In most secular jobs, everything is judged by the fulfillment of responsibilities. This is how the world operates because it thrives on getting the job done. When it comes to spiritual things, how can one know the job is getting done? Christ taught that those who did the Father’s will would enter into heaven (Matt. 7:21). Christ gave the Great Commission to His disciples because it was the Father’s will (Matt. 28:18-20). Evangelism was vital to the growth of the Church in the first century and Christians took Christ with them everywhere (Acts 8:1-5). The question presented in this article is what happened to the Church’s zeal regarding evangelism? Responsibilities play a key part in our everyday lives, but are we remembering our spiritual responsibilities in Christ?

Paul started by sharing with Timothy where the authority of his message came from. This message was not coming from his own thoughts, but from God and Christ (2 Tim. 4:1).  If Paul, an apostle, did not preach his own thoughts and feelings to the first century; why do many feel it is acceptable today? When Christians are out evangelizing the Gospel of Christ, let them make sure that they speak as an oracle of God (1 Pet. 4:11).

Beginning his charge to Timothy, Paul declared that he must firmly preach God’s word to those who would listen (2 Tim. 4:2-4). One should be preaching the word any time there is opportunity to do so. Whether a person is at Walmart, work, or out in the welding shed; Christ should be on the tip of their tongue. Paul then focused on how we are to evangelize within our communities. Paul told Timothy, “Convince, rebuke, exhort” (2 Tim. 4:2b). As a faithful Christian we must be able to do all three. We must convince others of the faith we have in Christ. Convincing people of Christ’s deity, death, and resurrection was of the utmost importance to Peter during his sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). If we cannot convince others, it shows a lack of knowledge/effort on our part. Christians must also be able to rebuke others in kindness. Paul openly rebuked Peter when he would not eat with the Gentiles, but this did not ruin their relationship (Gal. 2:11-14; 2 Pet. 3:16-17). If Christians are to be equipped with armor that can withstand the devil, why can we not withstand a little criticism from our Christian family aimed at helping us in our spiritual walk (Eph. 6:11)? Paul’s final point to Timothy was to exhort one another. Exhortation must be a focus of the church inwardly and outwardly (Heb. 3:12-14, 1 Thess. 2:11, 5:11). Christians must build each other up so they can focus on building others on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ.        

We are to convince, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering and teaching, meaning the job of evangelism does not stop with baptism (2 Tim. 4:2c). Time and effort must be given to building up newborn Christians in the faith. Notice that Jesus told His disciples that they were to baptize and then teach them to observe all things (Matt. 28:19-20). Many people’s idea of evangelism is baptizing people, then moving on to the next location. We have to continue helping new converts with all longsuffering and teaching, otherwise they will fall away and we will have failed in our evangelism.

Paul wrote in Galatians, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (6:10). Every person you come into contact with presents an opportunity to lead them to Christ. Will you answer the responsibility of evangelism or continue to neglect it? If we do not attempt to reach those lost in the world, those who teach false doctrine will take our place (2 Tim. 4:3-4). It is our duty to evangelize, can the Lord count on you?

-Brandon Foresha

The Bible is a library of books given by God. God used human writers to produce the Bible, but God Himself is the author. The apostle Paul encouraged his younger comrade in the faith to, “continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:14-17). The word translated “scripture” in verse 16 of our English text is the Greek word graphe; it refers to that which is written down. Several English words—such as autograph, biography, graphite, etc.—that connote the concept of writing have graphe as their origin. While in former times God communicated to man in various ways such as dreams, visions, prophetic utterances (Hebrews 1:1), it is the written message under consideration here by use of the word graphe. If we are going to know the will of God and spiritual truths that are essential to our salvation, we must go to what is written in the Bible. We are not going to simply wake up one day and intuitively know God’s will. We must read so that we can understand (Ephesians 3:4).

            The phrase translated “inspiration of God” in 2 Timothy 3:16 is from theopneustos in the Greek; referring to “expiration” (Bauer 449-450). The exhalation of God’s breath was the means by which all scripture was given. While one may have ideas without expressing them, the vehicle of expression for those ideas must be words. Paul wrote, “or what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:11-13). God breathed the words of scripture. He did not merely give rough ideas to the writers of the Bible and let them run with them elaborating and editing as they saw fit. The scriptures are the words that Holy Spirit gave to the biblical writers. David said, “The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2).

            Thus, when we approach the Bible as readers, we must keep in mind that God is the ultimate author of the words. Different humans may have been used as His instruments and their various situations, cultures and vocabularies may have been employed to communicate the message, but it is still God’s message given in the words He has selected. So, do not come to the Bible to set the various writers at odds with one another or with this dismissive treatment of saying things like, “Well, that’s just what Paul thought and he was sexist.” No. God gave each writer the words of His message. If we have an issue with what is written, then our issue is with God, the author.

-Mark Day

Church attendance is one of those subjects that some Christians would rather not discuss. Some feel that preachers and elders mention it too often rather than discussing what they consider “important topics”. I ask the question, have you considered that your attendance at all the assemblies of the Lord church matter? It matters to elders who watch for your soul (Hebrews 13:17). It matters to Bible class teachers who work diligently preparing material from God’s word for you and your children (Ephesians 4:11-12). It matters to the preachers who spent the week preparing something from God’s word for your spiritual benefit (2 Timothy 4:2-4). Most of all it matters to God who commands Christians to assemble (Hebrews 10:25), and to the Lord whom we are to remember every Lord’s Day (1 Corinthians 11:23-29).

Let us examine ourselves as to where our priorities are? Paul points out to the Colossian Christians that being Christian involves higher priorities “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” Colossians 3:1-2. Paul is saying that the heart be not set upon that which is “below” (the world) in the same way, and to the same extent, in which it is set upon things “above” (heaven). Where are your priorities? When Christians do not give spiritual matters priority in their lives, the only conclusion one can draw is that they are not truly committed to a life that is risen with Christ. One of the priorities of a life risen with Christ is that of assembling with other Christians.

Our attendance shows how important God is to us. “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” John 4:23. If we truly reverence God, if we truly love God, we will assemble to worship Him.

Our attendance shows how important the church is to us. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching Hebrews 10:25. Note please the vital connection of assembling together and exhorting (encouraging) one another. Such opportunities are missed when we absent ourselves from public worship assemblies.

Our attendance shows how important Christ death is to us. During the assembly on the first day of the week, Sunday, New Testament Christians remember the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ commanded regarding the Lord’s Supper “this do in remembrance of me” 1 Corinthians 11:24-25. This we cannot do if we miss the church when it comes together, 1 Corinthians 11:17, 18, 20, 33.

Our attendance shows how important God’s Word is to us. Luke reminds us, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight Acts 20:7. Brother Kevin Rhodes said regarding this “These Christians wanted to hear the Gospel proclaimed. Indeed, they stayed late into the night listening to it. When we think that a Bible class or sermon is too long or too burdensome, so that we simply cannot fit it into our busy schedule, then we must not truly care about God’s will for our lives.” Building Blocks, Strengthening Our Faith, page 6.

Someday God will welcome home His children, those who wanted to be with Him, who wanted to learn of Him, who wanted to be like Him. God wants you in the assembly and Bible Study and He wants you to be in heaven. This is why attendance matters to God, and why your attendance should matter to you.                                                                       

-Jerry D. Sturgill

            Wisdom is found in Paul’s statement to the Christians in Galatia: “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man” (Gal. 1:10-11). The consequence of pleasing men is that God is no longer the focus of what you do in your life. When people are pleased, the world is pleased. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus Christ did not please every person He came across! Several times, Jesus upset others because they were not pleasing God (John 2:13-22, 5:1-18, 8:48-59). Our Lord taught His disciples that the world would hate them for His name’s sake (John 15:18-19).

            Balaam is a great example of what can happen when a person decides to please men rather than God. Balak, king of the Moabites, sent messengers to Balaam requesting that he come and curse the children of Israel. God spoke to Balaam and told him not to go with these princes of Moab. Balaam sent the messengers away, but more returned and Balaam showed a desire to go with them. The Lord had already given Balaam His answer, but He gave Balaam the free-will to decide for himself what he would do (Num. 22:9-21). God was not pleased with Balaam’s decision. The angel of the Lord was sent to kill Balaam for his treachery against God (Num. 22:22-23). Balaam decided to please men rather than our Lord. When Saul decided to overstep his authority as king of Israel and sacrifice on behalf of his army, he was pleasing men. Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin; priests came from the tribe of Levi and were the only people who could make sacrifices on behalf of God’s people! Saul had a lapse in judgment when his desire to please men outweighed his desire to please God (1 Sam. 13:8-12). The punishment for such a transgression was the kingdom departed from Saul’s family (1 Sam. 13:13-14). When one recalls the punishment brought against Nadab and Abihu, which was similar to Saul’s sinful action (Lev. 10:1-2), God showed mercy to Saul that day! King Saul learned a lesson of the consequences of being a people-pleaser. We should learn from the mistakes of those who came before us so that we do not repeat them.

            The decision is simple for a Christian. One must serve God rather than man throughout the longevity of their lives (Acts 5:29)! The Lord requires complete service to Him and His kingdom; anything less in unacceptable. Three different men came to Jesus Christ and showed a desire to be in His service. All three times Jesus told them to count the cost of being His disciples (Luke 9:57-62). Matthew is the shining example of what one should do when Christ beckons someone into His service. He was called by Christ and Matthew immediately followed Him (Matt. 9:9). When one realizes that Christ suffered death on a cross for him, it should motivate him to serve Jesus with the remainder of his life (Gal. 2:20)!

            God has always asked man to love Him with all of his heart, soul, and mind (Deut. 6:5; Matt. 22:36-37). Many of the Jewish rulers believed Jesus to be the Christ, but because they loved the praise of men more; they rejected Him (John 12:35-43). Pleasing men will only last a short season, but pleasing God shall last for eternity.

-Brandon Foresha