By Steve Higginbotham
"Have a personal Bible study with somebody?
Sorry, not for me! That's just asking for a never ending
argument." If that's your view of personal evangelism and Bible
study, maybe you need to rethink how you've gone about it in the past.
Inevitably, during a Bible study, the time will come
when you reach a critical point. It's that time when you've shown a
person to be inconsistent, or when you've shown a person a passage that
contradicts what he was affirming. The Scriptures have backed them in a
corner. What happens then?
Well, what often happens next is that we drive and
hammer that point home. We don't let up, and we demand an answer or a
retraction? We want to claim victory for our superior logistic skills.
However, the Bible teaches us to preach the word (2
Timothy 4:2), but it qualifies the way we are to do that. We are to
preach the word with “all longsuffering.”
Friends, coming around to truth sometimes takes
time. Mulling something over, and weighing all the evidences may require
more than an initial hearing. Therefore, instead of being quick to claim
victory, it would be much more beneficial to quickly tell the person with whom
you're studying that he doesn't need to feel like he has to provide an
immediate answer. Encourage him to think about it. After all, the
point of a Bible study is not to "win an argument," but to learn the
will of God.
To sum it up, your goal is simply to “put a pebble in
their shoe.” Give them something to think about. Leave a thought
that nags at them, won't let them get comfortable, and won’t give them rest
until they find resolution through further study. Those with good and
honest hearts will have to do something about it. So let’s get after
it. Instead of demanding someone to say "Uncle," simply put a
pebble in his shoe and let the word of God work in their heart...or shoe.
Give it some thought.
- Steve Higginbotham preaches for the Karns Church of Christ in
Knoxville, TN. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at
http://www.karnschurch.org
By David Sargent
One of the worst snowstorms to hit Washington, D.C. in
decades buffeted the city on January 13, 1982. Storm conditions delayed
the departure of Air Florida Flight 90 by an hour and forty-five minutes.
When the Boeing 737 took off from Washington National Airport, it was unable to
stay aloft and crashed into the 14th Street Bridge, which spans the Potomac
River, just two minutes after leaving the runway. The plane vanished into
the river except for the tail section, which had separated from the body of the
aircraft and floated. When emergency services arrived, they discovered 5
passengers and one flight attendant had survived the crash, and they were
clinging to the tail section in the icy waters.
The waters of the Potomac were extremely cold, just
one degree above freezing.
A person can only manage to stay alive in this frigid water for about 30
minutes. Rescuers were frantically trying to get to the surviving
passengers as quickly as possible. When their inflatable boats could not
navigate through the ice-filled waters,
a U.S. Park Police Helicopter Unit was called. Many onlookers, including
a television news camera man, witnessed the amazing rescue efforts of pilot Don
Usher and paramedic Gene Windsor.
After successfully retrieving a passenger (Bert
Hamilton) and the flight attendant (Kelly Duncan), Usher and Windsor went back
and lowered two lifelines from the helicopter to the remaining surviving
passengers. One of the passengers, Arland D. Williams, Jr., caught one of
the lines and passed it on to Joe Stiley, the most severely injured
survivor. Stiley slipped the line around his waist and grabbed Priscilla
Tirado, who was hysterical, having lost her husband and baby. Nikki Felch
took the second line. As they were being dragged to shore, Tirado and
Felch lost their grip and fell back into the water. Felch was wearing a
lifejacket, so Tirado became the immediate priority of the rescue efforts.
Tirado was slashing in the icy water, eyes wide and
wild-looking; she was going into shock. After several attempts, she was
unable to cling to the life-ring that was lowered to her. By this time,
she was traumatized, exhausted, and temporarily blinded from aviation
fuel. She began to drown.
Martin “Lennie” Scutnik, a low-level manager at the
U.S. Congressional Budget office, was observing the situation. At this
point, he decided that he could watch no more.
“I absolutely thought she was going to die if I didn’t go in and get
her.” Scutnik removed his coat and boots and jumped into the icy waters,
swam out to Tirado, and dragged her to safety.
Nikki Felch was rescued by the helicopter unit.
Unfortunately, when the unit went back to rescue Arland D. Williams, he could
not be found. He, along with the tail of the jet, had sunk beneath the
waters. (See A Heroic
Sacrifice, Living Water, 9/15/06).
Less than a month later, President Ronald Reagan
invited Lennie Scutnik to attend the 1982 State of the Union Address, where he
was seated next to the First Lady. When President Reagan recognized
Scutnik, he received a long standing ovation. Heroes like Scutnik are now
celebrated at nearly every State of the Union Address. The Washington
Press Corps often refers to them as ‘Scutniks’.
The selflessness and sacrifice of the “Scutniks”
provide a glimpse of the Greatest Hero of all: JESUS CHRIST.
When WE were “drowning” in sin and doomed to eternal
destruction, God sent His Son Jesus to rescue us. Jesus gave His life so
that we might have forgiveness of our sins and so that we “should not perish
but have eternal life” (John 3:16; Ephesians 1:7).
Jesus will save those who cling to the Lifeline (Jesus
Himself) by.... placing their faith and trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turning
from their sins in repentance
(Acts 17:30-31), confessing Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being
baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).
He will continue to cleanse those who continue to trust Him and follow Him as a
way of life (1 John 1:7).
Won’t YOU cling to the Lifeline through your trusting
obedience?
* Information gleaned from
http://listverse.com/2010/10/09/top-10-real-life-good-samaritans/ and www.wikipedia.com.
- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of
Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic
devotional entitled Living Water." To learn more about this excellent
resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org
By Alan Smith
During a Sunday-morning worship service, a mother tried
everything she could think of — including rewards, scoldings, and threats — to
get her fidgety 7-year-old son to be quiet. Nothing worked.
Finally, about halfway through the sermon, she leaned over and whispered
something in the little boy’s ear.
He immediately stopped fidgeting and sat quietly for the rest of
the service. Afterward, a friend sitting in the row behind asked the
young mother what she had said to her son.
The mother smiled and replied, “If you don’t be quiet, the
preacher is going to lose his place, and then he’ll have to start his sermon
all over again.”
As much as little boys (and most of the rest of us) dislike the
idea of having the preacher “start over”, it’s not something that any of us
like to do in our own lives. But there are times when we need to start
over.
When it comes to trying to live godly lives, we all mess
up. As good as our intentions are, as much as we promise ourselves that
“I’ll never make that mistake again”, we find ourselves at the throne of God
time and again, seeking grace and mercy, and having to start over. It’s
not easy, and it requires humility on our part, but fortunately, God gives us
that opportunity when we truly repent.
Just as difficult are the trials we face that force us to start
over. Maybe you've had a serious illness or injury, and it finally looks
like you’re going to get well, but there’s a setback in your health which
requires you to start all over again. That news can be more devastating
than the original diagnosis. Or maybe it’s a financial problem you’re
facing. And just when it looked like there was a light at the end of the
tunnel, your car or the washing machine breaks down or the kids need braces,
and you’re back to square one trying to get your debt cleared up.
Such experiences require a perseverance that says, “No matter how
long it takes, no matter how many setbacks I have, no matter how many times I
have start over, I will not give up.” As Solomon wrote: “Although a
righteous person may fall seven times, he gets up again.” (Proverbs 24:16,
NET). It's not a question of whether we will fall. We will fall,
but the righteous man, the wise man, continues to rise up and is willing to
start over time and again.
If you find yourself discouraged today because you've failed God,
may you seek His forgiveness and start over living the life that God wants you
to live. If you're facing trials today that leave you wondering what's
the use in trying any more, may God provide you strength to rise up and start
over!
Have a great day!
- Alan Smith, author of the popular "Thought
For Today," and minister for the Fayetteville Church of Christ in
Fayetteville, NC, may be contacted at alansmith.servant@gmail.com
An old gentleman states that when he was a small boy,
he lived on the coast. One morning after a great storm he saw an old ship
stranded. The storm had blown her in, and she was badly damaged and deserted by
her crew. He said that sometimes, when the tide would come in strongly and
surround the old ship, she would almost be loosed from her moorings and go out.
He stated that often he would go and stand by her and hope she would go out. He
would say, “Go out, old ship; go out with the tide.” But she never did.
Finally, one morning after a severe storm he went down to look at the old ship,
but the storm had blown her to pieces. Only the floating pieces of the old
wreck were to be seen. She had many an opportunity, but she never went out.
How like many a backslider! The tide of opportunity to
repent has risen for many and it was hoped they would go out from their sinful
ways, but they settled back and never went out. If we are not living as we
should, we had better take advantage of the opportunity to repent while the
“tide is in.” Jesus said: “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all
likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). Remember: “I have heard thee in a time accepted,
and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted
time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2). Now is the
only time we are guaranteed—for the “tide may soon be out.”
- via the Belvedere Beacon, the weekly
bulletin of the Belvedere Church of Christ, Belvedere, SC. Ken Chumbley
preaches for this congregation, and he may be contacted at their website:
http://www.belvederechurchofchrist.org
By Steve Higginbotham
You’ve probably heard the story about the young man
who wouldn’t marry unless the girl he picked to marry had the approval of his
mother. This young man would bring home girl after girl to meet his
mother, only to have his mother disapprove. After several years of
trying, this young man finally found a girl his mother just absolutely
adored! In fact, she was just like his mother. Now the only problem
is, his father doesn’t like her.
In a time when marriage is being assaulted on so many
fronts (e.g. co-habitation, homosexual marriage, divorce, adultery, etc.) what
is needed more than anything is for men and woman to return to the time tested
and proven pattern that God gave us for marriage. While volume after
volume can be written, giving instructions as to how to have a happy marriage,
God had a way to sum it up in a few short principles.
· Do unto others as you would have
them do unto you (Matthew 7:12).
· Husbands, love your wives as Christ
loved the church and as you love your own body (Ephesians 5:25,28).
· Wives, submit to your husbands as
unto the Lord (Ephesians 5:23).
· It is more blessed to give than to
receive (Acts 20:35).
Observing just these four principles alone would
eliminate most of the marital problems that people face today. Friends,
the key to a better marriage is a better relationship with God. Happy
Valentine’s Day!
- Steve Higginbotham preaches for the Karns Church of Christ in Knoxville, TN.
He may be contacted through the congregation's website at
http://www.karnschurch.org
By Alan Smith
A hunter was walking through the jungle when he found a huge dead
elephant with a pygmy standing beside it.
Amazed, he asked, "Did you kill that?"
The pygmy said, "Yes."
The hunter asked, "How could a little bloke like you kill a
huge beast like that?"
"I killed it with my club."
The astonished hunter asked, "How big is your club?"
The pygmy replied, "There's about 60 of us."
There is great value in having a "club" of people who
will fight with you, work with you, and be there for you when you need
assistance. Solomon put it this way:
"If it is cold, two can sleep together and stay warm, but
how can you keep warm by yourself? Two people can resist an attack that
would defeat one person alone. A rope made of three cords is hard to
break." (Ecclesiastes 4:11-12)
God obviously knew that we need that support as we seek to follow
Him. Think about it -- why did God establish the church? We don't
need the church to worship God -- we can worship God anywhere and at any
time. We don't even need the church to serve God -- I can serve God in a
multitude of ways on my own.
But what I do need the church for is to provide support,
encouragement and strength as I walk the Christian path. I need a
"club" to help me do battle against Satan. I need people around
me who will help me to see ways that I'm not reflecting the image of Jesus
Christ, and encourage me to move in that direction. I need brothers and
sisters in the Lord who will show me what love is and teach me to learn to love
as well. I need people who can rejoice with me when things are going
great and cry with me when my world is shattered. I need the church!
Thank you, Lord, for surrounding me with a big "club"
of people who are such a blessing to me! I can't imagine having to travel
this journey alone and I'm so thankful that you saw the need and met it long
before I even realized there was a need. In the name of Jesus who unites
us in this body, amen.
Have a great day!
- Alan Smith, author of the popular "Thought For Today,"
and minister for the Fayetteville Church of Christ in Fayetteville, NC, may be
contacted at alansmith.servant@gmail.com
The Bible has 66 books, divided into 1189 chapters consisting of 31,173verses.
The Bible was divided into chapters by Stephen Langton about 1228. The Old
Testament was divided into verses by R. Nathan in 1448 and
the New Testament by Robert Stephanus in 1551. The first printed Bible into
verses was an Old Testament Latin edition by Pagninus, printed in 1528. The first
complete English version of the Bible divided into verses was the Geneva Bible,
printed in 1560.
- via the Belvedere Beacon,
the weekly bulletin of the Belvedere Church of Christ, Belvedere,
SC. Ken Chumbley preaches for this congregation, and he may be
contacted at their website: http://www.belvederechurchofchrist.org
