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A scene commonly found in the four
Gospels describes multitudes, eager for
instruction or healing, migrate toward
the rumored location of Jesus' next
stop. Many of those who followed
Jesus recognized Him to be a great
teacher. Some acknowledged Him as
a great prophet. A few correctly
identified Him as the long awaited
Messiah. But James had no faith in
Jesus. While the blind saw, the
lame walked, the deaf heard, James
continued in his refusal to believe that
his older brother was anything more than
just an ordinary man (John 7:5).
Then came
the cross. The hoard of believers
evaporated, leaving behind a distraught
family and discouraged disciples.
Together they huddled for strength and
comfort, rejected by all others.
They would find the comfort so desperately
needed in their grief from the most
unlikely source: the very One over whom
they were grieving. After all of the
time they had spent with their Lord, and
all of His declarations of what had now
been fulfilled, none of them were prepared
to see Him suddenly appear in their midst,
despite the security of their locked
room. That day they saw His risen
form, His wounds clearly evident but His
life undeniable. It was likely an
appearance such as this that brought James
to finally believe (1 Corinthians
15:7)! Now he believed that it had
been God's power surging through Jesus'
miracles, verifying the truthfulness of
His spoken words. Now he believed
that those who had heralded the coming of
the Messiah had accurately spoken of
Jesus. He would spend the rest of
his life proclaiming Jesus as the Savior
of the world.
James'
life would be far from easy. He
would lose many of his friends and
associates in the unbelieving world.
His faith in Jesus as the Christ would
eventually cost him his life, which he
would lovingly sacrifice over the next
decades in preaching and serving
Christ. The church of Christ he so
deeply loved would likewise be persecuted
and scattered. He would work
diligently to maintain that church's unity
against those who would threaten it (Acts
15). James would gain a reputation
as "a pillar in the Jerusalem church"
(Galatians 2:9), and through the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit he would
pen the most beautiful epistle in the New
Testament. James' letter is highly
practical, containing basic lessons on how
to live in daily obedience to Christ for
the glory of God.
The very
practical challenge of first recognizing
Jesus as our Lord and Master, and then of
living each day in obedience to Him as
such fills each of the items you will find
in this issue of BulletinGold. We
are thankful for each of our contributors
for sharing their work with us, and for
each of our subscribers who will share
them with others who will find a deeper,
stronger faith through reading their local
church bulletin or newsletter.
David
Bragg, co-editor
http://davebragg.blog.com/
__________________________via BulletinGold
Panning for Gold
- Feature
Articles:
Christ
by: Walter Scott1
Christ is called the Sun of
Righteousness (Malachi 4:2), and no
literal sentence perhaps is adequate
to the idea of His glory which this
metaphor throws in the mind. The
sun is the great center to the system;
the immediate source of all light,
life, heat, and vegetation; hence,
Jesus is all these in the spiritual
world. How delightful to the
soul of the Christian to know that our
blessed Lord is spoken of under,
perhaps, one hundred and twenty
different figures in the Holy
Scriptures.
In figures from the animal
world, He is life (John 14:6), Lamb of
God (John 1:29), Lion of the tribe of
Judah (Revelation 5:5), and the horn
of salvation (Luke 1:69).
In the vegetable world, He is
the Root (Revelation 22:16), Offspring
(Revelation 22:16), the vine (John
15:1), first-fruits (1 Corinthians
15:20), and Branch of righteousness
(Jeremiah 33:15).
And among minerals, and in
the higher parts of our system, He is
the Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4), Bright
and Morning Star (Revelation 22:16),
light of the world (John 8:12), and,
of course, Sun of Righteousness
(Malachi 4:2).
In society, He is the Man (1
Timothy 2:5), second Man (1
Corinthians 15:47), and Son of Man
(Matthew 9:6), Seed of woman (Genesis
3:15), seed of David (2 Timothy 2:8),
seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16), only
begotten of the Father (John 1:14),
beloved brightness of the Father's
glory (Hebrews 1:3), express image
(Hebrews 1:3), only begotten (John
3:16), first born (Colossians 1:15),
first begotten from the dead
(Revelation 1:5), First and Last
(Revelation 1:11), glory of the Lord
(Isaiah 40:5), head of the body
(Colossians 1:18), heir of all things
(Hebrews 1:2), image of the invisible
God (Colossians 1:15), Son of God
(Matthew 14:33), Son of the Most High
(Mark 5:7), Servant of God (Acts
3:26), bread (John 6:35), true bread
(John 6:32), bread of life (John
6:35), bread of heaven (John 6:41),
stone refused (1 Peter 2:4),
cornerstone (1 Peter 2:6), even head
of the corner (1 Peter 2:7).
In office, He is king (John
18:37), Advocate (1 John 2:1),
Anointed (Psalm 132:10), anointed with
the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38), Apostle
(Hebrews 3:1), Bishop of souls (1
Peter 2:25), captain of salvation
(Hebrews 2:10), Counselor (Isaiah
9:6), Deliverer (Romans 11:26),
Governor of My people (Matthew 2:6),
Jesus (Matthew 1:1), Savior (Luke
2:11), King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2),
King of Israel (John 1:49), King of
kings (Revelation 19:16), Lord of
lords (Revelation 19:16), only
Potentate (1 Timothy 6:15), Lord of
all (Acts 10:36), Mediator (1 Timothy
2:5), Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6),
prince of the kings of the earth
(Revelation 1:5), Prince of life (Acts
3:15), Ruler in Israel (Micah 5:2),
shepherd (John 10:16), good shepherd
(John 10:11), great shepherd of the
sheep (Hebrews 13:20), and the true
and faithful witness (Revelation
3:14).
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Published by Walter Scott in the
1830's in a paper called "The
Evangelist" (Note: Scripture
references added by Edd Sterchi); via
the weekly bulletin of the Harrisburg
church of Christ in Harrisburg,
IL. Edd Sterchi serves as one of
the congregation's ministers. He
may be contacted at sterchi@midwest.net
You may visit their website at www.harrisburgchurchofchrist.org
__________________________via BulletinGold
The
Indescribable Gift of God's Love
by:
Patrick Hogan
"And without controversy
great is the mystery of godliness: God
was manifested in the flesh, Justified
in the Spirit, Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles, Believed
on in the world, Received up in
glory." (1 Timothy 3:16)
In this passage Paul
reflects upon what he terms "the mystery
of godliness." The first element
of this mystery is "God was
manifested in the flesh."
Obviously this is a reference to the
incarnation of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 1:22 quotes from the prophet
Isaiah: "Behold,
the virgin shall be with child, and
bear a Son, and they shall call His
name Immanuel," which is translated,
"God with us."
In many ways the fact that
God would be manifest in the flesh
is truly a mystery. Hebrews
2:14-18 and Philippians 2:5-9 both
elaborate on the idea that in Jesus God
was truly "with us." Part of the
mystery is how this was
accomplished - how deity could become
human. For me, a greater mystery
is why
He would do this. I realize
that the simple answer is "because He
loved us." Still, the question
remains as to why He would love us so
much the He would leave the place of
peace, honor, glory and security in
heaven to subject Himself to the chaos
that sin and man's rebellion had brought
into this world. Knowing that He
loved us enough to humble Himself and to
die in our place should prompt us to
humble ourselves before Him. While
we may not be able to understand why He
would love us this much, we can realize
that we have been given an unspeakably
marvelous gift and be drawn to Him
by His love (see John 12:32).
-
Patrick Hogan serves as an elder and one
of the ministers for the Shady Acres
church of Christ in Sikeston, MO.
He may be contacted through their
website: www.shadyacreschurch.com
__________________________via BulletinGold
Subway Savior
by:
David A. Sargent
On Tuesday afternoon, January
2, Cameron Hollopeter, a 19-year-old
film student, began suffering a
seizure and stumbled down a New York
City subway platform onto the
tracks. Without help, Hollopeter
may have been severely injured or
killed because a subway train was
making its way into the station on the
tracks where he lay.
But Wesley Autrey, a
50-year-old construction worker, came
to his rescue. Autrey jumped
down to the tracks, rolled with
Hollopeter into a shallow, grimy
drainage trough between the rails as
the southbound No. 1 train came into
the 137th Street/City College station.
The train’s operator applied
the emergency brakes when he saw
someone on the tracks but could not
stop the train before two cars passed
over Autrey and Hollopeter.
Autrey shielded Hollopeter from the
train passing over them with a
clearance of only a couple of
inches. Neither man suffered any
harm from the incident.
“Mr. Autrey’s instinctive and
unselfish act saved our son’s life,”
said Larry Hollopeter, Cameron’s
father, with his voice cracking with
emotion.
Because of Autrey’s heroic
actions, Mayor Michael Bloomberg
presented him with a Bronze Medallion
and called him “the Hero of
Harlem.” Autrey has received
other gifts of appreciation including
$10,000 from Donald Trump, a trip to
Disney World, a year’s worth of free
subway rides, and $2,500 from the New
York Film Academy to start a
scholarship fund for his two daughters
(who witnessed their father’s brave
actions).
Metropolitan Transportation
Authority Executive Director Elliot
Sander called Autrey’s action “a
death-defying act of bravery. We
truly have not seen anything like
this. … He was at the RIGHT PLACE at
the RIGHT TIME and did the RIGHT
THING.”*
Because of Wesley Autrey’s
unselfish act, he has been called,
“the Subway Savior.” He is
deserving of our admiration and
appreciation.
Autrey’s valiant deeds remind
us of another Savior who, at "just the
right time," came to OUR rescue
(Romans 5:6).
Because of
our sin, YOU and I are “on the track”
to certain death and destruction
(Matthew 7:13-14; Romans 6:23).
But JESUS came to our rescue!
To save us from sin, Jesus
descended from His heavenly platform
to meet us in our point of need
(Philippians 2:5-8). He gave His
life to rescue us from certain death
(1 Thessalonians 5:10). Through
His sacrificial death, He has opened
the way for us to receive a reward:
ETERNAL LIFE with Him in heaven
(Romans 6:23).
His GIFT of salvation,
however, must be accepted. The
reward is available to those who will
believe Him (Acts 16:30-31), repent of
sin (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus
before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be
baptized (immersed) in the name of
Jesus for the forgiveness of sins
(Acts 2:38).
Because of Jesus’ death on
the cross for our sins, Jesus is the
"Savior of ALL" those who will TRUST
and OBEY Him. He is deserving of
our love, our loyalty, and our lives.
Won’t you accept the Gift on
His terms?
-
David A. Sargent, minister for the
church of Christ at Creekwood in
Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of
an electronic devotional entitled
Living Water." To learn more
about this excellent resource contact
David via their website: www.creekwoodcc.org
* Details gleaned Associated Press
article, “Subway Savior Showered With
Praise” at MSNBC.com -- http:///www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16469039/
__________________________via BulletinGold
God, The Marriage Counselor
By
Hardie Logan
In our
Sunday morning Bible class, we are
studying the topic of marriage. It is a
deep subject and a very needed subject
to study. For many couples, it is a long
overdue subject.
Years
ago in Chicago, I was faced with getting
involved in the lives of marriages that
had problems. As we worked though some
of the issues in some of those
marriages, I began to realize the church
needed to realize that some in the flock
needed help. It didn't take me long to
realize that I felt ill-equipped to
counsel the people that had come to me.
Believe me, I raised lots of prayers
about the problem.
Then
somehow, I was brought back to basics.
The Bible is the basic foundation for
everything that comes from God. Every
thing a Christian faces can be handled
with the Word of God. God gives us this
promise.
2
Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in
righteousness, that the man of God may
be complete, thoroughly equipped for
every good work.
2 Peter
1:3 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,
God has
provided for His people! Everything that
is needed for people of God to be
complete; everything that is needed to
live a life of godliness, God has
provided. Including help in marriage.
People
were and are looking for marriage
counselors. God's people actually want
to be counseled by people that are not
Christians on how to live the kind of
marriage God wants them to live. That
didn't make any sense to me then, and
still doesn't to this day. And yet that
is exactly what happens in many cases
when a marriage has problems.
It was
God that instituted marriage, not man.
It was the courts of the land that has
made a mess of marriage, not God. It is
God's Word that can straighten it all
out, but first, we must get back to the
Word of God and what God has to say
about marriages.
-
Hardie Logan preaches for the Marshfield
church of Christ, in Marshfield,
WI. He may be contacted at xnman01@gmail.com
__________________________via BulletinGold
The Power of God
by:
Jimmy W. Cox
Sin is the power of
Satan unto damnation. The gospel is the
power of God unto salvation. It is the
only power that can break the grip of sin
and set men free. (Rom. 1:16).
God’s convincing power.
The hearing of it, or the reading of it,
produces faith. (Rom.10:17; Acts 18:8).
God’s convicting power.
He who listens to it soon becomes aware of
his guilt. "Now when they heard this, they
were cut to the heart, and said to Peter
and the rest of the apostles, Men and
brethren, what shall we do." (Acts 2:37);
See Heb. 4:12.
God’s enlightening
power. It reveals to man God’s plan of
salvation. (Mark 16:15,16) "And He said to
them, 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." See
also Acts 2:37-38, and 2 Peter 1:5-8.
God’s restraining
power. It points out evil and warns man of
its danger. (Gal. 6:7-8) "Do not be
deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever
a man sows, that he will also reap. For he
who sows to his flesh will of the flesh
reap corruption, but he who sows to the
Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting
life." See also Rev. 21:8.
God’s constraining
power. The love it reveals and the hope it
instills lead men onward to a life of
obedience and eternal blessedness. (Rom.
2:4) "Or do you despise the riches of His
goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering,
not knowing that the goodness of God leads
you to repentance?" Also 2 Cor. 5:14).
God’s cleansing power.
All who yield to its gentle sway are
washed, sanctified, made free from the
stain and the guilt of sin. (Acts 2:38)
"Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let
every one of you be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins;
and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit."
God’s exalting power. In the last day it
will raise the sainted dead and clothe
each with immortality and incorruption.
Read I Cor. 15:50-54; I Thess.4:16-18.
The gospel is a blessing to all who
believe it, obey it, and follow its
gentle light. The gospel is for "all
nations and every person. "Go into all
the world and preach the gospel to every
creature." (Mark 16:15).
-
Jimmy Cox lives in Sandy Hook, MS and
attends the Columbia church of Christ in
Columbia, MS. He may be contacted at cc0c@Bellsouth.netmail
__________________________via BulletinGold
Prepare for Defense
by:
Stefano R. Mugnaini
Most
Christians rarely, if ever, study
Christian Evidences. However, it
is a topic that is of limitless
importance to any believer. For
many of us, it is enough to accept that
we believe because "we have faith" or
"we just know." While this may
make sense to us of the household of
faith, what does it do to the
secularists that seem to be everywhere
about us? The fact is, just
unfounded belief in God is no different
than teaching some man-made doctrine
because we "feel in our heart that it is
true." God intends us to have a
rational, thinking faith. He
desires that we put the same effort
toward defending Christianity as we do
defending specific doctrines.
In 1
Peter 3:15, we are told to "sanctify
Christ as Lord in your hearts, always
being ready to make a defense to
everyone who asks you to give an account
for the hope that is in you, yet with
gentleness and reverence." Paul
echoed this exhortation when he told
Timothy to "preach the word, be ready in
season and out of season" (1 Tim
4:2). Likewise, Jude said that we
are to "earnestly contend for the faith
once delivered unto the saints" (vs.
3). The essential message behind
all these statements is the same: we as
Christians must be ready to defend our
faith. This may mean explaining to
others why it is reasonable to believe
in God. This may entail dealing
with certain arguments against
this. We may be called upon to
refute false religious teachings, such
as false teaching about human
origins. We cannot be effective as
a defender of the faith if we are not
prepared to respond to the growing
skepticism and secularism that is so
prevalent in our society.
We must
recognize that the Bible, in and of
itself, could not be produced by mere
mortals. We must understand that
there is limitless evidence in nature of
God's existence. And we must
understand that the Bible fully reveals
God to us, while also revealing His
perfect will for us. Often
in the Lord's church, we are very good
at explaining why we worship without
instruments. We can show numerous
verses regarding the biblical teaching
about baptism, the total authority of
Scripture, the truth about Heaven and
Hell. These are all good and noble
topics to study and things that every
Christian should know. However, I
believe that, by the statements of Paul,
Peter and Jude, we have as great a duty
to defend the elementary principles upon
which Christianity is built. Our
beliefs that God is, and that the Bible
is His Word, serve as the very
foundation upon which our faith in
Christ rests. We must be ready to
defend that foundation before men if
they are to accept all what is built
upon that foundation.
-
Stefano R. Mugnaini preaches for the
Cairo church of Christ in Cairo, GA, He
may be contacted at ssmugnaini@syrupcity.net
__________________________via BulletinGold
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