Ready! Set! Go!
"They shall mount up with wings like eagles" 
(Isaiah 40:31)

 

Volume 5—Number 5—May 2003
 
 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

        READY:  Approved Example 

         SET:  Good Versus Evil

                 GO:  Can You Help Our Helpers?
 

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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.

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SIN HAS CREATED THE NEED

“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (Genesis 6:5,6; Romans 3:23; 1 John 3:4).

GOD HAS CREATED THE PLAN

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”  “To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 1:16,17; Ephesians 3:10,11).

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL ANY LOST SOUL HOW TO BE SAVED!

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15; all references are from the NKJV).

These things are simple, profound, and true!  Let us all be busy evangelizing as the early church did (Acts 8:4,5).

    - Skip
 
 

The authority of the scriptures comes by two basic means — explicitly and implicitly. Explicitly refers to that which is fully revealed or directly expressed, and implicitly refers to something not directly expressed but fully capable of being understood. In our last article, we wrote about direct statement which is how the scriptures authorize explicitly. In this article, we are concerned with approved example which is one way the scriptures authorize implicitly.

To begin with, it should be clear that not all examples are given to be followed. Judas Iscariot denied the Lord and hung himself. He most certainly set an example, but all of us most certainly should understand his example is not to be followed. King Saul went to the witch of Endor. Should we do the same? Of course not!  His example was not intended for us to follow. Demas forsook the Lord’s work because of his love for the present world. He left us an example. Should we follow it? No! His example is not authoritative. These three examples were merely accounts of actions taken by these individuals and are in no way authoritative. Since not all examples are given to be followed, we must ask when is an example authoritative and given for us to follow? There are only two types of examples that authorize.

First, an example is approved and is to be followed when it answers a question raised by a command and thus establishes a pattern. Christians are commanded to partake of the Lord’s supper (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29). Christians are not to forsake the assembly (Hebrews 10:25). From these two statements, a question naturally arises: When are Christians to assemble to partake of the Lord’s supper? This question is answered by examples. In fact, it is only answered by examples. After the church was established and planted in Jerusalem, “they 
continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). This passage describes all five avenues of worship including the Lord’s supper, the “breaking of bread.” When this took place, what day was it? It was the day of Pentecost which was always on the first day of the week or the day after the Sabbath (Leviticus 23:15,16). Another example is found in Acts 20:7, which says, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread...” These examples established a pattern and answered the question raised by the commands. Therefore, they are authoritative because they revealed God’s plan for man. 

Second, an example is approved when it is specifically given to be followed or not to be followed. To the Corinthians, Paul wrote, “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye” (1 Corinthians 16:1). The church at Corinth was explicitly told to follow the example of the churches of Galatia. In John 13:14,15, Jesus said, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” Jesus explicitly told them to follow His example, but what was His example? Was it foot-washing? No! The example was servitude and humility. Finally, consider what Paul wrote to the church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 10:6-11. Twice, he said these things were our examples (verses 6 and 11), but notice the wandering Hebrews in the wilderness were examples of what not to follow. Nonetheless, they were given as authoritative; and, thus, they reveal God’s plan for man.

The New Testament clearly teaches the principle of following proper examples. Christians are to follow the examples of God (Matthew 5:48; 1 Peter 1:15,16) and Christ (Philippians 2:5; 1 Peter 2:21). And, Christians are themselves to be examples (1 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:7). Thus, each child of God should be able to say as Paul said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Secretaries are an important part of the running of any organization.  Secretaries work behind the scenes, keep the work moving smoothly, supply skills and expertise to varied situations, and in general, are absolutely indispensable to the daily operation of the work or organization.  I have often observed that secretaries seem to know more about most businesses than their employers do.

Truth for the World, a multi-media mission work under the oversight of the Duluth Church of Christ, is no different from any other work in respect to the invaluable help provided by our secretaries.  We have six fulltime men on our staff who handle each area of work such as broadcasting, printing, Bible correspondence, etc.  But the work of the men is made much easier and more efficient by two fulltime secretaries, Brenda Rutherford and Linda Hill, and one part-time secretary, Katrece Howard.  Brenda does many duties, much like an office manager.  Linda also has many duties but is especially in charge of the vast amount of mailing of materials.  Katrece helps prepare our newsletter and teaching paper for mailing, operates folding and collating machines, and generally works where needed.  Brenda and Linda take care of the financial affairs of the work, with Linda doing the banking and Brenda preparing the financial statements.  Their duties are so numerous and so diverse, it would be impossible to list them all.

Our secretaries are wives of TFTW staff members.  They are paid salaries that are much lower than any one of them could command in the secular world.  They work to supplement the income received by their husbands.  Because they are engaged in the Lord’s work, they bring an extra measure of dedication to the work.  We simply could not get along without them.

Brenda’s salary is supplied by those who support her husband, Rod.  Linda and Katrece are paid out of our “secretary’s fund.”  Two churches and three individuals contribute monthly to this fund.  The total average amount given monthly is $625.  In addition to this, approximately $300 per month comes from a percentage of the general funds given to the work.  This means that an average of $925 goes into the fund, but $1682 is going out of the fund each month.  This cannot long continue.  We must have more money given to pay our much needed and hard-working secretaries.

If an individual or a congregation would like to be a part of the great work of Truth for the world, one of the best and most helpful things you can do is to support the secretary’s fund.  If you can help in this, please make your checks payable to Truth for the World, mark them for Secretary’s Fund, and mail to us at Truth for the World, P.O. Box 5048, Duluth, GA  30096.  May God bless you for your interest in His work.
 

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.”