Category Archives: Bible Study

Buy the Truth and Sell It Not

· · Leave a comment

One of the most important attitudes one can have in striving to go to heaven is that of intense zeal for the truth of God. Too often, people settle on something far less than the truth. Remember, a counterfeit, though it may look relatively genuine, is nevertheless worthless.

Likewise, we cannot enjoy the benefits of truth by getting pretty close. We must take our position firmly on the truth. “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

There are many among us who, like Pilate, would ask, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). Many do not believe in absolute truth. The Bible, however, is absolute, unchanging truth. “Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalms 119:89). The belief that there is absolute truth is fundamental to one who desires to “buy the truth and sell it not” (Proverbs 23:23).

One Can Be Wrong

It is a fact that anyone can mistakenly be wrong. Paul, when speaking of his past manner of life, before his conversion, said, “I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day” (Acts 23:1). Yet he was before a “persecutor, and a blasphemer, and injurious” (1 Timothy 1:13). How could he have lived in all good conscience when he had been so wrong? The answer is simple. He thought he was right. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 16:25). The fact that we can be wrong means that it does not behoove us to close our minds to further investigation. Jeremiah said, “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16).

Faith vs. Opinion

Naturally, study brings us to certain conclusions. All of us live by certain principles. But upon what do our conclusions rest? All too often they rest upon mere opinion. Realize that if something is a matter of faith, then God must have said something about it. We cannot know the words of eternal life by opinions. One man’s opinion is just as good as another man’s; but no man’s opinion is worthy to be compared to God’s.

You would not want to risk crossing the ice over a river merely because somebody thinks you can. Neither should we risk trying to go to heaven by the opinions of men. The difference between an opinion and conviction is that an opinion is usually a spur-of-the-moment conclusion someone comes up with based upon skimpy premises, if any. A conviction is a conclusion based upon evidence which has been thoroughly studied and meditated upon.

God has given us a wonderful book. It furnishes man with doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness, that he may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible is our evidence. It is the truth. When believed, it becomes subjective faith. The Bible did not come from men, so there need be no question about its reliability. It was given unto men though, and designed so they could understand it when they read it (Ephesians 3:3-5). This is not to say that all the Bible is simple to understand. There are difficult portions of it that demand much study. The matters of conversion to God and everyday living are simple and easy to understand. What many find difficult about such matters is the application of that which may be so simple to understand.

Feelings – A Poor Standard

Do not base your conviction upon some peculiar feeling you might have. Feelings are a poor standard of truth. We have already mentioned Paul. We might mention Jacob also who believed with all his heart that his son Joseph was dead, but that did not make it true. Remember, God has given us revelation, facts. Our convictions must rest upon these facts or else we will find ourselves upon shifting sand.

Conscience – Not a Reliable Guide

Neither is conscience a reliable guide in determining whether your convictions are sound or not. The conscience is very pliable to begin with. Our conscience is usually formed at a tender age. At that time it may be trained to approve good or evil. When we reach maturity our conscience alters and becomes almost unchangeable. From then on it tells us only

whether we have done as we learned to do or not. Changing the conscience then is a slow, difficult project. If your conscience were trained correctly, well and good. If it were trained incorrectly, then it will approve even when you do things that are really wrong, because it was taught that which was wrong. “Let your conscience be your guide” is therefore poor advise.

This brings us back again to the fact that we must ultimately make our stand upon the word of God. Everything is to be judged by it.

By Bob Waldron

Beyond Acts 2:41

· · Leave a comment

The gospel was preached (Acts 2:14-36).  Some of the hearers believed what was preached (Acts 2:37).  These believers were told what to do to receive the salvation, which comes only from the Lord (Acts 2:38).  The hearers were encouraged to respond to the word of Almighty God (Acts 2:39-40).  Three thousand souls obeyed the gospel call by submitting to water baptism (Acts 2:41).  Every authentic Christian should be able to recall this story for several reasons: 1) The plan has not changed, 2) They followed this same pattern in order to become a Christian, 3) Acts 2 is pregnant with vital information from answering basic questions about salvation to exposing the false views of Pentecostalism, & 4) This is the history of the church of our Lord; the history of the church of which they are members.  Unfortunately, it appears knowledge & practice has ceased beyond Acts 2:41.

Acts 2:42 is a verse which addresses the church’s responsibility of service.  This Scripture helps us to understand our duty as members of a local congregation.  Listen to your Bible!  In Acts 2:42, the Bible teaches, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching & the fellowship, to the breaking of bread & the prayers.”  Devote means “to dedicate one’s self to a cause.”  Christians are devoted people.

  1. Christians devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching.  It is through reading & studying we serve ourselves, which in turn serves God, our brethren, & the world through the means of worship, fellowship, & evangelism (1 Timothy 4:13, 2 Timothy 2:15, & 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
  2. Christians devote themselves to the fellowship.  It is through the sharing of Christ’s blessings we serve the brethren.  It is because of our relationship with God & our brethren’s relationship with God that we have fellowship with one another.  This relationship should run deep for several reasons: 1) We are now children of God by faith (Galatians 3:26), 2) We are workers together with a common goal (1 Corinthians 3:9), & 3) We have been transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:1-2).  We should draw strength by our coming together & not seek ways to avoid one another.
  3. Christians devote themselves to the breaking of bread.  It is through worship we serve God.  Love sent outward is called affection.  Love sent downward is called grace.  Love sent upward is called worship.  Communing with God with brethren of like precious faith is not something we do out of duty or convenience, but because of gratitude & love (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  It is the will of God!
  4. Christians devote themselves to prayer.  God talks to us through His word, but we talk to God through prayer.  What is the subject of our supplication to God?  Are our prayers totally selfish or do we pray for the salvation of those who are lost?  Do we pray for opportunities to reach out?  Do we pray for God to touch the hearts of those who do not know our God & have yet to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ knowing what their end will be if they don’t (2 Thessalonians 1:8)?

By Antoine Holloway

Bring in the New Year

· · Leave a comment

Lose weight.  Exercise more.  Quit some bad habit.  Read the Bible from start to finish.  The New Year is upon us, a time when we make plans about how we’re going to spend the next twelve months.  But one of the best resolutions you can make for 2017 is the decision to bring someone to the Lord.  That is not only a commitment that will change another’s life; in the process, you will start your own revolution.

Bringing someone to Jesus makes you take a closer look at the Savior.

I have found that there is no better way to get to know the Lord than to tell other people about Him.  Since you want them to come and follow Him as you have, you will seek to present His case in the most persuasive and convicting manner.

When you describe His miracles and wonders, you will have a better appreciation of His deity.  When you tell of His temptations, sufferings, and tears, you will have a greater grasp of His sympathy with the human race.  When you explain His sweat that fell as drops of blood and the nails that were driven through His hands and feet, you will have a more graphic picture of the destructive nature of sin.  And when you tell of His glorious resurrection from the dead, you will grow the anticipation of your own promised victory over the grave.  Help someone see Him through the eye of faith and watch how your vision for the unseen becomes even clearer.

Bringing someone to Jesus makes you take a closer look at the Scriptures.

No matter how many times you have read Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek”, those words will take on a new meaning when you see them in action.

It is that gospel that has the power to penetrate stone hearts and to break stubborn wills.  It is that gospel that causes hope to be realized with the news that “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Pet. 2:24).  It is that gospel that brings people under the condemnation of their sin and provokes the response of “what must I do to be saved?”  It is that gospel that produces inexpressible joy over the forgiveness of sins like the eunuch, after he was baptized, “went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:39).  Show someone the passages that led you to the obedience of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It will only draw you closer to Him who authored that same message.

    Bringing someone to Jesus makes you take a closer look at yourself.  

If you want to point someone to Christ, then let them see Him living in you.  “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me” (Gal. 2:20).  Your life is no longer about you.  It’s about Him.

Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).  Who was more qualified to make that statement than He who practiced what He preached?  Jesus never took the approach of “Do as I say, not as I do.”  And He needs disciples who will follow in those steps of sincerity.  You can’t recommend a way of life that you are not willing to live yourself.   People have to see Jesus when they see you.  Not only will that allow you to be a good example to those you come in contact with, it will ultimately bring glory to God.

Live the life of a Christian.  Evangelism is as much about showing as it is telling.  The story of Jesus is too good not to tell.  It’s too good not to live.  You say you want a resolution?  Ring in the New Year by bringing someone to the Lord.

By Bubba Garner

A “Peaceful Feeling”

· · Leave a comment

I recently heard someone justify a conclusion (an unbiblical one, by the way) by saying, “I just felt that God was giving me a peaceful feeling and that He wanted me to do this.” Perhaps you’ve heard similar statements, or even said something like that yourself. It seems very common to me for people to reason this way today, perhaps in part because of the emphasis on relative truth, i.e. what’s true for you may not be true for me. Most often we hear this when matters of religious doctrine are discussed. There are even religious groups that teach that if you pray hard enough about their doctrines, God will give you a warm feeling to confirm its truth so you can believe it. Because this is at the heart of much error in serving God today, however sincere and zealous, we must examine it in light of the Bible’s teaching. Does God confirm truth by giving us certain feelings?

Throughout the Gospels Jesus shows us how to know the truth. When challenged by the religious elite He often pointed directly to the written Scriptures. In Matthew 19:4 Jesus addressed the Pharisees’ question about divorce by saying, “Have you not read…?” then teaching straight from Genesis 2. In Luke 10:25-26, when the lawyer asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus directed his attention back to the Scriptures:

“What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” Although Jesus Himself—being the Son of God—was “full of truth” (John 1:14), He didn’t defeat His critics’ attacks by saying, “I know in My heart this is true.” Instead, He showed them what the Bible said.

Jesus also taught His disciples to base their faith on the written Word. Jesus repeatedly asserted to His followers that He must suffer rejection and death (Luke 9:22; Mark 8:31); the necessity of these events was written in the Scriptures. After the resurrection, to give them further evidence that what they witnessed was true Jesus “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45). Jesus saw the written Word as having God’s divine authority, such that the truth was found in them. You don’t see Jesus teaching His disciples to trust their feelings, but rather to look to God’s word.

Apparently the apostles learned the lesson. When teaching in the Thessalonian synagogue, for instance, Paul “reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead” (Acts 17:3). Paul found the truth in the Bible, just like his Master.

More examples could be multiplied, but these ought to be sufficient for the point: we know what’s right by looking at what God has written, not by what we feel. To put it another way, Jesus never taught that we will know what’s right when we feel it’s right. In fact, plenty of times God told people to do things they didn’t want to do, like when Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son (Gen. 22). On the flip side, Saul persecuted Christians with a “perfectly good conscience” but he was entirely wrong (Acts 23:1).

God does promise us a peace that surpasses all comprehension when we pray and make our requests known to God (Phil. 4:6-7). This is not, however, the kind of peace that governs our decisions or guides our footsteps. Peace is a result of bowing ourselves in submission to God’s will, even when we do not like what He says. That’s what we’re doing when we pray “Your will be done.” This quietly trusting peace is much different than the one that reasons, “I feel good about such-and-such, so it must be right.” The former peace rests upon doing God’s revealed will, whereas the latter deceives itself into thinking that what I want is what God wants. Let us not be led astray with faulty thinking!

I must admit that it certainly is appealing to follow my feelings; in fact, that’s what I would rather do! But the Bible warns us to not trust ourselves for a reason. “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? I, the LORD, search the heart; I test the mind, even to give each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds” (Jeremiah 17:9-10). Those who follow their hearts can be led to do anything because there is nothing to check their impulses. This results in nothing good and every evil. “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12).

Ultimately, when Jesus points us to the Scriptures He teaches us that crucial lesson from Proverbs: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6). Let us be warned. Trust God, not yourself. Truth is found in Him, not you.

By Emerson Brown

On Sharing the Faith

· · Leave a comment

This is a simple reminder of what we all know is our privilege and responsibility as Christians. We need to teach others about Christ so that they may hear the good news of salvation and have the opportunity to submit to the Lord and have their sins forgiven. It is just recognizing that we need to find the motivation to do what we know is right in helping others come to Christ.

There comes a time when Christians should be in a position to be able to teach others. The writer of Hebrews reminded his readers of this very point:

“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil” (Heb. 5:12-14).

This time-frame is not spelled out, and perhaps it may differ somewhat from person to person, but one thing is certain: no Christian should ever be stagnant when it comes to growth, and none should be satisfied with keeping the gospel private. All Christians ought to be striving to reach a point where they can influence and teach others to trust the Lord. If this is not where you are personally, I want to encourage you to make that a serious goal for your spiritual growth.

God intends us for us to share our faith. The only way that we will grow in teaching and evangelism is if we intend to do it. Is it possible that we may not be teaching others as much as we ought to simply because we don’t purpose to do it? Like anything else, we must see a need and a purpose, then commit to the action necessary to make it happen. Once I recognize God’s intention, God’s desire, that none should perish and all should come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9), then the question is whether or not I will make His intention my intention. If we are passive about it, or just think that others will do it, then no one will.

This doesn’t mean that everyone will stand in front of crowds in order to preach. It doesn’t mean that everyone becomes a formal Bible class teacher. We aren’t even really talking so much about formal class settings. Rather, Christians should see a need and purpose to reach out to others in whatever capacity and avenue available to them. The opportunities may come subtly. They might come through a brief interaction at the store or through a conversation with a neighbor while on a walk. We never know exactly when the opportunities may arise, but when they do, will we be ready to engage? Are we preparing ourselves for these occasions?

Whether older to younger, experienced to novice, mature to immature, God has a purpose in our teaching others. Remember that the spiritually mature will be interested in the growth and knowledge of God for all people. If we love God will all our heart, we will earnestly desire that others learn of God. In love, we will want to reach out to share the news of God’s grace and kingdom.

We have a vital message to share. Until we see the importance of it, we might not be so quick to want to share it. See the need to share based on the urgency of the message! Let’s all intend to do it, and we will. There is no more important message that we can tell anyone.

Of course, sharing the faith also requires a working knowledge of it, as well as learning to understand where people are coming from and communicating the message with grace — in other words, to learn how we might answer each one. This must be done prayerfully:

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Col. 4:2-6).

Let God be glorified! We don’t strive to share our faith because we think it makes us great. We are simply sharing the good news that saved us from our sins and has the ability to save everyone. The message comes from God, and we are serving God through teaching the message.

By Doy Moyer

Search the Scriptures

· · Leave a comment

[Editor’s Note: The following article was written by Rody Gumpad and was first published in Truth Magazine, Volume 43. Rody and his wife, Tessie, have long labored in the Philippines for the Lord and the church at Chapman, though not presently, has been able to play a small role in that work through some financial help, and an even greater role through its prayers.

Rody’s work is appreciated and we are grateful that he will be spending today through Wednesday with us teaching and reasoning with us about the Scriptures.

Welcome, brother Rody and sister Tessie Gumpad!]

The church is the kingdom (Colossians 1: 13) and Christ will deliver the kingdom up to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24). Are you a member of the Lord’s church, or the Lord’s kingdom?

Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). We need to be like the Bereans who “searched the scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11). The Scriptures were written by holy men (2 Peter 1:21) through the inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16). These writings are compiled and now called the Bible. The Scriptures tell us about . . .

  1. God. The Scriptures tell us that there is only one God. “But to us there is but one God . . .” (1 Cor. 8:6). The one God is composed of three personalities. “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one” (1 John 5:7). The record of Matthew 3:13-17 shows that these three are separate persons: The Father in Heaven, the Son on earth, and the Holy Spirit like a dove. Paul said in 1 Timothy 3:15 that the one true God is “the living God.”
  2. The World. The Scriptures tell us, “God that made the world and all things therein . . .” (Acts 17:24). Also, the Psalmist said, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Ps.19:1). Above all, God also created man in his own image (Gen. 1:26-27). In John 3:16, the record says, “For God so loved the world . . .” And in 1 John 1:9-10, John said, “that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him . . . and to be the propitiation for our sins.”
  3. Christ And His Church. The Scriptures tell us, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son . . .” (Gal. 4:4). Peter declared that the Son of God is the Christ (Matt.16:16). The Father said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matt. 17:5). Jesus claimed, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18). “. . . there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). In Matthew 16:18  Jesus promised to build his church. The word “church” came from the Greek word ekklesia, “to call out.” The church then in New Testament Scriptures means “a called out body of people,” men and women (Acts 8:1-4) who believed and were baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:37-38, 41, 47). They were called “Christians” (Acts 11:26), the children of God (Rom. 8:16-17), and the family of God (1 Tim. 3:15). The church is the body (Col. 1:18) and Christ is the savior of the body (Eph. 5:23). The church is the kingdom (Col. 1: 13) and Christ will deliver the kingdom up to the Father (1 Cor. 15:24). Are you a member of the Lord’s church, or the Lord’s kingdom? If not, why not?

By Rody Gumpad

Buy the Truth and Sell It Not

· · Leave a comment

One of the most important attitudes one can have in striving to go to heaven is that of intense zeal for the truth of God. Too often, people settle on something far less than the truth. Remember, a counterfeit, though it may look relatively genuine, is nevertheless worthless. Likewise, we cannot enjoy the benefits of truth just by getting pretty close. We must take our position firmly and foursquare on the truth. “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

There are many among us who, like Pilate, would ask, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). Many do not believe in absolute truth. The Bible, however, is absolute, unchanging truth. “Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalms 119:89). The belief that there is absolute truth is fundamental to one who desires to “buy the truth and sell it not” (Proverbs 23:23).

One Can Be Wrong

It is a fact that anyone can mistakenly be wrong. Paul, when speaking of his past manner of life, before his conversion, said, “I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day” (Acts 23:1). Yet he was before a “persecutor, and a blasphemer, and injurious” (1 Timothy 1:13). How could he have lived in all good conscience when he had been so wrong? The answer is

simple. He thought he was right. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 16:25). The fact that we can be wrong means that it does not behoove us to close our minds to further investigation.  Jeremiah said, “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16).

Faith vs. Opinion

Naturally, study brings us to certain conclusions. All of us live by certain principles. But upon what do our conclusions rest? All too often they rest upon mere opinion. Realize that if something is a matter of faith, then God must have said something about it. We cannot know the words of eternal life by opinions. One man’s opinion is just as good as another man’s; but no man’s opinion is worthy to be compared to God’s.

You would not want to risk crossing the ice over a river merely because somebody thinks you can. Neither should we risk trying to go to heaven by the opinions of men. The difference between an opinion and conviction is that an opinion is usually a spur-of-the-moment conclusion someone comes up with based upon skimpy premises, if any. A conviction is a conclusion based upon evidence which has been thoroughly studied and meditated upon. God has given us a wonderful book. It furnishes man with doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness, that he may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The Bible is our evidence. It is the truth. When believed, it becomes subjective faith. The Bible did not come from men, so there need be no question about its reliability. It was given unto men though, and designed so they could understand it when they read it (Ephesians 3:3-5). This is not to say that all the Bible is simple to understand. There are difficult portions of it that demand much study. The matters of conversion to God and everyday living are simple and easy to understand. What many find difficult about such matters is the application of that which may be so simple to understand.

Feelings — A Poor Standard

Do not base your conviction upon some peculiar feeling you might have. Feelings are a poor standard of truth. We have already mentioned Paul. We might mention Jacob also who believed with all his heart that his son Joseph was dead, but that did not make it true. Remember, God has given us revelation, facts. Our convictions must rest upon these facts or else we will find ourselves upon shifting sand.

Conscience — Not a Reliable Guide

Neither is conscience a reliable guide in determining whether your convictions are sound or not. The conscience is very pliable to begin with. Our conscience is usually formed at a tender age. At that time it may be trained to approve good or evil. When we reach maturity our conscience alters and becomes almost unchangeable. From then on it tells us only whether we have done as we learned to do or not.

Changing the conscience then is a slow, difficult project. If your conscience were trained correctly, well and good. If it were trained incorrectly, then it will approve even when you do things that are really wrong, because it was taught that which was wrong. “Let your conscience be your guide” is poor advice.

This brings us back again to the fact that we must ultimately make our stand upon the word of God. Everything is to be judged by it.

By Bob Waldron

Our Bible Classes

· · Leave a comment

The church that meets and works together at Chapman Acres has decided to set aside 45-50 minutes every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening to study the Bible in the form of a class. If you will join us at 9 A.M. on Sundays and 7 P.M. on Wednesdays, you too can join us in this engaging study of God’s holy word. At these studies you can expect, first and foremost, teaching from the Bible, teachers who have prepared to instruct the students and who care for the souls of those whom they teach, and fellow truth-seekers who desire to know and understand God’s will more than all else. All adults are welcome and encouraged to join us for these profitable studies (even if it is not your custom to attend these on a regular basis).

These Bible classes are not just for adults; young children and adolescents will greatly benefit from age-appropriate studies as well. Two separate classes are offered for the younger people. It is not the responsibility of the local church to raise children; that responsibility is placed on the shoulders of parents (Ephesians 6:4), however we believe that the studies offered here at Chapman Acres can be of aid to parents in that most important task of raising godly children. To that end, we would encourage all parents to bring their children to these Bible classes. Grandparents, we would ask you to consider this an opportunity to help mold the spiritual future of your precious grandchildren.

We may not all be Bible class teachers and have the opportunity of directly influencing the future generation, however more of us can play the pivotal role that Lois and Eunice played in the rearing of Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14, 15).

Attendance to these studies is an obvious way we will benefit from these Bible classes, however, if we think that by simply attending these studies we will grow spiritually mature, we are mistaken. In the continuation of this article, let us offer some other ways we can help our spiritual walk as it relates to our Bible classes.

Pray

One of the best things we can do as we try to improve our Bible classes is pray. There are so many things to pray for. You can pray for your understanding of the text. You can pray for open hearts to the word. You can pray for the instructors who will be leading the studies. You can pray for resolve to follow and apply what you learn from the studies. As you can see, there are many things that we can pray for as it relates to our studies. While this is a good start, it should not be the only step.

Prepare

I think most would agree that when only the teacher is prepared for Bible class, it is usually not one of the best classes. Certainly, the teacher has the responsibility of preparing and doing his homework for the class, but should he be the only one?

In two weeks, the adults will begin a study through material titled Themes in 1 Timothy. Wednesdays we are studying through the Periods Between the Testaments. The children’s classes are currently in a three-year study of the Old and New Testaments. Most of us have plenty of time during the week where we can get ready for these Bible classes. Read the text before you come to class. Lesson sheets have been made and everyone is encouraged to have those filled out before class. If you wish to gain much good from these classes, remember that you must put forth your best effort as well.

Participate

Once you have prayed and prepared yourself for Bible class, you will now be in a good position to participate in the class and help make it engaging for others with your contributions. As always, any and all comments and questions are always welcome. One of the advantages of studying the Bible in a class setting is that you have so many sharp minds also studying the material. This can incredibly helpful as often others can shed light and bring clarity to what otherwise be a tough subject. Not everyone feels comfortable speaking up in a public setting, and that is fine, but remember that there are other ways of participating other than by speaking up.

Practice

The goal of Bible study is not to simply memorize Bible facts. While facts can be extremely helpful, the true purpose of Bible study is to reform us. The reason we study, meditate, learn, and teach is so that our hearts and lives might be changed. We always want to conform our will to the Scriptures.

As we go through our material in Bible class, remember to let God’s word change you and to practice the things we learn from our studies. “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:21, 22).

Isaac Muñoz

Welcome

· · Leave a comment

Thank you for picking up and taking the time to read this bulletin! If you are visiting with us from the community or a nearby congregation, we want you to know we are grateful for your presence with us. Your presence is an encouragement to us, and it is our most earnest desire that our worship has been beneficial to you and favorable in the sight of God, our Savior.  If it’s your first time being with us or you are unsure of why we do the things we do, allow us to explain.

The church of Christ at Chapman Acres is an independent, non-denominational group of Christians whose goal is to serve God, the Creator and Savior. Free from the authority of man-made creeds or charters, our only standard is the Bible. Our only model is the church that Jesus established, of which we read in the New Testament. While we pray for and encourage other churches who seek to follow the New Testament pattern, the church at Chapman Acres maintains no organizational ties with other congregations either in our local area or abroad.

The Christians who make up the church are not perfect, but our goal is to live for the One who died for us. We are forgiven sinners who have believed in Jesus Christ, have committed our lives to Him, and have obeyed His command to be immersed in baptism. To us, being a Christian is not about living our way and expecting God to approve of whatever we do. Jesus Christ is Lord and King. However, neither is being a Christian a matter of cold, robotic obedience to laws. Being a Christian is about cultivating a relationship with the Father. Whatever He asks, we lovingly seek to give Him.

Our God-given duty as a group is to spread the Gospel locally and abroad, to encourage the members of the church, and to help Christians who are in spiritual or physical need. We do not provide recreation or entertainment. God has given His church much more important work with eternal consequences. Our job is to help everyone we know be saved.

We read in the New Testament that Christians regularly met together to worship and study. They sang songs in order to praise God and encourage one another. They prayed together. They contributed financially to the work of the church. Teaching and Bible reading were essential parts of their activities. In addition, we read that they regularly met on the first day of the week to observe the Lord’s Supper and remember the sacrifice that makes it all possible. These simple, spiritual activities are what you will find at Chapman Acres.

We would love for you to visit with us. You will find a friendly greeting, reverent worship, group Bible study, and teaching from the Bible. Feel free to contact us if you wish to study with any of the men or women of the church at a place of your choice. Our prayer is that you dedicate yourself to the Lord and seek His will. We will help in any way we can.

[This description of the saints which meet at Chapman Acres can be found, along with much more information, at www.chapmanacres.org.]

In addition to finding more information about the church that worships and works together here in Huntsville through our website, you can also “like” our page on Facebook (Chapman Acres church of Christ), and stay connected with us through that medium.

Not only will you be able to keep up with the news at Chapman Acres, but it will also give you an opportunity to think on spiritual things throughout the day, as we often try to place thought-provoking and spiritually-engaging posts.

Again, thank you for visiting us and taking the time to read this. Please do not hesitate to let us know how we can help you draw nearer to God.

The Christians at Chapman Acres

 

 In addition to welcoming our guests from the community and other congregations we also want to extend a warm welcome to our brother and special guest, Greg Chandler.

We have been looking forward to this week for some time and have been praying for the success of the Gospel through this effort. We thank you for coming our way and anticipate your lessons from the word of God. God bless, brother!

“So [we] sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

 Acts 10:33

Good News, Bad News Postings

· · Leave a comment

A couple of months ago we announced that we would begin to run a series titled, “Good News, Bad News” on the social media site, Facebook. While making the announcement, we also encouraged our own members to like and share the posts (of course, only if they truly agreed with the post) on their own walls as the extra likes and shares help create additional traffic for our social media site and potential visitors to our website. (Of course, the church is not in the “business” of creating viral posts, however, by reaching a greater audience we give others a better opportunity to be exposed to the word of God.)

The purpose behind the series “Good News, Bad News” was to show that in the darkest moments humans will experience in this lifetime, there is a beacon of hope if one will turn to God. The purpose of the series was intended to highlight the fact that apart from God man is nothing, but with Him man has the opportunity to live life as God intended it to be lived. The purpose of the series was to emphasize that without God there is only bad news, but with God we can see the Good News while surrounded by bad news.

I am happy to report that the series “Good News, Bad News” has been received favorably. Everyone’s efforts in helping spread the Good News of Jesus Christ are appreciated. Lord willing, the plan is to continue with the series.

Below is a compilation of four of our postings on Facebook. These are shared with the intention that those who are not on Facebook may feel a part of the work and may be encouraged by them. Hopefully those who have seen these before can also benefit from them

Troubles of Life: the Bad News and the Good News

The Bad News: The reality is that from the cradle to the grave we will all experience troubles and difficulties.

The Good News: God cares! “…Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

The Tree of Life: the Bad News and the Good News

The Bad News: When Adam and Eve were disobedient to God as recorded in Genesis 3, one of the consequences of this sin was the prohibition to the tree of life. An omnidirectional flaming sword was set to guard it (Genesis 3:24).

The Good News: When you come to the last chapter of the last book of the Bible, we are told that access to the tree of life can be ours! “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14).

The Younger Son of Luke 15: the Bad News and the Good News

The Bad News: The parable that is often referred to as the parable of the “prodigal son” begins with the younger son demanding his portion of his inheritance from his father and journeying to a far country where he wastes his possessions with prodigal living (Luke 15:12, 13). So bleak does his future appear that “he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods which the swine ate” (15:16).

The Good News: The father was a father of compassion, mercy, and second opportunities. In Luke 15:20-24 we read of one of the most tender exchanges in all of Scripture. The good news of this parable is that just as the father of the younger son eagerly received his wayward son, so does our Father anticipate our turning away from sin and coming to His arms for a joyous reunion!

Confusion Surrounding the Bible: the Bad News and the Good News

The Bad News: Religious confusion exists. For example, if you were to ask about how someone is saved today, you will, without a doubt, receive many, varied answers to your question. Such confusion is disheartening and frustrating.

The Good News: It is possible to understand God’s will (Ephesians 5:17). God has revealed His mind in such a way that anyone can come to know it! The words of Ephesians 3:3-5 are truly good news: “how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.”

Isaac Muñoz