Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: November 28, 2004
I STAND AMAZED
Johnny Ramsey
—> I stand amazed when parents spoil their children by demanding nothing of them and giving extravagantly
to them even when such actions hurt the spiritual future of their offspring.
—> I stand amazed when preachers choose to present sermons with very little Bible but with much human
philosophy and foolish stories that have no saving power.
—> I stand amazed at brethren who attend weak and worldly congregations rather than meeting the challenge
of godly and scriptural churches that point us to heaven.
—> I stand amazed when schools that call themselves “Christian” accept immodesty, snobbery, evolution,
and other matters common to public schools — and then berate parents who will not support their
compromising standards.
—> I stand amazed at folk who believe millions are lost in sin, and, yet, they never try to save one single soul
from hell!
—> I stand amazed at the bickering and gossip that prevails in many congregations instead of gratitude,
compliments, and encouragement that should build up the body of Christ.
—> I stand amazed when envy and jealousy among preachers devastates the good that can be done when
soldiers of Christ march together against the army of Satan.
—> I stand amazed when young people, reared by godly parents, give nothing but grief and sorrow to those
who have generously blessed them since birth.
—> I stand amazed at the shallow knowledge of the Bible so many folk have after years and years of attending
Bible study and Worship!
—> I stand amazed when young men and women, in Christ, choose to marry worldly and ungodly mates that
never read the Bible and pray. Why would anyone choose to marry a child of the devil? Don’t they know they
will always have trouble with their “father-in-law”?
— Johnny Ramsey — Selected
“HE IS A HARD PREACHER”
Al Brown
How often have you heard this expression? What does it mean? Does he think the preacher is vicious —
unkind — trying to needlessly hurt people’s feelings — lacking in love? It almost certainly means the accuser
thinks the preacher has exceeded the bounds of propriety in his preaching.
One thing we know: the preacher of the gospel must not allow mere men to determine the character or
content of his preaching (Gal. 1:10). The preacher is to be God’s man. He must preach without fear or favor
to his best friend or worst enemy. If he loves others (wills and does what is good toward them), he must
preach what they need to hear, regardless of how popular it is (II Tim. 4:2ff). This is the greatest good he
could possibly do them.
Some may be too hard; i.e., they have no concern or compassion for people’s feelings (II Tim. 2:24-26).
Preaching is not to impress others with our great abilities, intimidate people, or simply to make them feel
guilty. We preach to convert souls to the Lord and build them up in the faith. The preacher must
courageously declare the whole counsel of God, as well as one’s eternal destiny if he explains away, rebels,
or ignores the will of God. There are some who will accuse him of being hard if he does this. This, however,
is not true and he should not let anyone intimidate him into being and not doing less than the Lord requires
of him. Certainly, if a preacher points out a command of God and person is not doing it, it will hurt his
conscience. The statement may be hard in the sense that it is hard to bear, but it is not hard simply because
the preacher was concerned enough about the eternal well-being of his hearers that, in love, he told them the
truth.
Jesus never failed to tell people what they needed to hear. If they did not obey what He told them to do, he
did not try to force them to do it. At the same time, He never compromised with them either. In this sense,
we might say He was a hard preacher, but who would charge this One who willingly died on the cross for the
well-being of others as being without love?
When faithful preachers today refuse to compromise the truth, they are following the footsteps of their
Master. Some become angry when their sins are exposed, of which they have no intention of repenting of
them. They have no right, however, to charge a preacher with being harsh on this account, yet this is what
they do. Bear in mind that they would have charged the Lord Jesus with the same lack of love — and they do,
in essence, when they falsely lay this charge on faithful preachers!
— via STANDING IN THE GAP, Weekly Bulletin of the Nesbit church of Christ, Nesbit, MS
MAKING GOD SECOND BEST
I’m always prompt to punch the clock,
I never miss a date.
But when I go to worship God,
I’m usually always late.
I wouldn’t think of leaving work,
To visit brother Fred,
I’ll just wait ‘til Sunday comes,
And forsake the church instead.
I never miss a day at work,
Perfection is what I seek;
But I miss the worship of God,
Once or twice a week.
I talk with people daily,
Of many subjects rife,
But never mention Jesus
Nor show him in my daily life.
I spend extra money on my family,
For things I can’t afford;
But I don’t remember ever,
Giving extra to the Lord.
When my life on earth is over,
And they lay me down to rest,
How can He say to me, “Well done,”
If I’ve made him second best?
— Selected