Bulletin

Curriculum Overview
Orange Street, 2008

Introduction

Do you know what it means to be a child of God? Could you demonstrate by word and deed whose child you are? If you were looking for the Lord's church, could you find it? Is one church as good as another? Did the Lord establish a church? Is, as some assert, the "true" church invisible, and you cannot be sure which church has the approval of the Christ? How could Saul of Tarsus locate church members and persecute them? If you cannot be sure of the identity of the church of Christ, how could the Apostle Paul address letters (epistles) to local groups and individuals?

The above questions and issues are very important. Your elders have proposed to have a series of studies in the next year that will be designed to take the entire congregation through a study of the distinctive nature of the church of Christ as revealed in the pages of the New Testament.
We cannot teach others if we are not informed ourselves. If we do not know basic and fundamental truths, we are left to be tossed in every direction by every idea that may come our way (2 Pet. 3:14-18).

Discussion

All classes will be anchored in the fundamental authority of the Bible. Truth obeyed makes one a child of God. Truth disobeyed makes one a child of the Devil. "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof. But because I say the truth, ye believe me not" (Jn. 8:44-45).

There needs to be a class that will emphasize the plan of salvation. This class will be taught by Bob Faneuf and Eddie Hurn. We cannot please God if we are children of the Devil. We must be removed from the power of darkness in the kingdom of God's Son (Col. 1:13ff). Following the Bible makes us a Christian. Following the confusing doctrines of men, creates doubt. We must not be led astray. "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience" (Eph. 5:6). "My little children, let no man lead you astray: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous" (1 Jn. 3:7).

The Lord seeks worshipers to worship Him in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:22-24). This class will be taught by Bob Bauer and Daniel Stearsman. Worshiping God is not after our wishes, but after God's dictates. Try to justify the worship of the following worshipers: Cain (Gen. 4:1ff.; Heb. 11:4); Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10); Jeroboam (1 Kgs. 12:25-33; 2 Kgs. 17:21-23); Samaritans (Jn. 4:22-24); some Jews (Mt. 15:7-9); the Athenians (Acts 17:22-31); and some at Colossae (Col. 2:8-23). We need to study this topic.

The Lord either organized the church or He did not. If He did not, we sin if we try to organize it (we act without Bible authority, Col. 3:17; 2 Jn. 9-11). These same passages will condemn us if the Lord did organize it, and we try to modify what He organized. Only the most immature and uninformed would be unaware of the efforts on many fronts to reorganize the church of Christ. We need to study this subject. This class will be taught by Jackie Stearsman and Chad Tagtow.

There is a need for Christians to be informed in ethical issues. This class will be taught by Bill Norton and Greg Littleton. Ethically we must comply with the wishes of the Divine will (Mt. 7:21-27). As these thoughts are being composed, there is an article in the Lakeland Ledger (Wednesday, June 11, 2008, A4) that points out the difficulty confronting the Southern Baptist Denomination over the subject of women preaching and drinking beverage alcohol. The same problems surface in the Lord's church. Immodest dress, "social drinking," fornication and adultery, et al being all too common. It was in Corinth, and it is in the USA. If we are to avoid the consequences of moral corruption, we must have the moral compass provided us in the Bible (2 Tim. 4:1-4; 2 Pet. 1:3).

Conclusion

Has God made known His will in the Bible? Has God sent his Son to atone for the sins of disobedient people? Has God explained His will so people can benefit therefrom? When people stray from the Bible, may they return to the Bible? When people depart from the Bible, how would you identify the departures?

If we are to be the people of the Book, we must give close attention to the authority of the Bible, the plan of salvation, the proper way to worship, the organization of the church of Christ, and ethical issues. The attacks on the church of Christ will be (and is) mounted on one and/or all of these fronts.

With these thoughts in view, the elders have proposed that the congregation devote a year's study of these items beginning the first Sunday in July 2008. You have asked us (the elders) to assume the duty of feeding the flock, will you encourage one another to be faithful in being a part of these studies, and encouraging others to do the same? We cannot accomplish this without your prayers and support.

– the elders