Category: Bulletin Articles

(Acts 19:38-41) If therefore Demetrius-and the craftemen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. But if you seek anything further, sl it shall be settled in the regular assembly. For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

The inappropriateness of the present ad hoc assembly is made evident in v. 39 when the clerk says that if there is anything further the crowd wants to know, it must be settled in the legal assembly. [Riots and Roman Law, Acts 19:21-41, Underground Network, Apr.14,2016] 

Rome was not likely to pass a blind eye over an unlawful assembly, and so now the clerk turns the tables on the crowd. If there was an unlawful assembly the City could be charged with “stasis,” that is, with acting seditiously, creating factions in the Empire, rioting. The terminology the clerk uses here at the end of his speech is legal and correct. His point is that if questioned, the Ephesians could give no legal justification for this particular meeting, and so would be suspected of, and, as v. 40 puts it, in danger of being charged with, subversive activities. (ibid)

The providence of God? Certainly. A leader with the ability to diffuse an ugly situation? Looks like it. 

Whichever, either or both, may God help us today. Burton Coffman opines. “One has to admire the intelligence, tact, and ability by which the town-clerk achieved a dispersal of such a mob. First, he pointed out that the whole city might be “in danger” for tolerating such an illegal uproar; but then he softened his reference to the riot by calling it a “concourse.” This indicated that he was willing to convey some semblance of legality to the mob by naming it a concourse instead of a riot; then, moving still further to legalize the outrageous gathering, he “dismissed THE ASSEMBLY”! In context, that town-clerk’s actions bore the stamp of genius. Once more, the providence of God had preserved the life of the dauntless apostle, saving him and protecting him, without his so much as opening his mouth. How wonderful are the ways of the Lord”. (Commentary on Acts)

Rioting is ugly. Turns illegal, Needs to be stopped. May God give us leaders today who can and will lead as the town clerk did in Acts 19.

“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD; and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate” (Psa. 127:3-5).

 

What an awesome blessing, as well as responsibility, rearing children is! lf only more fathers and mothers had a greater appreciation of this gift and took more seriously their God-given roles as parents (cf. Deut. 6:1ff; Pro. 22:6; 31:1f, Eph. 5:22ff 6:4).

“Father’s Day’ is a day set aside each year to honor our fathers for a job well-done. In addition, it is a day to remind fathers of the influential impact they have on their children as well as society. It is true, “as the home goes, so goes the nation (society).” A strong nation is comprised of strong godly homes; homes led by strong and faithful fathers who..

1…love the Lord (Mark 12:30; Mat. 6:33).
2..love their wife (Eph. 5:25-26).
3..love God’s Word and shares it with family (2 Tim. 2:15, Eph. 6:4; Acts 10:33).
4…are faithful to the Lord and His church (1 Cor. 15:58; Rev. 2:10).
5..communicate well (Jam. 1:19).
6. ..provide for their family (1 Tim. 5:8).
7..pray fervently and without ceasing (Jam. 5:16; 1 The. 5:17).
8. .non-abusively discipline their children when necessary (Pro. 13:24; 22:15).

 

May all men strive toward these teachings of scripture, and thus build strong homes and a strong nation!

The title of this article is a question of no little importance. And when we reflect upon Jesus’ own words that “many” will choose to walk the way of eternal destruction and that “few will ultimately make it to the gates of Heaven (cf. Matthew 7:13-14), this question becomes even richer in significance. While our busy schedules might often prevent us from doing so, we should actually reflect upon His return every day! Could it be that the Lord has chosen tomorrow as the day of His return? If that be the case, in what condition will you find yourself to be in the day after tomorrow? Only the wise will bother to seriously ponder this thought.

We all need to live every day as if we actually had access to information that told us that Jesus’ return was imminent; that it could occur at any moment “in the twinkling of an eye.” But it is most interesting to consider the fact that in a very real way, that is actually true. Ne know that Jesus promised us that He would return, and we know that we are closer to that day than any day that has yet dawned upon this earth; but we also know that this very day could be that day!

The world is nearly 2000 years closer to His return than it was during His earthly walk when He often spoke of that fateful day involving His impending return. “Watch” was the word of caution that Jesus often used when He spoke of that inevitable day of His assured return. Later today, we will close out another day on earth (Lord willing!). Each of us will then welcome the dawning of a new day. May we all be living our lives as if we knew for a guaranteed fact that tomorrow would be that final day of mankind’s existence in this rapidly passing world.

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:13).

Via. Bulletin Digest

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the term Pandemic relates to geographic spread and is used to describe a disease that affects a whole country or the entire world.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has determined that Covid-19 has reached the level of a pandemic. A world-wide threat. A vicious virus. It is certainly something to make us sit up and take notice of its potential for harm or even death to many people all around the world.

There is no cure for this virus or for the multitude of other virus’ that affect mankind. Our best hope is to control it and somehow minimize its spread and volatility. Just how we go about doing that is not agreed upon by all the experts. However, maintaining what has come to be called social distancing is perhaps the most agreed upon counter measure to the spread of this disease.

Wash often with soap and water. Change your clothes when you come in from any social interaction. Disinfect the counter tops..the steering wheel…the door knobs..the fridge door…anything and everything that you might touch..disinfect thoroughly.

Just understand that there is no cure. So, the best way to stay healthy is to avoid contact with the virus. But, what if..

Let me remind us of another pandemic. It started long ago in a land far away from here. Yet, we have felt the ravages of this disease for centuries. It has affected the whole of man from his beginning and has affected every generation of humanity.

We feel its effects today all through our society and around the world. It is the most volatile pandemic in the history of man, causing untold numbers of people from every walk of life to die. It affects you and me since “we have all sinned and come short of glory of God”. The greatest pandemic, the greatest Scourge to man, the Bible calls sin.

Thanks be to God there is a cure for this disease. However, there is only one cure..the Blood of Jesus. In order to be healed we must be washed in the blood of the Lamb…the One who “takes away the sins of the world”. To be washed in His blood we must be baptized into Christ “for the remission of our sins”

By Landon Saunders

Sometimes it’s so easy to feel as if you’re down for the count. Alone. Face on the mat…you’ve been dealt one of life’s toughest blows.

‘ve felt this way more than once. And in a daze P’ve heard the count, four, five, six. And something in me says, Get up. This is no way to go out…face down…without a fight.”

You’ ve been there, too, haven’t you? So, what can you do? I like to think of a little child whose heart motivates him to get up again and again, fall after fall, determined to stand again and learn to walk.

The heart of a child… That’s the heart needed to handle what life throws your way. The heart enables you to stand once again in the center of the ring.

If you’re on the mat, feeling alone, remember the little child. That stirring you feel is the heart of the child within you…just waiting for another chance to take on the world.

Christ understood the splendid qualities of a child’s heart. Read Mark 10:13-16 or Luke 18:15-17.
Via….Bulletin Digest 

By Dalton Key

The indictment ofIsaiah against his generation, a people who had temporarily succeeded in turning truth upon its head, is no less applicable today: “Woe unto them that call evil good; and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:20,21).

Though Isaiah’s generation perished in captivity the truth continued to march on. Their calling “evil good; and good evil” did not make it so.

We face a similar challenge today, when right is called wrong and wrong is called right; when all things “gay” are assumed to be good, while God, oddly enough, is portrayed as one of this world’s larger problems.

Everything we once thought was true is now decried as false; all we once thought to be false is now lauded as true. But never forget this: truth will prevail. n the final analysis, when all has been said and done, when once-powerful nations have long-since crumbled into the dust of oblivion, God’s truth will prevail. Men may deny truth’s very existence. They may denounce it and demonize it. They may debate it incessantly. But truth will prevail.

In the words of James Russell Lowell, “There is no good in arguing with the inevitable. The only argument available with the east wind is to put on your overcoat.”

Via Bulletin Digest 

By Lance Morrisett

Who is it that we should live life for? Is it to please others, self, or God? Remember what Jesus prayed for in the Garden of Gethsemane: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39b). It was not about others. It was not about himself. It was all about living for God and doing God’s will throughout His life. If Jesus lived life this way, we should live life the same way, “not as I will, but as you will.

Thinking about this passage and how Jesus lived his life, I came across these sayings this week, and I pray that they will encourage you as they did me.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives – BE KIND ANYWAY.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends, and some genuine enemies SUCCEED ANYWAY.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you – BE HONEST AND SINCERE ANYWAY.

.Ifyou find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous-BE HAPPY ANYWAY.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten DO GOOD ANYWAY.

.Give the best you have, and it will never be enough-GIVE YOUR BEST.

In the final analysis, it’s between you and God-IT WAS NEVER BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY.

Who are you living life for, ANYWAY?

By J. Brooks Boyd Jr. …via Bulletin Digest

It is probably sound advice that, when a car leaves you stranded, you should return the favor. Few people would keep a car that cannot be depended upon to work as needed. There may be a parable here.

Remember that David described himself and his fellow Israelites as.his people, and the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3). In other words, they belonged to God and were to serve according to the pleasure of His will. Recall that those rebuilding the wall with Zerubbabel identified themselves as “…the servants of the God of heaven and earth..” (Ezra 5:11). They were determined not to let anyone or anything stop them from finishing their God- appointed tasks.

Jesus used the analogy of sheep to represent his disciples. He said that His sheep (followers) will hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:3, 16, 27). Later, when Peter answered the council’s command for the apostles to stop preaching in the name of Jesus, he said, “…Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 5:19, 20). Peter was determined to follow the instructions of the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4).

As members of the local church, we are sheep who make up the flock (Acts 20:28). We are at the same time servants of Christ (Acts 4:29). We must ask ourselves, “Can the Lord depend on me?” Can He depend on me to be present at feeding time (every service and Bible class)? Can He depend on me to stand up for His truth when it is under attack? Can He depend on me to give as He has made me prosper? Remember that it was Jesus who asked, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). He is relying on all of us to be about His business.

by Roger Rush

Spirituality is a highly sought after quality, and has been throughout the ages. In the ancient city of Ephesus, sacred prostitutes served daily in the temple of Diana because it was thought that sexual union brought closer union with the gods. Mothers have thrown their babies into the crocodile-infested Ganges River in the search for spirituality. In Jesus’ own day Jews washed meticulously, dressed ridiculously and wouldn’t even eat an egg laid on the Sabbath in their quest for greater spirituality.

What is spirituality ? W. E. Vine writes regarding spirituality and the spiritual man: “Things that have their origin in God, and which, therefore, are in harmony with His character…the spiritual man walks by the Spirit…and manifests the fruits of the Spirit in his life.” It is that quality of life that results from a right relationship with God. It is evidenced by such things as love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self- control (Galatians 5:22, 23).

The essence of spirituality is reflected in Paul’s prayer for the church at Philippi. He prayed that they would approve the things that are excellent, and that they would be sincere and without offense until Christ came (Philippians 1:10). That should be our goal. Spiritual men have eternal values. They follow a divine standard. They live a distinctive life.

Our search for spirituality will not be complete until we learn the will of God and make it our own. That is only possible when we become careful Bible students. The Bible, understood and applied, makes for spiritual men and women. Spirituality may be a difficult concept to define, but a spiritual person is easily recognizable.

Are you searching for greater spirituality?

This month we will celebrate the holiday referred to as Valentine’s Day. It is a time when we show others that we care for them. Small gifts of cards, candy, and flowers are part of the tradition.

But it might surprise you to find out that this holiday started out as a day to remember a Christian hero. According to the history books, Valentine was a 3rd century Christian preacher who lived near Rome. At this time the Roman Emperor Claudius II was ordering all young men not to marry. He thought they made better soldiers if they were single. No man could marry until he was too old to serve in the military. He also commanded that all people worship the false gods of Rome.

Valentine was arrested for performing Christian marriages and preaching that there was only one true God – the God of the Bible.

Valentine knew that no man – even the king – had the right to stop Christians from marrying (1 Corinthians 7:8-9). You see, while Romans 13:1-7 tells us that we are to respect and obey our leaders, Acts 5:29 tells us that when man’s law contradicts God’s law, we should obey God. And that’s what Valentine did ignoring the king’s orders Claudius commanded Valentine’s arrest.

While in prison, many Christians threw little notes of encouragement through Valentine’s prison window. These were the first valentines. In the end, Claudius had Valentine beheaded for his faith. It was because he loved the Lord and his fellow humans so much that he was willing to risk his life to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

This gives us pause when we think of Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day represents much more than romantic love. It is a day that honors God and those who love Him… and obey Him.

Via Bulletin Digest