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
 

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Thoughts To Ponder

 

"I am the good
shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
(John 10:14)  

  

 

 


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

 

Elders

Larry Rouse
1174 Terrace Acres Drive
Auburn, AL 36830

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

Walker Davis
1653 Millbranch Drive,
Auburn, AL 36832

Cell:    (334) 703-0050
Home: (334) 826-3690


Contact Us

 University
church of Christ

449 North Gay Street

Auburn, AL 36830

 

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


A Study of the Local Church
Wed. Night Adult Bible Class by Larry Rouse
Download the outlines:
Lesson1 - Attitudes Towards Open Study and Resolving Differences
Lesson 2 - The Need to Find Bible Authority
Lesson 3 - The Local Church and the Individual Christian
Lesson 4 - The Work of a Local Church
Lesson 5 - The Organization of a Local Church
Lesson 6 - The Fellowship of a Christian

Click Here for Audio and Other Files

 

Click Here to Hear:

A Friendly Discussion on Mormonism

Held at the University church of Christ -
February 17, 2011

 


Following the Footsteps of Jesus
Bible Class by Larry Rouse

Download the current outlines:
Lesson1 - Follow the Footsteps of Jesus in Baptism
Lesson 2 - Follow the Footsteps of Jesus in Praying
Lesson 3 - Follow the Footsteps of Jesus in Teaching
Lesson4 - Follow the Footsteps of Jesus to the Cross

Lesson 5 - Follow the Footsteps of Jesus to Heaven

Click Here for Audio and Other Files
 


Building a Biblical  Faith

College Class

 Click Here for Outlines, Audio and Other Files

 

A Study of Evangelism
(Studies in the Cross of Christ)
College Bible Class by Larry Rouse

 

A Study of the Life of Joseph



Adult Bible Class by Larry Rouse

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Building a Biblical Home Bible Class Series

Click Here for Audio and PowerPoint Files

 

 

A Reasonable Doubt?

by Bubba Garner

How would you like it if someone spoke about your life based on one thing you said or did?  Without any input from you, they chose a phrase or event that they thought best summed up how you should be remembered? That’s what we have with the apostle we often refer to as “doubting” Thomas. Even in nonreligious settings, wherever there is a dissenting voice or a lone skeptic, that person is called a “doubting Thomas.”

Thomas was not viewed that way by his fellow apostles.  According to John’s gospel, the only thing they called him was Didymus or “the Twin” (John 11:16, 20:24, 21:2).  Not only that, but when Jesus insisted that He and the apostles go to Jerusalem, a place where they were afraid for the Lord’s safety, it was Thomas who insisted, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (John 11:16).  In other words, if the enemies took Jesus, they would have to go through Thomas first.  Yet, no one ever refers to him as “fearless Thomas.”

His unfortunate nickname comes from the statement he later made after hearing about Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. “Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). Instead of casting doubt on his faith, what are some lessons we can learn that will help us in our own belief in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God?

It is not wrong to demand evidence.  As one of the chosen twelve, Thomas had been “all in” before.  Remember, he was prepared to fight to the death for Jesus.  When the Lord did die, the apostles were so convinced that the cause was over that the first report of His resurrection “appeared to them as nonsense” (Luke 24:11). Before Thomas could consider himself “all in” again, he wanted to see and handle the evidence.

The Lord does not ask His disciples to follow Him with a blind faith.  When Jesus appeared to Thomas, He did not withhold proof from him.  Rather, He invited careful investigation:  “Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing” (John 20:27). Luke also wrote about the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus, that He “presented Himself alive...by many convincing proofs” (Acts 1:3). The truth has nothing to hide.  The more we look into it, the stronger our convictions become.

Each person must have their own faith. Thomas’ request to examine the Lord was not an unreasonable one.  He simply wanted the same opportunity that was made available to the other apostles.  A week earlier, Jesus appeared to them when Thomas was not present and “showed them both His hands and His side” (John 20:20). When they later told Thomas, “We have seen the Lord” (20:25), he didn’t just take their word for it.  He wanted to see it for himself. He wanted to have his own faith.

While we certainly learn about the gospel from other people, we must eventually reach the point where we stand on our own convictions. This very attitude is seen in the Queen of Sheba’s statement after testing the wisdom of Solomon. “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. Nevertheless I did not believe the reports, until I came and my eyes had seen it.  And behold, the half was not told me” (1 Kings 10:6-7). How much more ready will we be to give an answer for our faith when we can reason from that which we have personally experienced?  No longer is it based on what our parents or our preacher knows. It is rooted in “for the Bible tells me so.”  It is our own.

Honest evaluation calls for a humble confession. Thomas asked to see all the evidence; Jesus held nothing back. There is no record of the apostle following through with his request to put his finger in the nail prints or his hand into the wounded side. What is recorded are the words he spoke: “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28)!  Having seen for himself the proof of Jesus’ resurrection, he could do no less than to confess His deity.  Any other response would have been dishonest to the facts of the case.

Many people are like Thomas in that they ask for proof from the word of God.  But when they are confronted with the inescapable truth, their conclusions do not follow the evidence.  “That’s your opinion.”  “I don’t believe that.”  “That’s just your interpretation.”  “My God is bigger than that.”  It takes honesty to want to see things for yourself.  It takes humility to go wherever the truth leads you and confess, “My Lord and my God!”

The ability to physically see and touch Jesus after the resurrection was limited to a 40-day window.  But we can still see Him through the testimony of those who did and come to believe that He is the Christ, the Son of God.  In fact, Jesus said we are “blessed” (John 20:29) when this happens.  Without a doubt.

 

 

Other Articles by Bubba Garner 
Blessed Among Women
How to Make a Bad Decision

Press Along to the Goal
A Resolution
Don't Quit

 

 

Student Sunday Night Home Study and Singing

 

 

Our God He Is Alive! (Evidences From DNA by Buddy Payne)
PowerPoint
Audio of Lesson

 

Making God Real to Us by Joshua Carter - Nov. 27, 2011
Outline
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing

The College Christian by Harold Carswell - Nov. 6, 2011
Outline
Audio of Lesson (Part 1)
Audio of Lesson (Part 2)
Audio of Singing

My Struggle as a College Student by Kyle Gibson- Oct. 23, 2011
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing

"I Press" by Dee Bowman
Aug. 21, 2011
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing

When Evolutionist Tell the Truth by David Tant
Outline
PowerPoint
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing

Situation Ethics by Caleb George - March 30, 2011
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing

 

 


Studies by David Tant at the University church of Christ

Click Here for Audio and PowerPoint Files

 


How to Study the Bible
College Class

Click Here for Audio and PowerPoint Files

 

Monthly Bible Study in Lagrange
at the Eastside church of Christ in LaGrange, Georgia

Overcoming the Present Apostasy by Larry Rouse

 

Saturday October 9, 2010


9:30 AM
- How do We View the Bible?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

 

Saturday December 11, 2010

9:30 AM - How Do We View the World?

Outline
PowerPoint
 

Saturday May 14, 2011

9:30 AM - How Do We View God's Order for Leadership?

Outline
PowerPoint
 

Saturday June 11, 2011

9:30 AM - How Do We View the Local Church?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

 

Saturday July 9, 2011

9:30 AM - How Do We View God's instruction on Fellowship?

Outline
PowerPoint
 

 


Messianic Prophecies in the Book of Isaiah
Adult Bible Class by Larry Rouse
Sunday Mornings at 9:30
Download the current outlines:
Lesson 1 - The Time and Reign of the Messiah
Lesson 2 - The Servant Songs (Isaiah 42)
Lesson 3 - The Servant Songs (Isaiah 49)
Lesson 4 - The Servant Songs (Isaiah 50)
Lesson 5 - The Servant Songs (Isaiah 52-53)
Lesson 6 - The Virgin Birth (Isa. 7)

Click Here for Audio and Other Files

 


Sermon Series on the Book of 1 John
by Robert Harkrider

Click Here for Audio and Other Files

 

Themes From the Life of David
Sunday Adult Bible Class by Larry Rouse

 

A Study of Religious Beliefs

Wednesday Night College Bible Class

Download the current outlines:
Lesson 1 - Introduction and Approach
Lesson 2 - The Roman Catholic Church
Lesson 3 - An Overview of Islam
Lesson 4 - An Overview of Mormonism
Lesson 5 - An Overview of Pentecostalism
Lesson 6 - An Overview of Calvinism

 


Student Sunday Night Home Study and Singing

 

 

For Additional Information and Past Audio and Outlines Click Here
 

 
 
 
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