The Reasoning Power of the Gospel - Ben Bailey

            “Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you’" (Acts 24:25).     His mind was made up.  Paul was going to Rome to appeal to Caesar.  Yet, along the way Paul had a once in a lifetime opportunity to speak to such wicked men as Agrippa and Felix.  If you could speak to some of the world’s most powerful leaders today about the gospel, what would you say?  Let us consider Paul’s three major points to Felix.

            Righteousness.  Felix was not well known for his righteous nature.  In fact, he was probably well known for quiet the opposite.  Yet, Paul was able to bring the great Felix to his knees in fear by preaching righteousness.  Oh, how we need more teaching on righteousness today.  Jesus said, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20).  We need more preaching on righteousness in marriage.  God set marriage up to be one man and one wife for a lifetime, the only exception is for fornication (Gen. 2:18-24; Matt. 19:9).  We need more teaching on righteous living today.  Paul encourage some in Corinth to awake to righteousness and stop sinning (1 Cor. 15:34).  John reminds us that everyone who is born of God works righteousness in his life (1 John 2:29).  In a world that mocks at sin and revels in the unrighteous lifestyle, we as Christian must be a light by living righteously.

            Self-Control.  Paul now turns to the second problem in Felix’s life.  Felix, and much of the Roman world, lacked any self control.  The motto of the day could have been “If it feels good do it.”  Felix is especially known for his lack of self-control in the fleshly and sexual realm.  Today, we still have a lot of Felix’s kinfolks around who have absolutely no restrain when it comes to sexual desires.  Christians, must not give in to many of the fleshly pleasures of the world, but rather abstain from them.  Peter encouraged us to, “abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11).  To help control our lusts, we must access a power greater than ourselves.  The Bible says, we can do all things through Jesus Christ who is our strength (Phil. 4:13).  When we are tempted to give in to our lust, we need to turn to God in prayer and ask Him for help (1 Peter 5:7). 

            Judgment to Come.   Everything Paul had previously said, would have had no effect on Felix were it not for the Judgment Day of God.  Why should people live righteous lives today?  What motive is there for controlling our lusts and passions?  The greatest motive of all is that one day we will stand before God and be judged for all that we have done in this life (Eccl. 12:14).  Concerning the Judgment, Paul reminds us that God will bring every work in to judgment including every secret thing we have said or done (2 Cor. 5:10).  The Judgment of God will be according to His Word (John 12:48).  As we read the words of Revelation 20:12-15, we have to see Felix and ourselves at the Judgment. “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” 

            The Bible has the ability to satisfy our greatest spiritual needs.  Are we really living righteous lives that practice self-control in view of the Judgment of God?  May we never have the attitude of  Felix who sadly said, “Go away for now, when I have a more convenient season I will call upon you.”  We are never told that Felix obeyed the gospel.  Don’t wait too late.  May we be encouraged to live for God every day of our lives!

"Hey I Know You!" - Joey Ferrell

Many times, we all may run into someone that we either haven’t seen for a while, or maybe even someone that we don’t actually now well at all and the statement is heard “hey, I know you.” Sometimes we may know them well and just haven’t seen them in a while…or sometimes we really don’t “know” them at all.

I have shared before that I walk a lot for cardio needs. I have been doing that for a few years now and I choose to walk outside when I can in scenic areas. One particular area is the greenway beside the river where we currently live. If I park at the local gym and walk to the greenway and make one full lap and back to the gym it is about 3.2 miles. In the past several weeks, I have slowly increased the amount of times I walk the same path on the greenway until I am up to just over 7 miles each day that I walk. Now…I don’t share that to brag, although I am proud of myself for that!! I share that to say that when I walk, I get to see a lot of people over time. Some I know. Some I don’t. Some I have gotten to know through just speaking to them on the trails. But, let me tell you an interesting encounter from last week. It wasn’t on the greenway, or on the road to and from the gym, but it was at one of the restaurants that Kristie and I dine with.

There was a gentleman that I have seen in the restaurant many times. His presence is sort of a staple so to speak of the Tuesday taco night! Yep, that is why I go too…cheap tacos make a great dinner! So, the owner of the restaurant has gotten to know me from not only coming in but also through some of my family and…guess where else? The gym. We see each other there from time to time. We speak and encourage one another in our exercising efforts. So, the owner was talking to the gentleman and said something to me about going to the gym a lot earlier. It was then that the guy looked my way and said “Hey, I know you! I see you walking EVERY DAY.” Well, he was close. Not really. You see, he works at a business that is between the gym and the greenway, so he sort of is right. He does see me. He sees me twice some days. But…he does NOT see me every day! Let me emphasize that. I am not suggesting that he is wrong, but hear me out and keep reading.

This man has seen me walk that same route up to three times a week, but most likely not an average as that would be closer to two times a week on that route due to weather and travel. Some weeks, he does not see me at all walking, even though he may see me at the restaurant. But, he thinks he sees me every day…because that is what he has envisioned. Every time he sees me, it is pretty much like clock work. He knows he will see me maybe Monday, Wednesday, or Friday in the morning, and usually twice if he is in view to see me. I have since begun waving at him as I walk by as well.

I had to correct him. I told him I appreciate his thought, but that I didn’t walk every day and it was usually at best every other day during the week. His response was, it sure seems like I see you every day, I thought you walked every single day. That brings me to another thought that is related.

When he sees me, what does he see? You see, he already thinks he sees me every day, but how am I known when he sees me? I don’t know if he knows my name. He obviously can recognize my looks. He doesn’t know where I live, I don’t think. I don’t know these things about him either. And that is an invitation to me to open a door. But, when he and others see me, do they see some dude walking down the street, or do they see someone that is striving to be a good Christian? He probably does not know that I am a Christian. I mean, he has probably seen us pray eating…as I have seen him do the same. But is that the only time he has seen me displaying any form of Christianity? I don’t know. But I hope not.

The Bible calls Christians to be Christians EVERY DAY, not just on Sundays or Wednesdays IF we make it to meet with the saints. It does not call us to be Christians just on a certain day of the year. It does not call us to be Christians only in public or private. It calls us to be Christians EVERY SINGLE DAY in EVERY SINGLE WAY.

I know this may be a difficult correlation to see, but it made me think when he said he sees me every day, even though he doesn’t. Jesus sees me every day. He sees when I am walking, when I am at the restaurant, when I am at home, and when I am with the saints. But, what does he see?

This man sees me walking. He doesn’t know why I walk, but he told our mutual friend at the restaurant that he “is jealous of me because he doesn’t think he could do it.” That certainly is not true because I am not in some crazy hyped physical condition that allows me to perform better at walking than anyone else could. Sure I have “practiced” and built up to where I am at in my walking. But what would he see if he saw more of my Christianity? I certainly wouldn’t want him to be jealous of me, but I would want him to see that I am zealous for Christ.

What about you? We all have to ask the question of whether or not Jesus himself knows me and you. How does He know us? In John 10:14, Jesus says “I know my sheep…”. He also said that others will know whose I am based on my love for others in John 13:35. Does Jesus know you? Do others know you based on the way you live as a Christian? I pray that be the case, but maybe we need to do more to show through our lives that we live it out EVERY DAY and not just a couple days a week.

On an ironic note, this very week, as I walked that same route multiple times, one day in particular, I waved at this fella as I walked by. He waved back. About ten minutes later, a lady walked up to me on the path and said “don’t I know you? What is your name?” After telling her my name, she remembered that I had preached at the congregation she attends multiple times in the past few years, but she did not readily recognize me “outside of the pulpit and in dress clothes"“. Not less than 15 minutes later, I see another young lady and her children that I have also known through the church for well over 10 years, but she was surprised to see me in a different environment as well. I tell you this to say that those people know more about my Christianity than this other person so it isn’t just the world that can know us, but other Christians as well.

If you aren’t a Christian, Jesus does not know you. If you are a Christian, what does He see from you? Would the world know you are a Christian without having to tell them? If not, why not? He is waiting to see you EVERY DAY and I am waiting to hear Him say “Hey, I know you!”

"A Preacher Factory" - Joey Ferrell

What an odd title for an article - right? Not really! This article is meant to inspire church leaders and Christians alike to think about an ongoing problem…and a solution!

Let me start with this thought:

“A question was asked recently regarding the loss of several good men who preached the gospel - ‘who is going to fill their shoes...’ It is a valid question. Is your congregation working to be a preacher ‘factory’ or are we lining up for a funeral of the local church?”

With some very recent passings of some great men who proclaimed the gospel not only in pulpits, but through their lives, this is indeed a very valid question. It is one that has to be answered, but even before these men passed away (most known to this author in 2025), the heralds have cried out “preacher shortage, preacher shortage” from the hilltops and through the world-wide-web. And to some extent…it rings loudly true.

At a chance that I might miss a name or two, I do want to recognize some of these men whom I grew up or casually listened to either at their feet, working alongside, or knew from various functions. In 2025, we have lost a number of Christians, but specifically those that were of impact in my life are David Paden, Cecil May, Larry Acuff, Wesley Simons, Jim Boyd and as of yesterday, Alan Highers. Such a tough loss to those they served in years past and even today. There were others that I have never met such as James Segars who is known throughout Mississippi for his sound teaching…and certainly many that I don’t even know their names.

But, that isn’t quite what this article is about!

I want to bring some attention to a smaller, hometown congregation that has somewhat become “A Preacher Factory” in the past year. I know there are others who strive to put their men into some training programs, and success is seen there as well. I can think of a few students at multiple schools of preaching right now that came from the same city, same family, or same congregation.

Where is this congregation? Well, you may remember from this time last year, their name became somewhat of a common occurrence around our office, as well as many who know me personally. That congregation is the Mountain City church of Christ in Mountain City, Tennessee. Yes…the town in the mountains that got a hurricane…after over two dozen inches of rain right before it hit.

I spent several days with this congregation during what we call relief effort. But I want to call it something different. It was MINISTRY. When we read about ministry in the Bible, we can see the hands and hearts of servants, whether they be a preacher, a sweet sister in Christ, an elder, or simply a Christian that knows how to have compassion. That was what I saw! I saw ministers of God!

Well, you know that a preacher is only worth his weight in salt if he is also a good minister right? Those terms are so confusing since we are all called to be ministers, yet the titles preacher and minister are often interchanged. Sometimes maybe it should be….other times, maybe not. But in this case…I watched and assisted the preacher, Chuck Stewart, minister to not only the congregation, but to an entire town. What a blessing. Ironically, Chuck graduated the Tri-cities School of Preaching about an hour or so away in Stoney Creek some years ago, and now is also a teacher for the school.

What does that have to do with the title? Well…last week at Polishing the Pulpit, I was able to catch up with two of the three elders from Mountain City for a bit. They are still doing incredible work toward rebuilding peoples’ physical lives there in the area, but something even more exciting was told to me. I knew part of the whole, but they literally knocked me backwards with all of the details.

Since this time last year, the Mountain City church of Christ has not enrolled one student at TCSOP, but they have enrolled THREE! Three good men have or are going to be attending this school to become “preachers.” That is excellent news. You may say, well yeah, but there are people all over that do that. Indeed. But 3 from one congregation in one year’s time is phenomenal. This congregation is probably about 100 members…so that is 3% of their congregation! If you count wives and children that will also be involved in their efforts, now you are talking 8, maybe 10% of their congregation!

One of these young men is Chuck and Megan’s son, Isaac Stewart. Some may say that is a given for a preacher’s son….but truly it is a blessing more than a norm it would seem. I know it made Chuck and Megan so happy when he told them he would be attending.

Another is a long time friend of mine Dean Jones. Dean and his wife are sort of putting things on hold with what normal they had after the hurricane and moving with the children to be closer to the school. Dean attended for a while a few years ago but life changed and that caused a change for him. I saw Dean go into full force ministry with the relief work and then some mission work this summer. It was not a surprise when he shared that he would be returning to school!

Then…there is a third fella. I have not known him long, and I will tell you that I think the world of him. When I met Eddie Storey, we were knees to elbows on the ground loading and unloading supplies for the survivors. Eddie took some time from his life and work and went head first into helping those that were able to be at the church building and in the community for several days. Eddie rode along with a couple of us to deliver supplies to an older community and saw first hand how compassion touched both those who were being served…and the ones serving. I will never forget the conversation that he and I had as we watched an elder get on his knees to pray with someone as we were unloading water for the community. Eddie didn’t grow up in the church. As a matter of fact, Eddie is somewhat of a newer Christian! But…through the efforts of the congregation, the love that he saw, and the desire that he wanted to be more Christ-like in his life every day….well, he is the third student!

I do not say these things to put anyone on a pedestal, or to embarrass anyone. And, I know this is not an isolated situation. How do I know that? Well…I have told many times that not long after I was baptized at a young age, the elders encouraged and insisted that I participate in what they called “a future preachers class” at the congregation where my family attended. It was a once a week class and had probably 10-12 young to old men involved. Would you believe that at least 3 of those men that were in that class, including myself, have preached or are still preaching today?

Is your congregation a preacher factory, or are you going to be challenged when the man that serves that role passes, moves, or retires? Will there be anyone to fill his shoes, or will you be also asking that same question? The time to start training our preachers is now. We must want to become a preacher factory and help encourage our young men (and old) to consider preaching for the Lord’s church….after all, it might be the greatest task on earth in heralding the gospel message to those who are lost and dying.

Encourage others. Help them to see the need. Support a student if you can. Get involved. Preach a time or two if you are a Christian man. Train.

I've been cloned! - Joey Ferrell

Have you ever seen someone say on social media - specifically Facebook - that they had been “hacked” or cloned? What is usually being referred to is when someone (or a computer generated bot) launches a new account, duplicating your own, copying your pictures to use as their own, and if they have access - sending friend requests to YOUR friends.

It is NOT okay. And many times, you may report it but nothing is ever done to stop it. But, that isn’t quite what the subject is here today.

Well…kind of.

A month or so ago, guess what happened to me? Yes! I was finally a victim after over 15 years on Facebook of being cloned. It was quite funny actually because I have a long history of being a computer nerd and I even used to invite people to send me viruses just so I could break them. So, when I got that friend request - from myself - I was like…that’s cool. And then, like most others do - I went into panic mode. I knew they were up to no good. I clicked report. Immediately Facebook denied my claim. I reported again. Denied. Reported a third time - and now have messages coming in from real friends…denied once again. Kristie, my wife, said “I just got a friend request from you.” I said, I did too! Report it! She did. Finally after a day and a half and probably dozens of reports, I finally got an email from Facebook that said my claim had been accepted and the profile was removed.

Relief….sort of.

This episode made me think about how vulnerable I was, but not only me, those who this “hacker” was after. I just knew my friends would start getting requests for money or gift cards or crypto transfers (you can still send those to me if you would like of course). And, it pained me.

I thought about how prepared I felt I was…but they still got me. I thought about how much advice I had given over the years to not be a victim…then I was the victim. I thought about who could have done it - picturing these young foreign men that have been caught doing this to my friends when they were exposed and so on. But this was me! How could they do this! How could I let them!

Now…you may have had a laugh or a tear from that story, but let’s move on.

Did you know that the Bible wants us to have clones? Ha! Yes, indeed. The Bible wants us to have a clone or two or hundreds. Look at what Paul says here:

“Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.” (Philippians 3:17)

Some translations will word that to say “imitate me” or “walk like” much like when he as well as John reiterate in verses such as 1 Corinthians 11:1; Ephesians 5:1-2, 1 John 2:6, and the list goes on and on throughout the New Testament. So, you see, all “cloning” is not bad, especially considering the biblical advice we are given.

But, how do we do that, and do it in a way that is pleasing to God?

First, we have to be living the way God wants us to.

Colossians 3:2 says:

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

It is a mindset, a choice, a way of life that we need to be focused on every single day - looking to Christ as the author and finisher of our faith. It is a pattern that we live - putting God above all else - seeking Him first! It is a desire from the heart needed to serve and please God daily.

Second, we have to do something else.

We have to be obedient. You see, those guys and gals that clone people on social media aren’t trying to clone “bad” people…they are looking for the cream of the crop, those who are trusted, those who are living lives that others respect and look up to. The Christian is the same way. Once one has been obedient to Christ in faith, repentance and baptism, she has put on Christ , becoming a new creature, shedding away - burying the old person with Christ in baptism. (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:1-4)

Thirdly, we have to listen to Jesus.

We often think of it as the Great Commission. You can see it in parallel accounts in the gospels. Matthew 28:18-20 is one of the most specifics and carries with it several ideas of “cloning”. The scripture says we are to “go”, (can be read “as you are going”) “teach,” “make disciples - baptizing them,” and teach them to observe all things which He commanded us. It’s sort of a simple thought, but much more complex in practice. However, this is the command of our Lord and we must have a desire to do just that! Evangelize to make more disciples, live as an example to have ones who want to “clone” our spiritual lives, and teach His word to help them be all that they need to be so that someone else will want to clone them just alike.

Friends, it’s time to clone someone. It is my prayer that I live a life that if one was to clone me - they would be called a faithful Christian. Not an apostate, not a half-doer, not a Sunday only, not some brand of Christian, but a true to the gospel, obedient, faithful Christian. How about you? You ready to clone some folks?

Evangelism or Benevolence? Both! - Joey Ferrell

Sometimes the church may get encumbered by the “works” of the church and maybe at time lose balance and even sometimes the focus of the work of the church.

One “three-legged stool” thought of the work of the church is at times described as 1. Benevolence, 2. Evangelism, and 3. Edification. Certainly, all three of these can be supported in scripture with passages such as Ephesians 4:11-12, Colossians 3:17, James 1:27, Galatians 6:10, Matthew 28:18-20 and many other passages that show compassion, edification, and benevolence.

But, why do we sometimes try to separate these things…when truly, they should all be in conjunction with one another? Yes, evangelism is hard work. Yes, benevolence can be costly with money and time. Of course, edification is necessary for the saints to grow! Balancing these things can be much more than just an obligation. It can sometimes be quite rewarding to not only those receiving the benefits of the three, but also the church and each individual Christian as these works “collide.”

Please allow me to share one illustration of this “three-legged stool” being strengthened and the glory of our Lord being shown quite evident through such a collision.

At the end of September, many will remember that our Southeastern area of the United States became victim to not just one, but two back to back hurricanes. The first, and most powerful of these was Helene. Not only did Helene pack a huge punch, but it also was preceded in some areas by not only inches, but feet of rain - in turn causing flooding, mud slides, lingering wind and tornadic damage and just pure utter chaos to some areas that had never seen these kinds of events happening all at one time in areas that were previously unthought of to be in the paths of such storms and devastation. It was (and still is) a widespread MESS!

Many Christians began trying to figure out what to do as many prepared for the “known” storm that was heading toward the Florida gulf coast - including me as we have a strong personal attachment to the area that was in the eye of the storm. I had been on the phone with Mark Weaver with Crisis Evangelism (https://crisisevangelism.org/) whom I have become very acquainted with and count Mark and Dawn as great Christian servants and friends. We were trying to “get ahead” of the needs that were about to show themselves evident. We had put together some “game plans” on where to go based on the areas that were in the “target.” Overnight, the storms shifted, but Mark went ahead to the area close by where we had talked about might be hit.

The storm hit…and then it hit again…and then it kept pounding…all the way up the eastern coast. But, what was not expected was that a frontal system was already dropping rain in the mountainous areas of North Carolina and Northeast Tennessee. The aftermath would soon be seen. While the good folks in the Big Bend of Florida and Southern Georgia were feeling the direct effect of the hurricane, these other areas were starting to wake up to water…more water…and even more water. Reports were coming in that lives were lost, homes were gone, and roads were caving in. The devastation was unfathomable.

I wanted to help. After some contact with different people in North Carolina, Virginia, and NE Tennessee, there was a place I could go. The destination was Mountain City, TN. This area is on the fringe of the major damages, but, with the mountain ranges around them, they were also victims of no power, major flooding in areas, wind damages, no internet (for contact and using payment methods outside of cash), roads impassable, and more. After talking with one of the members - my good friend Dean Jones, and getting all set up with the elders, I started my journey with a borrowed trailer in tow, meeting with one of the deacons at Lenoir City church of Christ after coordinating with Kelly Warren who wanted to try to help get involved as the church there. And we were off to Mountain City.

By the time that Rick and I arrived with as much supplies and food as we could bring, after staying the night at Kelly’s house because there were no suitable hotels closer, the church was already in action. I had shared with them experiences from former storms I had seen and relief efforts I had been a part of as well as advice from Mark Weaver. They had set up a feeding line and started organizing supplies to be given out. Souls were starting to show up for essential needs. Food…water…cleaning supplies…baby supplies…and of course, some sort of comfort from those who could offer an ear and a heart.

These Christians that had assembled there at the church building, who had brought their own food to cook, had brought extra supplies from their own homes, who wanted to “be the church” in every way, showed up and they showed up shining the glory of God through His church with His people!

These great elders that are there - Tom Reece, Tim Winters and Don Kerley along with their preacher Chuck Stewart and Dean had already been working on how to take this opportunity of service in benevolence into evangelism, but what they may not have realized is the amount of edification that this also afforded for not only their own congregation, other Christians who were able to come, bring thousands of dollars in supplies and assist for days on end like Dennis and Rachel Smith (Dennis is a preaching student at the TCSOP about an hour or so away), members of the Mountain City congregation, and even Christians from as far as Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama and probably more than can be listed. Certainly, I would not want to leave anyone out but there are way too many to name. You see, this work of benevolence that would turn into an evangelistic opportunity, also strengthened the ones who were able to take part… not only in the physical realm…also through prayer and through financial support.

You see, I want to give thanks where thanks is due. Working with The Gospel of Christ, I had opportunity to do what I was able to do in going to help for a few days, but the story did not end,and certainly did not begin or evolve around my extremely small part of being there with a few supplies and some moral support. Calls began coming from all over the country from those that support The Gospel of Christ as congregations and individuals found out about the needs. They wanted to help too! And they did, and continue! Each call I would get, I would hand off or refer to Tom as the treasurer and elder. Many of those calls came within days, but some are still coming. And every single call…even if nothing more than an encouragement to the church there, was so uplifting and comforting and recorded on Tom’s little book.

Fast forward to today…the church there has plans of using the contacts (over 250) that were made in the initial days after in an opportunity to evangelize. So…benevolence was provided. And evangelism is ongoing. But what about that edification part? Well, it is said often that when you are struggling, serve someone…and so many did just that…and growth has been seen! Without naming names, I witnessed first-hand at least three babes in Christ (in a generation of people that is pointed at as being in the dwindling religious realm) getting their hands, heart, and feet involved in this work. What did that do? The ones I saw grew. But it did not stop with them. I grew. I believe many in the church there grew. But, that is not all. In the past few weeks, I have been to multiple congregations that were among those first phone calls that wanted to help…any way they could. And the help continues as many of these same people stepped up just a week ago when some in North Carolina needed propane tanks for heaters and through a concentrated - very quick effort in raising funds to use through some members and a congregation, our good brother Darren Clayton was able to purchase and deliver 30 tanks as well as 30 hoses were shipped directly to the site where people are living in tents! Back to those congregations…I have seen members at these congregations that are very involved in these efforts that may not have known what they could do before. I have spoken with Darren several times as he is also helping with clean up in some of the area…and he is growing!

After all, we all have room to grow, right? That is edification!

As we grow as The Gospel of Christ, a very special thank you is due to all of our supporting congregations and individuals as well as those who watch, pray, and encourage this work. It has been said several times, and it is worth repeating - The Gospel of Christ is not just a television program…and we have you to thank for that! If your congregation or as an individual you helped in any way with these efforts - THANK YOU! You do not know how much good has been done by your sacrifice. Your prayers have been encouraging, your financial support has been helpful. Your love for others and for Christ that is shown is incredibly edifying to us at The Gospel of Christ and to many…but it would seem especially to our God and His church!

Benevolence, Evangelism, Edification….it all matters and souls will be saved because of these efforts!

Here are a few pictures of the efforts.

Are You Influential? - Ben Bailey

An old Korean Proverb illustrates the power of one’s influence when it says, “Power lasts ten years, influence not more than a hundred.”  Sometimes we may think, “Am I influencing anyone?”  The question asked is really a faulty one.  It’s not IF we are influencing anyone, but HOW are we influencing them.  All of us are an influence on others either for good, bad, or indifference.  What type of influence should a Christian possess?  Let’s notice what God says.

            Concerning our influence Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mt. 5:13-16).  Jesus likened our influence to two powerful examples in this text: salt & light.  All of us can see the value and effect of these in our everyday life.  For example, think back to the most bland and boring meal that you have eaten.  Don’t you remember thinking to yourself, “This needs some spice?”.  Our influence is that “spice” that adds flavor to life.  Oh how we need to add good “spice” to this life.  Then, think about the effects of light.  When you walk into a room at night the very first thing you do is…turn on the light.  Why?  Light helps us to see and adds beauty, vividness and life to all it touches.  The same is true of our example.  Our “light” must shine in such a vivid and beautiful way that others can see it and glorify our God!

            Parents especially have an influence on their children.  Henry Ward Beecher so eloquently said, “What a mother sings to the cradle goes all the way down to the coffin.”  How parents need to be that good example to set a principle for their children’s lives.  Of the lasting effect of parents upon children the Holy Spirit said, “…bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4).  As the old hymn says, “God give us Christian homes” and especially Christian influence in the home!

            As we think about influence may our question not be, “Am I influencing anyone?”  But rather, “How am I influencing everyone I come in contact with?”  May God help us to be influential for Him!

Deflated Christians - Let them work! - Joey Ferrell

“Deflated members of the church”

I used to ride my bicycle very often. Sometimes, I would ride 30-50 miles at a time, nearly once a month or so. It was so soothing, it was so refreshing, and it was quite time consuming…but worth the trade off.

I’ve not found myself with as much energy and balance of time to ride anywhere near as much as I once did. Matter of fact, I may have only ridden my bicycle 4-5 times the entire year last year.

Not only do the muscles that are used in riding begin to deteriorate, the desire also seems to diminish with the more “missed opportunities.” But, beyond even these challenges, come more.

The last time I wanted to “jump on the bike,” I couldn’t. Why? Because I had neglected to use the bike for the purpose it was intended. Not only had I neglected the use, but it simply hung on the hanger in the garage designed to hold it. So, why couldn’t I ride?

When I went to check the tires for proper inflation, they were lacking. They needed air. So, I got the pump out, and started pumping. After a few pumps, the tire seemed to begin to inflate. It was not long, however, that I heard a prompt “psssshhh”. This sound was the tube inside of the tire.

The tube had deteriorated. It was what we might call “dry-rotted” from where the tires had not been inflated or through normal use had any fluctuation in pressure. The tube was ruined.

Luckily, I had an extra tube. I took the tire apart, replaced the tube, put it back together, back on the bicycle, and began inflating. All was going well…until I began to notice the stress cracks on the tire itself as it expanded. Although that was a concern, I decided that it was safe to at least venture out a few miles…and I did. It was an incredibly bumpy ride. See, the tires had taken on an irregular shape from not being inflated and they were riding very wobbly.

I finished my ride that day…only about 7-8 miles. It was frustrating. I knew I could do much more than this, but I had neglected to use and care for the instrument in which was needed for the ride.

Do you realize that the same can and does happen in the church?

There are members within congregations who have a zeal and desire to work for the Lord…and they are looked over, pushed aside, or completely ignored. Maybe they can lead singing, or a prayer. Maybe they have a zeal for evangelism. Maybe they just want to be asked to do something that would be helpful in some way…but, for some reason or another, they just are expected to hang out on the pew and let others do things that maybe they can do as well or better, and want to when some of the ones doing…do not.

You know what happens to that member? They become deflated. They lose their ability to perform as best they can and even can become torn down so bad that they wouldn’t even be dependable if they were tasked with serving.

I saw an ad for a used bike similar to mine this past week. $400. I thought, that’s a pretty good price considering that that model sells for over $1,000. For a brief moment I thought, “maybe I should make an offer and keep it for a back-up.”

It was then that I realized that maybe my trusty bicycle could probably serve someone better that would properly use and condition the service of the instrument as it was intended to be used. Maybe I need to put mine up for sale. After all, if I am not going to use it, it will just continue to deteriorate to a point of little to no value or usability.

This is a very serious problem and challenge that I see even in my own efforts to serve. Church….don’t let those who desire to serve or have a particular opportunity that can be of benefit to the Lord’s kingdom deteriorate. Let them work. Use them. Learn from them. Help them.

Was that a visitor? - Parker Webster

(This was an article posted on Facebook, used with permission - title given by TGOC)

Was that a visitor?

How do outsiders feel in our assemblies? A new assembly and a new type of worship is intimidating. Do we realize our visitors have taken a great step of courage to walk into worship?

One of the worst things we can do to that shocked, newly challenged visitor is to ignore their presence. Many will leave in a daze having experienced a new way to serve God while not making any personal connections.

About a week ago, I learned a much needed lesson. I was a visitor. I knew what to expect from the worship and teaching. However, on this occasion my family was COMPLETELY ignored. This wasn’t some back row dash after worship. We sat near the front, took notes, and all sang out. Not a word spoken, not even a handshake. We were all very discouraged.

My family will be fine—we have amazing church families back home, we are saved, and we are deeply connected to the work of the Kingdom.

What about that visitor? What will they think? How will they feel? Will they ever darken the doors again?

We may only have one shot. Get out of your comfort zone. Don’t just stare, go speak to them. Don’t just thank them for coming, ask them about their life. Sit back and listen. Let the love of Jesus shine through you. (Col. 3:15)

"Wait...Who went there?" - Evangelism in the first century - Joey Ferrell

I was recently tasked with preparing a lesson for the Middle Tennessee School of Preaching on the subject of the churches listed in 1 Peter 1:1. This is one of the very few times that several of these churches are even mentioned in the Bible. For context sake, here is the passage:

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.”

— 1 Peter 1:1, NKJV

So, I break out my Bible to learn more about these churches. Galatia (and Phrygia in my assignment) were somewhat easy to find a little more about since we have the letter to the churches at Galatia written by the Apostle Paul. In that letter, Paul addresses some things that were happening inside and outside of that early church since his visit there had taken place. Okay. Enough information was there to start a good study, then move to the historical evidence for the churches of Galatia and on to some others.

Several of these churches are listed in that group of people in Acts 2:9 and would have probably been some of the ones who obeyed the gospel that very day. Again, easy enough to compile that information. Now, on to the others. Cappadocia…uh oh. I cannot find much in the Bible, nor in historical context about this church. Then to Pontus….oh, that one is easy, I remember seeing that Aquila was born there….well, that’s about all the Bible says about that. And now Bithynia. Hmm. Wait, I found a couple of verses! Let’s see what they say:

“Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.”

— Acts 16:6-7, NKJV

Well…now isn’t that just dandy! Now I have another question in my aching head…Why did the Spirit keep them from going into the area? I cannot answer that without an estimation of that is what God wanted in His providential will! Of course, I can speculate a little. If Paul had gone into Asia, specifically Bithynia, at this point, we might not be able to read about the Macedonian call, several converts in the area where he went, and of course the Philippian jailer and his family may have also not learned the gospel. Yes, that is how God’s providence appears to work at times. Maybe it isn’t my time or yours to go and do certain things in certain places; however, there is a time and a place for us where we are or where we may be going!'

So…that leads us to the next question.

What happened in Pontus and Bithynia and who went there? The church was established in one or more places. I know that to be true based on historical evidence we will look at in just a moment. The who? I don’t know. Someone certainly went. It may have been one of the converts of Paul. It could have been Peter later down the road and we don’t have it recorded. We just don’t know. One commentary I was reading called them “unnamed evangelists.” I like that phrase. It represents so many people that I know. They are doing their best to live for Christ and to teach the gospel to others…yet, their name is not shouted from the mountains or the hill tops. It may not be on a church sign or in a bulletin, and certainly may not be even one who preaches in a pulpit each week. To that, I say God bless you!

Now, back to the task at hand. How do I know that the church was established? Look at the excerpts from a book that I have called “Christianity through the Centuries,” referring to what happened after the end of the first century, some 50-60 years after Paul was forbidden to enter that area:

“Pliny, who was propraetor of Bithynia and Pontus in Asia Minor, wrote to Emperor Trajan about 112 for advice as to how he should deal with the Christians. His epistle gives valuable extra biblical information concerning Christ. Pliny paid high tribute to the moral integrity of the Christians by writing of their unwillingness to commit theft or adultery, to falsify their word, or to repudiate a trust given to them. He went on to say that they “sing a song to Christ as to a God.”

(Christianity Through the Centuries, pp. 49-50; Earl E Cairnes)

Cairnes went on to say about Pliny’s letters:

“Pliny’s letter proved that Christianity was strong in Asia Minor shortly after the beginning of the second century. During the first century it had been confined largely to the eastern section of the empire, with the Jews given first chance to accept Christianity as the gospel reached new cities.” (Cairnes, p. 93)

Those Christians in that area had to come from somewhere! Who went there? I just don’t know, and may never know this side of heaven. Well, is that any different than some of the areas in which you and I are trying to reach with the gospel? Not really. But, sometimes we may get discouraged not knowing the results (fruits) of our labors. Press on brothers and sisters! There is still work to be done, and we need to “raise up” more Christians to cause a ruckus in our day in time for the ungodly and the immoral. We can do it!

Let’s get to work…where we can…when we can…and how we can!

"Stop stealing from a thief!" - Joey Ferrell

What? Someone stealing from a thief? Well, sort of. But it may not be what you are thinking. This thief was not being robbed of valuables at gun point, pilfered through a bank account, or even burglarized at home…many people are still stealing from him, and its something that you might not be imagining just yet…keep reading.

Who is this thief - well, probably the most famous thief in the history of the world - the fella that hung next to Jesus on the cross on that dreaded day that my Lord was crucified.

Now that I have your attention, let’s take a minute to explore the thought of people stealing from this thief. Although his salvation can never be stolen, that is honestly what many people try to steal from him. The result - they steal not only the honor that he received of our Lord saying “today you will be with me in Paradise,” but also they try to steal the authority of Jesus, and possibly even the entire scheme of redemption from the thief…and you…and me!

Let’s explore a few thoughts.

• Premise one: This man has been said over and over to have not been baptized. That is a problem. It is a problem because not one person alive can prove that he was…or was not! Take a second to think about what he said to Jesus - “remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.” What kingdom? This man is making a great confession here. One that many who try to steal this from him are not willing to make themselves. He is attesting that Jesus is definitely the Lord of Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Daniel, and David. He knew that Jesus would be the head of a kingdom…not just any kingdom…but the one that was at hand!
  
  Where did he hear about this kingdom? Well, although there is no proof…could he have been on the scene of Matthew 3? Remember in Matthew 3 when Jesus was baptized? Matthew 3:1-3 tells us that John was baptizing in the wilderness, proclaiming that the “kingdom was at hand” and that the prophets had told of One that was coming to be in all power. Wonder if that thief was in that crowd? I do. I also wonder if maybe…just maybe…he could have been baptized under the baptism of John.

• Second premise: This man lived under the old covenant. His salvation was equal to the same salvation of Moses, Elijah, David, Joseph, John the immerser, and any other who lived prior to the death on the cross! Let that sink in a minute. Every person that had died righteous prior to Jesus’s blood being shed…received that same promise that the thief did that very day. That particular day, every righteous (obedient) person that had died even the day before or minutes before found themselves in Paradise with Jesus that very day. Every soul that had died outside of being obedient to God…well, they had that same day in the Hadean world, but it was not in Paradise. So, what if this man had been obedient in all things…yes, he was accused as a thief, or a rebel. What did he do? I am not sure. Historical accounts state that even slaves that may have committed a crime against their owner could be counted in this number. Maybe he was like Onesimus that we read about later in Colossians and Philemon. But, could he have kept all the statutes as best he could, made all the sacrifices required, possibly, as previously stated, been baptized for repentance…even of the very sins that he may have committed of that nailed him to the cross. Either way…he expressed his penitence on the cross that very day.

• Third premise: Why would someone doubt the deity of the Lord? John 1:1 says that the Word was in the beginning, with God and was God. The Word that became flesh in verse 14 is definitely Jesus as He is identified by John a little further in the text. So, if that be the case, then Jesus is God! I believe it. I suspect you do too. So why would anyone NOT believe that? Honestly, putting all other thoughts aside, this is the one that destroys any thought of the “non-baptism” of the thief and therefore a “loose step” in the plan of salvation including baptism for the remission of sins (c.f. Acts 2:38, 22:16, Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:21, etc.) If Jesus is equal to God, then He had the authority to make people rise from death, walk from being lame, see from being blind...and be forgiven of sins! It is clearly an illogical argument when applying the weight of these truths to the question.

So….what about the thief on the cross? Well, what about him? He was in Paradise with Jesus on that very day because Jesus said he was. Nobody can ever argue that…and they usually will not, however, the claws of satan have reached out and caused confusion in this world through lies and deceit. No wonder it is said of the devil that he is the father of all lies! Look at how many souls he has captured in this treacherous lie!

Be patient with anyone that has this objection. They have most likely been taught to defend a handed down belief system that holds no weight in the totality of salvation. Jesus said it…that is what He meant. One MUST be baptized into His death for the forgiveness of sins in order to be saved! Don’t let your emotions get the best of you when in a discussion like this. Arguments can be won, but souls can be lost. Work to identify these three premises, or maybe you can even find others that identify that this idea and question is an illogical one and that as Jesus said “the truth shall make you free.”

At The Gospel of Christ, we have multiple videos, audio, and transcripts regarding the very important issue of salvation. If you or anyone you know needs or wants to study this through, please let us know how we can help!

In Love for Christ,

Joey

"The Kind of Preaching You Should Expect" - Jameson Steward

The Kind of Preaching You Should Expect

Those who preach the gospel of Christ don’t get to decide what kind of preaching is acceptable. As the apostle Paul’s life was nearing the end, he gave Timothy instructions that guide us on what kind of preaching we should expect from those who proclaim God’s Word. 

Complete Preaching (2 Timothy 3:14-17). 

Writing by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul reminded Timothy that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” You should expect preaching that proclaims all the words of God – the Old and New Testaments (Romans 15:4). This kind of preaching is “profitable” to us and thoroughly prepares us for every good work in the Lord. Preachers and teachers are to proclaim the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).  

Serious Preaching (2 Timothy 4:1). 

You should expect the preacher and teacher to approach the proclaiming of God’s word respectfully and thoughtfully. This doesn’t mean the preacher can never tell a joke or crack a smile. However, he should approach the preaching of God’s word seriously. Not only is there a lot riding on the proclaiming of God’s word for the hearers – a lot is riding on the proclaimer! Paul solemnly charged Timothy “before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.” Because the message proclaimed is God’s word (2 Timothy 3:16), preaching that word must be taken seriously. Those who fail to do so will stand before the Judge of all the earth and answer (2 Corinthians 5:10). 

Balanced Preaching (2 Timothy 4:2). 

Preaching the word of God must be done “in season and out of season,” – meaning you should expect the gospel preacher to proclaim God’s word without first “testing the winds” to see if that message will be popular. This kind of preaching convinces (convicts), rebukes (admonishes strongly), and exhorts (urges into action) “with all longsuffering and teaching.” Balanced preaching points out the wrong path, shows how to return to the right path, and does so in a “longsuffering” or patient way. 

Healthy Preaching (2 Timothy 4:3-4). 

You should expect those who proclaim God’s word to proclaim “sound” (healthy, accurate, trustworthy) teaching. While some gather up teachers who proclaim what they want to hear, the preaching you must demand and expect is preaching that remains true to God’s word (2 Timothy 3:16). Those who proclaim God’s word must put forth great effort into “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). 

This kind of preaching will benefit us as God’s people. We should expect to hear complete, serious, balanced, and healthy teaching from God’s word every time we open His word together. 

Jameson Steward

"Why didn't they offer us a bible study?" - Anonymous

****Editor’s note: This story was used with permission by the author, and is shared for the benefit of opening the eyes of some of our own shortcomings in evangelism and reaching the lost. The article is being published in its entirety without any edits as requested by the family that shared it with us. Their names are not included, neither are the congregations in which they visited. This is just a raw story to help encourage us all to be the best we can.

As an aside, The Gospel of Christ would certainly encourage congregations and individuals to take a look at how this family felt that they were left behind by the church. Our prayer is for this family to continue loving the Lord and that we can all be an encouragement to others in what we see through the eyes of others.

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Their journeys to the baptistry both began as young as 8 and 9 years old. You see both became denominational Christians at those ages. Their hearts were sincere with belief and they did exactly the steps they were told. Fast forward, they are married and continue following the traditions that they were raised in, the Southern Baptist Church. About 4 years ago they moved to a new area and decided to find a church that they could serve God in. In the past, they were always searching for the perfect one to fit their wants. This is when they felt their hearts changing and turning more towards God. They dove right in.  Both started teaching Sunday school classes and volunteering at the local mission house in the community. It felt good to be serving others for the Lord.  The husband was teaching an adult class and the wife the Elementary grades.  They began learning specific things about obedience and the importance of baptism, but they still did not understand it all quite yet. The leadership in the church got noticeably unsound so with heavy hearts they left after 3 years. Amid that they had their second daughter. What joy this brought their lives, but this made it more of an urgent matter for them.  They wanted to lead their family correctly according to His Word.  The husband started searching churches with the oldest daughter while the wife was at home recouping with the newborn. He was more mindful to check the scripture against what the preacher was teaching, and quickly was seeing error.   They went to a few different non-denominational churches and ended up back into a comfort zone of the Baptist congregations again, but this next one was considered Independent. After several weeks they noticed Calvinistic beliefs coming out.  They were familiar with Calvinism and knew from studying that specifically it was contradicting to God’s Word so they left. At this point they are tired and weary.  They just wanted to find a church home and family.  Their love for God was growing as they continued in personal studies and prayer.

 You need to know that they had been around Christians their entire lives.  Growing up in West TN and spending their adult lives in Middle TN, but none of them looked or acted any different from any other denominational Christian.  Their view on the Church of Christ was just another Denomination.  Hearing terrible things of the Church.  For instance, it was a cult, baptism being overly emphasized, and they were the only ones going to heaven. Praying and studying the husband felt a shift and threw out the idea of trying the churches of Christ.  They were very nervous and uncomfortable with that.  By trusting in God, taking deep breaths, and praying they visited their first Church of Christ. It was different, but familiar with the Baptist church minus the instrumental music and observation of the Lord’s supper.  They felt very uncomfortable but continued to go and share with this congregation that they had left the Baptist church and were wanting to follow sound doctrine. They were searching for the truth but didn’t realize what that meant at the time. They felt they were hearing the truth there.  Some people were friendly but most not so friendly.  The wife felt judgement quickly to attend on Wednesday even if it was a baby’s bedtime.   They did not understand at this point faithful attendance.   They hadn’t even obeyed the gospel yet!  They really stepped out of their comfort zone when they accepted an informal lunch invitation at a congregant’s home with two other couples. The husband was candid about what they were going through and were searching for a sound church that preached sound doctrine. There was even a convert from a Baptist church there!  He shared his tension filled story of how his parents and him do not get along because of his conversion. That was intense and they still had no clue exactly why there would have been such a line drawn.  They met deacons and elders and the preacher, and no one offered a bible study. Not one. Because that church seemed unfriendly, they decided to try a neighbor’s church. It was Church of Christ too, but not until later did they realize this was what is called and (Non-institutional). The friendliness factor was there.  They enjoyed the preaching and the people. It did not take long to meet with the two elders and get serious about becoming members there. Still no bible study offered.  They began to study more on Baptism specifically because the elders asked them a question, “were you baptized for the remission of sins?” See to join this church you had to have been baptized for the remission of sins. They thought and thought, and both decided, yes. Why would we get baptized for any other reason?  Still studying, the Lord was helping them put pieces together.  They were still under the belief that we were saved before baptism, but that it was step of obedience after your salvation belief. The eldership never asked any other specific questions to help them.  It was like, if you say yes, then sure you can join up with us.  

Now the wheels were spinning and hearts were opening so they studied even harder. Scripture after scripture they found on how baptism signifies the death, burial and resurrection, and how it’s the antitype that saves us, and flat out plain as day Mark 16:16.  They realized that it is not about just one step, it is about all of them together. The gospel is perfectly put together and easy to see when you simply read and study the texts with a sincere open heart.  

Their driving force was from a sincere love for The Heavenly Father. They ended up listening to a Baptist converts podcast one night getting ready for bed. That evening a lightbulb went off simultaneously for them. Not all of what they were taught growing up was false, but that they were led falsely with the gospel. You see, they are products of you cannot be taught wrong and obey right. They wanted to become members of this church but did not realize they needed to be added to the Lord’s church. The thought of their families hindered their baptisms that night. The next day after those conversations occurred nothing was stopping them from obeying the gospel!  Their families were confused but somewhat supportive. They grew so much through continued personal studies and great GBN resources that they found on their own being broadcast locally on TV.  They were on fire to share the gospel, but no one else was. The more verbal they got to encourage biblical things the more they felt that friendliness leave. It became an intolerable environment to worship. The more they learned about God’s Word and His Church they realized error quickly. Remember that vague question they asked them concerning the reason for their past baptism? There were at least two people in that church who had not obeyed the gospel but were accepted members. It broke their hearts for them to be led so incorrectly.   They attempted talking to one lady by sharing their conversion story with her. She had been convinced she was fine because of elderships vague leadership and acceptance. There were other big issues, and they took these matters to eldership, too. They were aware, but the elders had let the leaven grow so much that it would be too hard to get it out now. They had to leave. Discouraged and sad all they had was God’s Word and programs on GBN that kept them encouraged and striving to share the Good News!! Their zeal had not wavered, and they continued attending other congregations. They seemed to find one that the preaching was sound, and the appeal of several young families was promising. Their loneliness and eagerness to be a part of a family of God made them identify quickly. 

Fast forward to today.  They yet again had to remove themselves from a congregation over unsound leadership arising in this case in an absence of an eldership.   

Questions that flood their minds- Why do we feel like our transformation is not understood by many?  Weren’t we all outside of Christ and converted by the gospel?  Why does it feel the churches of Christ are attempting to convert us to their denomination away from the 1st century standards of the New Testament Church?  Why are brethren more interested in clinging to their own man-made traditions while they point fingers at how the denominational world is wrong?  Why is there an arrogance and pridefulness towards the lost?  Why are members of The Church unwilling to share the good news of the Gospel with all they encounter?  How can we be ready to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear 1 Peter 3:15 when we have lost people every Sunday sit next to us in our pews and we pretend they aren’t lost?  When did Matthew 28:19-20 become an option for a Christian and not a command?  When did offering a simple bible study become the furthest thing from a Christian’s mind? 

When Enough is Enough, or is it Enough? - Joey Ferrell

A few months ago, I posted an article regarding the method of evangelism seen in the gospels. In particular, we talked about the efforts of those that Jesus had taught and sent out…and the reward of evangelism that they saw in that Jesus told them to “Rejoice not in these things, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” What a beautiful passage…but there is more to learn.

In Luke 10, the 70 are sent out into the fields for teaching to those that Jesus would soon come to their area. This was a precursor of His teaching in order to prepare the way and to soften hearts that were willing to listen. And much good obviously would come from this. However, we have to remember something VERY important in this passage as well. Look at what is said in Luke 10:10-11:

“But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’”

(Luke 10:10–11)

You see, even in the wisdom of spreading the message of the Lord Christ Jesus, there would still be times in which we will fail. It won’t be our own failure, but the failure of those with dishonest or hardened hearts that will not receive the word of God, act upon it, and be obedient to it. Jesus said it would happen! He certainly experienced this on His own level as well. He was rejected by many. He was turned away. He was the recipient of quite a bit of animosity and even had stones thrown at Him while he taught.

Certainly, we must do what is required of us in spreading the gospel message; however, wisdom needs to prevail in some discussions. What do I mean? You have probably seen them…maybe even been involved in them…public arguments, social media debates through keyboards, and maybe even one on one bible studies that just don’t go like they should! Just yesterday, I found myself in one of these conversations on social media…and I let my guard down. I allowed someone to get the better of me instead of following Jesus’ words. I realize this is a little different scenario…but is it really?

In a fairly parallel passage in Matthew, the words of Jesus in Matthew 9-10 also tell us to be as cunning as a serpent, but as wise as doves! What does that mean? I truly believe it means to be stern, but also to be kind. Ephesians 4 gives us several passages about how we should act in kindness and I believe it would be a good attribute in order to have in our arsenal when it comes to defending the truth…and doing it in love!

After all, will we win souls if all we are concerned with is winning arguments? I think not.

So, when is the right time to shake the dust off? That is a question that is extremely difficult to even consider answering. I think it would be up to the individual to determine. Jesus did give some aspect of it though - “if they do not receive you…”. To me, that would mean you try to teach truth at least once and test the “spirits” to see where the truth lands. If a relatively good discussion comes from it, then keep on! But…if it does not, maybe try once or twice more…and then it may be time to shake the dust and move on.

Here’s the thing though that I have missed in the past, and I hope to do better in the future….those areas that the dust is shaken off? Well, they are still possibly fertile soil. Maybe not for us…maybe not for today, but if you remember, these 70 men that were sent out were to go into areas in which Jesus would be following. Maybe when Jesus came on the scene…some of those hearts were fertile enough to listen, even after dust blowing in their faces after the 70 left. I was also reminded when listening to a sermon from a lectureship that the text does not tell me to never return…and that is what I must do better personally. What about you?

It is much better to focus on winning souls than winning arguments. Most, if not all times, a “religious” argument does not have a winner…except Satan when souls walk away from truth.

May God bless your efforts in evangelizing and sharing the truth, and certainly in your own quest for truth. We would always love to hear from you if you have questions about your own understanding or salvation.

~Joey

What is Evangelism and Why is it Important? - Joey Ferrell

Evangelism. You may have heard this word many times and not really understand the meaning behind it. After all, you will not find the word evangelism in your Bibles. But, the concept is definitely there, and we must understand the significance and the importance of utilizing evangelism in our day and time.

Definition

Evangelism is derived from the Greek noun that is used for “good tidings” or “messenger.” The Greek word looks very similar to the spelling that we have in evangelism. It is euangelion. You can notice the similarity pretty quickly.
What does it really mean? In brief, it means to tell the Good News of Jesus Christ.

While it would take a very lengthy article and time to fully expound on all of the ways that we can evangelize, what we can look at today is just a touch of how we can jump start a few ideas in which to grow upon.

The Bible clearly has multiple examples of evangelism, especially in the great commission of Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 8 & 10, Proverbs 11:30, and many more. The “how” isn’t always as clear as they “why.” Here are a few suggestions of how to evangelize in your local area.

1. Card programs - if you know of people in the community who have had sickness, lost loved ones, had life changes, and so on…a nice greeting card in a timely manner may be more than enough to open a door of opportunity.

2. Social Media invites - There are many local area groups on Facebook in particular. In our area, there is hardly a week that goes by that someone does not post asking about a “good church” in the area. This is a great way to make an acquaintance. Just don’t be overpowering with the conversation. The goal would be to invite them to visit.

3. New mover and visitor bags - There are different ways to acquire new mover contacts. One of these is through the House to House mail out program. When you may receive a list of contacts, make up a small gift bag with a couple of tracts, maybe a DVD (you can order some from our website for free), a couple of small goodies like a pen/pencil, not pad, etc. and deliver it to their door step. Even if they are not at home, the bag can be left…just make sure the contact information is there for the church! These are also great for visitors that come to your building for services.

4. Personal invitation cards - Have some cards printed up with the church name, address, and meeting times only on the front side. On the back of the card, have a place that says “you are invited to come and visit with us. Please show this card to someone to let them know you are looking for me. My name is __________________________. My phone number is (optional) ___________. We look forward to seeing you!” Hand these cards out anywhere and everywhere you come into contact with people.

5. Example - Make sure that in your daily life that people see Christ within you. Christians should be happy people, and we should be people that want to tell everyone that we can about our happiness and our salvation. We should want to be “messengers of the Good News”….euangelion.

Why is evangelism important? Well, if you have read this far, you probably already have some indication of the importance. The main emphasis is simple…we are commanded by our Lord to tell others, but, the motivation should be that we love our neighbor as much as ourselves…and want to see our neighbor (friend, loved one, etc) in heaven with us.

Let’s get busy! There are souls that need us today…right now!

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Our main emphasis at The Gospel of Christ is to Take the Whole Gospel to the Whole World. This is the basis of our evangelistic efforts. We pray that you will see many great resources that you can also use in your own evangelistic efforts from The Gospel of Christ including through our television broadcasts, field representative visits, free media items and our website.

We are currently reaching over 50,000 households each week through our broadcasts across the country, thousands of website visitors each week and hundreds of free media items sent out via mail and digital downloads. This is all made possible by individuals and congregations of the Lord’s church. We hope you will visit a congregation near you soon. Find our supporting congregations at www.findthelordschurch.com.

Until next time…

Joey

"Sojourner or Settler?" - G. Scott Furniss

There is a popular hymn entitled “This world is not my Home” with the words, “This world is not my home. I am just a passing through.” I hear preachers speaking of a renewed earth as if this is our world. I listen to Christians talking about politics, elections, and other worldly things more than spiritual things and I am worried too many Christians are becoming settlers in this world instead of sojourners just passing through. They speak more of this world and fight harder to keep things in order in this country than they speak of their home and fight for Christ and His kingdom.  We need to remember we are aliens and pilgrims in this world and are supposed to be sojourners and not settlers. “ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off [e]were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:13-16 NKJV).

 The sojourner declares he is an alien and a pilgrim in this world making it clear they are seeking a country of their own so God is not ashamed to be our God. They also abstain from fleshly lusts which war against our souls.  

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation (1 Peter 2:11-12 NKJV).

When we think of these things let us look at three tests of whether we are sojourners or settlers. First, where Is Your Citizenship? “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21 NKJV).

While Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah show us we should be good citizens of whatever country we find ourselves in this world, but we have to be careful how entangled we get with the affairs of this life as we engage in the warfare of the kingdom. The settler’s concern is their earthly country and rulers, the sojourner’s concern is their heavenly country and king?

The second test is where is Your Treasure? Jesus told us to be careful of our attitude towards the things of this life. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV).

We need to have the attitude of Job. “Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” 22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong (Job 1:20-22 NKJV). We must heed the warning of Paul. “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, [d]and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many  foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:6-10 NKJV).

The Settler’s concern is his savings, the sojourner’s concern is his salvation? 

The third test is where is your home. “For we know that if our earthly [a]house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our [b]habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as [c]a guarantee. 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.(2 Corinthians 5:1-10 NASB). Are you more concerned with staying here or do you have the desire to go home? “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 [u]But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know [v]which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sakes. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy [w]in the faith, 26 so that your pride in Christ Jesus may be abundant because of me by my coming to you again” (Philippians 1:21-26). The settler wants to stay the sojourner wants to go home.

What is your concern? Country or Kingdom?  Savings or Salvation? Stay or go home? So the question we must ask ourselves, is this world your home or are you just passing through? Are your treasures here on earth or are they laid up somewhere beyond the blue? Have you settled in the land or are you a sojourner, a stranger and an alien looking for a city not made with hands, so God is not ashamed to be called your God? God encourages us not to settle down in this world but continue as strangers and aliens here knowing our citizenship is in heaven, serving our king in whatever land we reside, laying up our treasure in heaven so our heart will be there. 

G. Scott Furniss