What must I do to be saved?

When Rachel and I lived in Romania, our mission team decided that we would take 3-4 years to mail an advertisement for Bible study into all 100,000 homes in that city of 350,000 people. On one occasion, we mailed these flyers into a neighborhood of Iasi where college students live. There was a security guard named Constantin who picked up one of those flyers and mailed it in to us. He lived in a village about 15 miles north of Iasi called Podu Iloaiei.

For five or six weeks in a row, I traveled by train up to Podu Illoaiei to study with Mr. Constantin. He was a very pleasant man to visit with. He is married and has at least one daughter. His wife and daughter would not sit in our Bible study; I studied with him through the Jule Miller Bible study series. But, his daughter, in particular would come into the living room when we finished with our study and she would ask me questions. She was in her early 20s at the time, if my memory is correct.

One question she asked me was whether we in the churches of Christ used icons in our worship and if not, why not. It was very typical of people from the Orthodox faith to ask that question of all non-Orthodox people. As I discussed with her, I pointed out that the Bible teaches that we have one mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 2:5). And where the Bible speaks, we are obligated to remain silent. She pushed back, as you could imagine, but then I used this illustration that many of you will recognize.

I asked her if we could add sarmale (a Romanian dish of stuffed grape leaves) and Coca-Cola to the Lord’s Supper. She responded with an empatic “no.” I asked her why not. She said because the juice (she said “wine”) and the bread (the Orthodox church actually does not use unleavened bread) were what Jesus used and that’s what He taught us to use.

Now, even though her Bible knowledge was rather shallow, she knew enough to correctly understand that If Jesus commanded something, then anything else is without His authority.

When Jesus was tempted to worship Satan, Jesus responded with words from Deuteronomy 6:13: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only” (Matt. 4:10). Jesus also taught in John 4:24 the proper manner in which to worship God: “in spirit and in truth,” which is Jesus’ parallel to Joshua’s words in Joshua 24:14: “in sincerity and truth.” As we studied the first Sunday of this month from Hebrews 1, Jesus Himself is worthy of our worship.

Our worship of God reflects the nature of God. If God were a naturalistic God, man would worship Him through some type of naturalistic rites. If God were a philosophical principle, it could be worshipped through meditation. But because of Who God is, then our worship has to reflect His nature and what He has required of us.

Without going into further detail, the NT reveals to us that our God is approached through five acts of devotion:

1) Prayer. As we pointed out earlier, our prayers are not authorized to be addressed to God through anyone except Jesus Christ.

2) Singing. Our song service is to teach and instruct one another in the doctrines of God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

3) Lord’s Supper. This act of religious devotion is uniquely attached to the Lord’s Day and through it, we are reminded weekly of the love of God and His power, His promises, and His provisions.

4) Giving. It is through our giving that we truly show that we love God supremely and that our heart is in His mission for the church of His Son. Giving shows our love and our trust in God’s provisions.

5) Bible study. When we come together to help one another understand God’s message better and then we challenge one another to live according to His teachings, then we show that God is worthy to be obeyed to the ultimate extent.

Put your spirit into your every act of worship, reflecting your love for your Savior, letting your light shine and showing the presence of God in your life.

Paul Holland

Surely God’s wisdom has preserved many letters of Paul for our consideration of what very mature Christian living looks like. In this text Paul challenges our view of both life and death. Let’s learn and be encouraged by him. Read the text.

PAUL’S VIEW OF LIFE

1. He lived rejoicing at the advance of the Gospel (v. 18). Amazingly, in the context, Paul is rejoicing that the Gospel advanced at his expense, as some taught the Gospel with malicious motives. (see vv. 15-18). Brethren, the Gospel is advancing in our day. This is something worth rejoicing in! We also have the ability to contribute to this rejoicing through our participation in advancing it!

1. He lived believing in the power of prayer (vv. 19-20). As Paul wrote this letter from his imprisonment (likely in Rome), he was hopeful of his release through the prayers of his brethren (v. 19). Note that though he was an apostle of Christ, he did not minimize the efficacy of the prayers of his brethren. He believed their prayers could avail much (James 5:16) through the agency of the Spirit of Christ. Life to us ought to demonstrate our belief in prayer and the God of prayer.

1. He lived to honor Christ (vv. 20-21). This was Paul’s number one aim. While he lived in the flesh, God would be honored with his life. He said in Romans 14:8, “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” Paul lived and taught that life ought to be intentionally lived to please the Lord. Some may think of this as enslavement. Paul thought of it as true life and freedom!

1. He lived knowing that he might die (vv. 20-21). This wasn’t Paul simply knowing that he might die of natural causes, but that he might die for his convictions and work for the Lord. Paul seemingly placed his life at peril at every turn, not foolishly, but also not backing down. He was determined to be faithful even to the point of dying for the cause of Christ (see Rev. 2:10).

1. He lived for fruitful labor (vv. 24-26). Paul lived, in part, for what he could contribute to the faith of his brethren at Philippi. He had a strong desire to continue to serve them for their “progress and joy in the faith.” What does another year mean for us? Consider how you can help God’s children progress in joy and in the faith of Jesus.

PAUL’S VIEW OF DEATH

1. Death meant gain to Paul (v. 21). The word “gain” means “profit or advantage.” (See the use of this word in Phil. 3:7 and Titus 1:11). In other words, at the point of death the scales would tip to his advantage! What a remarkable way to look at death! He understood the concept of the Lord recorded in Revelation 14:13, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on…” Death would bring reward for Paul (see Jm. 1:12; Rom. 6:23), and it would also bring freedom from all of the ills he suffered (see Rev. 20:4).

Death also meant departing to “be with Christ” (v. 23). This was surely an unimaginable thought for Paul… dwelling in the presence of the glorious Lord! Paul knew and taught that being in the body meant being away from the Lord (see 2 Cor. 5:6, 8). Paul continually pressed toward the prize! (Phil. 3:14).

CONCLUSION

The more Paul longed to be in heaven, he was ok with his reward being delayed since it gave him the opportunity to strengthen the faith of his brethren. He also knew that the Lord would keep him through His power (1 Pt. 1:5).

What a challenge and blessing it is to see life and death a little more like Paul saw it!

Daren Schroeder

The fires in Los Angeles County are difficult to comprehend. Those who lost everything in the wind-whipped flames gazed in shock upon the ashes of their once beautiful homes. When asked, many could only reply, “It’s all gone.”

Jesus can empathize, for he had no home either. “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but ^the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Mat. 8:20). After the fires, many were left with only the clothes on their backs.  So too, Jesus possessed only the robe and tunic he was wearing when he was crucified. The soldiers cast lots to see “who would get them (Jno. 19:23-24).

The Californians lamented all the personal possessions they lost in the fires.  Jesus taught that all we possess would eventually be lost to “moth, rust,” or “thieves.” Rather, “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mat. 6:19-20). May all who have suffered this tragic event look to Jesus and be drawn closer to him. We do not serve a savior “who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15).

-Dennis Doughty

First, the Bible: “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deut. 6:6-9).

The ideal Christian parent will think about God’s word in the context of their parenting on a regular basis, even daily basis. As a preacher friend of mine in Kentucky, Jerry Carmichael, has said, “Think homiletically all the time.” Parents should try to train themselves to do that with their children. And do it in natural ways and in fun, creative ways.

I attended the Gulf Coast Bible camp in Mississippi one summer when I was in elementary school. One thing I remember from that camp was the class acting out the story of the Good Samaritan. I don’t know if I knew much about the parable before that, but I certainly remember the parable from that event.

There are lots of Bible story books to read with your child. Even Apologetics Press has graded readers that teach about God’s creation that can be used to train your child to read.

Once you have saturated your own mind and hear with God’s word, then you are better prepared to share biblical stories with your children. When an opportunity arises and your child is in a predicament or situation that parallels a biblical character, remind them of the story and encourage them to apply biblical principles in their own situation.

Sometimes Rachel and I did that with our girls, especially while watching Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman. Like the Andy Griffith Show, there were situation ethics taught and reflected in the show. Occasionally, I would hit the “pause” button and ask the girls, “what would have been a Christian way to respond to that situation?” Of course, if we were watching some nature program, I would mock the evolutionists as I tried to help the girls understand how ridiculous the theory of evolution is. “Imagine how many birds died before any of them evolved the ability to fly…!”

Let your children hear you pray and read the Bible. Encourage your children to pray for you. Pray with them. Look for informal occasions to talk about God’s word.

If you have young children (though middle school), I would encourage you to use some books that mix science with biblical teaching. I have used these experiments with our girls and with the young people when I preached for a church without a youth minister: there are three volumes to Science and the Bible by Donald DeYoung and another resource is: Fun Science that Teaches God’s Word by Mary Grace Becker and Susan Martins Miller.

The late brother Stan Mitchell from Freed-Hardeman wrote a book titled Will Your Faith Have Children? It might have been the last book he wrote. The message is timely and relevant.

Paul Holland

“Don’t Eat The Trees”

Some residents of Ghent, Belgium are like many others around the world; they are more conscious of environmental stewardship and try to recycle whatever products they don’t consume.  The city’s website recently posted another way to recycle: Take the needles from your discarded Christmas tree, soak and dry them to make spruce needle butter.  It’s a Scandinavian tradition, the site claimed.

The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain of Belgium soon put up a post of their own: Do not eat your Christmas trees, it warned.  They explained that some Christmas tree farms use pesticides and other chemicals.  Especially worrisome, they advised, is that some tree farmers use flame retardants, and these can even prove fatal if consumed.  Christmas trees “are not meant to end up in the food chain,” the FASFC concluded.

The city of Ghent modified their recycling tip.  Instead of telling readers to disregard what they had earlier posted, they simply wrote, “Not all Christmas trees are edible.”

The first food safety warning took place at the beginning of time in the Garden of Eden.  God created this garden as a home for Adam and Eve, but what would they eat?  “And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food” (Genesis 1:29).  Note that God didn’t specify which parts of the trees were for food, but people normally consume fruits, seeds, and nuts, not leaves and needles.

God gave Adam and Eve this one exception in Genesis 2:16,17: “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 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.”  You likely know the sad account of Genesis 3; the serpent (Satan) convinced Eve to disregard God’s warning, and after eating what God had forbidden the clock began ticking as death entered the world.  God spoke the truth.

A foundational truth of the Bible was stated by Moses in Deuteronomy 6:24: “And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.”  “For our good always” gave the reason why Israel should obey commands that they might not understand or even like.  Doing what God commands leads to life, and disregarding His will is the pathway to death.

That reason is still in effect as we consider whether to heed God’s word or not.  Jesus stated it this way in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  By following Jesus, we can know we are in “the way” and will have “the truth” and “the life”.  Any other path is not safe and will surely end in death.

It may not be wise to eat trees, but it’s always wise to look to the One who gave His life for us on the tree (see 1 Peter 2:24).

Come to the light God offers!  Study His word, the Bible.  Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.

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Copyright, 2025, Timothy D. Hall

“God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm
Deep in His dark and hidden mines
With never-failing skill
He fashions all His bright designs
And works His sovereign will”- Bob Kauflin

God is always in control and He always does the right thing. So says the psalm which we will be studying in this lesson.

David certainly lived a life of fear, uneasiness, and trepidation. He dealt with attacks from outside Israel. Once King Saul was dead, David had to assure the family of Saul that he was not going to kill all them. It took some time for David to consolidate the entire nation of Israel under his leadership. David had to deal with the Philistines – 2 Samuel 8 gives us a summary – with the Moabites, the Arameans, the Ammonites. He also had to deal with his own family including his wife Michal, his sons Amnon and Absalom, along with Ziba and Shimei, Joab, and Sheba. And perhaps David’s worst enemy was himself, his own spiritual weaknesses.

David needed to find refuge somewhere. With someone body. And he found that refuge in his God…

REFUGE IS FOUND IN THE LORD – 11:1-3:

Out of the 35 times this verb “to seek refuge” is found in the OT, it is found 24 times in the book of Psalms. Why should we read Psalms? Because the authors remind us that God is our refuge.

Somebody – a friend, family member, maybe just an acquaintance – encouraged David to get out of Jerusalem, to get out of his stressful environment: “Flee as a bird to the mountain…”

When Nehemiah was trying to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, Israel’s enemies tried to get them discouraged and distracted. Nehemiah responded: “Should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in” (Neh. 6:10-11).

Without foundation, there is no hope for a structure. What verse 3 sounds like in this context is that David’s friend is suggesting that all hope is lost. The foundations are destroyed. Get out! Go away! Leave! Maybe they were sincere; maybe they were really thinking of David’s health and safety. But: 1) Isn’t a king supposed to be on his throne? 2) What would David’s flight teach his people about his faith in his God? What would his flight teach others about the nature of his God?

THE LORD REIGNS FROM HEAVEN – 11:4-7:

How is it that David can take refuge in God? Because God is not touched by the stress and frustrations and whims and capricious behaviors of mankind…

God’s temple is holy. That is where the Lord’s throne is.

God sees all.

God tests all.

God hates the one who loves violence. It is not quite accurate to say, “God hates the sin but loves the sinner.” There are a handful of passages like this one which states explicitly that God hates sinners, at least certain sinners. And He hates the one who loves violence.

God rains snares on them; fire, brimstone, and burning wind will be the cup which they drink. There is only one historical event in the OT which involved fire and brimstone: the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. It appears that the other references in the prophets are alluding to Sodom and Gomorrah. Of course, the idea that God will make the wicked drink their “portion” of the burning wind is the idea behind the bowls of wrath in the book of Revelation.

Because of God’s nature: He is righteous. Fear can get the best of us.

But He also loves the righteous. God is our “safe space,” and He will never leave us.

In the midst of fear and anxiety in our lives, we will not soar if we “flee as a bird to the mountains,” but we will soar if we “flee as a bird” and find refuge in Jesus Christ!

With God by your side, there is no need to fear. Stay confident in His love and guidance.

Paul Holland

The most prominent person in the New Testament, other than Jesus, is Saul/Paul, the apostle. As significant of a Christian as he was, even he could have made a few New Year’s resolutions.  Such as:

• Be careful about following the crowd (Acts 7:58).
• Know that you can be zealous about something but wrong (Acts 22:3).
• Be grateful for friends who stand by you (Acts 9: 27).
• The next time, leave before the stones start flying (Acts 14:19).
• If you take a ship, wear a life jacket (2 Cor. 11:25).
• Serve God despite physical pain (2 Cor. 12:7-10).
• Give people a second chance (Acts 14:38, 2 Tim. 4:11).
• Be better at keeping up with your belongings (2 Tim 4:13).

All of us could be better at something. Consider making meaningful resolutions to improve your life as a Christian, spouse, and friend.

-Dennis Doughty

In the past, a time or two, I have purchased a Bible and later been disappointed in my selection for one reason or another. I recently bought a new Bible and that got me to thinking more about how one goes about choosing a Bible. So I’m sharing a few practical thoughts to hopefully help someone else.

To a large degree our choice of Bibles comes down to what we feel will best facilitate our growth in the knowledge of God’s revelation to us. Here are some practical thoughts that I hope will assist in this pursuit.

1. The Readability of the Print. The main thing here is the size of the font, but also consider the font style, spacing of verses, and bleed through. You want your Bible to be enjoyable to read!

1. The Translation of the Bible. If God has used words to communicate with mankind, and He has, then translation matters! Translations range from almost rigidly literal to paraphrase translations. We can’t get involved in a deep discussion of translations at this point, but I urge you to read about the philosophy of the translators before opting for a certain translation.

1. Paper or Electronic? There are certainly advantages to both. Some may find an online Bible may be easier to find passages. Many times there is the perk of being able to adjust the size of font. However, due to the format, it may be easier to miss the context of a passage on an electronic version. Also, in my opinion, it is vastly underestimated how much a person learns by flipping pages in a Bible. You may take note of passages you see on the way to your actual destination! Of course, one can certainly have both a paper Bible and an electronic Bible.

1. What Kind of Format Do You Want? Do you want wide margins? Lots of references? A concordance and Bible maps? A study Bible? Remember that, in general, the more you want in your Bible the larger it will be.

1. What Kind of Cover Do You Want? Some of the most common are: Paper, hardback, imitation leather and genuine leather. Know that paper covered Bibles will most likely not stay open on their own and offer less protection. A hard cover is more protective of the Bible but some do not like “the feel” of the Bible as well.

1. Always Look at the Ratings of a Bible. Read what several people say about their purchase of the Bible you are interested in. Especially take notice of matters that are important to you.

1. Where Should I Buy A Bible? While it may be nice to see a physical copy of the Bibles you are interested in, the selection is so much greater online, and you can compare prices easily and quickly, and look at ratings. In my experience, Christian Book Distributors (an online store… www.christianbookdistributors.com) has always been a great place to purchase a Bible, with the best or very competitive pricing. Additionally, if you are not super picky about the specific Bible you purchase, you can almost always get a really good deal. But don’t allow price to dictate everything. Remember, this is a more important purchase than your visit to the grocery store! (See Matthew 4:4!)

I hope these thoughts help if (or, when) you are in the market for a new Bible! Until then, read and be blessed with what you have!

Daren Schroder

First, the Bible: “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid” (Prov. 12:1).

I am seven years older than my youngest brother. I remember that Mom and Dad had to correct him so much that they joked he would grow up thinking his name was, “No, no, Timmy!” While it is tempting to suggest he was just a recalcitrant boy, the truth more likely is that most kids have to be corrected frequently and often times for the same thing.

It can wear out a parent, especially if Mom stays at home with the children. Some children seem to be oblivious to correction. Some children rebel against correction. Some children do not seem to understand the importance of correction.

Of course we all have to be corrected from time to time. So how can you help your children understand the need for and the wisdom behind your corrections? And why should you “not grow wearing in making corrections”?

One thing you can do is to make some kind of glaring, ridiculous decision that any child would desire to correct. And then pretend that you did not make a bad decision. Act like you don’t understand what they are talking about – like buttoning your shirt one hole off. Ask why they blame you for everything. In other words, use the same words that a child would tend to use. Then at some point, you can explain to them: 1) why it is important to receive correction; 2) how one should respond when he or she does receive correction.

Explain why God calls people “stupid” who hates correction. Of course, you have to be willing to allow your children to correct you. “Thank you, for pointing that out to me. I need to do things differently.”

Explain what you have learned from being corrected, maybe serious catastrophes that you have avoided because someone corrected you.

There are very good lessons that a child can learn when he or she is corrected. Help them understand that.

“For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; and reproofs for discipline are the way of life” (Prov. 6:23).

Paul Holland

Police in Saskatchewan, Canada are ready to help with emergencies that arise; that’s why they monitor the local 911 phone lines.  But recently they posted a video to their Facebook page asking the public not to call with requests that aren’t truly emergencies.  They gave 10 examples of calls not to make, based on calls they received in 2024.

One caller on the list complained that they didn’t recognize an individual on their friends list; another reported that someone had thrown their ice cream on the ground.  There was a caller who stated that their cat was being mean to them, and could an officer be sent to help with the situation?  The number 1 “don’t call” example was when someone called 911 to report that their tambourine had been taken during a party.

“Calling 911 must be reserved for emergencies and crimes in progress,” the post concluded.  To emphasize their point it was announced that fines up to $1,400 would be assessed anyone who called for trivial or non-emergency reasons, officially classified as “misuse of 911”.

Most of us realize there are limits to the help that civil authorities can give us.  Their job is not to repair our washing machine, help us prepare for math tests, or assist us in unlocking our cell phone (other items on the list in Saskatchewan).  “Don’t call us for these” is a reasonable request.  But what about God? I once prayed for God’s help to find an important document. Was that too trivial for Him?

In 2 Kings 6 we read about a servant of the prophet Elisha who lost a borrowed axe head in the water.  Was this too trivial to bother God’s prophet with?  Elisha “cut off a stick and threw it in there; and he made the iron float.  Therefore, he said, ‘Pick it up for yourself!’” (2 Kings 6:6,7).  No, that was not too trivial.  Had the servant not asked, the borrowed object would have remained lost.

King Ahaz of Judah was facing a crisis with two nations preparing to attack.  God sent the prophet Isaiah with a message to trust God, and to provide a sign of Ahaz’s choosing.  Ahaz apparently had no faith in God’s ability to protect: “I will not ask [for a sign], nor will I test the Lord.”  Isaiah’s response is worth noting: “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?” (Isaiah 7:12.13).  God was ready to help, but Ahaz would not ask for His help.

Philippians 4:6,7 has guidance for us and the needs we experience: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”  Let those words sink in as you wonder whether God wants to hear about our “trivial” needs: “Be anxious for nothing … in everything … let your requests be made known to God.”

People may say, “Don’t call us,” but God has never said that.  He is ready to help His people, and He will do what is right and best for them.  Read also Matthew 7:7-11.  (By the way, I found the missing document not long after praying that prayer!)

Come to the light God offers!  Study His word, the Bible.  Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.

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Copyright, 2024, Timothy D. Hall