The BIBLICAL MESSENGER

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The
BIBLICAL
MESSENGER

VOLUME XX NOVEMBER 12, 2002 NUMBER 33

9th & Main

CHURCH OF CHRIST

San Angelo, Texas

ELDERS
John Mayfield
Ed Roper

EVANGELIST
John Hobbs

ASSEMBLIES

SUNDAY
Bible Classes                     9:30 .a.m
Morning Worship             10:30 .a.m
Evening Worship               5:00 .p.m

WEDNESDAY
Bible Classes 7:00 pm

In SEARCH of the Lord's Way

each Sunday morning at
8:00 a.m.

KIDY-TV 6 (Cable Channel 10)

COMPARATIVE FAITH

"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow His steps." (I Peter2:21).

Each of us is called by the same message (II Thess. 2:14) and to the same level of commitment. The above scripture has four distinct lessons for us as we evaluate our lives in the grace of the Lord Jesus.
(Lesson two last week)

(2) Jesus is our faith model.
I'm afraid sometimes we choose lesser models for our faith walk. I have heard people say that God must really be a grace oriented God because David sinned with Bathsheba and He still used him. It's like we can take our eyes off the ONE who knew NO SIN and look at the weak side of David. No. Jesus is the model. He alone is our life target. We must aspire to be like Him, not David. Again, we may look at other Christians and admire their level of commitment and think, "If I can just be almost like Jim there, I will be alright in God's eyes." Wrong model. Disciples of Christ follow Jesus - not a lesser goal. I must never stop gaining ground over sin in my life - never stop being dissatisfied with my present level of commitment.

Yale Canfield
(Skyway C of C, Pearl, MS) (VIA Bulletin Digest)
(Lesson #3 next week)

Office: main@9thandmaincoc.org WebSite:http://coc901.home.att.net WebEditor: main@9thandmaincoc.org

Congratulations to Mary Grimes and her children. They are the proud owners of a new house. Her new address is on the bulletin board.

        Jacob Gamez came forward on Sunday morning to thank everyone for their prayers while he was in basic training (boot camp).
        We must remember Jacob and all the other young men who give up their home lives and enter a new life in the military where they put themselves in great danger to protect and preserve the freedoms that we mostly take for granted. Let's all include them in our daily prayers. And don't forget the Coalition Forces, serving alongside our troops.

A quote worth remembering:

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.

Did you know there were eighteen judges of Israel, with Othniel being the first and Abiah the last. One of them was a woman.
(Deborah - the fourth judge)

NOTICE: the Church office will be closed all day Friday, November 16. You can leave messages on the answering machine.

The Financial Statement for October is posted on the bulletin board.

A Teachers Workshop will be held at Southgate church of Christ on November 16. More information is posted on the bulletin board.

The electrical work has been completed for our new fellowship hall. A carpet contractor has been selected. Things are looking pretty good.

Thanks to the generosity of Mildred Mason and Dixie Hayre, and to a fantastic sale we located, we now have enough folding tables to meet our needs. You can still contribute if you wish. Just mark your checks "TABLE".

CHURCH MARQUEE SIGNS

"The wages of sin is death. Repent before payday."

"Never give the devil a ride. He will always want to drive."

"Can't sleep? Try counting your blessings."

"Forbidden fruit creates many jams."

"Christians, keep the faith - but not from others."

From the pen of JOHN HOBBS....

HOW DO YOU DEFINE SIN?

Today there are many people who believe that they are saved and in perfect harmony with God's grace. They do not believe they need to change their religious practices or their lifestyle. They do not believe that they are living in "sin" and in danger of losing their eternal soul. They believe they are "okay". However, it would do everyone well to remember the words of Jesus that many will be surprised on the day of judgment (Matt. 7:21 - 23). Some people will learn that they were not "okay". Solomon said, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end therof are the ways of death"(Prov. 14:12). These verses place on us the importance of seriously examining scripture. We need to examine the bible with "an honest and good heart" (Luke 8:15). It is possible to "twist" or "pervert" Scripture to one's own destruction (II Peter 3:15-17). In order that this does not happen to us, we must call sin.....sin!!!

Sin separates man from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Sin causes good to be withheld from us (Jeremiah 5:25). Sin causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-5). We must learn to call "sin" what it is (and that is) "SIN". It is really sad some preachers in our brotherhood are failing to do this! Telling one they are "okay" when they are not "okay" is a spiritual abomination. It is also said that many brethren do not call sin for what it is. Their attitude is: "I have not done anything wrong" and refuse to let Scripture instruct and guide them. Sad!! They will learn on judgment day that they will not be judged by their interpretation of the Bible, but by the correct interpretation.

How do you define sin? Do you define it by what you think or feel or believe? Or do you define it by what God says in His Word? Good questions!

In Christian Love,
John Hobbs

"THE BIBLICAL MESSENGER" is published weekly by church of Christ, 901 N. Main St., San Angelo. TX 76903-4057.

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