The Auburn Beacon
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

A Website dedicated to the Restoration of New Testament Christianity
 

Home | About Us | Directions | Bulletins | Sermons & Audio | Cross Of Christ Studies | Classes | Student and Parent Resource Page Dangers Facing the "Non-Traditional"


Click Here for the Latest Edition of the Auburn Beacon


Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon Sign up for our Email Newsletter

The Beacon is sent weekly


Planning to Visit Us?

What to Expect
Current Class Information


Thoughts To Ponder

I will not doubt, though all my ships at sea come drifting home with broken masts and sails; I shall believe the hand which never fails, from seeming evil worketh good to me. And, though I weep because those sails are battered, still will I cry, while my best hopes lie shattered, "I trust in thee."

 


You will need
the following viewers
to view many of the
files on this site.

 

Click here to
download
Adobe Acrobat Reader

Click here to
download
Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer


University church of Christ

 

Assembly Times

 Sunday

   Bible Classes (9:30)

   AM Worship (10:20)

   PM Worship (6:00 pm)

 Wednesday

   Bible Classes
(7:00 PM)

 

Location

449 North Gay Street

Auburn, AL 36830
Click Here for Specific Directions

 

Evangelist

Larry Rouse
1174 Terrace Acres Drive
Auburn, AL 36830

Cell:    (334) 734-2133
Home:
(334) 209-9165

Contact Us

 University
church of Christ

449 North Gay Street

Auburn, AL 36830

 

Or directly e-mail us at:
LarryRouse@aubeacon.com

 

 

 

 

Learning to Trust God

by Larry Rouse
 

What is the purpose of the body of Christ, the church of our Lord? Are we building in a wise way or are we pursuing things that are not in the Lord’s will? It is important to know the foundation that God gave His people so that we can be sure to build upon it. “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 3:10-11).

We must build on the foundation of Jesus Christ. In the work of conversion and in the work of helping a Christian to grow, we must help others to build a personal faith in the Lord. To truly bring one to “see the unseen” and then to “know the Lord” is not an easy process. When you see the reality of the spiritual realm, then you will make decisions that will be very much “out of step” with this world. When Moses rejected the riches and esteem that was offered to him as a prince of Egypt so that he could “suffer affliction with the people of God,” he did this because he could “see Him who is invisible” (Heb 11:24-27). Are we helping people to “see the unseen” or are we making people comfortable in their worldliness?

My Personal Struggle to Find a Biblical Faith

How did you come to trust in the Lord? I can remember many years ago, when I was in High School, an occasion in my life where I saw the emptiness of the path I was following and desired to find something more. On a clear, cold night I went outside and looked up at the stars and prayed a simple prayer for God to let me find Him. It was a humble prayer for light and truth that I followed up with my first attempt to read the Bible for myself.

As I started reading the scriptures there were so many things that I did not understand but there were some things that stood out distinctively to me. As I read the book of Romans I came to see the power and optimism of a genuine faith in Christ. When I read the words of Paul concerning his life and sufferings as viewed by the heart of faith, I was amazed! “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom 8:18). Later, in the same chapter, Paul expresses the confidence that faith brings in our outlook on our day-to-day events. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). After reading that chapter I sincerely wanted to have that kind of faith in my life!

I came to find out that the process of building such a faith takes time! In the year that followed I began to seek the Lord in the best way that I knew (Jn 7:17). So many steps that I took were imperfect, but I constantly sought to do what I believed the Lord had spoken in His word. As I went through this seeking process I tried to surround myself with people who also placed a high value on walking by faith. I found that both in the denominational world and in the local churches that I would later attend, that I was “out of step” with others that seemed to have another reason for attending the assemblies of the local church.

The stand that I take today is one of faith. When I left the human movements that dominate the religious world, I simply wanted to follow the Lord apart from the rule and the traditions of men. Paul left Judaism with this simple goal in his heart: “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him” (Phil 3:7-9). When I was baptized into Christ, I did so with “faith in the working of God” (Col 2:11-13). As I came to face the unpredictable difficulties of life, I came to know that I serve a God that will never forsake me and thus learned to live without fear (Heb 13:5-6). Over time I have found a faith that allowed me to view my life in light of the promises of God (Rom 8:18, 28)!

Have We Drifted?

Does the local church that we attend make the building of faith a priority? Are our homes a place where a daily trust in God is a priority? The reason why I ask these questions is that I fear some Christians and some churches have drifted from this great foundation. “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb 3:12-13).

Some Personal Questions

1. Do I have a daily confidence in the promises of God and of His care, or do I worry and have the scornful attitude of the world?

2. In times of uncertainty and hurt do I read the promises of God and pour my heart out to Him in prayer, or do I complain and seek out worldly companions to take my burdens? (Mt 11:28-29).

3. When I attend the assemblies, am I able to place myself before God and personally find application to my life from His word regardless of how interesting the speaker is or how friendly others are?

4. Do I often think about the Lord, His present approval, His future return so that in everything I do I see Him as my constant companion (Col 3:17, 22-23)?

Do Not Accept Substitutes

Please do not let the approval and the praise of men be the “joy” you find among Christians (Gal 1:10, 2 Cor 10:12, 17). Some become “issue-oriented” out of a sense of party loyalty or out of a desire to display their personal knowledge and thinking skills. There is a big difference between building up another’s faith in the Lord and in preaching one’s personal glory (2 Cor 4:1-2).

What will the Lord find when He returns? It is my prayer that He will find in each of us a genuine, pure faith that has been tested by fire! Does this describe you and me?

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:6-9).

  

Other Articles by Larry Rouse
Why I Left the Baptist Church
Where Will Your Hurt Lead You?
David's Mighty Men

 

 Would you like others to read this article?

                    Please share!

 

 


Student Sunday Night Home Study and Singing

 

 

The Local Church -- Hospital or Hotel by Blake Edwards - Nov 7, 2010
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing

Overcoming Loneliness
by Larry Rouse - Oct 24, 2010

Outline
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing

"For Such a Time as This" by Seth Buchanan - Oct 10, 2010
Audio of Lesson and Singing

"For Such Were Some of You" by Tim Stevens - Sept 26, 2010
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing

Awake O Sleeper by Blake Edwards - Sept 12, 2010
Outline
Audio of Lesson

Overcoming Habitual Sin
by Larry Rouse - Sept 7, 2010

Outline
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing

For Additional Information and Past Audio and Outlines Click Here


Recent Sermons:

Question Night - Nov, 2010

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

The Power of a Relationship

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Fellowship and Baptism

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

The Power of Trust

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Appealing to the Angels

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Capernaum - A study of Lost Opportunity

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Three Generations

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

The Hidden Person of the Heart (1 Pt 3:4)

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Modesty - God Cares About How We Dress by Jonathan Perz

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio


University church of Christ

 

Assembly Times

 Sunday

   Bible Classes (9:30)

   AM Worship (10:20)

   PM Worship (6:00 pm)

 Wednesday

   Bible Classes
(7:00 PM)

 

Location

449 North Gay Street

Auburn, AL 36830

Click Here for Specific Directions



 

Overcoming the Present Apostasy

Sermon Series by Larry Rouse

Piscataway, NJ Nov 20-22, 2009

 

 

Friday Night 7:30

Lesson1 - How Do We View the Bible?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Saturday Night 7:30

Lesson 2 - How do we View the World?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Sunday Morning 9:15
Lesson 3 - How do we View God's Order for Leadership?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Sunday Morning 10:00
Lesson 4 - How Do We View the Local Church?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Sunday Morning 11:00
Lesson 5 - How Do We View God's Instruction on Fellowship

Outline
Audio

For Additional Information, Audio and Outlines Click Here

 


Recent Bulletins:

The Auburn Beacon - Oct. 10, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Oct. 3,, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Sept 26, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Sept 19, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Sept 12, 2010 Edition


Your
Questions Please
!

Do you have a Bible question that you have hesitated to ask?

E-Mail us now at:
larryrouse@aubeacon.com

Visit our question page to submit your question and to read other's questions with Bible answers!

[click here]
 

Our Adult Bible Classes

You may obtain both the current outlines and the audio of past Bible classes from our assemblies.

[click here]

 

Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon Sign up for our Email Newsletter

The Beacon is sent weekly

     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

  © 2010- University church of Christ - All rights reserved!