MINISTRY OF ANGELS

MINISTRY OF ANGELS             R. D. Ice  1977    [TEV]

    “Angel means messenger. Spiritual beings who exist to serve God and to praise the Lord.  Higher in status than humans, they are lower in status that the exalted Jesus (Hebrews 2:6-8). Among them there are different ranks or orders, including angels and archangels.  Some rebelled against God's sovereignty; their leader is known as Satan (the devil), and they became fallen or disobedient angels.  The vast majority, however, have remained as free obedient beings, and it was they who welcomed the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:13-14) and will come with Him at His Second Coming (1 Thessalonians 4:18).  In the Old Testament, the 'angel of the Lord' is in fact God Himself speaking.  Two angels are specifically named in the Old Testament, Gabriel and Raphael.  Gabriel appeared again to announce the Incarnation of Christ.  Michael, the "prince of Israel" (Daniel 10:21; 12:1) is often referred to as an angel."  Compact Bible Dictionary           

    Angels are a separate order of creation.  Contrary to popular folklore, a human does not become an angel after death.  Note that angels existed before the death of any human being -(compare Genesis 3:24; Job 38:6-7.

    In the Scriptures angels sometimes appear with bodies and in human form, and with abilities similar to the resurrected Christ (compare Genesis 18:1-8; 19:1,10; Luke 24:37-43; John 20:19).  

    God gave the Old Testament Law through angels (Gal. 3:19).  In contrast the Gospel Good News came through Christ rather than angels (Hebrews 1:1-2).

    Angels are interested in the salvation of mankind (1 Peter 1:12).  Yet the Scriptures strongly warn us not to worship angels (Col. 2:18,23; Rev. 22:8-9). 

    Angels come with Christ to judge the earth and reap the harvest of both reward and punishment (Jude 14-15; Rev. 14:14-20). 

    The Devil and his angels were defeated at the Cross  (Col. 2:15).  But they are still permitted to oppose the followers of Christ (Eph. 6:12; 1 Cor. 10:13), and Christians must "resist the Devil" (James 4:7).

    "God has not placed the angels as rulers over the new world to come - the world of which we speak.  Instead, as it is said somewhere in the Scriptures (Psalm 8:4-6): 'What is man, O God, that You should think of him; mere man (the son of man), that You should care for him?  You made him for a little while lower than the angels, You crowned him with glory and honor, and made him ruler over all things.'  It says that God made man 'ruler over all things'; this clearly includes everything.  We do not, however, see man ruling over all things now.  But we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, so that through God's grace (kindness) He should die for everyone (taste death for everyone in all the world).  We see Him now crowned with glory and honor because of the death He suffered.  It was only right that God, who creates and preserves all things, should make Jesus perfect through suffering, in order to bring many sons (daughters) to share His glory.  For Jesus is the one who leads them to salvation."  [Hebrews 2:5-10]

1. Ministering Spirits. 

    "The angel of the LORD met Hagar at a spring in the desert on the road to Shur . . .He said, 'Go back to her and be her slave.'"  [Genesis 16:7-9]

    "The angel of God, who had been in front of the army of Israel, moved and went to the rear."  [Exodus 14:19]  This was to protect against the Egyptians.

    "God will put His angels in charge of you to protect you wherever you go."  [Psalm 91:11]  The Devil quotes this during the temptation of Christ.

2. Angels announced the Birth of Christ.

    "But the angel said to them: 'Don't be afraid!  For I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people.  This night in David's town your Savior was born - Christ the Lord!"  [Luke 2:10]

3. Comforted Christ in His Temptation.

    "He was there forty days, and Satan tempted Him.  Wild animals were there also, but angels came and helped Him."  [Mark 1:13]

4. Delivered Apostles from prison.

    "But that night an angel of the Lord opened the prison gates, led the apostles out, and said to them, Go and stand in the Temple, and tell the people all about this new life."  [Acts 5:19]

    "Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shone in the cell.  The angel shook Peter by the shoulder, woke him up and said, Hurry!  Getup!  And at once the chains fell off his hands."  [Acts 12:7]

5. Angels execute the vengeance of God.

    “When the LORD's angel was about to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD changed His mind about punishing the people and said to the angel who was killing them, 'Stop!  That's enough!"  [2 Samuel 24:16]  Punishment was for David's taking a census against God's orders. 

    "An angel of the LORD went to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 soldiers."  [Isaiah 37:36]  The angel was defending the city of Jerusalem.

6. Rejoice over sinners who repent.

    "In the same way, I tell you, the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents."  [Luke 15:10]

7. Fallen angels.

    “For God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell, where they are kept chained in darkness, waiting for the Day of Judgment."  [2 Peter 2:4] 

    "Remember the angels who did not stay within the limits of their proper authority, but abandoned their own dwelling-place: God has kept them in the darkness below, bound in eternal chains for that great Day on which they will be condemned."  [Jude 6]

8. Heavenly angels.

    “Again I looked, and I heard angels, thousands and millions of them! They stood around the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders, and sang in a loud voice: "The Lamb who was killed is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and strength, honor, glory, and praise!"  And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, in the world below, and in the sea—all living beings in the universe—and they were singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever!"  The four living creatures answered, "Amen!" And the elders fell down and worshiped.”  [Rev 5:11-14 (TEV)]

PASSING ON THE VISION

PASSING ON THE VISION                      1-17-2000

        "Churches are short on Christian love, forgiveness, and vision for the future."  Do you believe this statement is true?  Jesus said: “But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."  Matt 9:13 (NKJV)

        David prayed: “Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.  For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.  Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight-- That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.”  Psalms 51:1-4 (NKJV)

        God responds to Jacob's prayer.  Notice what Jacob did in Genesis 30:37-43.  "Then he set up these peeled branches by the watering trough so Laban's flocks would see them...all of their offspring were streaked, speckled and spotted." 

        A visionary church stays on course, clearly knowing and communicating the vision God has for the whole Body for the long term.  The vision goes beyond the present leaders to a visionary people!

        Petersen expands Eph. 4:11-16.  “He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christians in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church, until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ. No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors.  God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do.  He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.”  Eph 4:11-17 (MSG)

      Involve others in this work.

        "It is better to get ten men to work - than to try to do the work of ten men."  Have the vision, but it will take others to fulfill this vision.  A vision shared stirs others and gives them something to believe God for.  Leaders equip others to operate within the vision.  But, not all the vision comes from the leaders.  People are drawn to the local church by the Holy Spirit - either to be saved (obey the gospel) or to help fulfill the vision of the local church.  We want to see others saved and made followers of Jesus Christ [Matt. 28:18-20].

        Peterson expands this:  “God authorized and commanded me to commission you:  Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."  Matt 28:18-20 (MSG)

        When members share about a visionary church to others, they are sharing about a movement that will outlast a man or a woman.  Note 2 Timothy 1:5; 2:1-2; 3:14-15.  “I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Tim 1:3-7 (NKJV)

        1) A visionary church moves ahead.  People are not attracted to sterile and lifeless forms, but to that which is life-giving and relational.  Where there is relationship and spiritual life, there will be a natural numerical growth.  The old proverb: "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar" is still true.  The honey is the Doing & Dying & Rising Again of Jesus Christ. 

        “The voice out of Heaven spoke to me again: "Go, take the book held open in the hand of the Angel astride sea and earth."  I went up to the Angel and said, "Give me the little book." He said, "Take it, then eat it. It will taste sweet like honey, but turn sour in your stomach."  I took the little book from the Angel's hand and it was sweet honey in my mouth, but when I swallowed, my stomach curdled.  Then I was told, "You must go back and prophesy again over many peoples and nations and languages and kings."  Rev 10:8-11 (MSG)

        2) A visionary church grows leaders.  Nehemiah went for a ride one evening to inspect the walls of Jerusalem [Nehemiah 2:12].  The following day he recruited priests, goldsmiths, rulers, merchants, families and farmers.  It wasn't about numbers or a perfect wall.  It was about instilling vision and working together in relationship for a common goal.

        3) A visionary church is kingdom-minded.  We believe the kingdom did come on Pentecost (Acts 2) and spread to cover the world (note PDaniel 2:44).  A visionary church is concerned beyond the local community to a vision of the World conquered for Jesus!  People are not a means to an end - but they are God's greatest love!  "God so loved the world..."

        4) A visionary church is authentic.  "New cars smell new for only a short time, and then the newness wears off."  Promotion attracts the latest church-hoppers, but prayer breeds close-knit relationships that experience spiritual vitality and a church of substance.  People are attracted to God's love manifested through relationships with people.  God's love is authentic!  Note Romans 5:5; 1 John 2:7-8.

        Older is not always better.   “And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, 'The old is better.' "

Luke 5:39 (NKJV)  The "new wine" of the Gospel must always be our first priority.  If the "old wine" of the past is not working for you, perhaps you need to "reload" the original program of the Book of Acts and drink deeply from the springs of living water.  The reality of the Holy Spirit in people's lives was evident.  Acts 2:42-47 describe the process of relationship in a church with vision.  "Praising God and enjoying the good will of all the people."  You must decide where you fit according to your own spiritual values and build accordingly.

CHOOSING ELDERS AND LEADERS

CHOOSING ELDERS AND LEADERS  Matt Proctor

     If it’s true the redemptive drama being played out here hinges on the quality of the church’s leadership, then each congregation must pay close attention to what makes for a good church leader. A fresh look at 1 Timothy 3:1-7 is needed.

     In that hope, I’ve tried to summarize Paul’s description of the ideal spiritual leader in a list of 10 questions a congregation could ask of potential elders. Keep your Bible open to the text as you read through the following descriptions. As you seek those men who will lead your church, perhaps these questions will serve as a helpful test:

     1. Is this man respected in the community? The first quality listed is above reproach, literally meaning “not able to be held.” In other words, if charges were leveled against this man, he wouldn’t even be held for questioning because his reputation is so solid. He’s Teflon, not Velcro. His integrity is such that accusations just won’t stick.

     By the way, in verse 7 Paul bookends this list with another call for a good reputation with outsiders. Why this emphasis on how well others think of a man? Simply this: the reputation of Christ is tied to that of the church, and the reputation of the church is tied to that of its leaders.

     2. Is this man committed to his wife? A husband of but one wife literally reads “a one-woman man.” It describes a man completely devoted to his wife not only in body, but also in mind and heart. Why is this important? A strong marriage helps protect an elder from moral failure, provides needed support when he faces draining church challenges, and offers a powerful example to younger believers (1 Peter 5:3).

     3. Has this man shown wisdom in decision-making? Temperate means “clear-headed,” and self-controlled could actually be translated “prudent or thoughtful.” These words picture a man who has his head on straight. Why? Because an elder must often think his way through thorny relational, financial, and doctrinal questions—all of which can have eternal consequences. (Perhaps this is why spiritual leaders are called “elders,” suggesting a certain amount of life experience. Wisdom doesn’t always come with age, but it rarely comes without it.)  Look for evidence that a man is mature enough to avoid shoot-from-hip, impulsive, or careless decisions.

Whether you call it common sense, horse sense, or “coon dog sense,” you want your spiritual leaders to demonstrate wise decision-making.

     4. Has this man shown the ability to keep his temper in check? Paul describes an elder as a man who is not violent, but gentle and not quarrelsome. Church leaders will face volatile situations in which a soft word will turn away anger, but a harsh word will stir up wrath (Proverbs 15:1). If a man is known to have either an explosive anger (“losing it”) or a slow, simmering anger (“carrying a grudge”), the church will suffer. When conflict and criticism arise, the man who will make a good elder will have a tough skin, a tender heart, a short memory, and a long fuse.

     5. Is this man willing to be inconvenienced for others? When we hear the word hospitable, we picture inviting someone over for an evening of lasagna dinner and conversation. In the ancient world, where inns were notoriously filthy and even dangerous, the word pictured someone opening his home for guests to stay days or even weeks on end. Hospitality involved sacrifice and cost a great deal in time, space, money and effort. In other words, Paul’s question is: will this man think of others before himself?  After all, an elder is to shepherd the flock of God, and having raised sheep, I can tell you these frustrating animals need constant care. Their problems always seem to come at inconvenient times—I’ve spent a late night or two in the sheep barn. Plus, they smell baaaaad. (Sorry.) In other words, sheep require unconditional love.  A good elder recognizes, however, that these frustrating folk are beloved of God and are “bought with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).

     6. Is this man capable of teaching Scripture to others? An elder must be able to teach. Why? Biblically, the primary strategy for personal and corporate transformation is not excellent programming or even quality relationships, but rather the patient teaching of Scripture (2 Timothy 4:2). Is Paul telling Timothy to look for effective public speakers? Not necessarily. While delivery matters, the first requirement of a good teacher is not presentation skills, but mastery of content. Has this man given himself to study of Scripture and to filling himself with the Word of God?  You’re not simply looking for a man who knows how to say something, but rather a man who has something to say—something from God

     7. Has this man established wise personal habits? The word respectable pictures a man who is self-disciplined and orderly in his behavior. It describes the ancient church father who once prayed, “Father, help me be master of my self that I may be servant of others.” To serve the church, an elder certainly must not be given to drunkenness, but he must also avoid other habits that can damage reputation and distract focus—workaholism, gambling, smoking, overeating, or even watching too much television.  Ask of a potential leader: Do his habits reveal a man who is able to supervise his own life well? Self-control is not only the fruit of the Spirit, but also the mark of a good elder.

     8. Does this man have a strong sense of stewardship? Phrased differently, he is not a lover of money. Phrased positively, he is a lover of God with his money. Paul is describing a leader whose life will be marked by generosity and simple contentment. (See 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19.)   Why? A man who lives under the love of money might let in the door of his life such sins as embezzling, extravagance, or even hoarding, and I’ve seen spiritual leaders who then let these sins in the door of the church. On the other hand, a man who lives under the love of God will steward his own money and the church’s finances with God’s glory and the church’s mission always in mind.

     9. Does this man have a track record of discipling leadership? Has this man shown the ability to lead others to greater maturity in Christ? To answer that question, look at his family first. When Paul says an elder must manage his own family well, he means a man’s family is his first little congregation, and “whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” (Luke 16:10). But if three of his four children have no use for the church, what does this say of his spiritual leadership?

     10. Has this man been a Christian long enough to maintain humility? Paul says he must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited. The chief occupational hazard of spiritual leadership is pride, and too much visibility too soon in a man’s Christian pilgrimage can inflate his ego.  You’re looking for a man who won’t believe his own church newsletter press clippings and instead has the humility that comes when you’ve walked a ways with Jesus.

The Bible Study New Testament

PREFACE TO THE BIBLE STUDY NEW TESTAMENT

A STATEMENT OF PURPOSE  July 1974

The motto of World Radio, West Monroe, Louisiana, is: “Preaching Jesus Christ to every man in his own language.” My purpose is to do just that in the type of American English in use today. As one of the Pioneers said: “It would be just as reasonable to require men to worship God wearing long beards, with Jewish or Roman clothes, as it is to hand them

the Bible in archaic language which is less intelligible and more easily misunderstood.” [A. Campbell 1826] An accurate translation will transmit the message of the original writers in the usage, style, and idiom of the language of translation. In other words, one who reads a translation today should receive the same understanding from the language that a citizen of the First Century world did from reading the original manuscripts in Koine’ Greek.

In this book will be found the thinking of the Pioneers of the Restoration.  The People’s New Testament by B. W. Johnson serves as a pattern, but this is not a revision or even a paraphrase, it is completely new. Almost a century has passed since Johnson completed his work. Manuscripts more ancient have been discovered since then (such as the Dead Sea Scrolls).  More is known about some questions. A strong case can be made linking the thieves crucified with Jesus to the Zealots, who were armed terrorists.  Some new study gives light to the thorny problem of 1 Cor. 14:34-35.  More emphasis has been placed on the sacrifice of Christ extrinsic to ourself, and how we reach out through faith to seize it and make ourselves part of it. Some new thinking on the Book of Revelation penetrates the veil which the Middle Ages placed over this book. I have adopted the overall view called “synchronistic,” which to me seems the most logical and reasonable explanation of this book [which was obviously written to suffering Christians in the last ten years of the First Century].  Twenty-five years of my personal ministry, over five hundred books (many by the Restoration Pioneers), plus thousands of papers, tracts, magazines, etc., of widely varying religious communities, have been distilled in this book. I have made a conscious attempt to avoid the language of any one group, and as much as possible, to avoid “technical church language.” The style grows out of spending three and a half years trying to pack as much meaning as possible into a daily five-minute radio program. I have used a conversational approach, and you will sometimes find an unusual grammatical construction, either to conform to current usage, or to stress some special fact. I have made an effort to conform to the vocabulary of the Today’s English Version, Third Edition.  In this book are the two most important translations of our time. When Good News for Modern Man first came out, I recognized in it the same empathy as the Authorized Version of 1611. This makes it unique among the new versions. I believe that Good News for Modern Man (The Today’s English Version) has already become the New Authorized Version, and that this is God’s will. It has had its “baptism of fire,” survived, and gained strength. This same phenomenon has taken place in many other languages, and we have the counterpart of “Today’s English Version’’ in Spanish, Russian, Chinese, etc., - a flood of new versions making God‘s Truth available in spoken language of common people. I believe God is using these new versions to call men to himself - just as He used the German version by Luther, the English version by Tyndale, etc.

The New International Version is described as a worthy successor to the American Standard Version of 1901. Pat Patterson calls it: “A careful new translation.” It is an “evangelical” version, made in scholarly style.  This makes for both strengths and weaknesses. This version has yet to undergo its “baptism of fire,” but will certainly survive to take its rightful place.

The name of this book shows its purpose: “The Bible Study New Testament.” There can be no “short-cut” to spirituality! God has revealed himself to us in a book - the Bible - and we must STUDY to find him.  Paul said (in the language of King James): “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. ”

Written from Lynchburg, Virginia, July 1974.

R. D. Ice

Bible Study New Testament - May 27, 2003.

                Greetings from Wild & Wonderful West Virginia, the scene of much history.  This has been my home since 1986.  I am the preacher and an elder of the Union Church of Christ, about five miles SW of Philippi.  I will be 74 on June 25th, 2003.

                I wrote the final material for the Bible Study New Testament from 1974-1976.  College Press in Joplin, MO, was the publisher.  Thanks to brother Don DeWelt and others.  It was originally planned as a paperback for the mass market, and some language and style was aimed that way.  I got permission from the American Bible Society to use their TEV Good News Bible; and from the International Bible Society to use the NIV.  These were quite popular at the time, and the NIV has since been widely used among the brethren.  The Good News Bible also continues in wide use.

                I followed the general outline of Johnson's Notes [The People's New Testament, B. W. Johnson], but the material is all my own.  I did careful research from the original languages and made careful comparison with what others have written.  [I wrote, commenting on James 4:1.  "For this reason I have not relied on my own scholarship, but have drawn heavily from the minds and abilities of many individuals.]  I used Young's Analytical Concordance, The Expositor's Greek Testament, Alford's Greek Testament, La Sankta Biblio translated by Zamenhof, many other writings, plus my years of experience.

                I did a poor job of proofreading.  I had onIy a typewriter, no wordprocessor or spellchecker.  I wrote waste for water in one reference (waste and the Spirit); and cased for chased in another.  Please excuse such errors.  I could plead that only someone who has dealt with writing and printing can appreciate all that goes into searching for printing errors, misspellings, and wrong words.  Yet the Lord allowed me to get this into print.

                A one-volume edition of the BSNT was printed shortly after the two-volume, and some of the errors were corrected.  Also I wrote a new introduction for the one-volume edition, and added a longer word-subject list.

                I have written extensively in brotherhood publications, especially The Bible Herald, Parkersburg, WV (when Clifton Inman was editor) and The Firm Foundation, Austin, TX (when Reuel Lemmons was editor), the Gospel Advocate, and others.  Through the electronic medium and the Internet, much lives on - which I hope the Lord will approve of and bless, as He has continued to bless me over the years.

                Yours in Christ, R.D.Ice.   Written from Barbour County, West Virginia, 5-27-2003.

                P.S.: I have included a copy of the Adobe 5 reader to read the books in .pdf format.  I am also including some things I found of interest and use.  P.P.S: Church of Christ Ministry Manual.  http://cofcministrymanual.blogspot.com/

                P.P.S:  College Press has now made the Bible Study New Testament available as a PDF download.

BSNT vol 1  http://www.collegepress.com/cp/pdf/New%20Testament%20Vol%201.pdf

BSNT vol 2  http://www.collegepress.com/cp/pdf/New%20Testament%20Vol%202.pdf  

DISCOVERY

It's OK To Let Go!      R.D.Ice  6-04

        This is a composite, but it is based on true events which took place in two large metropolitan areas plus some other places.  Names are of course changed.  I have borrowed ideas from other writings and filtered them through my mind.

        "Through the years, Central Church of Christ [not the real name] in Mytown, PA, gradually declined in attendance, from 200 to 45 or 50.  Looking out over her 80-year-old pews, you saw only beloved senior citizens, and they were dwindling fast."

       "What to do???  The gates of Hell cannot destroy the Lord's One Spiritual Church.  But individual churches can lose their candlestick.  After talking about money and trying to raise support, another patch to a leaky roof, and seeking advice from respected brethren, the church hired a young (very young) preacher who knew nothing of the difficulties.  He made plans, hired an architect and contractors, built some new classrooms, and added a second Sunday morning service."

        "But, as we found out, Central Church had wonderful facilities, but no children left to enjoy them.  The day was coming, and could not be postponed.  The candle was about to sputter out."

        Closing One Door to Open Another.  "Turn it around or close it down."

        My computer has a "refresh" button.  It resets to the original default program.  But how to do it in this case???  We could imagine the Lord saying, "OK.  You did a good job.  But the inning is over.  It is time to move on and restart anew."  It was time to abandon the past and move on to the future to accomplish the Lord's purpose.

        Central sold the building, liquidated all the assets, and gave the money to a church-planting group overseen by a large church in the Midwest.  Leadership and planning was to be completely in the hands of the church-planting group. This sort of church-planting had been done in Bay Shore, Long Island, NY, some years ago.  Begin something new and fresh, free from the past and with a new identity. 

        This new church began meeting in a movie theater.  Discovery Church of Christ spends no money on building upkeep, and rent is not all that expensive.  Some who would not come into a church-building did come to the movie theater church.  The bulk of those who came were young, skeptical, and curious.  To them the established church was irrelevant, bureaucratic.  But these same young people were, however, hungry for truth and starving for a spiritual connection with God.

          Things are happening.  Our challenge is: How do we connect with a generation starving for God but disillusioned with what little they know of the church?  How do we eliminate barriers between a dying world and a living Savior??? Every Sunday morning the lobby of the movie theater is transformed into a meet-and-greet area for the Discovery Church of Christ.  Like Paul, we preach Christ Crucified, Risen, Coming Again!  The church went back to basics, not "issues".  Sermons focused on the purpose and mission of believers in Christ (the church).  We studied fundamental doctrines (the apostles' teaching).   We set about to discover and use our spiritual gifts.  Evangelism classes and evangelistic methods were taught.  A home-cell group was begun - meeting from house to house just like in Acts.  In the first six months, Discovery Church of Christ is averaging more than 250 in worship attendance. 

        Some times a computer must be restarted.  It shuts down and then reboots.  Central shut down and then restarted in the same community - but with a new identity and a new future.  Discovery Church of Christ is just the first phase.  Additional seed money left by the Central Church of Christ will be used to start two more new churches in 2007 and 2010.

        "Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him" (John 14:23 NKJV).

        [Note: Mytown, PA, is near a large population center and in a fast growing area.  But this fact did not help Central Church of Christ to this point.  Something drastic and new was needed.  Discovery Church of Christ was that new beginning.]

         There is more than one way of doing things.  Paul tailored his approach to fit those whom he was trying to reach (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).  We can do no less.  What Central Church did would probably not work in the rural area where I live.  But we ourselves are experiencing a time of renewal following a fire in our church-building (and we do have a younger generation coming on).  We praise the Lord and ask Him for wisdom and vision for the future.

         What can we learn from “Central - Discovery”???  How can we step away from the past and reach out to the future?  Paul said: “but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14). 

         First, a quotation from Augustine.  "Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His providence."  And, as we say: "Keep on keeping on!"

         1. Why did this work?  The gospel is the same.  What really changed to make the difference in reaching out to the community?  What can we learn from this?

         2. It is always our intention to worship God and obey Him!  But we might have been more focused on "the building" than on the Lord Jesus.  Perhaps we have been trapped by the past.  Paul wasn’t.  Phil. 3:9-11; 1 Cor. 9:19-22.

         3. Someone said: “Success is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.”  Someone also said: “Life is what happens while you are making other plans.”

         4. We always remember that Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God made the plant grow.  Compare Psalm 127:1

         5. It is dangerous to allow the recent Past to be an albatross around the neck of the church.  We always look back to Jerusalem, which is right, but we also look forward to the future.  We are not to allow the world or the Past to squeeze us into its mold.  We are to be transformed (Romans 12:1-2).

         6. Truth cannot change!  But methods may change, and may need to change.  Paul was all things to all men, “that I might by all means save some” (1 Cor. 9:19-23).

         7. When we stand before Him, might He say: “If you knew it would draw the people in to meet Me, why didn’t you do it?”

BACK TO BASICS

                                                             BACK TO BASICS!

                                                               Rhoderick D. Ice

        We do not expect God to speak to us directly.  But if He did, He might say something like this.  "Listen to MY voice.  Allow ME to direct your course in every area.  I will protect you from falling.  There are racial problems among MY people that are hindering My work to bring healing to your land.  MY love goes beyond cultural barriers.  MY love goes beyond the fear of meeting people of different races.  Go to the sick, the needy, the friendless.  And do so in the power of The Holy Spirit.  I am with you always!"  [Hebrews 13:5-6; Jude 24-25; Acts 11:17-18]

            The Church's foundation is unshakable and firm against the assaults of the raging sea. Waves lash at the Church but do not shatter it. Although the elements of this world constantly batter and crash against her, she offers the safest harbor of salvation for all in distress. —Ambrose (339–397)

            Heretics often provided a great service to the church. For example, Marcion rejected the Old Testament and the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John, thus forcing the church to define the New Testament canon. Arius, in denying the deity of Christ, made the church articulate the doctrine that became most crucial to Christianity.   Contributed by Tony Lane

        It is impossible for the devil to destroy Christ's One Body [Matt. 16:18].  But we, like the Israelites of old, need to be called back to Him from time to time.  Look to Him and go straight to the goal!  We have spent our time trying to build "The Church."  We should be lifting up Christ Jesus so that everyone will see Him, and proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. [compare Phil. 1:15-20]  HE will build the church!

        Let us get back to the basics of faith.  If we are to be the People God intended us to be, we must build our understanding of Jesus on the Eternal Verities of basic truth.  We see the experience of God's People in the New Testament portion of the Bible - triumphs and defeats, rights & wrongs, corrections, the good and the bad - as they struggled to give form to their faith. God has spoken through His Son [Hebrews 1:1-2].  JESUS is the final revelation of God to us!  We believe in God as we see Him in Jesus The Christ!

 

        1. FALL IN LOVE WITH JESUS AGAIN.  Paul said faith, hope, and love are the three most important virtues; but love has the highest priority of all.  If we are not in love with Jesus, we have no hope at all.  The Church at Ephesus had white-hot zeal, but had somehow misplaced the love they once had for Jesus [Rev. 2:4-5].  They were in danger of losing their "candlestick."

 

        2. A SOVEREIGN GOD.  God's power is awesome and His word is true!  The devil wants us to picture God as "a helpless old man, hopelessly confused by a world out of control."  Certainly God is in control.  God does know what is going on in this world.  God loves His creation.  God wants to save everyone who will claim His salvation [Isaiah 66:1-2; Acts 17:24-28; Rev. 22:17].

 

        3. AN UNLIMITED CHRIST.  HE has all authority and power.  By His life, death, burial, and resurrection He has been given the Name that is above all Names.  Note His description in Rev. 1:17-18; 5:5; Col. 1:15-23.  The universal declaration of the First Century Church was: JESUS IS LORD!

 

        4. THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT.  HE - The Spirit - is Seal & Guarantee & Partner-in- Prayer - and Fountain of Living Water [John 7:37-39].  The Door of Pentecost could not open, nor the evangelization of the world take place - until HE came with power, as Jesus promised in Acts 1:3-8.  Jesus said: "And I will pray the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever" [John 14:16].  The glory of the Church is that The Holy Spirit is continually present, molding and forming Christians into the Image of Christ [2 Cor. 3:17-18; 4:13-15; Eph. 3:16-21].

 

        5. SALVATION BY FAITH.  Paul said the righteousness which is through faith in Christ is the righteousness which is from God by faith [Phil. 3:9-11].  Christ has already won the victory and overcome the world!  Note Romans 8:1-4.  Our righteousness is based upon the finished work of Christ Jesus.  Certainly our obedience is necessary, but it cannot add anything to the perfect work of Jesus.  We tell potential converts just what Peter and the others told people in the Book of Acts.

 

        6. AN INDESTRUCTIBLE CHURCH/KINGDOM.  Not even the "powers of hell" nor the "powers of death and Hades" have any ability to destroy the church.  There never will be a time when the church winks out of existence [the One Body].  The living Church will be caught up to meet Him in the air at the end of time [1 Thess. 4:17-18].  The cycle of the church will repeat again and again until Jesus Comes [Rev. 11:11-13].

 

        7. HEARTFELT RELIGION.  Living Faith inspires commitment, dedication and involvement.  The Church at Laodicea was in trouble because they were lukewarm.  We are to give our lives and our love to HIM [Romans 12:1-2].

 

        8. WATER-AND-SPIRIT BAPTISM.  As Jesus was Himself baptized, water & Spirit were joined together.  Note the questions Paul asked the converts at Ephesus [Acts 19:2-3].  What we term "Christian baptism" involves both water and The Holy Spirit [John 3:5; Titus 3:5; 1 Cor. 12:13].

 

        9. RECOVERY OF THE MIND OF CHRIST.  There is a pattern of life and action idealized in the New Testament Scriptures, especially in the Four Gospels.  Jesus did the Will of the Father as He was "tempted in every way we are."  We want to "do it like He did" and reproduce in our lives what we see in His life!

 

        10. UNITY RATHER THAN CONFORMITY.  Note that our Unity helps promote the Cause of Christ [John 17:21[.  Conversely, our disunity impacts the Cause of Christ in an unfavorable way.  We are brothers and sisters in the same Family.  We want to preserve the unity which The Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds us together [note Eph. 4:3].  We do not produce unity but we recognize the fact that we are ONE in Christ.

 

        11. THE RESURRECTION GOSPEL.  Listen to those first Christians!  Jesus is alive forevermore!!!  Paul said the Gospel stands or falls on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead [1 Cor. 15:3,4,12-14,17-20].  Those first Christians filled the world with the POWER of His Resurrection [Acts 4:2,9-12].

 

        12. IT IS THE "LAST HOUR."  Not the "End Time," of course, since no one can know when Jesus is coming again.  But John is teaching us to live each hour as though it were the last hour.  Many anti-Christs had appeared already in John's time [1 John 2:18].  We find in this Last Hour Situation a sense of urgency - and also calmness and security, WE ARE GOING HOME!!!  "And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.  And great grace was upon them all" [Acts 4:33].

REMEMBERING THE FUTURE

REMEMBERING THE FUTURE 2

     “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”  (old proverb.)

     “I remembered the future. And in turn, the future remembered me.”  (Burnstein.)

     “Whatever you do will be wrong for something and cause unexpected consequences.”  (Murphy’s Law.)

     Behar (Starbucks) writes:  “It's not about product, it's about people.  That's the number one priority.  If you grow people, the people grow the business."

     “That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, "See, this is new"? It has already been in ancient times before us. There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after.”  Eccl 1:9-11 (NKJV)

     My bills pay automatically from my Bank.  Groceries and things are paid for with a swipe of my Bank card.  Should I “give of my means” to the church with a debit card?  Some are already doing this.  I am a very senior-citizen, and I have nine blogs online.  What should the church have online?  TV is fading out and soon everything will be online.  Through GOOGLE the libraries of the world are at my fingertips.  Again, what should this mean for the church?  Anything discovered by Science was already put there by GOD.

 

     TIBERIAS CYLINDER  [A city in Space.]

   "'Chipova Dio...'  All-powerful God, who permits us to  join together our united voices in prayer, and who promises that when two or three are come together in Your Name, You will grant their prayers.  Fulfill now the desires and requests of Your servants, in a way that will most bless them.  In this world please give us wisdom concerning Your truth, and in the world to come eternal life in Your presence.  Through Christ our Lord, Amen."

    The third song will be the Communion Hymn: "Upon The First Day Of The Week."  Christ raised from death on the day following the Sabbath - Sunday, the first day of the new week.

    A word of explanation.  The tradition of this Church is that every Sunday is Communion Sunday.  We believe it was so in the early Church.  Some of the names applied to this Communion are: Vespermangon; Lord's Supper; Holy Meal; Eucharist.  This will be the high point of the worship service.  HE has overcome the world!  HE has won the victory!  We worshipers believe that this Holy Meal ties each one of us to every other Christian in the Universe as each one shares in the bread and wine of the Communion.

    We will see the tradition of simultaneous communion.  Each communicant has already received an individually sealed portion of the bread and wine (an outgrowth of the AIDS epidemic of the past).  The bread is unleavened.  The wine is unprocessed grape juice with only enough fermentation to prevent spoilage."

    Morris Evans has come to the symbolic table and is the Unifier of this Holy Meal.

    Again we inject a note of explanation.  This Church makes no sharp distinction between clergy and laity.  Steve is an electrician; Morris is a paramedic.  Both are church-elders, as is Rod, who is also a Preaching Minister.  As brothers and sisters in the Family of God all work together for the common good of all.  "He lets us rule as kings and serve God His Father as priests" (Revelation 1:6).

    Morris lifts up his hands and speaks:  "As we join together in this Holy Meal, we remember our Lord who died on Old Earth many centuries ago.  Jesus died as God's Sacrificial Lamb, to expiate the sins of the world of humans and to put us right with God.  We are here today to praise Him and to show Him our love!  We honor Jesus for Who He Is and for What He Did!  We take this bread - by faith, His body.  We take this wine - by faith, His blood.  As the Scripture says: 'For until the Lord comes, you proclaim His death whenever you eat this bread and drink the cup.'  And now Stan Chenowitz will lead us in the prayer of thanks."

    Stan comes from the right to stand at the podium.  He lifts up his hands and speaks.

    "We praise You, O Lord our God!  While we were estranged from You because of our sins, You reached out to us by sending Jesus!  We are so thankful for Your blessings!  Touch this bread - to us the body of Christ by our faith.  Touch this wine - to us the blood of Christ by our faith.  Touch our lives, and make us one in Christ - we are the Body of Christ.  We pray in the Name of Jesus, Amen."

    Now attention shifts back to Morris Evans at the Table.  The entire congregation waits in anticipation, holding in their hands the individual portions of bread and wine.  Morris lifts his individual portions as high as he can reach, holding them for a moment.  Then he lowers his arms and speaks.

    "This is My body, which is for you.  Do this in memory of Me."

    As Morris puts the individual portion of bread in his mouth, simultaneously so do each of the communicants.

    Again Morris speaks.

     "The wine which is this cup is God's New Covenant, sealed with My blood.  Whenever you drink it, do it in memory of Me."

    Morris puts the individual portion of wine in his mouth and so do the communicants simultaneously."

    We remind you that the bread and wine are encapsulated in individual portions.  One pops the whole thing into the mouth, bites through the capsule, and swallows the contents.  As we said, this began during the AIDS crisis on Earth.  Actually, this works quite well in a crowd like this.  There is nothing to dispose of.  And, it permits us to follow the example of the early Church who celebrated the Holy Meal regularly.  This Church emphasizes the memorial /commemorative /celebration purpose of the Lord's Supper.

    Now Frank Miller, a church elder, comes to the podium to lead the closing prayer.

    "Bless, O Father, these who have come to give their lives to You.  Bless them and make them a blessing to others.  And now, may the Lord Himself, who is our source of peace, give you peace at all times and in every way.  The Lord be with you all!  In the Name of Jesus, Amen."

 

 

    HYDROPONICS – AMISH ON TIBERIAS

    Somewhere I could hear a door open and close.  In the distance I could see a man coming toward us.  As he got closer, I could see he appeared to be dressed all in black in an antique style.

     By now the man had reached us.  He had on heavy shoes, black denim trousers, which were held up by suspenders, and a black denim shirt.  He had a bushy beard of reddish color, and was wearing an old style earth straw hat.

    "Rod," I gasped, "what is this?  He looks just like an Amishman back home in northern Usono."

    "This is Hans Yoder," Rod said.  "Hans, this is a group from Earth, visiting our Churches of Christ here on Tiberias." 

    Rod proceeded to introduce us all around.  

    "But I don't understand," said Fred.  "I thought the Amish were tied to farmland and seventeenth century ways.  What is an Amishman doing out here in space on Tiberias Cylinder?"

    "Hans is as you say, an Amishman," Rod said.  "He and all his commune are our food experts.  They are geniuses when it comes to growing things.  None of your great earth chefs can give yeast protein the exquisite tastes to equal what they can do."

    "But, an Amishman, out here in space?" I said.

    "Hans, tell him," Rod said.

    "Well, we got to make a living.  It's as simple as that.  Back on Earth there was never enough farm land to go around.  It costs money to feed and raise a family.  Some of us had to work at other things, even in the 1900's.  My great-grandfather worked in a furniture factory.  My father looked out into space.  No machine can do what a human can do.  It was an easy step to go from working with our hands on the land to working with our hands out here in space.  We Amish can work together in close cooperation.  Not everyone can do that.  We are a community.  We understand each other."

    "But you can't have horses out here?" asked Edna.  "You don't have horses, do you?"

    "No horses.  Too expensive.  But, being Amish is a way of life.  We had to think that out in my grandfather's time.  We love horses.  But we don't need them.  Horses are tools to use.  We have other tools.  But family is family.  We stick together and work together.  We are giving the gift of life to the people of Tiberias.  We grow things, produce food, just like the old farms, even though conditions and things are very different out here in space.  We Amish are a community and we work for the good of our community."

    "But it certainly seems strange," I said.  "Doesn't this conflict with everything the Amish stood for in the past?  At least, what I thought they stood for."

    "You got to look at it the right way.  We were never against using tools.  But we were against allowing tools to use us.  Our fathers made the choice to be plain people.  We worked wonderfully hard, but it was a celebration of life.  We are a church-community, a commune if you will, who practice austere living and a family-oriented economic system.  We just have different conclusions about how to live life and enjoy it."

    "Hans, you surely make it sound good about plain people and hard work and celebration," said Molly.  "But I don't know about your celebration of life.  I read about my great-grandfather on a hillside farm in West Virginia.  He called it 'hard scrabble farming,' not any celebration.  He wrote that he had to work from 'it ain't light yet' to 'I can't see anymore' just to starve on the farm.  It seemed to be more desperation than celebration."

    "Circumstances alters cases," Hans said.  "Some talked like your great-grandfather.  But, 'many hands make light work' as the old saying goes, and we Amish work together.  That made it easier to get along.  Let me show you around.  That is the best answer I can give - to show you how things work here on Tiberias."

    Hans touched a keypad and a small floater came out from between two huge tanks.

    "Let's go see the farm," he said.

 

    "But you do all this by hand?" I asked.

    "We do as much by hand as seems reasonable.  But we must use tools - machines - to make it possible to produce what we need.  Tiberias must have huge quantities of food each day.  It would be impossible to do very much by hand.  We use robot harvesters and smart machines.  And we call on the 'English' technicians and specialists when we need them.  I should explain that our ancestors called everyone who wasn't Amish, the 'English.'"

    "But on Earth, no one knows about what goes on to produce food," said Edna.

    "Who knows it here?" said Hans.  "No one comes out here to watch.  And we are 'waste extraction.'  We are isolated from life on Tiberias."

    "I hadn't thought about that," I said.  "You are isolated?  Doesn't that bother you?"

    "Not at all.  We don't need other people.  We have our community.  We have each other.  We are family.  It is not all that different from what our ancestors experienced on Earth.  We have made the choice to be separated people."

    "You say 'isolated,'" Fred said.  "Does that mean you are shunned because you are 'waste extraction'?"

    "Sometimes that is true," said Hans.  "But few are even aware that we are here.  Rod, of course, knows us well.  He is our friend."

    "Hans, I hear you talking 'community'," said Molly, "but back on Earth you Amish sometimes had conflict within the group and certain people were shunned because of this.  Not everyone would pay the price to be Amish."

    "Yes.  But you have conflict within the 'English' also.  It isn't all that different.  Some individual rights must be sacrificed for the good of the community.  But this choice is voluntary.  Those who will not conform must go elsewhere.  It is vital that we work together and we must preserve the community.  It cannot be otherwise.  It is a choice we make."

    "I suppose that's really the basis of civilization," I said.  "Either cooperate, or be a hermit."

    "You got it," said Hans, "cooperate.  But let's go meet the families."

    Hans stopped the floater at another portal.  We stepped off, then followed him through a small door into the next ring. 

    "Our families live here," he said.  "It is more pleasant and we are shielded from the noise and smells of the farms."

    As we looked ahead down the street, we could see the standard pattern we had seen everywhere on Tiberias.  Cubicles, only these seemed larger.

    He led us to a door, touched the keypad, and led us into a huge room. 

    As we entered, we could see wall-screens which were showing rural scenes of mountains and trees and running streams of water."

    "Sit down," he said, "and make yourself comfortable."

    Then he beckoned toward the rear of the room.   A woman and three small children came to meet us.

    "This is Gerta, my wife, and these are Herman, Carol, and Frederick.  Children are a treasure to the Amish, and we tend to large families.  There are a few hundred of us here on Tiberias."

    "Kayor, Gerta!" Rod said.  He hugged Gerta and each of the children.

    Then he introduced us all around.

    "I act as a contact for the Amish," Rod said.  "They are very special people."

 

    "I'm puzzled," said Molly.  "How is it that you have wall-screens and TV images?  Isn't that against your 'plain' creed?"

    "Tools, remember," said Hans.  "You may call it rationalizing.  We want to keep our link with the past.  We want our children to feel close to nature as our ancestors knew it."

    He touched a keypad.  The wall-screens changed to show a harvest scene: horses, shocks of wheat in the old fashioned style, Amish people dressed in their distinctive clothing, working in the fields to harvest the crops, children laughing and playing and helping in their own way. 

    Then they changed to show a dinner scene in a large house.  Many people sat at long tables and were helping themselves from the huge dishes of food.  They seemed to be happy and laughing and enjoying this good time of fellowship. 

    They changed to show a winter scene.  Snow was drifted deeply around a large house.  A horse was pulling a sleigh with happy people in it.  Cows were in the field, huddled together.  A man was throwing hay over the fence to them. 

    They changed to show springtime, with women and children working in the garden, with bare feet, skirts pulled up slightly, pants legs rolled up to the knees, raking, planting seeds.

    "Do you watch the TV and news programs?" asked Molly.

    "Never!  We have historical videos of Amish farming and people.  We receive videos from our people on Earth.  And from those on other Cylinders out in space.  Our people will hire someone to use a video cam to make the videos for them.  These videos help preserve our sense of community and our heritage, and they keep us in touch with the extended Amish community.  But TV programs and the news - never!  We value our isolation too much!"

    "You say 'isolation' and 'sense of community.' I said.  "How do you balance these two things?"

    "We want to stand separate and apart from the 'English,' as our forefathers tried to do.  But, we want to have intense 'community' between each of us.  In fact, some of our leaders have considered a radio link between each of us Amish to allow continuous contact."

    "A radio link?  How would you fit that into your beliefs?"

    "A tool, once again.  We have heard of a radio microchip which can be implanted under the skin and spliced into nerve fibers.  This would allow us to join our minds together in a way never before possible.  Our Bishops on Earth would need to confer about that and approve such a radical step.  But think of the possibilities!  What would be the IQ of a group mind?  What new concepts might open up?  What new possibilities in growing things?  What new biology?  It boggles our minds!"

    "It scares me," said Molly.

 

LOOKING BACK TO LOOK FORWARD  

        (adapted from a book I am reading.)

     1. Churches must develop a better understanding of history as a tool for making sense of what has happened and is happening.   Ecclesiastes 1:9-10; Acts 15:7-18.

     2. Churches need to examine their own religious tradition and use of Scripture.  ["Old Uncle John" did have his own way of thinking and we might be following him rather than the Bible.  We need to know.]

     3. Though it is important to restore the beliefs of the New Testament, restoration of real Christian behavior in all that we do is equally important.  1 Peter 1:13-16; Eph. 4:20-32.

     4. We must learn to communicate the unchanging word of God as seen in Christ-on-the-Cross in terms that speak both to a modern and postmodern society.  Note 2 Cor. 4:4-11; 1 Cor. 9:19-23; 14:9-11.

     5. There is a great need to have dialogue among ourselves and with others of similar Christian values, but these must be on core issues and not peripheral issues.  Note Paul in 1 Cor. 1:10-17; 2:1-5; Romans 14:1,12,17.

     6. Cutting up churches into fragments does not help spread the Gospel of Christ.  As it works out, division often halves the efforts of the church, rather than doubling it.  The people in the community are the church - NOT the building.

     7. The battle between the church and the devil is not determined on earth.  It has already been settled in heaven.  The Ascension of Christ meant the downfall of Satan, and every act of Christian sacrifice confirms it.  Rev. ch 12; Luke 10:17-20; John 12:27-33.

 

P.S.  This "profound statement" from a writer of fiction:  "The best introduction to a culture [or church] is through one of its malcontents.  This person is fully patterned in the basic assumptions [dogma] of the group, but has some observational skills developed by being an outsider.  The malcontent is able to comprehend the questions and may even have arrived at some general guidelines extracted from society's [the church's] mass of unvoiced assumptions [unwritten creed]."