Visitation

The New Testament teaches that every age group of the church is important and each group has their duties and each group needs encouragement. Paul made it clear to Titus that no group was to be overlooked. Paul gave the duties of the older men in Titus 2:2. In verse three he gave directives to older women and beginning in verse 4 he gave directions to younger women. Beginning in verse 6 he instructed the younger men and beginning in verse 9 he gave directives to bondslaves. No group was to be ignored as each group has responsibilities and needs encouragement to fulfill those duties. This week make an effort to go visit and spend time with those in the different age groups. Learn from those older than you how to live a godly life. Share wisdom with those who are younger than you and share your experiences. Encourage each other and do not all any group of the Lord’s body to be overlooked.

Sacrificial Giving

In 1876, a survey was completed which showed people only considered 16 items to be absolute necessities in life. Only 84 items were listed as items of comfort. In 1976 the same survey was completed, but the number of necessities had increased to 92 items (superseding the number of comfort items in 1876), and the number of comfort items was 484. Can you imagine what the numbers would be now in 2012? We are an extremely blessed people. As you consider these numbers and the items you own which are necessity and comfort items, consider your weekly contribution to God.

Would Paul use you as an example of giving as he did the Macedonians to the Corinthians (II Corinthians 8 and 9)? Are you giving generously, purposefully, and freely? Worship to God includes giving as you have prospered. This Sunday, instead of reaching in your pocket and giving the spare cash you have on you, or instead of just giving the same amount you have for years, consider your worship of giving and purpose in your heart to give generously, freely, and cheerfully just as the Macedonians did (II Corinthians 9:6, 7).

Travis White

Let your Light Shine

As Christians, we are to let our light shine in the world (Matthew 5:14). However, there are many who allow their Christianity to be hidden. Essentially, our candle is lit when we are baptized and become Christians, but many then hide their light under a basket (15). Some hide their light because they are ashamed and do not want to be judged. Others hide their light as an effort to be humble, as they do not seek the credit for their good deeds. Yet we are called to allow our good works to be seen (16). Not that we get the credit, but so we can glorify God (16). This week make an active effort to glorify God by allowing your light to shine through your good works. Place your Christianity on a lampstand this week for all to see (15).

Deeds of the Righteous

In Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew records the words of Jesus as Jesus describes a judgment scene. The righteous are the sheep who are placed to Jesus’ right and receive eternal life (Matthew 25:32-33, 46). The goats are placed to Jesus’ left and these were cast away into eternal punishment (Matthew 25:33, 46). No doubt all those reading desire eternal life and to be considered righteous, but if one is going to do this, he/she must be doing the deeds of the righteous.

Jesus described the deeds of the righteous as those who feed the hungry (35), gave a drink to the thirsty (35), showed hospitality to strangers (35), clothed the naked (36), and who visited those in prison (36). We all want to hear those words of Jesus as he calls us by name and says “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (34), but if we are going to hear these words then we must also be doing the deeds of the righteous. This week find someone who is hungry and thirsty and is without food and drink and provide him/her with proper nourishment. Perhaps you know of a family who cannot afford to purchase clothes for their kids, give their children clothing. If there is a guest at worship services this week and you do not know this person, invite them to your home for a warm meal and spend some time getting to know them. Call the local jail and ask about their jail ministry program and how you can get involved in studying with the inmates and communicating with them with letters. The world is full of those who need food and water, clothes and shelter, and inmates who are in and out of the jail cells in your community. Take the time this week to do the deeds of the righteous, and if you do you will surely get your reward in heaven of eternal life.

Travis White

Be Slow to Speak

We live in a society where we are quick to share our thoughts. Twitter and Facebook consist of individuals posting their daily thoughts concerning their life. Technology has brought about the information age and each person believes they know whats best and they have all wisdom. Yet the truth of the matter is that “he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19). Think about it, when you are speaking, the only things you hear is that which you already know, but when you are listening, you may hear something you already know, but there is always the chance you hear something you never knew. This week, be slow to speak and be quick to hear, you may be surprised about how much you will learn and how much closer this exercise will bring you to those around you.

A Ready Defense

As Christians, we have a hope (a confident expectation) of going to heaven when Christ returns. Many in the world do not understand why we have such confidence in our eternal home and do not understand why we place our entire beliefs in one book. Peter wrote, 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” (I Peter 3:15). In a world where so many place little to no stock in the words of the Bible, and in a world which teaches there is no God and no absolute truths, it is vitally important to be able to take hold of an opportunity a friend, co-worker, or stranger may give you as they ask you why you believe you are going to heaven? Why believe in the words of the Bible?

There are many “Christian Evidences” one could use to say why they believe in the Bible. You may point to archaeology, teleological and cosmological arguments, or fulfilled prophecy. While all of these are great, consider the power of “Scientific Foreknowledge” in the Bible. If you are not familiar with these, then do some studying but these are powerful arguments which prove the Bible came from God. Only God would be able to state scientific truths thousands of years before they were ever discovered. There are several of these truths found in the pages of the Bible and none will be discussed at length here, but consider three of these truths and how using these to give a defense can lead to a greater Bible Study.

First notice Genesis 17:12. In this verse, God commands Abraham to circumcise Issac on the eighth day. Scientifically this is the perfect day to perform a surgery (you will have to do the research to understand why), but how would Moses or Abraham have known this? Because God spoke to them and recorded this truth. So offer this verse as a defense of “Scientific Foreknowledge” proving the inspiration of the Bible, but then state that if the Bible was right about when to have a major surgery then the Bible must be right about God keeping His promise to Abraham to multiply his seed, that being Christ (also in Genesis 17). This is the perfect way to make the discussion a lesson about Christ. Secondly notice, Isaiah 40:22. In this verse, Isaiah states that the earth was a circle, something which we know today, but in his time they believed the world was flat. If Isaiah was right about the earth then wouldn’t he also be right about the voice of John the Baptist who pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God which would take away the sins of the world (also in Isaiah 40)? Once again, make your defense for Scripture but then take the study to a study of Christ. Finally, notice Psalm 8:8. In this verse, David writes concerning the “paths of the seas”. Do your research to see how this is an example of “Scientific Foreknowledge”, but once again after giving your defense of the Bible’s inspiration, you can study Psalm 8 and talk about Christ being God but being made flesh (lower than the angels) and all things being placed in subjection to Him.

This week, study a few examples of “Scientific Foreknowledge” in the Bible, and then memorize this information in order to be “ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you”, but then be ready to start in that same text in order to teach them about God, His word, and the sacrifice of Jesus to make forgiveness of sins possible. Remember, had these texts been wrong in these scientific areas then one would have reason to doubt the spiritual areas of these texts, but since the words have always been proven true in areas of scientific truths, one can be assure that they are also true in areas of spiritual truths.

Travis White

Study One – Practice One – Teach One

I graduated from University of Tennessee in 2009 with a bachelors degree in Sports Medicine. In the field of medicine there is a saying: Watch One – Do One – Teach One. Watch One – For example, our professor would teach us the anatomy of the human knee and how to provide appropriate rehab to an injured knee. As students we would watch and learn this process. Do One – The students would then demonstrate they had paid attention by performing/doing the process themselves. We would palpate the injured knee, diagnose the problem, and then administer the appropriate rehab techniques. Teach One – To show we had a full understanding of the human knee and the process, we would then teach others how to do what we just learned and performed. Not only do we repeat the performance of diagnosing the injury and prescribing treatment, but we explain to the class how and why we are doing what we are doing. The principle of Watch One – Do One – Teach One proved to be a great learning exercise, a learning exercise which is described in the Bible

Ezra 7:10 reads, “for Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel”. Notice, after Ezra received the Scriptures, the text says he “set his heart to study the law of the Lord”. Ezra purposed in his heart to study and learn from God’s word, in other words, Ezra Watched One. Not only did Ezra Watch One, but he also Did One. After studying the law, Ezra put the words of the law into effect in his life, he practiced the law. Finally, after learning about what the law taught, and after applying it to his life, Ezra then Taught One. Ezra began teaching others of what he learned from God’s word. Christians today should follow Ezra’s example of Study One – Practice One – Teach One. This week spend some time studying God’s word. Take what you learn and put it into practice and then teach someone else what you learned, and don’t forget to tell them to Study One – Practice One – Teach One.

Travis White

Abhoring Evil and Clinging to Good

In Romans 12:9, Paul writes to Christians in Rome instructing them to “Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good”. In the following verses after this statement, Paul then gives examples of what a Christian should obtain from and what a Christian should cling to. Take out your Bible, get out some pens, and make notes of what God would have us to do and not to do in our Christian life.

Paul begins verse 9 by saying to “abhor what is evil”, and then in the following verses gives us four evils in which to avoid. In Romans 12:11, Paul gives us the first way to abhor from evil, by “not lagging behind in diligence”. The second evil is then found in verse 14 as Paul instructs one to “bless and do not curse”. Christians are “not to be haughty in mind” (16), making up our third evil to avoid, and akin to that, our final evil is to “not be wise in your own estimation” (16).

Paul not only instructs us of how to abhor evil, but he also gives us fourteen examples of how to “cling to what is good”. In verse 10 he gives us the first two as he instructions Christians to “be devoted to one another in brotherly love” and to “give preference to one another in honor”. Third on our list, he instructs us to be “fervent in spirit” (11), and fourth to always be “serving the Lord” (11). Paul continues in verse 12 giving us the next three good things to cling to by saying “rejoicing in hope”, “persevering in tribulation”, and “devoted to prayer”. Eighth he says to be “contributing to the needs of the saints”, and ninth Christians are to be “practicing hospitality” (13). A tough one to swallow, he then tells Christians to “bless those who persecute you” (14). The final four areas of good in which the Christian should cling can be seen in verses 15 and 16 as he writes, “Rejoice with those who rejoice” (15), “weep with those who weep” (15), “be of the same mind toward on another” (16), and “associate with the lowly” (16).

As Christians who are attempting to excel still more, this week abhor evil and cling to good. Study these lists given to us by Paul and make it your purpose this week to cling to as many of these good areas as you can, and keep away from the evil. This is holiness at its best, to love what is good with perfect love and to hate what is evil with perfect hatred.

Travis White

Stability of Your Faith in Christ

In Colossians chapter 2, Paul wants the Colossians to have a “full assurance of understanding” (2) and in this chapter, he warns them of those who are attempting to keep them from having that full assurance of understanding. In verse 4 he warns them of those who will “delude” them, in verse 8 he warns them of those who will try to take them “captive”, in verse 16 he warns them of those who try to “rule” or “judge” over them, and in verse 18 he warns them of those who are “defrauding” them of their prize.

As Paul writes concerning those who delude the Colossians with persuasive argument (4), he then tells them to hold onto what they already had been taught (1:5-7, 23). They had already received Christ, so Paul tells them to “walk in Him” being fully assured and not allowing others to delude them (6). In verse seven he then gives them four ways they are to walk in Him. The first way to walk in Him being “firmly rooted” (7). A tree which is firmly rooted in the ground, is steadfast and unmovable and this is how the Colossians should be in their faith (see 1:23). The second way to walk in Him is to be “built up” (7). Christians are to be growing in their faith and being built up in Him. If you are growing in the Lord and being built up in Him and His word then others will be less likely to be able to take you away from Him. The third way to walk in Him is to be “established in your faith” (7). Akin to the last two, not only are we to be firmly rooted and be built up in the Lord, but we are also to be established in our faith. This is not in our own personal faith and our own personal truth of what we believe is right, but Paul says be “established in your faith, just as you were instructed” (7). In chapter one Paul explained how the Colossians had “heard” the word of truth (the gospel) (5), not only had they “heard” it, but they “understood” it (6) and “learned it” (7), and it was this word of truth that was “the hope of the gospel” that they had “heard” (23). Paul wants them to be established in what they had heard, understood, and learned because their hope comes from what they had learned, and not from those who delude the truth with persuasive argument. Finally, Paul tells them to be “overflowing with gratitude”. One who is walking in the Lord should be firmly rooted, built up, established in the faith they have learned, and also be overflowing with gratitude.

As Christians, the world around us is going to be attempting to delude us from the truth with persuasive arguments, but we should have a full assurance of understanding of that which has been recorded for us in the Bible. We can never allow the world to take us away from the Bible’s simple truth, but we should always be walking in the Lord. “Walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude” (Colossians 2:6, 7). By doing this, we can have “the stability of [our] faith in Christ” (2:5).

No More Complaints

In the past weeks we have had much to say regarding Paul’s writings to the Philippians (See Practice Humility and The Power of Prayer). In his efforts to tell the Philippians how they should put others above self, he instructs them to “do all things without grumbling or disputing” (Philippians 2:14). He had just finished giving our Lord as an example of one who humbled Himself and then gives them this command.

Not only does he instruct Christians to do all things without complaining but he gives them the reason why by saying “that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation” (2:15). The world is constantly unhappy, displeased, and unsatisfied with their lives and thus they grumble and complain. The life of the Christian should be different. Not that there will not be bad or hard times in life, because there most certainly will be, but the perspective of the Christian should be different and thus they should not sound like the world.

As Christians we should be seeking to win others to Christ, but if we are complaining as much as the world, then what incentive is there for them to become a Christian? Paul addresses this very issue as he declares not only is the world crooked and perverse, but Christians are to “appear as lights in the world” (2:15). Have you met those who never seem to say anything negative or bad but always are cheerful and have a smile on their face? These people stand out and that’s exactly what the Christian is to do in the world. This week begin making a conscious effort each day not to grumble nor complain and when those around begin to notice and speak to you concerning your attitude, you will have the perfect opportunity to tell them your positive outlook on life is because of the great things your Lord God has done for you. Become lights in a dark world and begin by transforming your attitude and perspective on life.

Travis White