Those Priceless Parables

The term “parable” is defined as “a simple story illustrating a moral or religious lesson.”  Literally it means, “a throwing alongside” (i.e., one thing is placed along side another for the purpose of comparison).  Often described as “an earthly message with a heavenly meaning,” Biblical parables were so effective in conveying spiritual truths that Jesus utilized them at great length in His teaching.

When His disciples asked, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” Jesus responded, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given…Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Mt. 13:10-13). Though Jesus said this about 2,000 years ago His statement is just as pertinent today as it was then; for there are in this generation those of whom it could
easily be said, ”Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; for the hearts of this people have grown dull.  Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them” (vv. 14-15).

Therefore, friends, “read and understand” (2 Cor. 1:13), for those priceless parables are still to the saving of the soul.

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Teenagers

What Can Teenagers Do?

First, parents who are reading this, stop reading, stop reading and give this article to your child right now. I mean it. Stop reading this and let your children have it.

Children, you should know that the finest people in the world are associated with the churches of Christ. They are washed in the blood of the Lamb, zealous, dedicated, pure, strong and faithful (1 Jn. 2:14). Yet, God never intended Christianity to be a “NO” religion and especially you as teenagers have been told many things you cannot do. But, let me tell you what you CAN do.

Christianity is not a spectator sport, but demands involvement (1 Cor. 15:58; Matt. 25:24-26). So, if you are old enough to obey the Gospel, you are old enough to labor in the vineyard of Christ and don’t let anyone tell you any different. Teens, you should know there are no apprentice programs for salvation, no “try it before you buy it” plans for Christianity and you do not have to be 18 to be in the Lord’s army. Every worker in the kingdom is expected to use his talents, abilities and opportunities for the good of the group.

Teenagers, you can obey the Gospel because God want every sinner to come to Him. However, too many think they will become Christians later in life, but then never do (Eccl. 12:1). People become interested in their youth, but are disinterested as adults and many will be eternally lost because they decided not to decide (2 Thess. 1:8). As tender hearts say “Yes” to God, Satan whispers, “Later.” Sadly, many listen to the serpent.

God wants you and those you know in the water (Acts 2:38)! That is, if you believe that Christ is His son (Jn. 3;16), are willing to repent (Lk. 13:3), and confess His great name (Rom. 10:9-11). This is where it all beings and you cannot serve God until you do.

Teenagers, you can worship God. Have you ever stood in the presence of the governor of your state or been in a room with the leader of a country? Few have, but each of us has a much greater privilege each Sunday. We stand in the presence of the Maker of heaven and earth! This includes you as teenagers! So, do not ever miss an opportunity to worship God because He deserves the praises of every voice in the world, including yours. Never deny Him and His glory (Heb. 10:25). And, for you young men, you should be allowed and encouraged to take leading roles in worship. Elders, deacons and those who are over the youth do not just give them an assignment. This won’t do any good. TEACH THEM!! Teach these youth how to lead singing, how to preach, how to lead prayers and to work on the Lord’s Table.

Teens, God expects you as well as others to worship Him reverently (Jn. 4:24). So, worship is no time for talking, passing notes, sleeping, or cutting up. It is a time when hearts are focused on pleasing God and minds are filled with spiritual things (Matt. 5:6; Psa. 96:8).

Teenagers, live right. You know that some adults see the years of youth as a Mme to sow wild oats, but you sober–‐minded young people know better! These years belong to God (Eph. 5:16; 1 Cor. 6:19‐20) and He expects every one of His children to give Him a sanctified life (Tit. 2:6, 12; 1 Tim. 4;12, 15‐16). At whatever age, it is time now to be adding the Christian virtues (2 Pet. 1;5‐8) and to incorporate the beautiful attitudes (Matt. 5:3‐10). You know that sowing wild oats precipitates a harvest that no one wants (Gal. 6:7). Why pray for “crop failure” when there is a better way?

Teenagers don’t forget that you can be involved with the local church. Now obviously, you are not qualified to do everything that others might do. Elders and deacons are not taken from teenage classes. But because one cannot do some things does not mean you cannot do anything!

There are many things young people can do. In fact, their energy, free time and zeal allows them to do more than many adults. Young people are terrific at door knocking for meetings and Vacation Bible Schools. They meet people well; enjoy working with other teenagers and especially like the opportunity to do something real for Christ. Young people are good at visiting, especially with old people. It does the elderly so much good to see a young person coming with a flower or a hug. Young Christians are good about sending cards to the sick and delinquent members who do not come.

Teens, you are better at bringing friends to meetings and regular services than almost all adults. You can be good soul winners because of a wider circle of friends than most adults have and you will find that your friends have more open minds than many adults. For these reasons young Christians lead many souls to Christ (Mk. 16:15-16).

Young people, you have a bright future in the church. We treasure the opportunity to help you grow stronger. Listen closely; learn well, for in not too many years you will be where we are which is the most challenging thing you will ever do! O.K. teens, give the bulletin back to your parents.

PARENTS, PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR YOUTH. CONGREGATION, HELP THESE YOUTH!!

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Not Just a Good Book

Some vehemently oppose its teachings and routinely pull verses out of context to paint a wretched picture of religion. Others are willing to concede it has some historical significance and will at least give it a bit of credibility from a historical perspective. The large majority would even go the next step, and describe it as a “good book” containing “good principles.” But is that enough? How many individuals are willing to cast aside the label of just a “good book” and take that final step of defending the Bible as the Word of God?

Whether individuals are standing around the office cooler, door knocking in foreign lands, or debating devout atheists on television, the subject will ultimately come up as to the validity of the Bible. If you really stop and consider it for a moment, everything (and I do mean EVERYTHING), hinges on this one topic. If the Bible is not real, then how can one know of his/her salvation? If the Bible is not the Word of God, then there can be no absolutes. How do we know how to worship or how to conduct ourselves? If the Bible is not inspired then people are allowed to pick and choose whatever suits them as they pursue the pleasures of this life—in essence they can enjoy a “buffet attitude” towards religion. If the Bible is not God’s method of communicating with mankind, then where does that leave the plan of redemption and the New Testament description of salvation?

Consider the dilemma: The majority of people would much rather paint the world “gray” and be allowed the flexibility of their own judgment, rather than to humble themselves and be obedient servant to Him. Thus, they embrace the idea of the Bible being just a good book—an attitude that allows them to do as they please. Whereas, if the book is God’s Word, then suddenly it is no longer a question of an individual’s likes or dislikes, but rather everything revolves around the Author of that book—God. Man is no longer able to do what is right is his eyes, but rather he must acknowledge that Almighty God has bestowed upon mankind divine edicts that we are to follow—or pay the consequences.

So, the question becomes: How do we teach the lost that the Bible is more than just a good book? Critics and skeptics love to belittle anyone who views the Bible as the literal Word of God. They are quick to ridicule those who quote Scripture when asked questions about science or nature. They love to feature films calling the authenticity of the Bible into question—such as the current debate about the alleged ossuary of Jesus. Add to this that the majority of the world would like to simply live in a “gray” world where they get to discern right from wrong from using situation ethics. So how do we effectively teach that God has established clear black and white boundaries?

Before we can teach people about God and the Gospel, we must be able to demonstrate to them the authenticity and accuracy of the Bible. It is one thing to say: “It’s in the Bible.” It’s a totally different thing to say those words, having already established that the Bible is inspired, and thus is the only book to which we should heed in obedience.

So what do we tell them? How do we move from simply stating opinions, to convincing them to accept the Truth? What are some tools the average person can utilize in order to teach our friends, family, and neighbors about the accuracy of God’s Word? One of the best tools that demonstrate the inspiration of the Bible is the scientific accuracies that are found within God’s Word. While space will not permit a full review of every incidence of scientific foreknowledge contained in the Bible, the following examples provide strong evidence for the inspiration of God’s Word. Press upon those you study with that these statements were written thousands of years ago, long before man was able to truly discern the validity of this Scriptures. The only way these scientific accuracies could have found their way into God’s Word is via inspiration.

Medicine

  • Numbers 19:16-18 gives a recipe for antibacterial soap (using the hyssop plant which has antifungal properties) to cleanse after touching a dead person—long before we knew about bacteria and viruses.
  • Leviticus 17:15 teaches that an animal that has died naturally is not to be eaten—and today it is against local, state, and federal public health procedures to take an animal that has died naturally to a slaughterhouse. What if the animal had died from rabies, anthrax, brucellosis, yet how did the Israelites know this?
  • Leviticus chapter 11 gives restrictions regarding safe foods. Verse 7 specifically points out that the Israelites were not to eat pork. We know today that these scavengers often carry parasites such as Trichinella spiralis, the organism that causes trichinosis.
  • Deuteronomy 23:12-14 instructed the Israelites to bury their waste. Today we know this is good hygiene. However, during the Middle Ages many Europeans threw human waste into back alleys, which allowed micro-organisms to flourish. The “Black Plague” resulted from this carelessness and killed more that 13 million people.
  • Genesis 17:12 God commanded Abraham to circumcise newborn males on the eighth day. We know today after years of scientific study that it is on the eighth day that blood-clotting factors (such as prothrombin) are present in their highest amounts. Yet we have this information recorded literally thousands of years earlier.

Oceanography

  • Psalm 8:8 details that the seas have paths in them. Matthew Maury set out to chart the paths upon hearing this Scripture. There is a statue of Matthew Maury at the U.S. Naval Academy in appreciation to his discovering something that was already described in God’s Word.
  • Ecclesiastes 1:7 tells us that all rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. This statement, considered by itself, may not appear all that significant. Yet it was made long before satellite images were available to show the distributions of the rivers. Also, when we consider Ecclesiastes 11:3 and Amos 9:6, we realize that the Bible discusses the water cycle long before it was discovered in Europe.
  • Job 38:16 God made mention to Job the springs or recesses (trenches) in the sea. Yet it wasn’t until the late 1800’s that we possessed sufficient technology to discover these freshwater springs and deep trenches.
  • Genesis 6:15 Noah was given specific directions regarding the dimensions of the ark. That same ratio of 30 to 5 to 3 has been used countless times by shipbuilders to make vessels seaworthy—in fact the U.S. built an entire fleet of boats with those exact proportions. One remaining ship, the U.S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien that was used in World War II is currently docked in San Francisco, CA.

Astronomy

  • Isaiah 40:22 describes the circle of the Earth—even though many ancient people, up through the days of Christopher Columbus, believed the Earth was flat.
  • Psalm 19:4-6 indicates the Sun has an orbit—a fact that we did not learn until June 1, 1999
  • Job 38:19 The Lord describes light traveling in a “way”—a fact discovered by Sir Isaac Newton in the seventeenth century. So how did the writer of Job know about this?
  • Job 38:24 God asks by what way is light parted? We know today that light can be parted. Sir Isaac Newton discovered this by passing sunlight through a prism and separating light into seven individual bands of color thousands of years after this verse was written. (remember ROY G. BIV?)

Biology

  • In Genesis 1:11,12,21,24 Moses wrote that things reproduce “after their kind.” We know this to be true today. We have established the laws of genetics and heredity, which ensure that things do indeed reproduce “after their kind.” If a farmer plants tomato seed, he knows full well that he will not be harvesting corn. We recognize this evident truth. But how did Moses know—long years before the science of genetics was discovered?
  • Acts 17:25 describes God as the “giver of life.” For centuries men have been trying to “create life” through processes of spontaneous generation. The example most often used if the Miller/Urey experiment performed in the 1950s. Even though men like Spallanzani, Redi, Pasteur, and hundreds of others have proven time and again that spontaneous generation is impossible, evolutionists still keep on trying. But the fact still remains—man has never created living material from non-living material. Paul knew long ago that it was God who gives life. This fact has not changed!
  • In 1 Corinthians 15:39 Paul also stated that there are four fleshes—those of men, beasts, birds, and fishes. Today, even evolutionists accept this fact of science. These fleshes are indeed different in their biochemical make-up. But how did Paul living in the first century A.D know this?

 

Science textbooks are telling your children and grandchildren they have “proof,” “facts,” and “evidence.” It is high time we give our children and grandchildren the proof, fact, and evidence that God’s Word is more than just a good book. It is truly the only God-breathed book in existence, and it is filled with examples that support its accuracy and authenticity—examples that demonstrate the power and authority of Almighty God. The only question is will you heed what this inspired Book records?

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Holy Ground

“We are standing on holy ground . . .”

Sometimes we begin our worship singing these words, “We are standing on holy ground . . .” Have you ever thought of the seriousness of what our hearts proclaim as we come together? To sing these words and then forget the melody they made in our hearts is to rob us of the greatest joy on earth—standing in the presence of God on His holy ground.

Two people in the Bible were told by God that they were standing on holy ground. The first story we know so well. Moses saw the burning bush and went to it, only to hear the message from heaven, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground” (Ex. 3:5). Forty years later, Joshua stood just outside of Jericho and was in the presence of the heavenly messenger. “And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, ‘What does my Lord say to His servant?’ . . . ‘Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy’” (Josh. 5:14-15). Just imagine how these men felt. Sense their awe. Sense the reverence of the moment. Do not miss His message to us in these verses.

We too stand on holy ground. Do we not sometimes acknowledge this when we sing, “The Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him”? Perhaps we think of Him being in heaven at the moment (for He indeed is), but there is another holy temple where He dwells. Peter described it this way, “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God” (1 Pet. 2:5). The next time we assemble for worship, sense that He is here and we as His spiritual house have assembled to offer sacrifices to Him. Paul says it even more specifically, “For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (1 Cor. 3:17).

As we come together this Sunday, we should realize just how holy that occasion is. We offer the sacrifices of praise to Him with our lips in our prayers and singing (Heb. 13:15). We come to His table to remember the holiness of His body and blood given for us. To fail to remember Him at such a moment is to eat and drink damnation to our souls (1 Cor. 11:29, KJV). As His word is read and taught to us, the words of Joshua should reflect our hearts, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”

Standing on holy ground. That is precisely what we do each week. We have come before the Holy one and we seek His holiness because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16). How sacred is that time. How reverent we should be. How focused we must be! We are in His presence. Let us remove our “shoes of irreverence” and worship Him!

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Origin of the Church of Christ

Some time ago, we received a very brief but pleasant letter, seeking validation as to whether or not the church of Christ was the only church that could trace its roots and origin all the way back to the New Testament. We will herein seek to very briefly and humbly, but at the same time very Biblically, answer that question…

There are several denominations – biblically condemned divisions (see I Cor. 1:10) from the one, original, Christ promised, purchased, and established New Testament church which we see began on the Day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2 – including especially Catholicism, that claim to follow their roots all the way back to the Bible; but their claims are completely, transparently, and absolutely illegitimate. (With all of the ridiculous “pomp and circumstance” surrounding the selection of the latest pope, this article would seem to be even more needed now than it was when we received the letter!) Consider for instance: Where in the Bible does the Lord God call His church “Catholic?” He doesn’t. That name doesn’t ever occur in the “all-we-need-to-know-to-make-us-complete-to-stand-before-God-Scripture” (2 Tim. 3:14-4:4), any more than do the terms “nun,” “purgatory,” or “pope.” Jesus Christ Himself even at one point, personally placed His earthly mother Mary (who incidentally went on to birth at least six more children after she had Jesus – see Matt. 13:55; Mk. 6:3) on a level below that of the “common folk” who would do His Father’s will (Matt. 12:46-50; Lk. 11:27-28). And many more of that denomination’s particular man-made teachings and practices are specifically and expressly condemned in God’s most holy Word (See: Matt. 23:9; 1 Tim. 2:5, and 4:1-5 for example). A more complete biblical list is included in a very comprehensive bible study on this man-made religious system known as Catholicism, available at: http://www.clevelandcoc.com/?page_id=139.

To begin with, Peter couldn’t have been the first pope. He was never called that in Scripture; was married (Matt. 8:14); had children (being an elder as he was {1 Ptr. 5:1} in the Lord’s church required such {1 Tim. 3:1-5}); and Peter would never allow himself to be worshipped (Acts 10:24-26) as do the popes today. Despite their claims to the contrary, the roots of the Roman Catholic Church are not found in God’s Word, but in Constantine’s reign (313-337 AD).

From the “tares among the wheat” (See Matt. 13:24-30) seeds of this fourth century, Constantine-led departure from the sacred truths and commandments of Scripture (I Cor. 14:33-37) and the “faith once delivered for all the saints” (See Jude 3) a couple of centuries earlier, eventually came the Protestant Reformation, which, instead of seeking to simply go all the way back to the bible and simply do as God had commanded, sought to make some surface reforms to the already biblically-apostate religious system known as Catholicism. But putting a new roof on a structure established on a foundation of sand still doesn’t leave one with a secure spiritual building to safely house his religious hopes in (See Matt. 7:21-27)! Several of these departures from both the “faith once delivered,” as well as Christ’s one New Testament church once established (Acts 2:37-47; Romans 16:16), can be seen in the following list. Please note there are no Biblical footnotes on where to find them in Scripture because they simply aren’t found therein as they exist today. In fact, there is not a single Protestant denomination on the face of this planet that is more than five hundred years old. Check them out:

  • Roman Catholic: 313-337; Rome; Emperor Constantine.
  • Lutheran: 1517: Germany; Martin Luther.
  • Episcopalian: 1534: England; King Henry VIII.
  • Many Protestant Denominations also mix in and follow many of John Calvin’s (1509-1564) man-made doctrines…
  • Congregational: 1550; England; Robert Browne.
  • Baptist: 1607; Holland; John Smyth.
  • Methodist: 1739; England; John Wesley.
  • Mormon: 1830; America; Joseph Smith.
  • Seventh-Day Adventist: 1831; America; William Miller.
  • Christian Science: 1866; America; Mary Baker Eddy.
  • Jehovah’s Witnesses: 1872; America; Charles Russell.
  • The Church of the Nazarene, the Church of God (this name is seen in Scripture, but this denomination and its man-made doctrines aren’t), the Assembly of God, and the Pentecostals all came about as a result of a fracture in the Methodist Church between 1880 and 1910. It was during this time period that a doctrinal schism also occurred which caused the division between the Christian Church and the churches of Christ.
  • The “Community Church,” “Emergent Church” and many others are even younger yet…

Compare those with this… During His earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus Christ promised to build His church (singular); He said at that time that Peter would open it up (See Matt. 16:18-19). And indeed Peter did so (some 50 days after the Sabbath that Jesus’ body spent in the tomb), on the Day of Pentecost, 33 A.D. (Acts 2), binding by-faith repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins as the “terms of admittance” into Christ’s saved group of people or “church” (SEE Acts 2:22-47), or the “churches of Christ” as God called its individual congregations in Scripture (Ro. 16:16).

“Church of Christ” is a term of description; it denotes Whom this “called out” or “saved” body of people (that’s what the “church” means – it’s never a physical building in Scripture, but always the people) belongs to. This group of Christ-saved, gospel-obeying, and God-purchased people are also referred to in the Bible by six other very appropriate names as well, all of which also denote their Owner, Head, and just Whose sole authority they follow (See: Acts 20:28; 1 Thess. 2:14; Gal. 1:22; 1 Tim. 3:5, 3:15; Hebs. 12:22-24). While any and all of those biblically-mentioned names are appropriate, can any sincere seeker of Christ possibly believe that God is just as pleased with man-honoring, man-made names (See Acts 4:12) such as Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, and etc – and the man-made teachings which accompany them of course (Jn. 4:23-24; Matt. 15:7-9; 1 Tim. 4:1-5) – which are nowhere to be seen in God’s Word but came about hundreds and hundreds of years after Christ established His one New Testament church in Acts 2… And in light of such passages as 1 Cor. 1:10, Gal. 1:6-10, and Eph. 1:22-23 w/chapter 4:4-6?

The conclusion of the matter then is this… Not only do we “trace our roots” back to New Testament times, but we clearly see the church of Christ named (Romans 16:16) and in existence there throughout (Acts 2 forward). Come and experience the Lord’s church; the one the apostles worked and worshipped in; the one in the Book.

 

 

 

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