These backpacks are loaded up and ready to help some young person get a good start at school in Marshall County, Kentucky. The folks at Maple Hill Church of Christ are generous. It is our desire to make an impact for good in our community. How thankful we are to Beth Baker for her organization of this effort. Certainly we all are praying for the young people in Marshall County to put forth great effort to learn much in the coming school year. Thankfully, Marshall County has loving, kind, and good teachers in our school system. We know that the young students will use the backpacks well and we thank the Lord that we could help. Above all, our continual prayers will rise to the Father that He will protect them and give them great success. We send these backpacks out with love from Maple Hill.
Month: July 2018
Singing is God’s Choice for Worship
Singing in worship is a topic that needs honest discussion and careful study. God intended singing to be an important part of our worship. I think it was at a Preachers’ Meeting in Greenfield, TN that I heard Lee Davis use the expression something like: “There’s not enough water in that argument to slosh in a bucket.” I believe that was the first time I had heard this expression. Lee indicated at the time that it was not original with him. Of course the idea of the statement is that the argument was WEAK. Lee was saying that a conclusion had been drawn without adequate support from the evidence presented.
There is certainly a danger in “jumping to conclusions” in any area of life. Many things have been said, no doubt, between husbands and wives and in all other relationships which fall in this category. Such is especially dangerous and foolish when it involves spiritual matters, (i.e., teaching from God’s word). I subscribe to the fact that every Bible expositor needs to follow the “Law of Rationality.” I can recall hearing Roy C. Deaver cite and define this law numerous times. The “Law of Rationality” goes something like this: We must never assign to any proposition or claim any more weight than is absolutely demanded from the evidence presented.
As we teach, all of us ought to strive with the greatest of diligence to avoid transgressing “The Law of Rationality.” The reason being that we are urged to use such care and caution in dealing with Scripture in numerous places in God’s word (Acts 17.11; Ephesians 5.6-10; 1 Thessalonians 5.21; 2 Timothy 2.15; 1 John 4.1). It really does our cause no benefit to draw conclusions which do not have the support of Bible evidence. Additionally, we need to realize that there are millions of examples of argumentation which doesn’t contain enough water to slosh in a bucket.
Let us never be swayed into action by anything but TRUTH, which can stand on its own without the props of extended hyperbole and “needs-based” arguments. Our Bibles are quite sufficient to guide us as we properly weigh and try arguments that are set before us.
I would like to challenge you to read and study about the kind of music that is authorized for worship in the New Testament. May I suggest a good article? Please check what Allen Webster wrote in HTH, Volume 18 #5. Also, please take the time to read and study these ten articles about singing by clicking here: ChristianWorker1107
Singing–Great Congregational Singing!
The TV program: In Search of the Lord’s Way, has updated their website. A part of that update includes a page of mp3 recordings of congregational singing. You can go to their site and listen to the music streaming, or you can download the mp3 files by RIGHT-Clicking. The singing is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! What a blessing! When I counted the songs available (29 July 2018), there were 212 songs. WOW! Great congregational singing is now available to the world from this great site. Take a listen… Click H-E-R-E.
Meet Temptation with Christ
In Luke 4.1-13 we have the record of Jesus being tempted of Satan. Though He was tempted, He never yielded to temptation (Hebrews 4.15). What a marvelous example we have to follow: our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2.21)! We ought often to thank God for this blessing.
We will not fare as well as did our Lord in meeting temptation (Romans 3.23). However, we do have the ability to resist temptation and we CAN be successful in our battle with Satan and S-I-N! Three points should make this clear to us. Please study the references attached to these points…
- We have a HEAVENLY EXAMPLE (Luke 4.1-13).
- We have a HEAVENLY ASSURANCE (1 Corinthians 10.13).
- We have a HEAVENLY PRESCRIPTION–Revelation 3.10. The saints at Philadelphia were commended by the Lord. They had kept His word of PATIENCE. That word means: “to continue to bear up despite difficulty and suffering … to put up with…” [Louw-Nida]. God’s Word is that which makes it possible to resist temptation (Psalm 119.11).
An “entire alphabet of help” (26 total) from Scripture to resist temptation…
In order to meet temptation with Christ, we must. . .
- A. “Keep the word of Christ’s patience” (Rev 3:10).
- B. Know the Bible (Psalms 119:11).
- C. Be godly (2 Peter 2:9).
- D. Look for the way to escape temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).
- E. Remember Lot’s wife (Luke 17:32).
- F. Use the “Spiritual EPA” (Philippians 4:8).
- G. Follow the Example of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11).
- H. Pray (Matthew 26:41).
- I. KNOW that we are ABLE to resist (1 Corinthians 10:13).
- J. Don’t allow temptations to discourage and then destroy (1 Peter 5:6-7).
- K. Refuse to allow Satan to create doubt in your mind about what God has said or what He really means (Genesis 3:4-5).
- L. Refuse to believe Satan’s lie that something good will come from doing something evil (Genesis 3:4-5).
- M. Do not allow Satan to use your God-given ability to envision, visualize, and fantasize to create a picture of the pleasure of sin–these pleasures are ONLY for a season (Genesis 3:4-5; Hebrews 11:25).
- N. Remember that when God says NO to something it is NOT to diminish your pleasure, but to ENHANCE it (John 10:10).
- O. Remember this world is not your home (1 Peter 1:17).
- P. Think about the NEW ways God can use you as you choose not to yield to temptation (Hebrews 11).
- Q. THINK about how much might be riding on the decision you are about to make (Matthew 16:26).
- R. Realize that it is OK to be angry about SIN (John 2:13; Mark 3:5)–Personalize the enemy: SATAN.
- S. Beware of your STRENGTHS (1 Corinthians 10:12).
- T. Shift your energy from preoccupation with life’s inconveniences and your own pain to GOING TO WORK FOR THE LORD–Put on the Lord Jesus (Romans 13:14).
- U. Know that the way out of temptation is THROUGH it–Patiently endure it and do so with JOY (James 1:2).
- V. Understand that the Bible speaks of SINS OF IMAGINING (e.g., Matthew 5:27-28).
- W. Do not waste time devising evil plans or making provision for the flesh, BUT rather put on the Lord Jesus (Romans 13:14).
- X. Do not forget about the OMNISCIENCE OF GOD–Some day all that you thought was secret and hidden will be made manifest and made known (Luke 8:17).
- Y. Appreciate and use the DISCERNING POWER OF GOD’S WORD (Hebrews 4:12).
- Z. Bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Life on this earth is filled with trials, temptations, and disappointments. In order to live the best way it is possible to live here, we must be determined to: MEET TEMPTATION WITH CHRIST.
Properly Observing
What an important chapter Mark 15 is! We need often to read it and the parallels. We need often to go to the cross. It will help us to be better people. Below we are placing an outline of the chapter which also gives the parallels from the other three accounts of the life of Christ (taken from NKJV headings)…
- Pilate Tries Jesus (Mark 15.1-14; Matthew 27.1-2; Matthew 27.11-23; Luke 23.1-5; Luke 23.13-23; John 18.28—19.15).
- Jesus is Beaten (Mark 15.15-23; Matthew 27.26-34; Luke 23.24-32; John 19.16-22).
- Jesus is Crucified (Mark 15.24-41; Matthew 27. 35-56; Luke 23.33-39; John 19.18; John 19.23-30).
- Jesus is Buried (Mark 15.42-47; Matthew 27.57-61; Luke 23.50-55; John 19.38-42).
I have pasted in my Bible a clipping from some bulletin somewhere. I have seen it many places over the years. I do not know who originated it. I first remember seeing it back in the early 1980s. It is designed as a HELP IN PROPERLY OBSERVING THE LORD’s SUPPER. It focuses on numbers related to the cross, thus it is related to the material recorded in Mark 15 and the parallel renderings listed above. I hope it may be of help in some way to focusing the mind in the proper direction to observe properly the simple memorial Jesus has included in the worship of the church.
THE LORD’S SUPPER…
- There is ONE Lord (John 14.6). Who is the Lord of YOUR life?
- There were TWO thieves (Luke 23.39-43). Which might you have been?
- There were THREE crosses. One thief a REBELLER (Luke 23.39). One thief a REPENTER (Luke 23.40). And there was Christ, the REDEEMER (1 Peter 1.18-19).
- There were FOUR parts of Jesus’ garment, and a prophecy (John 19.23-24).
- There were FIVE wounds (John 19.34). Remember the pain.
- There were SIX hours (our time) of crucifixion (Mark 15.25-37). Remember the suffering.
- There were SEVEN sayings on the cross…
- Luke 23.34… Forgiveness
- Luke 23.43… Salvation
- John 19.26-27… Compassion
- John 19.28… Suffering
- Matthew 27.46… Loneliness
- John 19.30… Victory
- Luke 23.46… Tremendous Trust
e-Tract Rack Plus
A little over five years ago I downloaded a new APP for my iPod—it is now on my iPhone. The source is Truth for the World. You can easily download it for yourself by clicking HERE. My iPhone is now officially, an e-Tract Rack PLUS!!! It could be a personal worker’s great friend. It has many ways to be helpful to someone who would like to teach the LOST God’s truth. Would you like to have an enormous tract rack in your pocket or purse? If so, I think I have found something to bless your life!
From this APP it is possible to stream audio or video from the TFTW site. The audio and video is streamed, but there are parts of the APP that are available for use offline. The APP is divided into six parts: (1) Listen; (2) Watch; (3) Read; (4) Courses; (5) Study; and (6) About Us. If I have it counted correctly, there are these wonderfully helpful resources…
- 73 Tracts
- 95 other articles
- A 12-lesson Study Guide for Teaching the Lost from John Grubb
- A 1-Lesson BCC about Salvation.
- Link to Online BCCs
- Link to the TFTW podcast
I recommend this beautiful APP. If you will simply read the things available to read on it YOURSELF, you will be so much more prepared to be helpful to the 7 billion people on planet earth, the bulk of whom are lost and headed to torment.
Excellent Question
Steve Higginbotham asks an excellent question to start your Friday morning…
If you were a member of a persecuted church, how would it change you?
His brief article is wonderful food for thought on a Friday. Please ponder his development of the thought by clicking H-E-R-E.
7 Superhuman Qualities of the Bible
Kyle Butt presents to us SEVEN SUPERHUMAN QUALITIES OF THE BIBLE. Please take the opportunity to consider them now. Only 7:51 minutes long.
https://video.wvbs.org/embed/?ID=7-superhuman-qualities-of-the-bible
New Testament Verses
I may be the only one who will be helped by this post, but I have found myself any number of times wishing that I had a listing of how many verses are in a particular chapter of the Bible. I decided that I would quit wishing and just do it. With the help of a Bible App on my iPod, I have gone through the 260 chapters of the New Testament and listed how many verses are in each of those chapters. Maybe someone else will get some use out of this venture as well.
- Matthew: 01–25… 02–23… 03–17… 04–25… 05–48… 06–34… 07–29… 08–34… 09–38… 10–42… 11–30… 12–50… 13–58… 14–36… 15–39… 16–28… 17–27… 18–35… 19–30… 20–34… 21–46… 22–46… 23–39… 24–51… 25–46… 26–75… 27–66… 28–20
- Mark: 01–45… 02–28… 03–35… 04–41… 05–43… 06–56… 07–37… 08–38… 09–50… 10–52… 11–33… 12–44… 13–37… 14–72… 15–47… 16–20
- Luke: 01–80… 02–52… 03–38… 04–44… 05–39… 06–49… 07–50… 08–56… 09–62… 10–42… 11–54… 12–59… 13–35… 14–35… 15–32… 16–31… 17–37… 18–43… 19–48… 20–47… 21–38… 22–71… 23–56… 24–53
- John: 01–51… 02–25… 03–36… 04–54… 05–47… 06–71… 07–53… 08–59… 09–41… 10–42… 11–57… 12–50… 13–38… 14–31… 15–27… 16–33… 17–26… 18–40… 19–42… 20–31… 21–25
- Acts: 01–26… 02–47… 03–26… 04–37… 05–42… 06–15… 07–60… 08–40… 09–43… 10–48… 11–30… 12–25… 13–52… 14–28… 15–41… 16–40… 17–34… 18–28… 19–41… 20–38… 21–40… 22–30… 23–35… 24–27… 25–27… 26–32… 27–44… 28–31
- Romans: 01–32… 02–29… 03–31… 04–25… 05–21… 06–23… 07–25… 08–39… 09–33… 10–21… 11–36… 12–21… 13–14… 14–23… 15–33… 16–27
- 1 Corinthians: 01–31… 02–16… 03–23… 04–21… 05–13… 06–20… 07–40… 08–13… 09–27… 10–33… 11–34… 12–31… 13–13… 14–40… 15–58… 16–24
- 2 Corinthians: 01–24… 02–17… 03–18… 04–18… 05–21… 06–18… 07–16… 08–24… 09–15… 10–18… 11–33… 12–21… 13–14
- Galatians: 01–24… 02–21… 03–29… 04–31… 05–26… 06–18
- Ephesians: 01–23… 02–22… 03–21… 04–32… 05–33… 06–24
- Philippians: 01–30… 02–30… 03–21… 04–23
- Colossians: 01–29… 02–23… 03–25… 04–18
- 1 Thessalonians: 01–10… 02–20… 03–13… 04–18… 05–28
- 2 Thessalonians: 01–12… 02–17… 03–18
- 1 Timothy: 01–20… 02–15… 03–16… 04–16… 05–25… 06–21
- 2 Timothy: 01–18… 02–26… 03–17… 04–22
- Titus: 01–16… 02–15… 03–15
- Philemon: 01–25
- Hebrews: 01–14… 02–18… 03–19… 04–16… 05–14… 06–20… 07–28… 08–13… 09–28… 10–39… 11–40… 12–29… 13–25
- James: 01–27… 02–26… 03–18… 04–17… 05–20
- 1 Peter: 01–25… 02–25… 03–22… 04–19… 05..14
- 2 Peter: 01–21… 02–22… 03–18
- 1 John: 01–10… 02–29… 03–24… 04–21… 05–21
- 2 John: 01–13
- 3 John: 01–14
- Jude: 01–25
- Revelation: 01–20… 02–29… 03–22… 04–11… 05–14… 06–17… 07–17… 08–13… 09–21… 10–11… 11–19… 12–17… 13–18… 14–20… 15–8… 16–21… 17–18… 18–24… 19–21… 20–15… 21–27… 22–21
Am I Being Used by the Devil?
I’ve just viewed a YouTube Video from the 2018 Power Lectures of the Southaven Church of Christ in Southaven, MS. The speaker was Cliff Goodwin. Cliff taught from Scripture that you and I CAN BE, but ought not to be used by Satan by: (1) Resisting God’s Pattern; (2) Refusing Forgiveness; and (3) Retaining Overconfidence. I would highly recommend this study to you. Please take the time to view it. It lasts 45:32 minutes.