We are a people today who enthralled with being casual. You may have heard someone say, "I am just a casual observer." Or "I love casual Fridays." Or "I am only a casual sports fan." This term conveys the meaning that one is not as serious or concerned about a matter as others may be. There is nothing wrong with being casual in certain circumstances. However, I have to draw the line of wearing pajamas out in public. Do people really think that's okay? But I digress! The danger today is thinking that we can casually follow the Lord and that He is fine with it. 

When a person is baptized properly, it is approved of God and by all subjects of God. When a person prays appropriately, takes the Lord’s Supper or sings properly, the same thing is true. Should we applaud at any or all of those times?

When people see beyond "the passing pleasures of sin" (Hebrews 11:25), and look upon the ruination it leaves in its wake, then they should have a holy hatred for it. May you cling to the words of Scripture that give the prescription on how to avoid ruining your life:  

“25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:” (Heb. 12:25.) (Romans 10:10).away.” (1 Peter 5:1-4)

How important is belief in Jesus being Son of God? It is so important that our eternal destiny depends upon it. Jesus once said, 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 (John 8:24 NKJV). To die in your sins means that you die in an unforgiven state, and thus you will land in hell and be punished forever and ever. On the other hand, belief in Jesus as deity and confession of that belief leads to salvation (Romans 10:10).away.” (1 Peter 5:1-4)

How important is belief in Jesus being Son of God? It is so important that our eternal destiny depends upon it. Jesus once said, 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 (John 8:24 NKJV). To die in your sins means that you die in an unforgiven state, and thus you will land in hell and be punished forever and ever. On the other hand, belief in Jesus as deity and confession of that belief leads to salvation (Romans 10:10).away.” (1 Peter 5:1-4)

“5 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.   4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (1 Peter 5:1-4)

 This week, you and I are blessed to feast upon the word of God, as we hold our annual gospel meeting. Our brother, Greg Dismuke, will be preaching the word, and I have every confidence that he will be prepared to do just that. Hopefully, you and I will be prepared and eager to receive the word preached, so that we might have the opportunity to grow, make corrections if necessary, and be encouraged.

 Put down the gavel! God did not intend for you to be a judge. We must discriminate between right and wrong . . . but it is not our business to sit in judgment or to presume to allocate to others their status before God. He alone can do that. Jesus forbids our assuming a role as a judge.

  In pondering the words, "gospel meeting," one can conclude this will be a meeting where the gospel is proclaimed, and that would be correct. What is meant by the term, "gospel?" The word appears 103 times in the New Testament. It is expressed as a message of good news: 

 The kingdom of heaven itself Jesus taught was like a merchantman seeking after goodly pearls, and gladly surrendering all for the “pearl of great price.” (Matthew 13:45-46). The origin of the pearl found within the shell of the pearl oyster or mollusk was, to the ancients, most mysterious.

 When Jesus walked this earth, He was a worker. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work (John 9:4). The word "night" in this verse refers to death. So, we must follow His example and work while we have the opportunity to do so. A good summary of Jesus' work is found in Matthew 9:35: Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. His example for us in this verse is threefold: He was teaching (imparting information); He was preaching (exhorting them on how to live in light of what they were taught), and healing (showing compassion).

 With our young people starting back to school, what can be said to provide some encouragement? The apostle Paul commanded a young Timothy, saying, "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV). It is possible for some to look down upon others because of their youth.

For anything to be scriptural it must be sanctioned in the form of a divine command, by approved apostolic example or by necessary inference. Following these three, yet another method was introduced as that of an “expediency” to determine scriptural procedure.

As we travel the straight and narrow road toward heaven to find it strewn with stumbling blocks, and fraught with difficulty after difficulty. Jesus in his infinite wisdom knew the travel over the upward way was difficult and trying when he described the road to heaven in (Matthew 7:13-14). 

In Acts 5, we read of a man named Gamaliel, a Pharisee on the Jewish council, that stopped a near mob scene that could have resulted in the death of the apostles. The council had just been "cut to the quick" (Acts 5:33) by the apostles' inspired message and wanted to kill them on the spot. However, Gamaliel stood up at the time, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while (Acts 5:34 NKJV). What did Gamaliel say to prevent the council from acting on its rage?

In the prominent passage, 1 Samuel 16:7, we are told that the Lord “looketh.” “7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” Now comes the question, On what does the Lord “looketh” – focus his attention? Or, in his eyes, what thing is of prime importance? To this question five answers are found – four in the negative, one in the positive.

Boys have always been taught that it is wrong to hit a girl. However, the Olympics have recently allowed such to take place. A man who was pretending to be a woman fought a woman in a boxing match, and unsurprisingly, won. He hit the woman in the face so hard that she could not continue the match. The lack of outrage is disturbing. If this took place in an ordinary home, the man would be thrown in jail for domestic violence. Yet our society applauds this man for doing what he believes is right. But, is it right?

How often do we stand in the presence of the symbol of the shed blood of Christ, and think of trivial things? When we speak of the money spent each year in mission work do we think at the same time of all the things the money could be spent for otherwise? When we give as the Lords prospered us on the Lord’s Day, do we, as we drop our offering into the lock boxes in our foyers, think of what we could have bought for ourselves with it? So many miss the real blessing the Lord has in store for them by not being spiritually able to discern spiritual values.

With our young people starting back to school, what can be said to provide some encouragement? The apostle Paul commanded a young Timothy, saying, "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV). It is possible for some to look down upon others because of their youth. King Saul was skeptical that a young David could fight the Philistine giant, telling him, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth" (1 Samuel 17:33).