| Volume One, Number Three |
Back To The Bible
_____________________________________________________________________
Volume One April 30, 2007 Number Three
Back To The Bible is a quarterly evangelistic outreach for the expressed
purpose of helping people study the Bible. It is a work of the Belle church of
Christ which is located at the corner of 8th and Oak in Belle, Missouri.
Editors of this publication are Jerry McDonald and Ishmael Wilson and is
overseen by the Belle church of Christ. You are cordially invited to all of our
services and if you would like to study the Bible with us we will be more than
glad to assist you with this. Our mailing address is the Belle church of Christ,
P.O. Box 381, Belle, MO 65013 and our phone number is (573) 859-6616.
Service Times:
Sunday Morning Bible Study......................................................................9:30
Sunday Morning Worship........................................................................10:30
Sunday Evening Worship............................................................................6:00
Wednesday Evening Bible Study.................................................................7:00
It Is Written
Wayne Brewer
In this day and age the majority of the people pay attention to the opinions
and the thoughts of human beings with respect to religion. They are asking,
“What did he or she say about baptism?” “What does he or she think about
the church?” “What is his or her opinion about the Christian life?” “What did
he or she write about worship to God?”
The world focuses upon the words of human beings to its ruination, but where
should be our focus? Jesus has given the answer in the word of God. We can
find the answer by seeing what happened to Jesus when tempted by Satan in
the dessert. Three times Jesus responded to Satan with these words, “It is
written…” (Matthew 4:4,7,10). What do these three words, “It is written,”
mean? Jesus is saying that the final authority is not what Satan says, neither
that of any human being, but the final authority is that which was written by
God. As Paul wrote, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Timothy
3:16). We must look for the answers to questions about baptism (Mark 16:16,
Acts 2:38, Galatians 3:27, 1 Peter 3:21), the church (Matthew 16:18, Ephesians
1:22-23), the Christian life (1 Peter 1:16-17) and worship to God (Acts 2:42, 20:
7, Colossians 3:16) in the Scriptures because there “it is written.” Peter wrote
to the brethren of the first century, “Be ye holy in all manner of conversation,
because it is written, be ye holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16-17). Why should we
be holy? The reason is “Because it is written.” It is essential to understand that
the Bible as written is the final authority. The sacred writings are sufficient
for us to know very well the will of God and the answers to the questions of
life and religion.
God has given his will by means of the Scriptures, they were written by him,
and when we know them we will know the answers. Paul wrote, “So then faith
comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10”17). Peter
wrote, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). It
is obvious that the final authority is the word of God and that we should look
for the answers concerning religion in the word of God and not in the opinions
of men. After reading and studying the Bible we should be able to say, “It is
written”. Follow only the final authority, which is the word of God. http://www.
kc-cofc.org/39th.htm
Symbols Of The Bible
Jerry D. McDonald
The Bible gives us many symbols of itself. One of these symbols was given by
David in the One Hundred and Nineteenth Psalm. In verse 105 he wrote:
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Many people look
at the Bible as a dead book, one that is no better than something that Plato or
Aristotle wrote. However, these people are wrong. The Bible sheds light in
our lives. In the darkness of this world we are able to see how to walk. Paul
told the Ephesian church, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light
in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8). Because of Bible preaching
these Ephesians were once children of darkness, but now they are children of
light. The Bible shows us the way. David also said: “The entrance of thy words
giveth light, it giveth understanding to the simple” (Psa. 119:130). The word
“simple” here means “innocent.” Those who have pure hearts can see where
God wants them to walk by using the Bible as a light. Because it gives off
spiritual light it gives, those with pure hearts, understanding. Some people
cannot understand the most simple concepts taught by the Bible. Paul
addressed this in his first letter to the church at Corinth: “But the natural
man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto
him: neither can he know them for they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14).
So many people read the Bible and cannot understand it because they aren’t
thinking spiritually. The Bible is a spiritual book that sheds spiritual light
and only those who are spiritually minded can see where it sheds light.
The Bible is also a sword. There is a war between good and evil going on in
our world. We have so many that are trying to destroy our faith in the Bible.
They realize that they cannot destroy the Bible itself (that has been tried
many times, but every time it was a failure) so today people are trying to
destroy our faith in the Bible. Paul told the church in Ephesus to put on the
Christian armor, and the last two things he mentioned about that armor that
Christians are to take was “the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17). This sword can be used for many
purposes. It can be used in defense of the Christian way of life as Paul wrote
about in his letter to the church at Philippi: “I am set for the defense of the
gospel” (Chapter 1, verse 17). The word defense comes from the word
“apologia” which means to give a verbal defense. We can use the Bible to
verbally defend the gospel, the church, God and the Christian way of life.
These are things that badly need to be defended. However, we must first
learn to use this sword. We do this by studying it. Paul wrote to Timothy and
said: “Study the shew thyself approved unto God, a workman the needeth not be
ashamed, but rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). Paul also told
Timothy “Till I come give attention to reading, to exhortation and to doctrine” (1
Tim. 4:13). He wrote to the church at Colossae and told them: “And when this
epistle is read among you, cause that it also be read to the church of the
Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea” (Phil. 4:16).
And finally he instructed the church at Thessalonica: “I charge you by the Lord
that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren” (1 Thess. 5:27). Reading and
studying the scriptures is important and is a must if we are to use it as a
sword of protection against Satan and his followers.
And finally, the Bible is a mirror. James wrote: “Wherefore lay apart all
filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted
word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and
not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he
beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of
man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth
therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be
blessed in his deed” (Jas. 1:21-25). When we look into a mirror it will show us
exactly what we look like, not what we want to look like. That is a good thing
because then we can see where we need to make improvements. The Bible is
like that in when we look into it, it will show us what we look like, not what
we want to look like. However, this is a good thing because then we can see
where we need to make improvements in our lives.
The Bible is a wonderful book, it is a light, a sword and a mirror. There are
many other symbols which can be used to describe the Bible, but we don’t
have the space to look at them all. Read your Bible today and use it as a
light, as a sword, but most of all use it as a mirror.
Why We Should Study The Bible
Thomas H. McDonald
Why should we study the Bible? Well there are several reasons for studying
the Bible, but there are three specific reasons that we want to look at in this
article. They are (1) It is God’s inspired word unto man; (2) It is God’s
instructions unto man; and (3) It is God’s power of salvation unto man. So we
are now going to look at these three objectives.
1. We should study the Bible because it is God’s inspired word unto man. God
created the Bible for us to study. It was meant to teach us how to live daily
and live right. 2 Tim. 2:15 says: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (KJV)
The Bible not only teaches you what happened, but it also explains those
things that it teaches us.
2. We should study the Bible because it is God’s instruction unto man. God
has given instructions on how we are to live our lives. In regard to this 2 Tim.
3:16,17 says: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the
man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” God
wants us to follow his instructions.
3. We should study the Bible because it is God’s power of salvation unto man.
God has the ability to save us if we obey him. Romans 1:16 says: “For I am
not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation, to
the Jew first and also the Greek.” 1 Cor. 1:18 says: “For the preaching of the
cross is unto them that perish foolishness, but unto us who are saved it is the
power of God.”
If we do not obey him, we cannot be saved. 2 Thess. 1:7,8 says: “For when the
Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire,
taking vengeance on them that know not God and obeyed not the gospel”. We
can only be saved by obedience to the gospel and no other way.
So in conclusion, we must always try to do what is right and study the Bible as
often as we can. We are to follow God’s word, believe in him and obey the
gospel and live right and we can go to heaven. These are the reasons why we
should study the Bible.
Committing To Daily Bible Study
David B. Smith
A man once said of the Bible, “The Bible is an ocean of truth which is simple
enough for children to wade at its edges and deep enough to challenge the
most brilliant of inquiring minds for a lifetime.” What an apt description of
God’s Holy Book! The Bible is indeed an ocean of truth, the full depth of
which has not been reached. It can never be exhausted. Man will never
“arrive,” so to speak. Thus it requires of men a lifetime of devotion.
This is not to say that the Bible is impossible to understand. Paul stated that
the Bible is well within the ability of men to comprehend (Eph. 3:3-5). Jesus
even said that the things from heaven have been hid “from the wise and the
prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Matt. 11:25). However, the Bible
is a book for a lifetime. The Psalmist yearned, “open thou mine eyes, that I
may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalm 119:18). The Bible is both
the treasure chest and the treasures within the chest. Even from a surface
reading a man can know that this is a great treasure indeed (note the
principle in Matt. 13:44-46). Yet when a man reads the Scriptures, even
familiar passages, he will always find nuggets of gold anew. Plus, the more a
man reads the Bible, he will find the personal benefit unequaled by any other
activity in the world. He gains deeper knowledge of God and the things of God
(Ps. 119:18, 27); he fortifies himself against the evil in the world (Ps. 119:11);
he prepares himself to defend God and help others know the truth (Ps. 119:
42); and, he receives encouragement to press on toward the mark (Ps. 119:54).
While the world is making resolutions for the New Year, why not make one
personally to read the Bible every day? Be like the Psalmist — “I opened my
mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments” (Ps. 119:131) — and
desire God’s Word as one thirsty for water.
—Via “The Transformer,” Weekly Bulletin of the Northside church of Christ,
Calhoun, GA, December 25, 2005 http://www.sullivancoc.com/1jan2006.html
_____________________________________________________________________
Back To The
Bible
P.O. Box
381
Belle, MO 65013
_____________________________________________________________________
Volume One April 30, 2007 Number Three
Back To The Bible is a quarterly evangelistic outreach for the expressed
purpose of helping people study the Bible. It is a work of the Belle church of
Christ which is located at the corner of 8th and Oak in Belle, Missouri.
Editors of this publication are Jerry McDonald and Ishmael Wilson and is
overseen by the Belle church of Christ. You are cordially invited to all of our
services and if you would like to study the Bible with us we will be more than
glad to assist you with this. Our mailing address is the Belle church of Christ,
P.O. Box 381, Belle, MO 65013 and our phone number is (573) 859-6616.
Service Times:
Sunday Morning Bible Study......................................................................9:30
Sunday Morning Worship........................................................................10:30
Sunday Evening Worship............................................................................6:00
Wednesday Evening Bible Study.................................................................7:00
It Is Written
Wayne Brewer
In this day and age the majority of the people pay attention to the opinions
and the thoughts of human beings with respect to religion. They are asking,
“What did he or she say about baptism?” “What does he or she think about
the church?” “What is his or her opinion about the Christian life?” “What did
he or she write about worship to God?”
The world focuses upon the words of human beings to its ruination, but where
should be our focus? Jesus has given the answer in the word of God. We can
find the answer by seeing what happened to Jesus when tempted by Satan in
the dessert. Three times Jesus responded to Satan with these words, “It is
written…” (Matthew 4:4,7,10). What do these three words, “It is written,”
mean? Jesus is saying that the final authority is not what Satan says, neither
that of any human being, but the final authority is that which was written by
God. As Paul wrote, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Timothy
3:16). We must look for the answers to questions about baptism (Mark 16:16,
Acts 2:38, Galatians 3:27, 1 Peter 3:21), the church (Matthew 16:18, Ephesians
1:22-23), the Christian life (1 Peter 1:16-17) and worship to God (Acts 2:42, 20:
7, Colossians 3:16) in the Scriptures because there “it is written.” Peter wrote
to the brethren of the first century, “Be ye holy in all manner of conversation,
because it is written, be ye holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16-17). Why should we
be holy? The reason is “Because it is written.” It is essential to understand that
the Bible as written is the final authority. The sacred writings are sufficient
for us to know very well the will of God and the answers to the questions of
life and religion.
God has given his will by means of the Scriptures, they were written by him,
and when we know them we will know the answers. Paul wrote, “So then faith
comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10”17). Peter
wrote, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). It
is obvious that the final authority is the word of God and that we should look
for the answers concerning religion in the word of God and not in the opinions
of men. After reading and studying the Bible we should be able to say, “It is
written”. Follow only the final authority, which is the word of God. http://www.
kc-cofc.org/39th.htm
Symbols Of The Bible
Jerry D. McDonald
The Bible gives us many symbols of itself. One of these symbols was given by
David in the One Hundred and Nineteenth Psalm. In verse 105 he wrote:
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Many people look
at the Bible as a dead book, one that is no better than something that Plato or
Aristotle wrote. However, these people are wrong. The Bible sheds light in
our lives. In the darkness of this world we are able to see how to walk. Paul
told the Ephesian church, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light
in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8). Because of Bible preaching
these Ephesians were once children of darkness, but now they are children of
light. The Bible shows us the way. David also said: “The entrance of thy words
giveth light, it giveth understanding to the simple” (Psa. 119:130). The word
“simple” here means “innocent.” Those who have pure hearts can see where
God wants them to walk by using the Bible as a light. Because it gives off
spiritual light it gives, those with pure hearts, understanding. Some people
cannot understand the most simple concepts taught by the Bible. Paul
addressed this in his first letter to the church at Corinth: “But the natural
man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto
him: neither can he know them for they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14).
So many people read the Bible and cannot understand it because they aren’t
thinking spiritually. The Bible is a spiritual book that sheds spiritual light
and only those who are spiritually minded can see where it sheds light.
The Bible is also a sword. There is a war between good and evil going on in
our world. We have so many that are trying to destroy our faith in the Bible.
They realize that they cannot destroy the Bible itself (that has been tried
many times, but every time it was a failure) so today people are trying to
destroy our faith in the Bible. Paul told the church in Ephesus to put on the
Christian armor, and the last two things he mentioned about that armor that
Christians are to take was “the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17). This sword can be used for many
purposes. It can be used in defense of the Christian way of life as Paul wrote
about in his letter to the church at Philippi: “I am set for the defense of the
gospel” (Chapter 1, verse 17). The word defense comes from the word
“apologia” which means to give a verbal defense. We can use the Bible to
verbally defend the gospel, the church, God and the Christian way of life.
These are things that badly need to be defended. However, we must first
learn to use this sword. We do this by studying it. Paul wrote to Timothy and
said: “Study the shew thyself approved unto God, a workman the needeth not be
ashamed, but rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). Paul also told
Timothy “Till I come give attention to reading, to exhortation and to doctrine” (1
Tim. 4:13). He wrote to the church at Colossae and told them: “And when this
epistle is read among you, cause that it also be read to the church of the
Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea” (Phil. 4:16).
And finally he instructed the church at Thessalonica: “I charge you by the Lord
that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren” (1 Thess. 5:27). Reading and
studying the scriptures is important and is a must if we are to use it as a
sword of protection against Satan and his followers.
And finally, the Bible is a mirror. James wrote: “Wherefore lay apart all
filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted
word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and
not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he
beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of
man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth
therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be
blessed in his deed” (Jas. 1:21-25). When we look into a mirror it will show us
exactly what we look like, not what we want to look like. That is a good thing
because then we can see where we need to make improvements. The Bible is
like that in when we look into it, it will show us what we look like, not what
we want to look like. However, this is a good thing because then we can see
where we need to make improvements in our lives.
The Bible is a wonderful book, it is a light, a sword and a mirror. There are
many other symbols which can be used to describe the Bible, but we don’t
have the space to look at them all. Read your Bible today and use it as a
light, as a sword, but most of all use it as a mirror.
Why We Should Study The Bible
Thomas H. McDonald
Why should we study the Bible? Well there are several reasons for studying
the Bible, but there are three specific reasons that we want to look at in this
article. They are (1) It is God’s inspired word unto man; (2) It is God’s
instructions unto man; and (3) It is God’s power of salvation unto man. So we
are now going to look at these three objectives.
1. We should study the Bible because it is God’s inspired word unto man. God
created the Bible for us to study. It was meant to teach us how to live daily
and live right. 2 Tim. 2:15 says: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (KJV)
The Bible not only teaches you what happened, but it also explains those
things that it teaches us.
2. We should study the Bible because it is God’s instruction unto man. God
has given instructions on how we are to live our lives. In regard to this 2 Tim.
3:16,17 says: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the
man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” God
wants us to follow his instructions.
3. We should study the Bible because it is God’s power of salvation unto man.
God has the ability to save us if we obey him. Romans 1:16 says: “For I am
not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation, to
the Jew first and also the Greek.” 1 Cor. 1:18 says: “For the preaching of the
cross is unto them that perish foolishness, but unto us who are saved it is the
power of God.”
If we do not obey him, we cannot be saved. 2 Thess. 1:7,8 says: “For when the
Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire,
taking vengeance on them that know not God and obeyed not the gospel”. We
can only be saved by obedience to the gospel and no other way.
So in conclusion, we must always try to do what is right and study the Bible as
often as we can. We are to follow God’s word, believe in him and obey the
gospel and live right and we can go to heaven. These are the reasons why we
should study the Bible.
Committing To Daily Bible Study
David B. Smith
A man once said of the Bible, “The Bible is an ocean of truth which is simple
enough for children to wade at its edges and deep enough to challenge the
most brilliant of inquiring minds for a lifetime.” What an apt description of
God’s Holy Book! The Bible is indeed an ocean of truth, the full depth of
which has not been reached. It can never be exhausted. Man will never
“arrive,” so to speak. Thus it requires of men a lifetime of devotion.
This is not to say that the Bible is impossible to understand. Paul stated that
the Bible is well within the ability of men to comprehend (Eph. 3:3-5). Jesus
even said that the things from heaven have been hid “from the wise and the
prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Matt. 11:25). However, the Bible
is a book for a lifetime. The Psalmist yearned, “open thou mine eyes, that I
may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalm 119:18). The Bible is both
the treasure chest and the treasures within the chest. Even from a surface
reading a man can know that this is a great treasure indeed (note the
principle in Matt. 13:44-46). Yet when a man reads the Scriptures, even
familiar passages, he will always find nuggets of gold anew. Plus, the more a
man reads the Bible, he will find the personal benefit unequaled by any other
activity in the world. He gains deeper knowledge of God and the things of God
(Ps. 119:18, 27); he fortifies himself against the evil in the world (Ps. 119:11);
he prepares himself to defend God and help others know the truth (Ps. 119:
42); and, he receives encouragement to press on toward the mark (Ps. 119:54).
While the world is making resolutions for the New Year, why not make one
personally to read the Bible every day? Be like the Psalmist — “I opened my
mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments” (Ps. 119:131) — and
desire God’s Word as one thirsty for water.
—Via “The Transformer,” Weekly Bulletin of the Northside church of Christ,
Calhoun, GA, December 25, 2005 http://www.sullivancoc.com/1jan2006.html
_____________________________________________________________________
Back To The
Bible
P.O. Box
381
Belle, MO 65013
| "Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth" (Jno. 17:17). bellecofc@centurytel.net |
Back To The Bible
Belle church of Christ
 |
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