The Need for Distinctive
Preaching
The role
of the teacher is to hold back nothing profitable, but to teach the whole purpose
of God (Acts 20:20,27). That is the key to faithfully fulfilling the work of an
elder or evangelist, i.e., that we hold back nothing that is profitable to
the people. Preaching on the love of God is not going to help the young women
of the congregation when they fail to hear a sermon directed toward their
immodesty. Preaching on grace is good, but not if you fail to preach on how
folks frequently absent themselves from worship in favor of their favorite
sports or recreational activity. Preaching on mercy is wonderful, but sometimes
people need to hear a lesson on social drinking or dancing (prom). Forgiveness
is a grand theme, but sometimes brethren need to be warned of encroaching false
doctrines and practices. I believe there is a justifiable cause for concern
today, not just because of what is preached from some pulpits, but even
more because of what is not being preached! One of my heroes in the
faith once observed, "If we don't preach on certain subjects, it
won't be long before we can't preach on those subjects because people
will not put up with it.” He was right and, in my opinion, we are seeing
the fruit of that in our time. Again, the key to faithfully fulfilling the work
of an elder or evangelist is to hold back nothing that is profitable. It is not
always easy to properly assess and preach to the needs of the people, but by
all means do it!
The
"old Jerusalem gospel" has a distinctive ring about it. It is a message
flooded with Scripture and practical application. It is not always popular, but
it is always right when presented with the best interest of the hearers in your
heart and on your lips (Eph.4:15).
- by Jim
Deason
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Beware Of Normal
According
to a humorous television commercial, one of the first signs of termite
infection in your home is that "everything looks perfectly normal."
It is their way of convincing us that a lot of damage can be done before you
even notice it. The ad might serve to remind us of problems that can occur in
our spiritual house if we do not take protective measures. The very foundation
can be destroyed while everything on the outside seems to be normal by the
standards of our day. When our lives are comfortably blended into the society
we live in, when there is nothing unusual about our moral or religious
principles, when our priorities are the same as the great majority of our
neighbors, then things are dangerously "normal." Theproblem is that
"normal" is a term that is determined by man's standards, and though
measuring up to it may provide a degree of comfort here, it falls far short
when it comes to laying up treasures in heaven.
Paul warned
the Corinthians of some who "measuring themselves by themselves and
comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding" (2
Cor. 10:12). It is God's yardstick that matters, not that of the
"mainstream of society." God has always required His people to be
separate (Isa. 52:11; 2 Cor. 6:17-7:1) not physically withdrawn, but distinct
in conversation and conduct, not fashioned according to the world (Rom.
12:1,2). It is a sobering Biblical truth that few will be saved; the majority
will enter the broad way that leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13,14). It is
strange, then, that we should be satisfied with attaining a status accepted by
society. What value is it, if we lose our souls?
Friend,
if your life seems "normal" enough by man's standards, it may be that
your spiritual house is caving in. It will not be shored up by man's money or
man's tools, but by the Word which framed the worlds (Heb. 11:3). The answer is
some honest, objective study of it, for it is the standard which will judge us
(John 12:48).
-- by
Larry Walker
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The Kingdom Is The Church
The first
preaching of Jesus is found in Matt. 4:17, "From that time Jesus began
to preach and to say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"
The kingdom was near, in regard to time, not distance. He told His disciples,
"Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not
taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power" (Mk.
9:1). Some would see the kingdom arrive in their lifetime.
We learn
the kingdom existed in the first century. Paul wrote in Col. 1:13, "He
has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom
of His dear Son." When Paul said "us" he meant
himself and the church at Colossae. Therefore, the kingdom and the church are
one and the same.
Today
many do not believe the kingdom has come and are awaiting its arrival. This
would mean that none of the disciples, Paul, or the brethren at Colossae were
in the kingdom. Yet, we have seen that they were. If you are waiting for
something to arrive that is already here, you just might miss it all together.
-- by
Terry Sanders
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Help! No One
Will Talk To Me!
As a
gospel preacher (and I think I speak for all preachers), I make this urgent
appeal for assistance: "Help me, please! No one will talk to me!"
Let me
explain. I do NOT mean that people will not have pleasant conversations
with me. Many do. We frequently discuss the weather, or sports or
politics. We often engage in such small talk before and after the public
assemblies, and sometimes when we meet at the mall or a restaurant. It is not
uncommon for brethren to invite me into their home, or for them to visit in
mine. Of course, we always enjoy these impromptu chats.
When I
say that no one will talk to me, I have something else in mind. With increasing
frequency I learn of brethren who have heard me teach something publicly with
which they do not agree. Instead of coming to me to seek clarification, or to
correct me for what they believe was error, these folks keep it to themselves
or perhaps complain privately to someone else. Others harbor bad feelings
because of some personal hurt caused by me, either real or imagined. These
things finally come to light months and years later. It is in this area that I
plead for help -- PLEASE talk to me!
If folks
will talk to me (and, again, I think I speak for all gospel preachers) then we
can solve such problems. Often these things amount to a simple
misunderstanding. I may have been unclear in my teaching, and you may have
taken something in a way I did not intend. If my actions seemed hurtful to you,
it might be that your impression was mistaken. If so, when you approach me we
will be able to resolve this quickly.
Then, of
course, there is the very real possibility that I was simply wrong. In such
cases, I definitely need you to come to me so that I can repent and seek your
forgiveness and God's. His plan works for gospel preachers just like it does
for every other Christian.
Help me!
Talk to me! If you believe I was wrong, don't hold back. Tell me so. It's the
only way we can "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace"
(Eph. 4:3).
- by Greg Gwin
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Trends . . .
Among
mothers with children under age 18, the share saying they would prefer to work
full time increased from 20% in 2007 to 32% in 2012. At
the same time, the public remains conflicted about what is best for children.
Among all adults, only 16% say the ideal situation for a young child is to have
a mother who works full time. A plurality of adults (42%) say mothers working
part time is ideal, and one-third say it’s best for young children if their
mothers do not work at all outside of the home.
- via Pew
Research, 3/14/13
Titus 2:4-5 “.
. . encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their
children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to
their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored.” NASV
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Some Quotes Worth Pondering . . .
“May our memories of kindnesses be long and of offenses be short.”
“You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make
it.”
“If you were going to die soon and had only one
phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why
are you waiting?”
Columbia,
TN / The Beacon
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