[Biblemat] Walking in the Light (11/30/08)

Sun Nov 30 20:33:30 CST 2008

Walking in the Light

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105)

November 30, 2008

www.thetfordcountry.com <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> 

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INFORMATION:

Walking in the Light is published each week by Richard Thetford. You are
encouraged to visit the web site at www.thetfordcountry.com
<http://www.thetfordcountry.com/>  and then click on "Richard's Home Page"
to view numerous sermons, articles, radio program scripts, class material
and other information. If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to
"Walking in the Light," please send their name and e-mail address to
richard at thetfordcountry.com

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CONTENTS:

"Fellowship Halls" (James Miller)

"Kill the Spider" (Author Unknown)

SENTENCE SERMONS

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FELLOWSHIP HALLS

James Miller

It is with regret that we learn that one of the congregations is now
building a "fellowship hall" to advance their understanding of the gospel of
Christ. We regret more for it widens the gulf between them and all brethren
who seek to stand against innovations in the church of our Lord. It means
that the chance for reconciliation is now much less than before and shows
that the tide of digression is gaining ground instead of losing force.

We hate to see any church that uses the name of Christ go into the
recreation business for a number of reasons. First, it reflects a desire to
be like the denominations around us without any thought for the mission of
the church. Most of the sects decided around the turn of the century that
they owned the whole man. They disregarded the Bible teaching of the home as
the institution that provides for man's social needs. Paul, although
speaking of the Lord's Supper, states the principle in (1 Cor. 11:22) in
these words: "What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye
the church of God, and shame them that have not?" It at best is an attempt
to build up the church with something besides the gospel of Christ. 

In the second place, it shows a complete lack of respect for the authority
of Christ. If brethren can go this far where will the stopping place be? If
a building to provide for the social part of man can be built with the
Lord's money what would be prohibited? The church can go into business, buy
and sell in the market place and engage in anything it desires without
thought of Bible authority. 

A complete misunderstanding of the word "fellowship" as taught in the Bible
is the third objection we present for having "Fellowship Halls", built and
maintained by the use of the Lord's money, that which has been laid by upon
the first day of the week by the membership to be used in authorized ways to
carry on the work of the church. The word "fellowship" occurs 15 times in
the New Testament and not ONE time does it have reference to social affairs.
It means "partnership" and is used in the ONLY way it can be applied and
that to the fact that we are "fellows" or "partners" in the work of the
Lord. 

Many good brethren thought that the only issue that divided us was the
Orphan Home. We tried to tell them then that the difference was far greater.
No one wants a child without a home and the food and care necessary to its
growth and development. The real issue was the attitude toward the
Scripture. A warning was given that if we failed to go by the Bible on ANY
matter, the gates would be open. A full and complete digression would be the
result. NOW who can deny that we were right? 

The Lord did not give His precious blood so any man in the guise of religion
could have a place to play. he did not die to buy the things necessary for
recreation for the physical man. To use this money, that has been laid by in
store upon the first day of the week, as directed by the Word of the Lord,
(1 Cor. 16:1, 2) to buy, build, and maintain, anything of a secular,
recreational nature, is to reduce the church to a social agency and lose
forever its place in the scheme of God for the salvation of the souls of
men. 

It is our hope that these brethren will see the folly of such a course and
abandon it before it is too late. Conservative brethren are going to have to
take a new look at the entire picture and decide for themselves if they can
be a party to such a course of action. Brethren, we need to face the facts,
we are divided over completely different concepts of the church and its
God-given mission in saving souls.

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KILL THE SPIDER

Author Unknown

One of the deacons was frequently called upon to pray at the mid-week
service, and he always concluded his prayer the same way: "....and now Lord,
clean out all the cobwebs in our lives." I think you know what he was
talking about - those little unsightly words, deeds and thoughts that we let
accumulate throughout the week.

Well, it got to be too much for one brother who heard him say that prayer so
many times. So, one Wednesday night, just after hearing these words again,
this one brother jumped to his feet and shouted, "Don't do it, Lord, KILL
THE SPIDER!"

Brethren, how well it would be if we would kill the spider rather than
continually having our lives full of cobwebs. We will never be able to live
acceptably for God and reach heights that Christ presents for us until deep
within us we have that clean and rightful desire.

The great problem in the average Christian life is that we do not have the
desire to really give up the world and completely surrender to Christ. Thus,
we always find our lives cluttered with "cobwebs," with sins and mistakes.

Let's start inside of our lives. Create that humble desire; and the external
part of Christianity will come. Once we have killed the spider, we will no
longer have to worry about bothersome cobwebs.                

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SENTENCE SERMONS

If you lift others up, you must be on a higher plane.

The atheist is puzzled when he is really thankful and has no one to thank.

Sizes are deceiving. Sometimes a woman's thumb has a man under it.

He who can live contented with little possesses much.

If love can be bought it is not worth taking home.

The person who has a sound reason needs no alibi.

Some preachers fish for compliments (and money) while others fish for men.

Reaching down and lifting people up is a good exercise for the heart.

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SERMON

Confident of Our Salvation (with PowerPoint Charts) 

www.thetfordcountry.com <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> 

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1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C

Montrose, CO   81401

(970) 626-5558

www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org <http://www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org/> 

MEETING TIMES

Sunday

Bible Study..........10:00 A.M.

Worship........11:00 A.M.

Wednesday

Bible Study........6:30 P.M.

Evangelist/Editor

Richard Thetford

Building: (970) 249-8116

Home: (970) 626-5558

E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com

Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> 

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RICHARD THETFORD

1491 Canyon Drive

Ridgway, CO  81432

(970) 626-5558

E-Mail:  <mailto:richard at thetfordcountry.com> richard at thetfordcountry.com

Web Site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com> www.thetfordcountry.com

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