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SUNDAY WITH THECHURCHMEMBERSBy Bill MoseleyThe hands of the clock had slowly crept toward 9 a.m. and the brightmorning sun was already looking inthe window. Suddenly, Luke W.Churchmember sat bolt upright in hisbed. With a start he thought, "I'llbe late for work! " Then it dawnedon him—"Why, this is Sunday!"With a contented yawn he settled-back into the warmth of his comfortable bed to catch another "40winks". "Oh well," he thought,"class doesn't start for anotherhour anyway." He was very tired,as he and his wife were out withbro. and sis. Deacon till 2 a.m.last night, and also the kids wereout late. "By the way," Lukethought, "I wonder where they wereand whom they were with?"Finally, his conscience made hisbody get out of bed. He awoke hiswife and children, reminding themthat "we haven't studied our Biblelessons yet." You see, he had aclub meeting during the week, anight out for bowling, a night to visit friends for a social get-together,and a night for PTA, and just didn'thave a free evening to study. Aftera leisurely breakfast (and a hurriedglance at their Bible lessons) theChurchmember family was aboutready to leave for class. "Classesstart at 10 a.m." Luke remindedhis family, "and it's 5 till 10, sowe'd better get going." "I guesswe will be a little late," said thegood wife of Luke, "but after all,it's such a job to get around onSunday morning." (They're doingbetter, however—didn't make it atall for class last week.)At 10:10 a.m. (not bad—only 10minutes late) the Churchmembersdrove up to the building. Said Luketo his family "I'm sure proud of ournew church building! I was ashamed-'of -our old one. The Baptists downthe street have such a nice building. Now we have one just as niceand have lots of room to grow. Oursanctuary seats 750, and maybe wecan grow to fill it up if these lazybrethren would go to work!" "And4to think," said sis. Churchmember"It only cost 600,000. I just loveour landscaping—and all for only 5,000." "Yes," said Luke, "theLord must really be proud of hishouse in this city now. But wewouldn't have had it if it hadn'tbeen for me always bringing it upto the brethren. Why, I'll bet prettysoon we'll have at least 100 members! "The classes were well under waywhen the Churchmember family wentin. Only about half of the classlooked around to see who came inand completely forgot about what theteacher was saying! (He's so dullanyway, some members were alwayscomplaining). After crowding into apew by bro. and sis. Deacon, Lukenudged the fellow on the other side,and with a loud whisper that allcould hear said, "eaactly where isthe class studying. we missed lastweek, you know." With Luke dozingoff and on during the class, it atlast neared it's end. Sis. Churchmember leaned over and whisperedto sis. Deacon. "I just love bro.Elder's classes. Why, did younotice that we covered almost threechapters of Romans this morning?""Yes," replied sis. Deacon, "but Icould hardly keep my mind on the class. I just couldn't keep my eyesoff that new hat sis. Banker has on!I wonder how much she paid for it?"After the class, the place camealive with chatter that had to do withthe week's events. Bro. Churchmember was arguing with bro. Goodtimeover who was going to win the worldseries. Most of the ladies were dispensing and accepting the latestgossip. Nobody seemed -aware thatthe worship was going to start anyminute. Finally, a brother rose and- took the floor. After a couple ofminutes of patient waiting he goteveryone's attention, and began tomake announcements. There wasgoing to be a dinner in the "fellowship hall" this afternoon. - (Nowthere's something the Lord mustreally be "proud" of!) The monthlyYouth Rally was going to be at 5p.m. that afternoon, and "let's notforget the. Campaign for Christ inAfter the songthe next town."service, and communion were overbro. Churchmember grudgingly dropped a dollar in the collection plateto help sooth his conscience, andsettled back to hear what the preacher had to say, which took up a full20 minutes.At last, the services were over,and the Churchmember family left."I sure do like our new preacher,bro. Backslapper," said sis. Churchmember. "So do I," said Luke."He's not at all like our old preacher, brother Peter Paul. Why, hewould preach for 45 minutes at atime, and was always against everything. We never would have gottenthe Herald of Truth in the budget ifwe'd kept him." "Yes," interruptedsis. Churchmember. ".n1 hP art ollyhad the nerve to tell some people they were going to be lost if theydidn't straighten up. Why, doesn't he know that people don't likenegative preaching anymore? I wonder who made him a judge?" "Yes"said Luke, "I'm sure glad to be ridof him. He was too narrow .thought he had to have what he called 'Bible Authority' for things we doin religion."After hurriedly throwing somesandwiches together, they returnedto the "fellowship hall" for lunch.Then the Churchmembers decided todrive in the country. After a leisurely drive Luke looked at his watch."My, how time flies. We'll nevermake it back for the evening services. I completely forgot about thetime." His wife said, "Oh well,there was an educational program onTV the children wanted to see tonight anyway. "After the TV program was overand the children were in bed, Luke'swife said, "I sure have enjoyed theday." "Yes," replied Luke, "sohave I. And isn't it wonderful to bea Christian?"(I am sure that brother Moseleywould be the first to agree that thechurches that support the Herald ofTruth, have "fellowship halls", etc.do not have a FRANCHISE onthe Luke W. Churchmembers—EOB)(136)

Sermon OutlineHOW TO BECOME A SKILFUL CHRISTIANMatt. 5:12-14INTRODUCTION:1. Hebrews were rebuked for being unskilful Christians.A. Had created "communications gap" between Paul and themselves. (v.11)B. Had hindered ability to "discern (throughly judge) good and evil." (v. 1.1)2. Christians should want to be as skilful as possible.A. Do this in lesser matters: job, art, games, hobbies, etc.B. Do this by following basic RULES for becoming skilful:DISCUSSION:I. It takes STUDY to become skilful. (cf. 2 Tim. 2:15iA. Hard to become skilful on 1 hour per week. (cf. Acts 17:11: 8:28: Ps. 1:2)B. Hard to become skilful on poor study habits.1. The habit of merely looking at words.2. The habit of passing over unfamiliar words and phrases without looking them up.3. The habit of letting the Bible fall open and reading a portion without considering context.C. Hard to become skilful on passive listening to sermons and classes.II. It takes EXPERIENCE to become skilful. (verse 14).A. Cannot develope skill on study alone. ("by reason of use"—cf. las. 1:22-25).1. College "whiz kid" still needs on-the-job experience.2. One can know every fact in the Bible and still not know how to apply them.B. Cannot develope some knowledge without some bakground experience. (cf. In . 8:31,39)1- Apostles needed wait until they were ready from some teaching. (Itio. 16:12).2. Did you ever find the asembling instructions complicated for a child's toy? Didthey not become clearer AFTER you had completed each preceding step?III. It takes TIME to become skilful. (verse.12)A. Babes in Christ must recognize this fact.1. Or they will become discouraged with themselves.2. Or they want to become teachers and leaders too soon. (cf. .Jas. 3:1: 1 Tim. 3:6)3. Or they become offended when their judgement is not followed by the older.B. Mature in Christ must recognize this fact.1. Or become impatient with mistakes of young in the faith.2. Or push them into leading roles before they are ready.C. ALL must be willing to give TIME to spiritual developement.1. Too many fill ALL their time with lesser matters.2. Too many wonder why their development is slower than others — may be the ti meelement.CONCLUSION:Remember: It takes ALL THREE to become skilful Christians.(137)5

"Behold, Thou Art Old and ThySons Walk Not in THe who seeks alterations in divinearrangements usually capitalizeson human frailties. The captionof this article is one example.The elders of Israel (1 Sam. 8:5)used this as a pretext for their revision of divine government. Theyused weaknesses in the humanelement (Samuel's age and his sons'corruption) to set aside and replacethe order (the judgeship) approved ofGod. Those who have desired their"kings," in whatever form, havemore or less used this tactic effectively through the centuries. Thistype maneuvering is deceptive andhard to deal with. There is enoughtruth in the charges to give themweight, yet such cannot be used asa spring—board into digression. Itwas true that Samuel was old. Itwas true that his sons walked not inhis ways. It was also true that Israel was in error in demanding thatthe judgeship be replaced by a kinglike the nations. No problem can besolved by the abolition of God'sarrangement, but rather by the correction of any human abuses thatmight be. The old, old tactic isstill used among brethren to thisgood day:1. Those who set up and supporthuman institutions among brethren todo the work of'- the church havecried, "What are local churches doing to get the job done? Are. theypreaching the gospel as they shouldAre they doing what they should tocare for the needy?" Suppose wewere doing absolutely nothing . — thisstill does not justify setting asidethe local church for a humanly devised organization. The problem isnot solved in this fashion, but rathercomplicated by opening the floodgate for every imaginable inventionof human dexterity. Brethren, needto get busy working God's arrangement, not replacing it with their own.2. Opponents of evangelists locating and preaching to a church6cry, "Located preachers are nothingmore than sectarian—type pastors."They yell loudly about the "pastorsystem." They give us good lessons on "hirelings." Who, amongus, will deny that such exist? But"none of these things move me."It is still right for preachers to locate. Timothy was told to "abidestill at Ephesus." (1 Tim. 1:3.)Paul was located at Ephesus for(Acts 20:31.) Whothree years.accused the Ephesian church ofharboring the "pastor system"?Now, just because on is fully supported for preaching the gospel,does not make him a "hireling."Paul said that he and Barnabas hadthe right to forbear working, alongwith some others. (1 Cor. 9:6.) Hefurther says that "the Lord ordainedthat they which preach the gospelshould live of the gospel." (1 Cor.9:14.) One can scorn the idea offull—time, fully—supported preachers all he likes, but facts arestubborn things. If a man forbearsworking and lives of the-gospel, and"Concentrates - . . on (his) reading,and on (his) preaching and teaching"(1 Tim. 4:13, Phillips Translation).he is just that!I can cite cases where preachersin my judgement have become sectarian—type pastors -- with all - theterm implies. There may be otherswho are "feathering their nests" atthe expense of the brethren. But Ihave always thought that a poor wayto stamp out fleas is to try to killall the dogs. There may be somepreachers who need spraying for"fleas," but let us not shoot thepoor preacher, nor seek to abolishhis rightful work.3. We have seen elders becomedictatorson occasions, Mostpreachers who have lived and work—with different sets of elders overmany years, have been mistreated tosome degree by some elders. I personally have found those who "lordBy Edward 0. Bragwell, Sr.over God's heritage" to be the exception and not the rule. In manycases when they acted as "lords"they were provoked to anger by theactions of a power seeking noviceor preacher. But dictatorial eldersdo not excuse our setting aside the"office of a bishop." No amount ofhuman abuse can nullify the God—ordained "overseers" in localchurches. In fact, if elders have noright to make decisions and can onlyrule by example, then the word "overseer'' is the wrong word; Acts29:28 should read, "over which theHoly Ghost bath made you exemplifiers. " Who can believe it?Just as pointing to Samuels sonsdid not justify Israel's rejection ofthe judgeship, pointing to some modern Diotrophes does not justify rejection of the overseership.4. "I am not going to become amember of the church, because thereare hypocrites in the church." is theexcuse of some whom we approachwith the gospel. We patiently pointout that this does not mean that theLord's church should, be rejected.The New Testament church is stillright. We cannot substitute humanchurches for it, even if some do abuse membership in the "church ofGod." They did in the New Testament days, at Corinth, and Paul stillcalled it the "church of God." Thechurch has both its human and divine sides. Its members are humanbeings, subject to error. This in noway justifies alteration of its divinecharacteristics, not the substitutionof denominations.The church's troubles with thosewho pervert God's order are not cured by setting aside God's way. Inthe church we have, at best, imperfect beings trying to carry out theperfect arrangement. If one sets aside the local church for humaninstitutions on the pretext that themembers of the local church are notperforming their duty, what guar(138)

antee do I have that those who makeup the human arrangement will notbe slothful human beings? If I setaside the overseership for some other order, how long is it until someone in the church, preacher or otherwise, become a church boss?The problem of lording it overGod's heritage" is not solved, andthe divinely ordained function ofelders is kicked out in the process.All human inventions have to be runby human beings. The duties of thearrangement have to be performed byhuman beings, A perfect ordinance,imperfectly administered, is far better than an imperfect ordinanceimperfectly administered.We must take heed unto ourselvesthat we do not "put a stumbling—block or an occasion to fall" in ourbrothers' way. This we do when wesin by commission or omission. Letus seek to correct the ills of thechurch but be sure what those illsare. The divorce menace is notcured by demanding celibacy. Israel's troubles with "lucre, bribery,and perverted justice" (See v.3)were not cured by demanding a king.Our troubles are not helped by trying to update the New Testament.but by our striving unto perfectionENDin God's ways.'WHAT SAITH THEANSWER OF GOD?yBy Charles G. Maples, Sr.QUESTION: "Does not John 1:12prove that the only condition of salvation for the alien sinner is faith inJesus as Christ?"ANSWER: In John 1:11-12 Jesussays, "He came unto his own, andthey that were his own received himnot. But as many as received him,to them gave he the right to becomechildren of God, even to them thatbelieve on his name." (ASV) Thisdoes teach, as do so many Scriptures, that faith is an essential prerequisite to becoming a child ofGod. But, does it teach that it isthe only condition?First, if the fact that the onlycondition mentioned here proves"faith only" salvation, then I Peter3:21 would indicate that baptism isthe only condition essential to salvation, since - that is the onlycondition mentioned there! (If forno other reason than the fact thatthis application of these two passages put them in flat contradictionone with the other, we know suchconclusions are wrong!)Second, and most importantly,faith is in John 1:12 said to be 2condition to the "right" (Power, o (139)Privilege) to become a son of God.Granted that when one has become ason of God he has obtained salaation;however, being something and having the right to become that are twodifferei things!Jesus was there (John 1:12) saying that when a person comes to havefaith in Him he has the right tobecome something he is not yet.He has the right to become a childof God — not that he is such already.The truth of the matter is it-steadof John 1:12 proving that salvationcomes "At the point of faith," itteaches the bery opposite. ItIt teaches that at the point of faiththe alien sinner is not yet a child ofGod, for one does not need the rightto become something he already is!Conclusion: If you have faith inChrist, then you have the right tobecome a child of God. Now if youwill exercise that right by repentingof your sins and be baptized "forthe remission of sins," you will be achild of God (Acts 2:38).Address all questions to:Charles G. Maples, 1744 Steiner'Avenue S.W., Birmin g ham, AL 352 1'THE IMPORTANCE OFSMALL THINGSBy Connie W. AdamsIn this day of think big philo-sophy in government, business andeven in the churches, I wish tostrike a chord for the value of smallthings.(1) Solomon said there are four little things which are exceedinglywise, the ants, the. conies, thelocusts and the spider. (Prov. 30:24-28). They use what they haveand do quite well.(2) Bethlehem was little among thethousands of Judah, but out of hercame the ruler of Israel, the Christ.(Micah 5:2).'(3) When Saul was little in his ownsight God lifted him up to be king ofIsrael. (1 Sam. 15:17). Even afterhe was anointed king, he was foundout following his fahter's sheep.When he got the bighead, then histroubles started.(4) Ruth the Moabitess gleaned inthe fields to provide for herself andher poor mother—in—law. She metand married Boaz and became identified with the lineage of Jesus theMessiah. (Mt. 1:5).(5) Jesus said, "The kingdom ofheaven is like a grain of mustardseed, which a man took and sowedin his field: which indeed is theleast of all seeds: but when it isgrown, it is the greatest amongherbs, and becometh a tree, so thatthe birds of the air come and lodgein the branches thereof." (Mt. 13:3132).(6) Jesus sent twelve lowly men topreach the gospel in all creation andthey did it. (Rom. 10:18).The gospel of Christ makes itsappeal to units of one. The seedmust fall into each single heart andeither bear fruit there or else wither,While we think in terms of reachingthe masses, let us not forget thatthe masses are composed of individuals. Let us not despise theday of small things. By the use ofthese God demonstrates the superiority of his wisdom and mightover the wisdom and power of men.(1 Cor. 1:25-31).END7

Where The Wolf And Lambs Dwell TogetherBy Herschel PattonI heard Billy Graham on a telecast the other night assure hislisteners that the Bible teaches atime will come when nothing butpeace will be known here on thisearth; when lions and lambs will liedown together and a little child willplay with a snake without fearor harm. Technically, this belief isknown as pre—millennialism, involving a thousand year reign of Christon earth, with Satan bound, preceding the judgement.If the Bible so teaches, allshould know it and rejoice in thishope. But, the Bible no moreteaches this than Jesus taught liewould destroy the temple in Jerusalem and raise it up again withinthree days. Some thought Jesustaught this because they failed torecognize the figurative or symboliclanguage he used with reference toHis body (John 2:19-21).A prophecy of Christ. and Hisreign is found in Isaiah, Chapter 11."And there shall come forth a rodout of the stem of Jesse, and abranch shall grow out of his roots:And the spirit of the Lord shall rest.upon him, the spirit of wisdom andunderstanding, the spirit, of counseland might, the spirit of knowledgeand of the fear of the Lord; andshall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and heshall judge after the sight of hisshall not judge after the sight of hiseyeS, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, andreprove with equity for the meek ofthe earth: and he shall smite theearth with the rod of his mouth, andwith the breath of his lips shall heslay the wicked. And righteousnessshall be the girdle of his loins, andfaithfulness the girdle of his reins.The wolf also shall dwell with thelamb, and the leopard shall lie downwith the kid; and the calf and theyoung lion and the fading together;8and a little child shall lead them.And the cow and the bear shall feed;their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat strawlike the ox. And the sucking childshall play on the hole of the asp,and the weaned child shall put hishand on the cockatrice' den. Theyshall not hurt nor destroy in all myholy mountain: for the earth shall befull of the knowledge of the Lord,as the waters cover the sea."(Isa. 11:1-9.)The "rod" or "Branch" out ofJesse described in this prophesy isobviously the Messiah, or Christ( Zech. 6:12; Rev. 5:5; Acts 13:22—23). He will act with the "spirit ofthe Lord upon him," in wisdom,understanding, and might, renderingjudgement and equity and righteousness. With authority and might,He will "smite with the ro

MARRIAGES THAT FAIL It is an indisputable fact that an alarming number of marriages are failing. Every divorce is a testi-mony to lack of success. Many marriages fail that remain legally in tact. Separations may occur be-cause of disagreements even when there is no divorce. The fact that a hu