[309 words]
We have reduced the church to a counseling center helping people cope! God made the church a salvation center teaching people how to live. We do not merely need therapy—we need the WORD! We don’t just need Bible scholars—we need Bible lovers! If you honor the Word, God will bless you!
You must read 2 Timothy 3:15-17. This bulletin will preach!
The Bible teaches us “How to be saved.” Timothy, from the cradle, had been steeped in scripture. His teachers? Mama! Granny! Paul! The Word produces salvation. Why preach anything but Jesus? There is nothing else to preach! Brethren are starved for basic Bible preaching. Start with the Bible…stick with the Bible…stay with the Bible.
The Bible teaches us “How to grow up.” The Word is doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction, perfection. Biblical ignorance and spiritual immaturity are “Killers”! These are always the two problems threatening the church. Hebrews teaches us to start with milk then grow to meat! Men cannot be spiritual apart from the Word, truth. Doctrine precedes practice. One must know the truth before living the truth. The Word, like electricity, is BOTH negative and positive. That which condemns equally encourages. God can be trusted…the Bible can be believed…the church can be loved.
The Bible teaches us “How to be useful.” This is usually overlooked. The Word is practical. The Word totally completes us to every good work! We are too blinded by potential, talent, looks, IQ, degrees! This may not equip us (Eph. 4:12). The Word edifies to make us useful. The Word allows us to minister as the Body in the body for the body. Spirituality is not individuality … it is corporate. God calls us in the body. We must learn to be “We” before “I”.
The church is the “pillar and ground of the truth.”
Charles Hodge
via Camden Avenue church of Christ
Parkersburg, WV