And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17

THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD

Volume XII, Number 12 March 29, 2009

Published by

Mt. Baker
church of Christ

Location:
1860 Mt. Baker HWY
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 30821
Bellingham, WA 98228
(360) 752-2692

Sunday:
Bible Classes..........9:30 AM
Worship..10:30AM; 6:00PM
Wednesday:
Bible Classes.........7:00 PM

Web sites:
Mt. Baker church
Bible Answers

Editor......Joe R. Price

Elders
Morris Bass
Rick Holt
Joe Price

Deacons
Aaron Bass
Rich Brooks
Mike Finn
John Hague
Dan Head

In this issue:

• Gospel Meeting April 26-May 01, 2009

  The Voice of God…The Voice of History (by James Cope)

  Church Mourns Death of a Prominent Member -Author Unknown

  Sermon Outlines:

  • The Messiah on the Heart (Matthew 12:33-37)

  Noteworthy News: Tired of Religion?

Gospel Meeting April 26-May 01, 2009

THE MT. BAKER
CHURCH OF CHRIST
(1860 Mt. Baker Highway, Bellingham, WA)

Invites you to our

GOSPEL MEETING

with Evangelist

Steven j. wallace

(Sunnyside & Yakima, WA)

April 26–May 01, 2009

Monday-Friday: 7:00 PM
(Sunday: 9:30 & 10:30 AM, 6:00 PM)

(From I-5 take Exit # 255 and go East 4.2 miles)
more information: please call (360) 752-2692

The Voice of God…The Voice of History
James Cope

THE VOICE OF GOD

JESUS CHRIST SAID HE WOULD BUILD HIS CHURCH.

"I will build my church..." Matt. 16:18.

THE SCRIPTURES DECLARE HE BUILT ONLY ONE.

"There is one body..." Eph. 4:4.
"He is the head of the body, the church..." Col. 1:18.

DIVINE PROPHECY AND INSPIRED HISTORY AFFIRM THAT THE CHURCH
OF CHRIST BEGAN IN JERUSALEM, ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST, 33 AD

THE VOICE OF HISTORY

THE RECORD OF THE PAST 19 CENTURIES REVEALS THESE FACTS
CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PROMINENT RELIGIOUS BODIES:

TIME

PLACE

FOUNDER

CHURCH

606 AD

Rome

Boniface III

Catholic Church

1520 AD

Germany

Martin Luther

Lutheran

1534 AD

England

Henry VIII

Episcopalian

1536 AD

Switzerland

John Calvin

Presbyterian

1550 AD

England

Robert Browne

Congregational

1607 AD

Holland

John Smythe

Baptist

1739 AD

England

John Wesley

Methodist

1830 AD

America

Joseph Smith

LDS (Mormon)

1830 AD

America

William Miller

Adventists

1866 AD

America

Mary Baker Eddy

Christian Scientist

1872 AD

America

Charles T. Russell

Jehovah’s Witnesses

From: The One True Church by James Cope

Church Mourns Death of a Prominent Member
Author Unknown

THE CHURCH was saddened to learn of the death this past week of one of its most prominent members, “Someone Else.”

“Someone’s” passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. “Else” has been with us for so many years. “Somebody” did far more than a normal person’s share of the work. Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone’s list; Let “Someone Else” do it.

It was common knowledge that “Someone Else” was among the largest givers in the church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed that “Someone Else” would make a difference. “Someone Else” was a wonderful person – sometimes appearing superhuman, but a person can only do so much. Were the truth known, everyone expected too much of “Someone Else.”

Now “Someone Else” is gone. We wonder what we are going to do. “Someone Else” left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to do the things “Someone Else” did? When you are asked to help, remember that we can no longer depend on “Someone Else.”

You can find the complete outline of this sermon at BIBLE ANSWERS

The Messiah on the Heart

Scripture Reading: Matthew 12:33-37

I. OUR HEART IS REVEALED BY OUR WORDS AND DEEDS, 12:33-37.

A. A Tree is known by its Fruit, Prov. 23:7 (Identity and acceptability).
B. First Clean the Inside (heart), Ezek. 18: 30-31; Jas. 4:8.
1. We often start in the wrong place (Rom. 12:1-2; Col. 3:2, 5ff); Lk. 11:37-41; Matt. 12:34; 1 Cor. 13:1-3; Psa.37:30-31.
2. Repentance is a deliberate decision of heart toward sin and toward good, Lk. 3:8, 10-14; 12:35.
C. Accountability, 12:36-37 (Eph. 4:25, 29, 31; 5:4, 6).

II. REJECTED SIGNS – EVIL HEARTS, Matt. 12:38-42.

A. How We React to the Miraculous Signs of Jesus Shows our Heart, 12:38 (16:1, 4); Jno. 10:24-25; 11:45-47; 12:37-41.

III. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR HEART, 12:43-45.

A. The Possibility of Apostasy is Real, 2 Pet. 2:20-22; Heb. 10:26-27.

IV. OUR RELATION WITH JESUS MUST BE SET ABOVE EVERY OTHER, 12:46-50.

A. Relationship with Jesus is Formed and Kept by Doing the Will of God, 12:48-50 (Matt. 10:36-37).

Conclusion
We have a choice: What kind of heart we will have (what kind of person we will be).

NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

Tired of Religion?
Joe R. Price

Keith Alsobrook told me about the message he saw the other day on the marquee at the Word of Life Church in Lynden. It read: “If you’re tired of religion you’ll love it here!” I suppose that says several things about the Word of Life Church as well as those who may be “tired of religion”.

We ought to be tired of some religion. The religions of men are powerless to bring sinners to God. That not only includes the false “world religions” like Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc., but also the false churches of men that dot the religious landscape. We are tired of the denominations created by men, dividing and separating by their creeds and confessions. Such division is abhorrent to Christ (Jno. 17:20-21; 1 Cor. 1:10). By what authority does the “Word of Life Church” exist? Without the authority of Christ, whatever type of religion it is offering is futile (Matt. 16:18; Col. 3:17).

We ought to be tired of hypocrisy in religion. The Pharisees and scribes were religious, but their religion was empty because they “say and did not do” (Matt. 23:3). We must not be Christians who say yet fail to do. Let us redouble our efforts to say and do God’s will.

We ought not to be tired of pure religion. You see, not all religion is bad, the Word of Life sign notwithstanding. There is “pure and undefiled religion” that pleases God (Jas. 1:26-27). A bridled tongue, a helping hand and a holy life are among the “religion” that God approves.

Being “tired of religion” may mean one does not like the New Testament pattern that establishes pure religion. If so, one must learn to please God, not self (Gal. 1:10).

The Spirit's Sword is a free, weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA
Send all questions, comments and subscriptions to the editor at: ssword@bibleanswer.com