Beacon, Vol. XLIII, 2014
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BEACON A Publication of Bellview Church of Christ 4850 Saufley Field Road; Pensacola, FL 32526 850.455.7595 Internet Web Page: http://www.bellviewcoc.com E-mail: [email protected] January May September January 6 May 26 September 1 January 13 September 8 June January 20 September 15 June 2 January 27 September 22 June 9 September 29 February June 16 February 3 June 23 October February 10 June 30 October 6 February 17 October 13 July February 24 October 20 July 7 October 27 March July 14 March 3 July 21 November March 10 July 28 November 3 March 17 November 10 August March 24 November 17 August 4 March 31 November 24 August 11 April August 18 December April 7 August 25 December 1 April 14 December 8 April 21 December 15 April 28 December 22 December 29 BEACON Vol. XLIII / No. 1 January 6, 2014 A Publication of Bellview Church of Christ 4850 Saufley Field Road; Pensacola, FL 32526 850.455.7595 Internet Website: http://www.bellviewcoc.com E-mail: [email protected] Sunday Bible Classes for all ages — 9:00 a.m. Bishops: Paul Brantley, Michael Hatcher Sunday Worship Services — 10:00 a.m., 6:00 p.m. Minister: Michael Hatcher Wednesday Bible Classes for all ages — 7:00 p.m. Nothing New Brad Green A new year is upon us and with every new grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our year comes new resolutions and expectations. Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:1, Well, perhaps they are called new, but they are 18). Paul, by inspiration, encourages “study to actually the same old recycled resolutions ban- shew thyself approved unto God, a workman tered about every new year. that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly divid- The thing that hath been, it is that which ing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). There is shall be; and that which is done is that only one way to grow in the faith, and that is which shall be done: and there is no new through a daily study of God’s Word. thing under the sun (Ecc. 1:9). Also, though we may desire to be more ac- Many New Year’s resolutions are seeded in tive in the year ahead, the actions themselves vanity and usually are forgotten shortly after do not have to be new. Prayer should be noth- they are made until it is time to sweep the dust ing new to us, so our resolve should be to re- off of them again sometime in December. main faithful in prayer. We need to pray for Though we should seek to become stronger opportunities to grow and opportunities to and wiser with every passing year, our resolu- help those in need. We need to pray that we tions for the next do not necessarily need to be have the necessary means to take advantage of new. Instead, the life of a Christian must be a those opportunities and the wisdom to hear continual, daily, growing process. The apos- them knocking at the door. Studying the Bi- tle Peter states that he wrote his second epis- ble with others should not be new, but we can tle to “stir up your pure minds by way of re- pray that studies we are currently having will membrance” and concludes by writing, “but bear much fruit and that more Bible studies will develop from relationships we are in the The inspired author concludes, “let us go process of making. Worshiping in spirit and on unto perfection” (6:1). Instead of seeking truth (John 4:24) is not new, but we can con- something new, perhaps we do ourselves the tinue to make a joyful noise, teach, and ad- most good simply to “go on unto perfection” monish one another through song, singing with those things we are already doing. Many with grace in our hearts (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). in the world become a “jack of all trades and We can strengthen ourselves and each other master of none.” Without dedication and true while remembering Jesus’ death as we partake resolve, this can happen in a Spiritual sense of the Lord’s Supper on every Sunday (Acts as well. Our goal must be to please God. “All 20:7) and become more cheerful in our giving things were created by him, and for him” (2 Cor. 9:7) by remembering all He has given (Col. 1:16). Our purpose is to serve God, and us. Seeking to strengthen our faith should not we can only be pleasing to Him if we are obe- be new, but we can spend more time in God’s dient to Him (Heb. 5:8-9). Word to increase our knowledge. Before one can go on unto perfection and Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doc- begin a life that is pleasing to God, he must trine; continue in them: for in doing this shed the old man of sin and become a “new thou shalt both save thyself, and them creature” in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). There is only that hear thee (1 Tim. 4:16). one way into Christ—hear (Rom. 10:17), be- Sadly, rather than seeing these acts as a part lieve (Heb. 11:6), repent (Luke 13:3), confess of the Christian’s duty, they are seen as New (Rom. 10:9-10), and be baptized (Gal. 3:27). Year’s resolutions and usually end up in the If you have not yet submitted to God’s plan same dust-covered heap with all of the rest. of salvation, there is no greater way to begin For when for the time ye ought to be your new year than knowing that you have teachers, ye have need that one teach you had your past sins washed away and have been again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as added to the Church for which Christ died have need of milk, and not of strong meat (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21; Acts 20:28). (Heb. 5:12). Lenoir City, TN The Lord’s Supper Robertson L. Whiteside Every institution, whether human or Di- enable any one to see this. Can you imagine vine, must have stated times for meetings, or a church growing and prospering, or even ex- assemblies. In human governments the whole isting, without a regular Lord’s Day meeting? citizenship does not assemble, but they meet That the early church had a regular meeting at stated times through their chosen represen- may be seen by a thoughtful reading of He- tatives. The church could not exist long with- brews 10:25: “not forsaking our own assem- out regular meetings. A little thinking will bling together, as the custom of some is.” If they had no assembling together, they could first day, when the first day comes around our not forsake it; and if they had no regular as- duty to assemble together also comes. sembling together, some could not establish a That the churches assembled regularly on custom of staying away from assembling to- the first day of the week is also shown by Paul’s gether. A person could not establish a custom command to the church at Corinth: of staying away from a meeting that did not Now concerning the collection for the exist. saints, as I gave order to the churches of When was the time for that assembling to- Galatia, so also do ye. Upon the first day gether? “And upon the first day of the week, of the week let each one of you lay by him when we were gathered together to break in store, as he may prosper, that no col- bread, Paul discoursed with them” (Acts lections be made when I come (1 Cor. 20:7). The matter-of-fact way in which Luke 16:1-2). makes this statement shows that they were in These collections at Corinth were made on the habit of assembling on the first day of the the first day of the week. They were also made week to break bread. Does one reply that Luke into a common treasury, and not laid up at home. They were to be so collected that Paul does not say that they met every first day of the week? Let him remember that a week has would not have to gather them up when he came. The churches of the province of Galatia but one first day. God said to the Jews, “Re- were to do likewise. The language, therefore, member the sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exo. shows conclusively that they met on the first 20:8). He did not say for them to keep every day of the week and that they made their con- sabbath holy, for there was but one sabbath tributions into a common treasury. As these each week, and when that day came around the command was also present. Suppose some churches met on the first day of the week, we Jew had said, “But the Lord did not say for us conclude that other churches did likewise (and to remember every sabbath,” and had gone out so must the Lord’s church do in every age, in- to work on a sabbath, what would have hap- cluding ours). pened to him? And as the week has only one Deceased Where Does He Rank in Your List of Priorities? Tim Smith By “He,” of course, I mean the Lord, and really “love” our families if we let them ob- therefore the question: Where does He rank scure Him from our sight, and thereby set for in your priorities? Is He first? He must be if them a bad example? Is He first…right after you are faithful (cf.