Noteworthy News

(From news of the day)

Hell House: Happy Halloween?

The Abundant Life Christian Center, Arvada, Colorado offers “Hell House” to the public for $6.50 during Halloween.

“This is the third year of the church's Hell House program, a slick holiday production that aims to show teenagers the wages of what it regards as sin.

“The pitfalls of modern temptation -- abortion, homosexuality, date rape, satanism and alcoholism -- are featured in lurid detail in Hell House. A visit to hell, reeking and sulfurous, is thrown in to demonstrate what awaits those who refuse to repent such sins.

"What we portray in Hell House is bold and shocking," warns literature of the church, an Assembly of God congregation. "It is aggressive and at times offensive. But real life and the devastation that Satan and the kingdom of evil wreak on real people is also aggressive and shocking." (Philadelphia Inquirer, Lifestyle, Oct. 23, 1997)

Hell House packages have been ordered by 228 churches in 45 states and a few foreign countries. After two years of Hell House, the Abundant Life Center has doubled its attendance to about 600 and received more than 5,000 pledges to rededicate their lives to Christ.

Well now, there’s evangelism for you! Yes, hell is real and awful. Jesus said so (Mk. 9:43-48). Yes, the sins depicted are horrible (Rom. 1:28-32; Gal. 5:19-21). Yes, it has a worthy goal: to rescue young people from the clutches of sin, pain and death. Maybe we should produce our own “Hell House”.......

Never mind that a church is offering entertainment (the N.T. never teaches us to do that, Col. 3:17). Never mind the monetary charges (there’s an entrance fee and a package fee -- churches purchase the manual on how to construct their own “Hell House.” But the gospel is free (Matt. 10:8). Never mind the false teaching on how to be saved that each visitor is offered at the end of the Hell House tour (faith only, cf. Jas. 2:24; Mk. 16:16).

Hell House may save youth from physical harm, disease and distress. To that extent, it offers society a worthwhile service. But it does not and cannot offer the salvation of the soul, for the whole gospel of Christ is not being taught nor practiced. There gospel is not to be found in “Hell House!” (FYI, there is a Hell House in Bellingham this year across from Kinko’s on Holly ST.) -Joe Price

Assignments: Sunday, October 26, 1997

Announcements: Jason Holt

Opening Prayer: Jason Holt / TBA

Closing Prayer: Charles Fait / Dan Head

Song Leader: Rusty McGrew / Gary Bass

Scripture: Wesley Holt / Ray Hollister

Lord’s Supper: Rick H./Clarence G./Jeremy P.

Bldg. Cleanup (Nov. 1): Shane & Justina Bass

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. 37 October 26, 1997

THE MODEL PRAYER

It is often called "The Lord's Prayer" because it was spoken by Jesus. But, a more appropriate description would be "The Model Prayer," since it was spoken by Jesus to his disciples upon their request to "teach us to pray" (Lk. 11:1ff). The model set forth by Jesus is as follows:

"Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." (Matthew 6:9-13)

J. W. McGarvey called this prayer "a model of matter, arrangement and expression." The German theologian Helmut Thielicke described it this way: "Great things and small things; spiritual things and material things; inward things and outward things -- there is nothing that is not included in this prayer." Truly, this prayer is a model of sincerity, simplicity and faith.

The importance of this prayer is found in the words which directly precede it in Matthew's account: "After this matter therefore pray ye" (Matt. 6:9a). Jesus has put us under commandment to learn to pray from this blueprint He has left us. By emulating this prayer when we pray, we will be communicating with God in the most effective way possible. Many people pray in all sorts of ways. We can have confidence that our prayers are honorable and honored by our heavenly Father when we pray to Him in the Christ-approved way. Consider a brief outline of this prayer which may help increase our understanding of how to pattern our prayers after this Model Prayer.

(continued on page 2)

First, we should know that prayer is a matter of invoking God's hearing and help (v. 9b). So, Jesus says to acknowledge this when we pray -- "Our Father." It is the Christian who is blessed with this unique relationship with God. God has bestowed upon us His love that we should be called His children (1 Jn. 3:1-2; Jn. 1:12). Prayer is for God's children to talk with their Heavenly Father! Our prayers must always give honor to God as our Provider, Protector and Sustainer (2 Cor. 6:18).

It is equally needful to exhibit reverent regard for our Heavenly Father -- "Who art in heaven." While we (as the children of God) love Him, we must never be irreverent toward Him. "...God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few" (Eccl. 5:2). As someone has said, "The familiarity of love must not forget the reverence due to holiness."

Once we have invoked God's hearing and help in our prayers, our atten­tion should be given to petitioning God about Himself and man's response to Him (v. 9c-10). Specifically, that:

1. God's name be hallowed (treated as holy): Hallowed be thy name. The glory of God should be in view when we pray. Not only should we acknowledge His holiness (Rev. 4:8), we should also pray that all men every­where may revere Him! "And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee..." (Psa. 9:10).

2. God's kingdom come: Thy kingdom come. This element of our prayers anticipates as well as announces the rule of God in the lives of men. God's kingdom has come (Mk. 1:15; 9:1; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4), and is identi­fied as Christ's church. However, there are billions who have not subjected themselves to the rule which God exercises through His Son. That the lost might obey the rule of God in their lives must be our constant prayer.

3. God's will be done: Thy will be done. God's children long for the purposes of God to be fully realized in every corner of this universe! As God's will is done in heaven (completely, cheerfully and immediate­ly), it is our prayer that things may be so on earth. We help matters when we conform ourselves to the will of God (Matt. 26:39; Rom. 12:2).

Finally, we should petition God about ourselves (v. 11-13): Our physical condition - "Give us this day our daily bread." The things needful for life come from God (Matt. 6:31-32). Our need for pardon - "Forgive us our debts...." We can never pay the debt we owe God due to our sin (Matt. 18:21-27). We must seek His mercy, understanding that our forgiveness is related to our own mercifulness (Matt. 18:28-35). Our protection - "Bring us not into temptation..." (Matt. 26:41; 1 Cor. 10:13).

Through this "Model Prayer" Jesus teaches us sincerity, simplicity and faith. Remember, prayer is powerful when prayed to the All-Powerful God (v. 15)! -Joe Price

FIVE FACTORS OF CHURCH GROWTH Notes

Growth: Numerically (Acts 6:7) & Spiritually (Acts 8:1-4; 9:31).

I. Faithfulness in Teaching - 2 Tim. 2:2.

A. Spiritual Growth Demands Spiritual Food - 1 Pet. 2:2.

B. Faithful Teaching Of The Gospel - 1 Cor. 4:17; 1 Tim. 1:

3-4; 4:6-11; Titus 1:9.

C. Evangelism - cf. 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Heb. 13:2.

II. FERVENCY in Praying - Jas. 5:16; 1 Ths. 5:17; Acts 2:42.

A. For Boldness In Preaching - Acts 4:23-24, 29-31.

B. For Safety Of Brethren - Acts 12:5, 12.

C. For All The Saints - Eph. 6:18.

D. For Spiritual Blessings - Jas. 5:16.

III. enDURANCE in Suffering - 1 Pet. 4:16 (Acts 8:1, 4).

A. At Time Of Conversion - Heb. 10:32-34.

B. As You Continue In Your Faith - Heb. 10:35-39 (faith).

C. For Doing Good - 1 Pet. 3:13-17.

D. To The Point Of Death - Rev. 2:10.

IV. Liberality in Giving (Rom. 12:8; 2 Cor. 9:6-11).

A. Possessions - 1 Cor. 16:1-2.

B. Time - Eph. 5:16 (Matt. 25:34-40).

C. Abilities - Matt. 25:15 (Lk. 12:48).

V. Purity in Living - Titus 2:11-14.

A. Light Of The World - Matt. 5:14-16.

B. A Pattern Of Good Works - Titus 2:6-8.

C. Honorable Conduct - 1 Pet. 2:11-12.

D. Inherit A Blessing - 1 Pet. 3:8-12.

THE GREAT COMMISSION

(Matt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-16)

The wise win souls - Prov. 11:30.

I. WHAT? “Go....”

A. Because Christ Commands Us! (“therefore”).

II. WHO GOES?

A. You: Apostles - Acts 1:8; 10:40-42; 22:15; Eph. 3:7-9.

B. All Christians - Matt. 28:20; Acts 8:4; 1 Ths. 1:8.

III. GO WHERE? - All The World. Rom. 15:18-21; 2 Cor. 10:14-16

IV. WHAT IS OUR WORK? “Teach & preach the gospel”

- cf. Acts 13:5, 14-16; 14:1.

V. TEACH AND PREACH WHAT? “The gospel.” 1 Cor. 1:17

VI. TO WHOM? “All the nations” - Mk. 16:15.

VII. WHY?

A. To Save Lost Souls - Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:39.

B. Because It Is The Only Way To Save Lost Souls - Matt. 9:38;

Rom. 6:17-18.

C. To Have God’s Fellowship & Blessings - Matt. 28:20 (Gal. 3:26-27).

D. Because God Said To (We are under divine directive)!