Barbs …. With A Point

Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles

The following barbs of wisdom come from The Sword and Staff Publication, 2004, Volume 42, Number 4; pg. 13 (appropriate Scriptures and related articles have been added):

If you are afraid that you will rock the boat, you won’t get much rowing done.

A person cannot willfully make a practice of sin and be right with God (1 John 5:18; Hebrews 10:26), but at the same time, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).

Sound doctrine without sound living is like a “sounding brass, or a tinkling symbol” (1 Corinthians 13:1 KJV).

There is a saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” but Paul in writing to the Christians in Rome said, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2 KJV).

Too many preachers upon finding it is a hard job to change the world, change their message to accommodate the world (and unconverted “church members” who are actually a part of the world).

What some call “contending for the faith” is really being “contentious about the faith” (it’s more like sectarian wrangling and a work of the flesh – 1 Timothy 6:3-4).

Many, whose hearts have been warmed by the gospel, get on fire for God only to experience burnout when they are unable to pass this fire on to others (2 Timothy 4:10).

True worship is not determined by how much sound and noise is made (John 4:24).

Churches growing in number is of no significance unless there is the corresponding growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3:18).

The god of this world is worshipped in the form of that which is seen (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

If you live too “high on the hog,” you will probably end up eating fatback (or what the prodigal son ate – nothing – Luke 15:12-16).

The relationship of the wife to the husband, according to the New Testament, is one of submission, not subjugation (Ephesians 5:22 KJV).

New Christians, given time to grow, but not taught, only grow older and more worldly.

If you are truly conservative in your religious convictions, it should make you liberal in your giving (for this is what is taught in the Scriptures – 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; cf. Luke 21:1-4).

A faithless faith is seen when “religious” people do not believe and accept what the Bible says about baptism (Romans 10:17; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:26; Romans 6:1-6; Gal. 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21).

To be angry at nothing but sin, is the surest way not to sin while being angry (Ephesians 4:26; cf. Psalm 37:8).

God wants us to clean up our act, not act like (pretend) we are clean (Matthew 23:27).

If you look back, you will fall behind (Luke 9:62; cf. Genesis 19:26).