What The Bible Says
“What The Bible Says - Vol. 6 / No. 4”
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What The Bible Says
Vol. VI - No. 4 / July 2, 2023
PLANT AND WATER
In 1 Corinthians 3:6-10 we learn that God's word, “the seed” (Luke 8:11), is to be planted and watered so that God may give the "increase”.
Many times a series of gospel meetings are judged to be "good" or "bad" with respect to the number baptized. This ought not to be. It's true that we all love to see souls saved but our work is to sow the seed and let God give the increase. We can water the seed by further teaching and encouragement as well as by our example of living.
Oft times the growth of the church is determined by the number baptized and not as to whether they are "sowing" or "planting" and "watering" the seed. Now again, it is a wonderful thing for a church to grow numerically, but the true growth of the church is in the work it does in planting and watering the word and in the members daily applying their lives to the word.
Now that the meeting we had with brother Bill Hall is ended and there were no baptisms or restorations, brother Hall preached the word for that was the job we asked of him to do. Now, let the rest take care of itself. Let us become "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14) as we "preach the word" (2 Timothy 4:2) but leave the increase to God. —E.R. Hall, Jr.
BECOMING WHAT GOD MADE US
• When Paul discussed the incredible things God did through Jesus Christ, Paul made this statement in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
• If you are a Christian, God did not forgive your sins just for your pleasure of being forgiven.
• God re-created you in Jesus Christ--He made something out of you that never existed before.
• As a Christian, you are God’s workmanship--in the same sense that a craftsman makes an object.
• God designed each of us as Christians to be people who do good works.
•That is what God intended.
• Before you were ever born, this was God’s intention: “Any person who accepts what I did in Jesus Christ will be committed to living a life that does My good works.”
• God forgave you and me so that each of us could do God’s good works.
• God did not save you or me to live any way we pleased.
• God did not save you or me for us to be a selfish, self-centered people.
• God did not save you or me so we could justify any lifestyle we wanted to live.
• God saved you and me for each of us to become more and more like Him.
• God saved you and me for each of us to devote our existence to doing the things God wants.
• Being a Christian involves the desire to become what I was born in Jesus Christ to be--the Christian wants to grow and to mature in God’s own nature. The Christian wants to live the life God wants and to do the things God wants done. The Christian does not want to act or live in ways that oppose God.
• Christianity is for people who want to grow closer to God. Christianity is not for people who have no intention of living and acting like people who belong to God.
In the first three chapters of Paul’s letter to Ephesus, Paul wrote about what God accomplished in Jesus Christ.
• In fact, what God accomplished in Jesus Christ is the source of every spiritual blessing available to us (1:3).
• Through Jesus Christ, God made it possible for us to be adopted into God’s family (1:5).
• Through Jesus Christ, God made our redemption possible (1:7).
• Through Jesus Christ, God extended grace upon Christians (1:8)
• Through Jesus Christ, God made it possible for Christians to understand His objectives (1:8-10).
• Through Jesus Christ, God gave us an inheritance (1:13-14).
• If we are to see what God is doing, we must realize what God did in Jesus Christ (1:15-23).(Paul: my prayer is that you will see what God is doing, what is happening.)
—David Maddox
WOULD I BE CALLED A CHRISTIAN?
Would I be called a Christian,
if everybody knew
my secret thoughts and feelings,
and everything I do?
Oh, could they see the likeness
of Christ in me each day?
Oh, could they hear Him speaking,
in every word I say?
Would I be called a Christian,
if anyone could know
that I am found in places
where Jesus would not go?
Oh, could they hear His echo
in every song I sing?
In eating, drinking, dressing,
could they see Christ, my King?
Would I be called a Christian,
if judged by what I read?
By all my recreations,
and every thought and deed?
Could I be counted Christ-like,
as I now work and pray?
Unselfish, kind, forgiving
to others every day?
—Via, Beacon
"What The Bible Says” is e-mailed twice a month. If you know of others who might benefit from the articles contained in this bulletin, we would be glad to have you submit their e-mail addresses and we will include them in the next mailing. If you are receiving this bulletin and do not wish to continue to do so, please e-mail us with your desire to be removed from the mailing list and you will be removed promptly. Continue to the bottom of this page for further instructions as to how you may contact us.
--- E.R. Hall, Jr.
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
For The East Albertville Church Of Christ
meeting at
4777 U.S. Highway 431
Albertville, AL 35950
Sunday
Bible Classes …………..….…………… 9:30 AM
Morning Worship ……..…….….……… 10:30 AM
Evening Worship …………………........ 5:00 PM
Wednesday
Bible Classes …………..………........... 7:00 PM
Radio Program
Sunday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 8:30 AM
Monday - Saturday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 11:15 AM
Website: www. EastAlbertville.org
