In a conversation with the chief priests and the elders, Jesus said:

But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him (Mt. 21:28-32).

Repentance is not easy.  It begins with remorse over our sins.  We consider how good God is even though we sin against Him (Rom. 2:4).  This remorse is not just feeling sorry for ourselves or sorry we got caught, rather it is a “godly sorrow” that produces a change of our will (2 Cor. 7:8-11).   This change in the will is repentance.  It is turning to God and it results in a change of conduct.  John required the Pharisees and Sadducees to bear the fruit of repentance (Mt. 3:8).  The apostle Paul told those to whom he preached, “that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance” (Acts 26:20).  He wrote to the Ephesians, “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Eph. 4:28). Thus, a “repentance” that does not result in a forsaking of sin, a change in behavior, is not a genuine repentance.  The one who stole cannot keep on stealing, nor can he keep that which he has stolen if he is to genuinely repent.  As much as possible, he should attempt to make restitution.  Zacchaeus understood this principle of restitution in his repentance (Lk.19:8).

Because of the difficulty of repentance, many choose not to earnestly attempt it.  Some retreat to a cheapening of God’s grace wherein they assure themselves that they can willfully persist in sin and God will forgive them merely because they acknowledge Him, but God’s grace only goes with those who are willing to be taught and led out of ungodliness (Heb. 10:26-27; Titus 2:11-12).

In God’s eyes, repentance is a gift to us.  Peter and the apostles said to those Jewish leaders that were responsible for Christ’s death, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.  Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins (Acts 5:30-31).  When the church at Jerusalem heard of the Gentiles’ obedience to the Gospel they said, “Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life” (Acts 11:17).  The proclaimer of God’s message must be one who is “in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:25). In repentance God is giving us the opportunity to change our relationship with Him, and when we do so there is great rejoicing in heaven (Lk. 15:7).  Will you repent?

– Mark Day

The apostle John wrote, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day…” (Revelation 1:10).  In the previous verse, he mentioned how he was a companion of the churches of Asia in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, but was presently on the island of Patmos.  He had been exiled to this rocky, barren, uninhabited island as part of persecution he had suffered for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.  The churches of Asia, to which he wrote (Revelation 1:4), were suffering persecution as well, and the apostle’s thoughts turned to them.  It was the Lord’s day after all, and John surely thought about what the Lord’s day meant.  He was all alone, separated from his brethren, and had time to reminisce on all those previous Lord’s days in which he had broken bread with fellow saints to remember Christ’s death as the church did regularly from its inception (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:26).  John, unlike many others who have become Christians since,  would eat the bread and drink the fruit of the vine not recalling something he had only read about, but rather remembering the body and blood of the Lord he had seen with his own eyes (1 John 1:1).

He called it the Lord’s day because it belonged to the Lord, just as the Lord’s supper is called such because it belongs to the Lord.  He would remember that the Lord’s day, the first day of the week, was the day that the Lord Jesus rose from the dead (Mark 16:9), the day that he himself outran Peter to the tomb to find it empty (John 20:1-10). It was that evening Christ first appeared to him and the other apostles when they were gathered together, with the exception of Thomas (John 20:19), and then again on the first day of the next week when the disciples were again gathered together, this time with Thomas (John 20:26).

He would remember the Lord’s day, that first Pentecost following the resurrection, where Jesus’ reign was declared by Peter, opening the doors of the kingdom (Acts 2:30; Matthew 16:19, 28).  He would remember the roughly 3,000 souls who were added to the church, the kingdom, that day because they responded to the Gospel through repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38; 41, 47).  Through the years, many more had been conveyed from the power of darkness to the kingdom of Jesus, the Son of God (Colossians 1:13).  And, now John was all alone on Patmos, but still a brother in the kingdom of Christ (Revelation 1:9).

What John must have been missing having to spend the Lord’s day all alone!  No brethren by his side to worship God, to hear their needs and tell them his and go to God in prayer; no assembly of saints to teach and admonish one another by singing and making melody in their hearts to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16); no collection to give to Christ’s church and further His cause (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).  The Lord was with him, but he could only communicate with other saints by letters.  Where are we on the Lord’s day? Do we take for granted all the spiritual blessings that are available to us each Lord’s day through the worship assembly and the warm fellowship that surrounds it?  Or do we long for it like this exile would have when he received the revelation of Jesus Christ?

-Mark Day

by Andy Robison

In regard to congregational singing, oft is offered the quip, “Well, the words are all that matter, anyway.” This is a comfort to tone-deaf worshipers, but, the secular, well-intentioned proverb may be employed too far.

If the words were, indeed, all that mattered, perhaps God would have said something like, “Recite to one another in poems, rhymes and spiritual verse.” Could it be that the musical setting (a cappella) has more importance than often acknowledged?

Music is an emotional thing. Composers of purely instrumental music (from symphonies and operas to punk rock and country) work to construct the chord progression, melodies and harmonies to create a mood, often mirroring some occasion or historic event. A fanfare for Olympic Games is an upbeat call to competition and potential triumph – a memorable melodic line punctuated with quick punches of harmonic brass. A mournful dirge, by contrast, might employ low strings in slow, solemn movements.

In authorized a cappella singing for congregations, the music generally fits the words. “Nearer My God, to Thee” would never be set to a driving rhythm (as in “Ring Out the Message”). The thrill of “The New Song” is best with its buoyant beat and majestic chorus; it wouldn’t work with a contemplative chant-like, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” feel. The musical composers seek to amplify the impact of the wording.

Singing might be viewed as the divinely authorized outlet for human emotion. Many sectarian groups take emotionalism to unscriptural levels – mistaking shaking and rolling, hand-waving and moaning for being Spirit-filled. An orderly (1 Corinthians 14:40) God actually thought this through, and He gave an avenue for us to express how we feel toward Him (and even others) at particular moments. This is why some of the deepest emotions of grief, sorrow, bitterness, joy, victory and praise appealing to all generations are found in the book of… you guessed it… Psalms. They were originally sung. Further, perhaps this is one reason (it is certainly at least a result) that singing was chosen as the authorized use of music in worship. Instrumental music can make one feel a certain way without an intellectual reason as to why. With singing, the intellect is employed first and foremost. One knows he is surveying the scene of the wondrous cross. Then, the music helps amplify the thought.

It behooves brethren, then, to work on singing to the best of their abilities. God bless the monotone worshiper who “lets ‘er fly” upon the song leader’s cue. Yet, those who excuse themselves flippantly from ever trying to understand pitch, tone, phrasing, harmony and all the things that make singing more meaningful are missing a great opportunity in the service of God. In order to “consider one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25) in the worship setting, shouldn’t we all aim at improvement in every aspect of worship – from attention in study to expression in song?

Words matter. Without the words, there wouldn’t be any teaching or admonishing. However, remember that without the music (a cappella), there wouldn’t be any singing or song.

Andy Robison is the Director of the West Virginia School of Preaching (www.wvsop.com). He is a recipient of a B.A. from Harding (where he received the L.O. Sanderson scholarship for hymn-writers), with a double major in Bible and Vocal Music. He has written a number of songs and helped produce several CDs of a cappella singing to benefit West Virginia Christian Youth Camp, where he serves on the Board of Directors. He is the Editor of the songbooks Teaching & Admonishing and 100 Songs to the Glory of God. Many of his original songs can be accessed at www.churchofchristsongs.com. He and his wife Marsha have two children, Hannah and Andrew. 

By Wendell Winkler (submitted by Jerry Sturgill)

Will priorities be established in your children when…

1. You are early for their ballgame, but late for worship?
2. You check on their homework regularly, but never check on their Bible class lessons?
3. You won’t let them miss school even though they don’t want to go, but let them miss church worship services?
4. You won’t let them stay up late on school nights, but let them stay up late on Saturday night?
5. You will serve as a room mother at their school or volunteer at school, but will not help with classes, activities, programs which involve spiritual matters?
6. You attend open house at their school, but do not visit their classroom of Bible school, or even know where their class meets?
7. You support, attend, or even participate in their sports activities (baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, etc.) but regularly miss activities involving the church?
8. You never (almost never) miss meeting with the civic or social club of which you are a member, but frequently miss worship services?
9. You go to work even though you do not feel like it, but stay home on Sunday in the same condition?

HOME…

Home is a beautiful word. Every time we hear the word, many thoughts go racing through our minds. Many of us think back to an earlier time in life when as children home was a most cherished place. It was a place of comfort and security. The home is a place where valuable principles are taught. The Christian home should be an inviting place, a place we enjoy coming to each day.

Consider a few of the things to be taught and blessings to enjoy in the Christian home.

H – Hope of Heaven.

The Christian home makes heaven the most important priority a person can have. The home will be the training grounds for learning and living so that heaven is the goal for every family member. Parents are to bring the children up in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). The word admonition means “calling attention to, that is, (by implication) mild rebuke or warning” (Strong’s). This process requires giving instructions and demonstrating what is being taught. The hope of heaven is instilled through regular Bible study, example and faithful worship attendance (Hebrews 10:25).

O – Obedience to authority.

Learning and understanding respect for authority begins in the home. The leadership in the home must demonstrate respect for proper authority. Many children do not respect those who have authority over them whether it be in the home, schools or concerning civil authorities.  The Christian home recognizes the authority of an eldership (Hebrews 13:17), the authority given to parents (Ephesians 6:1-4), and civil authority (Romans 13:1-6).

M – Morality.

The Christian home is the best place for morals to be taught. Far too many are relying upon the school system or other avenues to teach morals to the children. Very often those venues are not teaching morals found in the Bible. Home Bible studies afford an excellent time to teach godliness to our children (Titus 2:11-12).

E – Encouragement.

In Christian homes, each member is important and should find an encouraging atmosphere. Someone said, “The home should provide the framework for self-esteem and confidence.” Each member of the family should be encouraged and never made to feel unimportant. Fathers are to bring their children up in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” The word nurture means, “the whole training and education of children” (Thayer’s). Proper instruction and tender guidance will build confidence and self-esteem.

Sacrifice lies at the very heart of religion.  Very early in the text of Sacred Scripture Abel’s offering of “the firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof” is mentioned (Gen. 4:4).  Abel offered by faith (Heb. 11:4), but one cannot do something by faith unless a word from God has first been given to instruct (Rom. 10:17).  Thus, we conclude that God must have originated the practice of sacrifices and instructed Cain and Abel to offer them.  While Abel took God at his word, Cain did not (Gen. 4:5).  The rejection of Cain’s offering only makes sense if he had refused to follow God’s previous instructions, not recorded for us in Holy Writ.

From the time of Genesis 3, when sin had entered into the world, sacrifice was necessary for man to have a restored relationship with God.  God decreed the penalty of death for sin (Gen. 2:17).  Because man sinned, he must suffer the penalty of sin; however, God devised a way that His law could be honored while at the same time He offered mercy to mankind, “to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26).

Animals took man’s place in suffering the penalty of sin throughout the Old Testament. Blood had to be shed for the remission of sins (Heb. 9:22).  After Cain and Abel, the Bible records Noah gathering the animals to be placed on the ark – the clean by sevens and the unclean by two (Gen. 7:2).  The additional clean animals were gathered for sacrifice later when the flood waters were assuaged and the land was dry enough for them to exit (Gen. 8:20).  Animal sacrifices were offered by the patriarchs (Gen. 22:13), detailed in the law of Moses (Leviticus), and were still practiced at the time when Jesus was on the earth preparing to die for the sins of the world (Luke 22:7-8).

All of these animals sacrifices could not take away sin (Heb. 10:4), but they looked forward to their fulfillment: Jesus Christ’s death and mediation, a better sacrifice that once and for all would pay for sin (Heb. 9:23-26).  Jesus came as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29), a plan God had from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8). Perhaps because we live on this side of the cross, with the sacrifice already made, we are tempted to take for granted the sacrifice made for us.  Whenever we sin, we do not have to see death right in front of our eyes for what we’ve done.  Do we think of sin as no big deal?  God has given us instructions to remember and cherish the sacrificial death of Christ every week when we come together (1 Cor. 11:17-29).  Do we take the Lord’s Supper lightly?  The more we grasp how monumental Jesus’ death was for us, the more we will be motivated to live for Him, “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:15).

-Mark Day