OceanSide church of Christ

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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (76)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     All questions have a tendency to make people think.

1.       In the word “scent,” which letter is silent?  The “s”?  or, the “c”?

2.       Isn’t the word “queue” just the letter “q” followed by four silent letters?

3.       If you expected the unexpected, does that mean the unexpected is expected?

4.       Where does a thought go when it is forgotten?

5.       Why is the alphabet in the order in which we find it?  Who said:  “The alphabet must be this way?”

 

B.      We may not know the answer to the questions that are asked, but they do cause us to stop and think.  We might even think:  “Whoever asked that is crazy.”

 

C.     The questions that are asked for our Q&A lesson certainly make me think.  They also make me study. 

 

D.     In our lesson this morning, let’s consider four different questions.

 

I.                    QUESTION #1:  The Sign of the Cross

 

A.     Stated:  Is it alright to do the sign of the cross?  If so, when do we do it?

 

B.      Answer:

1.       Background:

a.       The sign of the cross is a gesture made by touching one’s forehead, chest, left shoulder, then right shoulder.  It is accompanied by the “Trinitarian formula,” that is, the words:  “In the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.”

b.      It is predominately thought of as a Catholic practice, although, there are several other religious groups that make the sign as well:  Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, and Presbyterians.

c.       The use of the sign of the cross:

1)      The sign is used in prayer.  The individual will often begin and end the prayer with the sign of the cross.

2)      The sign of the cross is also made when entering their church buildings for worship, at marriages, at funerals, and at christenings.

3)      It is said that it can be used at almost any time as long as the sign is sincere and not be used in a flippant manner.

d.      The sign of the cross is said to have six meanings:

1)      A confession of faith

2)      A renewal of baptism

3)      A mark of discipleship

4)      An acceptance of suffering

5)      A defense against the devil

6)      A victory over self-indulgence

e.       The earliest mention of the sign of the cross is by Tertullian who wrote in Carthage about 200 A.D.  He said:  “We Christians wear out our foreheads with the sign of the cross.”

2.       Scriptural response:

a.       What we do in our practice of the Christian life must have the authority of Christ behind it (Col. 3:17).

 

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, to all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

 

b.      Rather than a sign, what we need to understand is that our prayers are to be offered in Jesus’ name, that is, by His authority (John 14:13-14).

 

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.

 

c.       We do not have to parade our Christianity before others by signs, symbols, hair styles, and standard styles of clothes. 

1)      We let our lights shine by manifesting the qualities of our Savior unto the world.  We want them to see Christ living in us (Phil. 1:21).

2)      We let them see Christ in us by the good works that we display unto the world (Matt. 5:16).

3)      Our love (John 13:34-35), our unity (John 17:20-22), our fruit (John 15:8), and our willingness to suffer all things for Christ (1 Pet. 3:16-17) are the things that should catch the attention of the world.

 

II.                 QUESTION #2:  The “certain man” of Matthew 26:18

 

A.     Stated:  Does the Bible identify the “certain man” in Matthew 26:18 elsewhere?

 

B.      Answer:

1.       Matthew 26:17-18

 

Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover?  And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

 

2.       Three of the gospel narratives mention this account:  Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13.  None of the accounts reveal the name of the man who provided the room Jesus and the apostle used for the Passover.

3.       Luke’s account reveals some interesting things.

a.       Peter and John were the two commanded to go and prepare the Passover (Luke 22:8).

b.      When they entered the city, they would see a man bearing a pitcher of water.  They were to follow him to the right house (Luke 22:10).

c.       The goodman of the house, that is, the owner, was to be asked:  “Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?” (Luke 22:11).

d.      This room would be furnished (Luke 22:12). 

4.       Let’s briefly note two important things.

a.       Jesus had relationships with individuals other than just His apostles and some of the women of Jerusalem.  Some of them, like this unknown man, played an important role in the life of our Lord.

b.      Jesus prepared for the Passover, one of the three main feast days of the Jews.

1)      He had already made contact with a man about the room.

2)      Jesus was faithful to His God regarding these important celebrations. 

a)      He did not leave them to chance.

b)      He died not skip them.

c)       He made certain He was present for them.

3)      QUESTION:  Is Sunday, the Lord’s Day, a feast day?  Absolutely.  On the Lord’s day we assemble to partake for the Lord’s Supper.  If we are going to be like our Lord, we should prepare for this day and be present when it transpires.

 

III.              QUESTION #3:  Mission Work for July, Prison Ministry

 

A.     Stated:  Can you tell us something about our mission work for the month of July?

 

B.      Answer:

1.       We will be providing additional support to a work that we support on a regular basis known as “Lake Butler Prison Ministry.”

2.       Background:

a.       This work began in 1971 at the Lake Butler church of Christ.  They provided Bibles to everyone coming into the Department of Corrections.

 

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b.      Two ministers, Gary Wyder and Christopher Carter, carry out this work on a full-time basis at this time.  Gary has been doing this work for 42 years.

 

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3.       Since 1971, this work has grown and developed into something much more than giving Bibles to prisoners.

a.       Bibles are given out.

b.      Bible studies are conducted.

c.       Worship services are conducted in the prison.

d.      Special programs:

1)      PAL Program have been implemented.  PAL stands for “Principles and Applications for Life.”

2)      A “Peer to Peer Community” program that enables those who are serving life sentences to serve the community.

e.       When given the opportunity, they go speak in high schools in order to discourage youth from committing crimes that lead them to prison.

f.        A program that assists those who have been released from prison to transition back into a regular life:  a place to life, job training, and employment.

4.       Some frown on a Prison Ministry because they do not believe they are successful.

a.       The gospel is designed to change lives.  The power to do this is not of human origin.  It is divine power that brings about the change (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

 

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Be not deceived:  neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of God.

 

b.      The recidivism rate for those who come in contact with a spiritual program while in prison is about 14%.  If the prisoners are not involved in such a program, the rate is 60%.

c.       In the last issue of “The Florida Prison Evangelist,” three men are discussed who have served sentences in the past but are now in the ministry.

1)      Mike Bingham, incarcerated 18 years, now serves as the youth minister for the Woodland West church of Christ in Arlington, TX.

2)      Joe Almanza, involved with the Mexican Mafia which led to four prison sentences, has been preaching for the last 28 years.

3)      David Green, spent eight years on death row, now serves as the minister of the Church of Christ of Greater New Orleans.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     Our Q&A lessons always prove how much there is to discuss from a Biblical perspective.

1.       The beliefs of others.

2.       Characters of the Bible.

3.       Passages of Scripture

4.       Good works

 

B.      It is hoped that OceanSide will continue to be a blessing to others as we seek to fulfill our theme in 2022 of “Seeking and Serving the Needy in 2022.”

 

C.     There may be someone here who needs to obey the gospel.  There may be a child of God here who needs to confess his/her sins.  Perhaps you just need the prayers of the church.