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Volume X, Issue 35 August 31st, 2008 |
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Cates Street Church of Christ |
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"Why Study The Bible" by Charles Box |
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Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:15-16). Most religious bodies do not teach God's plan of salvation. An example of this is what is taught about baptism by the largest denomination in the south. In their own words they say, "Baptism does not help a person to be saved or to become a Christian." Study the Bible because it is God's way of providing spiritual understanding. The psalmist wrote, "The entrance of Your words give light; It gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130). All spiritual questions are answered from the Bible. Do you want to know how to worship? Read your Bible. Do you want to know how to recognize the one church Jesus promised to build? (Matthew 16:18) Read your Bible. To go to heaven it takes an honest heart and an open Bible. Do you study the Bible with a strong desire to learn? Are you willing to obey from the heart the truth that you learn from your Bible? Christ is "the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:9) Will you obey Him now? To be saved you must hear the gospel, (Romans 10:17); believe in Jesus, (John 8:24); repent of sins, (Luke 13:3); confess Jesus as Lord, (Romans 10:9-10); and be baptized for remission of sins (Acts 2:38). God will then add you to the blood bought church of Christ.
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One of the great challenges for Christians is to learn the word of God. We are admonished, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2nd Timothy 2:15). The Bible is God's inspired word. Revelation was the process God used in making known His will. Reading is the means by which that word is learned. "How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) . . .” (Ephesians 3:3-5). Why should we study the Bible? Study the Bible because it is God's word. "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds" (Hebrews 1:1-2). Knowledge of God and an understanding of His requirements for our life come from studying His word. Study the Bible because it is God's final and complete message to man. Peter wrote, "As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue" (2nd Peter 1:3). Everything one needs to know to serve God here and go to heaven hereafter is found in the Bible. Study the Bible because it reveals God's plan of salvation.
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Inside this issue: Devotional Item Something To Think About The Lighter Side Church Staff: Elders: Jim Graham Bob Houston Deacons: Tom Cook Richard Stothers Jim Taylor Preacher: Roger D. Rhodes Secretary: Donna Stothers Missionaries We . . Help To Support : Randy Warzecha (Brazil) Sarah Fallis (Tanzania)
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. Family Records |
. This and That Two dogs were discussing another one of their canine friends. One of the dogs said, "He doesn't have any skeletons in his closet." "How come?" asked the other dog. "He buries all of his bones."
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ News & Notes What’s Happening ¨ 5th Sunday Noon Fellowship today immediately following this mornings worship. Evening worship at 1:15 p.m., no 6 p.m. service. ¨ Monthly Singing, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3rd. Birthday & Anniversary Celebration to follow immediately for the month of September. ¨ Beginning Monday September 8 at 7:00 p.m., Bible Study Group Night. The theme “Critical Decisions.” If you are interested in participating, please see Roger, Richard or Donna. Don’t Forget ¨ The Green Gleaning Cans for Foster’s Home for Children in Lubbock are due no later than Sunday, September 7. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Happy Birthdays Randy Wilson - 9/3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anniversaries Bob and Ruth Houston - 9/3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9th Annual Ladies Day of Edification September 13th, 2008 “Piecing Together A Christian Life” Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(8/1724 . Bible Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 AM Worship . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 PM Worship . . . . . . . . . . . ..45 Mid-Week Bible Study . . . . 38 Contribution . . . . . . . . . $2,553.73 Budget. . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,300.00 . Average Contribution for 2008 $2,294.96 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Daily Bible Reading August 31 Ezekiel 1-4 September 1 Ezekiel 5-9 September 2 Ezekiel 10-13 September 3 Ezekiel 14-16 September 4 Ezekiel 17-19 September 5 Ezekiel 20-21 September 6 Ezekiel 22-24 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Power of Example A fine lad entered the army. On the first night in the barracks when he went to bed, he faced a real test. At home, he had the habit of reading the Bible and kneeling down to pray before retiring. In the barracks, he was entirely surrounded by rough fellows. Many of them were cursing and joking loudly. The lad thought it might be wise to go to bed and read his Bible where nobody would notice him. Then he thought and boldly decided, I’m a Christian! I ought to be an example for Jesus before the fellows. I won’t pull down my colors. I will do here like I always at home. So he took out his Bible and read it. Then he knelt down to pray. The barracks became quiet. After a while the talk began again, but it was more subdued. No one said anything about the young soldier’s unusual behavior. The next night when he got out his Bible, eight other soldiers got out their bibles. Within a month every soldier in the barracks would have fought for the lad. They came to him with questions and their troubles. May you and I have the same type of dedication and courage as this young soldier. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). >> Bulletin Digest << ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning.
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"The Lighter Side" By Donna Stothers The Bible School class was reviewing the wonderful lesson of Jacob when he used a stone for a pillow and had the dream of the angels ascending and descending on the ladder above him. The young teacher asked if there were any questions. “If the lovely angels had wings,” asked a six-year-old, “why did they have to climb up and down an old ladder?” “Ah-hem!” said the teacher, “are there any more questions?” Application: Good question! Too bad the teacher didn’t have an answer for it, and I’m not sure I would have either. When we find ourselves confronted with a question about our religious beliefs, the answer could be difficult for even the seasoned Christian to answer. We don’t have all the answers, but we can go to the only place we have to find them and that is the Bible. The Bible is the only Book that needs to be consulted. Book stores have shelves stocked full with self-help books. People seem to be drawn to those kind of books now days, and what they are seeking are answers to help them sort out their lives, but they cannot find themselves or true happiness in those books. The Bible is the only book we need to look to for all of life’s answers. I know that it may be difficult to understand sometimes, but there are different versions out now that can make some of those answers easier to find. Also, there are many people in the church that will happily help you get the proper answer you need for your questions. I’m not saying that we can’t and shouldn’t read other books, but for questions concerning our Christian life, the Bible is it. I believe that some people shy away from it out of fear that they will never be able to understand it. To them I say, “Don’t lose your soul just because you are afraid to open the Bible”. It is the most amazing Book of all time.
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