"A Preacher Factory" - Joey Ferrell

What an odd title for an article - right? Not really! This article is meant to inspire church leaders and Christians alike to think about an ongoing problem…and a solution!

Let me start with this thought:

“A question was asked recently regarding the loss of several good men who preached the gospel - ‘who is going to fill their shoes...’ It is a valid question. Is your congregation working to be a preacher ‘factory’ or are we lining up for a funeral of the local church?”

With some very recent passings of some great men who proclaimed the gospel not only in pulpits, but through their lives, this is indeed a very valid question. It is one that has to be answered, but even before these men passed away (most known to this author in 2025), the heralds have cried out “preacher shortage, preacher shortage” from the hilltops and through the world-wide-web. And to some extent…it rings loudly true.

At a chance that I might miss a name or two, I do want to recognize some of these men whom I grew up or casually listened to either at their feet, working alongside, or knew from various functions. In 2025, we have lost a number of Christians, but specifically those that were of impact in my life are David Paden, Cecil May, Larry Acuff, Wesley Simons, Jim Boyd and as of yesterday, Alan Highers. Such a tough loss to those they served in years past and even today. There were others that I have never met such as James Segars who is known throughout Mississippi for his sound teaching…and certainly many that I don’t even know their names.

But, that isn’t quite what this article is about!

I want to bring some attention to a smaller, hometown congregation that has somewhat become “A Preacher Factory” in the past year. I know there are others who strive to put their men into some training programs, and success is seen there as well. I can think of a few students at multiple schools of preaching right now that came from the same city, same family, or same congregation.

Where is this congregation? Well, you may remember from this time last year, their name became somewhat of a common occurrence around our office, as well as many who know me personally. That congregation is the Mountain City church of Christ in Mountain City, Tennessee. Yes…the town in the mountains that got a hurricane…after over two dozen inches of rain right before it hit.

I spent several days with this congregation during what we call relief effort. But I want to call it something different. It was MINISTRY. When we read about ministry in the Bible, we can see the hands and hearts of servants, whether they be a preacher, a sweet sister in Christ, an elder, or simply a Christian that knows how to have compassion. That was what I saw! I saw ministers of God!

Well, you know that a preacher is only worth his weight in salt if he is also a good minister right? Those terms are so confusing since we are all called to be ministers, yet the titles preacher and minister are often interchanged. Sometimes maybe it should be….other times, maybe not. But in this case…I watched and assisted the preacher, Chuck Stewart, minister to not only the congregation, but to an entire town. What a blessing. Ironically, Chuck graduated the Tri-cities School of Preaching about an hour or so away in Stoney Creek some years ago, and now is also a teacher for the school.

What does that have to do with the title? Well…last week at Polishing the Pulpit, I was able to catch up with two of the three elders from Mountain City for a bit. They are still doing incredible work toward rebuilding peoples’ physical lives there in the area, but something even more exciting was told to me. I knew part of the whole, but they literally knocked me backwards with all of the details.

Since this time last year, the Mountain City church of Christ has not enrolled one student at TCSOP, but they have enrolled THREE! Three good men have or are going to be attending this school to become “preachers.” That is excellent news. You may say, well yeah, but there are people all over that do that. Indeed. But 3 from one congregation in one year’s time is phenomenal. This congregation is probably about 100 members…so that is 3% of their congregation! If you count wives and children that will also be involved in their efforts, now you are talking 8, maybe 10% of their congregation!

One of these young men is Chuck and Megan’s son, Isaac Stewart. Some may say that is a given for a preacher’s son….but truly it is a blessing more than a norm it would seem. I know it made Chuck and Megan so happy when he told them he would be attending.

Another is a long time friend of mine Dean Jones. Dean and his wife are sort of putting things on hold with what normal they had after the hurricane and moving with the children to be closer to the school. Dean attended for a while a few years ago but life changed and that caused a change for him. I saw Dean go into full force ministry with the relief work and then some mission work this summer. It was not a surprise when he shared that he would be returning to school!

Then…there is a third fella. I have not known him long, and I will tell you that I think the world of him. When I met Eddie Storey, we were knees to elbows on the ground loading and unloading supplies for the survivors. Eddie took some time from his life and work and went head first into helping those that were able to be at the church building and in the community for several days. Eddie rode along with a couple of us to deliver supplies to an older community and saw first hand how compassion touched both those who were being served…and the ones serving. I will never forget the conversation that he and I had as we watched an elder get on his knees to pray with someone as we were unloading water for the community. Eddie didn’t grow up in the church. As a matter of fact, Eddie is somewhat of a newer Christian! But…through the efforts of the congregation, the love that he saw, and the desire that he wanted to be more Christ-like in his life every day….well, he is the third student!

I do not say these things to put anyone on a pedestal, or to embarrass anyone. And, I know this is not an isolated situation. How do I know that? Well…I have told many times that not long after I was baptized at a young age, the elders encouraged and insisted that I participate in what they called “a future preachers class” at the congregation where my family attended. It was a once a week class and had probably 10-12 young to old men involved. Would you believe that at least 3 of those men that were in that class, including myself, have preached or are still preaching today?

Is your congregation a preacher factory, or are you going to be challenged when the man that serves that role passes, moves, or retires? Will there be anyone to fill his shoes, or will you be also asking that same question? The time to start training our preachers is now. We must want to become a preacher factory and help encourage our young men (and old) to consider preaching for the Lord’s church….after all, it might be the greatest task on earth in heralding the gospel message to those who are lost and dying.

Encourage others. Help them to see the need. Support a student if you can. Get involved. Preach a time or two if you are a Christian man. Train.

"Sharing the Greatest Gift" - Amy Lawrence

Evangelism

Sharing the Greatest Gift

Whether we grew up in the church or came into the fold later in life, every Christian has a story of the where, when, why, and how they were taught the gospel. I live in an area where there is a sound congregation of the Lord’s church around every corner. We are in what is known as the Bible Belt of the United States. If Tennessee is a belt, then Warren County is the buckle, with over 40 congregations of the church of Christ. Americans have the advantage of an amazing amount of resources when we need to know more about God…but this isn’t the case everywhere. In Communist China, Bible distribution is regulated by the China Christian Council/Three-Self Patriotic Movement (CCC/TSPM). Only one company is authorized to print Bibles, the Amity Printer company, and only 3-3.5 million copies are distributed annually. (The Scripture Distribution Statistics report for Bibles distributed in the United States in 2022 was around 35.5 million copies.) A Bible in China can only be purchased in places approved by the CCC/TSPM, and in-house churches are reluctant to go to CCC/TSMP churches to purchase Bibles for fear of surveillance. Only one translation is available for purchase: the Chinese Union Version. We often take for granted the availability of scripture here in the US; over 3,100 versions of scripture in over 750 languages are accessible through the World Wide Web. (For the sake of accuracy, I would recommend using ASV, KJV, or NKJV.) For the most part, we as American citizens are blessed with religious freedom. This is a blessing that allows us to share the gospel in any of the 50 states, and elsewhere if possible. No one is beyond reach if we are brave enough to share what we’ve found with others. Let’s talk about how to do that.

The first step to doing anything worthwhile is having the desire to do so. God wants us to love Him - and each other - as much as He loves us, 1 Jn. 4:9; 5:3, and only a heart that has a love toward God and a desire to do His will can be pleasing to Him, Heb. 13:6, 1 Jn. 2:3-6. We as females are given responsibilities in the church. Although we cannot take on the leadership roles that are allotted to men, we can still do our part in evangelism. Being a God-fearing mother is one of the most influential of those responsibilities. Teaching the gospel should begin at home, Deut. 6:1-9. The influence is found in living what we teach. Children that see God in their parents are most likely to become Christians that continue sharing this gift. We also have the benefit of everyday living among others that may not know Christ. In the workplace, at home, at the sports court/field, even from grocery store conversations to bumper stickers and t-shirts, we can glow Christ. We have so many opportunities that we unfortunately often overlook. We can be billboards for Christ! Let’s look at all the opportunities we as women have by looking at the endeavors of the Proverbs 31 woman: She…

1.)  …is trusted by her husband and blessed by her children, making her first and foremost an evangelist at home by shining Christ, Mt. 5:16.

2.)  …“seeks wool and flax” and “brings food from afar”, most likely at a local market.

Both vendors and customers are potential audiences for the gospel, Acts 16:13-14.

3.)  …“provides food for her household and a portion for her maidservants”, and in this is the opportunity to give both physical and spiritual sustenance to her family and employees.

4.)  …uses her good work to be a beacon toward God, leading others to appreciate her work ethic and ask what makes her so dedicated, Acts 9:36,39.

5.)  …“extends her hand to the poor”, another opportunity to give both physical and spiritual sustenance to anyone in need, Lk. 4:18.

6.)  …”opens her mouth with wisdom and upon her tongue is the law of kindness”. We can teach children and other women in the church, we can aid in the work that goes into preparing for evangelical work, and we can be supportive to any missionary endeavor.

There are so many opportunities we as women have to aid in spreading the gospel. Don’t fall prey to the idea that any job toward evangelism is menial. Even if it’s something as simple as mailing Bible Correspondence Courses to someone interested in learning God’s Word, dedicate yourself to it. Mt. 6:4 - God sees! Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation about Jesus if the opportunity arises, never let an open door close because you think you are too busy, and be a billboard for Christ every chance that you get to do so! We are His ambassadors, and that in itself is phenomenal. We are given the responsibility of showing the world the message of salvation, the blessing of sharing with others the grace and mercy we ourselves have received, and the honor of serving the One who gave all for us. Let us do so with joy, Acts 20:24!

My Most Contrary Convert - Ben Bailey

My Most Contrary Convert

                  Who is the one person you must work on most with the Gospel? Who would you, more than anybody else, like to see conform to the image of Christ? If your answer is anyone other than self, you are not looking in the right direction. Jerry Bridges expressed it correctly when he said, “Preach the gospel to yourself every day.”  We all believe in preaching the Gospel. Reaching our friends and neighbors with the good news is a high priority. But like Mr. Bridges said, I need to preach the Gospel to myself first every day. I am my most contrary convert! Yet, it is encouraging to know I am not the only one who felt this way.

                  The Apostle Paul said, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:27).  Paul knew it was a challenge every day to crucify self and live for the Master (Gal. 2:20; 1 Cor. 15:31). Like us, his struggle was real. Paul said, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin” (Rom. 7:24-25).  Like the Apostle Paul we must never stop preaching the Gospel to ourselves and striving to live faithful to Jesus every day. Do you remember what Paul said about the struggle? He said, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12-14).

                  While it is indeed a wrestling match with the flesh every day, do not give up. Keep fighting the good fight of faith (1 Tim. 6:12). Keep dying to self and crucifying self every day (Gal. 2:20; 1 Cor. 15:31)! If our mindset is that we are not going to give up and we are going to keep working on self and walking in the light, then we have the right mindset to win the battle (Luke 9:23; 1 John 1:7). Keep working on your most contrary convert—Yourself! He is worth it! —Ben Bailey

"Church Lady" - Amy Lawrence

Church Lady

A Study on Our Influence as Women

I’m going to give you a scenario. This is entirely hypothetical, but the more you read the more you’ll see that it is also entirely possible. 

The auditorium of a local building where the church meets is filled with those of us that are there every Sunday morning for worship service. As we all settle down into our understood “assigned” seats,  we notice that someone we don’t know is sitting in Jane and John Doe’s seat. It’s not so much that we notice that someone different is sitting on that pew, but what is nearly impossible to ignore are the number of tattoos and piercings on the woman now occupying the space and the dark and ominous theme of her clothing. She has never been here before. There are a few minutes left before the service begins, but no one introduces themselves - and the looks on our faces tell her we aren’t going to do so. We instead stare. In our minds, we wonder how someone has the audacity to look like that, especially here. In this study, we are going to learn how we as the women of the family of God (and any Christian, really) should conduct ourselves in the house of God.

            Human brains have a terrible habit of assuming. It is one of many mechanisms that can be explained scientifically as having a purpose, but all in all, it is my opinion that it causes more trouble than it prevents. We think we know this woman. We judge according to appearance. Our minds quickly forget that Jesus warned us about this (Jn. 7:24). Instead of giving her the benefit of the doubt and try and find out more about her, we put her at arm’s length. What we don’t know is that this woman is at rock bottom and is sitting, waiting for someone to throw her a life-line. Not one single Christian in the building understands that the church is not a gathering of perfect people; we are not the sinless trying to correct the sinful. We are just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. She’s here, she’s hungry, and to treat her as if she doesn’t belong is to overlook that at one point, we were just as spiritually starving as she in our journey. No one noticed how long she sat in her dilapidated Honda and argued with herself whether to go inside or go home. Her terror is justified when she notices that there is a ten-foot halo of empty space surrounding where she is sitting. Service starts. She has no idea what to do because she has never set foot in an environment like this before. All she knows is that her parole officer advised her to seek God and start here. Everyone reaches for a song book. She mimics. They all seem to know exactly what page to turn to, but she thumbs through absently, not knowing…until a little girl, sitting on the same pew, sees. She scoots toward the stranger and helps her find the page. The woman leans and whispers, “Thank you, precious.” The beaming smile the little girl gives her calms her a bit. At this point, we should all be ashamed because a child just educated us. Let’s consider some personality traits we as Christians should have that allow us to see souls the way God sees them. A Christian should be:

#1.) Compassionate.

Let’s approach this from a standpoint to which everyone can relate. Let’s think of the fiercest, scariest wild animal we can. Imagine this animal is caught in a trap and we can see that it is injured, bleeding, struggling, and terrified. No matter the personality of the animal or the danger, we would have compassion and try to free the animal. Why can’t we see each other with the same loving attitude? Sin is a prison! If we can free another soul from that prison, why wouldn’t we at least try?! We are also commanded to imitate Christ, 1 Cor. 11:1. The compassion of Christ is unsurpassed. It is planted in love, Jn. 3:16. We can plant our compassion for one another in love as well, 1 Thess. 4:9, 1 John 4:7.

#2.) Courageous.

We all have the innate desire to remain in our cozy comfort zones. It takes bravery to step out, especially to do so for someone else. Can a person that looks and acts outside of what we consider normal make us uncomfortable? Absolutely. Does this allow us to treat them as if they do not matter? No. God is not partial. Neither should we be, James 2:1-9. Cowardice comes with consequences, Rev. 21:8. We as Christians are not given a spirit of fear, 2 Tim. 1:7.

#3.) Communicative.

Women are stereotyped as excessive talkers. However true this may be, the talking is more often than not the negative type. Gossip is predominantly a female activity. We (and yes, I have been guilty of the crime) tend to take the “easy” route and talk about someone instead of TO someone concerning things many see as sensitive subjects. We also seek accomplices. Mutual dislike for the person or situation encourages us to continue in the bad behavior. Compassion and courage should make us seek the edifying route instead. Talk to them. Don’t tear them down. Build them up. If there is an uncomfortable subject that has to be discussed, do so with grace and salt, Col. 4:6.

Make your words as palatable as possible…because you never know when you may have to swallow them. It is possible to say a hard thing in a kind way. 

#4.) Child-like.

In the above scenario, how did a child see what we did not? 

Jesus spoke the words, ““Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” (Lk. 18:16-17) Infants are naturally guileless. They have an innocence that comes from inexperience. The environment in which they eventually gain experience is paramount to the adult they will one day become. Our own adult maturity often blinds us to that valuable innocence. Paul wrote, “Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.” (1 Cor. 14:20) Experience should cultivate wisdom, but part of that wisdom is holding on to that child-like innocence in situations of conflict or discomfort.

We are entrusted by God with the task of caring for another soul when we are given the opportunity to share the wonderful blessings that are found only in Christ. We are ambassadors for Christ, and when we represent Him in a way that is unChristlike, we throw a stumbling block in the path of a potential Christian. Adding to this scenario, this woman later becomes a Christian and a teacher. Several young people, youth that are involved in the same lifestyle she used to be, hear her story and turn to God. Every moment counts. Every gesture, every word, every attitude matters. We have the ability to make becoming a Christian an easy decision by how we treat anyone that wants to know what we’re all about. We are all. About. Christ. Jn. 13:35.

Now let’s get a picture in mind of what a “Church Lady” should look like. 

She will:

-See God’s people as He sees them: sons and daughters

-Be a doer of the word and not a hearer only

-Refuse to judge according to appearance and do her best to love people

-Be a fountain of mercy and grace

-Be an epistle of love, humility, kindness, gentleness, and compassion

-Point others to HIM

-Reach to the back row and encourage the hearts of those that can’t get past the grief and sorrow of their mistakes

-Look for opportunities to be a blessing

She is fully aware of her own shortcomings and seeks forgiveness and guidance daily. She recognizes struggle in others and speaks hope. She does not gossip, brag, or boast. She utters blessing. Gratitude is her adornment. She is a woman of her word. She is a worshipper, in spirit and in truth. She prays. She is trustworthy. She is known for what she stands for, and what she won’t stand for. She understands that in order to be the woman of Proverbs 31, she has to know and practice chapters 1-30. She is a lifter. An encourager. A listener. She forgives, completely. She shares the same grace she is given every day. She invests in the greatest investment in the world; God’s people. 

Are you a church lady?

Evangelism or Benevolence? Both! - Joey Ferrell

Sometimes the church may get encumbered by the “works” of the church and maybe at time lose balance and even sometimes the focus of the work of the church.

One “three-legged stool” thought of the work of the church is at times described as 1. Benevolence, 2. Evangelism, and 3. Edification. Certainly, all three of these can be supported in scripture with passages such as Ephesians 4:11-12, Colossians 3:17, James 1:27, Galatians 6:10, Matthew 28:18-20 and many other passages that show compassion, edification, and benevolence.

But, why do we sometimes try to separate these things…when truly, they should all be in conjunction with one another? Yes, evangelism is hard work. Yes, benevolence can be costly with money and time. Of course, edification is necessary for the saints to grow! Balancing these things can be much more than just an obligation. It can sometimes be quite rewarding to not only those receiving the benefits of the three, but also the church and each individual Christian as these works “collide.”

Please allow me to share one illustration of this “three-legged stool” being strengthened and the glory of our Lord being shown quite evident through such a collision.

At the end of September, many will remember that our Southeastern area of the United States became victim to not just one, but two back to back hurricanes. The first, and most powerful of these was Helene. Not only did Helene pack a huge punch, but it also was preceded in some areas by not only inches, but feet of rain - in turn causing flooding, mud slides, lingering wind and tornadic damage and just pure utter chaos to some areas that had never seen these kinds of events happening all at one time in areas that were previously unthought of to be in the paths of such storms and devastation. It was (and still is) a widespread MESS!

Many Christians began trying to figure out what to do as many prepared for the “known” storm that was heading toward the Florida gulf coast - including me as we have a strong personal attachment to the area that was in the eye of the storm. I had been on the phone with Mark Weaver with Crisis Evangelism (https://crisisevangelism.org/) whom I have become very acquainted with and count Mark and Dawn as great Christian servants and friends. We were trying to “get ahead” of the needs that were about to show themselves evident. We had put together some “game plans” on where to go based on the areas that were in the “target.” Overnight, the storms shifted, but Mark went ahead to the area close by where we had talked about might be hit.

The storm hit…and then it hit again…and then it kept pounding…all the way up the eastern coast. But, what was not expected was that a frontal system was already dropping rain in the mountainous areas of North Carolina and Northeast Tennessee. The aftermath would soon be seen. While the good folks in the Big Bend of Florida and Southern Georgia were feeling the direct effect of the hurricane, these other areas were starting to wake up to water…more water…and even more water. Reports were coming in that lives were lost, homes were gone, and roads were caving in. The devastation was unfathomable.

I wanted to help. After some contact with different people in North Carolina, Virginia, and NE Tennessee, there was a place I could go. The destination was Mountain City, TN. This area is on the fringe of the major damages, but, with the mountain ranges around them, they were also victims of no power, major flooding in areas, wind damages, no internet (for contact and using payment methods outside of cash), roads impassable, and more. After talking with one of the members - my good friend Dean Jones, and getting all set up with the elders, I started my journey with a borrowed trailer in tow, meeting with one of the deacons at Lenoir City church of Christ after coordinating with Kelly Warren who wanted to try to help get involved as the church there. And we were off to Mountain City.

By the time that Rick and I arrived with as much supplies and food as we could bring, after staying the night at Kelly’s house because there were no suitable hotels closer, the church was already in action. I had shared with them experiences from former storms I had seen and relief efforts I had been a part of as well as advice from Mark Weaver. They had set up a feeding line and started organizing supplies to be given out. Souls were starting to show up for essential needs. Food…water…cleaning supplies…baby supplies…and of course, some sort of comfort from those who could offer an ear and a heart.

These Christians that had assembled there at the church building, who had brought their own food to cook, had brought extra supplies from their own homes, who wanted to “be the church” in every way, showed up and they showed up shining the glory of God through His church with His people!

These great elders that are there - Tom Reece, Tim Winters and Don Kerley along with their preacher Chuck Stewart and Dean had already been working on how to take this opportunity of service in benevolence into evangelism, but what they may not have realized is the amount of edification that this also afforded for not only their own congregation, other Christians who were able to come, bring thousands of dollars in supplies and assist for days on end like Dennis and Rachel Smith (Dennis is a preaching student at the TCSOP about an hour or so away), members of the Mountain City congregation, and even Christians from as far as Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama and probably more than can be listed. Certainly, I would not want to leave anyone out but there are way too many to name. You see, this work of benevolence that would turn into an evangelistic opportunity, also strengthened the ones who were able to take part… not only in the physical realm…also through prayer and through financial support.

You see, I want to give thanks where thanks is due. Working with The Gospel of Christ, I had opportunity to do what I was able to do in going to help for a few days, but the story did not end,and certainly did not begin or evolve around my extremely small part of being there with a few supplies and some moral support. Calls began coming from all over the country from those that support The Gospel of Christ as congregations and individuals found out about the needs. They wanted to help too! And they did, and continue! Each call I would get, I would hand off or refer to Tom as the treasurer and elder. Many of those calls came within days, but some are still coming. And every single call…even if nothing more than an encouragement to the church there, was so uplifting and comforting and recorded on Tom’s little book.

Fast forward to today…the church there has plans of using the contacts (over 250) that were made in the initial days after in an opportunity to evangelize. So…benevolence was provided. And evangelism is ongoing. But what about that edification part? Well, it is said often that when you are struggling, serve someone…and so many did just that…and growth has been seen! Without naming names, I witnessed first-hand at least three babes in Christ (in a generation of people that is pointed at as being in the dwindling religious realm) getting their hands, heart, and feet involved in this work. What did that do? The ones I saw grew. But it did not stop with them. I grew. I believe many in the church there grew. But, that is not all. In the past few weeks, I have been to multiple congregations that were among those first phone calls that wanted to help…any way they could. And the help continues as many of these same people stepped up just a week ago when some in North Carolina needed propane tanks for heaters and through a concentrated - very quick effort in raising funds to use through some members and a congregation, our good brother Darren Clayton was able to purchase and deliver 30 tanks as well as 30 hoses were shipped directly to the site where people are living in tents! Back to those congregations…I have seen members at these congregations that are very involved in these efforts that may not have known what they could do before. I have spoken with Darren several times as he is also helping with clean up in some of the area…and he is growing!

After all, we all have room to grow, right? That is edification!

As we grow as The Gospel of Christ, a very special thank you is due to all of our supporting congregations and individuals as well as those who watch, pray, and encourage this work. It has been said several times, and it is worth repeating - The Gospel of Christ is not just a television program…and we have you to thank for that! If your congregation or as an individual you helped in any way with these efforts - THANK YOU! You do not know how much good has been done by your sacrifice. Your prayers have been encouraging, your financial support has been helpful. Your love for others and for Christ that is shown is incredibly edifying to us at The Gospel of Christ and to many…but it would seem especially to our God and His church!

Benevolence, Evangelism, Edification….it all matters and souls will be saved because of these efforts!

Here are a few pictures of the efforts.

Are You Influential? - Ben Bailey

An old Korean Proverb illustrates the power of one’s influence when it says, “Power lasts ten years, influence not more than a hundred.”  Sometimes we may think, “Am I influencing anyone?”  The question asked is really a faulty one.  It’s not IF we are influencing anyone, but HOW are we influencing them.  All of us are an influence on others either for good, bad, or indifference.  What type of influence should a Christian possess?  Let’s notice what God says.

            Concerning our influence Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mt. 5:13-16).  Jesus likened our influence to two powerful examples in this text: salt & light.  All of us can see the value and effect of these in our everyday life.  For example, think back to the most bland and boring meal that you have eaten.  Don’t you remember thinking to yourself, “This needs some spice?”.  Our influence is that “spice” that adds flavor to life.  Oh how we need to add good “spice” to this life.  Then, think about the effects of light.  When you walk into a room at night the very first thing you do is…turn on the light.  Why?  Light helps us to see and adds beauty, vividness and life to all it touches.  The same is true of our example.  Our “light” must shine in such a vivid and beautiful way that others can see it and glorify our God!

            Parents especially have an influence on their children.  Henry Ward Beecher so eloquently said, “What a mother sings to the cradle goes all the way down to the coffin.”  How parents need to be that good example to set a principle for their children’s lives.  Of the lasting effect of parents upon children the Holy Spirit said, “…bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).  As the old hymn says, “God give us Christian homes” and especially Christian influence in the home!

            As we think about influence may our question not be, “Am I influencing anyone?”  But rather, “How am I influencing everyone I come in contact with?”  May God help us to be influential for Him!

Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen in Me! - Ben Bailey

The wise King Solomon said, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised” (Prov. 31:30).  In a world where men and women are often judged by their physical beauty, it can be so easy to overlook the real beauty of life.  Both men and women are attractive in God’s eyes based on what they are, not how they look physically.  Notice these qualities of inner beauty that God desires in His children.

            First, to be beautiful in God’s sight we must possess a submissive, willing obedience to our Father.  The beauty of obedience has always been that which attracted God to His people.  For example, God destroyed the ungodly world in Noah’s day, but of Noah it is said, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Gen 6:8).  Likewise, our beautification will come through our obedience.  The happy person is always the one who obeys God (Rev. 22:14).  The person who wears the beautiful crown of salvation is the one who obeys God (Heb. 5:8-9).  Truly, “to obey is better than sacrifice and to heed than the fat of rams” (I Sam. 15:22).  Are we beautiful to God by our obedience to his word, or are we stained with the ugliness of sin?

            A second way in which we can be beautiful in God’s sight is by possessing a quiet and gentle spirit.  By inspiration Peter said, “let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” (I Pet. 3:4).  Although this is talking about the adorning beauty of women, it would obviously apply to all of God’s children alike.  Isn’t it interesting what God calls beauty, we often think of as cowardice or timidity?  God does not desire His people to be loud or overbearing.  God says we will be beautiful if we are “Swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath” (James 1:19-20).  Do we really possess a quiet and gentle spirit in the sight of God? 

            A third way that we become beautiful in God’s sight is through our worship of Him.  The Bible repeatedly says we are to “worship Him in the beauty of Holiness” (Ps. 29:2, P6:9).  When we worship God in the “beauty of holiness”, we ourselves begin to become beautiful.  True worship must be in holiness (Ps. 96:9).  It must be according to God’s commands (Jn. 4:24).  It must be with our inner person (I Cor. 14:15).   And, yes, it must be done with fervent emotion, excitement, and zeal (Jn. 4:24b).  Does our worship of God reflect God’s beauty in us?

            As we think about and try to become truly beautiful in God’s sight, remember, “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (I Sam. 16:7).  Since “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” what do we look like to God?  To see we will have to turn ourselves inside out!!  The Old hymn says it best; “let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you.”  --Ben Bailey 

Deflated Christians - Let them work! - Joey Ferrell

“Deflated members of the church”

I used to ride my bicycle very often. Sometimes, I would ride 30-50 miles at a time, nearly once a month or so. It was so soothing, it was so refreshing, and it was quite time consuming…but worth the trade off.

I’ve not found myself with as much energy and balance of time to ride anywhere near as much as I once did. Matter of fact, I may have only ridden my bicycle 4-5 times the entire year last year.

Not only do the muscles that are used in riding begin to deteriorate, the desire also seems to diminish with the more “missed opportunities.” But, beyond even these challenges, come more.

The last time I wanted to “jump on the bike,” I couldn’t. Why? Because I had neglected to use the bike for the purpose it was intended. Not only had I neglected the use, but it simply hung on the hanger in the garage designed to hold it. So, why couldn’t I ride?

When I went to check the tires for proper inflation, they were lacking. They needed air. So, I got the pump out, and started pumping. After a few pumps, the tire seemed to begin to inflate. It was not long, however, that I heard a prompt “psssshhh”. This sound was the tube inside of the tire.

The tube had deteriorated. It was what we might call “dry-rotted” from where the tires had not been inflated or through normal use had any fluctuation in pressure. The tube was ruined.

Luckily, I had an extra tube. I took the tire apart, replaced the tube, put it back together, back on the bicycle, and began inflating. All was going well…until I began to notice the stress cracks on the tire itself as it expanded. Although that was a concern, I decided that it was safe to at least venture out a few miles…and I did. It was an incredibly bumpy ride. See, the tires had taken on an irregular shape from not being inflated and they were riding very wobbly.

I finished my ride that day…only about 7-8 miles. It was frustrating. I knew I could do much more than this, but I had neglected to use and care for the instrument in which was needed for the ride.

Do you realize that the same can and does happen in the church?

There are members within congregations who have a zeal and desire to work for the Lord…and they are looked over, pushed aside, or completely ignored. Maybe they can lead singing, or a prayer. Maybe they have a zeal for evangelism. Maybe they just want to be asked to do something that would be helpful in some way…but, for some reason or another, they just are expected to hang out on the pew and let others do things that maybe they can do as well or better, and want to when some of the ones doing…do not.

You know what happens to that member? They become deflated. They lose their ability to perform as best they can and even can become torn down so bad that they wouldn’t even be dependable if they were tasked with serving.

I saw an ad for a used bike similar to mine this past week. $400. I thought, that’s a pretty good price considering that that model sells for over $1,000. For a brief moment I thought, “maybe I should make an offer and keep it for a back-up.”

It was then that I realized that maybe my trusty bicycle could probably serve someone better that would properly use and condition the service of the instrument as it was intended to be used. Maybe I need to put mine up for sale. After all, if I am not going to use it, it will just continue to deteriorate to a point of little to no value or usability.

This is a very serious problem and challenge that I see even in my own efforts to serve. Church….don’t let those who desire to serve or have a particular opportunity that can be of benefit to the Lord’s kingdom deteriorate. Let them work. Use them. Learn from them. Help them.

What Must I do to be Saved? (Part 5) - Ben Bailey

What Must I do to be Saved? {Part 5}

A final step in the plan of salvation that is overlooked by many is the act of baptism. While many in our religious world would agree that a person needs to believe, repent, and confess Jesus as Lord to be saved, they would not teach that a person must be baptized to be saved. Let’s notice what the Bible teaches us about the necessity of being baptized to be saved.

1. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). It is clear from this text that Jesus believed and taught that baptism was essential to salvation. A parallel to this language might be: He who eats and drinks will be filled. If a person eats only is he filled? No. If he only gets a drink is he filled? No. He is not filled until he eats and drinks. The same is true for baptism. Unless a person is willing to do all that God says, he will not be saved.

2. “Then Peter said to them, “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). This is one of the clearest verses on the importance of baptism. The people on Pentecost asked what they needed to do to be saved from their sins. Peter responded to their question (how do we get rid of our sin problem?) by saying “You must repent and be baptized to have your sins forgiven." Peter clearly taught that baptism was FOR the remission of past sins.

3. At Paul’s conversion he was commanded to: “ Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). From this text, we learn that the purpose of baptism is to wash away one’s sins. If baptism is the point at which one’s sins have been washed away, then those who have not been baptized have not had their sins washed away. Also, we learn how a person calls on the Lord’s name. Like Paul, to truly call on the name of the Lord a person must do all that God says to be saved, which includes being baptized into Christ.

4. The Apostle Peter clearly stated, “Baptism does now also save us” (1 Peter 3:21). One of the key words here is the little word also. Not alone. Combined with hearing God’s Word (Heb. 11:6), believing in Jesus Christ (John 8:24), Repenting of one’s past sins (Luke 13:3), and confessing Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:10) one is saved. Truly, as the final condition of salvation baptism does now save us! If the Apostle Peter said baptism does now save us, how can anyone say baptism is not necessary for salvation?

Dear friend, have you truly obeyed the gospel as the Bible teaches. There are many who will just teach that all you have to do to be saved is believe in Christ. That’s all. Nothing more is required. That is not the full plan of salvation. The Bible teaches that we are not saved “by faith only” (James 2:24). It is our prayer to God that you will study these very important matters and obey the will of God.

To Learn what to do after one is baptized, check out our video after baptism, now what: https://thegospelofchrist-tgoc.subspla.sh/svknvdf

It Never Gets Old - and You Had a Part! - Joey Ferrell

I received a video in an email a few weeks ago. It was from the man in the picture’s grandfather-in-law, He had reached out to tell us about his granddaughter’s husband watching one of the episodes on baptism that has been airing throughout October and November.

He said, “The last weeks lesson on baptism helped my grand daughter’s husband to be baptized".”

We hope you will join us in praying for Clayton and for his journey as a new babe in Christ. To God be the glory!

Today, as we opened the incoming mail, there was a letter from a new Christian in North Carolina. He said that he had known what he was needing to do for many years, but in his 80s, he had been studying through some of our transcripts on baptism and was recently baptized at the local church where he lives and has attended for years.

Another soul added to the church. To God be the glory!

What a blessing! We don’t always hear of the good news, but we always are hopeful that one way or another we are reaching lost souls through television, our app, transcripts, articles, studies with people that call in or who come to speaking engagements that we may be present.

These two precious souls obeyed the gospel because they heard the word of God (Romans 10:17), they believed in what they heard through the local preaching and through opportunities to study such as The Gospel of Christ programs (John 8:24). They showed their desire to change their lives in repentance (Acts 3:19-20), confessed Jesus as God’s own living son (Matthew 10:32-33), and they were immersed in the watery grave of baptism for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16). It was at that point that they became my brothers in Christ…your brothers in Christ…members of the one true church - the Lord’s church and they were added to that one body by the blood of the Lamb! (Acts 2:47). Hallelujah Praise Jehovah!

Why do we share this? Because of you! Many of you pray for our efforts, some even daily. We appreciate that so much. Many of you encourage us by sharing our content and telling others about this work. We certainly are thankful for that. Some of you financially support this work…and to that we are unimaginably grateful. You see, it is not our work…it is the Lord’s work. He has entrusted you and I to sow the seed, cultivate it, water it…but it is God who will give that increase. We are soldiers working together to do what we can to reach souls by teaching and living our lives sharing the Gospel with others (1 Timothy 4:16). You were a big part of these precious souls in this process…and to that we say thank you…and to God be all glory!

Was that a visitor? - Parker Webster

(This was an article posted on Facebook, used with permission - title given by TGOC)

Was that a visitor?

How do outsiders feel in our assemblies? A new assembly and a new type of worship is intimidating. Do we realize our visitors have taken a great step of courage to walk into worship?

One of the worst things we can do to that shocked, newly challenged visitor is to ignore their presence. Many will leave in a daze having experienced a new way to serve God while not making any personal connections.

About a week ago, I learned a much needed lesson. I was a visitor. I knew what to expect from the worship and teaching. However, on this occasion my family was COMPLETELY ignored. This wasn’t some back row dash after worship. We sat near the front, took notes, and all sang out. Not a word spoken, not even a handshake. We were all very discouraged.

My family will be fine—we have amazing church families back home, we are saved, and we are deeply connected to the work of the Kingdom.

What about that visitor? What will they think? How will they feel? Will they ever darken the doors again?

We may only have one shot. Get out of your comfort zone. Don’t just stare, go speak to them. Don’t just thank them for coming, ask them about their life. Sit back and listen. Let the love of Jesus shine through you. (Col. 3:15)

What Must I do to be Saved? {Part 4} - Ben Bailey

What Must I do to be Saved? {Part 4}

The fourth step in God’s plan of salvation is confession. The Apostle Paul reminded the Roman Christians that “with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:10). From this text it is evident that confession is an important part of the plan of salvation. Let’s take just a moment to see exactly what the Bible teaches about confession.

A Confession of Faith in Christ. When one confesses that Jesus is the Christ, he is confessing his faith in the Son of God to save him (Acts 8:36-37). A true follower of Christ will not be ashamed to be called a Christian in any situation. Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ…” (Rom. 1:16). When we confess our faith in Christ, it is a faithfulness we will never deny even if our life is at stake (Rev. 2:10). During the first century Christians often faced death by affirming their faith in Christ. One such story is that of Polycarp. Polycarp was taken before the Roman counsel and asked to deny faith in Christ. With great boldness Polycarp looked at the counsel that held his life in their hands and responded, “For Eighty and six years my Lord has not denied me, how can I then deny Him?” How great it would be if all Christians made the great confession with this much conviction!

A Confession of Faithfulness to Christ. An individual’s confession of Christ also means that he is willing to faithfully follow the Lord every day of his life. Jesus said, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Mt. 10:32-33). The confession Jesus is speaking of here is not just simply naming the name of Christ. Jesus had already told many of these people that just simply saying “Lord” would not save anyone (Luke 6:46; Mt. 7:21). In this text, Jesus is talking about a confession of faith in Him through one’s actions. When I confess Jesus is the Son of God, I am confessing to follow him faithfully all the days of my life. Confession is more than a one-time act, it is a continual walk in the steps of the Savior (1 Peter 2:21).

Like the Ethiopian Eunuch may we have the courage to say, "I Believe Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God" and back that up by the way we live faithful to Him (Acts 8:36-37). Stay tuned to our next post, as we discuss the next step in God's Plan of Salvation: Baptism.

To learn more about the complete Plan of Salvation check out this video:

https://thegospelofchrist-tgoc.subspla.sh/wcnmxp2

"Wait...Who went there?" - Evangelism in the first century - Joey Ferrell

I was recently tasked with preparing a lesson for the Middle Tennessee School of Preaching on the subject of the churches listed in 1 Peter 1:1. This is one of the very few times that several of these churches are even mentioned in the Bible. For context sake, here is the passage:

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.”

— 1 Peter 1:1, NKJV

So, I break out my Bible to learn more about these churches. Galatia (and Phrygia in my assignment) were somewhat easy to find a little more about since we have the letter to the churches at Galatia written by the Apostle Paul. In that letter, Paul addresses some things that were happening inside and outside of that early church since his visit there had taken place. Okay. Enough information was there to start a good study, then move to the historical evidence for the churches of Galatia and on to some others.

Several of these churches are listed in that group of people in Acts 2:9 and would have probably been some of the ones who obeyed the gospel that very day. Again, easy enough to compile that information. Now, on to the others. Cappadocia…uh oh. I cannot find much in the Bible, nor in historical context about this church. Then to Pontus….oh, that one is easy, I remember seeing that Aquila was born there….well, that’s about all the Bible says about that. And now Bithynia. Hmm. Wait, I found a couple of verses! Let’s see what they say:

“Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.”

— Acts 16:6-7, NKJV

Well…now isn’t that just dandy! Now I have another question in my aching head…Why did the Spirit keep them from going into the area? I cannot answer that without an estimation of that is what God wanted in His providential will! Of course, I can speculate a little. If Paul had gone into Asia, specifically Bithynia, at this point, we might not be able to read about the Macedonian call, several converts in the area where he went, and of course the Philippian jailer and his family may have also not learned the gospel. Yes, that is how God’s providence appears to work at times. Maybe it isn’t my time or yours to go and do certain things in certain places; however, there is a time and a place for us where we are or where we may be going!'

So…that leads us to the next question.

What happened in Pontus and Bithynia and who went there? The church was established in one or more places. I know that to be true based on historical evidence we will look at in just a moment. The who? I don’t know. Someone certainly went. It may have been one of the converts of Paul. It could have been Peter later down the road and we don’t have it recorded. We just don’t know. One commentary I was reading called them “unnamed evangelists.” I like that phrase. It represents so many people that I know. They are doing their best to live for Christ and to teach the gospel to others…yet, their name is not shouted from the mountains or the hill tops. It may not be on a church sign or in a bulletin, and certainly may not be even one who preaches in a pulpit each week. To that, I say God bless you!

Now, back to the task at hand. How do I know that the church was established? Look at the excerpts from a book that I have called “Christianity through the Centuries,” referring to what happened after the end of the first century, some 50-60 years after Paul was forbidden to enter that area:

“Pliny, who was propraetor of Bithynia and Pontus in Asia Minor, wrote to Emperor Trajan about 112 for advice as to how he should deal with the Christians. His epistle gives valuable extra biblical information concerning Christ. Pliny paid high tribute to the moral integrity of the Christians by writing of their unwillingness to commit theft or adultery, to falsify their word, or to repudiate a trust given to them. He went on to say that they “sing a song to Christ as to a God.”

(Christianity Through the Centuries, pp. 49-50; Earl E Cairnes)

Cairnes went on to say about Pliny’s letters:

“Pliny’s letter proved that Christianity was strong in Asia Minor shortly after the beginning of the second century. During the first century it had been confined largely to the eastern section of the empire, with the Jews given first chance to accept Christianity as the gospel reached new cities.” (Cairnes, p. 93)

Those Christians in that area had to come from somewhere! Who went there? I just don’t know, and may never know this side of heaven. Well, is that any different than some of the areas in which you and I are trying to reach with the gospel? Not really. But, sometimes we may get discouraged not knowing the results (fruits) of our labors. Press on brothers and sisters! There is still work to be done, and we need to “raise up” more Christians to cause a ruckus in our day in time for the ungodly and the immoral. We can do it!

Let’s get to work…where we can…when we can…and how we can!

What Must I do to be Saved? [Part 2] - Ben Bailey

What Must I do to be Saved? [Part 2]

There is nothing more important in the entire world than our eternal soul. Jesus said, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul” (Mark 8:36-37). God has made it possible for all people to be saved and live the best life (1 Timothy 2:4, John 10:10). Since this is the case we must ask the question, “What must I do to be saved?” In our last post, we noticed the first step in God’s plan of salvation was to hear/listen to God’s Word. Today, let’s look at the second step in God’s plan of salvation.

The second step in the plan of salvation is belief. Jesus said, “If you do not believe that I am He, you will surely die in your sins” (Jn. 8:24). True belief is always an active obedient faith in God. Jesus taught the multitudes that they could not just call him “Lord” and not do the things He said (Matt. 7:21). Believing in Jesus means that we are willing to trust and follow him with our whole hearts. A beautiful example of this is seen in Acts 8. Phillip has just started teaching the Ethiopian Nobleman the gospel plan of salvation. As he teaches him about Christ the Bible tells us they came to a certain water and he wanted to be immersed. Phillip then tells him, “If you believe with all your heart you may” (Acts 8:37). From this text, we learn that belief is a deep conviction that Jesus is Christ the Savior of the world. We also learn that we must be willing to do whatever Jesus says if we really believe in Him (Acts 8:38ff).

While we do not want to underemphasize the importance of belief, please understand that belief alone will never save anyone. In fact, the word belief never means mental acceptance only. Belief always means an active, obedient trust in God (Gal 5:6). We understand this in everyday life. For example, imagine a person is out in the middle of the lake about to drown and someone comes along and throws them a life preserver. If that person just believes the life preserver will save them and never does anything to “be saved” (Acts 2:40), will he be saved? Absolutely not! That person must take steps of action such as reaching for the preserver, holding on, and helping pull himself in. Likewise, there are steps of action associated with belief that one must do to be saved. It is so sad that there are thousands of denominational people who teach that all one must do to be saved is believe in Jesus and accept Him as your personal Savior. Nothing could be further than the truth. Did you know that the Bible never says belief alone will save? In fact, the only time belief alone is used in the Bible, James says it will not save a person (James 2:24). True belief is always associated with the action of doing what God says to be saved (See Hebrews 11).

Have you believed in Jesus as Lord and Savior? Are you willing to put your trust in Him and do what He says to be saved? Be looking for our next post tomorrow as we discuss the most challenging step in salvation--repentance.

You can also watch our video on the plan of salvation from this link: https://thegospelofchrist-tgoc.subspla.sh/wcnmxp2

What Must I do to Be Saved? - Part 1 - Ben Bailey

**This is an article that is part of a series of 5

What Must I Do to Be Saved? [Part 1]

The Bible says that our Lord and Savior came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). If we are honest with ourselves, we realize that Jesus came to seek and save every one of us. God says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Scripture teaches us that our sins separate us from Him and cause spiritual death (Isa. 59:1-2, Rom. 6:23). The good news is that God does not want anyone to be lost. He wants all people to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4). Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice for all people to be saved (Heb. 2:9; 1 John 2:1-2). The Word of God was given to us so we can know the truth about salvation and be saved (John 8:32; 1 John 5:13). That being true, each person must ask a very important question. What must I do to be saved? Over the next few posts, we are going to examine in detail exactly what the Bible teaches one must do to be saved. As we do this, I want to ask you to honestly examine yourself and see if you are saved the way the Bible teaches (2 Cor. 13:5). Let us notice the first step in God’s plan of salvation.

1. Hear God’s Word. The Bible says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17). And “without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6). In the past I am afraid that we have underemphasized the importance of hearing God’s word. What does it mean to really hear God’s word? Please understand that hearing God’s word does not mean you accept anything someone says, even if they say it is from the Bible. By hearing God’s word, two fundamental principles are taught.

First, hearing God’s word means that we recognize its authority. As God said on the Mount of Transfiguration, “This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, hear Him” (Mk. 9:7). The Bible is the ultimate and final authority in all matters of religion (Matt. 28:18ff, Col. 3:17, Jn. 12:48). On all matters of religion and salvation, we must let the voice of God be the final authority. The question of Romans 4:3 should stand out in our minds. “What do the Scriptures say?” Too many times we hear the voice of other men or commentaries or church manuals over the voice of God. When we choose to hear God’s Word we are letting God have the final say in our salvation.

Second, hearing God’s word means that we give a diligent effort to study, search, seek, and test what we hear. In the process of hearing, one must use the reasoning capabilities God has given him to discern truth from error (I Thes. 5:21). We need to be good hearers like the noble Bereans who “…received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11, ASV). Let us be careful and intelligent in how we hear (Lk. 8:18), what we hear (Mk. 4:24), and Who we hear (Mk. 9:7). To hear God’s word requires that we engage our ears and our mind and make an intellectual decision about what is said based on the Bible as our authority.

Dear friend, who have we been listening to on the matter of salvation? Do we listen to God alone? Or, do we listen to God and someone else’s opinion or teaching? Remember, only the voice of God and His Word will matter on Judgment Day (John 12:48). Remember to read our next post as we will discuss the very important but highly misunderstood step of belief.

You can also watch this video that discusses more about the Plan of Salvation in detail: https://thegospelofchrist-tgoc.subspla.sh/wcnmxp2

"The Kind of Preaching You Should Expect" - Jameson Steward

The Kind of Preaching You Should Expect

Those who preach the gospel of Christ don’t get to decide what kind of preaching is acceptable. As the apostle Paul’s life was nearing the end, he gave Timothy instructions that guide us on what kind of preaching we should expect from those who proclaim God’s Word. 

Complete Preaching (2 Timothy 3:14-17). 

Writing by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul reminded Timothy that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” You should expect preaching that proclaims all the words of God – the Old and New Testaments (Romans 15:4). This kind of preaching is “profitable” to us and thoroughly prepares us for every good work in the Lord. Preachers and teachers are to proclaim the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).  

Serious Preaching (2 Timothy 4:1). 

You should expect the preacher and teacher to approach the proclaiming of God’s word respectfully and thoughtfully. This doesn’t mean the preacher can never tell a joke or crack a smile. However, he should approach the preaching of God’s word seriously. Not only is there a lot riding on the proclaiming of God’s word for the hearers – a lot is riding on the proclaimer! Paul solemnly charged Timothy “before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.” Because the message proclaimed is God’s word (2 Timothy 3:16), preaching that word must be taken seriously. Those who fail to do so will stand before the Judge of all the earth and answer (2 Corinthians 5:10). 

Balanced Preaching (2 Timothy 4:2). 

Preaching the word of God must be done “in season and out of season,” – meaning you should expect the gospel preacher to proclaim God’s word without first “testing the winds” to see if that message will be popular. This kind of preaching convinces (convicts), rebukes (admonishes strongly), and exhorts (urges into action) “with all longsuffering and teaching.” Balanced preaching points out the wrong path, shows how to return to the right path, and does so in a “longsuffering” or patient way. 

Healthy Preaching (2 Timothy 4:3-4). 

You should expect those who proclaim God’s word to proclaim “sound” (healthy, accurate, trustworthy) teaching. While some gather up teachers who proclaim what they want to hear, the preaching you must demand and expect is preaching that remains true to God’s word (2 Timothy 3:16). Those who proclaim God’s word must put forth great effort into “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). 

This kind of preaching will benefit us as God’s people. We should expect to hear complete, serious, balanced, and healthy teaching from God’s word every time we open His word together. 

Jameson Steward

"Why didn't they offer us a bible study?" - Anonymous

****Editor’s note: This story was used with permission by the author, and is shared for the benefit of opening the eyes of some of our own shortcomings in evangelism and reaching the lost. The article is being published in its entirety without any edits as requested by the family that shared it with us. Their names are not included, neither are the congregations in which they visited. This is just a raw story to help encourage us all to be the best we can.

As an aside, The Gospel of Christ would certainly encourage congregations and individuals to take a look at how this family felt that they were left behind by the church. Our prayer is for this family to continue loving the Lord and that we can all be an encouragement to others in what we see through the eyes of others.

---

Their journeys to the baptistry both began as young as 8 and 9 years old. You see both became denominational Christians at those ages. Their hearts were sincere with belief and they did exactly the steps they were told. Fast forward, they are married and continue following the traditions that they were raised in, the Southern Baptist Church. About 4 years ago they moved to a new area and decided to find a church that they could serve God in. In the past, they were always searching for the perfect one to fit their wants. This is when they felt their hearts changing and turning more towards God. They dove right in.  Both started teaching Sunday school classes and volunteering at the local mission house in the community. It felt good to be serving others for the Lord.  The husband was teaching an adult class and the wife the Elementary grades.  They began learning specific things about obedience and the importance of baptism, but they still did not understand it all quite yet. The leadership in the church got noticeably unsound so with heavy hearts they left after 3 years. Amid that they had their second daughter. What joy this brought their lives, but this made it more of an urgent matter for them.  They wanted to lead their family correctly according to His Word.  The husband started searching churches with the oldest daughter while the wife was at home recouping with the newborn. He was more mindful to check the scripture against what the preacher was teaching, and quickly was seeing error.   They went to a few different non-denominational churches and ended up back into a comfort zone of the Baptist congregations again, but this next one was considered Independent. After several weeks they noticed Calvinistic beliefs coming out.  They were familiar with Calvinism and knew from studying that specifically it was contradicting to God’s Word so they left. At this point they are tired and weary.  They just wanted to find a church home and family.  Their love for God was growing as they continued in personal studies and prayer.

 You need to know that they had been around Christians their entire lives.  Growing up in West TN and spending their adult lives in Middle TN, but none of them looked or acted any different from any other denominational Christian.  Their view on the Church of Christ was just another Denomination.  Hearing terrible things of the Church.  For instance, it was a cult, baptism being overly emphasized, and they were the only ones going to heaven. Praying and studying the husband felt a shift and threw out the idea of trying the churches of Christ.  They were very nervous and uncomfortable with that.  By trusting in God, taking deep breaths, and praying they visited their first Church of Christ. It was different, but familiar with the Baptist church minus the instrumental music and observation of the Lord’s supper.  They felt very uncomfortable but continued to go and share with this congregation that they had left the Baptist church and were wanting to follow sound doctrine. They were searching for the truth but didn’t realize what that meant at the time. They felt they were hearing the truth there.  Some people were friendly but most not so friendly.  The wife felt judgement quickly to attend on Wednesday even if it was a baby’s bedtime.   They did not understand at this point faithful attendance.   They hadn’t even obeyed the gospel yet!  They really stepped out of their comfort zone when they accepted an informal lunch invitation at a congregant’s home with two other couples. The husband was candid about what they were going through and were searching for a sound church that preached sound doctrine. There was even a convert from a Baptist church there!  He shared his tension filled story of how his parents and him do not get along because of his conversion. That was intense and they still had no clue exactly why there would have been such a line drawn.  They met deacons and elders and the preacher, and no one offered a bible study. Not one. Because that church seemed unfriendly, they decided to try a neighbor’s church. It was Church of Christ too, but not until later did they realize this was what is called and (Non-institutional). The friendliness factor was there.  They enjoyed the preaching and the people. It did not take long to meet with the two elders and get serious about becoming members there. Still no bible study offered.  They began to study more on Baptism specifically because the elders asked them a question, “were you baptized for the remission of sins?” See to join this church you had to have been baptized for the remission of sins. They thought and thought, and both decided, yes. Why would we get baptized for any other reason?  Still studying, the Lord was helping them put pieces together.  They were still under the belief that we were saved before baptism, but that it was step of obedience after your salvation belief. The eldership never asked any other specific questions to help them.  It was like, if you say yes, then sure you can join up with us.  

Now the wheels were spinning and hearts were opening so they studied even harder. Scripture after scripture they found on how baptism signifies the death, burial and resurrection, and how it’s the antitype that saves us, and flat out plain as day Mark 16:16.  They realized that it is not about just one step, it is about all of them together. The gospel is perfectly put together and easy to see when you simply read and study the texts with a sincere open heart.  

Their driving force was from a sincere love for The Heavenly Father. They ended up listening to a Baptist converts podcast one night getting ready for bed. That evening a lightbulb went off simultaneously for them. Not all of what they were taught growing up was false, but that they were led falsely with the gospel. You see, they are products of you cannot be taught wrong and obey right. They wanted to become members of this church but did not realize they needed to be added to the Lord’s church. The thought of their families hindered their baptisms that night. The next day after those conversations occurred nothing was stopping them from obeying the gospel!  Their families were confused but somewhat supportive. They grew so much through continued personal studies and great GBN resources that they found on their own being broadcast locally on TV.  They were on fire to share the gospel, but no one else was. The more verbal they got to encourage biblical things the more they felt that friendliness leave. It became an intolerable environment to worship. The more they learned about God’s Word and His Church they realized error quickly. Remember that vague question they asked them concerning the reason for their past baptism? There were at least two people in that church who had not obeyed the gospel but were accepted members. It broke their hearts for them to be led so incorrectly.   They attempted talking to one lady by sharing their conversion story with her. She had been convinced she was fine because of elderships vague leadership and acceptance. There were other big issues, and they took these matters to eldership, too. They were aware, but the elders had let the leaven grow so much that it would be too hard to get it out now. They had to leave. Discouraged and sad all they had was God’s Word and programs on GBN that kept them encouraged and striving to share the Good News!! Their zeal had not wavered, and they continued attending other congregations. They seemed to find one that the preaching was sound, and the appeal of several young families was promising. Their loneliness and eagerness to be a part of a family of God made them identify quickly. 

Fast forward to today.  They yet again had to remove themselves from a congregation over unsound leadership arising in this case in an absence of an eldership.   

Questions that flood their minds- Why do we feel like our transformation is not understood by many?  Weren’t we all outside of Christ and converted by the gospel?  Why does it feel the churches of Christ are attempting to convert us to their denomination away from the 1st century standards of the New Testament Church?  Why are brethren more interested in clinging to their own man-made traditions while they point fingers at how the denominational world is wrong?  Why is there an arrogance and pridefulness towards the lost?  Why are members of The Church unwilling to share the good news of the Gospel with all they encounter?  How can we be ready to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear 1 Peter 3:15 when we have lost people every Sunday sit next to us in our pews and we pretend they aren’t lost?  When did Matthew 28:19-20 become an option for a Christian and not a command?  When did offering a simple bible study become the furthest thing from a Christian’s mind? 

"A Study on Character Based Appearance" - Amy Lawrence

Modesty

A Study on Character-Based Appearance

There are so many methods that we use to communicate. Did you know that only 7% of human conversation uses words? 37% is in our tone of voice, but 55% of our communication is in our body language. That’s more than half ! How we sit or stand, how we use our hands or the expressions upon our faces - these all communicate to others, right down to even the clothes we wear. What many do not know is that there are outward behaviors that indicate inward ideals - and they show, whether we want them to or not.

Why is it important to understand how we communicate ourselves to others? Imagine with me a woman getting ready for an interview for a job. The interview is at 8:00am. She will be trying out for the position of sous chef at the finest restaurant in New Orleans. At 8:03am, into the restaurant walks a woman dressed in rags; filthy jeans with holes in the knees, a shirt 2 times too big with dirt stains in the shape of hands on the front, shoes that are caked in mud, and grime under every fingernail. Her hair is matted, covered in flecks of mud and debris, and she is nonchalantly chewing on the end of a straw. Everyone in the restaurant takes their turn staring at her as she saunters toward the kitchen. She passes the kitchen staff as she moves toward the head chef ’s office, sending a sideways grin and wink to every face she sees. She stops when she reaches the head chef, plucks the straw from her teeth, and announces that she is here to apply for the job of sous chef. The head chef waits for an explanation for what he sees. When he doesn’t receive one, he requests one. The woman gives him a nonplussed expression and shrugs her shoulders.

The head chef then turns somber, demanding in a heavy French accent that she leave immediately. She goes, but not before she bellows how much they are ignoring her talents simply because of her appearance and they are going to regret not hiring her. Now…why would this

scenario invoke such a reaction from each individual? And what does this have to do with modesty? It all begins and ends with respect.

When you study the Bible, you’ll see that there is a thread that stretches from Genesis to Revelation: respect God. (It is frequently worded as “fear of the LORD”. Ps. 34:11-16 instructs us in how to learn this respect.) One cannot be a successful child of God without respect for the sovereignty and authority that belongs only to God, Is. 40:21-31. Job uses “fear of the LORD” and “wisdom” synonymously in Job 28:12-28. One that has a healthy relationship of love and respect for God will obey His commandments, Jn. 14:21, and this falls within the definition of wisdom, Ps. 111:10. One of these commandments is that we love one another, Jn. 15:12. This love has to be the same love that Jesus gave us, vs. 13. It is a sacrificial love, Rom. 15:1-3, Phil. 2:3-4. In our love and respect toward one another, there will be times that sacrifice will be asked of us in order to maintain that love and respect. This is where our Christ-like behavior comes into play. Even though He was equal to God, Christ subjected Himself to God for the purpose of saving us to the point of being the sacrifice for us, Phil. 2:5-8. When we learn to have respect for God, this in turn teaches us to have respect for each other as His children.

Respect for fellow humans is incredibly important in any societal structure. The more a generation migrates toward a disregard for respecting one another, the more that society begins to degrade and destroy itself. I gave the scenario earlier to show two perspectives of the same situation. One side respected the other, one side did not. Can you figure out which was which? The head chef was on time to the interview, dressed in the proper attire and ready to begin work. In his respect for both those he works with and anyone interviewing for the position, he made it clear with his clothing and punctuality that he respected both them and the responsibility he’d been given to find a suitable sous chef. He portrayed this message in his appearance and his behavior, as did every other worker in the kitchen. We as Christians are commanded to be in subject to one another, 1 Pet. 5:5. We should have the checks and balances necessary in our relationships with fellow Christians to keep us on the straight and narrow path…but this only works when we respect one another. This means we put forth the effort to see and meet the needs of one another - things that we should both give and get - in love, Eph. 4:11-15. This is how we grow, vs. 13. Now, let’s tie this into modesty.

Modesty is defined as 1.) behavior, manner, or appearance intended to avoid impropriety or indecency, 2.) the quality or state of being unassuming or moderate in the estimation of one’s abilities, and 3.) moderate, limited, or small in amount, rate, or level.

There are unspoken rules that are understood by those within any community that determine whether something is proper or improper, decent or indecent. To illustrate, it would be improper for an employee of Sea World to show up for work carrying a fishing pole. It would be indecent for a man or woman to walk into Walmart without their pants. It is proper for anyone to clean up a mess they’ve made, it is decent to respect anyone’s personal space. Humility is also defined as an aspect of modesty, and so it goes without saying that a person that is immodest is also a person that lacks humility (either simply in that moment or as a regular habit). Let’s apply this to our scenario. The woman showed her disrespect for everyone in the restaurant by not being properly prepared for the interview and not offering an explanation as to why she wasn’t. It is sensible to assume that no one would want this woman to serve food that she had cooked, risking ingesting whatever was under her fingernails. Upon seeing her, is it likely the patrons felt that not only would they not be returning, but they would advise others not to visit the restaurant. Based on this woman’s appearance, the quality of the head chef ’s work would fall into question by the patrons if he had hired her. These are all basic proprieties that should be considered by everyone in a community. Our appearance and behavior do not just affect us alone. They affect everyone around us. Humility is required for anyone that is part of a community to understand that they are a part of the whole. The head chef and kitchen staff work as a team, and in seeking a sous chef, they were looking for someone who was both able and willing to commit to teamwork. Any good chef knows that it doesn’t matter how great he is if he has no kitchen staff to help him. The kitchen staff knows that without the head chef, there is no one to lead them and teach them. Both sides must humble themselves in order to work well together. The head chef could see the outward expression of the woman’s disdain for order, cleanliness, punctuality, and humility - all of which are required to function within a community. She was, by definition, immodest.

Now, let’s apply this to the church, a community of Christians. First, we must realize that a standard has already been established; God is the One that decides what is morally proper/ decent and what is not, because the church belongs to Him, Acts 20:28. He makes the rules, 1 Cor. 14:37. It is also important to understand that the church does not stop being the church

outside of the church building. We are the church every day, every where. We must also remember why we are the church. We’re ambassadors for Christ! (2 Cor. 5:20) Don’t forget what we signed up for when we became Christians: to be like Christ, to teach others of Christ, and to bring as many souls to Christ as we can. To do this, we have to wear the same virtues Christ wore

- humility, unselfishness, and holiness - in order to fulfill the task given to us, 1 Pet. 1:16-17. How we appear, approach, and associate with others will tell others who and what we are. When that standard remains at the forefront of every decision we make, our appearance and behavior match accordingly. A life focused on God shines with the image of Christ. We shouldn’t want the attention to be on us, but on Him.

Desire for the attention that belongs to Christ is a characteristic of Satan, Mt. 4:1-11.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen some Christians wearing an image that looks nothing like Christ. When we take our eyes off of Christ and the church, a desire to look more like the world grows stronger. Then the fight for rights instead of righteousness begins. I feel I should be specific in this area concerning the goal of Christians. We should want the attention to be on God. Those that argue that they should be allowed to wear, say, do whatever they want have forgotten what they signed up for when they were baptized. They want the same attention Satan wants, 1 Jn. 2:16. We as Christians must be careful lest pride causes us to fall into the same condemnation as that old serpent, 1 Tim. 3:16.

Let’s go through some things that fall under the description of “immodest”.

1. Clothing. This is the most commonly addressed immodesty; clothing one chooses to wear that prevents others from seeing God in the person wearing them. Although this isn’t limited to women, more frequently are women the source of such immodesty. Anything from inappropriate bathing suits to short skirts and low-cut neck lines, women like to show off skin - skin that only a husband should see. Many a tale has been told of men conducting the worship service struggling to focus because one or more females are immodestly dressed. Do these females realize what they’re doing? Worshipping God, following God every day, requires focus. They’re taking attention that belongs to God and making it their own. This doesn’t just happen during a worship service, either. Taking another Christian’s focus away from God, no matter where you are and no matter your intent, is immodest. It is not limited to just worship service. Some even have the audacity to suggest that it’s the man’s responsibility to keep himself in check. There is

   nothing more selfish than having no compassion for the struggles of others. Such disrespect for another’s spiritual health is in itself sinful, 1 Cor. 8:12. By fighting for rights instead of righteousness, the seed of disunity is sown…and Satan is always thrilled to see discord among brethren.

   Men can wear clothing that distracts from God as well. Once I remember a man serving at the Lord’s table wearing jeans with holes, a t-shirt, and flip-flops. Knowing that he owned better clothes (because I’d seen him wear better), there were multiple distractions. It was a struggle to keep my mind where it needed to be - an unnecessary struggle. The man had been inconsiderate of his fellow Christians. Yes, it could have been a situation of extenuating circumstances, but he still had the option of seeking out a properly dressed man to take his place. It wasn't done maliciously. He didn’t get dressed that morning thinking to himself, “I’m going to throw off as many trains of thought as I possibly can today.” Sins can be committed in ignorance, Heb. 9:7. Once we learn it is a sin, acknowledging it as such and trying our best to do better in the future is a mark of repentance, Lk. 15:7, 2 Cor. 7:9. We must try our best to keep others focused on God.

2. Character. First, let me make one thing clear: none of us are sinless, Rom. 3:10. We are all works in progress. Some simply refuse to progress in the pathways of God. Jesus said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Lk. 6:45) Our clothes are not our only method of communicating who we are. If you pay attention long enough, a person will tell you who they are with their words and their behavior.

   Habits are difficult if not impossible to hide. Does this mean we have to be perfect? None of us can be. We all have bad habits we wish we could shed. The difference between a modest and an immodest human is the effort one puts into shedding bad habits and into having and maintaining a character that denotes a respect for God and fellow humans. A person that has a strong respect for God is also one that has respect for others. When disrespect for others is shown, it’s a good chance they also have little to no respect for God. We are all deserving of death, and the only thing keeping us from that death is a life in Christ, Rom. 6:23. With this knowledge, it is therefore the natural desire to do what is pleasing to God. This desire is at the forefront of a reasonable mind and manifests itself in action. God alone has the answers to all the questions we would ask in seeking to be in Christ. To learn, we must submit, James 4:7-10. Submission requires humility. Love and obedience are the natural children of humility, Phil. 2:8. Righteousness, not perfection,

   is God’s expectation, and Matthew had something to say about this: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (Mt. 5:6).

   Don’t be one that makes the mistake of thinking you can never change. An immodest person can become modest just as a modest person can become immodest. Both depend on the choices we make, Ezek. 33:10-16.

3. Company. “Do not be deceived. Evil company corrupts good morals.” 1 Cor. 15:33. I mentioned before about the opinion the head chef might garner had he hired the woman. Some might argue that ‘Jesus ate with publicans and sinners and so it shouldn’t matter what kind of people we let in to our circle. We shouldn’t be judged by that.’ Yes, He ate with them. He didn’t sin with them. He didn’t allow “fitting in” to direct His choices. He also had 12 apostles with Him. Thirteen are much more difficult to sway than one. When you have thirteen friends using modest behavior and wearing modest clothing, it’s a lot easier to make the decision to be modest in an immodest world. Our human nature craves to fit in, even when our more sensible spiritual mind tells us that fitting into a sinful crowd is contrary to the will of God. Anyone reading this article has experienced temptation and the pull that it has on our carnal desires. The head chef would also have been concerned with his kitchen staff. If the woman began to persuade any of his staff to stop caring about punctuality or cleanliness, the order they depended upon to continue to run a restaurant would have been compromised. In pursuing modesty, we should take care who we let into our circle.

One of the benefits of the church that is often overlooked is having brothers and sisters that love us telling us when we are getting too close to the fire, Jude 23. Every one of us needs eyes other than our own to see us so that we have the ability to see ourselves from a perspective other than just our own. It’s hard to see the big picture when you’re not the one behind the camera. We as Christians need to be open to receiving constructive criticism. The Hebrew writer describes elders as those that “watch out for your souls”, Heb. 13:17, as should every Christian toward one another, Heb. 13:1. To do this, we must be subject to one another, trust each other, and allow ourselves to be molded into Christ with one another, Gal. 6:1-10.

We will never influence the world by trying to be just like it. Be like Christ - in all things.

The Christian Influence - Ben Bailey

The Christian Influence....

To illustrate the power of our influence an Old Korean Proverb says, “Power lasts ten years, influence not more than a hundred.” Sometimes we may think, “Am I influencing anyone? The question asked is really a faulty one. It’s not IF we are influencing anyone, but HOW are we influencing them. All of us are an influence on others either for good, bad, or indifference. What type of influence should a Christian possess? Let’s notice what God says.

Concerning our influence, Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mt. 5:13-16). Jesus likened our influence to two powerful examples in this text: salt & light. All of us can see the value and effect of these in our everyday life. For example, think back to the blandest and most boring meal that you have eaten. Don’t you remember thinking to yourself, “This needs some spice?”. Our influence is that “spice” that adds flavor to life. Oh, how we need to add good “spice” to this life. Then, think about the effects of light. When you walk into a room at night the very first thing you do is…turn on the light. Why? Light helps us to see and adds beauty, vividness, and life to all it touches. The same is true of our example. Our “light” must shine in such a vivid and beautiful way that others can see it and glorify our God!

Parents especially have an influence on their children. Henry Ward Beecher so eloquently said, “What a mother sings to the cradle goes all the way down to the coffin.” How parents need to be a good example to set a principle for their children’s lives. Of the lasting effect of parents upon children, the Holy Spirit said, “…bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). As the old hymn says, “God give us Christian homes” and especially Christian influence in the home!

As we think about influence may our question not be, “Am I influencing anyone?” But rather, “How am I influencing everyone I come in contact with?” May God help us to be influential for Him!

When Enough is Enough, or is it Enough? - Joey Ferrell

A few months ago, I posted an article regarding the method of evangelism seen in the gospels. In particular, we talked about the efforts of those that Jesus had taught and sent out…and the reward of evangelism that they saw in that Jesus told them to “Rejoice not in these things, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” What a beautiful passage…but there is more to learn.

In Luke 10, the 70 are sent out into the fields for teaching to those that Jesus would soon come to their area. This was a precursor of His teaching in order to prepare the way and to soften hearts that were willing to listen. And much good obviously would come from this. However, we have to remember something VERY important in this passage as well. Look at what is said in Luke 10:10-11:

“But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’”

(Luke 10:10–11)

You see, even in the wisdom of spreading the message of the Lord Christ Jesus, there would still be times in which we will fail. It won’t be our own failure, but the failure of those with dishonest or hardened hearts that will not receive the word of God, act upon it, and be obedient to it. Jesus said it would happen! He certainly experienced this on His own level as well. He was rejected by many. He was turned away. He was the recipient of quite a bit of animosity and even had stones thrown at Him while he taught.

Certainly, we must do what is required of us in spreading the gospel message; however, wisdom needs to prevail in some discussions. What do I mean? You have probably seen them…maybe even been involved in them…public arguments, social media debates through keyboards, and maybe even one on one bible studies that just don’t go like they should! Just yesterday, I found myself in one of these conversations on social media…and I let my guard down. I allowed someone to get the better of me instead of following Jesus’ words. I realize this is a little different scenario…but is it really?

In a fairly parallel passage in Matthew, the words of Jesus in Matthew 9-10 also tell us to be as cunning as a serpent, but as wise as doves! What does that mean? I truly believe it means to be stern, but also to be kind. Ephesians 4 gives us several passages about how we should act in kindness and I believe it would be a good attribute in order to have in our arsenal when it comes to defending the truth…and doing it in love!

After all, will we win souls if all we are concerned with is winning arguments? I think not.

So, when is the right time to shake the dust off? That is a question that is extremely difficult to even consider answering. I think it would be up to the individual to determine. Jesus did give some aspect of it though - “if they do not receive you…”. To me, that would mean you try to teach truth at least once and test the “spirits” to see where the truth lands. If a relatively good discussion comes from it, then keep on! But…if it does not, maybe try once or twice more…and then it may be time to shake the dust and move on.

Here’s the thing though that I have missed in the past, and I hope to do better in the future….those areas that the dust is shaken off? Well, they are still possibly fertile soil. Maybe not for us…maybe not for today, but if you remember, these 70 men that were sent out were to go into areas in which Jesus would be following. Maybe when Jesus came on the scene…some of those hearts were fertile enough to listen, even after dust blowing in their faces after the 70 left. I was also reminded when listening to a sermon from a lectureship that the text does not tell me to never return…and that is what I must do better personally. What about you?

It is much better to focus on winning souls than winning arguments. Most, if not all times, a “religious” argument does not have a winner…except Satan when souls walk away from truth.

May God bless your efforts in evangelizing and sharing the truth, and certainly in your own quest for truth. We would always love to hear from you if you have questions about your own understanding or salvation.

~Joey