Tenth Annual TRUTH IN LOVE LECTURESHIP Theme: Choose You This Day •• Joshua 24:15 •• May 17-21, 2000 PAUL SAIN, DIRECTOR Hosted By The East Hill Church Of Christ 1 509 E. Madison •• Pulaski, TN 38478 2000 Printed in the United States of America A Product Of Sain Publications Pulaski, TN 38478 (931) 363-69052 INTRODUCTION ecisions determine destiny! I recall hearing a D sermon by this title many years ago. The truth of the three word statement is surely accepted by all. Many of the decisions we face in life are trivial and do not incur benefit or consequence. Other decisions, ones we might call major, certainly will determine the course of our years upon this earth and some decisions will even determine our eternal destiny! Joshua, centuries ago, gathered a large throne of people together and challenged them to make a decision. He spoke of the options before them. They had the “right” to make up their own minds. They could choose to follow the gods of their fathers, the gods of the Amorites (in whose land they presently lived) or they could choose to follow Jehovah God. They had the “freedom” to follow Jehovah or reject Jehovah. The great man of God, Joshua, told the people (Josh. 24:15) that he and his house would serve the Lord God. What a powerful affirmation! What a great statement concerning this leader of his family! What a wonderful example he was to the precious ones in his family! Friends, we are many years removed from the time of the challenge by Joshua ~ yet we likewise can learn (Rom. 15:4) from this event. They had numerous “gods” in their lives from which they could select. We have many “gods” in our lives from which many choose to serve and worship. Satan is still alive and active. He is militantly seeking to destroy any and all. He has ministering servants who teach false ideas, attempts to seduce us, endeavors to deceive us and causes us to make bad decisions which could result in our eternal damnation. In the 10th Annual Truth In Love Lectureship we will examine several areas in which we regularly 3 are called upon to make decisions. We will endeavor to present the views (ideas, perversions, and digressions) of man and then present the truth from God’s inspired Word. Qualified and faithful men have prepared the manuscripts for this printed volume and will deliver these lessons during the lectures at the East Hill assembly building. Sincere appreciation is expressed to the East Hill elders who oversee this work and endeavor to hold fast to the faithful Word in a day of change and digression. May we ever “Preach the Word” (2 Tim. 4:2) until the end of our journey on this earth. Paul Sain Lectureship Director 4 DEDICATION he year 2000 is a reality! We continue to work for Tthe Master as fervently as possible. We live in an age of turmoil and change. God’s people are ever under pressure and attack. Souls are lost in sin. The gospel is the only power of God to save. The statement uttered almost 2,000 years ago is still so very true, “...The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few” (Matt. 9:37). As we endeavor to work each day faithfully for our Saviour, let us ever be mindful of the many who have made it possible for us to enjoy the rich spiritual benefits and provisions. Many have godly, faithful parents who have taught them the saving gospel of Christ. Many of us have been so challenged by righteous elders who have demonstrated their love for the Lord and His church by their sacrificial, unselfish and faithful service. Others have greatly benefited from zealous and diligent Bible class teachers who have gone about their often thankless works of teaching treasured students the way of the Lord. Most, if not all of us, have benefited from the great lessons from the preachers of years past. We have sat at the feet of the faithful proclaimers of truth, such as Gus Nichols, Guy N. Woods, Foy E. Wallace, Franklin Camp, G. K. Wallace, Andrew Connally, Winfred Clark, Bill Jackson, Bobby Duncan, and many others. In sincere appreciation for the valuable and long- lasting faithful work in the kingdom of God and to the memory of these precious ones, we lovingly dedicate this book. 5 Pg 5 Blank 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview ~ “Choose You This Day” Series 1 “Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve...” ......... 11 Burt Jones 2 The Bible, Our Authority vs. The Creeds Of Man .................................... 25 Wayne Smith 3 God’s Design For The Home vs. Perversions Of Man ................................... 43 David Sain 4 God’s Role For Man And Woman vs. Man’s Perversions...................................... 55 Mark Reynolds 5 God’s Law On Marriage vs. Digressive Actions ..................................... 69 Stan Stevenson 6 Spiritual vs. Fleshly (Carnal) ..................................... 81 Jimmy Clark 7 Creation vs. Evolution ................................................. 99 Curtis A. Cates 8 The Church vs. Denominationalism ........................... 111 Cliff Goodwin 9 Church Growth: God’s Way vs. Man’s Innovations ..................................... 129 Stan Stevenson 10 Balance vs. Extremism................................................ 139 Neal Pollard 11 Acceptable Worship vs. Unauthorized Worship .............................. 145 Dave Miller 7 12 Bible Fellowship vs. Fellowshipping Anyone ............................. 157 Burt Jones 13 Accurate Bible Versions vs. Perversions .................... 169 Neal Pollard 14 The Operation Of The Holy Spirit (Direct or Through A Medium) ................. 187 Robert R. Taylor, Jr. 15 Restoring The Erring vs. Leading Others Alone ................................ 203 B. J. Clarke 16 Faithful Soldiers vs. Compromising Traitors ............ 219 Jimmy Clark 17 Righteousness vs. Wickedness .................................... 233 B. J. Clarke 18 Heaven vs. Hell ........................................................... 257 Dave Miller 8 Choose You This Day ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Joshua 24:15 9 Blank 10 Choose Y Choose Choose You This Day • • • • • • • • • • ou This Da Joshua 24:15 y Tenth Annual TRUTH IN LOVE LECTURESHIP PAUL SAIN, DIRECTOR Paul Sain Hosted By The Editor East Hill Church Of Christ 2000 11 “Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve...” Burt Jones Chapter 1 “Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve...” Burt Jones A native of Gadsden, AL • Spent most of his life as an Episcopalian • Began his preacher training one week after he obeyed the gospel • Holds a B.S. in Music Education and Masters in Middle Eastern History • A graduate of Memphis School of Preaching • Has held singing workshops and gospel meetings in 32 states • Author of A Practical Handbook for Singing and Songleaders • Father of three children. f you examine the twenty-fourth chapter of Joshua, Iverses fourteen and fifteen, there will emerge a contextual understanding of the theme of this great lectureship, perhaps in a way not before fully appreciated. In this two-verse passage Joshua stresses the obligation of Israel to Jehovah with the resultant effect that, And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the Lord, that he had done for Israel (24:31). Joshua offered a four-point requisite absolutely essential to Israel remaining within the parameters of their duty as God-fearing children. Joshua, in effect said (1) You must serve Jehovah. You must fear Him. You must serve Him in sincerity. You must serve Him in truth. You must put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River.” 11 “Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve...” Burt Jones (2) You must make the choice. You have this right, this power, this responsibility. You must choose and you must choose NOW. (3) Consider your alternatives. You can serve the “gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River,” or, you can serve the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; or, you can serve JEHOVAH! (4) My choice has already been made–“...As for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah!” We will, through the grace of Almighty God, “...walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil...” (Eph. 5:15-17). The fifth chapter of Ephesians indicates that we are to understand “...what the will of the Lord is” (v. 17). This desire of our Savior is the great rule of the Christian life; to know and, in the deeper sense, understand it is to walk wisely and to walk surely. To appreciate, to fully comprehend what the will of the Lord is, we must grasp the idea that, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding (Prov. 9:10). The best protection against any evil, whether it be obvious or subtle, is to learn self-control and how to govern our daily affairs as a child of God. Intemperance of any kind will destroy your peace of mind and this absolute lack of moderation will destroy any prospect of heaven. Someone has said that if the good people in China were to line up two by two and begin walking into the sea, the end of the line would never come. There are over two billion souls in China, even though the government has placed a quota of two children per household. Imagine three times that population number, 12 “Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve...” Burt Jones approximately six billion, and perhaps you can conceive of the idea that the world population could double by the year 2050! Now, a man could build an earthly empire which would totally dominate each of these twelve billion potential souls, and yet tragically be eternally condemned. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matt.