Noteworthy News

(Taken from current news topics)

NO BODYBUILDING

Islamic religious leaders in Malaysia have issued a decree prohibiting men from entering bodybuilding competitions after learning that three Muslims had entered a contest 430 miles southeast of Kuala Lumpur. Muslims convicted of disobeying the law face a $1,000 fine and two years in prison. No word yet if the three men would be prosecuted. Under current religious laws in Malaysia, -- where religion is considered a state matter -- Muslim women may expose only their hands, face and feet. Men must be covered from waist to thigh. -- The Associated Press

I wonder how many Christians see nothing wrong with a Christian - man or woman - entering a bodybuilding contest. Muslims evidently understand the problem. It is not that bodybuilding is wrong - it is not (1 Tim. 4:8). They know that the lack of clothing in such contests indecently exposures and displays the body. In that, at least, they agree with the Bible, which forbids all such immodest dress (1 Tim. 2:9-10). When God’s people forget how to blush - to be embarrassed over sin -- their backsliding is complete (cf. Jer. 8:12; Gen. 3:7-10).

We are not advocating that immodestly dressed people be fined and placed into prison. What we are attempting to get you to see is that every person who dresses immodestly is already in prison to sin, held in bondage by the attractions and allurements of the flesh, and faces eternal punishment (Rom. 6:16, 23). Immodest dress is a problem Christians over which Christians should not be complacent. I do not want to be cast into eternal darkness because of the clothing (or lack of it) I chose to wear while here on earth. Do you? -jrp

N orthside News

· Out of town: Keith Alsobrook; the Shane Bass family. Sick: Remember Beulah Walker (shut-in).

· Joe Price is preaching in Oak Harbor this morning. Aaron Bass is preaching in his absence.

· The men’s Bible class meets Thursday night at 7:00 at Rusty McGrew’s house.

Assignments: Sunday, September 14

Announcements: Ed DeWispeleare

Opening Prayer: Ed DeWis. / Walt Humphrey

Closing Prayer: Rick Holt / Morris Bass

Song Leader: Gary Bass / Dan Head

Scripture: Jess Bass / Charles Fair

Lord’s Supper: R. McGrew / B. Holt / TBA

Bldg. Cleanup (Sept. 20): Holt

T HE SPIRIT’S SWORD

“And take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17)

The Northside church of Christ

Meeting at the North Bellingham Grange Hall · 5201 Northwest Road · Bellingham, WA

Vol. I, No. 31 September 14, 1997

Fresh Ideas?

Ever been stumped about what to teach a class or preach to an audience? In one sense, I suppose, that is common problem facing gospel preachers and Bible class teachers. However, in another sense, it concerns me when a preacher says “I just don’t know what to preach about!” The older I get the more I come to understand that there are so many things that need to be preached, the dilemma is not what to preach, but what to preach first! Here are a few suggestions for anyone who is having trouble deciding what to preach.

(1) Textual studies. Use a passage of scripture to develop a lesson. The Bible offers countless outlines within the structure of the text itself from which to preach the gospel. Let the inspired text supply your outline, then make the pertinent applications for the hearers.

(2) Topical studies. The list of topics which need addressing is lengthy. Any topical Bible will offer hundreds of suggestions. Remember the need of your audience as you prepare to teach a class or preach a sermon. What topic or topics do they especially need to hear? Knowing your audience helps, but the gospel can be effectively preached to strangers as well as acquaintances. Knowing their background and needs, however, is crucial to effectively teaching them the gospel (cf. Acts 17:1-4, 16-32).

(3) Remember, there is nothing new about the gospel message. Originality is not our objective when we preach the gospel. We must preach the old, old story (Jer. 6:16; 2 Pet. 1:12-15). We do not need a new, original, innovative, revitalized, dynamic gospel. The old Jerusalem gospel is all of these things (Heb. 4:12; 1 Pet. 1:22-25). Beware of preaching which claims to bring new things, new insights, new meanings. Human wisdom is at work in such desires and expectations (cf. Acts 17:21).

(4) Above all, trust the power of the word of God to convict and convert the lost (Jn. 16:8-13; Rom. 1:16; 1 Thess. 2:13). It will not be your eloquence, your knowledge or your presentation which wins souls. It will be Christ and the power of His gospel. So, remember that God is the origin of scripture (2 Tim. 3:16). You do not have to come up with something original in order to persuade men. The gospel of Christ will accomplish that (1 Cor. 2:1-5). Fresh ideas? Go back to the Bible and drink deeply from its well. It will refresh you and give you the fresh ideas you need to preach to a lost world. -Joe Price

IS YOUR FRUIT RIPE OR ROTTEN?

Nobody I know likes rotten fruit. There is nothing appealing about it. It stinks and is slimy. It attracts flies and other unsightly insects and molds. The scavengers will eat it if they can get to it, and maybe the hogs. Have you ever wondered how rotten spiritual fruit must look to God? (Revelation 3:15-16 gives us some insight into that.)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kind­ness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law" (Gal. 5:22-23). Christians should be bearing fruit, and that fruit should never rot. Think about some of the properties of fruit which should be present in our lives.

First, we commonly call fruit "produce." It is a product of nature and nurturing. Likewise, the "fruit of the Spirit" is produced as one is "led by the Spirit" (Gal. 5:16, 18, 25). We are to live by the direction of the Spirit-inspired gospel--"the faith" He revealed (Gal. 3:2; 1:11, 23). The only way to bear spiritual fruit is to abide in Christ (Jno. 15:1-5). Is spiritual fruit being produced in our lives through our obedience to the gospel of Christ? Or, has our fruit rotted through negligence and disobedience?

Secondly, just as fruit identifies its plant, our fruit identi­fies us. Jesus said that bearing much fruit (by abiding in Him) shows that we are His disciples (Jno. 15:8). Bearing the fruit of the Spirit marks us as belong­ing to Christ. Remember, "by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matt. 7:20). The fruit of the Spirit in one's life marks him as being victori­ous over the works of the flesh: "And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof" (Gal. 5:24). The fruit we bear should identify us as being "of Christ Jesus," not of the world (Gal. 5:19-21).

Thirdly, we understand that fruit must grow to maturity. We do not plant an apple tree expecting ripened fruit to appear the next day. Spiritual fruit also takes time to develop and mature. We are often encour­aged to grow to maturity or perfection in the New Testament (Acts 20:32; Phil. 3:13-14; Heb. 6:1; 1 Pet. 2:2). This growth occurs by obeying the word of God in our lives (Heb. 5:12-14). We need diligence and patience as we attempt to grow in faith and obedience. But, we must grow. Just as we cut down a fruit tree which never produces any fruit (Lk. 13:6-9), God will not accept us into heaven if our lives never bear fruit for Him (2 Pet. 1:5-11). Is your fruit ripening?

As we bear the fruit of the Spirit we show Christ to the world. Is your fruit ripe or rotten?

-Joe Price

THE PRIORITY OF FAITH - James 4:1-5:6 Notes

{Scripture Reading: James 4:1-10}

I. Faith produces separation from the world

-4:1- 4.

A. The Source Of Conflict: The Flesh - 4:1-4; Gal. 5:17;

Haggai 1:1-11.

1. Wrong motive: Satisfy selfish/fleshly pleasures.

2. Wrong expectation: Blsgs. in spite of sin - v. 2.

3. Wrong request: Self-indulgence - v. 3; 1 Jn. 2:15.

4. Wrong relationship: God’s enemy! - v. 4.

B. Applications & Remedy - Gal. 5:13-15; Matt. 20:25-28;

1 Cor. 3:3; Jude 3-4; cf. Titus 1:10-14; Rom. 6:10-14.

II. Faith produces submission to God - 4:5-17.

A. God Is Gracious To The Humble - 4:5-6; Isa. 57:15-18.

B. Humility Cures Worldliness, Therefore, Submit To God-4:7-10.

C. Submission To God Will Not Judge A Brother - 4:11-12.

D. Submission To God Means We Act According To His Will - 4:13-17.

III. Faith produces service rather than greedy

mastery - 5:1-6.

A. Greed & Selfishness Will Be Judged & Condemned By God

- 5:1-3.

B. Greed Runs Over The Rights Of Others - 5:4-6.

Conclusion

1. A life of faith in Christ must be our first priority in life.

2. This priority is set by separation from the world, submission

to God, and service to others.

________________________

TWINE AND TIME

The employees of a Post Office in a Texas town saved the short pieces of twine which came wrapped around a bundle of letters, and wound them into a ball. At the end of four years, it was 29 inches in diameter, weighed 75 pounds and contained an estimated length of 30 miles.

The short pieces of spare time which come wrapped around the doings of every day life, would, if systematically saved by applying them to the reading and study of the scriptures, result in the accumulation of a vast amount of spiritual knowledge.

-A. Hugh Clark