Living Up to the Price? by Phil Ware Revised by Michael Marohn

Many eruptions of violence over the last several days and weeks were targeted at Iraqi citizens to keep them from voting, at U.S. soldiers to harm and discourage them, at Iraqi political candidates to eliminate them, and at newly trained policemen to intimidate them with the threat of death. These violent events are powerful reminders of the high cost often paid for freedom and the right to have one's vote count -- whether the vote occurred in Iraq on Sunday or in your corner of the globe on any other election day. (The joy of having a blue or purple finger that showed that an Iraqi voted Sunday was proof that millions of them considered their freedom to vote was worth risking their lives!)
Freedom has nearly always been purchased at a very high price. It is often even more costly to maintain. Even when freedom has been purchased, there is no assurance that those who have been blessed to receive it will make their hard-won freedom -- their "vote" so to speak -- truly count. The bloody events and the tremendously high cost paid to ensure yesterday's election in Iraq serves as a bold and inescapable reminder of this ongoing challenge.

As disciples of Jesus, we too have been given freedom. It is a freedom purchased at an unbelievably high cost. God himself paid the price for our freedom. It was won through the sacrifice of his Son who came to earth, lived his life of service, and suffered a death of ridicule and shame as a sacrifice to ransom and free us from sin and death. He purchased our freedom for us!

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:17-21 NKJ)

Is such a high price for the freedom to vote in Iraq worth the cost? Are those who receive such costly freedom worthy of what they have been given through the sacrifice of others? These are very real and very hard questions. These questions will rest especially heavy on the hearts of those who have lost someone close to them who has paid this cost. While our hearts break for them and for their loss, we also pray that the price their loved ones paid for this freedom will not be wasted. We pray that true freedom and peace can come because of that sacrifice. Our hope is that an even greater freedom for all the world's people can be achieved through the peace we hope their sacrifice will ultimately help achieve.

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle--I am speaking the truth in Christ[a] and not lying--a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-7)

Their price, their agony, and their sacrifice should make all of us think deeply about those same questions regarding the sacrifice that Jesus made for our eternal spiritual freedom. Was the high price Jesus paid for our freedom worth the cost? Are we really worthy of the sacrifice he made to purchase our freedom?

With such a high price paid for us, we must ask ourselves, "Am I living in such a way to make my life and my influence count, or am I squandering and wasting my freedom on what is worthless, destructive, and vain?"

Let's never be guilty of ingratitude or irresponsibility for the opportunity to be free from the power of sin and death bought for us by the blood of Jesus. May we demonstrate our joy for being given this freedom as openly as many of those who risked their lives to vote yesterday displayed in showing us their ink-stained finger to show they had exercised their freedom to vote!

We should be proud that not only we can vote but we have a choice and that we have hope of eternal life. The ransomed of sin was paid for all. Just like freedom it wasn’t meant to be for a select group of people but for everyone everywhere. There is the choice though you either do what is right in order to save your soul, or you do what is wrong which includes not doing anything at all. Why do you wait? If you are waiting for a sign you’re going to be waiting to long, because that will be when the Lord shall come, and then it will be too late.

Why Am I a Member...

Matt. 16:13-19

adapted from sermon preached by: Wendell Winkler, Bowling Green, Ky. Dec. 22, 1991

I. Introduction

A. Our Lord’s church is under constant attack.

1. “The enemies of the cross” (Phil. 3:18) existed during the days of the apostles.

2. In the past 2000 years, the enemies of the cross have not changed their tactics.

a. Some destroy the church by killing the faithful, others just sap life from the church by criticizing the need for specifics in doctrine.

B. Jesus pleaded for unity (Jn. 17:20, 21).

1. Unity does not mean “Unitarian.”

C. From time to time we need to get focused on why we became members of the Lord’s church.

D. Today, I wish to present some ideals as to why I am a member of the church of Christ.

II. We need to recognize that the scriptures never identified the church of our Lord as a denomination.

A. Therefore to say that we belong to a denomination is anti-scriptural.

1. I do not know of a person who desires to be anti-scriptural, for then they would be anti-Christ as well.

III. Let us examine why one would want to be a member of the church of Christ.

A. I am a member of the church of Christ because of its unsurpassable greatness.

1. It is great because it was Calvary purchased (Acts 20:28).

a. Christ values that which is His. - Americans value the freedom they possess.

b. Americans shed their blood so their countrymen might remain free.

c. Christ shed his blood so we might become free from sin (Rom. 5:6-8).

d. For a man to scoff the church means he despises the blood which it purchased.

2. It is unsurpassably great because it is the very glory of God on earth.

a. God use to manifest (or show his presence) in the temple by means of the Shinika (Numb. 14:10).

b. Eph. 3:21 - When God assembles the great heavenly host to observe his glory, he does not point to the sun, moon, planets, stars or galaxies; he points down, way down to the church and says - THAT’S MY GLORY!

3. It is unsurpassably great because it is the very eternal purpose of God (Eph. 3:10, 11)

When this text is analyzed it will provide the following food for thought:

a. To the intent now - those present AD 60 - the Christian age.

b. Principalities & power - if we had time we could prove that this is speaking about the angelic host.

c. Thus far we can declare - he is making known to the angelic creation in that present dispensation - His manifold wisdom.

d. We see here God’s wisdom being modified or described by the adjective “manifold.”

1) The Greeks used this word “manifold” when they wanted to describe cloth in its brilliant design or a flower in its multiple hues.

2) Therefore, the word indicates that which is variegated or multicolored or many splendor.

d. Putting it all together this text says, “In the present dispensation, the wisdom of God that is many splendid, is being declared to the angelic creation BY OR THROUGH THE CHURCH and that it is according to the eternal purpose of God.”

e. Eternal - Let’s go on a time travel.

1) Some of us can recall 60 -70 years ago. - go back farther, all of us treasure the event of a crucified Savior 2000 years ago - go back farther, where God spoke out of chaos and created - lets go back even farther - to that endless fanthomless reality known as eternity and from that period we could point out that AT THAT TIME God intended to make the church a reality.

2) Friends and brethren, the Bible speaks of the eternal God (1 Tim. 1:17). Now watch that, what was the eternal purpose of God - to make the church a reality, that by such, through such and because of such he could make known his very splendid wisdom.

3) I would never sign a proposition for a debate which said, “Resolve that the church of our Lord came into existence on the day of Pentecost AD 33 - but rather in an established state.”

f. Now lets consider some biblical church history:

1) We shall examine a text which shows the church in a state of PERFECTION (Acts 2:47).

2) Now we will examine it in a state of PREPARATION (Lk. 16:16).

3) Then according to Daniel 2:44 and Matt. 16:18, 19) it existed in a state of PROPHECY.

4) Then according to Gen. 22:18, Gal. 3:16 the church existed in the days of Abraham and Isaac in a state of PROMISE.

5) Then according to the passage under consideration (Eph. 3:10, 11) we notice the church has ALWAYS existed in a state of PURPOSE.

g. When we take all this information under consideration you might as well talk about God having a beginning as to talk about the church of the Bible having a beginning.

h. Ladies and gentlemen the church of the Bible never had a beginning - that boggles the mind!

i. Now lets look at it in this reality, since the church of our Lord never had a beginning and now since it has come into its established state, there never ever will come a time in eternity in the which the church of our Lord will not exist in the glorified state.







j. When a man gets hold of that:

1) When he becomes a member of it he will thank God with a sincere heart as he never has before for the marvelous privilege of being part of that eternal institution which is so unsurpassably great.

2) And if a man is not a member of it he will never say the church of our Lord is not essential to my salvation.

a. Also when a non-member grasps hold of that, he will say such an institution as this demands my sincere and undivided attention.

3) And finally we will never more hear today “Christian” preachers, evangelist say, “What we need is more Christianity and less churchianity.” Brethren that doesn’t match the teaching of the Bible concerning this issue.

4. Yes, when I read about it being Calvary purchased, being the glory of God and the eternal purpose of God I can clearly understand why it is so unsurpassably great.

B. But secondly, I am a member of the church of Christ because you can read about it in the Bible.

1. Question - How can something be biblical and you cannot read about it in the Bible?

a. 1 Pet. 4:11

2. The church we are discussing is designated by these terms:

a. Eph. 1:22, 23 - the church; 1 Cor. 1:2 the church of God; Acts 20:28 (ASV) the church of the Lord; Rom. 16:16 the church of Christ.

b. Now you will never find anywhere in the Bible where the church was designated by any other term or named any other name which man has placed above its doors.

c. Restate the question above (1.) How can something be scriptural and it not be inspired?

C. Third, I am a member of the church of Christ because it is the ONLY one you can read about in the Bible.

1. Act. 17:11 One is given the perfect formula for spiritual success - an open Bible and an open mind.

2. In Matt. 16:18 Jesus promised to the apostles, “I will build my church.”

3. Now what did the text not say:

a. I will build “A” church.

b. I will build one of many churches.

c. I will build churches.

4. It simply says “I will build my church.” Now what does that mean? I believe it takes a lot of help not to understand that.

a. Permit me to offer this illustration: Upon this table I will lay my watch.

b. Wouldn’t it be foolish of me to say, “Bill come up here and take the watch of your choice.”

c. According to the latest data there are appx. 3000 different denominations espousing to be “the church, or a part of the church.”



5. Now lets look at the Book concerning the topic of one church.

a. Eph. 1:22, 23; Col. 1:18 and 1:21 - three times we are told that the church IS the body.

b. Rom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor. 12:13, 20; Eph. 2:16; 4:4; Col. 3:15, 16 - Six times we are told there is one body.

c. Now since the Bible declares that the church is the body and six times we are told there is but one of them, could we not deduct that there is but ONE CHURCH? If not why not?

6. Now with this in mind Jn. 17 becomes more meaningful.

a. Lets take another time travel: Christ is in the garden lying prostrate on the ground praying so fervently for his disciples and you and me that they all be ONE.

b. Now lets return to the present day ____ and turn on the TV and see some man pray this prayer - “Father I thank thee for all the different churches today, so man can worship you in the church of their choice.”

c. May I kindly ask - To which do you subscribe.

1) You can’t subscribe to both because they are contradictory in nature, thought and intent.

d. You might say, you know preacher, this is right and it HAS disturbed me. But you know I have come to a conclusion that surly it must be that all the denominations make up that oneness in which our Lord prayed.

1) As much as you know I’d like to say such could be the case, it can never be so - Why? That one word ONE. As thou Father art in me. Can you see Jesus and his Father disagreeing about any one point concerning doctrine, activity, mission of the church which was in the eternal mind of the Father?

e. “That the world might believe”

1) A preacher once told about a meeting he was holding. During the day, he would invite people to come to the tent revival and then preach that night. One particular man came and attended five nights in a row. One night he did not show. Thinking the man might become ill, the preacher sought out the man. When he finally found him he asked why he missed attending. The man responded, “Preacher I came and heard your message about salvation. Yesterday, another preacher confronted me about Christ and told me a different message. Sir, I cannot read. So tell me preacher, who am I to believe?”

f. We must believe what Jesus said when he promised to build his church in the singular tense.

1) Let’s say one Sunday morning I stood before this great audience of exceptional intelligence and preached it was a terrible evil to baptize babies. The following Sunday, I preached all babies must be baptized. The next Sunday I preached we should baptize by sprinkling, the next I stood and said, baptism is by immersion only. Again the following Sunday I preached that one is damned to a devil’s hell if they are not baptized then that Sunday night I preached you don’t have to be baptized to enter heaven.

Friend, what would you think of me?

2) Friend, if I cannot preach six opposing doctrines under the roof of one building and be right, how is it that six different preachers can stand in six different buildings and they all be correct? - ITS THAT ELEMENTARY!

IV The scriptures reveal why this problem of many churches exist.

A. 2 Tim. 2:1-5

1. God’s preacher is under obligation to preach not only the life and hope of Jesus, but the specific teaching for holiness and order and acceptable worship.

2. This text informs the reader that many do not wish to come under authority of Jesus and his apostles concerning holiness, order or acceptable worship.

B. It is your challenge to prove your faith - 2 Tim. 2:15.

1. If you cannot prove what you believe by a thus says the Lord, you must take a stand one way or the other, deny truth, or gather yourself with people who will believe like you and fight against truth.

V. What a terrible situation man puts himself in because of arrogance.

A. Rev. 22:15 - all who practice a lie will suffer eternal separation from God.

B. You nor I wish to be in that class of people.

CONCLUSION

A. NEXT WEEK we will discuss that I am a member of the church of Christ because it is the one the apostles were members of and it is the one which has the right terms of entrance to get in it.

B. We have learned today that The church of Christ is unsurpassably great because:

1. It was Calvary purchased - think about that for a moment.

2. It is that institution which exposes the glory of God on earth today.

3. It is in the eternal mind of God at all times.

C. We also have noted, that, grammatically speaking:

1. The church of the Bible has always been described in the singular case.

2. Jesus prayed for all believers to maintain that unity until he returns.

3. That men who do not wish for biblical authority to reign in their life will change, alter or substitute truth so men might be made happy rather than right before God.

D. What you and I do with this lesson depends on what kind of heart we possess.

1. An open Bible and an open Mind is the perfect recipe for spiritual success.

February 6, 2005

Each week people in the church come up with some simple things to keep the congregation informed, to make them think, and to make them laugh. Here is this week's "Asbury Announcer!"


The Asbury Announcer

Remember these in your prayers: Joshua Lane is much better and is at home recovering from emergency appendix surgery. Frances Jenkins is very sick and is sometimes disoriented. Kate Russell has loss of balance and has constant pain in hips. Remember Kaye & Terry family in our prayers. Kaylee Morrison will have adenoids removed and tubes put in ears this
week. Also Keep in mind: Jane & Amon Haygood, Billy Morrison, Charles Harper, Sherry Cash, and Hazel Terry. And Please do not forget to pray for everyone overseas and in need.

Life Group # 1 Please meet at 5:45 P.M.

DON'T FORGET TO PICK UP YOUR NEW CHURCH DIRECTORY!!

Please stay after services today for fellowship meeting and food.

Don’t forget Men’s- Business meeting afterwards!
Men to Serve:

Communion:
Sonny Garland
Kevin Lawson
Amon Haygood
Brandon Ward

Announcements:
Jim Terry

Scripture Reading:
Jim Terry
Matt. 16:13-16




Special Thanks To: Jaime and the Youth group for repainting library in John
Deer Green & Yellow.

Also thanks for assembling the
New church directory.


Special Needs:
Due to administrative changes we are temporarily disqualified to get food from Second Harvest. Our pantry is exhausted.

Please bring anything but corn to restock.


Websites of the week

Christian Books Suppliers

http://www.21stcc.com/
21st Century Christian, Nashville, Tennessee

http://www.gospeladvocate.com/
Gospel Advocate, Nashville, Tennessee

Valentine's Day- From Charles Henderson,Your Guide to Christianity - General. (Summarized by Michael Marohn)
Perhaps the most powerful words about love in the Bible were written by the Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 13. "If I speak in the tongues of mortals and angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging, symbol. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body to be burned, but do not have love, I am nothing. ...."

This is the passage in the Bible selected most frequently for reading during wedding ceremonies; so much so that I sometimes wonder how much thought has gone into the selection. For when it comes to love, one size does not fit all. What applies to a suit of clothes also applies to love: what works for a 90 pound teenager does not work quite as well for a 390lb Sumo wrestler!
As indicated Paul was speaking not out of some abstract theory, but out of his own deep experience to a people who shared such experience and had suffered much for their faith. And Paul was saying that the particular love that has been seen in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus gave meaning to even the most difficult aspects of their lives.

In this spirit, he continues: "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part, then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And so faith, hope and love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love."
Among the things that we are challenged to put behind us are the sentimental sorts of "puppy love," the jingoistic "patriotic love," the fickle forms of "romantic love," and yes, the abusive and even violent forms of love that seek to control and dominate. We are challenged to love not humankind in general but specific people in specific ways: a parent with Alzheimer's, a child with learning disorders, a spouse struggling with an addiction, all sorts of people with chronic illnesses, problems, quirks of personality or character. We are not simply to love and affirm what the world finds lovable, we are to search for specific ways of loving God's dear ones, and encourage them along the way, even as they encourage us. Along that path lies the fulfillment of life, not only on Valentine's Day but every day.

Just For Fun-
People in Texas have trouble with all those shalls and shall nots in the 10 Commandments. Folks there just aren't used to talking in those terms. So, some folks out in west Texas got together and translated the "King James" into "King Ranch" language: Ten Commandments, cowboy style.
Cowboy's Ten Commandments posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Fairlie, Texas
(1) Just one God.
(2) Honor yer Ma & Pa.
(3) No telling tales or gossipin'.
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meeting.
(5) Put nothin' before God..
(6) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.
(7) No killin'.
(8) Watch yer mouth.
(9) Don't take what ain't yers.
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff
Now that's kinda plain an' simple don't ya think?


Please come visit us again at the Church of Christ at Asbury

2441 Asbury Road
Knoxville, TN
http://www.korrnet.org/asbury
Our Elders
Jim Terry
Bill Morrison
Our Minister
Kirk White
Sunday

Times of Worship
Services
Morning 10:00AM
Night 6:00PM

Wednesday
Night 7:30PM

What's a Blog? Why A Blog? Confused?

Many people today have access to the internet and the world-wide-web and that is why you are able to read this message that I have typed up from my home pc. There are different factors and themes throughout the web/internet some of them are very basic others are more advanced. A Blog is sort of an electronic posting, sort of like a journal. Some people might have pictures or drawings others might have just plain text. A Blog can be used to your advantage or your own disadvantage. Depending on how you post your materials and what you post. Since it is on the internet/web there are no real restrictions on what you can post. And that is what makes a Blog so powerful. "The pen is mightier then the sword" sort of thing.

So why would a church want to have a Blog? Well easily enough it’s because of the features that Blogs offer, such as you can have more then one user on a Blog. As apposed to a website you can only have one Webmaster and all the materials have to be sent through one account (at least for the most part). So our preacher can post his sermons exactly the way he wants to have them posted and when he wants to have them posted.

So what makes the Church of Christ at Asbury's Blog different then the rest of the Blogs? Well Blogs are as different as people and the more people that you have focusing on one topic allows for multiple view points, so everyone can get the best understanding possible. Not saying that we go against the bible in any way. But we have different backgrounds.

So you can expect if you click the little link on the upper right hand corner of the screen that says "Next Blog" you are pretty much going to the next person/idea/thought that is on Blogger.com. We have no control of what people post on their Blogs, but we can tell you what the bible says is right and wrong, and you can make up your own mind whether or not you want to believe it.

But just know this, if you were ever to be certain about something shouldn't it be your salvation or lack of salvation? There is more to life then what meets the eye. More then you can ever taste, touch, smell, feel, or even imagine.