Know Your Bible

VOL. 12 February 2, 2014 NO. 49

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HAVE YOU EVER DONE AN INVESTIGATION?

No, I'm not talking about an investigation into something you had stolen or damage that was done to your personal property. I realize none of us are detectives or private investigators. Yet, there are two areas that I would like to challenge you to investigate.

INVESTIGATE WHAT YOU BELIEVE RELIGIOUSLY

God has given us everything that "pertains unto life and godliness" in His word, the New Testament (2 Peter 1:3). God's word is inspired of Him and we can be "thoroughly furnished...unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16,17). Have you ever investigated what you believe to see whether it is taught in God's words or do you believe what you do simply because it is what the preacher teaches or what your parents have taught you. So much of what is taught in the religious world is believed to be God's word when, in truth, it is nothing more than traditions that originated with man. How can you or I either one know if what we believe is a "hand me down" from man or is it's God's word unless we take the time to investigate? Are we safe to accept something to have originated with God just because it comes from a church, a preacher, or our parents? Is it not possible to be sincere and conscientious yet sincerely and conscientiously wrong? Saul was: “Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, ‘Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.’”(Acts 23:1) and “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.”(Acts 26:9)!

God warns us that "many false prophets are gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1) and "there shall be false teachers among you" (2 Peter 2:1). We are even warned that the ministers of Satan will appear as "ministers of righteousness" (2 Corinthians 11:14,15). What if the things we believe and practice in religion is because of what has come about by a false teacher? Is it OK to believe and practice these things as long as we are sincere? Can we excuse ourselves from investigating what we believe with the statement that is so often used: "What I don't know can't hurt me!"? If an unlabeled bottle of poison gets misplaced in the medicine cabinet and we drink it, will it not hurt us if we don't know it's poison? Sure it will!! We ought to apply such logic in the area of religion, too.

How can we know who are the false teachers? It's surely not going to be by their appearance. We've just seen in 2 Corinthians 11:14,15 that Satan's ministers will be "transformed as ministers of righteousness". Even Jesus describes false teachers as wolves in "sheep's clothing" (Matthew 7:15). We won't be able to perform the investigation by means of their appearance or personality. The only way to investigate and know for a certainty is to compare what they teach by the word of God. God's word is truth (John 17:17) and it will be God's word that will judge us in the Judgement Day (John 12:48; Romans 2:2).

INVESTIGATE THE CHURCH OF CHRIST WHICH MEETS AT 112 ROBERTS AVENUE IN WISE, VA.

I ask of you to do this for I fear that much has been said about the Lord's church by people who are misinformed. Misinformation can cause prejudice and prejudice can turn people off. Maybe you've heard it said about us that, "They think they are the only ones going to Heaven" or "They think they are the only ones right and everybody else is wrong". If you've heard these statements in regards to us, what was your immediate thoughts. Let me guess! You thought, "Well, if they think that way, I don't want to have anything to do with them!"

Let me tell you about us. We believe as Jesus taught. He said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21). Any person that "doeth the will" of the Father will enter into the kingdom of heaven. So, we put great emphasis on doing the Father's will. His will is revealed in the pages of the New Testament and have been revealed so that we can read and understand. “How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:” (Ephesians 3:3-5). Anyone can read and understand! Anyone can do the will of the Father! Our sole desire is to read and understand God's word and to do His will! If that is your desire, you owe it to yourself to come and investigate us regardless of what people may say. What they are saying may be something they are repeating. They may be very sincere but you owe it to yourself to see if we study the Bible, follow it in all we do, and live our lives in accordance to it. We believe that ought to be the same desire that everyone should have. If we can agree on anything, we ought to be able to agree on what God says.

Every Sunday and Wednesday of each week is an opportunity for you to perform this investigation. The church which meets at 112 Roberts Avenue in Wise, Va. meets together every Sunday at 10 A.M and 6 P.M. and on Wednesday evenings at 7:30. Services will begin with congregational singing. A prayer will be lead followed by another song. After the singing is concluded, the gospel will be preached in plainness and simplicity. Everyone is encouraged to have a Bible and follow in the lesson that is presented from God's words. We welcome any questions to be asked following the services from anyone who might have a question about anything which was said in the lesson or anything that was said or done during the time of the services. At the end of the sermon, an invitation of the gospel will be extended to anyone who needs to obey and have the forgiveness of sins. With a closing prayer, the services will be concluded. You will not be coerced nor asked for money. We just ask you to come, bring your Bibles, and study with us. You would be an honored guest. So why not come and investigate for yourself. Find out for a fact what we believe, teach, and practice. We believe that you might be surprised to find out we are simply a group of people striving to do the will of the Father.

---E.R. Hall, Jr.

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***SENTENCE SERMONS***

Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they usually never fail to imitate them.

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Remember, your basic assignment as a parent is to work yourself out of a job.

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Smart people learn from their own mistakes. Smarter people learn from the mistakes of others.

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Failure is frequently the path of least persistence.

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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

World Wide Web: www.wisechurch.com

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