October 21, 2001 Volume 2 Number 42
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The more clearly each member here sees these long term goals and ignores the short term setbacks, the greater the church here will have the potential to become. Seeing this ability in the church in Thessalonica, he called her his joy and crown: “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.” I Th 2:19-20 This was a church Paul felt very confident about. He looked forward to the day of judgment and the wonderful things both he and they would hear from the Lord. Jesus extols faithfulness and Paul saw it in this church. A careful consideration of the things he praised with a determination to imitate them will greatly enhance any church today. “We give thanks...remembering... your work of faith, labor of love, & patience of hope.” 1:2-3 … “you became followers of us and of the Lord... you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe...from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth.” 1:6-8 “we...thank God... because when you received the word of God you welcomed it…” 2:12-13 “you...became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea…” 2:14 “Timothy has... brought us good news of your faith and love…” 3:6 “... we were comforted concerning you by your faith.” 3:7 “For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. What thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy... which we rejoice for your sake before our God” 3:8-9 Paul complimented them:
Any church or member of a church striving for such things is seeking first the kingdom. Churches who make this their business, seek to do them well, and make them goals will be successful. Along with compliments though, Paul gave exhortations for even greater excellence. These too should be the goals of churches today who seek to imitate all that was good about them. “that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” 2:12 “...may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,” 3:12 “no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you...know that we are appointed to this” 3:3 “... establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father…” 3:13 “... we urge and exhort...that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;” 4:1 “... this is the will of God, your sanctification: ... abstain from sexual immorality... know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,” 4:2-4 “concerning brotherly love... you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia... we urge you, brethren.. increase more and more... also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands... walk properly toward those who are outside…” 4:9-12 “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” 5:6 “let us ... be sober, put... on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” 5:8 “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” 5:11 “... warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.” 5:14 “recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you... esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.” 5:12-13 These verses can be summed up in the following goals and aspirations: Walk worthy of God. Increase and abound in love to another and to all. Do not be shaken by afflictions. Establish your hearts blameless in holiness. Abound more and more. Your sanctification is God’s will. Learn to possess your own vessel. Increase more and more in brotherly love. Aspire to lead a quiet life, mind your own business and work with your own hands. Walk properly toward those who are outside. Watch and be sober Comfort and edify one another. Warn the unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. Recognize those who are over you and esteem them. Be at peace among yourselves. Brethren, take this as a checklist for the church here and for you as one of the members. How are you and the church doing? Put a check in the boxes you feel are being done. Cross out the ones you are doing, and circle the ones you think you can do. Pray that we can imitate all that is good about this first century church. There is no question that our God wants these things here. Are we putting forth our greatest efforts to bring it about? These things are the greatest long-term goals a church can set. All churches can find room for growth in these areas. They are long-term goals for all to strive for. If we set our hearts on them and keep our focus on accomplishing them we will be greatly blessed. There will be many tribulations and afflictions on the way. The godly will ignore them and instead as the Lord did before the cross, focus on the joy. From the 160th St. Bulletin. Title revised as to date. RDT,sr
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING
FOR IN A CHURCH? Because they have moved into a new community, or have awakened to the need for religion in their lives, or are unhappy with their "old church," many people are looking for a "new church home." What are they looking for? What are YOU looking for? (1) Some, following family and personal traditions, look for a church like the one they left behind. (2) Because they don’t want to travel far to attend services, some look for a church nearby. (3) Desiring to feel welcome and wanted, some look for a church with friendly people. (4) Some look for a big church where they can get lost in the crowd. Others look for a small church, where they can quickly get to know everybody. (5) Some look for a church with many youth activities and family affairs. (6) Some want a church that is trying to solve world problems, committed to social reform, and community improvement. Now, if you will look back over that list, you will notice that nothing is said about seeking a church where they can worship and serve God according to His revealed will. Many people are looking for a church that pleases THEM, rather than a church that pleases God. If you are interested in finding a church that pleases God, look for the following characteristics: (1) A church that respects the sovereignty of God and the authority of Jesus Christ. (2) A church that respects the Bible as the inspired word of God, and the gospel of Christ as the power of God to salvation. (3) A church that strives to be like the churches in the New Testament--in name, organization, teaching, work, and worship. (4) A church that is concerned about lost souls and eternal destinies. (5) A church that, instead of catering to their social desires, puts its emphasis on the spiritual needs of men. We purpose to "speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where it is silent." We would be happy to have you visit any of our assemblies to check us out. DID YOU EVER HEAR OF A MAN… Who preferred to drown rather than get into a boat with a hypocrite? (Yet some prefer to be eternally lost rather than come into the Lord’s church because they know some professed members who are hypocrites.) Who quit going to the movies because the manager failed to speak to him? (Yet some quit attending worship assemblies because someone failed to speak to them.) Who always quit his job on the second day because he made a mistake on the first? (Yet some forsake the Lord because of an embarrassing mistake they made as beginning Christians.) Who refused to eat because he could not understand completely how it could give him physical strength? (Yet some will not study their Bible because they do not understand how it can give them spiritual strength.) Who refused to pay his taxes because he "was not good enough"? (Yet some will not perform their heavenly citizenship duties -- give of their means, eat the Lord’s supper, etc., because they "are not good enough.") Who never made any kind of promise to anyone because he was afraid he could not hold out? (Yet some will not become Christians or commit themselves as Christians because they are afraid they cannot hold out.) Who scorned an invitation to have an audience with the President of the United States because he would have to give up some of his friends? (Yet some scorn the opportunity of becoming one with God and Christ because they would lose of their worldly friends.) Who failed to improve himself in any way because he was afraid some might laugh at him? (Yet some will not apply themselves as Christians -- teaching a class, leading a prayer, making a talk -- that they may grow spiritually because someone might laugh at them. Some will not become Christians because they are afraid someone will laugh at them.) --author unknown, source - The SUSQUEHANNA SENTINEL The Spirit Expressly Says
... Understanding Your New Testament The New Testament has revealed that we are no longer under a tutor, that is the Old Testament (Gal 3:23-29) . However, it is right to read the Old Testament in order that we might learn from history (Rom 15:4). Our New Testament begins with the book of Matthew. It ends with the book of Revelation, These twenty-seven books are divided into four natural divisions. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John describe the lifetime of Jesus. The events begin with His birth, and end with a description of His death. It is the purpose of these books to establish faith. The second division-The Book of Acts of the Apostles. The book of Acts is a description of the establishment of the church. It contains the blueprints by which Christians are made. It is the purpose of Acts to produce Obedience. The third division-The Epistles, Romans through Jude. These letters were written to people who were saved, teaching them how to live the Christian life. It is the purpose of the Epistles to teach Christians how to live. The last division--The book of Revelation– To the Apostle John was revealed “those things which must shortly come to pass” , a description of how to overcome persecution and the evil that is in the world through a sincere faith in the fact that Jesus has already overcome the world. Signs and prophetic language are reminiscent of that found in Ezekiel and Daniel. Its purpose is to describe Jesus’ ultimate victory over the power of Satan and Jesus’ promise to save the faithful. “These things I have spoken unto you that you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33) “ … Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev 2:10). Food For Thought We know what a person thinks is important, not by listening to what they say, but by watching what they do . . . Bad habits are like a soft bed . . . they're easy to get into and hard to get out of . . . We
hope you find this bulletin useful in your Bible study. 2
Sam 22:31
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