I remember when I was fourteen years old and I was playing on my Babe Ruth All-Star team. That team was one of the most tenacious teams I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing baseball with. During the All-Star tournaments, we played a total of ten games. Out of those ten games, we managed to win eight of them before being eliminated and finishing third in the state. But out of those eight wins all but one of them were come from behind victories in the last inning. The team in any sport that can rally late in a game is the team to beat. Any team that is known for late game heroics is a team that everyone else is worried about. You show me a team or a person that can stay focused and give it their all no matter how tired they may be, and I’ll show you a person or team that has a lot of heart. By heart I mean someone that has that staying quality about them; they never give up.
In contrast to this kind of team or person, my high school football team, in my sophomore year, almost always led the game going into the fourth quarter. We only won three games that year after losing four in which we held the lead going into the last quarter of the game. This team had no heart. We felt that because we had the lead, we did not have to do anything more. In other words, we got complacent or content with what we had already accomplished. The person or team that gets content or complacent is the one that gets beaten and pushed around late in the game.
Now, you may be asking yourself, “Where in the world is he going with this?” Imagine the church as the “team” or “unit.” The church has members just as a team does. The congregation that has that tenacious nature is the congregation that continues to grow, if not numerically then spiritually. Likewise, the individual member that has a lot of heart and tenacity is the one that continues to bring souls to Christ and his church.
I recently attended a forum in Montgomery, AL. One question that really peaked my interest was: “What have you been doing to spread the borders of the kingdom of God?” The speaker went on to ask, “What would it hurt to take at least a few hours of one day out of the week to go out in your local area and study with someone who is not a Christian?” The last question he asked us was: “How many bible studies do you currently have at this time?” I would like each and every reader to ask these three questions of himself/herself.
As Christians, we are told to go. The “Great Commission” is given by Christ through Matthew and Mark in Matt. 28:18-20 and Mk. 16:15-16, respectively. Some may say, “He was only talking to the apostles.” John 17:20 shows that Christ prayed for us. If Christ prayed for us, how can we then say that his commands do not apply to us. Read both accounts of the “Great Commission” and substitute your name for “ye,” or “you.” This commission applies to every Christian.
I have heard many a member complain about how the congregation where they attend has ceased to grow. If we were to attend that congregation for any length of time, we would see why; the same people that complain about the church not growing are the one’s who fail to participate in programs that are meant to help the church grow. What would it hurt us to take a few hours out of our week to knock a few doors or talk with someone in our neighborhood who may never have heard the gospel plan of salvation? Even when we do get out in the community, many of us will discriminate who we take the gospel to. If an area is known to be one of ill reputation, we tend to shy away from it, even though that area seems to be in the most need of hearing the gospel plan of salvation. The command given by Christ is for us to go “into all the world, preaching the gospel to every creature.” Every creature indicates that we are not to discriminate who we take the gospel to but to take it to every person, regardless of race, nationality, or economic status.
We also need to realize that we are going to have to give an account of our discipleship. What good is the word of God if we keep it to ourselves? James 2:10 tells us that if we offend even one point of the law, we offend all of the law. James also goes on to tell us that “faith without works is dead.” James 2:17-18 says, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” So what are our works supposed to be? 2 Timothy 4:2 tells us, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” Preaching does not mean you have to get up in the pulpit and deliver a sermon. It means as Christians, we are to teach.
We need to ask ourselves if we are doing everything we can possibly do to bring others to Christ. Never give up on anyone. I’d like to leave you with this example showing that anyone can obey the gospel. This particular letter should encourage us to try to spread the word wherever and whenever we possibly can.
“Dear Brother Elkins, Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Thank you so much for sending that encouraging letter, and enclosing your tract, “The Lord’s Church Is Different.” I enjoyed reading it, and it meant a lot to me.
Yes, I was baptized into Christ on May 10 th , around 2:00pm. It was kind of a strange day to be baptized, because that was the day of the solar eclipse. Around 12:00 noon, most of the sun was covered, but by 2:00p.m., the sun was bright and shining again.
A month before I was baptized, I read Mr. Warren’s book, “The Bible Only Makes Christians Only and The Only Christians.” I had never before realized the importance of baptism. All I had ever heard before was that you “say a little prayer,” and then you’re saved. The gospel tracts in the prison chapel never say anything about baptism. The tract that you wrote is great! It’s the only one that I’ve ever read that covers the whole plan of salvation, and not just one incomplete part of it. I would like to share the full plan of salvation with other inmates. I wonder if the Church of Christ has any tracts that are not copyrighted. If they did, then I could run some off on the library copier.
I don’t know what I should do about attending the chapel worship services. The different church groups that come in each Sunday almost always play instruments along with the singing. I don’t know if it would be worse to not go at all, or go despite the instruments…I’ve also read “The Warren-Ballard Debate,” and “God Demands Doctrinal Preaching;” both of them made for some very good reading! Thanks again for writing Mr. Elkins. May our Great God bless both you, and your work. I’ll keep you in my prayers.
Sincerely, Jeff Dahmer”
What happens to the zeal we have when we first obey the gospel? In the letter above, we read a letter written by a man who, after leading a murderous life, became a Christian and had a real zeal for the word of God. If we could all keep the same fervent zeal and love for the word of God we have when we first obey the gospel, the church would be growing greatly. Let us show our tenacity and heart. Let us all regain our zeal and love for the Lord and his word. Let us once again do everything within our power to spread the word of God.
-Josh Romo
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