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Spiritual Flock
SPIRTUAL FLOCK, SHEPHERDS & SHEEP! Complied by Guy A Power, Elder Houston TX A qualified elder is no better in God’s judgment than should be every member of the church of the Lord. We list the following scriptures for your consideration. Qualifications of elders Qualifications of church member Rules well own house 1 Tim 3:4* 1. Husband head of the wife Eph 5:22* Children in subjection 1 Tim 3:4* 2. Rear in nurture of the Lord Eph 6:4* Faithful children Titus 1:6* 3. See Eph 6:4; Col 3:21* Husband of one wife Titus 1:6...
Must
This week I want us to consider the word “must.” Webster defines this word as “obligated, required, compelled.” Vine’s as “impersonal verb signifying it is necessary or one must.” Strong as “third person singular active present, it is necessary.” Then the finally dictionary Thayer defines this word as, “it is necessary, there is need of it, it behooves, is right and proper.” The word “must is used 132 times in the King James Version of the Bible. The word that is translated “must” is used 104 times in the New Testament. This word is translated...Continue reading
Children Qualification for an Elder
Another word that will/has to be dealt with is that of children and the eldership. Titus 1:6 says, “If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.” What does children mean? Is that just one or is it ten? If a man were better suited for the work of an elder because he has more than one child, wouldn’t ten make him even better suited? Where would one draw the line as to how many or how few? Let us notice more. Genesis 21:7 “And she...Continue reading
Faithful
While on vacation several people asked me about this word, what does it mean? I thought this would be something that we could do in the bulletin this year is to define words in our Bibles. There will be several helps, really dictionaries that will help us. One is Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. Another is Thayer’s Greek – English Lexicon of the New Testament. Another is Strong’s Concordance, which has a dictionary in the back of it. Of course there will be the context of the word that will help us to...Continue reading
For All of Us in a Hurry
Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone…. Fourth time in as many months. How could a guy get caught so often? When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only partially. He let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard. Maybe some other car will tweak his backside with a mirror. The cop was stepping out of his car, the big pad in hand. Bob? Bob from church? Jack sunk farther into his trench coat. This was worse than...
All This for a “Dollar an Hour”
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn’t even touch college tuition. But $160,140 isn’t so bad if you break it down. It translates into $8,896.66 a year, $741.38 a month, or $171.08 a week. That’s a mere $24.24 a day! Just over a dollar an hour. Still, you might think the best financial advice says don’t have children if you want to be “rich.” It is just the opposite. What do you...
Does this Seem Ridiculous?
“Hello…Yes…Oh, you’re Johnny’s teacher. I’ve been meaning to call you…No; he isn’t planning to be in school this year. You see he has so much work to do at the church – he has Bible school lessons, church services, youth activities and such takes up his time; then there are daily devotionals at home and other interests, so there isn’t time left for school… Well, yes I know that school is important, and I know that you are doing a fine job with the kids in this community – and I’ve been intending to write...Continue reading
Christianity: A “Daily” Perspective
Bob Patterson It does not take long (even for the casual reader of the New Testament) to recognize the importance that is placed upon such terms now, today, or daily! Most of us look at our schedules and calendars, and we find that our lives have become regimented by the demands placed on us at the work place, appointments here, doing this, doing that, going here, traveling there, pick-up this, deliver that, a meeting here, and a deadline there! If we are not extremely careful we can become like the one in James 4:13-15, who...Continue reading
Make Today Count!
Allen Webster A plaque marking Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace near Hodgenville, Kentucky, records this scrap of conversation: “Any news down t’ the village, Ezry?” “Well, Squire McLain’s gone t’ Washington t’ see Madison swore in, and ol’ Spellman tell me this Bonaparte fella has captured most o’ Spain. What’s new out here, neighbor?” Nuthin’, nuthin’ a tall, ‘cept fer a new baby born t’ Tom Lincoln’s, Nothin’ ever happens out here.” Life’s great moments rarely receive a glance from the world. Positive things go unnoticed by the masses while negative events make the news. If you...Continue reading
Silencing The Lamb
Glenn Alexander I’m afraid the voice of our dear Savior is being heard less and less in the worship services in our brotherhood. Dire predictions have surfaced in recent weeks. Of great concern are the words of Ron Cook in the Sunday edition of The Tennessean dated, August 29, 1999. Forecasting looming changes in our worship as in introduction of instrumental music he said, “Instrumental music is already apart of youth events that happen at churches. Teenagers love Christian music. Music is a fact of life. It’s inevitable.” Ray Waddle, who wrote the newspaper article,...Continue reading