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Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
What is the Church of Christ?
When people come to visit us they often want to know who we are, what we believe, what we stand for, and why we are here in Dripping Springs. People don’t spend their time, their money and their skills on some principle without believing they have a right to exist and a purpose to serve. If you are visiting today, and if you have wondered, “What is the church of Christ?” we want to answer that question.
First, the church of Christ is not a denomination or part of any sectarian religious system. Jesus prayed for His followers to be united, John 17:20-21, not fragmented, as is a fundamental principle of denominationalism. With His own precious blood Jesus purchased “the church,” Acts 20:28, not a sect or a denomination. In fact there is no Bible authority for the existence of any denomination, 1 Corinthians 1:10.
Second, we are a people dedicated to following the Bible in every area of our life. We know that truth does not reside in men, but in God’s revelation, the Bible, John 17:17. But we can know that truth, and we can understand what is God’s will for our lives, John 8:31-32, Ephesians 3:4 and 5:17. We are painfully aware of our own individual weaknesses, knowing we have no reason to exhibit any form of self-righteousness, Romans 12:1-3. But we are trying to let Christ live in us every day of our lives, Galatians 2:20, showing our gratitude for God’s blessings, and expressing our love for Him by obedience to His word, John 14:15, 1 John 5:3.
Third, we realize that since the church belongs to Christ, and since He is the head of the church, Ephesians 1:22-23, we must be willing to submit to Him and be obedient to His commands, Matthew 7:21. We know that it is only by God’s abundant grace that we have the opportunity to obtain forgiveness of our sins, Romans 3:24, Titus 3:5, and we respond to that grace by meeting the conditions of obedience that Jesus has set forth, Hebrews 5:9.
Fourth, we look to God for our authority concerning what we preach and what we practice, Colossians 3:17. Since the church belongs to Christ, we look to Him alone for our instructions on worship, doctrine, daily living and example, Colossians 1:18. Therefore, we do not look to the edicts of synods or conventions for our guidance, Matthew 15:9. We realize that “all scripture is inspired of God,” and that it will adequately equip us “unto every good work,” II Timothy 3:16-17.
Fifth, the Bible teaches several very significant things about the church Jesus built:
- The church is the “body of Christ,” I Corinthians 12:12-27, and there is “but one body,” one “church,” Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:4.
- The church is composed of those who have been saved by the grace of God by means of the blood of Christ, those who have been “added to the church” by the Lord Himself, Acts 2:47, Ephesians 5:23.
- Jesus has placed some conditions upon all mankind for our salvation. Principally we must hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and believe it, Romans 10:17, Mark 16:16; confess our faith before others, Romans 10:9-10, repent of our sins, Acts 17:30-31; be immersed for the forgiveness of our sins, Acts 22:16; and live a life of faithful service to God, walking in “the light” as God instructs us, 1 John 1:5-9, Romans 11:22.
- The church, Christ being its head and role model, is obligated to “seek and save that which is lost,” Luke 19:10. The church’s primary purpose is to serve the spiritual needs of man, not just the physical needs.
Sixth, our worship to God consists of the same elements as given by the apostles to the early church. They sang songs of praise to God, Ephesians 5:19, and they prayed to the heavenly Father, Luke 11:2-4. They preached the gospel, Acts 20:7, and took the Lord’s Supper on the first day of each week, I Corinthians 11:23-30. They gave a contribution according to their week’s prospering, I Corinthians 16:1-2, II Corinthians 9:6-7.
If you are visiting, you will likely notice that our assembly may be somewhat different from others you have attended. We are not trying to be peculiar or different, but only to follow the pattern of truth found in the Bible, Hebrews 8:5; Romans 6:17. You will find tracts or booklets in the foyer written on Bible subjects, and you are encouraged to take them—free of charge—read them and pass them on to others. If you have questions, please feel free to ask us and we will be happy to try to answer them all. There is a question box on the foyer table if you prefer to write out your question.
The religious world seems hopelessly divided in this 21st century, and many seem content to continue that way in spite of God’s disapproval, I Corinthians 1:10. There is one sure way that division can be solved: for every one of us to put away our man-made creeds, sectarian attitudes or catechisms, and just go back to the Bible for what we believe and what we practice. That is a worthy goal for all of us, is it not? We are determined to go Back to the Bible—no additions, no subtractions. Won’t you come go with us?
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“By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence,”
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Choosing What's Better
(Editor’s Note: The author of the following article, Mike Vestal, will be with us in May for our series of Gospel Sermons. He is a talented and knowledgeable preacher, and you will not be bored. Invite your friends, begin now—plan everything around May 3–June 2.)
Almost everywhere we turn today we are exposed to the idea that “having” is the key to happiness. After all, more and bigger are better. A “bigger and better” house, car, computer, education, job, bank account, etc., that’s what we want. All these will provide the key to happiness that we so desperately seek. The “bigger and better” mentality is always “in.” And self-help gurus abound to help us achieve the goal of “bettering” ourselves (for a “nominal” fee, of course).
As Christians, we should be thankful for and enjoy all of God’s blessings (1 Timothy 6:17-19). Life is a stewardship, a sacred trust, and we should manage all that God has given us with love and with wisdom (Luke 16:10-12; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2). The Bible also plainly teaches the priority of having a proper work ethic (2 Thessalonians 3:6; Colossians 3:22-25). But more and bigger do NOT always equal better. Not as far as God is concerned. It’s only too easy for God’s gifts to become man’s idols, for stewardship to become selfishness, and for work to become our religion. Hear our Lord:
“And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:15-21).
In examining the dictionary, the first two meanings given for “better” are (1) of superior quality or excellence; (2) Morally superior; more virtuous. More and bigger certainly were not better in the rich man’s case. Nor are they necessarily so in the lives of many today. Sometimes more and bigger cost far more than they’re really worth!
The book of Proverbs repeatedly emphasizes this point. “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred” (15:17). “Better is a little with righteousness, than vast revenues without justice” (16:8). “Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud” (16:19). “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city” (16:32). “Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife” (17:1). “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool” (19:1; 28:6). “It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, than in a house shared with a contentious woman” (21:9). “Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed” (27:5). The book of Proverbs was written to encourage us to make better choices, decisions made out of the wisdom of loving our Lord and seeking to please Him in every aspect of our lives.
Things cannot satisfy the soul’s deepest longings. More and bigger do NOT always equal better. The Christian perspective is far better: “while we do not look at things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). Are you really choosing what’s better?
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