by Michael E Brooks

“And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ‘I believed and therefore I spoke,’ we also believe and therefore speak.” (2 Cor 3:13)

The difference between mere belief and true saving faith may be summed up in one word – “therefore”. Genuine faith results in consequences. It causes us to act. It establishes parameters to our lives. Because of our faith we do certain things. Because of our faith we refuse to do other things. An incident in Kathmandu, Nepal a few years ago illustrates this point well.

Ramesh is a young Hindu man who worked part time for an American dentist who lives in Kathmandu. His older sister, Sunita, who had become a Christian, also worked with the family as a fulltime cook and housekeeper. One day Ramesh finished his duties about noon and, being hungry, fixed a piece of meat he found in the refrigerator for his lunch. He then took it out to where Sunita was working and sat to eat it.

After taking a bite Ramesh exclaimed, “Sister, this is good. What is it – buffalo?” She answered, “No, it is beef.” (To Hindus the cow is a sacred animal, whereas the domesticated water buffalo is not). Hearing this, Ramesh widened his eyes in shock and said, “Someone killed a goddess?!!” Extending his fork with a piece of beef impaled on it to arm’s length he mournfully said, “Oh poor goddess, I am so sorry someone killed you!” He then fell silent, and after a moment slowly lowered the fork to his mouth and took the bite and ate it, continuing on to finish the piece of beef. After another pause, he turned to Sunita and said, “If Dr. Jerry has someone kill another goddess, would you please save me a piece?”

I am sure that Ramesh still believes that the cow is sacred, a divine animal. Yet that belief will never again restrain him from eating beef if he has the opportunity. He has the belief, but not the conviction that leads to a “therefore.”

James calls this kind of intellectual acceptance of a concept “demon faith.” “You believe that there is one God? You do well. Even the demons believe – and tremble” (Jas 2:19). Genuine faith must be much more that that. It must lead us to obedience. Jesus taught, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter they kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven” (Mt 7:21). True faith is obedient trust in God. Nothing else is sufficient.

by Tim Hall

One of the great truths about God that leads us to love Him is that He is a deliverer. When we are caught in the trials of life, we need only look to Him and He will deliver us. That hope burns within the hearts of many.

But is it really true? Will God always deliver us from our trials?

God is certainly capable of delivering His people from any trial they face. Many occasions of God's amazing power are recorded in the Bible: Bringing the people of Israel out of Egyptian bondage; rescuing Daniel from the lions' den; raising Lazarus from the dead. The list is long. God has often delivered His people in dramatic fashion. The song we sing is true: "He is able to deliver thee!"

However, the Bible does not assure us that God will always be willing to deliver us from the problems we face. And, no, it doesn't necessarily mean that we are guilty of some sin, that God is pressuring us to repent. Some of the most godly people in the Bible have had to endure suffering for long periods of time.

Think of the woman in Mark 5:25-34: She had a serious hemorrhage of blood for twelve years. Yes, Jesus healed her, but where had God been during those twelve years of suffering? Or think of the three young Jewish men in Daniel 3. Could God not have prevented them from being cast into the furnace? Their lives were miraculously spared, but imagine the terror the endured while in that inferno. Where was God? Why didn't He intervene? Paul is another case in point. Such a devoted servant, he was willing to endure incredible hardships in order to preach Christ to the lost. Then why didn't the Lord remove his thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)? Didn't God care?

The truth is that God was able to deliver each one of these, but in His wisdom and grace, He allowed a period of suffering. He saw a greater good to be served than merely relieving temporary pain. In the end, each of these people was stronger in their faith, and that condition served them well as they faced eternity. (Read James 1:2-4)

God is with us! He is always with us, even when it appears that He won't deliver us. Let our faith remain always strong in His good purposes, for His will toward us is not concerned only with our lives on earth -- but especially with where we will spend eternity.

by Phil Sanders

1. Worship is internal.

One can worship internally without doing anything externally, but one cannot worship externally without doing anything internally. Zechariah 7:5-6 shows that the Jews of Zechariah’s day feasted and fasted for themselves and not for God. They went through the motions but did not involve the heart. Our worship must be in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).

2. Worship is intentional.

One cannot worship God accidentally; it must be an intended act. In 2 Kings 5:17-19 Naaman said he had to bow in the house of Rimmon to another god as a part of his duties. Naaman makes the point that he must bow, but worshiping is not his intention. We cannot go through the motions and call it worship –- we must intend to praise, adore or thank God for all He has done.

3. Worship is vertical.

We sing our praises to God (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 13:15). While we may sing so as to edify or teach others, that is not the primary purpose or focus of worship. It is good to remind ourselves in church that we are not the audience. God is! He is here to observe us and to be praised by us. Our task is to “please Him.” This is why we can never change our worship by turning it into entertainment.

4. Worship is momentary.

It has a beginning and an ending. Paul and the church at Troas waited seven days; and on the first day of the week, when they gathered to "break bread," Paul began talking to them (Acts 20:6-7). Worship is an act of our human hearts praising God according to His word. Let’s worship our Father from our hearts!

[Editor's note: The following compilation, which serves as an introduction to a first-time visitor, comes from the page, "Our Services," of the Somers Avenue congregation in North Little Rock, Ark. This good church has supported our efforts in Brazil for several years.]

When you enter what we refer to as the auditorium, there are no reserved seats, so feel free to sit anywhere you choose.

In a bookrack near you, there will be a hymnbook for your use. When the song leader announces a number, you can turn to that number in the hymnbook to find the words and music. One of the unique things about churches of Christ is that the singing is a cappella. That is, we sing without the accompaniment of musical instruments. This is a conviction with us, not just a preference. We are seeking worship according to the New Testament pattern (1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 2:12). We think you will find the singing very meaningful, with everyone invited to participate.

There will be several prayers offered throughout the worship. There may be prayers offered for specific needs or requests.

During the Sunday morning worship, the Lord's Supper will be included. We observe this memorial every Sunday. Again, the reason for this is our desire to follow New Testament teaching. The church of the New Testament celebrated this observance on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).

During this memorial, plates will be passed throughout the auditorium containing pieces of unleavened bread. The bread symbolizes the body of Jesus Christ which he gave on the cross (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). Each Christian will break off a piece of bread and eat it.

Next, trays of small cups filled with the "fruit of the vine" (grape juice) will be passed. This symbolizes the blood of Jesus shed on the cross (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). Jesus commands Christians to do this "in remembrance of me" (1 Corinthians 11:24).

Following the Lord's Supper, plates will be passed to collect the weekly financial offering. This too is according to New Testament teaching (1 Corinthians 16 :1-2). As our guest, you are not expected to make a contribution. You are welcome to, if you choose, but feel perfectly comfortable just passing the collection plate to the next person.

As you would expect, there will be a sermon delivered by the preacher. This sermon will likely be about 30 minutes long. We think you will find it refreshingly Bible-centered.

You will notice that the preacher does not have a title. He won't be referred to as Pastor or Reverend. If anything, he will be referred to as brother or simply referred to by his first name. The reason for this is our belief in the priesthood of all believers. All Christians are on equal footing with God (Galatians 3:26-28; 1 Peter 2:5, 9).

At the close of the sermon the preacher will extend the invitation. This is simply an opportune time to invite those who want to make a commitment to the Lord or request prayers for help and support to respond. He will encourage those who wish to respond to come to the front of the auditorium while the congregation sings the invitation hymn. Do not feel ill-at-ease during this invitation. You will not be singled out in any way.

Some of the responses at this time may be for prayers for specific needs, to place membership and be identified with this congregation, to confess sin, or to become a New Testament Christian through the act of baptism. The baptism will be by immersion (Acts 8:35-39; Romans 6:3-4) and will be for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

by Ron Harper

Shipwrecks are destructive things. Paul was being taken by ship to Rome. While at sea a strong northeast wind created a violent storm that destroyed the vessel. Thankfully, Paul and all on board were saved from death.

One of the most famous shipwrecks in American history is the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. This cargo ship had carried iron ore and coal on Lake Superior for seventeen years. Of course, sailing on Lake Superior is risky business. The skeletons of at least 350 ships are strewn across her bottom. On November 9, 1975, The Edmund Fitzgerald encountered a fierce northeast wind. Storms are so common in November that they are called "the gales of November." Before she could reach her destination, the Edmund Fitzgerald was sunk. All 29 crewmen as well as the cargo were lost. Nature is a destructive force.

It is possible for you to be hit with "spiritual shipwreck." The Bible gives this warning.

"Keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith" (1 Timothy 1:19).

If we continually violate our conscience, we will shipwreck our faith. A man sought help with a spiritual problem. He had continually violated his conscience with a sinful lifestyle. In the course of our conversation he said, "I just don't have much faith anymore."

Why did he not have much faith? It's obvious. He had shipwrecked his faith. He had destroyed it with a sinful lifestyle.

What the gales of November do to ships on Lake Superior is symbolic of what violating your conscience will do to your faith. Think about it.