Birdwell Lane
Church of Christ
Big Spring, TX


Weekly Thoughts - June 2007
<----   May 2007    --    July 2007   ---->
03 - NOT AVAILABLE
10 - LUKE, THE ARTIST OF WORDS
17 - NO BULLETIN DUE TO BREAK-IN AT CHURCH
24 - CREATURES OF CHOICE
 
 
June 3, 2007
NOT AVAILABLE

 
 
 
June 10, 2007
LUKE, THE ARTIST OF WORDS

      Luke, the artist of words, draws a vivid picture of church history through his usage of the word logos (65x) in Acts. The picture portrays the beginning of a tidal wave as water springs from an empty tomb, an opening in heaven. The picture portrays the beginning of a tidal wave as water springs from an empty tomb, and an opening from heaven. The tidal wave spreads slowly over Jerusalem (Acts 6:7); moves with more power as it spreads through Judea, Galilee, and Samaria (9:31). The wave “grew and multiplied” as it passed into Antioch of Syria, Phoenicia, and Cyprus (12:24), and became so powerful that it prevailed over everything from Turkey to Europe (16:5). Finally, having swept over idolatry and sorcery, it engulfed Caesar’s palace in Rome (19:20; 28:31).       The logos was the Apostolic message of Christ that was hand carried over the world. Luke mentions ninety-five people by name that were made aware of this message (27 non-believers and 62 believers; most are not mentioned elsewhere). The message is carried to Israel (10:36), and to the ethne (11:1). A message that traveled to the ordinary places and institutions of the world (e.g., temple, house, synagogue, city, regions, jail, middle of the Areopagus, courtroom, islands and capital of the world).       The logos was the medicine of good news for the healing of the nations. A medicine called salvation that was received for the healing of the nations. A medicine called salvation that was received with a mixture of credibility and suspicion. As the “word of grace” it brought divine favor and joy. A medicine given through teachers and preachers call “word of exhortations” for the troubled and harassed minds of men. As medicine will, it evoked two responses; healing and opposition. As it was then so will it be today.

See ya Sunday,
Ralph

 
 
June 17, 2007
NO BULLETIN DUE TO BREAK-IN AT CHURCH

 
 
 
June 24, 2007
CREATURES OF CHOICE

      God made man a creature of choice. Some great moments in Bible history have been those when people have exercised this privilege. Joshua is an outstanding example: “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you shall serve: whether the gods of your fathers or the gods of Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). He took the lead and many followed. This is one of the great decisions of the Bible.
      In giving His followers a picture of His coming kingdom, Jesus stressed the right choice: “Enter you in at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there are who go in: Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way which leads to life, and few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:13-14).
      With this responsibility of choice, there are consequences. Paul taught that there is no way to fool God and that a man will reap what he sows: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he reap” (Gal. 6:7). How does one pick the good from the evil? I suggest 3 principles in making the correct choices:
  1. Find out what God states specifically is wrong and what God places on the side of right in the New Testament. For example, adultery is wrong (Gal. 5:19-21). When one makes the choice to fulfill sexual desires with someone other than his rightful partner, this is always wrong. Therefore, when a person is sexually permissive before or after marriage, this practice of fornication is always wrong.
    On the other side, marriage according to God’s plan is right. “Have you not read, that he who made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and shall cleave to his wife; and the two will be one flesh” (Matt. 19:4-5).
  2. Be careful in the choice of companions. “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Cor. 15:33). In 35 years of preaching, I have seen many pulled away from the training of Christian homes by evil communications exerted through companions.
  3. Just a step in the wrong direction may lead to ultimate sorrow. While visiting an alcohol rehabilitation center, I stepped into a room area well-filled with teenagers. They had been corrupted with drugs which included alcohol. A social drink is a step in the wrong direction. Only a taste of a drug is a step that may lead to ruin.
We are creatures of choice. Remember that all men have the privilege of chice but we create the consequences which we face in life and eternity. Remember the words of Joshua!

See ya Sunday,
Ralph

 
 

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