apply in eternity.
We do not receive the crown of life until the end (cf. 2 Tim. 4:6-8) Ä "...I have finished the course...." Paul said, "henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness." The crown does not adorn the head of the weak, indifferent, worldly minded, negligent, quitters. It is always our prayer, as it was the Hebrew writer's, that "...we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end. That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (6:11-12).
Starting is the easy part -- it is the finishing, the grinding it out when it hurts, the bearing up under exasperation, the enduring when it seems there is no end in sight -- that is the hard part. Sometimes folks start walking the narrow way but it becomes too difficult and the price is too great to pay. Like the shallow soil, there is no depth and they quickly fall away (Matthew 13:5, 21). If we do not faithfully endure to the end, there is no crown of life.
Searching The Scriptures, 10/83.
"Why The Sermon?"
Author Unknown
How did you like the sermon? has become habitual as we inquire of visitors their impression of the worship service. The "likes" of individual listeners vary amazingly. It is fine to "like" the sermon, but is that really the important thing?
Sermons are preached, not to be liked, but to be lived! Suppose you do not like the sermon. What of it? Suppose that the hypocrite sitting in the audience went away in a rage. When the arrow of truth pierces the heart, curses often come out. John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter, and John were not anxious that their sermons should be liked.
The crucial question is not, "Did you like it?", but "Did it help you?" "Did it give you new visions of duty to God?" "Did it bring you nearer to the Lord?"
The sermon may be measured, not by the pleasure of the people, but by their response in action and practice. Taken from CASTLETON LIGHT February 16, 2003
Growing A Local Church
By Glen Young (Revised by Don mcClain)
I came across the following results of a study by a research group concerning valid principles of growth. I found them interesting and thought I would share them with you. I took the time to add Scripture where they were applicable.
Be Optimistic: We should be too busy trusting and serving our Lord to expect failures. *If God has told us to do something - He will support us in our efforts if we trust in Him, (*Numbers 13:30; 14:8,9). Do we *trust that we can do all things through Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:13).
Be People Oriented: Men seem to think they cannot accomplish a desired end without organizing some program. Eventually, the program becomes the focal point. We must focus on people, not programs (Romans 10:14-17; 2 Timothy 2:2).
Recognize the Limit of Your Duty: Goal setting is very important for a congregation. Looking to the future with realistic goals, is absolutely necessary for success. A congregation without vision is doomed to failure. (*Proverbs 29:18)
Strive to Excel: Elders, deacons, evangelists, teachers and all disciples must resolve to be the very best. (1 Corinthians 9:25). Being satisfied and failing to see the need to improve ourselves is to be spiritually dead (2 Peter 1:5-11; 3:18).
Distinguish Christianity as a Life, not a Ceremony: Christians are the Church, we do not merely attend church (Colossians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 12:12-25). Let the beauty of Christ be seen in us.
Honestly Deal with Flaws: Men have a way of pinning the sacred cow of perfectionism on the church. The church is made up of humans, and humans have flaws. *If we are to grow, we must honestly deal with our problems - not ignore them! *People sincerely striving to serve the Lord are not repugnant to the objective observer - but be assured, hypocrisy is, (Luke 18:9-14).
Encourage Everyone to Talk Up the Church: Tell your friends that you respect the elders, that you appreciate the deacons, that you gain knowledge from the sermons, and that you relish the reverence the whole congregation exhibits. *(Acts 23:5; Titus 3:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:12,13)
Be Determined to Grow: Do not accept the defeatist who cries, "We can’t do that here." The nay sayers would have everyone’s faith to be as weak as their own (Philippians 4:13).
Address the Needs of ALL Ages: Do not neglect either the young nor the old. All have spiritual needs (Philippians 2:1-4; *Titus 2:1-9).
Do Not Over-Organize: While it is necessary to have leadership and organization, spiritual bureaucracy is worse than political red tape. Both can and do strangle the ability to reach goals, (*Ephesians 4:11-16).
Demand a Strong Pulpit: The nature of the assembly pinpoints the pulpit as the key to spiritual growth. Therefore, strong Bible oriented preaching that is presented in an understandable fashion, is absolutely necessary (2 Timothy 4:1-5).
Any congregation can grow. It is a matter of
desire plus effort plus love for the truth of God’s Word. The Road Creek
Bulletin; February 26, 2003
KILL THE SPIDER -
Author UnknownOne of the deacons was frequently called upon to pray at the mid-week service, and he always concluded his prayer the same way: "....and now Lord, clean out all the cobwebs in our lives." I think you know what he was talking about - those little unsightly words, deeds and thoughts that we let accumulate throughout the week.
Well, it got to be too much for one brother who heard him say that prayer so many times. So, one Wednesday night, just after hearing these words again, this one brother jumped to his feet and shouted, "Don’t do it, Lord, KILL THE SPIDER!"
Brethren, how well it would be if we would kill the spider rather than continually having our lives full of cobwebs. We will never be able to live acceptably for God and reach heights that Christ presents for us until deep within us we have that clean and rightful desire.
The great problem in the average Christian life is that we do not have the desire to really give up the world and completely surrender to Christ. Thus, we always find our lives cluttered with "cobwebs," with sins and mistakes.
Let’s start inside of our
lives. Create that humble desire; and the external part of Christianity will
come. Once we have killed the spider, we will no longer have to worry about
bothersome cobwebs.
"For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17).
"What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?" (1 Corinthians 11:22a).
I believe these two passages teach that the church is not to be in the restaurant business. Back in the 1920’s and 1930’s when some brethren did not have automobiles or did not have reliable transportation, a practice arose among rural churches of "Sunday Morning Preaching, Afternoon Singing, and Dinner on the Ground." No one had a problem with that practice. Brethren brought their food from home and shared it picnic style. The usually did that once a year. Perhaps in some years it would rain and they would rush inside the meetinghouse until it stopped. When their children grew up, they said why don’t we just put a kitchen in the meetinghouse? And so they did.
I don’t believe it is a sin to eat in the church building, per se. However, there is no scriptural authority for the church to be in the restaurant business, and that is what a lot of congregations are doing now. One may stop to eat in the meetinghouse, if he/she/they are cleaning it, or working on a Bible project, or making repairs on it, etc. That is only incidental to the work being done. Nowadays, brethren have to have some kind of a meal or snack served to the church every week. There is no Bible authority for such. It is that simple and that important.
Let the church be the church, and not a Bob Evans Restaurant!
You cannot compete with the world and win!
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