Know Your Bible

VOL. 11 February 12, 2012 NO. 3

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The Booing Spectators

Have you ever noticed who does the booing at a ball game? It's not the players on the field. They make their own mistakes and they are not inclined to boo their fellow player when he makes his. They are pulling for one another, encouraging, helpful. They play as a team, win or lose as a team. It is the spectators who boo. So it is in every walk of life: it is the spectators who, as a rule, do the criticizing, not the participants.

Unfortunately, in every congregation, there are the spectators and the participants. The spectators never teach a Bible class, preach a sermon, lead singing, or preside at the Lord's table; they really don't get that much involved in the worship itself. But more often than not, they are the very ones who are found criticizing the preacher or song leader or Bible class teacher. The are the ones who are so embarrassed and incensed when someone inadvertently commits an "error" in his efforts to lead the group. They come wanting to hear something that is interesting and that will make the time fly by. If they hear it, they "cheer': if not, they "boo."

Not so with the true participants, those who are really involved in the Lord's work. They are the one "cheering on" that "rookie" who is preaching his first sermon or leading his first song. When a brother attempts to teach his first Bible class, they are looking for ways to be helpful. They are sympathetic; they rejoice in the success of others; they feel for the one who has failed, make allowances for him, encourage him to try again, and assure him that he will do better next time. They rejoice especially in the development of the young men and women who engage in the Lord's work. They are just as nervous and excited when the young people make their first attempt at presiding at the Lord's table or teaching a Bible class as they would be if it were their own children.

How many preachers have decided to move because of the booing spectators, right at the time when the participants were enjoying their greatest spiritual growth? How many elders have planned the work around the demands of the spectators rather than the needs of the participants?

Spectators need to become participants and find out what it's like out there "on the field." Participants need to keep on doing their best, ignoring the "boos" while looking to their all-seeing and understanding "Manager" for approval. All need to be the "doers of the word," not the critics, who will be saved. "Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous" (1 Pet. 3:8).

Christians, like ball players, make a sad mistake when they listen too closely to the "boo-birds."

---Bill Hall

Page 1

"Ye Do Err Not Knowing The Scriptures..."

The Sadducees of Jesus’ day did not believe in the resurrection. Because of this, Jesus said, “Ye do err not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God.” (Mark 12:18-27). It made no difference how sincere they may have been in their understanding of the resurrection, they were still in error because the Scriptures taught differently. The same is true today; it makes no difference what we think or believe or feel about a thing but, rather, what does the Scriptures teach.

The Hindu woman, who pitches her baby to the crocodile, believes she is doing the right thing but she errs not knowing the Scriptures. The Scriptures nowhere authorizes such a deed be done in worship to God.

The person or church that practices sprinkling for baptism, baptizes infants, or that teaches a person is saved before baptism errs not knowing the Scriptures. The Scriptures teach in Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12 that baptism is a BURIAL while Acts 2:38 and 1 Peter 3:21 teaches that sins are not forgiven and a believer is not saved until they are baptized.

Those who say, “One church is just as good as another”, errs not knowing the Scriptures. Ephesians 1:22,23; 4:4 teaches there is but ONE church.

If you are one of those who believe in salvation by faith without works, you do err not knowing the Scriptures. James 2:24 teaches that “faith without works is dead”. If you believe you are “once saved, always saved”, you do err not knowing the Scriptures. Galatians 5:4 along with several other passages show that a Christian can fall from grace.

Either what we believe or practice is authorized in the Scriptures or we do err.

---E.R. Hall

Page 2

A Case Of Mistaken Identity

A man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy street. Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, though he could have beaten the red light, accelerating through the intersection. The tailgater was furious, honking her horn, screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell phone and makeup.

While still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked tip into the face of a very serious police officer. He ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, finger printed, photographed, and placed in a holding cell. After a couple of hours she was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.

He said, “I’m sorry for this mistake. I pulled up behind you while you were blowing your horn, rudely gesturing at the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. I saw the ‘What Would Jesus Do’ bumper sticker, the ‘Choose Life’ license plate holder, the ‘Follow Me to Sunday School’ bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk, Naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car.”

---Curt Hughes

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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.

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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