Know Your Bible

VOL. 12 June 9, 2013 NO. 18

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BIBLE CLASSES: WHAT CAN I DO?

Perhaps not all of us can teach a class, but there are a number of ways in which we can help those who do teach and make our Bible classes of greater profit. Here is a list of some things you can do:

1. ATTEND EVERY BIBLE STUDY. These periods of study will make both you and the congregation stronger. We all need to continue to grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord (2 Pet. 3:18). Can you think of a better or more important way to spend an hour?

2. BRING YOUR CHILDREN (Don't just send them). With things the way they are in the world today, your children need all the help they can get -- especially spiritual help. There is no better place for them than the Bible classes and no better example than for the parents to bring them.

3. BRING/EN-COURAGE OTHERS TO ATTEND. Use your half-empty automobile to bring others (children or adults) to our Bible studies. We cannot expect others to come unless we first invite and encourage them. Remember, we have classes for all ages.

4. PARENTS, HELP YOUR CHILDREN WITH THEIR BIBLE LESSONS. No doubt you are concerned about whether your children complete their school homework assignments. Are you as concerned about their Bible lessons? Do you know what they are studying? Do you ever discuss the Bible with them? Encourage your child to prepare the lesson if one has been assigned.

5. PARENTS, ASK YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER HOW HE/SHE IS DOING IN THE CLASS. Perhaps there are some things you could do to help. Are you as concerned about your children's ~spiritual progress as you are his/her secular education?

6. OFFER A FEW WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOUR TEACHER (or to the teacher of your child). By so doing, you will not only let teachers know that you care, but will bolster their confidence and inspire them to greater efforts.

7. STUDY, STUDY, STUDY! You can attend every class that meets, but unless you study (preferably, both before and after) it will be of little benefit. There are too many who let the teacher do all of the studying. Do you suppose that might be one reason why there are not more who are able to teach?

8. PARTICIPATE IN THE CLASS DISCUSSIONS. When you study your lesson and become enthusiastic about it you will find it difficult not to participate. Participation is a sure sign that the learning process is in motion.

9. VOLUNTEER TO TEACH. Good teachers for Bible classes are always in demand. Let someone know if you desire to be of help.

10. PRAY FOR THE TEACHERS AND THE RECEPTION OF THE LESSONS.

Above all, don't let their labor be in vain. Do all that you can as a student of the Word and as a servant of the Lord.

---Bob Dickey

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EFFECTS OF NO CHURCH DISCIPLINE

Failure to carry out any command of God is a serious failure. The New Testament emphasizes the duties of the individual, but there are certain responsibilities assigned to groups of Christians (churches) because we are to work together as a family or body under Christ, our Chief Shepherd (Rom 16:16; Titus 1:5; 1 Tim 5:17; 1 Pet 5:1-5).

1) No Discipline Causes Men To Be Lost: -- God does not want any to perish because every soul is precious to Him (Matt 16:26; 2 Pet 3:9). If a brother sins, he endangers his own soul. Any Christian near him should seek to convert or restore him to God (James 5:19,20; Gal 6:1). If efforts of this type fail, the important task of rescuing this one form perishing falls upon the church (1 Cor 5). Let every member be aware of the fact that the effort is to save the sinner as well as to protect the reputation of the church (1 Cor 5:4-8). We must admonish the sinner as a brother because we are interested in his spiritual welfare. We want him to be ashamed of his sinful way, so we withdraw from him (2 Thess. 3:6,14,15).

2) No Discipline Allows Leaven's Wickedness To Enter The Lump: -- The church at Corinth was "puffed up" with its own wisdom rather than depending on the counsel of God concerning the member who was a fornicator. Allowing one couple to live in violation of the law was a way of letting the leaven of wickedness to enter the "lump." It was true then as it is now that "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (1 Cor 5:6-8). If the church closes its eyes to one case, there will likely soon be another and then others.

3) No Discipline Will Keep Men From Enduring Sound Doctrine: -- Timothy was charged to "preach, reprove, rebuke and exhort" in an urgent way, if he would push off the day when they would not endure sound doctrine (2 Tim 4:1-5). The mouths of those who speak unsound doctrine should be stopped but who will do this, if the people like the perverted pattern? (Titus 1:10-14; 2 Pet 2:1-3). Timothy was urged to be forceful and faithful in his preaching, and the churches were taught to mark, avoid and reject false teachers. They were to purge out the leaven of wickedness and disorder to avoid the evil day when they would not endure sound doctrine (Rom 16:17,18; Acts 20;29-31; Gal 1:6-10).

4) No Discipline Encourages The Worldly: -- If a church looks the other way and refuses to notice when more and more members become ungodly, that church will become a gathering place for the worldly. It will also lose the respect of the community. Its zeal for Christ will vanish, so it will fall into the same condition that had come to Israel when Isaiah and Jeremiah lived. God was displeased with a church that tolerated doctrine and practices that were contrary to His Will (Rev 1:14,15).

---Irvin Lee

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"GOOD PEOPLE IN ALL CHURCHES?”

The statement that "there are good people in all churches" is usually made as a defense of the existence of the many different conflicting denominations. Certainly there are good people in all the churches. There are good people OUT of churches. There are good people who are infidels. But the question is not are they good, but are they saved people?

It is good to be good but it is not good enough. One cannot save himself by just being good. He must obey the gospel of Christ (2 Thess. 1:7-9) to be saved. Cornelius was a good man but he was a lost man! (Acts 10:1-6; 11:14). The good people in human churches are lost people, not because they are not good moral people, but because they have not obeyed the gospel of God. This is why we appeal to good people to leave their human churches and obey the gospel. There is no other hope for these good people.

---Earl Fly

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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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