Bulletin Articles

By Joe Slater Via Bulletin Gold

God has never required trusting obedience without evidence. Biblical
faith is not blind faith. Throughout the ages He has shown Himself to
be infinitely worthy of our confidence.

In ancient times He used signs (miracles) to confirm His word. Jesus
utilized abundant signs during His ministry. Despite such clear proof,
His enemies taunted, “We want to see a sign from You” (Matthew
12:38). But Jesus, knowing their corrupt hearts, rejected their ploy. He
would give them no sign except His resurrection!

God has blessed us today with His completely revealed, confirmed,
and recorded word. His inspired apostles worked innumerable signs to
verify it. That task being complete, no further proof is needed.

Supernatural gifts, therefore, have ceased (1 Corinthians 13:8-10).
Nevertheless, many even today clamor for a sign! A difficult
decision confronts us -“Give me a sign, Lord!” We want to know what
the future holds – “Lord, send me a sign!”

More often than not, modern sign-seekers assume their subjective
feelings are signs from God. “This decision gives me peace, so it must
be God’s will.” Such reasoning is backward! We ought to be at peace
because we know our decision is according to God’s written will, not
just assume it is God’s will because we feel at peace.

It all goes back to “facts, faith, and feelings.” God’s word establishes
the facts. Upon God’s word we base our faith. Knowing that we have
trusted and obeyed God’s word should make us feel good. Many,
however, have reversed this order: I feel like this is right; therefore,
that’s what I believe; therefore, it must be God’s will.”

We have God’s confirmed will. We need no signs!

By Seth Myers Via Bulletin Gold

Without controversy, one can declare that God does not change (Mal.3:6).
But what many may not realize is that the same is true of God’s
spiritual principles. Among these is the exclusive nature of God’s
“positive” commands-that is, “When God says,’Do THIS, it means,
Don’t do THAT.”” Let us briefly consider the clearest possible example of this
spiritual truth.

Leviticus 10 opens with the account of the divine execution of two
men who were in charge of the incense-burning portion ofOT worship
(la), which, naturally, required fire. But the fire they offered on this
occasion is said to have been “strange” (1b | ASV) to God, or
unauthorized” (ESV) by God. That kind of statement naturally leads
the reader to ask this question: “Why was this fire ‘unauthorized’?
What was it that made this fire ‘strange” in God’s sight?” According to
the Holy Spirit, the reason it was “unauthorized” is because it was “fire
that [God] had never prescribed for them” (1SV)-fire “which he had not
commanded them [to make]” (lc).

When it comes to the manner in which we worship God: if it is not in
His word, it better not be in our worship.

This terminology is extremely significant for it was NOT that God
had said, You shall NOT make that kind of fire,” and that these two
men made that kind of fire anyway; rather, God had simply said, “You
shall make THIS kind of fire,” and, therefore, to make any other kind
of fire was sin. Unfortunately for these two men, they did just that: they
made “Fire B” when God had prescribed “Fire A,” and He repaid their
fire with a fire of His own (2). Not one Israelite would have failed to
get the point-you and I had better “get it,” as well! He didn’t have
to specifically condemn or prohibit every single particular thing of
which He disapproves. All He has to say is: *Do THIS,”and everything
which the mind of man could possibly imagine besides “THIS” is
direct rebellion against the word of God.

The spiritual principle that resulted in the death of Nadab & Abihu
has not changed. When it comes to the manner in which we worship
God: if it is not in His word, it better not be in our worship. For, if we
want our worship to be acceptable to God, we “must worship him in
example spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

By J. Randal Matheny Via Bulletin Gold

We meet together today as God’s holy people, purified
by His word of truth and cleansed by the blood of Christ
in baptism.

Our meetings reflect our character, which in turn
determines our thoughts given to the mercies of Christ,
our gratitude thrown upward to God, our praises louder
for new life in the Spirit, our prayers fervent that others
might come to this knowledge.

In our meetings, we acknowledge our churchness,
that we are a people, that no one walks alone, that
purification leads to fellowship, that God’s word unites
us.

Our meetings, like all parts of our life, private and
public, show who we are: faithful to the command of
God, bound together as followers of Jesus, empowered
to serve in the strength of the Holy Spirit.

In them, ineffable joy breaks out, peace infuses each
soul, love finds expression, compassion turns to
generosity, and to need is granted fullness.

Be present, and be a celebrant of the God who reigns
and blesses.

By Joe Slater Via Bulletin Gold

What do you suppose God’s people were doing on New Year’s
Day roughly 3500 years ago? Would you believe they were
putting up the tabernacle? “On the first day of the first month,
you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting” (Exodus
40:1) “And it came to pass in the first month of’ the Second year,
on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was raised up”
(40:17)

Earlier in Exodus (chapters 25-31) God had given Moses
explicit and detailed instructions about the tabernacle and all of
its furnishings, beginning with this exhortation: “According to
all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the
pattern of all its furnishings, just so shall you make it” (25:9).
The Lord repeated this command several times as He specified
the dimensions, materials, design, etc., of the tabernacle and its
furnishings,. “And see to it that you make them according to the
pattern which was shown you on the mountain” (25:40), “And
you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which
you were shown on the mountain” (26:30), “As it was shown
you on the mountain, so shall they make it” (27:8)

Moses and the Israelites took God seriously! Thus Moses
did; according to all that the Lord had commanded him, so he
did” (Exodus 40:16).

The tabernacle and things associated with it were a shadow of
the better things Jesus Christ established in the New Covenant.
The Hebrews writer taught that we ought to be even more
diligent to be faithful in the New Covenant than Moses and the
Israelites were in the Old Covenant (Hebrews 2:1-4; 10:28-31).

In this new year, let us renew our determination to follow
God’s pattern set forth in the New Testament!

By Joe Slater – Via Bulletin Gold

What do you suppose God’s people were doing on New Year’s
Day roughly 3500 years ago? Would you believe they were
putting up the tabernacle? “On the first day of the first month,
you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting” (Exodus
40:1). “And it came to pass in the first month of the second year,
on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was raised up”
(40:17).

Earlier in Exodus (chapters 25-31) God had given Moses
explicit and detailed instructions about the tabernacle and all of
its furnishings, beginning with this exhortation: *According to
all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the
pattern of all its furnishings, just so shall you make it” (25:9).
The Lord repeated this command several times as He specified
the dimensions, materials, design, etc., of the tabernacle and its
furnishings. “And see to it that you make them according to the
pattern which was shown you on the mountain” (25:40). “And
you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which
you were shown on the mountain” (26:30). “As it was shown
you on the mountain, so shall they make it” (27:8).

Moses and the Israelites took God seriously! Thus Moses
did; according to all that the Lord had commanded him, so he
did” (Exodus 40:16).

The tabernacle and things associated with it were a shadow of
the better things Jesus Christ established in the New Covenant.
The Hebrews writer taught that we ought to be even more
diligent to be faithful in the New Covenant than Moses and the
Israelites were in the Old Covenant (Hebrews 2:1-4; 10:28-31).

In this new year, let us renew our determination to follow
God’s pattern set forth in the New Testament!

By Joe Slater – Via Bulletin Gold

“What do you want for Christmas?” I already have my two front
teeth, so mny stock reply is, “I don’t know” (shrug). That frustrates
the ones asking, but it’s true! I have no pressing needs. Even my
wish list is pretty much empty.

Each passing year makes it clearer that the things I really need
and want can’t be purchased with money! As our Savior so aptly
put it, “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things
he possesses” (Luke 12:15). I want the presence of (not presents
from) my family. I want their health and safety, and above all
their close walk with God.

I don’t need more belongings, but I definitely need a sense of
belonging. God Himself said it isn’t good for us to be alone
(Genesis 2:18). Family fills that need for belonging in marvelous
ways! For that very reason, Satan relentlessly attacks the nuclear
family. As early as Eden he pitted Adam and Eve against each
other. Today his agents seek to redefine what a family is.
Destruction of the family opens the door to finding that sense of
belonging in unwholesome places.

As precious as earthly families are, I also need to belong to
God’s spiritual family. The love, fellowship, and support of
brothers and sisters in Christ surpass anything money can buy.
By myselfI won’t survive, but as we mutually strive to serve God
our Father and Jesus our Elder Brother, we will enjoy certain
victory! Satan throws roadblocks the church’s way just as he does
with earthly families, tempting us to find our sense of belonging
in worldly organizations or even false religious groups. Let us
remain steadfast!

I hope you get just what you want and need for Christmas: not
mere belongings, but belonging.

By Joe Slater Via Bulletin Gold

“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high
time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is
nearer than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11).
Saturdays and Sundays used to be my opportunities to “sleep
in.” School was out, and church wasn’t a priority. On school
days, however, my parents would say, “It’s time to get up! You
don’t want to be late for school.”

Some of the Christians to whom Paul wrote in Romans needed
to wake up! Physical sleep wasn°t the problem; Paul used sleep
as a metaphor for their spiritual lethargy.

Who knows why they had become sluggish? Being the capital
of the empire, the city of Rome contained every vice, every
philosophy, and every strange religion you can imagine.
Christians might well struggle to stay true to the gospel. How
should they interact with different religious groups? What should
their relationship to the government be? How should they treat
fellow Christians and people in general? Wrestling with such
issues can make you tired and sleepy!

Paul exhorts: “Wake up!” Why? Because “now our salvation
is nearer than when we first believed.” This salvation refers not
to our initial cleansing at baptism, but our ultimate salvation
when the Lord takes us to Heaven. Paul wasn’t saying that Jesus
return was imminent, but our departure to be with Christ
(Philippians 1:23) draws nearer every day.

Our challenges aren’t identical to those of the Romans, but
vice and false religions confront us too. And the same lethargy
infects us, especially after we’ve been in Christ several years.
Time draws shorter for each of us every day. That being so, may
God help us to wake up!

By Ronald Bartanen Via Bulletin Gold

Congregations usually identified by the term “churches
of Christ” consists of a people who want to be known
individually as Christians, in honor of Christ. We have no
earthly headquarters, and take as our one rule of faith and
practice the New Testament seriptures. We endeavor to be
neither more nor less than believers in Christ were from the
beginning. We believe that, as New Testament believers,
when we believed Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of God
who died for our sins and was raised from the dead (1 Cor.
15:1-4), repented of our sins, confessed our faith and were
baptized (immersed) in the name of the Lord Jesus for the
remission of sins, the Lord added us to His church (Acts
2:36-38, 41, 47). We have not desired to join a denomination,
all of which were unknown to the apostles Christians.

What we do “in word or in deed” is not dictated by
and early denominational councils, but is to be “in the name of (by
authority of) the Lord” (Col. 3:17). Our plea is for
restoration of simple New Testament Christianity as
established by Christ and taught by the apostles, with
Christ as our creed, and the inspired word as our infallible
guide. This alone can be a sufficient ground for the unity
of be lievers, for which Jesus prayed prior to His crucifixion.
(John 17:21).

A plea that we have commonly heard and voiced has
ben “Let us call Bible things by Bible names, and let
us do Bible things in Bible ways. Let us speak where
the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.”

By Jell Aretle – Via Bulletin Gold

One of the key teachings of the Bible is that faith is essential
to pleasing God. In Hebrews 11:6, we read: “And without faith it
is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him
must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who
earnestly seek him.” This verse shows us two important aspects
of faith: belief and action.

Belief means trusting that God is who he stays he is and that he
will do what he promises. It is not enough to have a vague or
general idea of God; we need to know him personally and
intimately through his word and his Spirit. We need to believe
that he is the creator, the sustainer, the redeemer, and the judge
of all things. We need to believe that he loves us, cares for us,
and has a plan for us. As Romans 10:9 says: If you declare with
your mouth, Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in y our heart that God
raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Action means living in obedience and submission to God’s
will and commands. It is not enough to have a mental assent to
God’s existence; we need to demonstrate our faith by our deeds.
We need to seek him earnestly, meaning with sincerity, diligence,
and perseverance. We need to follow his guidance, obey his
instructions, and fulfill his purposes. We need to worship him,
serve him, and honor him. As James 2:17 says: “In the same way,
faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Faith is essential to pleasing God because it shows that we love
him, trust him, and depend on him. Faith is the foundation of our
relationship with God and the source of our spiritual growth and
fruitfulness. Faith is not something we have once and for al; it is
something we need to cultivate and nurture every day. Faith is
the key to unlocking God’s blessings and promises in our lives.

As Hebrews 11:1 says: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope
for and assurance about what we do not see.”

By Joe Sluler – Via Bulletin Gold

 

We cannot fully comprehend the horror Jesus faced that night
in Gethsemane. A merciless scourging awaited Him, followed by
nails being driven through His hands and feet. For six endless
hours searing pain would wrack His battered body as He
struggled for every breath.

But that scarcely begins to describe our Savior’s woe. Who
can fathom the agony of taking the whole world’s sins and
bearing them in His body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24)? No wonder
He cried out, “0 My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass
from Me” (Matthew 26:39a). Yet even as He pleaded, He knew
there was no Plan B. Unless He stayed the course all the way to
the cross, no sinner could be saved. Therefore, He continued,
“nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (26:39b).

Jesus had no Plan B when He sent His apostles to preach His
gospel to the world. Not that long ago they had scattered like a
covey of quail when Judas brought the Roman soldiers and
temple police to arrest Him. Peter had denied three times that he
even knew Jesus, much less that he was His disciple. Would you
entrust those men with the most powerful and desperately needed
message the world will ever know? Jesus did! And ten days after
He commissioned them, they demonstrated that His confidence
in them was fully justified. About 3000 souls believed and
obeyed the glad tidings that the apostles proclaimed boldly. From
that point on, the church grew by leaps and bounds.

You and I are still part of Jesus’ Plan A. He is still the one and
only way anyone can come to the Father (John 14:6), and His
gospel is still God’s power to save (Romans 1:16). He has no
Plan B, so don’t bother looking! Just follow Plan A, the plan
“ordained from the foundation of the world!” (1 Peter 1:20).