Know Your Bible
VOL. 13 April 20, 2014 NO. 7
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10 WAYS YOU CAN HELP YOUR GOSPEL MEETING
The success of your upcoming gospel meeting depends on you. It depends upon your involvement, your excitement, and your participation. What can you do to help make your upcoming meeting a success?
1. "Remember its purpose." The main purpose is to preach the gospel so that those who are lost might be saved (Mark 16:15-16). It should be our aim to have as many lost souls present as possible. Another purpose of a gospel meeting is for saints to be edified (1 Corinthians 14:26). It goes without saying that we cannot be edified if we are not present!
2. "Invite others." Andrew invited Peter to follow Christ (John 1:41-42). The Samaritan woman invited her whole city to come and hear Christ (John 4:28-29). It stands to reason that if people do not know about our meeting they certainly will not come. We have fliers available. Take a few to pass out in your block to let your neighborhood know about the meeting.
3. "Pray diligently." Peter said, "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers…" (1 Pet. 3:12). Pray for the meeting, that brother Long will teach what is needed and the lost will come and hear.
4. "Attend faithfully." The early disciples "continued daily with one accord," and this is an opportunity for us to do likewise for a week (Acts 2:46). If the meeting is not important enough for the members to support, why should anyone else come?
5. "Arrive early." When you invite someone to your house to eat at 6:00, do you appreciate it if they come at 6:15? You would prefer them to be a little early. When we are late, we can disrupt the worship. When we are early, we can greet visitors.
6. "Help prepare the building." I know that we have those who are on the list to clean the building, but during a gospel meeting there is more work to do. Each one can help out by picking up paper, putting song books in the rack, etc. Why would visitors want to come back if the members do not care enough to keep the building attractive?
7. "Sing fervently." We are told, "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19). Good singing helps to make a good meeting. We should follow the leader, concentrate on the words, and sing with heartfelt zeal.
8. "Welcome visitors." We should appreciate the presence of each visitor, whether a member of the Lord's church in another place or someone who is not a child of God. Visitors may well determine whether they will return or not based on how they are received. The more people who greet them, the more appreciated visitors will feel.
9. "Sit up front." We realize that some need to sit in the back for health reasons. But when most of the members sit in the back of the building, it sends a negative message. Leave the back pews for visitors who may be shy or late in coming. Also, sitting together up front will make the singing sound better.
10. "Listen carefully." Remember that faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). Be a good example of how to pay attention to the preaching.
—Kevin Maxi
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OUR GOSPEL MEETING
Have you spent any time thinking about the benefits to be derived from our gospel meeting? Here are some things that we believe can result:
§ You can worship and glorify God.
§ You can help to support the teaching of truth.
§ You can deepen your understanding of the Scriptures.
§ You can strengthen your faith.
§ You can be encouraged by your association with fellow Christians and you can accomplish your duty to edify your brethren.
§ You can help to teach a lost person by inviting them to attend with you.
Of course, there are some other things that you could do this week instead of attending each service of the gospel meeting:
§ You could stay home and watch TV.
§ You could neglect you duty to God and show a greater love for the things of this world (1 John 2:15-17).
§ You could forget about learning more of God’s truth.
§ You could turn your back on your brethren and choose instead to associate with worldly friends.
§ You could simply forsake your spiritual obligations and serve your carnal desires.
Now, look at those two lists. At the end of this week, which course will you have followed? Think!
—Greg Gwin
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THE LORD’S CHURCH IN YOUR COMMUNITY
There are many churches in many places which have no bowling club, no softball team, nor do they sponsor a Boy Scout troop. The physical property of these churches includes a very modern place for assembly and worship, with class rooms for Bible Study; but in all of this widespread plant there is no kitchen, no banquet hall, no gymnasium, no party room.
Your first thought may be, "What strange churches! What strange people!" Perhaps. However, many of these church members are your neighbors and enjoy their food, recreation, and entertainment just as much as everyone else. But the church building is not used as a civic or social club. By now you may be asking, 'Then what does this congregation offer me? What does she offer the community in which you live?" These are fair questions and demand fair, open answers.
The church was established by Jesus Christ the Son of God, to fill a need, to do a work that no human institution could possibly perform. We deplore the fact that denominations have smothered the real purpose of the church beneath civic, social, and domestic affairs. Upon reading Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 3:10-11; 5:25; and 1 Timothy 3:15 we need to be impressed with the sacredness of the church. She can have no trivial purpose, nor is such assigned to her by the Word of God.
But some say, "We live in the 21st century. The church must meet the needs of today!” Exactly so! We have many fine civic and social organizations which can meet the physical needs of our community, and we as individuals need to support and promote all wholesome efforts to better the lot of mankind in this life. But this 21st century is woefully lacking in emphasis upon the soul of man, and his eternal welfare. Yes, the church must meet the need of today - the very greatest need of all being the peculiar and distinctive benefit offered mankind by Christ - the salvation of their soul.
Our primary concern is with the spiritual needs of mankind - his need is for God, for forgiveness of sins, for genuine God-satisfying worship, for the pureness of conscience that can come only from living, working and worshipping according to the directions of the Word of God.
As a people we know we are not perfect, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves; but measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. But we will not boast of things without measure, but according to the measure to reach even unto you” (2 Corinthians 10:12,13). We make no plea of greatness on our part, but pledge ourselves to strive diligently to follow the rule of God, the divine message. We speak where the Bible speaks, and are silent where the Bible is silent.
Visit with us and we will welcome your honest investigation of the church of Christ in this community.
—Robert Turner
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Know Your Bible" is e-mailed weekly by the church of Christ which meets at 112 Roberts Avenue in Wise, Virginia. If you know of others who might benefit from the articles contained in this bulletin, we would be glad to have you submit their e-mail addresses and we will include them in next week's mailing. If you are receiving this bulletin and do not wish to continue to do so, please e-mail us with your desire to be removed from the mailing list and we will remove your address promptly. Continue to the bottom of this page and further instructions will be given as to how you may contact us.
--- E.R. Hall, Jr.
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SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Sunday
Bible Classes ……….....….…............ 10:00 AM
Morning Worship ……..…….….…...... 11:00 AM
Evening Worship …………...……........ 6:00 PM
Wednesday
Bible Classes …………..………........... 7:30 PM
"THOUGHT FOR THE DAY"
Radio Program
Monday - Friday
WDXC 102.3 FM .....................…........ 10:20 AM
"WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS..."
Television Program
Sunday
Comcast Cable - Heritage TV - Digital Channel 266 ............ 6:00 AM & 2:00 PM
Wednesday
Comcast Cable - Heritage TV - Digital Channel 266 ............ 2:00 PM
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