Bulletin Articles

Joe Slater Via Bulletin Gold

While salary is obviously important, job hunters know hat
benefits can be equally or more important. Health insurance, paid
vacation, retirement, sick days, and other considerations may tip
the scale as to whether one accepts an employer’s offer.

Becoming a Christian isn’t a perfect parallel to being
employed, so don’t make more of this illustration than you
should, God doesn’t “owe” us anything for working for Him!
Nevertheless, by His grace He provides valuable benefits to Hlis
willing servants. That was true even under the Law of Moses.
David exclaimed, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all
His benefits” (Psalm 103:2). Psalm 116:12 rhetorically asks,
“What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?”

Do we recognize and appreciate the benefits of being a
Christian? Let’s start with the most obvious one: forgiveness of
sins, God washed us completely clean in the blood of the Lamb.
Our debt is paid in full!

That naturally results in eternal life. We have a new life in
Christ now, and we know that when our physical life ends, we
will continue to live with the Lord.

In the meanwhile, we enjoy the privilege of prayer. Through
our mediator, Jesus Christ, we can approach the Father’s throne
of grace boldly, knowing that He will hear and answer ín
whatever way is best according to His infinite wisdom and love.

These benefits are but the beginning of a virtually endless list
of advantages Christians have. And remember, we earned none
of them, Our loving Father provides them by His grace.

What other benefits can you list?

Dan C. Balley Via Bulletin Gold
(This is part two of two)

It is beneficial to make good resolutions for the New Year.
When we reflect upon the past and plan for the future,
resolutions are very helpful. How could we ever improve
ourselves without resolving to do so? Here is another
resolution which will help us all to have a happy and blessed
New Year.

Let Us Resolve…To Teach Others What We Know

Jesus gave the great commission to the apostles. “And Jesus
came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto
me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am
with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen”
(Matt. 28:18-20). Now think about it for a moment. If Jesus
commanded His apostles to teach the lost, and then
commanded them to observe all things which He
commanded them, then Jesus by implication has given the
great commission to the disciples who were taught by the
apostles. Then, they in turn taught the great commission to
others whom they taught. So today, as Christians, we are to
teach others the gospel and then baptize them in the name
of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. In a parallel
passage we read, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the
world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16).

Dan C. Bailey Via Bulletin Gold

(This is part one of two – part two will be next week)

It is beneficial to make good resolutions for the New
Year. When we reflect upon the past and plan for the
future, resolutions are very helpful. How could we ever
improve ourselves without resolving to do so? Here are
some resolutions which will help us all to have a happy
and blessed New Year.

Let Us Resolve…

To Read The Bible Daily…
This is a simple resolution, and one that all Christians
should make. If not, then why not? The Bible is the
inspired and inerrant Word of God. It will strengthen
our souls, guide our feet, and help us to have the best
year possible. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a
light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). “All scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect,
throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Tim. 3:16-
17). “I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as
much as in all riches” (Psalmn 119:14).

By Bob Prichard Via Bulletin Gold

“Cogito, ergo sum”I think, therefore I am” is perhaps the most
famous philosophical statement ever made. Scientist and philosopher
René Descates wrote these wvords in his Discourse on Method (1637).
He reasoned logically that since he was able to think, he knew he
existed. He continued to reason from this point that God exists.

Louis XIV had a different philosophy: “1’etat, c’est moi””I am the
state.” It is not surprising that he would come to this conclusion in view
of the fact that he reigned as king over France for seventy-two years.
His absolute monarchy set a pattern followed in several other European
countries. No doubt his style of tyrannical behavior contributed to the
bloody French revolution of 1789.

Anna B. Warner penned a philosophy for all of us, however, with
her words, “Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so.” In
her 1860 hymn we find words of comfort and strength! This hymn isa
favorite with children, but all of us can benefit from the words written
for her Bible class of West Point cadets.JG Dilh 2i5 oies

Even if you missed every other doctrinal point in the New
Testament, surely you could not miss this one. “For when we were yet
without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely
for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some
would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in
that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

*And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his
disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that
ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that
believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:30-31).

“Jesus loves me! He who died, Heaven’s gate to open wide; He will
wash away my sin, Let his little child come in. Yes, Jesus loves me;
Yes, Jesus loves me; Yes, Jesus loves me, The Bible tells me so.”

Edd Sterchi Via Bulletin Gold

Oftentimes a prayer will begin this way: “Let us pray..” Since Paul
was one who imitated Christ in his life (cf. 1 Cor. 11:1), maybe we
should alter the phrase to, “Let us pray like Paul did.” How did Paul
pray? There is a good example of how he prayed in 2 Cor. 12:8 where
he himself prayed pertaining to an affliction, “Concerning this thing I
pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.” To
pray like Paul did we must pray …

. . . specifically. Paul prayed “concerning” that particular infirmity
(.e. the thon in his flesh, 2 Cor. 12:7). We would do well in our
personal prayers to be very personal. We should pray concerning
specific matters in our life. Our personal prayers are just between us
and God. That is why we are to go to a very private place when we pray
(cf. Matt. 6:6). Personal prayers are not the time to generalize.

. . . entreatingly. Paul “pleaded with the Lord.” It is important that we
pour out our hearts and emotions before the Lord. With our innermost
feelings we should let our “requests be made known to God” (Phil.
4:6).

. . . repeatedly. Paul prayed “three times.” Too many times, we pray
for something once (if even that) and let it go. Pray about it over and
over again. We need to remember that Jesus Himself taught the
importance of persistence in prayer (cf. Luke 18:1-8). Indeed, let us
“pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17).

. . . purposefully. Paul prayed concerning this burden “that it might
depart.” We should also pray with great purpose and intent-with much
resolve and determination. We should always “continue earnestly in
prayer, being vigilant in it” (Col. 4:2).

Paul’s prayer was answered, albeit not the way he initially desired.
But his prayer was heard and answered with what was best for him. Let
us all takea lesson from this great man of prayer and resolve to improve
our own prayer lives. Now, “Let us pray…”

By Glen Elliott Via Bulletin Gold

People cannot change truth, but truth can change people.” Truth
has always been one of life’s most precious commodities.
Solomon, the wise king of Israel, advised his son to buy the truth
and not sell it (Proverbs 23:23). What is so special about truth?
It doesn’t change. It abides forever. It can be relied upon.

In this world, deception is the order of the day. We are well
advised to examine everything carefully. The misrepresentation
and distortion of truth leads to tragedy. We hear of some losing
their life’s savings because they believed a lie. Truth is precious
because people can be deceived.

In the spiritual realm, dependence on truth carries eternal
significance. The word of God is our only reliable guide to
heaven. The psalmist says, “The sum of Your word is truth and
every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting” (Psalm
119:160). Sadly, there are many who misrepresent the truth. For
this reason, we must test all that we hear by comparing it to the
word of God (Acts 17:11). We cannot risk our eternal well-being
by blindly accepting the words of men. Instead, our faith must
rest on the teaching of our Lord.

Jesus said, “everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin”
(John 8:34), The question of slavery had been introduced earlier,
when Jesus said: If you abide in My word, then you are truly
disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free” (vv. 31-32). Insisting on the truth and
adhering to it is essential because only the truth sets us free from
the bondage of sin.

We cannot change the truth. We can exchange it for a lie; but
that lie will not set our souls free from sin. We cannot change the
truth, but we can let the truth change us as we earnestly seek Its
teachings and follow its precepts.

By Edd Sterchi Via Bulletin Gold

Zechariah’s prophecy of Jesus in chapter 9 and
Verse 9 is most interesting: Rejoice
greatly…behold, your king is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation is he, humble and
mounted on a donkey…” (ESV)

First, we must note from this that Jesus is king!
He is above all else. He took part in the creation of
everything. He is not only a king, He is THE king.
He is all powerful. And He can become our personal
king.

Next, we must notice that Jesus is humble and
righteous! While upon the earth, He never sinned
and was always going about serving others. He was
concerned about all people and always put them
above Himself. Also, He obeyed the Father’s will
perfectly.

Finally, we must see that Jesus brings salvation!
It could come no other way. He had to be sacrificed
for us to have the opportunity of redemption.

If I was to glean one main thing from this passage,
it would be this: The thing about King Jesus is that
He is perfect and He can make us perfectly fit for
heaven!

Edd Sterchi Via Bulletin Gold
 
Did you know that our English words think”
and thank” come from the same root? I believe
that brings forth an important concept. Our
thankfulness is based upon our think”fullness.
In other words, we can always give thanks if we
just give it some thought.
 
That’s what David seems to be doing in the
103rd Psalm. He begins by saying “Bless the
LORD” (v.1). That phrase in the Hebrew means
to express gratitude. He then states, “And forget
not all His benefits” (v.2). David then goes on to
list a few “benefits” of knowing the Lord, like
forgiveness and healing (v.3), protection and
blessings in life (v.4), food and revival of spirit (v.5)
on and on he goes.
 
As David thought upon the benefits that God
gives, his response was to thank Him. We should
be no different. No matter what circumstances
the world puts in our life, we can always thank
God- if we’ll just take some time to think on
Him! Think on what He has done and has
promised to do. So give it a try – think and you
will thank!