Noteworthy News

(Current events in the light of Scripture)

Gruesome Rescue Effort Continues
By Karin Davies, Associated Press - August 8, 1998

NAIROBI, Kenya — Spurred by cries for help, rescue workers used backhoes and bare hands Saturday to free people trapped under mangled steel and concrete shattered by two terrorist bombings at U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. At least 139 people died.

FBI agents and bomb examiners were at the Nairobi site, hoping to learn more about the explosive device used. Rescue workers, meanwhile, kept up the search for victims. The Red Cross death toll was expected to rise.

"Help me, help me. I have gone now," gasped one victim, a Kenyan man buried in rubble, just before he died. His body was one of eight pulled Saturday from a collapsed building next to the embassy.

Just a few minutes apart, the suspected car bombings 450 miles from each other Friday turned busy streets in two African capitals into bloody piles of concrete and knots of steel.

The number of injured topped 2,212. President Clinton said 11 Americans had died in Kenya; U.S. Embassy officials in Nairobi said at least 10. Washington officials said a child was among the American dead, and that two U.S. Embassy officers were missing and presumed dead.

Commentary

More senseless killing. More suffering of the innocent at the hands of the wicked. More souls lost eternally because they died without Christ - lost in their sin and without hope (Mk. 16:15-16; Rom. 3:23; 6:23; Eph. 2:11-12).

Violence does not solve problems - it increases them. The followers of Christ know this and must obey the Lord when violence becomes a tempting alternative in our dealings with others. Jesus teaches us to turn the other cheek, to love our enemies, and to live peaceably with all men (Matt. 5:38-39, 43-48; Rom. 12:18). Regardless of the political &/or religious problems this violence was intended to expose, almost 150 people are dead today because someone would not seek a peaceful solution.

We are not free from the temptation to react violently when angered (cf. Eph. 4:26-27). We must work hard to be “slow to wrath” (controlling our emotions to bring them into compliance with the will of God, Jas. 1:19-20).

If you have a problem with someone, resolve it peacefully as Christ has commanded (Matt. 5:21-25; 18:15; Eph. 4:31-32). -Joe R. Price

 Welcome Visitors! 

Young men’s training class will be at 5:00PM today.

Our gospel meeting with Tom Roberts starts in 2

weeks. Flyers are available to invite folks to come join

us. A meal list is available in the back.

The sick: Beulah Walker, Rick Haith, Mavis Fair

(chemotherapy); N’Kole Holp (baby time approaching!).

Out of town: Keith Alsobrook, Loren Parker

Please volunteer your time to work at the

construction site (see Morris Bass for scheduling - evenings, days, Saturdays).

Assignments: August 9, 1998

Announcements: Sam Holden

Opening Prayer: Sam Holden / Aaron Bass

Closing Prayer: Morris Bass / Ed DeWispelaere

Song Leader: Rick Holt / Clarence Gardner

Scripture Reading: Jess Bass / Jason Holt

Lord’s Supper: Charles Fair/Shane Bass/Bradley Holt

Building Cleanup: Gardner

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

Visit our Web Site on the Internet: http:// www.davisinet.com/northsidecofc

Volume II, No. 25 August 9, 1998

The Northside church of Christ

invites you to a

G O S P E L M E E T I N G

August 23-28, 1998

Guest Speaker: Tom Roberts

Meeting at the North Bellingham Grange Hall

5201 Northwest DR  Bellingham, WA 98227

Sunday: 9:30 & 10:30AM; 6:00PM Monday - Friday: 7:00PM

Bring your Bible and learn of Christ with us!

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Man's most essential need is the salvation of his soul from sin, since one's soul is his most valuable possession (Matthew 16:26). The all important question, "What must I do to be saved?" is asked three times in the New Testament (Acts 2:37; 9:6; 16:30). The Bible answer is clear and compelling. Open God's word to discover how to be saved. Then, obey the word of God and be saved from your sins.

• WHAT IS SIN AND ITS EFFECT?

-Violation of God's law - 1 John 3:4; 5:17; James 4:17.

-Separates man from God - Isaiah 59:1-2.

-Causes spiritual death - Romans 3:23; 6:23.

• SALVATION FROM SIN IS AVAILABLE TO ALL PEOPLE - Acts 10:34- 35; Romans 1:16-17; 10:11-13.

• WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR OUR SALVATION:

-Loved us even in our sin against Him - John 3:16.

-Sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us - Romans 5:6-9.

-This is God's grace toward mankind - Ephesians 2:1-8.

• WHAT MAN MUST DO IN ORDER TO BE SAVED FROM SIN:

-HEAR the gospel of Christ - Mark 16:15; John 6:44-45; Romans 10:17.

-BELIEVE:

1) In God - Hebrews 11:6.

2) The gospel (good news) of Christ - Mark 16:16; John 8:24; Acts 16:30-31.

-REPENT of sins - Luke 13:3-5; Acts 2:38; 17:30; Romans 2:4.

-CONFESS faith - Matthew 10:32-33; Romans 10:9-10.

-BE BAPTIZED - Mark 16:16; Acts 2:28; 22:16; Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21.

• WHAT HAPPENS THEN?

-Sins are removed, washed away - Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21.

-One becomes a Christian and is added to the church - Acts 11:26; 2:47.

• WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A CHRISTIAN?

-Live faithfully to Christ's teachings - Matthew 7:21-23; Romans 6:17-18; 12:1-2; Revelation 2:10.

Both God and man have a part in man's salvation from sin (Ephesians 2:8- 10; Matthew 7:24-27). God has done His part. He is ready to save you. Now, it is up to you to obey Him in faith and be saved from your past sins. -Joe R. Price

ARE YOU READY? Notes

(Scripture Reading: Acts 21:10-15)

I. Are you ready to accept the will of God?

A. Jesus Was - Matt. 26:39, 53 (submitted to the Father’s will) - Jno. 3:16; 1 Jno. 3:16.

B. Paul Was - Acts 9:1-9 (v. 6); 26:9-11.

C. Are We Just As Willing To Submit To The Will Of God? - Acts 21:14; Lk. 14:15-20.

II. Are you ready to Put Christ & His Gospel First?

A. Means Rearranging Hobbies/Activities To Secondary Status - Col. 3:1-2.

B. To Be Carnally-Minded Brings Death - Rom. 8:5-8; Matt. 6:19-21, 33-34.

C. The Cost Of Discipleship - Lk. 9:57-62; 10:38-42.

III. Are you ready to contend for the truth? - Jude 3; Phil. 1:12-18.

A. Be Ready To Defend The Gospel - Phil. 1:12-18.

B. Be Ready To Give A Defense - 1 Pet. 3:13-17 (apologia)

IV. Are you ready to die in the Lord?

A. Christianity Is A Life-Long Commitment - Phil. 3:12-16.

B. This Commitment Could Mean Giving Up Your Life - Rev. 2:10; Acts 21:13.

C. It Is A Blessed Thing To Die In The Lord - Phil. 1:20-21; 2 Tim. 4:6-8; Rev. 14:13.

WHY SHOULD I REMAIN FAITHFUL TO CHRIST? - Galatians 3

(Scripture Reading: Galatians 4:1-7)

1. The Christian is tempted to turn back to the world, error, sin of every sort.

2. What incentives do those who have “put on Christ” (3:27) have to continue

to be faith­ful to Christ?

I. THE CHRISTIAN IS A SON OF GOD - 4:1-7.

A. You Have Been Adopted Into The Family Of God - v.1-5; Eph. 1:5-6.

B. Advan­tages Of Sonship - v. 6-7; Rom. 8:14-17.

II. THE CHRISTIAN'S STANDING WITH GOD - 4:8-11.

A. The Christian Knows God - v. 8-9; Acts 16:31, 34; Heb. 6:4-5; Phil. 3:8-10.

B. God's Knowledge Of The Faithful - v. 9; 2 Tim. 2:19; 1 Thess. 3:5.

III. CHRIST MUST BE FORMED IN US - v. 12-31; Col. 1:27; 3:10.

A. The Blessedness Of Our First Contact With The Gospel Must Not Diminish

- v. 12-15; Acts 8:39; Rev. 2:4-5.

B. Those Who Warn Us Of Sin / Falling Are Our Friends - v. 16-18; Jas. 5:19-20.

C. Maintain Freedom In Christ & Grow To Maturity - v. 19-20 (21-31).