God Speaks TODAY by The Jenkins Institute

Speaks

J Material prepared by Jerry A. Jenkins

GOD

SPEAKS

T D D AV

The God who took time to create man and send His Son to redeem

man would surely, if He had the power and desire, communicate with man. The Scriptures reveal that God has both the ability and desire to communicate with man. The Scriptures teach that indeed God does speak to us. Since God does speak today, in this lesson we are trying to ascertain the method He uses.

God Spoke in Time Past Hebrews 1:1-2

' God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ^ has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds. G o d S p o k e a t Va r i o u s T i m e s ADAM and EVE (Gen. 2:17)

...but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.

NOAH (Gen. 6:14) Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover It Inside and out

side with pitch.

~ T:

ABRAHAM (Gen. 22:2) ^ Then He said, "Take

'."C

now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him

there as a burnt offering on one of the moun

tains of which I shall

tell you."

fl.

MOSES (Ex. 20:22) Then the LORD said

to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children o f I s r a e l : ' Yo u h a v e s e e n

that I have talked with

you from heaven.

G o d S p o k e i n Va r i o u s W a y s Hebrews 1:1

^ God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets....

Biblical Examples of Diffepant: Ways God Spoke

SOLOMON: IN A

DREAM (1 Ki. 3:5) ^ At Gibeon the LORD

appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask! What

shall I give you?"

M O S E S : AT T H E B U R N I N G

BUSH (Ex. 3:2)

^ And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a

bush. So he looked, and be

hold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.

m '

BALAAM: FROM HIS DONKEY

(Num. 22:28) Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have 1 done to you, that you

- . M ^iT; igMfaB ^

have struck me these three times?"

BELSHAZZAR: A HAND (Dan. 5:3,5) ^ Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the

king and his lords, his wives, and his concu bines drank from them. ^ In the same hour

the fingers of a man's hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wail of the king's palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

^ In the past...GOD SPOKE TO PEO PLE OF OLD BY THE PROPHETS

(Hos. 12:10) I have also spoken by the prophets, and have multiplied visions; 1 have given sym bols through the witness of the prophets.

The

Bible

Te a c h e s

that

G o d S p e a k s To d a y Hebrews 1:1-2

' God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ^ has in these last days spoken to us by His Son.

The

Question

Is:

" H o w D o e s G o d S p e a k To d a y ? " N O T I C E S O M E W AY S M A N S AY S G O D S P E A K S T O D AY. . .

Through a «

'•'♦I

dream

Through one's

parents

Through one's feelings (Pro. 14:12) There is a way that seems right to Through a church leader

a man, but its end is

the way of death.

Through an ad Wanted: Someone to guide me to the city of . Would you want one who dreamed the way, told of the way, felt the way or knew the way because It was his home?

G o d S p e a k s To d a y T h r o u g h H i s S o n Hebrews

1:1-4

' God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,

2 has in these last days

spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of ail things, through whom also He made the worlds; ^ who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

How Does He SpeekThrough His Son? Does Jesus knock on your door?

An Exampe of Speaking Indirectly If a mother sends her son for her husband

with the message: "Come home," and you saw the husband and ask him where he was

going, he would say:" My wife asked me to come home." THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF S P E A K I N G I N D I R E C T LY.

Does Jesus speak to us Indirectly? B

Christ Speaks Through the Apostles

From Jesus' disciples, He selected 12 apostles (Luk. 6:13): And when It was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles

JESaS TAUGHT AND TRAINED THESE APOSTLES John 17:8

ÂŽ For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

Jesus knew these men would not be able to remember every thing they had learned from Him so He sent them the Holy Ghost (Jn, 14:26): But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name. He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that 1 said to you. ~7

N G u i d e d I n t o ^ Tr u t h

(Jn. 16:13)

There were some things Jesus had not yet revealed to these apostles. The

However, when He, the

Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but

Holy Ghost was given to guide them into ^ truth.

whatever He hears He will

speak; and He will tell you things to come.

QuBStsion:

Into

how

much

the

truth

does

this

verse

tell

us these men were guided? 50%

75%

All

Truth

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS SON JESUS A N D

JESUS SPEAKS TO US THROUGH THE APOSTLES

How do the apostles speak to us today?

Do the apostles knock on our door?

Do the apostles speak to us indirectily? B

GUIDED BY THE HOLY GHOST, THE APOSTLES WROTE THE BIBLE

Ephesians 3:6 ' For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentilesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; ^ if indeed you have heard of the dis pensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, ^ how that by revelation He made known to me the

mystery (as 1 have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may un derstand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), ^ which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it

has now been revealed by the Spirit to

His holy apostles and prophets: ÂŽ that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of

the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspira tion of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The apostles speak to us through the Bible

D O T H E S C R I P T U R E S F U R N I S H U S TO E V E RY G O O D W O R K ?

H o w D o e s G o d S p e a k To d a y ?

Peter

1:3

^ ...as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to

life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called 1

us by glory and virtue. \

D O E S T H E B I B L E G I V E U S A L L T H I H G S T H AT P E R TA I N T O LIFE AND GODLINESS?

Is the Bible all sufficient?

Is the Bible enough? Revelation 20:12

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

ALL

MANKIND

WILL

JUDGED

OUT

THE

THINGS

WRITTEN IN THE 1

â&#x2013;¡

John

12:48

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

We Will Be Judge By What? 1.

Dreams?

2 . P a r e n t s Te a c h i n g s ? 3.

Church

Leaders?

A. Our Own Feelings? 5.

The

Words

Jesus?

G O D

J E S U S

o D

S P

;

A P O S T L E S 1 1

What

Ybu

Remember?

1. If man says one thing and the Bible says something differ ent, which should we follow?

A. What the Bible says. B. What man says.

2. If our parents say one thing and the Bible says something different, which should we follow?

A. What our parents say. B. What the Bible says.

3. If we dream one thing and the Bible says something differ ent, which should we follow?

A. What the Bible Says B. What we dream.

4. If our friends say one thing and the Bible says something different, which should we follow?

A. What our friends say. B. What the Bible says.

5. If the preacher or priest says one thing and the Bible says something different, which should we follow? A. What the Bible says.

B. What the preacher or priest says. 6. If the bishop or some other church official says one thing and the Bible says something different, which should we follow?

A. What the bishop or church official says, B. What the Bible says.

7. If the church says one thing and the Bible something differ ent, which should we follow?

A. What the Bible says. B. What the church says.

GOD

SPEAKS

THROUGH

THE

TO D AY BIBLE

Must One Obey Every Command in the Bible to Please God? MUST OME BUILD AN ARK?

Gen. 6:14

Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover It inside and out

side with pitch.

Must one obey this command? Why? MUST ONE STONE HIS SON?

Deu.

21:20-21

And they shall say to the elders of his city, "This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard." Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away the evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear. = J

Must one obey this command? Why?

MUST ONE OFFER ANIMALS?

Num.

29:2

^ You shall offer a burnt

offering as a sweet aroma to the LORD:

one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs

in their first year, with out blemish.

Must one obey this command? Why?

Num.

15:32-36

Now while the children of Israel

MUST ONE STONE A PERSON?

were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sab bath day. And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Mo ses and Aaron, and to all the congre gation. They put him under guard, because it had not been explained what should be done to him. Then

the LORD said to Moses, "The man

must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp." So, as the LORD commanded Moses, all

the congregation brought him out side the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died.

Must one obey this command? Why? 2

It; is not necessary for* us to build an ark, offer a s o n , s t o n e a b r e a k e r o f t h e S a b b a t h . W h y ? To

help us understand, please notioe: Colossians 2:14-17

having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross... So let no

one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, " which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

TELL 3 THINGS WHICH HAPPENED TO THE HAND WRITTEN ORDINANCES.

1. 2. 3.

Since these things have been blotted out and taken away, should another person judge us about: 1. Eating meats? 2. Observing special holy days? 3. Keeping Sabbath days? Why should no person judge another In these matters? 1. Because they have been taken away. 2. Because they are so difficult to keep. 3

If the Old Covenant has been nailed to the

c p o s B , w h a t a b o u t t h e Te n C o m m a n d m e n t s ? OLD COVENANT

NEW COVENANT

You shall have no other gods before Me (Exodus 20:3).

You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve (Matthew 4:10).

You shall not make for yourself a carved image (Exodus 20:4). III

Little children, keep yourselves from idols (1 John 5:21).

You shall not take the name of the

III

LORD your God in vain (Exodus 20:7).

Do not swear at all (Matthew 5:34).

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy (Exodus 20:8).

Honor your father and mother (Ephesians 6:2).

Honor your father and

your mother (Exodus 20:12).

Whoever hates his brother is

You shall not murder (Exodus 20:13).

a murderer ( 1 John 3:15).

VII

You shall not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14).

Do not commit adultery (James 2:11).

VIII

Let him who stole steal no longer

You shall not steal (Exodus 20:15).

(Ephesians 4:28).

VIII

You shall not bear false witness X

Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor" (Ephesians 4:25).

You shall not covet your neighbor's house (Exodus 20:17).

Thou shalt not covet (Romans 13:9).

against your neighbor (Exodus 20:16).

Which commandment is never

given in the New Testament?

O l d o r N e w Te s t a m e n t : â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ^ W h i c h A r e W e t o f o l l o w ?

We have seen that not all the commands of the Bible are given for people today. Those commandments given to the Hebrew people were nailed to the cross. From you knowledge of the Bible, please check which of the following ended when Jesus' New Testament went into force:

M a n y W i v e s A n i m a l S a c r i fi c e s S i n g i n g Confessing Sins to a Priest Sabbath Worship

R e v i e w Q u e s t i o n : W H E N WA S T H E O L D L AW P G T A S I D E F O R THE NEW LAW?

It is a fact that Jesus

worshipped on Saturday (Luke 4:16). So He came to Mazareth, where He had been

brought up. And as His cus tom was, He went into the

synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.

Hebrews 9:16-17

Why did Jesus worship on Saturday if the Old Law was taken away?

For where there is a testa

ment, there must also of

necessity be the death of the t e s t a t o r. F o r a t e s t a m e n t i s

In force after men are dead,

since it has no power at all while the testator lives.

Wa s t h e O l d L a w i n f o r c e u n

til it was taken away by Jesus when He died on the cross?

T O D AY: D O E S G O D S P E A K T O U S B Y T H E O L D L A W GIVEN THROUGH MOSES OR THE NEW LAW GIVEN THROUGH CHRIST?

G o d S p e a k s To d a y a n d W e M u s t Respect What God Says WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS SHOWING PROPER RESPECT?

Cursing God

Robbing God

Obeying God

Thanking God

Loving God

Hating God

If we try to change God's Word, we do not show proper respect. WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO CHANGE GOD'S WORD?

Did Adam and Eve have

the right to change God's word (Gn. 3:23)?

^ therefore the LORD God sent him out of the

garden of Eden to till the ground from which he

was taken.

u Did Moses have a right to change God's Word (Nm. 20:12)? Then the LORD spoke to

Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow

Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." y

Did the priest Nadab and Abihu have a right to change God's word (Lev. 10:1-2)? ' Then Madab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his

censer and put fire in it, put in cense on it, and offered profane

fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. 2 So fire went out from the

LORD and devoured them, and

they died before the LORD.

There were two altars at the Tabernacle. One was the brazen Altar and the other was the Altar of Incense. Fire was to be taken from

the Brazen Altar to use on the Altar of Incense. Evidently Madab and Abihu disregarded this instruction (Lev. 16:12,13) and used fire

from some other source. Even these Priest of God could not ignore God's directions.

W H AT H A P P E N E D T O A L L O F T H O S E W H O T R I E D T O CHANGE GOD'S WORD?

1. Blessed

SIN

2. Punished

IS 1 John 3:4

FAILURE

RESPECT

W H AT

GOD

Whoever commits sin also commits law

lessness, and sin is lawlessness.

S A Y S

What

Sin?

S I N I S N O T R E S P E C T I N G W H AT G O D S AY S

There are a number of ways to show this disrepsect. In this section we notice some ways we sin.

We sin by doing what God has forbidden

(Gen. 2:17) "...but of the tree of the

knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die."

Give a modern example of doing what God has forbidden. In other

words, can you name something that people in this community are

doing that God has forbidden? f

We sin by refusing to do what God has com

manded (Jon. 1:3) ^ But Jonah arose to flee

to Tarshish from the pres ence of the LORD.

Give a modern example of refusing to do what God has command

ed. In other words, can you name something that people in your community are refusing to do that God has commanded?

We sin by substituting for what God has said (Lev. 10:1) ' Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer

and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not com

manded them.

i •• .

Give a modern example of substituting for what God has said, in

other words, can you name something that people in your com munity are doing which they put in the place of that which God has commanded?

We sin by adding to

We sin by taking from God's

God's Word

Word

Example: If Noah had added mahogany to the gopher

Example: If Noah had built the

wood, would he have been do

been doing what God said (Gen. 6)?

ing what God said?

ark 290 cubits, would he have

□

Revelation 22:18-19

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the proph ecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if any one takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Does anyone have a night to add on take from God's

Word?

There have been times in

my life when 1 sinned by not respecting what God said. Have there been times in

your life when you sinned by not respecting what God said?

When anyone does not re spect what God's Word says, they commit

All

Sin

What

Name

Should

Members

of God's Family Wear? I M U S T R E S P E C T W H AT G O D ' S W O R D S AY S ABOUT THE NAME I WEAR!

Would you name one of your children "Rover"? Should a wife take a man's name other than her husband? N A M E S A R E I M P O R TA N T T O G O D !

God changed Abram's name to Abraham (Gen. 17:5) ^ No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for 1 have made you a father of many nations. God changed Jacob's name to Israel (Gen. 32:28) And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed."

God promised to give His people a new name seven hundred years before Christ (Isaiah 62:2)

God gave His people a new name! (Acts 11:26) And when he had found

him, he brought him to

^ The Gentiles shall see

Antioch. So it was that for a

your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name. Which the mouth of the

whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first

LORD will name.

called Christians in Antioch.

What new name did God give His people?

The

NamÂŠ

God

Gave

His

Children

B Y W H AT N A M E D O E S G O D C A L L H I S C H I L D R E N ?

A c t s 11 : 2 6

And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So

it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

God call His children

Acts

26:28

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian."

Paul wanted Agrippa to become a

1 Peter 4:16

Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify Cod in this matter.

God's children are to glorify Him in the name: T O C A L L O U R S E LV E S B Y N A M E S N O T IN GOD'S WORD CAUSES DIVISION. i

What

Name

Should

Members

God's Family Wear? Thought Questions Do I honor God in the Religious Name

that 1 am presently wearing?

If I wear a name which is not in the Bi

ble, more than the Bible Is required for my religious name. Is more than the Bible required for my religious name?

SOME

SHOULD ASK:

"What Are You Trying To Be?" MY ANSWER WOULD BE:

"1 am trying to be a Christian."

SOMEONE

SHOULD ASK:

"What kind of a Christian? MY ANSWER WOULD BE:

"1 am trying to be a simple Bible Christian."

I F I FA I L T O R E S P E C T W H AT GOD

S AY S

ABOUT

THE

NAME I WEAR, I COMMIT

HOW

ARE

WORSHIP

GOD?

I Must Respect What God

Says About Worship WHAT IS WORSHIP? = The act of paying divine honor to a deity.

CAIH DID NOT RESPECT W H AT

GOD

SAID!

Genesis 4:4-5

* Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the

LORD respected Abel and his offering, ^ but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

N A D A B A N D A B I H G D I D N O T R E S P E C T W H AT G O D S A I D !

Leviticus 10:1-2

' Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his

censer and put fire in it, put in cense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. ^ So fire went out from the LORD and

devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

^ 1

If I change God's Word and worship according to man's teach ing, my worship is vain [worthless]. Matthew 15:9

Â® And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.

What does God Say My Worship Must Be? John 4:24

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

God's Requirements of Acceptable Worship; The proper object of our worship God

The proper attitude of worship "in Spirit" The proper standard or guide of worship "In Truth"

WHERE WOULD I LOOK TO FIND THE TRUTH?

John

17:17

Sanctify them by Your t r u t h . Yo u r w o r d i s t r u t h .

TRUTH IS REVEALED IN GOD'S WORD.

What Am I to Do in My Worship to God? G O D ' S W O R D S AY S W O R S H I P M U S T I N C L U D E : BIBLE

Acts

STUDY

2:42

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, In the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Early Christians worshipped by God's Word says my worship must include:

A c t s 1 7 : 11

" These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that

they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scrip tures daily to find out whether these things were so.

GOD'S WORD SAYS WORSHIP MUST INCLUDE: P R AY E R

1 Thessalonians 5:17

" Pray without ceasing.

Early Christians worshipped God by .

God's Word says my worship must include:

G O D ' S W O R D S AY S W O R S H I P M U S T I N C L U D E :

G I V I N G

GOD'S

WAY

1 Corinthians 16:1-2

^ Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: ^ On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when 1 come.

X8 \ 41. \ 47 \ <>â&#x20AC;˘Âť-

\ 39 \ 54

35^5^ Early Christians worshipped God by God's Word says my worship must include: 4

G O D ' S W O R D S AY S W O R S H I P M U S T I N C L C J D E : BREAKING BREAD Acts

20:7

Now on the first day of the week, when the dis

ciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his

message until midnight.

ACCORDING TO GOD'S WORD, WHEN DID THE EARLY C H R I S T I A N S H AV E C O M M U N I O N O R B R E A K B R E A D ?

Y E A R L Y ? M O N T H L Y ? W E E K L Y ? D A I L Y ?

Early Christians worshipped God by . God's Word says my worship must include:

G O D ' S W O R D S AY S W O R S H I P M O S T I M C L U D E :

T H E R E A R E T H R E E W AY S T O M A K E M U S I C

To P l a y a M u s i c a l I n s t r u m e n t . To S i n g

To s i n g a n d P l a y a M u s i c a l i n s t r u m e n t .

F O L L O W I N G I S A L I S T O F E V E R Y PA S S A G E I N T H E N E W T E S TA M E N T R E G A R D I N G T H E M U S I C O F T H E C H U R C H :

(In each verse check the kind of music that was used.) And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:30).

[ ] Playing [ ] Singing [ | Singing and Playing And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives (Mark 14:26).

[ ] Playing [ ] Singing [ ] Singing and Playing B

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God; and the prisoners heard them (Acts 16:25). 1 ] Playing [ ] Singing [ ] Singing and Playing And that the Gentiles might glorify God for [His] mercy; as it is writ ten, For this cause 1 will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name (Romans 15:9). [ ] Playing [ ] Singing [ ] Singing and Playing What is it then? 1 will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the

understanding also: 1 will sing with the spirit, and 1 will sing with the understanding also (1 Corinthians 14:15). [ I Playing [ 1 Singing [ ] Singing and Playing Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritu

al songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19). [ ] Playing [ ] Singing [ ] Singing and Playing Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and

admonishing one another In psalms and hymns and spiritual song, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:16). [ I Playing [ ] Singing [ ] Singing and Playing Saying, 1 will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will 1 sing praise unto thee (Hebrews 2:12). [ 1 Playing [ ] Singing [ j Singing and Playing Is any amoung you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms (James 5:13). [ ] Playing [ ] Singing [ ] Singing and Playing

P -7

THE MUSIC AUTHORIZED BY GOD IN THE N E W T E S TA M E N T C H U R C H

G E N E R A L

S P E C I F I C

A U T H O R I T Y

If God had said use

God said use gopher

wood, what kind

wood. What kind of

could man have used?

wood was required?

A R K

P A S S O V E R S A C R A F I C E

If God had said use

God said offer a lamb.

an animal, what kind

What kind of animal

could man have used?

was required?

If God had said use

God said worship by

music, what kind

singing. What kind of music is required?

W O R S H I P

could man have used?

We often use general and specific authority, for example, in writing a letter Not Frank/Not Bob

Not New York/Not Texas

AN EXAMPLE OF GENERAL AND SPECIFIC AUTHORIITY FROM OUR WORSHIP What are the two items on the Lord's table?

S Would one be doing what God said if candy were added to the Lord's Supper? Would one be doing what God said in worship by playing in addition to singing? Following is listed again every New Testament passage which mentions the music God desires: Matthew 26:30, Mark 14:26, Acts 16:25, Romans 15:9, 1 Corinthians

14:15, Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16, Hebrews 2:12, and James 5:13. In which passage does the New Testament show that it would be ac ceptable to God to use an instrument? T H E R E A R E T H R E E WAY S TO M A K E M U S I C

1. To play a musical Instrument. 2. To sing 3. To sing and play a musical instrument.

Which way should the church make music to do what God says? God's Word says my worship must include: 0

What

Vou

Remember?

1. Name the five avenues through which Christians are to honor God in worship:

2. God speaks today and tells us that: ( ] anyone has a right to change His word [ ] no one has a right to change His word 3. God speaks today and tells us that the wearing of a human name in religion causes: ( ] unity [ 1 division

4. God speaks today and tells us that we show proper respect when we:

[ ] obey [ ] disobey 5. God speaks today and tell us we must worship Him in: [ ] spirit [ 1 truth

[ 1 following the commandments of men 6. God speaks today and tells us our worship must include: [ 1 Bible Study [ 1 bingo ( ] communion

( ] eating candy [ 1 singing I 1 playing [ I prayer [ ] giving When I fail to respect what God says end do not worehip as He directs, I

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BECOMING

CHRISTIAN

GOD'S

WAY

I Must Respect What God Says About Becoming a Christian John 8:24

Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.

What does God's Word say I must do?

Acts 17:30-31

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteous ness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assur ance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.

What does God's Word say I must

do?

What does it mean to repent?

Bible Repentance Explained Matthew 21:28-29

What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, "Son, go and work today in the vineyard." "I will not," he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

In this parable, told by our Lord Jesus, a son refused to do what his father told him. Later he changed his mind and did what his father said. Bible

change

Repentance

mind

change

that

his/her

will

cauae

one

life.

Jesus gives the best example In all the Bible of Repentance. He clearly shows that repentance means to chance one*s mind!

EXAMPE:

If a couple is living in sin (living together unmarried) and they repent, what change will occur in their life?

I N O U R S T U D Y S O FA R W E H AV E F O U N D

T H AT A P E R S O N M U S T:

Believe

Repent 2

What Ape CDther Requirements? Matthew 10:32

Therefore whoever confesses Me before nnen, him 1 will also

confess before My Father who is in heaven.

What does God's Word say I must do?

Are There Any CDther Requirements? Mark 16:16

He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

What does God's Word say I must do?

BIBLE

BAPTISM

How Many Baptism Are There? (Ephesians 4:4-6) There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; ^ one Lord, one faith, one baptism: Â® one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

HOW /v\AhY LORDS ARE THERE? HOW MAHY GODS ARE THERE? HOW MANY BAPTISMS ARE THERE? 3

THE WORD OF GOD TEACHES ONE BAPTISM, YET IN ACTS 19 THERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THOSE WHO WERE BAP TIZED TWICE.

Could you suggest a reason why these were baptized a second time?

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Acts

19:1-5

' And it happened, while Apoilos was at Corinth, that Paul, having

passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples ^ he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." ^ And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." '* Then Paul said, 'John indeed baptized with a baptism of repen

tance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." ^ When they heard

this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

If a person discovers that he/she has not been baptized as the Bible says,

what should he/she do?

Five Requirements of Bible Baptism

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and

make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

By Whose Authority? M AT T H E W 2 8 : 1 8 - 2 0

Mark 16:16

He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Who is a Proper Subject? MARK 16:16

PHILIP BAPTIZED THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH

Acts 8:26-39

Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert. So he arose and went.

And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the

prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot." So Phiiip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "How can 1, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. The place in the Scripture which he read was this: "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His

justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth." So the eunuch answered

Philip and said, "1 ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?" Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from

being baptized?" Then Philip said, "if you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Je sus Christ is the Son of God." ^ So he commanded the chariot

to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into

the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

What la the Right Element?

ACTS 8:26-39 How many were present? B

Romans 6:3-4

^ Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?'' Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

4 What 1st

ne Right Action?

ROMANS 6:, , - 4

[ ] Sprinkling [ ] Burial

[ ] Pouring

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

What Is the Right Purpose? ACTS 2:38

W h i c h I s t h e Te a c h i n g o f t h e B i b l e ? (Check correct answer)

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

[ ] 1. Repentence = Remission of sins - Baptism [ ] 2. Baptism = Salvation = Believe In Jesus [ ] 3. Repentance + Baptism = Remission of sins

Mark 16:16

He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

[ ] 1. Believe = Saved = Baptism [ I 2. Baptism = Saved = Believed [ ] 3. Believe + Baptism = Saved S

Who Has No Hope and Is Without God? Epheslans 2:12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

[ ] Those Within Christ? [

]

Those

Without

Christ?

Is Being "In Christ" Necessary to

Saved?

2 Corinthians 5:17

" Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, ail things have become new.

[ ] Are New Creatures In Christ? E ] Are New Creatures Out of Christ?

Ephesians 1:3 ^ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. [ ] Are Al Spiritual Blessings In Christ? [ ] Are All Spiritual Blessings Out of Christ? 9

Colossians 1:13-14

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and con veyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

I ] 1b Fopgrveneas of Sins in Chrlat;? [ ] la Forgiveness of Sins Out; of Christ?

2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore 1 endure

all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is

in Christ Jesus with

eternal glory.

[ ] la Salvation in Christ? [ 1 Is Salvation Out of Christ?

1 J o h n 5 : 11

And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

[ ] Is Eternal Life in Christ? [ ] la Eternal Life Out of Christ? 1

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Galatians 3:27

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Romans 6:3

^ Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

What:

Act

Faith

Puts

Into

Christ?

The Most ImportarrG Decision In Your Lifel

God gives us many reasons to become Christians, i.e., the fear of being lost, the rewards of the abundant Christian life. But the great est of all reasons for becoming a Christian is a loving appreciation for what Jesus did at Calvary.

REVIEW THE STORY OF THE CROSS Matthew 27:1-50 Luke 23:13-46

John 19: 1-30

WHY DID JESCJS DIE ON THE CROSS? (Be personal in your answer.) DO YOG TRGLY LOVE JESGS?

How does Jesus say we show this love? "If you love Me, keep My commandments. (John 14:15) L e t u s b r ' l e fl y r e v i e w w h a t w e h a v e d o n e :

Do you believe in Jesus? Are you willing to repent of your sins? Do you believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? What do you now need to do to become a Christian like the Bible says? Do you know any reason why you should not be baptized as the Bible teaches?

To enroll in a free Bible course by mail BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE

In order to encourage a greater interest in the Scriptures, a special FREE Bible Study Course is now being conducted. The course is:

* Completely undenominational * Absolutely free of charge * Conducted entirely by mail * Based directly on the Bible

To enroll in this free Bible Course, fill out and return to us:

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If you have questions concerning "How God Speaks Today" or oth er Bible questions, please contact: Roebuck Parkway Church of Christ 400 Roebuck Parkway Bimingham, AL 35206