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University church of Christ

 

Assembly Times

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   Bible Classes (9:30)

   AM Worship (10:20)

   PM Worship (6:00 pm)

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Auburn, AL 36830
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Taking in the Goats and Wolves
 

by Steve Klein

 

The Bible teaches that the Lord adds those who are saved to the universal church (Acts 2:47). Saved individuals then join themselves to other disciples in their area for work and worship as a local church. When a Christian moves from one place to another, it is necessary that he join himself to the church in the new location. This is what Saul attempted to do in Acts 9:26; the Scripture states that “when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.”

Local churches would normally consider it a blessing to receive new members from other places. Yet the Jerusalem church was cautious about accepting Saul. Barnabas had to testify of Saul's faithfulness before the apostles in order for Saul to be received (Acts 9:27). Here then is an apostolically approved example of a church exercising caution about receiving a new member. Although Saul was worthy of acceptance, the cautiousness of the disciples was warranted and implicitly approved by the apostles.

Today, many churches have thrown this caution to the wind. Churches will accept anyone into their number who claims to be a Christian -- without any apparent concern for the person's past faithfulness or lack thereof. This practice not only weakens the local church, it also does nothing for the spiritual welfare of one who may need reproof much more than acceptance.

Choice Bryant, now in his eighties, relates an experience from his many years of preaching which well illustrates the need and benefit of exercising care in this matter. He writes as follows: Leaving Grandfield, Oklahoma, we moved to Floydada, Texas to work with the church in that city. One Sunday morning, a lady ``came forward,'' asking to be identified with us. As my custom is, I simply asked from what church she comes, and she said it was the Lockney church. I wrote to the elders of the Lockney church and they promptly answered that she was not faithful as a member, and even her life was out of harmony with Bible teaching.  I acquainted our elders with this letter, explaining that this lady needed to be confronted with this letter, that we could not accept her in her sinful life. One of the elders, a very influential man in the area (in fact, he was a business man in the city) said that we need not do anything, we must not “get our feet wet” in such situations, that we must just accept her “as is” and proceed with our work. This disturbed me no little, and I rebuked him for speaking thus as an elder of the church.

Then another one of the elders offered to go with me to talk with the lady (who lived in Silverton -- a few miles north of Floydada). We set a date to go, and upon approaching her with the letter from the Lockney elders, she first angrily denied the charges and criticized them for writing in, and raved for some time. We just patiently listened to her rantings, and when she finally stopped I simply said, “if what you say is true, then the Lockney elders lied on you, therefore, we are now forced to get with those elders and get all this straightened out.” At this point she broke down and cried like a baby, saying, “yes, what they say about me is true; I am guilty of their charges!” I then replied, “you need to do two things, (1) confess your wrongs to them, and (2) do the same before our congregation!” We left on that note. The next Sunday morning she came before the congregation confessing her wrongs, and right behind her was her husband who confessed his faith in Christ and asked to be baptized. The result of our doing our duty in contacting her as we did, there were two souls saved (instead of being lost)! 

Incidentally, thereafter that couple became two of our best friends.  I am a firm believer in “checking up” on those who ask to be identified.  Either you will uncover the wrong-doing in their lives, or, you will learn of the valuable assets they possess to use in your local work.  (Choice Bryant, “An Octogenarian Reminisces: Experiences in Floydada,” -  With All Boldness, May, 98).

Sometimes, an individual may be like a goat trying to join a flock of sheep. He is not intending to do the sheep any harm, but he really doesn't belong in the flock until he is truly a sheep (this was the case of the woman in brother Bryant's story). In other cases, an individual may be more like a wolf--trying to gain entry into the flock in order to devour sheep with false teaching and heresy. The apostle Paul warned the elders of the church in Ephesus that, “...savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:29). As shepherds of the flock, these elders were bound to do their utmost to keep the flock safe from wolves.

It is vital that churches check up on those wishing to join their fellowship. One sensible and Scriptural way to accomplish this is simply to communicate with trusted Christians who know the individual in question. Barnabas was known and trusted by the apostles in Jerusalem (Acts 4:36-37), and he was acquainted with Saul, so he was in an ideal position to offer testimony about Saul's character.

When Apollos went from Ephesus to Corinth, faithful brethren in Ephesus sent a letter of recommendation with him; “the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace” (Acts 18:27). Such letters of recommendation from one church to another were regarded as necessary in some cases and seem to have been commonly sent in New Testament times (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:1).

Our prayer is that each local flock will be a place of safety for the sheep, but not a haven for goats and wolves.

 

Other Articles by Steve Klein

Dedicated, Determined and Dependable
Praying With the Confidence of Christ

Choosing Between Christ and Kin

The Work God Gave to the Local Church
The Gospel Five Step Plan
Making Difficult Decisions
Baptism and the Fellowship of the Saints
Legalism -- The Un-Sin
Winning Last Place
How Men Act When They Repent
Hairpin Curves


 


 

 

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The Christian and Money

Sunday Morning College Bible Class by Larry Rouse
Sunday Mornings at 9:30
Download the current outlines:

Lesson 1 - Money and the Revealing of Our Hearts
Lesson 2 - Earning Money
Lesson 3 - Spending Money and Debt
Lesson 4 - Money and the Family

Lesson 5 - Money and the Local Church
Click Here for Audio



The Character and Attributes of God

Download the current outlines:
Lesson 1 - Diligently Seeking God
Lesson 2 - A Holy God
Lesson 3 - A Jealous God
Lesson 4- The Wrath and Longsuffering of God
Lesson 5 - The Love and Forgiveness of God
Click Here for 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
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Saturday Night 7:30

Lesson 2 - How do we View the World?

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

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

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

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For Additional Information, Audio and Outlines Click Here

 


Recent Bulletins:

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 26, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 19, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 12, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 5, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Nov 28, 2010 Edition


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