The Way

One of the most beautiful descriptions of the Christian life is a very simple term used almost exclusively in the book of the Acts of the Apostles. “The Way”. It is beautiful in that its simplicity calls up the promise of the Lord and the description he gave of Himself and of that which is necessary for salvation.

John 14:4-6 “And where I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas said to Him, `Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, `I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’ ”

Matt 7:13-14  “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.  ”

We first read of the disciples being referred to as `The Way’ as Saul of Tarsus went forth to persecute the church in:

Acts 9:2 “ and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. ”

We next read of “The Way” after Saul is converted and is preaching now as the apostle Paul those very things he persecuted others for believing, in:

Acts 19:9 “ But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. ”

Acts 19:23 “ And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way.”

Acts 22:4 “ I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, ”

Acts 24:14 “ But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.”

Acts 24:22 “ But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, `When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.’”

Paul’s very life and those things we have just read together are the very image of the words Jesus had spoken of “The Way”

If we wish to reach the prize which God has set before us, we must follow in `The Way’ He has set before us.

Of John the baptizer it is said in:

Matt 11:10  “For this is he of whom it is written: `Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’ ”, and

Mark 1:3  “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ”Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’"

Of Himself This same John said:

John 1:23 “  `I am The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said.’ ”

We are told that Jesus Came:

Luke 1:79 “ To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Even as they came forth to test Jesus His enemies could not deny His teaching Luke 20:21 “ Then they asked Him, saying, `Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth:’ ”

Jesus emphasized the exclusive nature of `The Way’ in the parable of the sheepfold:

John 10:1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”

As Paul taught in Philippi Luke tells us of an incident that further describes `The Way’:

Acts 16:17 “ This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, `These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.’”

To the Corinthians Paul wrote in: 1 Cor 12:31 “I show you a more excellent way. ”

Heb 10:19-21 “ Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins... “

2 Pet 2:2 “ And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.”

2 Pet 2:15 “ They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;”

2 Pet 2:21 “ For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. ”

There is only one way to reach heaven we must walk in “The Way”, GOD’S WAY !

What is a church of Christ?

We Are Christians . . .

  We wear no other name than Christ's and claim to be members only of the body of Christ.

  So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (Acts 11:26 )

  We believe we can be identified with the Christians of the first century as can all who will be guided by the teaching of God's Word. The Word of God, when planted in the hearts of honest people, and obeyed fully, will produce Christians just as it did in the first century.

  Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. (Luke 8:1 )

We have no earthly headquarters . . .

  There is no man, or group of men, who legislate for the church. We have no one to answer to but Christ. He is the head of the church which leaves no room or need for human headquarters or heads. There are only independent congregations in different locations with Christ as Lord and Master.

And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Col 1:18 )

  As a congregation matures, men who meet the qualifications of overseers (also called elders, pastors, or bishops) are appointed to look after the spiritual welfare of the congregation. Such men are appointed only after the local congregation determines that they meet the qualifications set forth by the apostle Paul.

  Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap. (1 Tim 3:1-7 )

  The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless--not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and  refute those who oppose it. (Titus 1:5-9 ) 

Our preachers are not necessarily  pastors" (unless they also serve as overseers) but are simply teachers of the gospel.  

The Bible is our only Book of Rules . . .

We have no man-written creed books to follow. While recognizing the guiding principles of the Old Testament, we seek conformity to the rules and patterns of the New Testament.

  In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. (Heb 1:1-2)

  We accept the Bible as being both verbally inspired and infallible in content.

  Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Pet 1:20-21)

  Consequently, when the Bible speaks upon any given subject, its pronouncement is accepted as final. We plead for unity among all who obediently respond to the doctrine and commandments given in the New Testament.

  "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,  that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20-21 NIV) 

  Division has always been the result of departure from God's pattern, we believe division can be healed by a return to the revealed truth of God's Word.

 What to Expect at our Assemblies . . .

  Our assembled worship procedures are simple, spiritual and orderly, keynoted by the words of Jesus:

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24)

   Absent is the frenzied emotionalism so common in churches today. Each element of worship finds its origins in the commands and examples found in the New Testament.

  We are simple Christians, followers of Christ, and we comprise a church that is of Christ. Christ is our only creed, the Bible our only guide.

   "and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (Acts 11:26)

   "Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings." (Rom 16:16)

 We are striving to be a church after the pattern found in the New Testament. How we become Christians, how we live as Christians, what we teach, the way we work and how we are organized is dictated by the examples we find in the New Testament.

Who are we ?

  We are your neighbors, your fellow-workers, and your fellow-students. We are people saved from sin who are interested in the salvation of others. We sincerely want Heaven to be our eternal home and we wish to share Heaven with you!

Do You Have Dog Ears?

Have you ever seen a dog that loved to have his ear's scratched? There are dogs that just love to have their ears scratched. They don't care who does it, as long as it is being done.

This kind of dog will go up to anyone, just hoping that the person will reach down and scratch his ears. It doesn't matter if the person is his owner. It doesn't matter if the person is a complete stranger. This dog will just sit and let the person scratch his ears.

If the person scratching stops, the dog will put his nose up to the person's hand indicating that he wants the person to continue scratching. If the person gets up and walks away, the dog will follow the person. The dog will continue to follow the person until the person finally decides to scratch again. Unless, the dog can find someone else to scratch his ears.

You see, the dog is not loyal to the first scratcher. He is just loyal to whoever will scratch his ears. He is not choosy about the kind of person scratching his ears. He only wants his ears scratched.

Some people are like that spiritually. They are not loyal to their owner (master--God). They will follow anyone that will just scratch their spiritual ears. They don't care what the person is teaching as long as it sounds good. It doesn't have to be the Truth. It doesn't have to come from the Bible. As long as it sounds good and scratches their ears, they are happy. They will follow whoever wants to scratch.

God warned about such people. In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, we read, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears, from the truth, and shall be turned into fables".

The best way to make sure that you never have a dog's ears, is to study the Bible seriously. Keep reading it and getting to know what it really says. Listen to God, not to any man who scratches your ear with nice sounding words. If you want your ears scratched, read your Bible and let God scratch them.

If any of this is hard to understand ask an adult to help you. Until next time, keep reading your Bible. And remember, the best wisdom is from God.

Mark McWhorter

From The Mouths of Babes . . .

A Sunday school teacher asked her little children, as they were on the  way to church service, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?" One bright little girl replied, "Because people are sleeping."

  A little boy was overheard  praying: "Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it.   I'm having a real good time like I am."  [sounds like a lot of adults I’ve known . . . rdt]

  One Sunday in a Midwest city, a young child was "acting up" during the     morning worship hour. The parents did their best to maintain some sense  of     order in the pew but were losing the battle. Finally, the father picked     the little fellow up and walked sternly up the aisle on his way out. Just     before reaching the safety of the foyer, the little one called loudly to     the congregation, "Pray for me! Pray for me!"

Sentence Sermons

One minute of keeping your mouth shut may be worth an hour's explanation.

When at a loss for the right word to say, try silence.

Church of Christ   2020 Pine Street   Oroville, California 95965

Carlos Aguilar, Minister

Our Assembly Times Are:

       Sunday 9:30 am          Worship Services

       Sunday 11:00 am        Bible Classes

       Sunday 6:00 pm          Worship Services

       Wednesday 7:00 pm     Bible Classes

Visitors are welcome . . . members expected . . .

We hope you find this first sample of our bulletin something of use in your Bible study. The format and frequency of  this bulletin have not yet been decided. We will be experimenting over the next few weeks with a few different things with the intention of beginning a regular publication the first of the year.

2 Sam 22:31

 As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. NKJV

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