Proverbs Wednesday - April 18

Proverbs Wednesday for April 18, 2018 - Observations and Prayer

Observations:

* Isolation seeks one's own selfish ambitions and opposes all wise judgement.  (The "anthem" of the recluse is "I Am A Rock" by Simon and Garfunkel): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKlSVNxLB-A

* The lazy in work are the ally of destruction.

* "The Name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are saved."

* To interrupt another's speech is foolish and shameful.

* A good spirit will make a sick man well but a broken spirit will kill him.

* The wise heart accumulates knowledge and the wise ear looks for it.

* An offended brother is harder to win than a well fortified city.

* The produce of one's labors brings both life and satisfaction.

* A man of many contacts may come to ruin - BUT - a friend sticks closer than a brother!

Prayer:

Our Most Kind and Generous Holy Father;

All glory, power, and honor to Your most Holy Name!  May we reject isolation and instead embrace fellowship, friendship, and brotherhood in ever expanding hospitality.  May we reject laziness and instead embrace hard work and dedication to our vocation.  May this be always on our lips each day; "The Name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are saved."  As we speak with others may we cease interruption and answering out of turn for this is both foolish and shameful.  May Your Spirit infuse our souls so that we will live a sustained life here on earth.  May we all continually seek and accumulate knowledge until the day of our death.  May we seek never to offend others and work even harder to win back those whom we might offend.  May we dedicate ourselves to production of goods and services for this brings about profit, benefit, and satisfaction for both others and ourselves.  May we seek and keep real friends and never be satisfied with mere contacts.
Forgive us, Lord, when we fall short of these things.

In the Name of Jesus we pray; AMEN

The Hallowed Name of God

God is not limited to just one name.  The OT lists at least 21 formal names for God.  We serve and pray to a God who is intrinsically and definitionaly Holy.  Anything else and / or anyone else is only declaratively holy.  God must declare it to make it so.  Holiness can never be self obtained.  In this lesson on prayer, we learn that the God to whom we pray is the only Father, the only Hallowed One, and has many powerful Names for His Infinite Holiness.

LISTEN! now on SOUNDCLOUD!

https://soundcloud.com/archdale-church-of-christ/sounds-from-sunday-evening

Ephesians 3 Lesson, Answer Grid and Podcast

At the Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 we are currently studying the Book of Ephesians.  Each week we provide a lesson sheet, answer grid, and a recorded synopsis of the lesson.  We are now turning these recorded synopsis's into a podcast.  These podcasts are found on Sound Cloud.  It goes without saying that everyone is always invited.  Worship times are 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Lord's Day.  Bible Study times are at 9 a.m. on Lord's Day morning and at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evenings.

LISTEN! now to "Ephesians 3, Episode 7" on SOUNDCLOUD linked below:

https://soundcloud.com/archdale-church-of-christ/gospel-call-podcast-episode-7-ephesians-3-russ-mccullouh-host

Ephesians

Paul’s Greatest Church Planting Success

 7 February 2018

Archdale church of Christ – Russ McCullough

Lesson # 7 – Ephesians 3.1 - 21

1.     As an introduction to this passage, just what does the word “Dispensation” mean?

2.     For WHAT reason?

3.     Paul is a what and for whom? 

4.     God’s grace is characterized as a S________________ (or in the KJV, D___________________.)  What does this mean?

5.     Per Strong’s, D_________________ means; “…A_______________ of a H______________ or an E___________; specifically a religious E_______________...S___________________.”

a.      The word occurs only _____ other times in the NT

b.     All uses are by P_________ and him alone.

1)    I Corinthians 9.17_________________________________

2)    Ephesians 1.10 ___________________________________

3)    Colossians 1.25 ___________________________________

6.     What was made known to Paul by revelation?

7.     What, exactly, will prove Paul’s insight into this Mystery of C__________?

8.     Paul’s generation was the very first have this R_________________.

9.     To who was it revealed and by whom?

10. Vs. 6 says the mystery is what?

11. Through what vehicle did this mystery come?

12. Name the 3 characteristics of the now Christian Gentile:

a.      F___________ H___________

b.     M_________________

c.      P__________________

13. Who was made a minister of this gospel?

14. Paul came to be such a minister according to what gift?

15. How was this gift administered to Paul?

16. Discuss how Ephesians 2.7, Colossians 2.11 – 12, and Acts 22.16 are all inseparably connected.

17. If God is “no respecter of persons,” how is Paul the “least of all the saints?”

18. BTW, the question is not “how can a saint be alive,” it is instead, “when does one become a saint?”

19. Through which vehicle is the “manifold wisdom of God to be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places?

20. How is the eternal purpose of God to be realized?

21. Through our faith, we have what 3 things per vs. 12?

22. What does Paul ask of the Ephesians?

23. Vs. 14 – For WHAT reason?

24. Vs. 14 – 21 is a what?

Answer Grid

Paul’s Greatest Church Planting Success

 7 February 2018

Archdale church of Christ – Russ McCullough

Lesson #7 – Ephesians 3.1 - 21

1.     As an introduction to this passage, just what does the word “Dispensation” mean?  Most stated something having to do with a specific time frame

2.     For WHAT reason?  That the Gentile is no longer a stranger or alien but an equal partner with the Jew in the on-going construction of the House of God built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets anchored to the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus Christ.

3.     Paul is a what and for whom?  A prisoner for Jesus Christ on behalf of the Gentiles.

4.     God’s grace is characterized as a S________________ (or in the KJV, D___________________.)  What does this mean?  Stewardship / Dispensation

5.     Per Strong’s, D_________________ means; “…A_______________ of a H______________ or an E___________; specifically a religious E_______________...S___________________.”  Dispensation means – Administration of a household or an estate specifically a religious economy…Stewardship

a.     The word occurs only _____ other times in the NT.  Three

b.     All uses are by P_________ and him alone.  Paul

1)    I Corinthians 9.17_________________________________

2)    Ephesians 1.10 ___________________________________

3)    Colossians 1.25 ___________________________________

6.     What was made known to Paul by revelation?  The Mystery

7.     What, exactly, will prove Paul’s insight into this Mystery of C__________?  The Mystery of Grace through Christ was made to him by revelation; i.e. Paul knows he’s writing inspired Scripture.

8.     Paul’s generation was the very first have this R_________________.  Revelation

9.     To who was it revealed and by whom?  To Paul by the Holy Spirit

10. Vs. 6 says the mystery is what?  That the Gentiles are equal partners with the Jews in the church of Christ

11. Through what vehicle did this mystery come?  The Gospel

12. Name the 3 characteristics of the now Christian Gentile:

a.      F___________ H___________

b.     M_________________

c.      P__________________ 

Fellow heirs, Members of the same body, partakers of the same promise

13. Who was made a minister of this gospel?  Paul

14. Paul came to be such a minister according to what gift?  The Gift of God’s Grace

15. How was this gift administered to Paul? By the working of his power

16. Discuss how Ephesians 2.7, Colossians 2.11 – 12, and Acts 22.16 are all inseparably connected.

Paul received the gift of God’s Grace by God’s power, The powerful working of God is granted in baptism, Paul had his sins remitted in baptism where the powerful working of God forgave him and bestowed upon him the gift of the Holy Spirit

17. If God is “no respecter of persons,” how is Paul the “least of all the saints?”  Only in Paul’s own human estimation for God is no respecter of persons.  All have sinned and come short of the glory of God and there are no good people in their own right

18. BTW, the question is not “how can a saint be alive,” it is instead, “when does one become a saint?”  One becomes a saint upon repentance and baptism, he is not designated such after he is long dead by other men who just happen to still be alive

19. Through which vehicle is the “manifold wisdom of God to be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places?”  The church which is made up of both Jew and Gentile saints.

20. How is the eternal purpose of God to be realized?  His eternal purpose realized in Christ Jesus our Lord

21. Through our faith, we have what 3 things per vs. 12?  Boldness, access, and confidence

22. What does Paul ask of the Ephesians?  Not to lose heart over what he is suffering

23. Vs. 14 – For WHAT reason? His suffering is for their glory

24. Vs. 14 – 21 is a what?  A prayer for the church of Christ at Ephesus

Ephesians 2.11 - 12 - "From No Hope, to Near, to Reconciliation!"

LISTEN! to the synopsis of this lesson on "SoundCloud!"

https://soundcloud.com/archdale-church-of-christ/ephesians-211-22-lesson-6-31-january-2018-acoc-teacher-russ-m-ccullough

Ephesians

Paul’s Greatest Church Planting Success

 31 January 2018

Archdale church of Christ – Russ McCullough

Lesson #6 – Ephesians 2.11 – 22

1.     What is the “therefore” there for?

2.     The Gentiles were in the past called what?

3.     Who were they called that by?

4.     What 3 key words describe the previous conditions of the Gentiles?

a.      S______________   (Without) (Lit. “A___ a S__________”) (Romans 3.21;  3.28;  4.6) 

b.     A______________ (Aliens) (Lit. “E___________, to be a non-P________________.”)  (The word is used only one other time in Hebrews 11.4)

c.      S______________ (Strangers)  (Lit. “F_____________, without a S______________ in”)  (I Timothy 5.10;  Hebrews 11.13;  13.2)

5.     What hope did the Gentiles have prior to Christ?

6.     How does Paul describe the current condition of the Gentile now in Christ Jesus?

7.     Just what was it that brought us “near?”

8.     What is the purpose of this blood?  (Matthew 26.28)

9.     How is this purpose applied?  (Acts 2.38)

10. For He Himself (Christ) is our what?

11. In this context, “peace” is best understood as the “Messiah’s Peace” or the W___________ of our S_______________  (Romans 2.10;  3.17;  5.1)

12. What metaphor does Paul use to describe the new status of the Gentile Christian?

13. Christ did this by abolishing what?

14. What plan did God have to bring about this peace, this “Messiah’s salvation?”

15. How did God plan to kill the former hostility between the parties?

16. “Reconcile” means to “B____________ back a former state of H______________.”

17. How was this message of reconciliation communicated?

18. Who are the “far off” and the “near?”

19. How is this concept often stated in the New Testament?

20. Vs. 18 describes what great doctrine?

21. What is the new description of the Gentile Christian?

22. In the New Testament, “household” is a synonym for what?

23. What is the foundation of the church of Christ?

24. That foundation rests upon what?

25. How is this foundation stated in Acts 2.42?

26. Upon what does the entire structure grow upon?

27. Who is the assembler of this structure?

28. What is the numerous building material of this structure?

29. Who will live in this structure?         

ANSWER GRID

1.     “Not of your own doing, it is a gift of God…”

2.     The un-circumcision

3.     The circumcised

4.     Separated – “At a space”

Alienated – “Estranged, participants”

Strangers – “Foreigner, without a share in”

5.     None

6.     Near

7.     The blood of Christ

8.     The remission or forgiveness of sins

9.     In water baptism

10. Peace

11. The way of our salvation

12. The dividing wall / fence at the Temple that separated the Gentiles from the Court of the Women with death to any who trespassed it.

13. The Law of Commandments and Ordinances

14. By creating in Himself one new man in the place of two.

15. He would reconcile them.

16. Bring, Harmony

17. Peaching

18. The Gentiles and the Jews

19. “To the Jew first and also to the Greek”

20. The Trinity

21. “Fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God”

22. The family

23. The apostles and prophets

24. The chief cornerstone, Jesus Chris

25. The Apostles Doctrine

26. Christ, the chief cornerstone

27. The Holy Spirit

28. Individual Christians

29. God Himself!

The Way of Zebah and Zalmunna

Illustration Courtesy of: www.st-takla.org via Google Images

LISTEN! to this lesson on SOUNDCLOUND!  Just click the link:

https://soundcloud.com/archdale-church-of-christ/retreat-relocate-relax-judges-8-012118-am-sermon-acoc-russ-mccullough

It's called a number of things.  Pragmatism.  Outcome based thinking.  Visualization.  Positive thinking.  Self improvement.  Self actualization.

Pick your own title.  They are all the same.  We are told that we can "become what we imagine."  Really?!  Can we?  Can we make our own success by these methods?  Sadly, no.

Long ago, a 15,000 man army "imagined" that they could retreat, relocate, and relax having escaped from the Lord of Hosts and the 300 man army of Gideon.  Their two "positive thinking" commanders were named Zebah and Zalmunna.  The Bible says in Judges 8.11 that this army "felt secure."  Feelings lie.  Far from secure, this army that retreated from the Lord of Hosts, relocated to a valley of perceived security, and finally relaxed in a false hope...instead were soon destroyed as a fighting force.  Their two leaders were slain by Gideon himself.

And so it is today.  Unless we surrender to Jesus Christ, we too, will be surrounded and destroyed.  To retreat from our sin, relocate to a new place of perceived security, and relax in a false hope will gain us nothing and cost us everything.

This sermon was preached by Russ McCullough at the Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 at the 10 a.m. morning worship service on Lord's Day morning, 21 January 2018.  Feel free to use this material as you choose.