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

 

Volume 6—Number 2 February  2004

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

READY: Cause and Effect

SET: Maintain Good Works

GO: Search For Truth: Lesson 2 
 

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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. 

Editor 

Skip Andrews 
3239 Highway 120 
Duluth, GA  30096 
770  476-2159 
email: Skip Andrews
 

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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Families Matter: 
Off to a Good Start

Issue One of Families Matter has received several compliments, which helps us to believe that it is going to be a useful item for the home. We have already printed it three times (and since this paper is not dated, we plan to keep it available).
One of the things that has been done with it is a project that I am doing this year.  I am walking to about 880 houses every month with this paper and at least one other item in a plastic bag (last month, it was a mini calendar; this month it is a bookmark).  Six of the young kids (5-8 years old) here at Duluth helped me in one of the five subdivisions I am covering.  There are 51 houses in the area where they help, and I can hardly keep up with them!  But they are excited, and they know that we are trying to help people learn about God.
Issue Two is now available, and I have begun distributing it.  I have mentioned these things in order to encourage the use of such materials in evangelism as well as in Christian homes.  Hopefully, after these 880 families receive 12 issues, some of them will want to keep getting it!
Please feel free to ask for copies for your own use.  We will try to provide as many as we can (although we will gladly accept your financial help in this effort!).  It is very inexpensive to print Families Matter (approximately $2.00 per hundred).
Finally, I encourage any advice, questions, or ideas to make this better and better.
 
 

(Note:  Page numbers given are from the book by Bert Thompson, recommended at the end  of the article). 
Three classic arguments prove the existence of God. I will summarize them in three lessons so that we can be better prepared to give an answer to our contacts about this very basic truth: 

The prophet Daniel said “But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets” (Daniel 2:28; NKJV).  This great man is among the many people who have accepted the evidence that God exists.  The fool is the one who says that there is “NO GOD!”  The Bible exposes his foolishness and invites him to consider the facts (Psalm 14, 53; Acts 17:22-34).
The first of the arguments for our consideration is cause and effect (this is also known as the cosmological argument).
The question here is “What caused the universe?”  There are only three possible answers:

• The universe is eternal.
• The universe created itself out of nothing.
• The universe was created.

There is considerable scientific evidence that the universe had a beginning.  For example, the Second Law of Thermodynamics basically says that the universe is running down.  But if it were eternal, and if it were running down, it would have run out of energy long ago!  Something that is running down had to have a time when it began.  But if it began, it could not be eternal!  This Law is an established law of science, and it shows that the universe is not eternal.

If it were not for the incredible speculations of some famous scientists who have actually answered this question with a “Yes”, we would easily answer it with one other word: “NO!!”
But here is a little of what is included in their claims:
Edward P. Tryon said these two things: First, “In 1973, I proposed that our Universe had been created spontaneously from nothing, as a result of established principles of physics.”  Second, “Our universe is simply one of those things which happen from time to time (p. 130).”
Various scientists have battled this thought back and forth for some time now, but at least some of them are able to say that such an idea makes no sense at all (even if they offer no alternative).
The only way that the universe could create itself would be for it to exist before it existed!
So, the answer to this question is indeed “No.”

The proper answers to the previous questions leads to only one possible answer to this one, and that answer is “Yes.”  But if the entire physical universe was created by something, what was that something?  It could not be “matter,” for the universe is matter.  Thus, the creative power must have been “mind.”
Bert Thompson offers these great lines to make the truth apparent:

“1.  Everything that exists is either matter or mind.
  2.  Something exists now, so something eternal exists.
  3.  Therefore, either matter or mind is eternal.
       A.  Either matter or mind is eternal.
       B.  Matter is not eternal, as per evidence cited above.
       C.  Thus, it is mind that is eternal (p. 136).”

In order to obey the instructions that Paul gave in Titus, we must use the Bible to learn what things are “good works” in the eyes of God.  One of those good works is benevolence.  If Christians will take the time to learn what benevolence is, and realize how this good work can impact the world around us, it will be a powerful tool for evangelism in the lives of Christians everywhere.

Let me say in the first place that benevolence is more than money.  Sometimes we look at the church budget, see a rather small number in the category of benevolence, and assume that not much is being done in this area.  But benevolence includes the good deeds we do for Christian and non-Christian alike, such as visiting the sick, helping the bereaved, helping those who cannot help themselves (nursing homes, prisons, orphanages, and such like)—and even the small things like holding a door, comforting a child, cleaning up a mess, and doing kind deeds for our friends and neighbors.  When we understand these things, we are in a much better position to understand the real power of such actions (and also why they will be such an important part of the judgment (Matthew 25:31-46).

Let me say in the second place that the scriptures exalt these things and provide strong motivation to be involved in them.  

The Bible teaches that caring for the physical needs of others is connected with the idea that we care for their needs as we do for our own.  When another person does not have a blessing that I do have (health, physical abilities, finances, housing, food, clothing), I am to consider his need in light of how much I would like to be helped if the situation were to be reversed (Matthew 7:12; Acts 11:27-30).  

The Bible also teaches that these expressions of benevolence must always be done with purity of motive and action.  Romans 13:10 says that love works no ill to his neighbor, so let us always consider our own motives when these opportunities arise.  

Additionally, the Bible teaches that benevolent deeds are to be practiced as opportunity knocks (By the way, this is why many such deeds do not fit easily into the budget—a budget is planned, but difficult circumstances are not planned!).  Galatians 6:10 is a good place to go in order to learn this.  But this text also teaches us to be the kind of people who are looking for the open doors for benevolence.  

And then, the Bible teaches that benevolence will involve some kind of sacrifice on our part—every time.  The great parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) encourages us to understand that these sacrifices are a part of benevolence, and that sacrifice is a worthy thing, because of the rewards it promises.

And let me say in the last place that benevolence has strong connections with at least three others things:

• It brings glory to God (Matthew 5:13-16).
• It strengthens us (2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15).
• It opens the hearts of people for evangelism (Matthew 5:16).

(Note: During 2004, we will promote and say a few words about the Bible study lessons that are a part of the “Fishers of Men” program.  For more information, contact Timothy Wilkes at 800 338-1530).

The second lesson has fifteen sections of questions covering two major areas.  The first part of the study has to do with the “Unity of the Bible.”  Included are questions about inspiration, archeology, scientific foreknowledge, and prophecy.  There are also some hints that will help students learn how to interpret the word of God properly.  The last thing to be covered in the first part of the study relates to the fact that the Bible is the complete word of God, hence we are not to go beyond what is written.

The second part of this study deals with the question, “Is Jesus God?” The emphasis here is on the nature and roles of Jesus Christ.

Another key element of these lessons is that there are some discussion questions, which encourage the student to feel free to ask about things he may not understand, and to know that he should not hesitate to find out about other things that are included in the topic.  For example, one of these questions in lesson two is, “What questions do you have about the existence of God?”  This one is a part of the review section, where the first lesson is tied together with this one.

At the end, the student answers three review questions. Then, the lesson informs him that the next topic in the series is, “Are the Ten Commandments still binding today?”

The organization of this lesson is very good in that it introduces several important themes that will serve as a foundation for further learning.

Again, I encourage you to take the time to learn more about “Fishers of Men.”
 
 
 

Truth for the World: 

Contact us for a free wall 
calendar for 2004

We have printed 1000 of these for people to use through the new year.  There are several helpful features in these calendars.  First, there is a page for each staff member and his family so that you can learn about the various works we do at Truth for the World.  Second, there is a daily Bible reading program, with the references typed in on the day that they should be read.  Third, there are several teaching charts that can help people learn things about the Bible.  And fourth, there is information about other works and tools that Duluth makes available for Christians to use in teaching the word of God.

Please contact us by phone (770 476-2159), mail (3239 Highway 120, Duluth, GA  30096), or e-mail (duluthcofc@duluthcofc.org) for one or more copies of this calendar!  They are free, and they will soon be gone.