Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: July 17, 2005
HOW IMPORTANT IS THE CHURCH OF CHRIST?
Randy Kea
—> Jesus built His church (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2).
—> Jesus bought His church with His own blood (Acts 20:28; Eph. 1:7).
—> Jesus adds the saved to His church (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:47).
—> Jesus is the Head over His church (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18, 24).
—> Jesus is the foundation of His church (I Cor. 3:11).
—> There is but one church He authorizes, recognizes, and endorses (Eph. 1:22-
23; 4:4-6; I Cor. 12:20).
—> Jesus is hated and persecuted any time His church is hated and persecuted
(Acts 9:1-4; compare Acts 8:1).
—> Jesus is returning for His church, and He will present it to the Father (Eph.
5:23-27; I Cor. 15:23-27).
HOW IMPORTANT ARE CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH TO YOU?
-- via Light For Living, 3/24/02
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CAN WE JUST PREACH THE GOSPEL AND LEAVE
OTHERS ALONE?
Garland M. Robinson
I have one priority in the work I do — to please God. If I please God in my
preaching and teaching, it matters not how men may view or regard the teaching.
God is pleased, he is the judge. The only guide I have to follow is the Bible.
What did Jesus say about truth and error? Read Matthew 23:13-39. In no less
than 13 verses, Jesus rebukes in very strong language those who do not obey
His will. Didn’t he know people would be offended? Yes, He did (Matt. 15:10-14;
John 6:59-61)!
How did God’s prophets and preachers through the centuries deal with error?
When I do as they did, then I will be acceptable with God. Notice these
scriptures: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people
their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1). What kind of
preaching did Jonah and Jeremiah do (Jonah 3:4; Jer. 7)? Pay careful attention
to the preaching in the book of Acts. “We are to earnestly contend for the faith”
(Jude 3). How do you “contend for the faith” without exposing error? When Paul
entered a city and preached, trouble followed. The truth disturbs people who
love darkness (I Thess. 5:4-5). Truth and error are mortal enemies. They cannot
and will not exist together without conflict and controversy! Satan will go to any
length to keep error from being exposed! He hates the truth!
Ephesians 5:11 says, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,
but rather reprove them.” It’s impossible to “preach the truth and leave others
alone.” We are commanded to “reprove” all that is error. Reprove means to
“convict, rebuke, expose.” How can I be faithful to God if I refuse to “rebuke”
and “expose” evil?
Some say it’s “unloving” to expose error. Is a father “unloving” when he rebukes
his child for playing in the street? Not at all! It’s love that motivates him to
expose and correct the child’s wrong action. Was John the Baptist wrong for
calling the scribes and Pharisees “vipers” in Matt. 3:7-10? If so, then Jesus was
too (Matt. 12:34)!
The problem is that we fail to see sin and error as God does. Somehow we tend
to smooth it over and make it not seem as bad as it is. Beloved, if this is your
idea, you need to do more serious study of the Bible.
Where has God ever condemned anyone for exposing, rebuking, reproving, and
admonishing error? Let’s see that passage. Waiting . . .
“Then came his disciples, and said unto him (Jesus), Knowest
thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this
saying?” (Matt. 15:12)
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LOVING OUR CHILDREN MEANS TEACHING THEM THE TRUTH
Ben Justice
The faithfulness of tomorrow will be contingent upon our faithfulness today.
Those who will be leading, guiding, teaching, and preaching in the church
tomorrow are our young people of today. We are always one generation away
from apostasy. What will assure faithfulness on the part of our young people in
the church tomorrow? The answer is simple: TEACHING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
THE TRUTH — NOW! If we really love our children, this we must do! Sadly, this
is not being done. Today’s young people are not being taught to respect the
authority of the Scriptures. Instead, they are taught that “acting out” the gospel
is all right; they are taught that choruses are acceptable; they are taught that
fun and games is acceptable in the church, and the list continues. Someone
may respond and say, “Yes, but doesn’t our young people need something to
do?” Well, of course! But, this is a loaded question. What do you mean?
Brethren have blurred the lines between the function of the church and the
function of the home. IT IS NOT THE FUNCTION OF THE CHURCH TO PROVIDE
ENTERTAINMENT OR RECREATION! If so, where is the Bible passage that
authorizes such? The home is to provide recreation and entertainment. But,
“yes,” our young people need to do something in the church. They first of all
must be taught the truth and that the truth is not to be compromised —
PERIOD! They must be taught the work of the church and the work of the
home. Some have the grievous and mistaken idea that just because they are
children that liberties with God’s word can be taken. Brethren, we must love our
children enough by teaching them to respect Bible authority. If they are not
taught this now, then do you really think they will respect it when they reach
adulthood?