Woodland
Hills Church of Christ
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Sunday, August 19, 2007 Volume 51, Issue 32 What Does The Lord Require It is plainly taught in the Bible that God requires something of His people. It is too plain to be denied that many have failed to do what the Lord requires. Micah wrote, "With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with you God?" (Micah 6:6-8) We know we must come before the Lord, but what does He require of us? We must do justly. While the Lord does not desire impractical things like thousand of rams, rivers of oil or the sacrifice of our firstborn, He does desire that we do justly. Injustice and oppression are everywhere seen. But these are destroyed by obedience to the teaching of Jesus. He said, "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12) In all our dealings with men the law of justice must prevail. Christians must do wrong to none, but do right to all. We must love mercy. Mercy of kindness is that element that gives more than injustice requires. We must show mercy by forgiving others. "And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32) Mercy must also be shown as we do deeds of helpfulness. "So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves? And he said, He who showed mercy on him. Then Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:36-37) But we must do more than show mercy; we must love mercy and delight ourselves in it. We must walk humbly with God. The first two requirements have to do with our relationship with man. This requirement has to do with our relationship with God. Let us be like Enoch, "And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him." (Genesis 5:24) We must make pleasing God our constant business. We must humble ourselves to walk with God. "For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7) To become a Christian, you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe (Mark 16:16), repent (Acts 2:38), confess (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (Galatians 3:27, I Peter 3:21). After baptism walk humbly with God.
TAFT TALK We are rolling through the month of August and it seems like the
beginning of our Summer was years ago. This past Sunday night (the 12th),
the congregation was able to hear Ross Vego report on his summer
work. Watching that slide show really made it a reality for me that we are
in CONSTANT MOTION during the summer months. This is a great thing and he
did an awesome job with his slide show and presentation. However, now that
folks are going back to school and the teachers are in full swing again, we
cannot rest when it comes to our spiritual responsibilities. We tend to go
back to things that are comfortable (and some new things) when a new school
year is introduced. I recently read an old Cherokee saying that I believe we
should apply to our evangelism as this school years approaches: august 18th september 1st september 14th - 16th september 28th - 30th Much Love,
FAMILY NEWS OUR SICK/HOMEBOUND WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS OUR RECORD MEMORIAL SYMPATHY SUMMER SERIES CHRISTMAS TRIP TO NY SERVICE GROUP Service Group #2, please turn in your assignment cards from last week. SING PRAISES
Paul, the Master Preacher Next to the Lord, the greatest and most effective preacher who ever lived was the apostle Paul. He evangelized three continents and penned two-thirds of the New Testament's epistles, sacred documents which have revolutionized the world. First Thessalonians 2:1-12 gives us one of the clearest, most helpful and inspirational insights to Paul, the peerless preacher, to be found anywhere in his inspired writings. In this brief, but most enlightening text, we may observe: The Preacher’s Manner
Hence, we can see that Paul’s manner was that of an affectionate mother and a caring father. Such must be the manner of all gospel preachers today. Such obtaining, what devotion, care, interest, gentleness, tenderness and real commitment will follow. The Preacher’s Motives
Paul’s desire was to please Christ, not man. On Monday morning, the Lord’s preacher, as he reminisces back over the previous day’s activities, is not so concerned with, “Wonder how that lesson went over with the brethren,” or “Wonder what they thought of that,” or “Wonder how they’ll react to that lesson,” or “Wonder if that gave satisfaction.” Rather, his chief concern is, “Did that sermon please the Lord? Can I confidently look up and see assuredly the smiling approval of the Father?” Brethren, it is the Master and not men that we are to please. Now, if in pleasing God first, men are also made happy, well and good. But never, oh never, at the sacrifice of truth or the compromise of principle are we to gain the flighty favor of man to the forfeiting of divine approbation. Remember, too, that Paul said, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10). The Preacher’s Message
Yes, the gospel of God was the exclusive message of the apostle Paul. He said in 1 Cor. 9:16, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” The curse of heaven rested upon Paul (1) if he failed to preach, and (2) if he preached anything other than the gospel. He said in Gal. 1:9, “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” And, why would he want to preach anything else other than the gospel since it, and it alone, is the (single and exclusive) power of God to save (Rom. 1: 16). With the gospel of God being the preacher’s singular message, let us henceforth have no more book reviews, personal testimonies and philosophical speculations. Brethren, the world is filled with those who are regurgitating upon having been fed this type of diet by denominational preachers. They are wanting the gospel. Let us give it to them. The Preacher’s Methods
In this passage we can see that in doing his work the preacher is to use the methods of (1) exhortation, (2) comforting and (3) charging. This text reminds us of Paul’s charge to a young preacher, Timothy, when he said, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Tim. 4:2). There are times when a preacher needs to exhort, encourage and commend. There are other times when he needs to comfort, strengthen and console. Then there are times when he needs to charge, reprove and rebuke. With knowledge gleaned from a study of the word (2 Tim. 2:15), and wisdom having been gained in answer to prayer (Jas. 1:5), he will know when to do what. The Preacher’s Mode
Notice those three adverbs of behavior: holily, justly and unblameably. Truly, his mode of living was most exemplary. The preacher’s life is the life of his preaching. The messenger is his message. Unquestionably, others must see in us a personification of that which we advocate. We must be living epistles. We must practice what we preach. Preachers of the word must never have the concept of do as I say, not as I do. Rather, like Christ, we must begin both to do and teach (Acts 1:1). Otherwise, men will not hear what we say from seeing what we are. The Preacher’s Motivation
The gospel is a sacred trust! How sobering this thought really is. Consequently, the gospel being a trust, we must give an account to God for the same how we have studied it, how we have lived it, how we have preached it. A constant consciousness of this fact will make a considerable difference in how the preacher goes about his work. 340 Mayfair Drive, Hurst, TX 76053
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