Ready!
Set! Go!
"They shall mount up with wings like eagles"
(Isaiah 40:31)
Volume 5—Number 6—June/July 2003
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
READY: Necessary Inference
SET: Spiritual Kingdom
GO: Gospel to 171 Nations
A Monthly Publication of the Church of Christ at Duluth, Georgia
to equip the saints in reaching
the lost through example and evangelism.
Editors
Skip Andrews
3239 Highway 120
Duluth, GA 30096
770 476-2159
email: Skip Andrews
Bobby Wood
1410 Flat Shoals Road
Conyers, GA 30013
770 922-8341
email: Bobby Woods
Produced under the oversight
of the
elders at Duluth, GA
Rod Rutherford
Dennis Hatchett
Skip Andrews
This paper is sent free to all who request it.
Ready! Set! Go! has been a very rewarding project as we attempt to encourage Christians to be strong and effective in influencing this world for good.
Keep in mind that the goal of our paper is to promote evangelism—primarily personal evangelism. We do this by three main methods. These methods are connected with the columns on pages 2, 3, and 4. Page two supplies helps for personal workers; such as helps in how to use the Bible, how to deal with specific circumstances, and various tools of personal evangelism. Page three supplies help by promoting true Christian living on the part of all Christians. Page four supplies motivation for going to the lost by describing various opportunities for evangelism.
I would like to encourage you to contact us regarding future articles and themes. We want to be as helpful as possible—and part of that is accomplished when you help us with our input. So, feel free to give us your ideas.
— Skip
“Necessary Inference”
What is an inference? An inference is a conclusion derived from facts or premises. Contrary to what some have taught, an inference is not an assumption. An assumption is either something we take for granted to be true, or it is a supposition which is a belief based on probability. An inference, on the other hand, is a logical deduction from facts. The Bible often teaches by implications. We, as the students of the sacred text, must infer what God has implied within the pages of holy writ. Often inferences come in the form of a syllogism. If A equals B, and B equals C, then A also equals C. The two premises of the syllogism imply the conclusion (A equals C), and we, then, must infer that A equals C.
Like anything, implications, inferences, and syllogisms are abused. Someone might say, All Israelites have brown eyes. Jesus was an Israelite. Therefore, Jesus had brown eyes. If the premises are true, then the conclusion is also true. However, the first premise is not humanly possible to prove, and thus the conclusion is in error. On numerous occasions, someone has said, All dogs have fur. All cats have fur. Therefore, dogs are cats. Wrong! Why? Because the premises does not prove the conclusion. The right conclusion is all dogs and cats have fur.
Question: Should women partake of the Lord’s supper? How do you know? The Bible implies the answer, and we must infer it. Paul instructed the Corinthian church to partake of the Lord’s supper. Women were part of the Corinthian church. Therefore, women were instructed to partake of the Lord’s supper.
Consider also this question: may a woman serve as a elder of the church with God’s approval? Again, how do you know? The Bible implies the answer, and we must infer it. By inspiration of God, Paul wrote that elders must be the husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3:2). No woman can be the husband of one wife. Therefore, no woman may serve as an elder of the church with God’s approval. Because these two examples are so simple, probably most of us never even thought about them. Yet, the conclusions we have drawn are inferences from that which God implied within His word.
In addition to the examples above, there are inferences within the Scriptures themselves. In Matthew 22:32, Jesus infers from Exodus 3:6 that God is not the God of the dead but of the living. The present tense, “I am” indicates Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are living. God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Therefore, God is the God of the living, and Jesus inferred what God implied when He made the statement.
Also consider this example: In Acts 2:29-31, Peter infers from Psalm 16:10ff that Jesus is He of whom David spoke. David’s tomb is full. Christ tomb is empty. Therefore, David spoke about Christ.
Further, Hebrews 7:11 infers what Psalm 110:4 implies. David wrote there would be a change of the priesthood. A change of the priesthood necessitates a change of the law (Hebrews 7:12). Therefore, since there was a change of the priesthood, there was a change of the law.
Coupled with this, what does Hebrew 7:24 imply? Since Christ “continueth ever” and “hath an unchangeable priesthood,” then there will be no change in the law.
In addition, the “fifth seal” (Revelation 6:9) implies that slain souls live. The souls under the altar were crying out, told to rest and wait (verses 10,11). Only living souls can cry out and obey the command to rest and wait. Therefore, the souls under the altar were alive.
Finally, is the unleavened bread and fruit of the vine the literal body and blood of Jesus? Of course not, but how do you know? Implication and inference. Jesus was alive in body and blood when He instituted the Lord’s supper. Jesus instituted the Lord’s supper with unleavened bread and fruit of the vine. Therefore, the unleavened bread and fruit of the vine only represented His body and blood which He possessed.
The list of examples could go on and on, but these will suffice the honest and sincere seeker of God’s will.
— Chuck Northrop
Conway, AR
Have you told anyone about this?
The Bible has all
the answers to all the questions that matter!
CHRISTIANS LIVE IN A WORLD OF OPPOSITES
According to Colossians 1:13, the dividing line between this pair of
opposites is implied by the phrase “hath translated.” This word (meth-is-tay-mee)
means “to transpose, transfer, remove from one place to another” (Thayer,
p. 395). This translation occurred when the Colossians obeyed the gospel
by being buried with Him (Christ) in baptism (Colossians 2:12).
— Skip Andrews —
Accepting the challenge
to let our light shine so
that our Father
might be glorified!
THIS IS A GOOD WORK
(Titus 3:1)
Truth for the World is a mission work of the churches of Christ
(sponsored by the Duluth Church of Christ, Duluth, Georgia) and a total
approach to world evangelism that uses every aspect of the media to reach
the more than six billion lost souls of the world. What is Truth
for the World doing to reach these lost souls? Truth for the World
broadcasts the gospel via AM, FM, and shortwave radio and via television
to every major continent in the world. Truth for the World prints
six Bible correspondence courses, sixty-two gospel tracts, and a quarterly
teaching paper. Our courses are distributed to hundreds of
thousands, we produce nearly one million tracts per year, and send 35,000
teaching papers out each quarter. At present, these are going to
169 nations throughout the world. Truth for the World maintains
an Internet website. Available at this website are the Bible correspondence
courses, audio sermons, tracts, articles, and various other gospel and
Bible helps. Truth for the World plans gospel campaigns to
various areas throughout the world each year for the purpose of follow-up,
edifying the brethren, and evangelistic outreach. Our goal is to
fulfill the “Great Commission” and to present the gospel of Christ to every
person of every nation of our world. “Go into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:16). Working together,
this can be done (1 Corinthians 3:8,9).
My work with Truth for the World is the Bible Correspondence
Course program. This work consists of coordinating the efforts of
over 500 teachers and their students, making sure each have the materials
they need in order that the Gospel of Christ may be taught throughout the
world. This is done via the postal service and e-mail. At present
we have over 371,000 students. My work also consists of recruiting
new teachers and students, presenting Truth for the World to sound,
faithful congregations in order to raise the much needed funds for this
tremendous work, and doing the follow-up work with the students both overseas
and in the States. It is a most rewarding, fulfilling, and gratifying
work. I am now in my fifth year with Truth for the World.
If you are not yet involved in the Bible Correspondence program,
please let me come and speak to you about this great work.
The work of Truth for the World has grown tremendously since
its inception. This is due to the prayers, good will, and labors
of dedicated brethren, the financial support of faithful congregations
and disciples of Christ, and the grace of our God (1 Corinthians 3:6,7).
For all of this we are truly grateful.
Brethren, I need your help. I am writing to faithful and sound
congregations trying to raise the support I need to be able to continue
in this work. I am currently in need of $1200 per month. I am asking
congregations to consider a contribution of $200-$500 per month.
However, any amount that you are able to give will be truly appreciated.
Will your congregation be one of these? Your contribution will be
an investment in the future of the Lord’s church around the world.
It will be a commitment to making the Gospel of Jesus Christ available
to every creature in the world. Please send your contributions to
Truth
for the World, Post Office Box 5048, Duluth, Georgia 30096-0065 and
mark them for the “Hill Mission Fund.” A receipt will be sent
for every contribution sent and you will receive periodic reports of my
work with Truth for the World.
This is a good work and I thank you, in advance, for your prayerful
consideration. If you have questions concerning my work and /or your financial
support, please call me at (770) 622-1525 or e-mail me at jbh@tftw.org.
Please visit our website (www.tftw.org). I hope
to hear from you very soon.
May our God bless you richly and grant you peace and happiness in all
of your Gospel endeavors as you give and strive to serve Him.
In Christ Who Saves,
Jimmie B. Hill
Director, Bible Correspondence Courses For Truth for the World
5 x 5
5 Steps Through Time
5 Steps from God to Man
5 Steps of Man to God
5 Steps of Man with God
5 Steps of Man with Man
What Is Your Goliath?
Do you need help with discouragement,
fear, lack of faith, family problems, etc.? This is a series of 12
video lessons using “five smooth stones” to conquer these “Goliaths.”
Order these videos from:
World Video Bible School
130 Lantana Lane, Maxwell, TX 78656
Phone: 512 398-5211
E-Mail: biblestudy@wvbs.org
Equipping ourselves to go everywhere and tell everyone!