Mt. Vernon Church of Christ Newsletter 10-20-2019: Help us spread the word--Subscribe Today!; Newsletter archives; Last Weeks Issue; Social Media; Contents; Don't Fall Away; Lies and Error - ELP; Digital Library; Where Are The Watchmen - G. Ramsey; Golden Thought; The Anvil Of God's Word - John Clifford; Bible Question of the Week; Weekly Bible Reading Schedule; Weekly Memory Verse; Featured Video - Book Of Romans 2 - Keith Mosher; Featured Audio - Calvary 2 -Gary Colley....If you like it, please share it. Thank you!
Bring the whole family and join us for Bible study and worship this Lord's Day!
Very early on in the history of man, Eve was attacked by that old serpent in the garden of Eden. He did not afflict her physically like he did Job. He did not tempt her sensually like he did David with Bathsheba. His method of attack was as devious as it was simple: get Eve to believe something that was not true. Eve quoted God’s word to him but he denied and then twisted what God had said. This has been one of the devil’s most effective tactics since.
Jesus said the devil was the father of lies and was a liar from the beginning (John 8:44). Doctrinal error is nothing but a lie. Paul warned against those who would teach some other “gospel.” But, he said, it was not another gospel but a perversion of the gospel, i.e., a lie (Gal. 1:6-9). When Paul met with the elders of the Lord’s church at Ephesus he warned them against “grievous wolves” who would not spare the flock “speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:27-31). Those “perverse things” were nothing but lies. . . .
The Mt. Vernon Church of Christ is building a digital library to aid serious Bible students in their study. When possible, we will be adding new volumes. We are grateful to the many sources from which we draw these volumes for making these available. We take no credit for them ourselves. We do not necesarrily endorse everything in every volume. We simply provide them as aids to Bible study. This week:
In the book of Ezekiel (2:3-5; 3:1-21 and 33:7-9) the prophet is given the charge of being the watchman - prophet to apostate Israel. In simple form the message he was to preach was the message of repentance to sinful Israel. Though many did not think the situation merited such a reproof, God did! And the prophet (preacher) of God was obligated to the charge to make such known.
In a real sense there must be watchmen over spiritual Israel today. These must be men who heed the word of Jehovah (from His inspired Word) and sound the warning to an apostate church! But are we assuming that the church of Christ is apostate today–that each congregation is, or that each member is apostate? Certainly not! As a matter of fact, many of Israel in Ezekiel’s day were not apostate--but many were; and the charge was given to bring back to God those who would listen and to allow those who so chose to judge themselves unworthy of God’s blessings. So it is today in Spiritual Israel. While there are many who are faithful to God's charge and serve Him with their entire being, it is the sad fact that many are indifferent toward the whole of Christianity, ignorant for the most part of God's Word, unwilling to submit to the authority of the Bible and in general so materialistic that they can only think in terms of the pleasantries of this life. Everything many do in the name of religion must be viewed against the pragmatic background of how this will enhance their position with the material world! Thus in the view of these materialists, if the truth does not enhance one’s position or the position of the church with the worldly community, that truth must be rejected! . . .
Sunday is the golden clasp that binds together the volume of the week. ~~ Longfellow
THE ANVIL OF GOD'S WORD
Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith's door
And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;
When looking in, I saw upon the floor,
Old hammers worn with beating years of time.
"How many anvils have you had," said I,
"To wear and batter these hammers so?"
"Just one," said he; then with a twinkling eye,
"The anvil wears the hammers out, you know."
And so, I thought, the anvil of God's Word,
For ages, skeptics blows have beat upon;
Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,
The anvil is unharmed - the hammers gone.
—attributed to John Clifford
Bible Question of the Week
(All questions come from the Scripture readings.) What animals did Paul say would attack the flock after his departing?
LAST WEEK'S QUESTION AND ANSWER Who falls into temptation and a snare?
ANSWER: I Timothy 6:9 - But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
WEEKLY BIBLE READING SCHEDULE
(Theme: Error) Monday Oct. 21 - Gal. 1:6-9; Acts 20:17-31; II Tim. 4:1-8 Tuesday Oct. 22 - Matt. 15:1-9; I Tim. 4:1-3; Eph. 5:6-20 Wednesday Oct. 23 - Matt. 7:15-23; II Pet. 2:1-22; I Tim. 1:3-20 Thursday Oct. 24 - Tit. 1:9-16; I John 4:1-4; Rev. 2:14,15, 20 Friday Oct. 25 - II Thess. 3:6,13,14; Rom. 16:17,18; II John 9-11
Weekly Memory Verses
Romans 16:17 - Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
