May 2010, Gospel Advocate “Spiritual but not Religious.”

Justin Rogers:

 

Reference May 2010, Gospel Advocate "Spiritual but not Religious."

 

Interesting article. I try to look behind the response. An example is when you ask a child a question and they say "don't know." They know the answer but they have found that if they answer the question another question will follow. If they don't know the questions stop.  So the answer "don't know" does not mean they lack the knowledge they just are not interested in continuing this discussion.

 

I believe when the answer is Spiritual but Not Religious it means the assembly where you mostly sit and listen is not acceptable. Young people want to do something. They want to experience what it feels like to help someone, to teach someone.

 

Worship is serving others. Worship is not singing to each other, not praying for ourselves, not contributing for our own comfort but serving others. As Jesus did, as Jesus would do today.

 

My experience has been that the only reason one is removed from the "prayer list" is when they die. Why do our denominational friends believe God heals and answers prayers while my experience is he does not? For 45 years I have never seen anyone come off a prayer list because a serious illness was cured. Apparently God can handle a slight fever but has problems curing cancers.

 

Charlie Brown was shooting his bow and arrow. When he shot an arrow he would go up and draw a circle around it. Lucy asked him why he was doing that. Charlie said, "This way I never miss." We do that with prayer and Gods' response to prayer. Young adults don't want to settle for that. The Bible says the prayer of a righteous man avails much. My experience apparently has been to never know a righteous man because I have never seen where prayer does much good. But we continue to draw our circles.

 

Worship is not singing to each other, praying for ourselves, contributing for our own comfort, listening to an entertaining speech. We have memorial services all the time for friends who have died so calling the Lord's Supper worship is a stretch.

 

Young people do not want to settle for what we have settled for. Sit and listen is not acceptable to them. Spiritual but not religious does not necessarily mean separation but change. Change means inactivity to activity.

 

But as before, interesting article.

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com  
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

You are getting old when you just can't stand people who are intolerant.

Children and Sex

On the subject of children and sex this is a one discussion I never hear.

Throughout most of the 19th century, the minimum age of consent for sexual intercourse in many of the states was 10 years old. In Delaware it was seven; as late as 1930 twelve states allowed boys as young as 14 and girls as young as 12 to marry with parental consent.

Our laws say a girl under the age of 16 cannot consent to sex but if she becomes pregnant she can consent to aborting her parents' grandchild.

The transition between childhood and adulthood is much longer today than it was less than one hundred years ago. By the time a boy was a seasoned seventeen or eighteen, he was ready to start his own family. A girl became a woman by the time she reached childbearing age; twelve, thirteen, fourteen or fifteen and was often considered old enough to marry. The transition from childhood to adulthood was so short that adolescence---at least as the distinct stage of life we now consider it---hardly existed.

Today the traditional determinations of adulthood---the establishment of occupation and family---are routinely postponed until after college. With the period of childhood innocence seeming shorter and shorter, we've created a new ten-or-twelve-or-more-years-long designation, a no-man's land (or no-woman's land) we term adolescence.

We have stretched adolescence further than any time in history. We are fighting, nature and hormones. We are not going to win so what are we going to do?

Sunday school

Growing an adult Bible study class is not easy, but there are some simple steps to help grow class attendance:

• Make your lesson active not passive, focus on one or two questions per lesson. Make it a question that really doesn't have wrong answers.
• Find people to take care of the needs of each class member. Care group leaders take care of five or six people. The care group leader will call each person each week to encourage them to come to class or to find out why they haven't been coming to class.
• Grow from within. Class members invite others to our class.

Use of the Church Treasury

The example for what we do concerning giving (what we call worship) was for the poor saints in Jerusalem. We have changed that to using the funds mostly for our own benefit. Helping the poor appears to not be an option whether they be in or out of the called out. Preachers, buildings, secretaries, church supplies, pews etc are not addressed in the bible making them non biblical. Not wrong, just not biblical. Being not biblical means we can do whatever we like. Our (worship) contribution should go to helping the poor.That's what the purpose was for the collection we use as an example. The purpose for a Sunday collection then was for convenience which has been made law. Does someone see Pharisee?

All members of an organization should be willing to support the activities of that organization. When the leadership decides on an activity it is a reasonable expectation the members of that group will support the activities. That is reason enough to keep the membership informed and involved. Of course the organization has or at least most organizations have a limit to their funds and that limits what the organization can do.

How Much?

I've suggested before that the Bible appears to promote a communal style of living more than a capitalism life style. If I remember correctly you disagreed.  When we look at examples in Acts of how the early church functioned,  see verses below, you cannot say we operate as they did. Being willing to help is not the same level  of sharing as we read about in Acts. How much can we hold back and still have all things in common?

Acts 2:44-45   

    And all who believed were together and had all things in common.  And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 

Acts 4:32   

    Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com  
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

You are getting old when you just can't stand people who are intolerant.

How Do We Know

Matthew tells a story of a man coming to Jesus and asking what he had to do to have eternal life. Jesus' response was to keep the Law. When the man said he did that Jesus told him he should sell what he had, give the money to the poor and come follow Jesus. In the story of the prodigal son the youngest son asked for his share of the inheritance. His father gave him the share which was 2/3rds of the value of the estate. Must have not put the father into the poor house because he continued to have servants etc. So when Jesus told the man to sell what he had and give to the poor I think it reasonable to understand it did not mean a totality of his possessions.

Luke tells the story of the farmer who had so much harvest he built bigger barns instead of sharing. How do those compare with us today investing our money instead of sharing it?

Jesus told his disciples, which today are us, to not be anxious about their life, what they will eat, nor about their  body, what they would put on.  We discount that and say that Jesus does not want us to be poor. Who would pay the preacher or pay for the building if no one had any money?

Jesus also said whomever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 

How do we know when Jesus means what he says and does not mean what he says?

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com  
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

You are getting old when you just can't stand people who are intolerant.

When we use common English in place of church words some concepts are easier to comprehend.

• Saved by Grace turns out to be saved by the kindness of God. 
• Saved by Faith is saved by the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 
• Preach the Gospel is preach the Good News. 
• Baptism of the Holy Spirit is immersed by or in the Holy Spirit. 
• Confessing Jesus before man is acknowledging Jesus before man.  

Maybe we do not understand the Bible because we prefer to speak a different language than that of the Bible.

Church Growth Should Be Outside In

While there are nearly 100 million unchurched people in the U.S, more than 80% of the current growth registered by Protestant churches is biological or transfer growth. If the gospel really is good news, then why do most Christians avoid evangelism? 

Christ Like

When I hear the United States is or was a Christian nation I wonder which of our actions mimicked Christ. Was it our invasion of Iraq to save Kuwait from being conquered by their neighbor or was it our doing nothing while genocide occurred in Rwanda and Sudan? Could it have been our practice of slavery or possibly segration of the races?

Worship is Serving

John tells us:

 

John 13:3

    Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 

 

What did Jesus do with this divine authority? Again, John tells us,

 

John 13:4-5

    (Jesus) rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 

 

Possessing all power in heaven and earth and knowing he is about to be betrayed and die a horrible death---and what does Jesus do? He assumes the position of a common household servant and washes the disciples' dirty, smelly feet---the very people he knows will betray and forsake him before morning!

 

This is what it means to follow Jesus. If you have all power in heaven and earth, use it to wash the feet of someone you know will betray you!  

 

Several hours later the same power was manifested in the Garden of Gethsemane. As temple guards were about to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, the slave of the high priest (John 18:10).

 

The world perpetuates violence but Jesus did not come to continue that. So, again, far from using his divine authority to fight back, calling legions of angels and forcefully controlling his enemy's behavior, Jesus used his divine authority to heal the ear of a man who came to arrest him. Jesus example is one of unconditional love by serving him, by healing him. Jesus was saying, "though you seek to do me harm I will serve you and heal you." Insofar as we trust this kind of power and think and act accordingly, we are bearers of the kingdom of God. Insofar as we do not we are simply participants in the kingdom of the world.

 

Paul wrote to the church in Rome,

 

Romans 12:1  

    I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (service). 

 

If we want to show homage to Jesus, to God, we practice servant leadership. We follow Jesus' example

John 14:9  

    Jesus said to him, "… Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. …? 

 

and obey his commands.

 

Worship is serving others. Worship is not singing to each other, not praying for ourselves, not contributing for our own comfort but serving others. As Jesus did, as Jesus would do today.

 

 

 

 

 

Re: Shock on NBC this morning

People who believe America is "one nation under God" may be inclined to view government as the handmaiden of God and inclined to rely on it to carry out the work God has called the church to carry out. More specifically, as with most other Americans, many Christians assume it's the church's job to take care of people's spiritual needs and the government's job to take care of people's physical needs. We preach the gospel while government is supposed to care for the poor, the homeless, the oppressed, the disabled, or the sick. Many deny they believe this but based on how the church acts which is always a better indication of true belief than profession the point is undeniable. With some exceptions, the Church of Christ as a whole is not known for its willingness to assume responsibility for these areas. I believe it fair to suggest this is due to the fact that we trust government to carry out these duties.

It is good for government to take care of people's physical needs but it is not a good thing for Christians to rely on government to carry out this function and thus limit themselves to ministering to people's spiritual needs.

Many Americans turn to the Old Testament more than the New Testament in their understanding of America and of the role of the church within America. They turn to models of Old Testament "watchmen" as in Ezekiel and of John the Baptist to understand what they are supposed to be doing in the culture instead of to the model of Jesus. Instead of living to sacrifice for others, we become the official "sin-pointer-outers." Instead of gaining a reputation of being humble servants who manifest Jesus-quality love, we gain a reputation for being moralistic and self-righteous. Thus as the Pharisees did,we drive off the prostitutes and tax-collectors rather than attracting them, as Jesus did.

There is no biblical basis for separating a person's physical needs from their spiritual ones.

Since Jesus did not fight to maintain Israel's place as God's people we cannot presume he has switched his favoritism to the United States.

Intellectually understanding versus Application

Recently in several classes we have discussed "not judging others."  We are told we will be judged with the same mercy we judge others. Since we will be judged with the same mercy we judge our judging must have some affect on the judged.

 

When Jesus had John write to those seven churches, he did not instruct or even encourage the "obedient" to leave the "disobedient?" In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote: "Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand." James wrote: "There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?" In each case the intended audience was people who had been immersed for the remission of their sins.

 

The non-instrumental division of the Church of Christ has many divisions that refuse to associate with each other. By refusing to assemble with other divisions isn't one division showing they think the other(s) are wrong and therefore "lost." When one group of people immersed for the forgiveness of their sins refuses to assemble with another group or people immersed for the forgiveness of their sins aren't they judging them?

 

What is the judging we are not to do?

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com  
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"Telling shoeless people to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps is not only cruel, it's also pointless."
Martin Luther King

At What Point are we Allowed to Not Love but to Judge

Jesus told his disciples they were to love each other. Considering the individual continued to follow Jesus, at what point could he have done something that would permit the others to stop loving him?

 

When Jesus had John write to those seven churches, he did not instruct or even encourage the "obedient" to leave the "disobedient?"

 

Jesus told the people they should not judge others. In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote: "Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand." James wrote: "There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?"

 

At what point are we allowed to condemn others to Hell and therefore refuse to associate with them?

Nehemiah's Prayer

The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

 

"O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your dispersed be under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.' They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man."

 

Ezra's Prayer

Last night we discussed Ezra's prayer. Sometimes when you take the verse numbers out and let the continuity flow the result is interesting.

 

At that time those who had come from captivity, the returned exiles, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and as a sin offering twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD. They also delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps and to the governors of the province Beyond the River, and they aided the people and the house of God.

 

After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said,

 

"The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost."

 

As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled. Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice. And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment and my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God, saying:

 

"O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as it is today. But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant and to give us a secure hold within his holy place that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery, for we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem.

 

And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments, which you commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, 'The land that you are entering, to take possession of it, is a land impure with the impurity of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations that have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness. Therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.' And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this, shall we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? O LORD the God of Israel, you are just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of this."

 

While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly. 

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com  
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"Telling shoeless people to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps is not only cruel, it's also pointless."
Martin Luther King

Facebook and the Church

Part of the issue has been created by our lazy speech. Immersion does not make one a Christian. A Christian is one who follows Jesus. Following Jesus requires obeying his Commands. According to the author of Hebrews following Jesus includes assembling with others who have been immersed and encouraging them to love and good works.  Obeying Jesus' commands requires one to read and to study the Bible to know his commands. Anyone who has not been immersed as shown in examples in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles and does not assemble with fellow believers is not Christian. Facebook will have no affect on Christians but it will give an out to pretenders.

Prayer in Public Places

Prayer is not a weapon nor is it a demonstration of one's piety, nor is it competition; it is communication with God. And God said:

"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." Matthew 6:6

The only thing a Christian should bring to their job are honesty, ethics, morality. Specifically what is expected to come from saying the "Lord's Prayer?"

 

Loaning our Building

Concerning playing a CD or DVD or MP3 etc with instrumental music as apparently happened during the recent Ladies get together in our building:

 

While I do not advocate the use of instruments during our assemblies it is not because I believe it to be wrong but because I cannot find it in the New Testament. I am convinced introducing anything not found in the Bible especially if it causes a division is wrong and just might be the greatest wrong.

 

I understood someone from our congregation was going to be present during the activities. For future reference should they be authorized to stop unwanted behavior? Should the requesting congregation be told we will stop any activity we consider sinful? Is someone going to add to the rules on the Building Use form? Will those Ladies be permitted to use if they submit a request? It will happen again.

 

If they are not permitted to play an instrumental DVD or CD along with their singing because the activity is considered worship and one of our men is present can those women make announcements or lead prayers? Or do we take the position many take that allowing a congregation to use our building does not suggest we agree with everything they will be doing?

 

Does He or Doesn't He

Hi Al,

 

Am I the only one who sees us as a bit inconsistent? We say God puts opportunities in our path but then we have discussions such as yesterday concerning how to determine if God put the opportunity in our path or Satan or maybe it just popped up. In the past I said it would be a long time before GSMCOC walked by faith. Not being knowledgeable of the finances I am not sure but from the general tone of the discussion we may be getting close to, as they say, putt our money where our mouth is. The men obviously have never been in a situation where they were told they have -0-. Recently Gary Dick and I came in contact with a man in the parking lot ( I forget why it was just he and I) with the typical sob story. We both gave him something. God either gives us opportunities or he does not. God will either help us to be discerning or he will not. Might be worthwhile to decide what we believe. No one responded to Richard Sortore's question concerning Grace. When everything is in sight it is easy to walk by faith. 

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com  
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"Telling shoeless people to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps is not only cruel, it's also pointless."
Martin Luther King

Jesus Taught a Message of Repentance

Jesus taught a message of repentance, forgotten or ignored today. God has historically called for people to repent, to change their lives, to follow him. Peter wrote: 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." On Pentecost Peter told the people: Acts 2:38 "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Repentance was the most prominent characteristic of the preaching of the prophets. Repentance meant to return to active obedience to the Law of Moses. The standard of repentance was then and is today God's word. Jesus taught: Matthew 4:17 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" and Luke 3:10-14 "'Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise." Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, 'Teacher, what shall we do?' And he said to them, 'Collect no more than you are authorized to do.' Soldiers also asked him, 'And we, what shall we do?' And he said to them, 'Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.'"

Repentance meant polygamists were called to monogamy, drunkards were called to sobriety, homosexuals were called to behave according to God's law, idolaters were called to worship the true God, those who practiced Judaism were called to submit to the Christ. Repentance meant and means to leave a sinful lifestyle or ungodly religious practices and turn to God and His will. These are not works they are the way one lives their life. Examples in the Bible show one must be able to repent in order to be immersed and receive forgiveness of their sins.

We talk about the symbolism of immersion but one fact remains, examples found in the Bible indicate it is only by being immersed can we receive forgiveness of our sins. It is only by following the Christ that we can be saved. One does not join the church, one does not become Christian when one is immersed for the forgiveness of their sins God adds them to the number previously immersed, the saved. One becom a Christian when they follow the Christ, when they follow the Christ's teachings. As on Pentecost, the question is not how do I join the church or how do I become Christian, it is: Acts 2:37 "when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Or as the jailer: Acts 16:29-30 "And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" As on Pentecost the answer is: Acts 2:38 "And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" and as with the jailer: Acts 16:31-33 "'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.' And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family."

Anything else does not work.

Relying on grace is not enough. Jude 1:4-8 "certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire."

While God wants everyone to be saved not all will be. Unless God is willing to do away with the free-will of His creation, some will be lost.

The Lost Generation

Don Campbell:

Don Campbell:

 

Reference your article The Lost Generation in the March 2010 Gospel Advocate. I enjoyed your article but I have a question.

 

You mention "Today we are confronted with a worldly church ---not in the 19th century sense of a dancing, smoking, card-playing, mixed bathing church but in the sense that the church has turned into just another secular institution with vague spiritual aims."

 

Since before Christ each generation has thought the following generation was going to Hell. Today the church generally accepts behavior considered anathema by earlier generations. Could it be we so decadent we do not realize how evil we are or could it be the next generation is not as secularized as you might think and why? Consider your article as if you had written in during the early 20th century about the direction the church was going at the time. The church as we are today.

 

Just a question.

 

Good article.

 

My grandmother on my mother's side was a Campbell and I was born in 1943. I mention the year in case the year in your email refers to the year in which you were born.

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com  
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"Telling shoeless people to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps is not only cruel, it's also pointless."
Martin Luther King

Was that an inch or a millimeter

On December 11, 1998 NASA launched the Mars Climate Orbiter at a cost exceeding $327 million. The orbiter carried a wide range of equipment to observe weather data from mars and to relay the information back to Earth. Nine months later, the spacecraft  reached Mars. It began an orbit of the planet but was almost immediately lost in a catastrophic mishap. The contractor providing the software that steered the Orbiter used English units of measurement whereas NASA built the spacecraft to receive instructions in the metric system. Before the error was detected the Orbiter flew too close to the surface of Mars and was burned up in the Martian atmosphere. Bummer....

 

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com  
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"Telling shoeless people to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps is not only cruel, it's also pointless."
Martin Luther King

The Old Testament Scriptures

In the NT when scriptures are mentioned they are referring to the OT. Paul "powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus." Luke wrote that "a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures."

Do you suppose if Christians were competent in the Scriptures, the OT Scriptures, the church would be more evangelistic?

Faith / Works

One of the problems we have when discussing bible topics is that we use bible words which mean nothing and anything. Faith is such a word.

The Bible defines faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, based on the KJV identifies all words translated ‘faith” in James as #4102. #4102 is defined as conviction (of a religious truth, or the truthfulness of God, or a religious teacher) especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstract constancy in such a profession’ by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: ---assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.

Webster’s New World College Dictionary defines faith as: 1) unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence; 2) unquestioning belief in God, religious tenets etc. 3) a religion or system of religious beliefs; 4) anything believed; 5) complete trust, confidence, or reliance; 6) allegiance to some person or thing; loyalty.

When James says faith without works is dead all he is saying is our assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen have not affected our lives at all. Our reliance upon Christ for salvation has not changed us in the least. Our unquestioning belief in God has not had any affect on us. How can anyone believe in God, rely on Christ for salvation, have assurance and hope without it causing major changes in our life? James is saying it cannot.

When Paul writes to the church in Corinth “we walk by faith, not by sight” he uses the same word James uses. To walk by faith is to walk by our assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen; our reliance upon Christ for salvation; our unquestioning belief in God. To do that our lives of necessity will have been changed. When we walk by sight we are walking as we are able to see. We are relying on ourselves not God the Father not the Son and not the Holy Spirit.

When Paul writes to the church in Ephesus “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Again the word translated faith is #4102. Instead of walking by faith we are saved through faith. The word translated “through” is #1223 in Strong’s Concordance. #1223 is defined as: denoting the channel of an act; because of; by; for (cause); by reason of; for sake; that, thereby, therefore. “Works” is #2041, (to work), toil, (as an effort or occupation); by implication an act: ---deed, doing, labor, work.

We are saved through our unquestioning belief in God, our reliance upon Christ for salvation which causes changes to occur in our lives. We are to be a channel where God’s will may be done on earth (in our lives) as it is in Heaven.

The Ten Commandments or the Great Commandment

When we study the bible we should look through First-Century Glasses. That requires that we learn what the author had in mind and then understand what the people to whom he wrote understood the author to say.

Throughout his letters Paul refers to “us” referring to himself and the people with him while he is writing or the people to whom he is writing or mankind across all time. To understand Paul we must understand the us(s).

Paul wrote to the church in Rome “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” That is if we are children of God. He told the Christians in Corinth to “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” Reading it does not make it refer to us.

Not understanding the us(s) leads many to think they have the same background as Paul. Paul told Christians in Rome God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” It is possible that on the day Jesus was crucified Paul may have been one of the reasons most of the apostles were hiding. Jesus died for Paul while Paul was a sinner. Jesus died for me before I was.

Paul told the people of Galatia “Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian (schoolmaster) until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian (schoolmaster), for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”

That is correct for Paul and others of Jewish descendant of the time. Unlike Paul, Gentiles were never captive under. According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible which is based on the KJV classifies it as #3807 a boy-leader i.e. a servant whose office was to take the children to school; by implication a tutor; instructor, schoolmaster.

Today many people claiming to be Christian believe the Ten Commandments are part of their Christian heritage thus their strong views on Ten Commandments in government buildings and elsewhere.

In the beginning God had a relationship with Adam and Eve. Due to sin that relationship changed. Today we call it the Patriarchal Age. God dealt directly with the heads of families. When God chose Abraham-Isaac linage to provide for the Messiah the relationship changed for them and their descendants. There is nothing in the bible that indicates the relationship changed for everyone else so I must conclude the relationship remained as it had been. God dealt directly with heads of families as he had done from Adam to Abraham.

Until Cornelius, the people outside the linage of Abraham-Isaac continued with the same relationship to God as Abraham had before God told him to leave Ur. Paul defines that relationship in Romans. “. . .when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.” That is they do the moral aspects of the law that had been in affect from the beginning.

The law given to Moses did not affect them. The Patriarchal age did not end with the beginning of what we call the Mosaic age. It paralleled it and continued until Cornelius.The purpose of the law was to preserve a people and to prepare a people. Once God selected the Abraham-Isaac linage he had to work with them. Jesus, talking about marriage and divorce, said because of the hardness of the people’s heart God changed the rules intended from the beginning. Imagine the creator of everything had to bend to the stubborn will of his creation. Of course he could have destroyed his creation but unless he was to do away with free-will he had to bend enough to ensure a remnant would remain so the Messiah could be born. Once the Messiah was born the law had fulfilled its purpose. Once the Messiah had arrived God had no need to bend anymore. Understanding this might help folks understand how Jesus fulfilled the law. It might help them to understand that the same parts of the law that justified the gentiles when they did by nature the things of the law are in Jesus' teachings. Should help them to understand that there never were two plans and that Jesus is not Plan B.

Maybe then Christians would fight to have what Jesus considered the great commandment: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind; and a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself displayed in courthouses, school buildings, and other public places.

It just might help Christians understand the United States does not have to help Israel return to their promise land so Jesus can return.

Clarifying and understanding the us(s) may be a good first step for Christians better to understand their history as well as their relationship with God.

Accountable or Not Accountable, That is the Question.

Individuals must accept accountability for their actions. Trust is something that is easy to lose and very difficult to regain. In the long run all one has is their reputation. An individual is seen as reliable or not. If individuals will just do what they say they will do they will be head and shoulders above 99.9% of the people.

When we think of the leaders of GSMCOC do we see them as reliable? Can they be trusted to do what they say they will do? Do they accept accountability for their actions? Jesus told people to "Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'. . ." I understand that to mean we are to live so that whatever we say will be accepted as the truth; our character and life will give affirmation to what we say. Others should be satisfied to take our statements at face value.

If I understand the discussions in the Men's meeting concerning getting men to participate in the assemblies some or many are not reliable, cannot be trusted to do what they have agreed to do and will not inform the responsible individuals. The lack of response to the sound equipment training supports that conclusion.

As individuals and as a congregation will we be accountable for our actions? We have no choice. If we do not we cannot be trusted. Can anyone believe what we say?

Faith First

Before one can come to God, before God can open their heart, as it he did Lydda's the individual must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who seek him and wants to know the truth. That is pretty simplistic because if you did not believe he existed why would you want to do anything. 

 

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 

 

1 Cor. 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of

God. 

 

1 Cor. 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 

 

God will have to hide his eyes from my failures for me to make into Heaven. This is my reason for believing the only responsibility a congregation has is to facilitate, encourage, be cheerleaders for my efforts to accomplish my responsibilities. I forget her name but the one who got the award that Jesus had nothing to do with, she is perishing, she is not seeking, she does not believe God exists, there is nothing anyone can do for her until she decides to believe in something other than herself.

Bible Supported Prayer

 

Using the following verses:

 

Matthew 7:7  

    "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 

 

2 Thes. 2:9-12   

    The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,  [10] and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.  [11] Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,  [12] in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

The story of Job where God permitted Job's children to be killed as a test to Job. We can only imagine how Job's wife took those events.

 

I believe those verses and stories tells us that if we want to know how to be saved God will ensure that we find the way. If we do not, God just may use us as a test for someone he is attempting to strengthen. The key is asking, seeking, knocking, and loving truth.

 

 

Items with bible support:

 

Using the prayers of the apostles etc as examples.

 

For others as long as it does not violate their free will. God opening their heart will not happen unless that individual wants to know.

 

Ourselves if we love truth.

 

God to send someone seeking the kingdom of God to us.

 

Being used as instruments for him to accomplish his will.

 

The contents of the Lord's prayer as the relate to us.

 

God's will to be done and for him to help us accept whatever it is. Since all things work together for good for those who love the Lord why wouldn't be go along with his will.

 

We know he wants everyone to be saved. So we know he has already provided whatever needs to be done in that area. So praying for people whom we are willing to teach is a bible supported subject.

 

Having the boldness to keep teaching in the face of persecution.

 

James says we should pray without doubting. If we do not find support in the bible how can we not doubt. During the miraculous times that woman who touched the edge of his robe, Jesus said your faith has made you whole or something to that affect. Maybe praying with that kind of faith brings success.

 

Praying for our leaders both in the church and in the state so that we can live peaceable lives not so we can go on vacations but so we can teach about Jesus. Jesus' church spread like wildfire during and after WWII and during times of persecution.

 

That's probably enough to let you find something to challenge. Whatever we pray for we should look to see if the Bible supports it.

 

 

 

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com  
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"Fix the Problem, Don't Affix Blame."
John G. Miller

Otter Creek Church of Christ

Ray,

 

Reference the Otter Creek church: what they are doing is why the Church of Christ must have a forthright, Bible supported, discussion of our Sunday ritual. Like the Pharisees of old the Church of Christ claims its traditions are commanded by God.

 

Nowhere does the Bible support the contention that Sunday a day to worship. The Bible does not command worship nor are specific acts designated as acts of worship.

 

The human author of Hebrews said we assemble to encourage each other to love and good works. Assuming the human author was inspired the Holy Spirit says we assembly to encourage each other to love and good works.

 

What Otter Creek is doing is the future of the Church of Christ. What in the Bible suggests what they are doing is "sin?" Someone said to always be ready to give a reason for hope we have. I believe that means Bible supported reasons. When our grandchildren are our age the church will not be as it is today.

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com  
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it."
---Warren Buffett

Wrong Jungle! Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly effective People

Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success. Leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.

 

You can quickly grasp the important difference between the two if you envision a group of producers cutting their way through the jungle with machetes.  They're the producers, the problem solvers. They're cutting through the undergrowth, clearing it out.

 

The managers are behind them, sharpening their machetes, writing policy and procedure manuals, holding muscle development programs bringing in improved technologies and setting up working schedules and compensation programs for machete wielders.

 

The leader is the one who climbs the tallest tree, surveys the entire situation, and yells, "Wrong jungle!"

 

But how do the busy, efficient producers and managers often respond? "Shut up! We're making progress."

 

As individuals, groups, and businesses, we're often so busy cutting through the undergrowth we don't even realize we're in the wrong jungle. And the rapidly changing environment in which we live makes effective leadership more critical than it has ever been---in every aspect of independent and interdependent life.

 

We're more in need of a vision or destination and a compass (a set of principles or directions) and less in need of a road map. We often don't know what the terrain ahead will be like or what we will need to go through it; much will depend on our judgment at the time. But an inner compass will always give us direction.

 

Effectiveness---often even survival---does not depend solely on how much effort we expend, but on whether or not the effort we expend is in the right jungle. And the metamorphosis taking place in most every industry and profession demands leadership first and management second.

 

In business, the market is changing so rapidly that many products and services that successfully met consumer tastes and needs a few years ago are obsolete today. Proactive powerful leadership must constantly monitor environmental change, particularly customer buying habits and motives, and provide the force necessary to organize resources in the right direction.

 

Efficient management without effective leadership is, as one individual has phrased it, "like straightening deck chairs on the Titanic." No management success can compensate for failure in leadership. But leadership is hard because we're often caught in a management paradigm.

 

I'm convinced that too often parents are also trapped in the management paradigm, thinking of control, efficiency, and rules instead of direction, purpose, and family feeling.

 

And leadership is even more lacking in our personal lives. We're into managing with efficiency, setting and achieving goals before we have even clarified our values.

 

 

We Buy Too Many Books - Abraham Maslow and John G. Miller

Abraham Maslow said:

 

" There is no teaching without learning. One requires the other."

 

John G Miller wrote: 

 

"We attend too many seminars. We take too many classes. We buy too many books. We play too many audios in our cars. It's all wasted if we're unclear on what learning really is. Learning is not attending, listening, or reading. Nor is it merely gaining knowledge. Learning is really about translating knowing what to do into doing what we know. It's about changing. 

 

If we have not changed we have not learned."

 

If those two are correct. When was the last time anyone learned from listening to a sermon or attending Bible class?

Thanks, John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Website: http://www.greenbriersolutions.com  
Blog: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
Popular Mechanics, 1949

Providence of God

I'm reading a book put out by Ira North's wife in the mid 90s “Marching to Zion.” It is some of North's sermons. One of the chapters/sermons is "Look for the Providence of God." How do we differentiate the Providence of God from karma, good luck, bad luck, no luck at all? North mentions God sending problems to give us time to spiritually grow. Sometimes he blocks us from getting too far ahead and getting into trouble. At end of his sermon he thanks God for the mountains to stop us, for the mountains to strengthen us, for the mountains to humble us, for the mountains to mature us. He then thanks God for the mountain of debt in paying for their auditorium, for it has helped us to be liberal and taught us to depend on You. Thank You for the mountains and problems that we face in our child care program. It has taught us to love the humble and lowly. Thank You for the mountains you have given us in this television and radio ministry. He gives several more examples but my question is how do we recognize the providence of God or are we like Charlie Brown when he shot an arrow and drew a circle around it. Lucy asked him why he did that and he said “this way I never miss.” Are we drawing a circle around an event and calling it “the providence of God?” Is there such a thing “providence of God” or do we get it from our denominational friends?

Aren't we claiming we recognize the providence of God when we claim something is God's will?

Last night on the television they had a story about that boy who was killed in a sledding accident on Sunday came on. They showed his mother and I thought of Ira North's comments. To a grieving mother his sermon comes across as simplistic, naive, and empty. Or do we claim only the good things, the things that work out the way we want them to work out as "God's Providence?"

We need to have bible support for what we believe or we are no different than the Pope claiming to be God's vicar on earth or the Muslim claiming to be a prophet. I find it easier to believe in miracles or in God's direct interaction with us than in what we call "the providence of God."

According to Ira North we should be thanking God for the debt of the building and for the increased utility bills and the leaks and the muddy parking lot after all they are God's mountains to teach us something.

What is the providence of God and how does that compare with our just trying to keep our heads above the water?

Pray in Jesus' name

1. Pray in Jesus' name. The Bible says, "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it" (John 14:13-14). To pray in Jesus name does not mean that you tack His holy name in your wish list. It means that your prayers are consistent with what Jesus Himself would pray about a particular situation.

2. Pray according to the Word and the will of God. "Now this is confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14). The Word and the will of God are synonymous. To pray for anything not promised in the Word of God is a waste of time, but not pray for what we know is God's desire is a surefire winner!

3. "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess.5:16). Set aside a few minutes for concentrated prayer every day. Be very still, and get quiet before the Lord. Don't worry if you don't receive instant answers. Remember that Daniel prayed for twenty-one days for an answer to his prayer. Finally, an angel of the Lord appeared to Daniel and said, "We heard you praying the first day, but I was intercepted by the prince of Persia" (paraphrase of Dan. 10:13). Can you imagine that? One of Satan's archangels tried to prevent the angel of the Lord from bringing the answer to Daniel's prayer. But Daniel won the battle on his knees. What Daniel did on earth in prayer determined what happened in the heavenly realms, and eventually the answer came. So don't get discouraged. Pray until you get the answer. This is what you call "praying through."

4. Pray audibly, using simple, natural words. You don't have to impress God with your vocabulary or your spirituality. Do not feel that you must use religious phrases. Talk to God in your own language. He understands it.

5. Do not spend so much time asking God for the things, but, instead, confess that God's blessings are being poured out upon you. For most of your prayer, give thanks to God for the answer that you know, in faith, is coming.

6. Practice the attitude of putting everything in God's hands. Ask for the faith to do your best and to leave the results in the hands of a loving God. The Bible says, "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Pet. 5:7).

7. Pray for people you dislike or who have mistreated you. Resentment blocks spiritual power because it separates us from God.

8. Practice the presence of God. You must put yourself in an atmosphere that allows you to focus on Him. The importance of experiencing God's presence cannot be overemphasized. The Bible says, "…for in him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). After he rediscovered God, Tolstoy expressed this fact in an unforgettable phrase: "To know god is to live."

9. Agree with another believer for the answer to your prayer. Find another believer and ask that person to join you in prayer for God's answer. The Bible says, "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on the earth concerning anything that they shall ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there I am in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:19-20).

10. Pray in faith, believing. Many people say, "My faith is weak." When I hear that statement, I remind them that it doesn't take great faith to believe in a God who never fails. The Bible commands, "Have faith in God" (Mark 11:22). The scripture also says, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you" (Matt. 17:20). Believe that God is hearing and answering your prayer, even as you speak it.

God's Word makes it very clear: prayerlessness is sin. Samuel said, "…far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you" (Sam. 12:23). At pivotal moments in your life, prayer should be your first choice, not your last chance. Remember, as powerful as God is, He does not answer prayer until you pray.

Based on Harold G. Taylor's Soul Winning

There is a crisis in the kingdom of God. Christians have lost their passion for the lost.

The task of Jesus is our task. His purpose is our purpose. Seeking the lost begins with the Christian.

A word of caution: churches must not confuse the task of the church with the mission of the church. The task of the church is to evangelize and equip. The mission is to glorify God by making men like God. Confusion will bog us down in methods, programs and the numbers game. Causing us to miss our real mission: The indwelling of God in men (Colossians 1:27).

First, give the church a clear reason for its existence. Churches often lose their reason for existence. Christians have substituted so many human purposes and trite traditions that their function has been blurred.

Second, convince the church that men are lost. The first century church believed that the world was lying in the power of the evil one.

Third, be a role model for outreach. Live a life of imitation. Paul was supremely aware of his example.

Fourth, the church should be on a wartime basis. The early church understood the race with catastrophe. They were no peacetime army. They were out to win the ultimate battle for the undying souls of men.

Fifth, the church must understand outreach is not optional. Soul winning must be its passion.

Sixth, encourage evangelism as a lifestyle. The early church lived as "exiles and strangers" in a hostile environment. The church is under fire. There is a war going on. Believers are not paranoid --- there really are people out to destroy the church.

Seventh, empower others to win. God gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry… Training soul winners is a priority matter.

Eighth, recruit every Christian to be involved in evangelism at some level. To capture the spirit and the work of the first century church, Christians must be soul winners.

Ninth, focus on the harvest. Prospects are all around us: mates of members; visitors at services; children on the Bible school roll; Vacation Bible school Contacts; senior citizens in the community, newcomers to town, benevolence contacts; radio and television contacts; prospects from a religious census of the community; those at the local jail; the youth taught at summer camp; those contacted through hospitals and nursing homes; and those who attend our gospel meetings.

What you hear is a potential spiritual explosion. The need has never been greater and the multitudes have never been more accessible. It is a poor time for God's evangelists to develop evangelistic laryngitis.
It is time we get on with the Great Commission. We must view the whole world as needing Christ. We must start at home and reach out to all the nations of men. God's people must not fail the Lord who sends them, nor the world who needs them

Spies on Pigeon Forge

In Numbers chapters 13 & 14 is the account of God, through Moses, sending men to spy out the land of Canaan to see what the land was like, whether the people were strong or weak, few or many, good or bad.

So twelve men went up and spied out the land.

When they returned they reported to Moses and to the entire congregation.

Ten of the spies said "The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. And that compared to the people who lived their Israel seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them."

Then the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron and said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!" And they said to one another, "Let us choose another leader and go back to Egypt."

Then Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, "If the Lord delights in us, he will give the land to us, only do not rebel against the Lord and do not fear the people of the land. The Lord is with us; do not fear them."

And the Lord said to Moses, "How long will this people not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?

The men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and brought up a bad report of the land—died by plague before the Lord. Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua and Caleb remained alive.

When we look at Pigeon Forge what do we see? Are we as one of the ten or are we as Joshua and Caleb?

For Your Cogitation, a Now What?

Many of Al’s sermons this year have been to encourage the members of GSMCOC to become more active in evangelism. Remember when he challenged the congregation to read the Bible at the beginning of 2008? While I have read the statistics he quoted it appears to me group activities offer encouragement for individuals to engage in individual activities. So, while people may not attend because of the preacher, this was not true for the Billy Graham Crusades, having an activity for the individuals to invite people to just might be worth the effort.

I have the complete series entitled Hardeman’s Tabernacle Sermons or at least I did before termites discovered them and found some of the books quite tasty. A side issue is termites prefer old paper (prior to 1940s) more than the newer paper. In the history and description of the meeting, meetings among the congregations in Nashville are mentioned. Various groups are identified such as finance, publicity, usher arrangements, song preparations, selecting a preacher, selecting a song leader. They even mention establishing an office in Room 234 of the Maxwell house. There was a fair amount of intra-congregational activities.

100,000 blotters (whatever they are) were distributed as well as 65,000 personal invitation cards were sent out. Pages of the telephone book were assigned to various people with the intent that everyone in Nashville having a telephone was to be called and personally invited to attend. The first night on March 28th, 1922 between 6,000 and 8,000 people attended with another 2,000 to 3,000 were turned away. I do not know the population of Nashville at the time so I cannot compute the effectiveness of the efforts.

Hundreds if not thousands of people were involved in preparations for and conducting the series. The picture I get is a lot of people were involved. This would give them something to talk to their neighbors and friends about and something to invite those neighbors and friends to attend.

The results are identified as: “the results of this meeting cannot be measured by any of us during this life. It is believed that the remote results will be far greater than the immediate. While there were two hundred baptisms at the auditorium and the local church houses and some twenty-five restorations, nevertheless it is thought that the influences of this combined effort of forty or more churches of Christ cooperating in a great missionary undertaking will be felt among the churches all over the land and for many years to come. … It is believed that the big scale on which the meeting was planned, advertised, and carried out will help us to see the great interests of the kingdom in a bigger way that ever before and encourage and inspire us too put forth greater efforts to extend its borders than have ever been done in the past. … At the last meeting it was announced that all expenses had been met.” At least J.E. Acuff and Wayne Burton considered it “the greatest meeting conducted by the churches of Christ since New Testament times.”

My point for all of this is that a major group activity encouraged individuals to perform individual acts of evangelism. The sermons are in print eighty-eight years later.

It may not be an activity on such a scale but we need a group activity that is larger than our congregation to encourage and inspire our members to become involved in evangelism. But first we need to get buy-in to the idea that what Al has been saying is relevant to us as GSMCOC. We are a small group. It will take everyone buying in or at least all the men and women who attend the Men’s / Ladies’ Meetings no matter how sporadic.

The Willing-to-Serve summaries identify:

17 -Greet Visitors; hand out bulletins;
21 -Grade Lessons for Bible Correspondence courses;
10 -Lead a Bible Study in the home;
13 -Study with New Converts;
16 -Distribute Literature in neighborhoods, motels, restaurants.

What we need are plans for these people to get involved, leaders to lead and followers to follow. Now what?