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TGOC ANNOUNCES
THE FIRST TWO LESSONS
IN ITS NEW
"GREAT BIBLE LESSONS" SERIES
We are pleased to announce in this newsletter the availability of the first two lessons in our newest series of programs, Great Bible Lessons, for which Ben Bailey serves as the speaker. In his first lesson, "Man's Sin and God's Forgiveness," Ben begins by mentioning Romans 3:23—"All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God." Ezekiel commented on the results of sin when he wrote, "The soul who sins shall surely die" (Ezek. 18:4). Sin, of course, separates us from God, as Isaiah explained when he said, "The Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear" (Is. 59:1-2).
Fortunately, that is not the end of the story because God made a way of salvation for humankind through Jesus Christ. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 we read how God "made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Jesus came to Earth, lived, and gave His life as a sacrifice for our sins. John spoke of Jesus as being "the propitiation [i.e., a substitutionary sacrifice] for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world" (1 Jn. 2:1-2). Peter described salvation through Christ in 1 Peter 2:24 by referring to Christ as the One "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes we were healed." In Acts 4:12 we read, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Jesus is the only way to salvation.
In his lesson, "A Passion for Bible Study," Ben begins by quoting Jeremiah, who said of God, "Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart" (Jer. 15:16). The apostle Paul instructed Timothy, "Be diligent [KJV—study] to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). Ben asks, "Why should we have a passion for Bible study?" He answers that question by suggesting that we should study God's Word to: (a) be right before God and prepare ourselves for the coming judgment; (b) be able to avoid religious division; (c) answer skeptics; (d) be able to teach others biblical principles; and (e) avoid sin in our lives.
Ben then offers a number of suggestions regarding attitudes that we should have as we study God's Word. We should: (a) understand that the Bible is inspired of God; (b) the Bible is authoritative; (c) study the Bible with an attitude of humility and a desire to obey it; and (d) have an overriding desire to go to Heaven.
Both of these new lessons are now available on our Website, where you will find them in video, audio, and written transcript formats. We invite you to examine them for yourself, and to share them with others.
NEW BIBLE QUIZZES
NOW AVAILABLE ON
OLD TESTAMENT NUMBERS
In our efforts to continually add to and improve our Bible-quiz offerings, we are pleased to announce that we have now added a brand-new group of quizzes to our Website: Old Testament Numbers. We invite you to go to our Website ( www.thegospelofchrist.com/quiz ) to test your Bible knowledge by taking these new quizzes. We think you will find them as instructive as they are challenging.
TAKE A LOOK
AT
OUR 2008 STATS!
Now that the second quarter of 2008 is over, we would like to share with the readers of our newsletter some rather intriguing statistics. For example, by the time 2007 had come to an end, our Website had received more than 3,000,000 page-hits. However, in just the first six months of this year alone, the Website already had received more than that (3,226,178 to be exact!).
But there is more. In all of 2007, the total bandwidth downloaded from our Website was 832 gigabytes. But in just the first six months of 2008 it was 1,037 gigabytes.
Plus, in all of 2007 we received a total of 2,515 media requests (for CDs and DVDs) through the Website. However, during just the first six months of this year, we already have received 1553 such requests! Also, during the months of January through June of this year we have sent media into 41 of the 50 states in America, and into 29 different foreign countries (Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Crete, Cuba, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, England, Germany, Ghana, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Liberia, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Russia, Spain, Uruguay, Zambia, and Zimbabwe).
Needless to say, we are overjoyed at these results—which are indicative of the success of our efforts to "take the whole Gospel to the whole world." Please join us in this task by sharing the news about our work (including our Website and our newsletter!) with neighbors, family members, or friends. We would appreciate it. And, we think, so would they!
WHAT OTHERS
ARE SAYING
Montego Bay, Jamaica "A few days ago, I received your CDs safely. Please pardon me for this late information. I have been in the Gospel camp all these days."
Yorktown, VA "The Gospel of Christ quizzes and puzzles are a learning tool of the Word of God and a testing tool of our knowledge of the Word of God."
Turffontein Johannesburg, South Africa "I have been worshipping with the Church of Christ in South Africa for about 24 years. I am looking forward to reading the Newsletter."
Port Allegany, PA "Thank you for doing this. It is a wonderful tool to help us grow in the knowledge of God's Word."
Alexandria, Egypt "Thank you for promoting the Gospel in a very practical way."
El Dorado, KS "I am very pleased with the Gospel of Christ web site. I use it a lot when I prepare sermons. Thank you for the work you do for the Lord."
Caloocan, Philippines "I know this will increase my knowledge about God's word especially in my work in reaching the lost."
Groesbeck, Tx "Thanks so much! This is one of the best websites I've come across."
Gaborone, Botswana, Africa " It is my wish and prayer that all your efforts reach millions across the world and that many would be saved. I really applaud your efforts, and may the good Lord continue to grant you strength and passion to continue touching many lives across the globe. Blessings of the Father rest upon you eternally."
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