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

THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD

Volume 18, Number 09
09/06/2015

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
All sing last Wednesday

Web sites:
Mt. Baker church
Bible Answers

Editor......Joe R. Price

Elders
Morris Bass
Rick Holt

Deacons
Aaron Bass
Rich Brooks
Mike Finn
Dan Head

In this issue:

• Gospel Meeting September 20-25, 2015
• God's Word On Spanking
• Sermon Outlines:
  • The Power of Godliness (Part 1)
  • The Announcement of Jesus
• Noteworthy News: #DivorceSelfie

Gospel Meeting September 20-25, 2015

The Mt. Baker
Church of Christ

1860 Mt. Baker Highway • Bellingham WA

Invites you to our

GOSPEL MEETING

With Evangelist

Brett Hogland
(Blue Springs, Missouri)

September 20-25, 2015

Monday-Friday at 7:00 PM
Sunday, September 20^th at 9:30 and 10:30 AM; 6:00 PM

Bring your Bible and join us in learning God’s word and will for our lives!

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

God's Word On Spanking
Joe R. Price

Almost twenty years ago an east coast adoption agency required its clients to sign a statement promising not to use corporal punishment (spanking, or as they defined it, “the inflicting of pain or discomfort”) to correct the child they would adopt. The statement read in part, “...this agency firmly believes that the use of corporal punishment is neither an acceptable nor a useful tool for teaching or correcting a child of any age. There is significant potential for physical or emotional harm to a child through this practice.”

That last sentence sidesteps the issue and diverts attention away from the legitimate use of corporal punishment. There is "significant potential" that any good thing (including spanking), can be misused to the detriment of others. We certainly do not advocate the abuse of children under the guise of discipline. Nor do we conclude that every use of corporal punishment proves mistreatment of the child.

The question concerning us here is who decided spanking is "neither acceptable nor a useful tool for teaching or correcting a child of any age"? This provides us with a clear example of the conflict in society between the wisdom of men and the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:19-20).

Here are some things God's word says about the proper use of corporal punishment.

1. Is a useful tool for teaching and correcting a child. “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him” (Prov. 13:24, ESV). God says corporal punishment shows the parent’s love for the child. “Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death” (Prov. 19:18, ESV). The real threat to the child comes when he or she is not corrected. The "rod" is a proper instrument of discipline when needed.

2. It does not cause lasting physical harm. “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die” (Prov. 23:13, ESV). “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12:11, ESV).

3. It does not cause lasting emotional harm. “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Prov. 22:15). “The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother” (Prov. 29:15, ESV).

Parents, grandparents and children must believe God knows best how to correct disobedient children. Spanking is not the only option, but it cannot be Scripturally taken off the table as an appropriate option for corrective discipline. Spanking is not an outlet for the anger of the parent against the child; that is sin. To train a child it must be used wisely, fairly and consistently. When it is, it yields "the peaceable fruit of righteousness" (Heb. 12:11).

You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

The Power of Godliness (Part 1)

Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 4:6-11

1. Power drives worldly people.
2. The power of godliness should govern and drive us, 2 Tim. 3:5.
3. Godliness has the power to shape and mold the individual and society, 1 Tim. 4:7-8; 6:11. THE POWER OF GODLINESS...

I. IN THE CHRISTIAN, 2 Pet. 3:11.

A. Spiritual Growth, 2 Pet. 1:6-7.
B. Contentment, 1 Tim. 6:6-10; Matt. 6:24
C. Endurance, 2 Tim. 3:11-12. (Matt. 5:10-12; 1 Pet. 4:14-16)
D. Moral Living, Titus 2:11-14.
E. Clothing, 1 Tim. 2:9-10.
F. Sincerity (not hypocrisy), 2 Tim. 3:1-5; Titus 1:16.

Continued... Part 2

You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

The Announcement of Jesus

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-35

1. Jesus Christ is the embodiment, manifestation and culmination of God's great plan to redeem sinners, Heb. 1:1-4; Col. 1:13-20 (Col. 2:9).
2. The angel Gabriel predicted five things about Mary’s son, Luke 1:32-33:
a. Will be great, 1:32.
b. Will be called the Son of the Highest, 1:32.
c. Will be given the throne of His father David, 1:32.
d. Will reign over house of Jacob forever, 1:33.
e. His kingdom will never end, 1:33.

I. MARY'S SON WOULD BE GREAT, 1:32.

A. Superior in Importance to All Others, cf. Acts 8:9-10; Lk. 1:31 ("Jesus", Matt. 1:21).
B. Jesus was not Great by the World's Estimation, Isa. 53:3; 1 Cor. 1:26-31.

II. MARY'S SON WOULD BE A SON, Lk. 1:31-32, 34-35.

A. The Son of the Highest, 1:32 (76); Isa. 7:14; 9:6); Jno. 10:30; 1:34; Acts 13:32-34.

III. MARY'S SON WOULD BE A SOVEREIGN, Lk. 1:32-33.

A. Jesus, as David’s Descendant, Would Sit on David’s Throne when He Reigns (2 Sam. 7:16; Psa. 89:3-4, 28–29); Mk. 9:1 (Acts 1:8); Acts 2:32-36; Micah 5:2; Matt. 2:6; Jno. 18:37; Psa. 2:6; Eph. 1:20-23.
B. Reigns over House of Jacob Forever, Lk. 1:33; 1 Cor. 15:24-26; Zech. 6:12-13; Heb. 8:1.
C. Superior, Age-Enduring Kingdom, Lk. 1:33; Dan. 2:44; Matt. 16:18.

IV. WHAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH US.

A. Jesus is the Only One with the Power to Save Us, Lk. 1:31; Jno. 1:29; Acts 4:12.
B. God Expects Us to Respect and Obey Jesus, Psa. 2:10-12; Heb. 5:9.
C. Jesus Will Judge Us One Day, Acts 17:30-31; 2 Cor. 5:10.

Conclusion - Rev. 5:8-13

NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

#DivorceSelfie
Joe R. Price

Apparently a couple in Calgary, Alberta, Canada know how to get it "right" when it comes to co-parenting - at least, that is what the Yahoo!Parenting headline says (#DivorceSelfie Shows Us How to Co-Parent Right, yahoo.com). They posted a smiling "selfie" after filing for divorce, not (they say) "because the partner we chose for forever turned out not to be the forever partner we needed", but "because we have done something extraordinary (we think anyway!). We have respectfully, thoughtfully, and honourably ended our marriage in a way that will allow us to go forward as parenting partners for our children, the perfect reason that this always WAS meant to be, so they will never have to choose.” (Ibid)

Such misplaced reasoning illustrates the normalizing of divorce in western society in its selfish pursuit of happiness and its rationalization of sin.

1) #DivorceSelfie offers children, through divorce, what they ought to be given through marriage. Marriage is the place for "parenting partners", not separate homes. The nuclear family is the stable, loving setting in which children "never have to choose" (#DivorceSelfie, notwithstanding).

2) #DivorceSelfie disguises the selfishness of divorce as love for the children. People need to be honest about divorce. With the exception "for the cause of fornication", divorces generally happen due to selfish interests (Matt. 19:9). Divorce is not about the children; it is about pleasing the adults. The children get the terrible fall out.

3) #DivorceSelfie views divorce as inevitable. It is clear that many people do not regard marriage as permanent. "Until death we do part" is replaced with "as long as love lasts". A woeful misunderstanding of love and marriage exists. The children get the shockwave of divorce, and then they are told it is good when it is not.

4) #DivorceSelfie offers a false "either-or" choice to marital problems: Live in turmoil or divorce. There is the correct alternative: Resolve, repair and restore the relationship and the oneness marriage offers (Gen. 2:24; 1 Pet. 3:1-7). Children will thrive when this happens.

Instead of justifying the sin of divorce with "divorce selfies", troubled marriages should be repaired so children can flourish in a united family with both parents. That is when they will "never have to choose".

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