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Issue 1 Summer, 2007 Number 1 “And how shall they hear without a preacher?” – Romans 10:14

Introducing: “The Gospel Preacher”

-Andrew D. Erwin-

We plan to offer all of this material in only The Middle Tennessee School of Preaching twenty pages (at least initially), three times yearly, and Biblical Studies is pleased to introduce to the at the beginning of each fall, spring, and summer brotherhood The Gospel Preacher. Thus far, the term. school has been blessed with a wonderful student Brethren, the need for sound gospel preaching body and faculty and a good reputation for sound and to provide encouragement to all those dedicated scholarship is being established. We trust that this to truth should be evident. More than anything, we paper will complement the fine work being done by hope to encourage all who love the Lord in sincerity so many teachers, alumni, and students and by those to be strong in Him “and the power of His might.” who tell others about the school and those who sup- The body of Christ will grow in spirit and num- port it financially and with their prayers. ber through the preaching of the gospel, the whole The Gospel Preacher is a literary work that we gospel, and nothing but the gospel. We wish that all pray will be known for its standard of excellence in preachers everywhere would accept their responsi- religious journalism. Our hope at the Middle Ten- bility to “preach the word” and the eternal impor- nessee School of Preaching and Biblical Studies is tance and consequences of the messages they to provide a valuable service in upholding the faith preach. Truly, we can sympathize with the pains “once delivered.” Thus, The Gospel Preacher shall and difficulties associated with preaching. But, this be known for presenting valuable restoration is the life we have chosen. We do not simply quit themes. Moreover, the reader will find in this peri- teaching the controversial matters of the faith be- odical a very readable and enjoyable paper. We be- cause some deem them too controversial. Those in lieve The Gospel Preacher will soon become one of darkness have always considered truth to be contro- your personal favorites. You’ll find pages filled versial; and, preachers should know that before they with… ever begin to preach. Therefore, our message to • Timely articles covering a wide array of subject preachers throughout whatever history this paper is matter; able to enjoy is simply and honestly, “preach the • Classic sermon outlines from yesterday and to- word.” Souls are starving for the gospel of Christ day; and they are looking to you, their preacher, to feed • Biographical and historical sketches of preach- them. In the words of Christ to Peter, “Feed my ers, churches, and note-worthy events; sheep.” • Help for your church bulletin in the form of We ask for your prayers of support for the school short articles and poems; and this paper. We welcome your news and notes, as well as any names you wish to add to our mailing • News and notes from around the brotherhood list. Much work is to be done. It is in the spirit of and those associated with the school; faithful service that we now embark on this journey. • Classified ads of churches looking for preachers May God be our strength and stay! (at no cost, of course);

• Announcements of events and classes offered by 7103 Varden Ct. MTSP. Fairview, TN 37062 The Gospel Preacher 2

The Preacher is Not God The Gospel Preacher -James R. Lewis-

The Gospel Preacher is produced by hoever thought that he was? Why would anyone think your friends in the churches of W such a thing? Obviously, few, if any, really think that a Christ. The precepts discussed herein preacher, any preacher, is God. Nonetheless, let us consider for are set forth in the spirit of declaring, a few moments the work of the preacher and his relationship to defending, and preserving the an- others. cient faith once delivered. We hope It is not an unusual thing for the preacher to be present when these studies will be of great benefit a family is blessed with a newborn entering into this world. At to you in your growth in grace, and in times of illness, especially hospitalizations, the preacher often the knowledge of our Lord and Savior visits to offer comfort or encouragement. Weddings are great Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and wonderful events, and the preacher usually joys in sharing and forever. Amen (2 Peter 3:18). the joyous and solemn occasion. The preacher’s influence is strong in the lives of our children, and our family in general. He Editors preaches and teaches thousands of lessons which impact our lives. He counsels and advises when asked to do so. He visits James R. McGill in our homes and teaches us right and wrong. He baptizes our [email protected] youth, wives, husbands, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, and friends into the Lord Jesus Christ. Precious friendships are Andrew D. Erwin made, and much time is spent together, not only in worship ser- [email protected] vices, but also in other church functions and social activities. Death comes to all; often the preacher is present at the passing from this life, and then is honored to conduct a funeral service Free to All to help honor the life of a loved one no longer present and to The Gospel Preacher is privately fi- console and comfort those who are present. nanced and without charge upon re- The previous paragraph fairly represents many of the rela- quest while supply is available. tionships which exist between a preacher and those among whom he lives. The present purpose for noting these relation-

ships is simply to point out two truths. Number one, the preacher

is indeed greatly honored and blessed to be entrusted to share in a Thanks! very special way the lives of so many precious people. These are Thank you for your help in pro- the people who support him and encourage him in his life. They ducing this paper and allowing it to trust him and share with him many of the most significant events be freely given! in their lives. This is a trust which the preacher must never violate or dishonor. Number two, it is manifestly evident that the preacher, providing he has not dishonored or violated the trust given unto him, is usually held in high esteem by those who have made him

an important part of their lives. A mutual high esteem and love for the members of the church by the preacher provides an abundantly The Gospel Preacher joyful and effective relationship in working together in the Chris- 7103 Varden Court tian life. However, there is a danger which, at all costs, must be Fairview, TN 37062 avoided. The preacher is just a man, an uninspired earthen vessel. His first responsibility is to teach and preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ faithfully. What he says concerning matters of faith must always be weighed in the balance of scripture. His word is not authoritative, and what he says is true only if God’s word says it is true. (Continued on pg. 8)

3 Summer, 2007 Unfinished Prayers

-H. Leo Boles- Table of Contents (Copied from “Boles’ Outlines”) Page 1 Introducing: “The Gospel Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 3:7 Preacher – Andrew D. Erwin

Introduction: Man is prone to leave undone tasks; perhaps Dorcas (Acts Page 2 The Preacher Is Not God – 9:36-40) left some unfinished garment. The artist or sculptor James R. Lewis represented the life of man with an unfinished piece of stone. Page 3 Unfinished Prayers – H. Leo Discussion: Boles I. New Testament Teaching about Prayer 1. Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Page 4 Remembering W.A. Bradfield 2. Pray for everything (Philippians 4:6). 3. Pray for each other (2 Thessalonians 1:11; Hebrews – James R. McGill 13:18; James 5:16). Page 9 The Public Image of Christ II. Some Unfinished Prayers and the Church – Gerald Cowan 1. Pray for health; must obey laws of health. 2. Pray for sick; must help them get well. Page 9 The Living God – Robert L. 3. Pray for the bereaved; comfort them. Waggoner 4. Pray for success in business; must conform to economic principles. Page 11 Notice of Recent Deaths 5. Pray for wisdom (James 1:5); must study. 6. Pray for spiritual growth; must take spiritual food and Page 13 News and Notes exercise.

7. Pray for salvation of sinners; must preach the gospel to Page 17 Classifieds them. 8. Pray for world peace; must work for it. 9. Pray for unity of the church (Ephesians 4:3); must work Page 18 MTSP Summer Term An- for the unity of the church. nouncement 10. Pray for enemies (Luke 6:27); must work and do good to our enemies. Page 18 Who Will Become Your 11. Pray for the church to fill its mission; must be a faithful Teacher – Andrew D. Erwin member of it. God’s Plan of Salvation Conclusion: We have a part in answering some of our prayers; if we fail to Hear the gospel (James 1:21) do our part the prayer is unfinished. Believe the gospel (John 8:24) Repent of sins (Luke 13:3, 5) Confess Christ (Acts 8:37) Editorial Note: According to B.C. Goodpasture who edited Be baptized (Mark 16:16) Boles’ Outlines, “This was the last sermon brother Boles Live faithfully as a Christian (2 Peter 1:5-11) preached. It was delivered at Grace Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee, January 6, 1946.” Have you obeyed the gospel?

The Gospel Preacher 4

Remembering W. A. Bradfield (1910-1972)

-James R. McGill-

fully studied it. He contacted a gospel preacher W.A. Bradfield was born December 27, and, as a penitent believer, he was baptized into 1910, at Wildersville, near Lexington, in west Ten- Christ for the remission of his sins. nessee. He obeyed the gospel when he was fifteen and began preaching in his home community at That first booklet was also Bradfield’s first tract Christian Chapel when he was twenty-eight. to reach one million copies in print. It remains the most widely circulated of all his tracts. He also After graduating from Freed-Hardeman (when it wrote a book, Bradfield’s Sermon Outlines. was a two-year college), he received his under- graduate degree from Memphis State University Woods-Nunnery Debate (now the University of Memphis). He then received the Master of Arts degree from Peabody College in The first time I ever saw W. A. Bradfield was Nashville. Tuesday, July 2, 1946. It was the first day of the four-day Woods-Nunnery debate, held in a large, During the next ten years (1939-49), along with frame Baptist church building a few miles out from his preaching, he was a school principal. Parsons. Bradfield was then thirty-five years old; Guy N. Woods was thirty-seven. Bradfield was “The Way to Heaven” Woods’ moderator or assistant, sitting next to him at the table. These two men were to remain close July 4, 1944, was a great day in church history. co-workers and friends through all the years to On that holiday, some friends came by and asked come. Each year, when Woods came to Henderson Bradfield to go with them to enjoy the day. Declin- for the big annual February lecture week at Freed- ing the invitation, he spent the holiday at home, Hardeman, to conduct the popular daily Open Fo- writing his first tract, The Way to Heaven. He rum, he stayed in the Bradfield home. wrote it to use in personal evangelism, including handing out copies on the street. This was the first A year later, in 1947, I was surprised one day by of a lifetime series of twenty-five booklets. His last a phone call as I heard Bradfields’s unforgettable, one was Why Must All Men Die? booming voice on the line. I had sent out about twenty letters to various churches seeking preaching Through all the years, Bradfield never changed appointments, with no response – until that day. the format of his tracts. All were four-page folders, Brother Bradfield, calling from White Bluff, had a on light-green paper, in outline form. Laycook preaching appointment for me! Printing Company of Jackson, Tennessee, printed all his millions of booklets. In 1949, while he was preaching near Nashville for the White Bluff church of Christ and serving as The first reported conversion resulting from that principal of White Bluff High School, doing an out- tract occurred at Parsons, Tennessee, where Brad- standing job in both capacities, he received a call field was preaching and serving as a school princi- from Freed-Hardeman president N. B. Hardeman to pal. A member of the church who worked in the join the administration of the college as its Public meat-market section of a grocery on the main street Relations Director. in Parsons regularly wrapped up a copy of The Way to Heaven with each meat order. The tract fell out At Freed-Hardeman of one of the packages onto the sidewalk. A man who saw it lying on the sidewalk picked it up. At a point during the first teachers’ meeting Though it was partly saturated with grease, he care- Bradfield attended at Freed-Hardeman, in the fall of 5 Summer, 2007 1949, President Hardeman dismissed the outgoing who were made better by his preaching and who faculty, including Vice President James R. Cope, resolved to live closer to the Lord. Bible instructor Clinton Hamilton, and Jack and Jerry Frost—all leaving to accept positions at Flor- It is also true that many people responded to the ida Christian College. Cope became Florida Chris- Lord’s invitation, resulting from his preaching, after tian College president, replacing the founding Bradfield had closed a gospel meeting. To cite just president, L. R. Wilson, who was leaving to become one of many examples, following the close of his the first president of Oklahoma Christian College. 1958 gospel meeting at Clinton, Tennessee, during which there were several baptisms and restorations, Then President Hardeman brought in the new there was another response on Wednesday night, faculty members. Besides W. A. Bradfield, these and still another on the following Sunday. Only the included the new vice president, George W. De- Lord knows how many souls were saved through Hoff, and E. Claude Gardner who in the years fol- his teaching and preaching. lowing became dean-registrar, vice president, and president. One preparation brother Bradfield asked each congregation to make in advance of his arrival to Driving Many Miles to Preach preach in a series of evangelistic meetings was to prepare a “prospect list.” During the week of the Henderson was Bradfield’s home for the rest of meeting, he would spend much of every day visiting his life. Starting from this place, he drove perhaps a the prospects, usually accompanied by the local million miles to preach in hundreds of gospel meet- preacher. He strongly encouraged each one to obey ings, baptizing thousands. At Freed-Hardeman he the gospel or, in the case of an erring child of God, taught Personal Evangelism. He served on the Ex- to be restored. He could be gentle, but he could ecutive Council and the Lectureship Committee. He also be quite forceful. was chairman of the Financial Aid Committee. He directed public relations, edited the alumni publica- During the day he would work tirelessly, maybe tion, and led in student recruiting. His capacity for also speaking on the daily radio program, then work was amazing. speaking in the assembly at the local high school. In the evening he would often teach a children’s He always drove to his gospel meetings, even if class before the hour of the gospel meeting. Every- he had to drive as far as California. He never went where, too, he would be constantly seeking prospec- by plane. He was so careful to observe all the rules tive students and recruiting them to enroll in Freed- of safe driving that if a sign said “Speed Limit 15,” Hardeman. Bradfield would be down to that speed by the time his car got to the sign! He didn’t just start to slow Bradfield’s Sermons down then. The only accident he ever had occurred when he stopped at a red traffic signal, waiting for It was a mistake to think, as some may have be- the light to change, while driving through a small lieved, that he had only a one-week supply of pow- town. He was hit from behind. erful gospel meeting sermons. On the contrary, some hearers thought his second, and his third, set Many Souls Saved of sermons to be superior to the first, when he would return to the same congregation for a second As the years passed, and brother Bradfield kept and third time. A lesson on the Prodigal Son, in a record of the responses in his gospel meetings, the this third set, some hearers thought was his best number of baptisms and restorations grew into the sermon. hundreds and then into the thousands! Beyond these great numbers, however (as Freed-Hardeman When he opened a gospel meeting on a Sunday University President E. Claude Gardner reminded morning, he would often use “Tricks of the Devil” us at brother Bradfield’s funeral) are the innumer- as his subject. Some people thought, perhaps able men and women, boys and girls, of all ages, rightly, that this sermon was too harsh. The Gospel Preacher 6 After hearing this sermon, the elders of one Bradfield: “You might as well tear Acts 2:38 church told their local preacher that, unless he could out of your Bible. You don’t believe it anyway.” persuade Bradfield not to be so rough, they would close the meeting. That sermon did indeed go The man: “I would never do a thing like that!” against the advice L. R. Wilson once gave preachers when he told them “the congregation needs to hear Bradfield: “You have no hope!” at least a little something encouraging and positive on Sunday morning.” The man: “Oh, brother Bradfield, I believe I have a little hope,” “Scenes at the Judgment” was the lesson brother Bradfield often used to close a series of gospel Bradfield: “You have no hope!” meetings. Throughout his preaching years, he Years later, one Wednesday evening my family seems to have believed it was his most persuasive had the opportunity to stop at Bono, just north of message. When he had an appointment to speak Jonesboro, to attend midweek meeting. We were only once to a congregation, maybe on a Wednes- very happy to hear first hand ”the rest of the story.” day night, he would use that sermon, possibly at The man in this most famous of all sermon illustra- their request. tions did obey the gospel, we were told, and thereaf- The “No Hope” Sermon ter lived a faithful Christian life.

As the years passed, however, another sermon Brother Bradfield never got off the message: It became his most famous--his “No Hope” lesson, was about the love of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, based on the words recorded in Ephesians 2:12 – and the church of Christ, the gospel plan of salva- “…having no hope…” A portion of that sermon rose tion, judgment, eternity, heaven, hell, danger in de- to the greatest height of oratorical power imagin- lay, the uncertainty of life, and the urgent need to able. Even though the listener was in an assembly respond now. He permeated the message with surrounded by hundreds of people, he heard this pleading for every lost soul to obey and be saved— message as though there was nothing else in the now! tonight! world except the words of that speaker. There was Criticism of His Preaching no mental distance between the speaker and the lis- tener. The hearer was oblivious to all else. Not everyone appreciated Bradfield’s preaching. For some in the church who were more accustomed Bradfield’s most renowned illustration was at to hearing preaching in which the speaker calmly the heart of that presentation. It was a dialogue he and logically reasoned from the Scripture, brother recited between himself and a man at Bono, Arkan- Bradfield was not dignified enough to suit them. sas, who was in his 70’s. The man knew he needed There was no criticism of his appearance. He was to become a Christian, but he would not obey the always very neat, impeccably dressed in a nice suit, gospel. Brother Bradfield visited the man one after- white dress shirt, and conservative tie. Nor did noon during a gospel meeting at Bono. This was anyone say his preaching was in any way unbibli- their conversation: cal. Bradfield: “You know you need to obey the Instead, what seemed to bother some brethren gospel and you haven’t done it. You don’t believe was that, when Bradfield extended the invitation, it the Bible!” was the very opposite of the bland, low-key invita- The man: “Oh, brother Bradfield, don’t say tions characteristic of some preachers. He begged that! and pleaded. He stopped the song leader between verses and went back to the stand and pleaded some Bradfield: “You might as well take your Bible more. and throw it out the window!” When the song resumed, he often talked over The man: “Brother Bradfield, you shock me.” the singing, continuing the “Why won’t you come?” 7 Summer, 2007 appeal. Sometimes he would ask the song leader to The congregation had a fellowship meal each sing another invitation song. Then he would go up evening before the meeting. He was very careful to the pulpit and make still another appeal. about what he ate, avoiding foods that might be bad for him. Consequently, there was very little on his When the singing started again, he might even plate. go part of the way down the center aisle, still en- couraging sinners to respond. For some brethren When he got up to preach on Tuesday night, still this was undignified or, as others said, “overly per- following the doctor’s rules, he spoke in a very low, suasive.” calm tone—totally out of his accustomed style. Responses to the invitation since the meeting started The only response I ever heard him make to the on Sunday had been few, if any. criticism that he “over-persuaded,” was to say, “It would be a lot easier to preach in such a way as to But then, just about ten minutes into his lesson, have no responses, than it is to plead for the lost to actually in the middle of a sentence, everything believe and obey.” changed. All the old-time power suddenly re- turned—the energy, the force, the volume, the ges- One night during a gospel meeting at Bruceton, tures, the genuineness, and the sincerity! Tennessee, brother Bradfield spoke on the subject that was the title of his last tract, “Why Must All A Greek rhetorician defined oratory as “a good Men Die?” As he spoke of death, I thought, “I man speaking well.” That described brother Brad- wonder how he will face death. Will he have the field exactly—his guilelessness, his wholesome- same faith and courage and assurance that he is ex- ness, his purity of life—along with his willingness pressing tonight?” I dismissed the thought. It to use his great ability unreservedly to glorify God would be unrealistic to think I would ever know the in saving souls. answer to that. I was wrong. I am thankful that I did get to know. When the invitation song began that evening, men and women, young people and older people, Bradfield’s Health without hesitation, started coming down every aisle. What an extraordinary sight! In retrospect, the first indication that Bradfield had health problems came in 1971, when he was In the Hospitals sixty years old. He said to his fellow teachers one morning at the college, “I don’t know how a man Brother Bradfield spent some time in the Jack- my age is supposed to feel, but I feel terrible in the son, Tennessee, hospital. Then he entered Vander- morning!” bilt hospital for exploratory surgery.

Health problems increased, and the doctor’s ad- He had been a member of the Freed-Hardeman vice was for him to watch his diet carefully, avoid Lectureship Committee for years, but this year was stress, get rest, and remain calm. He was always his first time to be the lectureship director as the conscientious about rules—traffic laws and other chairman of the committee and, as he wrote in his kinds of rules, and, most importantly, the Lord’s Introduction to the 1972 Lectureship book, it would rules. Even though practicing all the doctor’s rules be his only time. seemed out of character for him, he tried. Every year each speaker who is selected to The Paris Meeting speak on the lectureship submits a manuscript of his assigned topic well in advance. They do this so that Next to his last gospel meeting was at the East the lectureship book, consisting of several hundred Wood church of Christ in Paris, Tennessee. He let pages, can be printed and bound and ready for sale me drive his car from Henderson to Paris, so he from the first day of the lectureship. The lecture- could lie down in the back seat and rest during the ship draws thousands of visitors and starts each year trip. on the first Monday following the first Sunday in February. The Gospel Preacher 8 While brother Bradfield was still in Vanderbilt By this time, his brother Luther had entered the hospital, B. C. Goodpasture, for many years editor room. Luther and W. A. (Willie) Bradfield had en- of the , asked McQuiddy Printiing joyed a very close bond since early childhood. Company to call him just as soon as the first copy of the lectureship book was bound. When Good- Luther said, “You’ve been a good brother, Wil- pasture got the call, he went immediately to the lie.” printing company and from there directly to the hospital to present that first copy of the 1972 lec- 109 Holt Hills Rd. tureship book to brother Bradfield. Nashville, TN 37211

At Home in Henderson (The Preacher Is Not God, Continued from page 2) When the lectureship began, Bradfield was back in Henderson but confined to bed at home. He had If he preaches contrary to God’s word, he has violated asked not to go back to a hospital but to be permit- the gospel which has been entrusted unto him. If he ted to die at home. His wife Hazel, his daughter, advises those whom he loves contrary to God’s word, Linda Speight, his son-in-law Bill Speight, the he also violates the trust they have placed in him. In Speight’s small children, and other family members, all matters of faith we must be exceedingly diligent to could be with him during the days, and volunteers, demand a “Thus saith the Lord.” While it is good and mostly Freed-Hardeman teachers, would stay with appropriate to trust a faithful preacher we must not him through the nights. He grew weaker as the determine our faith by a “Thus saith the preacher.” days passed, The danger is inherent in exalting the preacher above what the Lord says. Our trust must not be put in man, I came into his room at 1:00 A.M., Saturday, any man, to be the final word concerning God’s will. March 4, 1972, to be at his bedside the second part The preacher is just a servant of the Lord. The of the night. The first words I heard from him, di- preacher is not God! rected to the brother who had been with him the 3923 Bennett Rd. Chattanooga, TN 3741 first part of the night and who was preparing to leave, were “I want you to pray for me that I might die tonight.” I had never even contemplated a re- quest like that.

In the hours that followed, he talked to me about the same subjects he had preached throughout the Subscription Information years, about Jesus, the gospel plan of salvation, and the church of Christ. He believed the very same To subscribe to The Gospel Preacher simply things in those final hours that he had preached with mail your request to: such powerful effect. The Gospel Preacher At about 3:25 A.M., brother Bradfield quoted the Lord’s words to Paul who had prayed that his c/o Andy Erwin ‘’thorn in the flesh” be removed: “My grace is suf- 7103 Varden Ct. ficient for thee…” (Second Corinthians 12:9). Fairview, TN 37062 That was the last Scripture he quoted.

Subscriptions are free upon request while I held his glass and straw for him so that he could drink a sip of water. Then he asked me to supply is available. word a prayer. I had been thinking, at least subcon- sciously, of the request he had made earlier.

He said “Amen” to the prayer – his last word.

9 Summer, 2007

The Public Image of Christ and the Church

-Gerald Cowan-

ated and praised more, more desirable as Lord and Be blameless and harmless... children of God leader if we consciously “magnify him” by our way without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and per- of life. verse generation, among whom you shine as lights The only impression of Christ and the church in the world, holding forth the word of truth (Phi- that some people will ever get is the one you and I lippians 2:15). project to them. The first impression you make is often the most enduring. As some wit has said, We live in an age when many are concerned “You never get a second chance to make a good about their public image. Businesses, politicians, first impression. Actually, if the first one is bad you colleges, the nation – and even some religious may never get a chance to change and correct it. groups – spend large sums of money with public Is the image of the church in your congregation relations firms in order to be sure of maintaining a one that magnifies and glorifies the Lord Jesus good public image. The church of Christ needs to be Christ? Does your personal image as a Christian concerned about the image it projects to the local magnify and glorify Christ? community, although I do not think we need to hire PO Box 341 a publicity agent or firm. Dongola, IL 62926 The image of the church is only the corporate image of its members. A wise person has observed: No matter how large it may be, an institution is of- ten judged by a person’s contact with one or a few The Living God members, employees, or representatives. A world- -Robert L. Waggoner- wide organization with thousands of employees may be judged by the attitudes and actions of any The Bible often describes God by using modi- one of its personnel. If one person is rude or ineffi- fying terms. One of the better known expressions is cient a great deal of kindness, tact, and efficiency “God Almighty,” which is used eleven times in on the part of many others may be needed to over- eleven verses. However, a more frequently used ex- come the bad impression. Every member of an or- pression in biblical times was “the living God,” ganization in any capacity at all who comes into which is used thirty times in thirty verses (NKJV). contact with the public is a “salesman and represen- Why God is designated as “the living God” is tative” for the whole organization. The impression not always indicated. However, some reasons seem that one makes, good or bad, is an advertisement for evident. the whole organization. First, God may be called the living God because The image of Christ is the image of the church he is the source of all life. Only God has life in and every individual member of it. The collective himself (John 5:26) and only God can give life to image of the church is very important. The church others. After creating the heavens and the earth and must “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striv- all things in them, God said, “Let the waters abound ing together for the faith of the gospel....being of with an abundance of living creatures . . . So God one accord and one mind” (Philippians 1:27, 2:1-2). created . . . every living thing that moves” (Genesis But the emphasis has to be placed on the individual 1:20, 21). “And the Lord God formed man of the if the group is to be right, especially to be Christ- dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the like (Philippians 2:3-4, 5, 10, 12). We need to de- breath of life; and man became a living being” velop more of the attitude and actions of the apostle (Genesis 2:7). God not only gives life, he is the Paul: “So that Christ will be magnified” (Philippi- means by which all life is sustained (Genesis 2:7; ans 1:20b). Christ will be made larger in the mind’s Psalm 66:9; Acts 17:25). eye, easier to see and understand, glorified, appreci- The Gospel Preacher 10 Second God seems sometimes to have been transfigured – God spoke, saying “This is my be- called the “living God” because he is perceived to loved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew be the true God who is alive in contrast to false 3:17; 17:5; 2 Peter 1:16-21). Jesus Christ, who de- gods of idolatry (Acts 14:15; 2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 clares God (John 1:18) is acknowledged as the “Son Thessalonians 1:9) which are dead (Psalms 115:3-8; of the living God” (Matthew 16:16; John 6:69). By 135:15-18; Isaiah 44:9-20; Jeremiah 10:8-10, 14). the word of God we will be judged (Hebrews 4:12, Elijah caused Israel to acknowledge the true God 13; see also John 12:47-48). when he challenged the priests of Ba’al to produce The living God listens. He heard the prayer of sacrificial fire from heaven. When they could not, Hannah, who vowed that if God would give her a Elijah prayed to God and fire fell from heaven to son, she would give him to the Lord. God granted consume his sacrifice (1 Kings 17-18). her request (1 Samuel 1:11-28). Third, to speak about the “living God” is to talk God heard the prayer of Solomon who desired an about a God of power. Although idol worshippers understanding heart that he might rule righteously, may attribute power to their gods, the Bible indi- God not only granted him wisdom, but also riches cates that only “the living God” has power. “The (1 Kings 3:5-14). living God . . . made the heaven, the earth, the sea, God heard the prayer of Hezekiah requesting that and all things that are in them” (Acts 14:15). the reproach of the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, The power of God was recognized by the Persian might be overcome. God assured Hezekiah that king Darius after Daniel was not eaten by lions. He Sennacherib’s army would be turned back from de- therefore made a decree: stroying Jerusalem. And they were (2 Kings 19:15- “that in every dominion of my kingdom men 36; Isaiah 37:15-37). must tremble and fear before the God of The living God often takes the initiative, as he Daniel. For He is the living God, and stead- did in making man in his own image (Genesis 1:27) fast forever; His kingdom is the one which and designating requirements for Adam and Eve to shall not be destroyed, and His dominion live in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:28-30; 2:16- shall endure to the end. He delivers and res- 17). cues, and He works signs and wonders in God initiated a call to Abram to leave Ur of heaven and on earth, who has delivered Chaldee to receive an inheritance in another place Daniel from the power of the lions” (Daniel (Genesis 12:1-3; Acts 7:3-4; Hebrews 11:8). At a 6:25-27). burning bush, God commissioned Moses to go to When the Israelites were about to go into the Egypt to bring the Israelites from that country land of Canaan, Joshua said, “By this you shall (Exodus 3:4-22). At Mt. Sinai, God gave a law know that the living God is among you, and that He through Moses to guide the newly formed Israelite will without fail drive out from before you the Ca- nation (Exodus 19:1-40:38; John 1:17). When the naanites . . .” (Joshua 3:10). In the Bible, the consis- Israelite nation was in the Promised Land, God tent portrait of the living God is that he is the true chose David to become king over his people (1 and powerful God. Samuel 16:1-13; 2 Samuel 12:7). God selected The living God speaks. The worlds were framed prophets to call the people back to him (Jeremiah by the word of God (Genesis 1; Hebrews 11:1). 7:21-25; Zechariah 1:1-6). Many times God spoke directly to individuals, as to In the New Testament, God sent his Son into the Adam (Genesis 2:16-17), to Abraham (Genesis world to redeem humanity (John 3:17; 1 John 4:10; 12:1-3), to Moses (Exodus 3:4ff) etc. Revelation 5:9). And, God called the Apostle Paul When the Ten Commandments were given, peo- to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15; ple “heard the voice of the living God speaking 22:21). from the midst of the fire” (Deuteronomy 5:22, 26). The living God reacts toward people to reward Sometimes God spoke through dreams (Genesis and to punish. Because Noah was faithful, he found 28:11-16; Matthew 1:19-24) or visions (Ezekiel grace with God (Genesis 6:8). Therefore he and his 8:3ff; Daniel 4:1-18; 2 Corinthians 12:1-4). God household were spared when the world was de- spoke in previous times through the prophets, but stroyed by a universal flood (Genesis 6-8; Hebrews now speaks to us through his Son (Hebrews 1:1-2). 11:7). Because Joshua and Caleb believed that God When Jesus was baptized – and again when he was would give the Israelites the Promised Land, their 11 Summer, 2007 lives were spared while all other Israelites except those under the age of twenty were condemned to Notice of Recent Deaths perish (Numbers 14:36-38; Deuteronomy 2:14-16). The living God reacts not only to reward right- Laura Keeble… eousness, but also to punish evil. When Cain killed his brother Abel, God withheld the earth’s produc- …died at 108 years of age, widow of the late evan- tivity from him, thus making Cain a fugitive and a gelist Marshall Keeble. The Keebles were longtime vagabond (Genesis 3:12-14). When “the wickedness members of the Jackson St. church of Christ in of man was great in the earth, and every intent of Nashville. She attended the 1986 graduation of the the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually,” school of preaching at which Thomas Allen, a God brought a universal flood upon the earth member at Jackson Street, graduated. (Genesis 6:5). When the cities of Sodom and Go- That was also the year that Middle Tennessee morrah became excessively wicked, God reacted by School of Preaching director Michael A. Stewart raining down fire and brimstone upon them (Gene- graduated, along with MTSP instructor Jerry Max- sis 19:20-25; Jude 7). “God is not mocked, for well and others. whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Gala- Her husband spent two-thirds of a century in tians 6:7) “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands evangelism. During this time he converted up to of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). forty thousand people, many white as well as black. The “living God” is “the Savior of all men, es- He established as many as four hundred congrega- pecially of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:10). tions.

Through Christ, both Jews and Gentiles may be- James Walker come “sons of the living God” (Romans 9:26; Ho- sea 1:10). Through the blood of Christ, our con- James was on schedule to graduate April 6 from sciences may be cleansed “from dead works to the Middle Tennessee School of Preaching. He died serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14). Believers in just a few weeks before. His wife, three sons, Christ have “the seal of the living God” (Revelation grandchildren, and other relatives survive him. 7:2; 1 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30), are Members of his family were present at graduation, called to “serve the living and true God” (1 Thessa- and a son went up to receive his diploma. lonians 1:9), and are commanded “not to be He was a co-worker at Nashville’s 7th Avenue haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the church of Christ, with evangelist Frank Johnson, living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” located at 7th Avenue North and Buchanan Street in (1 Timothy 6:17). The living God dwells in his north Nashville. temple, the church (2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 Timothy Johnson is also a graduate of Middle Tennessee 3:15), which is also described as “the city of the liv- School of Preaching. He preaches for the same con- ing God” (Hebrews 12:22). gregation for which his father preached a generation How wonderful it is to serve the true, powerful, ago, then located on 3rd Avenue North. and living God! Even so, brethren should beware Even in the 1970’s that congregation had a “lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief black and a white evangelist working together. in departing from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12). They converted many people. May we be like the Psalmist who declared, “My Frank Johnson conducted Walker’s funeral. soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psalm James Walker meant much to his fellow students at 42:2). “My heart and my flesh cry out for the living the school, and they and the school meant much to God” (Psalm 84:2). him. Montgomery, AL One of James Walker’s most memorable ser- mons was the one he preached on the closing night Editorial Note: Many more fine articles can be of the gospel meeting last year at the Old Hope found at Robert Waggoner’s website: church of Christ in Williamson County, where www.biblicaltheism.com. MTSP instructor Dove Wilson has been the regular preacher for the past five years. Other school of preaching students and teachers who spoke during The Gospel Preacher 12 that gospel meeting included Jeremy Stover Jerry He was a teacher in the Nashville School of Ladd, Jim McGill, and Milton Stephens. Preaching, almost from the beginning, in the late 1960’s, at its first location on 12th Ave., South, at Harold Baker the Waverly-Belmont church building. This con-

Harold Baker began preaching at the age of twelve, gregation later merged with the University church and moved into the building vacated by the Hills- when his family moved to Nolensville. He did the st preaching there two Sundays each month. When boro church on 21 Ave. South, when that congre- he died at 88, he had been preaching 76 years! gation moved out to Tyne Blvd. They called the Harold won the Founders’ Day Oratorical Con- merged congregation Ashwood. test as a senior at Lipscomb in 1952. Dorris came back as a guest instructor at the He continued his schooling at Louisiana State school of preaching in the 1990’s. He spoke on very University, while preaching for the Convention St. helpful topics such as note-taking and filing ideas (later North Blvd.) church of Christ in Baton Rouge, for sermons. as Ira North and Carroll Ellis had done before him. He had a strong voice and excellent speech. Harold returned to Nashville to teach at Dorris did quite a bit of radio preaching. Lipscomb. He later at taught at Middle Tennessee Maybe his most far-reaching work was his writ- State University in Murfreesboro. ing of five or more very simple, very readable, and very basic tracts on the plan of salvation and the Ted Underwood church of Christ. Millions of these tracts have been distributed around the world in a number of lan- Ted Underwood was a regular teacher at the Nash- guages. The Christian Chronicle recently published ville School of Preaching in the 1980’s, when the an article extolling this part of Dorris’ ministry. classes were being taught in the William Anderson The last years of his regular preaching were at Preacher Training Center building on the Lipscomb the congregation meeting in the H. G. Hill Middle University campus. He honored and benefited the School in Belle Meade – perhaps the most difficult school by coming back as a guest instructor in the mission field within the city of Nashville. 1990’s. Half a century ago, an earlier effort was made to His wife Orman preceded him in death. Two establish a church of Christ in this community. sons and his grandchildren survive. Ted was a They built a nice building on Harding Place just off faithful gospel preacher who spent a number of Harding Road. That congregation seemed to flour- years effectively working fulltime as an evangelist. ish for a few years, but they gave up the effort, sold About 1970 he became acutely aware of the their building to Harding Academy, and donated the need for more high quality, sound Bible school ma- proceeds to help the Hillsboro church pay off its terials and more emphasis on teacher training. Ted new building. Probably most of the members went and Orman worked as a team, traveling widely to to Hillsboro. lectureships and conducting many teacher-training To illustrate the pervasive worldliness of Belle workshops. He was a very conscientious, hard- Meade – said to be the wealthiest community in working, and effective curriculum editor for Gospel Tennessee – when Nashville voted whether to allow Advocate class materials for more than three dec- the sale of whiskey by the drink, Belle Meade voted ades. yes by an overwhelming margin, a higher ratio than Since the early 1970’s Ted had been active in other Nashville precincts. the Bellevue church of Christ. Dorris Billingsley faithfully preached in Belle Dorris B. Billingsley Meade for a number of years. He was a talented man, with a supportive family, who loved the Lord. Dorris was born in Nashville in 1919. His wife, Sadie, his daughters, and his grandchildren survive Mary Shires him. He began preaching in 1946. One of his first sermons was at Central Pike in Nashville, then a Mary Shires died June 2 at the age of 97. She is rural Davidson County congregation. His father remembered as one of the most steadfast members was an elder in the Chapel Avenue church. of the church of Christ meeting at the Sycamores 13 Summer, 2007 Terrace retirement center on Lebanon Road in Tennessee, church of Christ, near Manchester. Rob Nashville. has done an excellent job teaching various courses She graduated from college in 1930 and began at Middle Tennessee School of Preaching. teaching at Lewisburg High School that same year. Willard Collins was a freshman at Lewisburg High The speaker scheduled this year is Virgil Hale. School that year. Mary continued her education at He preached in a previous gospel meeting at Col- Peabody College, earning the M.S. in Library Sci- lege Grove a few years ago. ence. She returned to Lewisburg High School as school librarian for the next forty-one years. This year Milton Stephens will be leading the In April 1922, when Mary was twelve years old, singing for the College Grove gospel meeting. she and her brothers and sisters attended the Ryman Auditorium gospel meeting with their parents. This was the first of what turned out to be five area wide Paul Hosse, a former teacher at the school of gospel meetings in which N. B. Hardeman did the preaching, and for many years a faithful gospel preaching. C. M. Pullias led the singing in the 1922 preacher, is in Eastern Europe. This is his 15th mis- meeting. sion trip to Kalinengrad, Russia, and Kremenchu, Mary attended every session of that 1922 gospel Ukraine! meeting at the Ryman The whole family crowded He has nurtured and assisted the churches of into the family surrey and rode downtown from Christ in these two cities since their beginning. He their Donelson home. has supported and encouraged these works through Years later, when Mary saw Hardeman one af- his preaching and teaching and through his personal ternoon sitting on a bench at the funeral home in financial sacrifice. Lewisburg, she related her experience. She said, Paul’s wife Doris was a co-teacher with Sarah “Brother Hardeman, I attended every one of the Nugent during all the years Sarah taught a ladies’ meetings of your 1922 series at the Ryman audito- class at the Nashville School of Preaching and Bib- rium.” lical Studies. To this Hardeman replied: “You know, now that ______I come to think of it, I believe I did, too!” Cedric Lightner recently returned from his sec- News and Notes ond mission trip to New Zealand. He was the first student to enroll for classes at Meads Chapel in The College Grove church of Christ, like many Nashville in the fall term of 2003, when MTSP other congregations, schedules its annual gospel classes were first offered at that location. meeting series the same time each year – starting on the second Sunday of June. They also try to sched- James Lauderdale, Jr., a 2005 MTSP graduate, ule their preachers some years in advance. is now at Freed-Hardeman. James had the distinc- tion of being invited to participate in the Pennington The Middle Tennessee School of Preaching and Bend Future Preachers’ Training Camp four times Biblical Studies started at College Grove five years during his high school years! The Pennington Bend ago, in June, 2002. church facility is on a hill just across Briley Park- way from the Opryland Hotel. Pennington Bend se- Some of the men who have preached in meet- lects and invites about twenty high school students ings at College Grove in recent years are (1) each summer to participate in the camp’s intensive Ronald Gilbert, an outstanding preacher and a Bible study and preacher training. long-time instructor at Tennessee Bible College. (2) James started coming to the Nashville School of Gary Colley who taught at MTSP from its begin- Preaching with his father. He was making talks in ning and who has had wide experience teaching in the Spoken English class from the time he was nine schools of preaching, training men to preach, and is or ten years old. a highly effective gospel preacher, and; (3) Rob Whitacre who preaches fulltime for the Hillsboro, The Gospel Preacher 14 Graduating at age seventeen, he is the youngest Achieving all of that involved driving several graduate of the Middle Tennessee School of Preach- thousand miles to and from school. Doug’s wife ing. Sherry is also enrolled, though not for all classes every school night. Special Recognition Douglas is the preacher for the church of Christ in the Temperance Hall community of DeKalb Three special presentations were made at the County, where Smithville is the county seat. April graduation this year. Edward S. Cothern pre- sented a plaque inscribed to “Michael A. Stewart, Matt Yuhas has been the regular preacher for preacher of the gospel of Christ, for his outstanding the Cane Creek church of Christ, near Petersburg, leadership of the Middle Tennessee School of since the first of 2007. Preaching and Biblical Studies since its beginning Prior to that, Matt had for several years been the in 2002.” preacher for the Sharps Corner church of Christ in Columbia. Jerry Ladd, now in his seventh year as College He has been a member of the faculty of Middle Grove evangelist, and a regular MTSP instructor, Tennessee School of Preaching since its very be- also received special recognition. Jerry was the one ginning. who in 2002 presented to the elders the opportunity Guyana Preaching Trip to have a school of preaching at College Grove. This April was the fifth annual graduation! Roger Phy recently spent several weeks in Guy- ana, South America, in evangelistic work. Upon Ed Cothern, a College Grove elder, also re- their arrival in Georgetown, they divided into two ceived a plaque. No one has had a greater part in groups of evangelists. the success of the Middle Tennessee School of The group of which Roger was a part went to Preaching and Biblical Studies. Lethem. The lady who owns and operates the small hotel in that city, where Roger and his fellow- In 1969 Dove Wilson came to College Grove as workers boarded, is a member of the church of a guest preacher one Sunday. At the time, Dove Christ. was a student in Nashville School of Preaching. He The evangelists had many opportunities to encouraged Ed Cothern to enroll in the school. Ed preach, teach, lead in prayer, and lead singing. enrolled and went on to graduate. Forty-nine souls obeyed the gospel during these weeks. Twenty-six of these were baptized into Ed later graduated from the Great Commission Christ by the preachers in Roger’s team of workers. School which was then located at Wingate in south Roger is a school of preaching graduate who Nashville. Since Middle Tennessee School of continues to attend classes as a post-graduate stu- Preaching and Biblical Studies began at College dent at the Middle Tennessee School of preaching. Grove in the summer of 2002, Ed has been taking Shortly after returning from the evangelistic classes every school night and every class hour. work in Guyana, Roger went with a group to Vir- ginia and West Virginia, where he had additional Perfect Attendance! opportunities to preach and teach.

Douglas Ramsey, of Woodbury, graduated from One of the men in that group was Elwin the Middle Tennessee School of Preaching April 6, Mahan. Elwin has been the fulltime preacher for at College Grove, with a perfect school attendance the church of Christ in Spencer for the past several record. He went straight through from beginning to years. graduation. He was present for four classes every night at 6, Elwin taught a class at the school of preaching 7, 8, and 9 P.M., every Monday, Tuesday, and one semester, partly based on the research he did on Thursday; every school term, summer, fall, and Mormonism in 1989 for his Master of Arts thesis at spring, taking classes at Meads Chapel in Nashville Tennessee Bible College. and at College Grove. He was also always on time. 15 Summer, 2007 Spencer was the home of Burritt College, a Christian school where a number of gospel preach- Artie was our first graduation speaker at Middle ers received some of their training, including Tennessee School of Preaching in April, 2002. He George W. DeHoff and Harris J. Dark. DeHoff has been a guest teacher a number of times. He was said to have read every book in the Burritt Col- continues as the fulltime preacher for the Springer lege library. He seems to have remembered every- church of Christ in Hohenwald, where he has thing he read. preached for many years.

James Chessor, a native of Hickman County, Jeremy Stover, a 2006 graduate of the Middle taught at Burritt College a number of years. He Tennessee School of Preaching, delivered his first wrote a wonderful collection of essays published in sermon on Sunday morning, February 20, 2005, at book form by the Gospel Advocate Company, enti- the New Hope church of Christ on River Road Pike, tled The Health of the Soul. in Nashville. Several friends and members of his family were Milestones present for the occasion. He was very well pre- pared. On Sunday, June 4, 2007, James W. Boyd, the As part of his preparation, he had rehearsed the regular preacher at Leoni, near Woodbury, com- lesson after school hours (after 10:00 P.M.) on the pleted fifty-five years of preaching—and started his previous Monday at Meads Chapel in Nashville, 56th year. and on Thursday night at College Grove. He has been a regular teacher at Middle Ten- Jeremy continued to show much discipline in his nessee School of Preaching, both at College Grove preparation for every presentation. He is now in his and at Meads Chapel, since the school began. second year as the regular preacher for the Gassa- This fall he plans to teach on Mondays at the way church of Christ, near Woodbury. Chattanooga School of Preaching and on Thursdays at MTSP in College Grove. Debate Brother Boyd has an excellent website title “A Burning Fire.” You can read as well as listen to On March 22 and 23 Ronald D. Griffin of Pa- his lessons. ducah, and John T. Polk II, of Dover, debated, first in Metropolis, IL. and the second night in Paducah. James R. Lewis is the director of the Chatta- The propositions dealt with whether a church of nooga School of Preaching. He is also the preacher Christ may take money from its treasury to assist for the Greens Lake Road church of Christ in Chat- non-Christians as well as Christians, as Polk af- tanooga and serves as one of the elders of that con- firmed, and Griffin denied. The debate is available gregation. from John Polk on a CD.

Also on June 3, Milton Stephens began his He is the preacher for the Dover church of 15th year as the fulltime preacher for the Lynnville Christ. His address is 125 The Trace, Dover, TN church of Christ. 37058. Phone: 931 232-6762. E-mail: Milton is a school of preaching graduate and is [email protected] a regular teacher at Middle Tennessee School of Preaching. Recent Faculty Publications During this summer term he is teaching in Nashville on Monday evenings and at College Andrew D. Erwin of the MTSP faculty, recently Grove on Thursdays. authored and published Each One, Reach One—a book on church growth and personal evangelism. Lynnville is the congregation for which Artie Andy preaches for the newly established East- Collins was preaching fulltime when he enrolled as side church of Christ, Dickson. You can hear him a student in the Nashville School of Preaching in on The Bible Way radio broadcast Sunday mornings 1966. The school started in February, 1966, and from 8:45-9:00 on 1260 AM WDKN out of Dick- Artie enrolled that fall. son. The Gospel Preacher 16 Eastside will be holding its first ever gospel Lipscomb was the editor of the Gospel Advocate for meeting August 5-9. Services will be held at 7:00 fifty-one years, from 1866 until his death in 1917. nightly. They meet at 1406 B Hwy 70 East in the The simple markers of Christians such as David Highland Center shopping center. and William Lipscomb, J. W. Shepherd, and Tolbert Andy is also the coordinator of the classes of the and Charlotte Fanning, are in striking contrast to the Middle Tennessee School of Preaching at Pasquo monument Neil showed the class of the flamboyant on Highway 100. He was in the first MTSP gradu- one-time preacher for the downtown church of ating class in 2002. He has since graduated from Christ—Jesse B. Ferguson—that rises to more than Southern Christian University / Regions University forty feet! and is continuing there into graduate school. Among those benefiting immensely from Neil Anderson’s guided tour were Lee and Fran Avers, Tim Mitchell and Joshua Pappas co-wrote Jim McGill, Ray McGowan, Roger Phy, Jeremy That You May Grow Thereby—a course for new Stover, and Don Thornberry. converts and fundamentals classes. They used this ______book in the class they taught together at MTSP in Lebanon at Highland Heights. They are co- Michael A. Stewart, the director of the Middle authoring another book, which they expect to pub- Tennessee School of Preaching, and the regular lish soon. preacher for the Waycross church of Christ, Good- Tim preaches for the Science Hill church of lettsville, did the preaching recently in a gospel Christ and Joshua preaches for the Blackman meeting at the Macedonia church of Christ at church of Christ, both in Murfreesboro. Mount Pleasant. ______Macedonia is the congregation where Jimmy Danny and Stacy Rogers, along with seven E. and Gayle Attkisson are located. Two years other team members from the Owl Hollow church ago, on July 18, 2005, Jimmy officiated at the mar- of Christ, where Danny preaches, plan to go on a riage of Frank and Janice Johnson, at the Attkis- mission trip to Vera Cruz, Panama, July 27-August son’s home. Jimmy and Frank are MTSP graduates 4. of the class of 2005, and Janice graduated in 2007. Danny says, “Being a part of mission work has been a long time goal of ours. This will be our first Another MTSP student with a very similar mission trip and we feel very fortunate to be a part name, yet not related, Jimmy F. Attkisson, wor- of introducing God, the Bible, and Jesus to those ships with the neighboring Sandy Hook church of that are lost and hurting.” Christ. Danny graduated from Middle Tennessee School of Preaching in the class of 2005, driving to school In Mike Stewart’s absence from Waycross, from where he was then preaching for the church of Lee Avers preached and taught the classes on Sun- Christ in Hartford, Kentucky. day morning and evening and on Wednesday night. The Rogers now live at 812 North Vine Street, ______Winchester, TN 37398. Telephone: 931 967-6168. ______GBN at the Ryman

Gospel Advocate publisher Neil Anderson re- Two men on the faculty of Middle Tennessee cently guided a group from Middle Tennessee School of Preaching are very much involved in the School of Preaching through historic Mt. Olivet Gospel Broadcasting Network. Denver Horton is a Cemetery on Lebanon Road in Nashville. He has a field representative and David Prophater is a fea- very special interest in some of the monuments, in- tured speaker on the network. cluding those of the two men who founded the Gos- The Meads Chapel church of Christ in Nash- pel Advocate in 1855, William Lipscomb and ville, where both men are active, and where David . has been the regular preacher for a number of years, The class also saw the simple marker at the grave of David and Margaret Lipscomb. David 17 Summer, 2007 is conducting a second lectureship later this sum- mer. Don is a student at Middle Tennessee School of The Gospel Broadcasting Network is a television Preaching, and Jimmy is a 2005 graduate who is work that is broadcasting constantly, seven days enrolled for classes as a post-graduate. These two each week, twenty-four hours a day. men plan another trip soon to east Tennessee and to Of special interest is the gospel meeting planned Jackson, Kentucky. for the Ryman auditorium July 1-3. All are invited The Appalachian Appeal is a very attractive to attend. magazine, now in its second year of publication. For those who cannot be present at the Ryman, This periodical is very helpful in what it does to as- the entire event will be nationally televised. sist in evangelizing and providing practical teaching Even for those in other parts of the world, the in many needed subject areas. gospel meeting will be available on the internet. The first article in the April issue is the first of a ______three-part series on The Family by Virgil McIntosh. From the beginning, the editor intended Congratulations! to have the articles written in an interesting and easy-to-read style. The article by Virgil McIntosh Congratulations to Nathan and Jaime Knight is a good example of that writing style. Each issue on the birth of a son, their first child, on Mother’s also contains a beautiful and reverent poem com- Day, May 13, 2007. posed by east Tennessee evangelist Tim Mefford. Nathan is a school of preaching graduate and has The mailing address of the editor, J. E. Attkis- been a regular teacher at Middle Tennessee School son, is 8539 Enterprise Road, Mount Pleasant, Ten- of Preaching at Meads Chapel. He has also been a nessee 38474. guest teacher at College Grove.

Nathan is the regular preacher for the Buck Lodge church of Christ, near Gallatin, in Sumner Classifieds County, north of Nashville. Tennessee Churches

Kevin Wilson has preached recently for congre- The church of Christ at Gordonsburg in Hohen- gations at Mooresville and Nolensville and near wald is searching for a minister. They have a new Lebanon. facility and approximately 75 members. If you are interested please contact John Kirk at (931)379- Kevin, Dan Gilbert, and other men and women, 7150. are working hard for the growth of the church of Christ in Nolensville. The Beardstown church of Christ, south of Lobel- ville, is in need of a preacher. They prefer some ex- In April, the Nolensville church of Christ hosted perience. A Bible degree is not required. For details, a Friday night singing planned by Kevin. The build- contact: Jackie Byrd at (931) 589-5483. ing was filled and every extra chair was used. The Rockcliff church of Christ in McMinnville is in ______need of a full-time gospel preacher. Contact Herb

Rowland if interested, (931) 668-2740. The Appalachian Appeal The Whitwell congregation in east Tennessee is Jimmy Attkisson is the editor of a fine periodi- seeking a full-time gospel preacher. They are lo- cal, the Appalachian Appeal. Jimmy and Don Sisk cated 25 miles from Chattanooga. If interested con- continue to be zealously involved in evangelism in tact James Delk at (423) 658-6991. the Appalachian areas of eastern Tennessee and east Kentucky. Not only have they gone into these areas In Dickson, the West Dickson congregation is seek- to preach and encourage; they have also been active ing a preacher. Contact Dennis Daniel if interested, in fund raising to help meet the needs of churches of (615) 446-1895. Christ in that area. The Gospel Preacher 18 Located near College Grove, the Allisona church of College Grove Christ is in need of a pulpit minister. They prefer a Thursday Classes young and energetic man who will help them by Starting Thursday, June 7, and continuing each Thurs- preaching God’s word in a pure and simple way. If day through July 26. interested contact Fred Cunningham at (615) 834- 3509. 6 p.m. – The Book of Daniel – Jim Lewis

7 p.m. – Helpful Principles for Understanding MTSP SUMMER TERM the Bible – Jim Lewis 8 p.m. – The Common Salvation (Jude 3) – Mil- ton Stephens Nashville at Meads Chapel 9 p.m. – Seven Deadly Sins – Mike Stewart Monday Classes

Starting Monday, June 4, and continuing through Mon- Michael A. Stewart, Director day, July 23.

6 p.m. – Old Testament Characters – Milton Telephone: (615) 451-3925

Stephens

7 p.m. – Small Things – Jim Boyd E-mail: [email protected] 8 p.m. – Sermon Design and Delivery – David

Prophater 9 p.m. – Spoken English – Jim McGill

Nashville at Pasquo Who Will Become Your Monday Classes Teacher? Starting Monday, June 11, and continuing through Monday, July 30. -Andrew D. Erwin-

6 p.m. – Spiritual Growth – Jerry Bishop n wishing to aid fellow young men in their 7 p.m. – The Dawn of Restoration – Andy Erwin I 8 p.m. – Securing a Bright Future for the Lord’s search for a sound institution of higher learning this Church – Andy Erwin article is primarily submitted. It is with great sor- row and displeasure that such efforts as this must be made. Nevertheless, any young man wishing to Lebanon at make a life out of preaching the gospel, who is con- Highland Heights sidering pursuing a degree in Biblical studies, must Tuesday Classes be aware of the doctrine, or lack thereof, that is be- ing taught in some of our “brotherhood” schools. Starting Tuesday, June 5, and continuing through Tues- It has been well documented that we have a day, July 24. problem with false teachers in many Bible Depart-

6 p.m. – Pearls From Proverbs - (a class for ments. Prospective students must take heed of the women) – Stacey Grooms present crisis and act with wisdom. It could prove 6 p.m. – Power-Point Preaching – Michael costly to rush into any decision that will undoubt- Grooms edly affect your knowledge and your ability to un- 7 p.m. – Topical Studies – A Different Guest derstand the Scriptures. Certainly included is the Preacher Teaching Each Week choice you make when you decide to be enrolled in 8 p.m. – Basic Public Speaking – Phil Randolph any institution. 9 p.m. – Practical Aspects of Preaching – Mike Choose wisely. Avoid a lackluster attitude to- Stewart ward this decision. Deliberately act upon your hope of accomplishing the most possible good for the church and your fellow man.

19 Summer, 2007 Any young man wishing to preach must seek out If you choose to be educated by one of these men like Paul. We need to find those men who will places and become dissatisfied then it is your own take us beneath their wing and commit to us doc- fault. Don’t feel victimized. You got what you paid trine that is not only worth teaching, but worth re- for. You ought to know what you’re getting into peating (2 Timothy 2:2). The wild ideas being before you make such a commitment. taught by some teachers are hardly worth teaching The same is true when a congregation hires a and the only reason to they should be repeated is to liberal preacher and then acts shocked when he says warn others (Romans 16:17). something liberal. Don’t be shocked! You got Will your mentors be men with proven track re- what you paid for, that’s all. You ought to know cords for teaching and preaching the Bible? Or, better before you hire your preacher, and maybe will you have some Athenian type nemesis of the next time you will. truth who is always seeking something new (Acts Who among us would pay for a bucket with a 17:21). hole in it? Why then will we pay for the words of You should also consider how you will eventu- broken cisterns? The prophet Jeremiah cried out, ally look back on your school days. Will you look “My people have committed two evils: They have back with fond memories of beloved teachers who forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew taught truth and were willing to help you teach oth- for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns that can ers? Or, will you look back with frustration because hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13). you had to spend your class time arguing the case Have we become like the children of Israel in for the inspiration of the Scriptures, the true church, the long ago? What reason could we possibly have or proper Christian worship with an antagonistic for forsaking the opportunity to learn sound doc- professor of error? trine for the grief awaiting us at the feet of false It is hard to listen to such thoughts for free, and teachers and hypocrites? Surely such a decision even worse when you pay someone for them. cannot be pleasing to God. Look at what is being advertised. An untrust- Who will become your teacher? What shall be- worthy school will not advertise sound doctrine. come your standard in religion? Shall it be the They do quite the opposite. From placing known word of God with all authority or the opinions of menaces of the church in key administrative posi- men? tions, to hiring notorious misfits of error to teach the Fellow students, we must not feel like our deci- Bible, they have made their position known. It is sion to choose sound doctrine over wishy-washy time for men of the church to make their position words will go unnoticed. If we stand together and known. Hit them where it hurts – the ole’ pocket let our reasoning be known, eventually these ques- book! For many, that’s all that matters anyhow. tionable institutions will notice, the schools trying They are out for the almighty dollar. And, they are to do right will notice their labor is not in vain, the willing to compromise to get it. So, don’t give it to church will notice the better quality of preaching them. Cause them to see that the ways of sin are with a renewal of book, chapter, and verse sermons, fruitless and without promise. and most importantly our God and our Father will They scoff at any inquires by the prospective notice our penitent spirit and bless our future. student (or even the student’s parents) concerning Our generation can have a great impact on the whether or not truth will be taught. They will likely future of the Lord’s church if we will act as God reply in the words of Pilate – “What is truth?” – as would have us. We can and must make a differ- if truth was subjective to each individual student or ence. teacher. Let us learn from, and give our full support to, The schools of whom we speak mock their those institutions and schools of preaching that love brethren who choose not to follow them into the and honor truth. Make a statement. ditch of sin. They reek of arrogance. Their prize is All should endeavor to grow spiritually and the perceived scholarship and acclaim of the world, stronger in the Lord with each passing year. Such rather than the trust of their brethren. growth is developed early by learning to use sound Brethren, and even parents, do you want to give judgment when young. your hard earned money to support such a work as 7103 Varden Ct. that? Fairview, TN 37062

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