The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
February 6, 2005
In
This Issue:
What
a Day May Bring Forth
by
Steve Klein
How
To Listen in Church
by
Robert Turner
Premillennialism
by
Greg Gwin
What a Day May Bring Forth
Car accidents killed 42,643 people in the United States in the year 2003. 4,749 of those killed were pedestrians. Statistically, about 15 out of every 100,000 people die in auto accidents each year. On the day they died, those who lost their lives surely did not leave their homes in the morning thinking, "Today I am going to die in a car wreck." Similarly, most of the 494,382 people who lost their lives to heart attack and coronary disease in the United States in the year 2002 died unexpectedly. Few who are murdered or receive a diagnosis of terminal illness expect it. These are just some of the more tragic life-ending surprises that happen everyday.
It's been said that, "The one certain thing that we can say about the future, is that we can't say anything for certain!" The Bible says, "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1). Not only do we not know what will happen tomorrow, the reality is that there may not even be a tomorrow.
In a life filled with uncertainty, Jesus would have us understand that the only safe course is to make certain that we are prepared for eternity. "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matthew 24:44). "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matthew 25:13). Notice the words "ready" and "watch" in these verses. They convey the ideas of being constantly prepared and alert with anticipation.
There is wisdom in living every day as if it were your last. One day, it will be. Complete faith and trust in a God who is eternal, absolute and unchanging is the only reasonable way to deal with an existence that is temporary, uncertain and ever changing. This is what it means to "watch" and be "ready." "Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am&ldots;My hope is in You" (Psalm 39:4, 7).
-- Steve Klein
Ever get sleepy during the sermon? (Not mine, of course.) Truth is, any one of us may find our attention wandering now and then. Long attention spans are difficult under the best of circumstances. The preacher bears a heavy responsibility here, for subject matter, style of presentation, relevance, and many other factors which contribute to a "live" wide-awake audience. But the speaker cannot do it all. Nor is it enough to prove by the Scriptures that we should be vitally interested. We know that and yet we may need motivation. Perhaps we could even learn how to become better listeners.
Jesus said, "Take heed &ldots; how ye hear" (Lk. 8:18). Not with dulled hearing and closed eyes, shunning the truth (Matt. 13:15-16); nor with preconceived notions that prevent our receiving truth (Matt. 16:21-23). The people I now have in mind do not belong in these categories. But there are "good" people whose minds wander, or are easily distracted; and this article is bold to make some suggestions for getting more out of the sermon and of worship as a whole.
1. Sit toward the front of the auditorium; close enough to feel the speaker is talking to you. Do this not just to better hear the speaker, but to improve the "oneness" of feeling essential to good communication. It puts fewer distractions between you and the speaker, allows you to better "read'' his expressions, gestures, etc. It also makes for better singing and a "closer" feeling for the Lord's supper and other worship. Yes, there are mothers with babies who need to sit closer to the nursery; sick and elderly who need easier access to the rest rooms; leave the back seats for them.
2. Become a participant, not an observer. In Christianity all saints are priests in a holy, royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:5, 9). Each is a worshiper; praying and singing with the leader, remembering Christ in the communion, giving freely with the Lord's work in mind, and learning -- repeating in your own mind -- that which is being taught. Being a true learner is not a passive process, but requires distinct participation with the teacher.
3. Take notes, learn to outline the message. Some are content to jot down the Scriptures used -- and that is good. But this can be done without much thinking with the speaker. If we would make an effort to jot down his main points (in our own brief wording) and note their relation to one another and to the subject, we would find ourselves much more of a participant -- and certainly a much better listener.
4. Question what you hear. Is that a valid point, proven by the Scripture used? You will not be able to think the matter through during the sermon, but a question mark beside the point will remind you to "check it out" when you are home. This word of caution: one can be a "noble Berean" (Acts 17:11) without becoming an habitual critic of the work of others. Learn constructive criticism, and apply it to your own work.
5. Listen with the intention of making this your message, when you have time to think it through. How would you tell this to others? How could you improve on it, to fit someone you need to teach? This point of view can have an amazing effect on your attention span.
6. Make self-application of the lesson. How can this improve my life for Christ? How does it fit my personal needs? Listen with a tender conscience, ready to learn and adjust your life accordingly.
You can have the blessings of Jesus Christ if you will learn to be a good listener. The Savior said, "Blessed are your ears, for they hear." He also said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matt. 13:16; 5:6). With a little practice on the above, and this kind of incentive, you may not notice the preacher ran overtime
-- Robert Turner
A popular doctrine in the religious world today is the theory of premillennialism. Simply stated it suggests that Jesus will return to establish a literal kingdom on earth and reign for a period of 1000 years. Much of this doctrine comes from a misinterpretation of some very figurative language in Revelation 20.
There are many variations of the doctrine, but all adherents generally acknowledge a few basic tenets:
1) God never fulfilled all of His land promises to the nation of Israel, therefore there must be a future kingdom in which he keeps these promises.
FALSE: All land promises were fulfilled to Israel (Joshua 21:43,45).
2) Christ planned to establish an earthly kingdom when he came the first time.
FALSE: This was never his intention (John 18:36).
3) The Jews rejected him and ruined his plans.
FALSE: They initially wanted him as their king. He refused them (John 6:15).
4) The church was established as an afterthought until the real kingdom could be arranged.
FALSE: The church is no afterthought (Eph. 3:10,11). Jesus came to establish it (Matt. 16:18,19). And, there is no distinction between the kingdom and the church (Mark 9:1; Col. 1:13).
5) When Jesus returns he will reign on David's throne in the city of Jerusalem.
FALSE: He now reigns (Acts 2:29-33).
Premillennialism is false, because all the premises of the theory are false.
-- Greg Gwin