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Birdwell Lane Church of Christ Big Spring, TX |
Weekly Thoughts - January 2007
| <---- December 2006 | -- | Febuary 2007 ----> |
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07 - "THE TABLECLOTH" 14 - "WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT" 21 - "DOES DRAMA CONSTITUTE WORSHIP?" 28 - "LET'S STUDY" |
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"THE TABLECLOTH" The brand new preacher and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to open a church in suburban Brooklyn, arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church building, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve. They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on December 18th were ahead of schedule and just about finished. On December 19th a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days. On the 21st, the preacher went over to the church building. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. The preacher cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the building. By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The preacher invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the preacher while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The preacher could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire area. Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet. "Preacher," she asked, "where did you get that tablecloth?" The preacher explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before in Austria. The woman could hardly believe it as the preacher told how he had just gotten the Tablecloth. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria. When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and she never saw her husband again. The preacher wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made him keep it for the church. The preacher insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job. What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and spirit were great. At the end of the service, the preacher and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return. One older man, whom the preacher recognized from the neighborhood, continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the preacher wondered why he wasn't leaving. The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike. He told the preacher how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but was arrested and put in prison. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between. The preacher asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the preacher had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine. - Rob Reid You see it pays to be where you ought to be…at service with the saints. See ya Sunday, Ralph |
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"WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT" We want you to visit with us at the Birdwell Lane church of Christ. And we want you to feel comfortable. But we know an unfamiliar place can be intimidating. So what can you expect when you honor us with a visit?
See ya Sunday, Ralph |
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"DOES DRAMA CONSTITUTE WORSHIP?" Over the course of church history, man has often determined to change the way he worships God. We must remember that God has set the standard for worshiping Him. Jesus said, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). It seems that "drama-groups" have woven their way into the worship of many liberal congregations. Many who are not satisfied with God's instructions for worship have taken it upon themselves to add theatrics to the assembly. Those that promote such believe that they are changing the worship services for the better. Are they correct? Should we act out the scriptures? What would be wrong with doing so? First, there is no authority in the New Testament for drama in the worship services, neither by example nor command. Whatever is done must be done by the authority of Christ and the approval of God (John 4:24; Col 3:17). We read of singing (Eph 5:19), giving (I Cor 16:1-21), praying (Acts 2:42), preaching (Acts 20:7) and the Communion or Lord's Supper (I Cor 11:20-29), but never "drama-worship." Did Peter, Paul or any of the other apostles act out the crucifixion or ascension? We have never read of them so doing! Second, the purpose of worship is to bring glory to God and not to self. Performing drama and play-acting Biblical accounts leads to self glorification. Men are praised for their acting ability. Theatrical performances are done for self-praise and self-glorification. On several occasions, Jesus condemned the works of men that are done "to be seen of men" (Matt 6:1; 23:5) Third, God chose preaching - and not play acting - to save the lost. Paul wrote, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" (I Cor 1:18). The church is told to "preach the word." Preaching is to be done for the purpose of reproving, rebuking, exhorting and convicting (I Tim. 4:2; Heb. 4:12). In conclusion, "drama groups" and "worship-drama" can only provide entertainment and boost the ego of the "performer." It is obvious that the liberal element in the church is ignorant of the Scriptures. Both Old and New Testament characters used visual aids to make a point, but never did the primitive church use drama productions to propagate the gospel. The inventions of men never have the approval of God (Matt 15:7-9). FROM THE BULLETIN DIGEST; 844 PINE STREET; ABILENE, TX 79601; JOEL WHEELER; LIVINGSTON CHURCH OF CHRIST; LIVINGSTON, TN See ya Sunday, Ralph |
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"LET'S STUDY" Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. NKJV While a child, I thought a worm-baited hook would lure a fish anywhere I chose to lower my offering. Later, I was introduced to structure fishing by Kay's cousin, in which one visualizes a lake bed as it would look when drained or at low pool in winter. The locations of channels, ledges, holes and stumps provide clues to where fish will congregate for food or cover. Studying scripture is like fishing - one does better when he knows the structure. Only then can the written word be the well-read word. Examining Matthew 5-7, we can discern the following structure: 1. Follow the path to righteousness that your life may be blessed (5:3-12). 2 .Let others see this righteousness that God may be glorified (vv. 13-16). 3. Let this righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (vv.17-48). 4. not make this righteousness a tool to gain praise from others (6:1-18). 5. Seek this righteousness before and above material things (vv.19-34). 6. Seek this righteousness in self before seeking it in others (7:1-5). 7. Let nothing deter or detour you from this righteousness (vv.6-29). In the first part of this sermon (5:3-12), each beatitude is a stepping stone along the Christian's pathway into righteousness. Notice the first four (vv. 3-6): 1. He recognizes his own spiritual poverty. 2. He begins to mourn about this condition. 3. He is willing to submit to God. "Meek" is the term for the gentile submission of a strong work animal willing to be put into a yoke. 4. He begins to hunger and thirst for righteousness in full, not merely a bite or a sip. "Righteousness" is not the genitive case, which would indicate a part, but in the accusative case, which indicates the whole thing. Knowing your Bible is an encouragement motivator in your studies of God's Word. Over the next four weeks let's study this sermon by Jesus as a motivator to our personal spiritual growth. My hope and desire is that in doing so we all will grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Let's study to show ourselves approved unto God. See ya Sunday, Ralph |
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