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

But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.  This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
(James 3:14-15)

 


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

Click Here for Audio and PowerPoint Files
 

Building a Biblical Home Bible Class Series

Click Here for Audio and PowerPoint Files

 

 

Our Utilitarian Approach to God   
 

by Gary Henry

 

“... And the Lord God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant” (Jonah 4:5,6).

Although we understand the scriptures to teach that we are God’s vessels, we sometimes look upon Him as a vessel for our own use. We tend to take a utilitarian approach to God, as if He were an instrument that exists to accomplish our purposes, rather than vice versa.

The degree to which we delight in God is too often determined by how “useful” He is to us. In our own minds, we have a concept of how we would like our lives to be, and to the extent that God helps us move toward having this sort of life, we are delighted with Him. We look for the “practical” benefits of the spiritual life, and if these are not found, then we tend to become angry with God. Perhaps we reject Him altogether. We might not say it in so many words, but we have little use for a God who doesn’t come through for us in the clutch.

In the heat of the blazing Assyrian sun, Jonah was pleased when God prepared a plant that would provide welcome shade and “deliver him from his misery.” He was not so pleased the next day when the plant was destroyed and he had no choice but to sit in the sun again. “It is better,” he said, “for me to die than to live” (Jonah 4:8). Just so, our estimate of how well God is doing often depends on how satisfactorily He is providing what we desire.

Yet if our relationship with God is based upon love, we can ill afford to let self-centered (though we would simply call them “practical”) motives enter in. Our enjoyment of God cannot depend on whether some desired payoff is being received from Him. Love does not calculate or bargain for personal benefit; it gives out of the sheer joy of giving to one who is beloved. “The only reward love seeks is someone to love” (Bernard of Clarivaux). And if there is any question of benefit, we exist for His benefit: our glory is to accomplish His purposes and to show forth His goodness.

“That which cannot be explained or made useful tends to be rejected as contrary to our purpose. Under those circumstances, we lose the ability to remain instruments of God’s will. We would rather inform God of our needs in the hope that he will comply with our conceptions of what life ought to be” (Paul Ciholas).

 Other Articles by Gary Henry

Commitment and Joy
Stillness and Joy
Beware of False Teachers
Contradictory Concepts?
Do It Because You Don't Want To
Why Don't We Seek?
Diligently Seeking God

 

 

 

For Past Auburn Beacons go to:

www.aubeacon.com/Bulletins.htm

 

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The Assembly of the Saints

Adult Bible Class by Larry Rouse
Download the current outlines:
Lesson 1 - How Can We Know What God Wants?
Lesson 2 - What Is a Local church?
Lesson 3 - The Lord's Supper

Lesson 4 - Should Women Speak in the Assembly?
Lesson 5 - What is the Place and Purpose of the Contribution?
Lesson 6 - Misconceptions about the Assembly

 


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

 


You are Invited to Hear
Dee Bowman of Pasadena, Texas

In a Series of Bible Lectures
August 21-24, Sunday - Wednesday
at the University church of Christ in Auburn, AL

 

For More Details Click Here

 


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 (Isaiah 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

 

Hear Mark Broyles on "Marriage as God Designed It"

Click Here for Audio and PowerPoint Files

 

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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