March 12, 2000 Volume 1 Number 11

What Do You Say?

    A new song by Reba McEntire discusses at least two difficult parental moments. First, a father and son are in the car and pass a store which sells pornography, and the son asks what all the X's mean. Second, a daughter calls home crying, asking for someone to come pick her up because she's been drinking, against the will of her parents. In both instances, the chorus of the song seems to say that there may actually be nothing for the parents to say, just to love their children and things will turn out okay.

   Fortunately, God's people are not left asking, "What do you say in a moment like this?" In the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, God gives instructions through Moses which will actually help Christian parents when difficult topics come up.

   "Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates " (Deut. 6:4-9).

   The first lesson for parents is to love God. If we fail to present our love for God in the lives we lead before our children, nothing we say will convince them that God is important. It is imperative they see that God's word has such an effect on our lives as to be the first consideration in any problem we may face. Jesus said we show our love for Him by keeping His commandments (Jn. 14:15), and it is by doing so that we first begin to teach our children.

   A second lesson from Deuteronomy involves the study of God's word. They are to be on our hearts, and careful, committed Bible study is the only way that can be accomplished. Children need to see us, in worship services, reading the scriptures during the lesson, examining the text as we seek to serve God. More than that, they need to see us working in our Bibles on other occasions, far from the door of the church building. They need to understand it is in God's word that we seek answers for salvation, strength in temptation, and faith for our doubting.

   Finally, there is the heart of the matter. We have to teach God's word to our children. There are a number of ways we can do this. We can make sure they are in their Bible classes, with their lessons completed, so that they learn what is taught there, where memorization is combined with solid teaching on why such is important. We can ask them to take notes during the sermon, so that their faith can be deepened. We can even have Bible studies in our home. But in reality, all of those, as good as they are, pale in comparison to what Moses says in our text. The very best way to teach our children is to show them how the Bible fits in everyday life.

   When tragedy strikes (Columbine High School, Waco's Branch Davidians), we can sit down and talk about Satan's part in such horrible events, letting them know that we face a terrible adversary (1 Pet. 5:8), while reminding them of God's tender care for His own (Rom. 8:31-39). When good things happen, we can thank God in prayer (in the presence of our children) for His blessings. When an athlete, movie star or singer is in trouble with drugs, we can discuss the importance of good choices, as well as the grave dangers (both physical and, especially, spiritual) of the consequences of sin.

   And when we pass an X-rated store, we can talk plainly about the evil that is offered in the name of entertainment. And if one of our children calls one night, drunkenly pleading for a ride home, we can grant their wish while dealing lovingly, but forcefully with their wrongdoing.

What do you say in a moment like this?

Adapted ~ article by Rusty Miller in Abundant Life

Home and Family:

LOVE

   It is impossible to discuss love in one little article. Volumes of books have been written about love, and I only want to add a few thoughts in relationship with love in the family situation. Please read the great love chapter of the Bible I Corinthians 13. Remember, as you read-that Paul does not tell what love is, but rather what love does.

 I CORINTHIANS 13: 1-13

¹Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ²And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. ⁴Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ⁸Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. ¹¹When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹²For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. ¹³And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

   One of the fundamental thoughts that we can derive from these series of verses is that when we love someone we are concerned about them and their welfare. What about love in the family between husband and wife, and parents and children? There is much difficulty today because we do not understand what love is. We usually have a very immature concept of love. Some believe that love is a mysterious something that takes hold of you just like taking the measles. Others say or feel that it may go just as quickly as it came.

   However, love is more than just a tingling sensation that runs up and down your spine. We have done grave injustice to the beauty of the idea of love by using it to mean any and everything. We have changed the spelling to "l-u-v" and even talk about the love bug, as though it were some kind of insect that bites us. Now, what is love, or better still what does love do or cause us to do?

   When you love someone, you are concerned about him or her. Not just, what they can do for you, but their feelings. You love them; you are concerned about their health, their future, their emotions, their feelings and their desires. Love then has many faces. Love is constantly thinking about ways that you can help your mate, refresh them, and be kind to them. You will be concerned about not only what you say, but also HOW you say it.

   Love also means that you enjoy being with that person. It is hard to be genuinely concerned if you do not enjoy being with that particular person or you are constantly placing everything else before your physical association with them. Love means spending your time with this one you love.

   Love means that you will want to be involved in common interests. Love means that you will not always want them to be involved in what YOU like, but you will be interested in doing things that they enjoy. Going together and being together in a pleasant mood is love. If you do not make a genuine effort to develop things in which both of you have interest and enjoyment, then as husband and wife you will soon become just "roommates".

   Love means that you share common goals. Where are WE headed? Am I aware of my spouses’ desires? Is it just MY goal, or is it OUR goal? In this way, you work together toward a mutually approved objective.

   Love means that there is a physical attraction. There is to be enjoyment of each other’s bodies - fulfilling the physical needs with which we were created. Too often, this is the equating of love - the physical sex relationship. Touching, holding, caressing, and desiring to know the security of the fact that your spouse cares - is a means of loving and being loved. If the only time that we display any interest in our spouse is when we desire a sexual relationship, our mates soon get the idea that the only thing that you think love is - is sex. We were created male and female, and the Lord said, "it is good", when this part of his creation was completed. This relationship is not the most important part of marriage, but is an integral part that must not be neglected or overlooked. We should concern ourselves with the satisfaction of our spouse.

   Volumes have been written, millions of words have been spoken and hundreds of songs written about love. It seems to be one of the greatest motivating emotions known to man. What is love? We really do not know. We know what love does and does not do. However, when you love someone, you are genuinely concerned about them and their welfare. In this way, you are sharing yourself with them.

                         ~ The Bible Research Library

Calling All "Aged" Christians

   Paul indicated to Titus that certain duties are to be enjoined upon those who are older. They are to teach the younger people by word and deed Titus 2:2-6 ²"That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in the faith, in charity, in patience. ³The aged women, likewise, that they in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; ⁴That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their own husbands, to love their children, ⁵To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient, to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. ⁶Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded."

   It seems that there are some factors, which are preventing these commanded activities from being fulfilled. For instance, in a culture that is infatuated with youth, it is harder and harder to find any men or women who consider themselves as "aged". In past generations, those in their 40's and 30's (to say nothing of those in their 60's and 50's) would have regarded themselves as obligated by these duties. Today, folks are insulted it you hint that they have attained to an age where they ought to take these commands as a personal responsibility. Maybe some of us need to "wake up" and realize that we aren't "spring chickens" any more! There is clearly a job here that the older, wiser and more mature Christians need to be doing. Let's get busy!

   But, there is another factor that also influences this situation. There's a disturbing trend in which people isolate themselves from others who are not in their age group. The younger ones exclude the older ones, and vice versa. Certain ones only like to associate with others in their own "circle". They prefer to exclusively interact with those of their "clique". It especially seems that some of the younger ones never seek to engage those who are older. When this happens, many good and helpful relationships are never allowed to develop.

   We do not mean to imply that this is done intentionally. But, in so much as such situations do exist, young folks are missing out on an important influence that God desires for them to have.

   Let the "aged" ones realize who they are, and let them take their God-given responsibilities seriously. Let the younger ones realize the importance of a strong, positive relationship with those who are older. We can do better!                                                              Greg Gwin ~ In Gospel Power 5/97

Sentence Sermons

When a church quits struggling, it dies.

 New Beginnings, old values. Both are necessary for the church to continue to grow.

You should know that--

The New Testament teaches that the church is called:

The body of Christ Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18, 24

The temple of God 1 Corinthians 3:16

The bride of Christ Ephesians 5:22-32; Revelation 3:12; 19: 6-9; 21:2, 9

The kingdom of Christ Colossians 1:13

The house of God 1 Timothy 3:15

The church of the firstborn Hebrews 12:23

The church of the Lord Acts 20:28

The church of God 1 Corinthians 1:2

The churches of Christ Romans 16:16

The church Ephesians 3:10

                                                   ~excerpted from pearlstreet.org

We hope you find this bulletin useful in your Bible study.

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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