HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH EZINE

The Lord's church has gotten away from basic Bible doctrine. When was the last time you heard a "hell fire and brimstone" sermon? Many of our young people have never heard one. How often do we hear a solid sermon on first principals? Or one on the facts and differences of the old and new laws? The fact is, many of us older Christians are well acquainted with these subjects and we tend to forget that everyone has not been exposed to as much basic teaching as once prevailed.

The Restoration movement began just about the beginning of the 19th century. I was born just over a hundred years later, but the Lord's church was something to behold at that time. We did not have "Revivals". We had "Protracted Meetings" and protracted they were. We sometimes had protracted meetings in "brush arbors". The men of the community would get together and cut poles and make a large framework and cover the top with fully leaved limbs into a tent-like structure, they would bring benches and chairs borrowed from their homes and/or meeting houses to fill the structure with seating. Then, most often a preacher of some renown would be brought in to preach twice daily for two full weeks! Today, 3 to 4 days is the norm and usually 5 or 6 days is the very maximum we can get people to attend or a preacher to preach (1 service per day).

And what a series of meetings it would be! No soft, bland, sleep-inducing sermons! Those old preachers could rattle off scripures so fast and meanigful that you couldn't have gone to sleep if you tried. They could hold you spell-bound with their vivid proclamations. They preached to the community, everyone came, regardless of their religious persuasions, and they never pulled any punches. You got the truth, unadorned, plain and simple.

Yes, there were some who were angered by the preaching, some offended, but often those very angry or offended ones were baptized before the 2 week meeting ended! In those meetings as I recall, there were baptisms almost daily throughout the meeting. The Lord's church was enjoying a time of glory and was growing by leaps and bounds. It grew to an estimated 2 million somewhere around the mid 20th century, but then slowed to a virtual standstill!

I do not believe it is a coincidence that preachers started preaching to scratch itching ears, we stopped studying the Bible, and the church began adding innovations to be like those round about us, and at the same time stopped growing! Not a coincidence. I submit below some links to lessons by brethren who "tell it like it is".

Faith and works should travel side by side, step answering to step, like the legs of men walking. First faith, and then works; and then faith again, and then works again -- until they can scarcely distinguish which is the one and which is the other.

(this item submitted by Phillip Williams)

If It Is True That All Of A Christian's Life Constitutes "Worship" - Then: There are other acts of worship to God other than prayer, singing spiritual songs, preaching, the Lord's Supper, and giving. These other acts include but are not limited to: sleeping, walking and jogging.

It is possible to perform 1,000 acts of worship in one day (or more). Some members of the church could probably bounce a tennis ball 1,000 times in a day, easy!

When a football player (who happens to be a faithful Christian) catches a pass and runs for a touchdown to the cheering of the crowd, it is correct to say he performed an act of PUBLIC worship.

Changing baby diapers would be worship. "I don't believe the doctrine implies such," cries the wolf in sheep's clothing. Well, — If the diaper fits, wear it! Any doctrine which implies false doctrine is false within itself.

What Does Romans 12:1 Really Mean?

The King James Version states, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service." (KJV).

Paul commands the Christian to be a living sacrifice, that is, one who is holy due to the fact that he daily refuses to conform to the sinful standards of the world — but instead seeks to daily live out the will of God in his life. He is able to do this due to the fact that he does what Paul taught in Romans 12:2, that is, he daily transforms his mind with the Word of God. By doing this he proves what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

There is not one shred of evidence in the New Testament which authorizes any man living to teach that all the Christian life is one continual worship service to God, with the tacked on disclaimer: except when sinning. There is not one shred of evidence in the New Testament which authorizes any man living to teach that while all the Christian life is not one continual worship service to God, that it should be. Those who claim Romans 12:1 teaches it ignore the context of Paul's statements.

(Gary L. Grizzell, Preacher, Flynn's Lick Church of Christ, Gainesboro, TN)

Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act (HR 235) The Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act of 2003 introduced by Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC) would lift the ban on political speech by churches, thereby allowing them to participate freely in our democracy, without fear that the government will penalize them for doing so.

"Developing Leadership In The Church For The 21st Century" and a "Bible Foundations" course are offered to meet the two greatest needs in the church today.

The leadership book is a practical, 63 page book of 13 chapters with review questions. The character traits, work habits and characteristics needed in servant leaders are detailed, that men may be taught, trained and disciplined to become self-disciplined servants of Christ. $5.00 plus s/h.

The Bible Foundations study is a unique course, designed to be used either as a study by mail or as a one-on-one study. Fourteen lessons stress the authority of the Bible, the authority of Christ, rightly dividing the word, what it means to obey the gospel, and Christ's church on earth today. Review questions are designed to lead to obedience to the gospel. $2.00 plus s/h. Unlimited reproduction rights are granted to teachers in programs who teach students in foreign countries. For more detailed information or to order, write to Allard Publications: eallard@juno.com

Chula Vista Books is owned and operated by Mark and Teah McWhorter. We carry a wide selection of Bible related materials--ladies' books, childrens' materials, commentaries, apologetics, lectureship books, missions books, class books, debates, sermon books, church history, topical studies, Bible covers, Bibles, tracts, BCCs and more.

We also send out used book lists from time to time. Unfortunately we do not have a catalog at present but invite your inquiries. If you would like to be on our mailing list, send us your email address.

Mark McWhorter, 420 Chula Vist Mtn Rd, Pell City AL 35125, Phone 205-338-1843

Does your congregation have a web site? Can you add, update and delete information from your existing web site easily? If you answered no to either question visit The Lord's Way. This new service allows you to create a web site for your congregation and update it yourself whenever you want by simply completing online forms. The service is designed for any congregation that wants a web site that contains current, updated and fresh information but does not want to invest the time and money in learning about the inner-workings of the Internet. Your new site will be packed with information about your congregation. Visit us and take a tour!

...Senator Rick Santorum's recent comments about homosexuality mirror the Christian tradition of hating the sin while loving the sinner. A transcript of the interview shows the Pennsylvania Republican said, "I have no problem with homosexuality. I have a problem with homosexual acts." Santorum added, "I have no problem with someone who has other orientations. The question is, do you act upon those orientations?" Homosexual advocacy groups have denounced Santorum for saying that if the Supreme Court strikes down Texas's sodomy law, then laws banning consensual incest and polygamy might also be declared unconstitutional. In the interview, Santorum defended such laws because -- in his words -- "whether it's polygamy, whether it's adultery, where it's sodomy, all of those things are antithetical to a healthy, stable, traditional family."

Talking about the old days and protracted meetings brings back a lot of memories. Back in the 1930's, very few people had cars and if you wanted the denominational world to hear the truths of God's word, you pretty much had to bring it to them. If no congregation of the Lord's church existed within the neighborhood, a brush arbor, or someother type facility was necessary.

These old time preachers were literally filled with zeal and exhuberance. I tell you truthfully, it was not unusual for them to speak for one and one-half to two hours, and three or four hours was not unheard of. But people attended to hear the word, not just to sit until dismissal. The man who baptized me in 1948 was known for his 2 hour sermons. But the things they said were not boring or tiring. You came home with things to discuss with your parents and even with your peers in school the next day.

The theme for SELTC 2003 is "Go!" Based on the book of Matthew, this year's study challenges each of us to allow God to rule in every area of our life. We pray that this year's study affords you the opportunity to grow closer to God and each other. The date for this year's convention is April 18-20, 2003. We will be meeting at the Adam's Mark in Mobile, AL. For more information please visit our website at www.seltc.org or call 205-988-5808.

The Bear Valley Bible Institute, Scottsboro Extension (BVBISE) is half-way through it's second year of operation under the oversight of the elders of the Broad Street Church of Christ in Scottsboro, Alabama. The school is an extension of the BEAR VALLEY BIBLE INSTITUTE of DENVER. 40 courses (and eight out-of-class mini-courses) completed over a four-year period lead to the Bachelor of Biblical Studies Degree. The Associates Degree may be earned in half that time.

One course is taught each month (except July and December) in two all-day Saturday sessions along with outside assignments. The school is TUITION FREE. The only costs to the student are for required texts & materials, and a $5 fee each Saturday to help cover the teacher's expenses. The teachers are academically well-qualified and experienced gospel preachers who know and love the Bible as the verbally inspired and authoritative word of God, and who volunteer their time and work as a labor of love.

BVBISE is committed to training sound and able Bible teachers (men and women), and faithful gospel preachers for service in the kingdom of Christ. The format is designed to make this training possible for men and women who must continue their jobs and other pursuits while they study. Credit is given for previous college or preacher-school study. A preacher-school graduate may be able to earn the Bachelor of Biblical Studies Degree in as little as four months of study. For more information please contact the Broad Street Church of Christ, 613 South Broad Street, Scottsboro, AL 35768. Phone: 256-574-2489. EMAIL

A Goatherd had sought to bring back a stray goat to his flock. He whistled and sounded his horn in vain; the straggler paid no attention to the summons. At last the Goatherd threw a stone, and breaking its horn, begged the Goat not to tell his master. The Goat replied, "Why, you silly fellow, the horn will speak though I be silent."

Do not attempt to hide things which cannot be hid. ...Aesop