DILIGENCE
Scott Perry
Diligence is defined as “hardworking, showing care and effort” (Oxford) . Synonyms include: “industrious, attentive, conscientious, painstaking, careful, thorough, and meticulous.” Various proverbs materialize the efficacy of diligence and its rewards:
Riches (Proverbs 10:4).
Leadership ( “” 12:24).
Value ( “” 12:27).
Contentment ( “” 13:4).
Diligence is not haste. Haste is characterized by impulsiveness and inconsistency while diligence is charac-terized by prudence (forethought) and persistence (Luke 18:1-8). Diligence means “to work slowly and steadily, to plug along” in order to obtain things righteously. Haste tempts one to get things done “by any means necessary,” but the Bible says that treasure obtained by sinful means will not remain or satisfy (Prov. 21:6).
What characterizes your behavior--diligence or haste? Trusting in the Lord to provide for you by working diligently toward a goal is noble and builds patience. Desiring and acquiring possessions hastily is unwise, unsatisfying in the end, and they become value-less to the possessor. Work hard, show care and effort even when it doesn't seem to matter and, in the end, the Lord will reward your wisdom with satisfying and valuable fruit.
Matthew 24: The Bible's Most Misunderstood Chapter : Part 1
Scott Perry
On Wednesday nights, the Adult 2 Bible Class is studying the Bible's teaching on seven “final things.” These final things include major events in God's scheme of affairs such as: Final Authority (Bible), Death, The Second Coming of Christ, The General Resurrection, Final Judgment, Hell, and Heaven. These subjects are worthy of consideration, and there is no want for opinion on any of these matters in the religious world today.
Brother Robert R. Taylor, an able, well respected gospel preacher, wrote a book on this very subject that we are using as our text. His book is “an outgrowth of many years of studying, lecturing, preaching, teaching and writing relative to The Bible Doctrine of Final Things” (p. 11). Before typing the manuscript, brother Taylor made an additional three to four year study of this material in order to develop as many Scriptural insights into its overall facets as he possibly could. His material is from the Bible, based on divine wisdom not human wisdom as brother Taylor states in his introduction to the book:
Being sensational instead of Scriptural has been an eagerly followed guideline with many who have lifted the literary pen to touch the basis of the stirring subject. Others have been more interested in writing something that would gross immediately phenomenal sales than something that would sell less in quantity but would mean something to the religious world in the way of spiritual quality. It has not been my purpose to fill a volume with heavy documentation from human wisdom. This volume sets forth the Divine Doctrine of Final Things. For that reason the material depends heavily upon what we find in the Scriptures regarding Biblical Finals ( italics in original).
Section three, the book's longest, examines the Second Coming of Christ and Matthew 24 is given considerable attention not because of its information regarding the Second Coming which it addresses (vv. 36-51), but because of its extensive information connected to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman general Titus in A.D. 70 (vv. 3-35). Brother Taylor writes, “Since so many have associated all this chapter with the second coming, I feel it imperatively necessary to disassociate that major segment of it that applies exclusively to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70 from the part dealing with the second coming” (p. 97). Notice brother Taylor's reason for the necessary disassociation of verses 3-34 from 35-51--because of false teachers who associate “ all this chapter with the second coming” (emph. mine, s.p.). One such false teacher is Billy Graham.
Mr. Graham, one of the most prominent preachers in the world, suggested Matthew 24:15 (which references the “abomination of desolation,” found in Daniel 9:26-27; the defilement of the holy place) is certainly one of the sure signs of Jesus' return to earth. This mistake has not been made only by Mr. Graham, but by many espousers of the doctrine of Premillennialism which permeates our society today currently propagated by the Left Behind series of books by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. Brother Taylor goes on to say about Mr. Graham, “He lists nine other things which will herald the Lord's second coming, and all ten indicators are taken from Jesus' description of Jerusalem's fall.”
1 Title of chapter eight in Robert R. Taylor's book, The Bible Doctrine of Final Things .
VOLUME 41 NUMBER 1 JANUARY 5, 2004
OUR SICK
Continue to remember Richard Lowe in your prayers.
Marie Rogers has pneumonia and is at home.
Pauline Berry, Brenda Henson's mother, is back in St. Joseph's Hospital in Hot Springs.
Debbie DelCampo, daughter of Butch & Nora Harris has a brain aneurysm. She is scheduled for surgery on January 9.
Jill Farris' father has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Jim Holmes, brother of Glyn Holmes, is in McCellan VA Hospital, 6D-Bed 8.
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RESPONSE
Placing membership on January 4th: Oleta Thompson (mother of Wendell) 11500 Kanis Road, Little Rock, AR 72211 phone 225-4617.
Requesting prayers to be restored, January 4th, Eleanor Brinkley.
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SYMPATHY
Carolyn Trinkell, niece of Marvie Smith, passed away on Friday. Funeral will be Wednesday in Nash, Texas.
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NEW BABY
Doyce & Lana Tarkington have a grandson, Hunter Gavin Vasquez, born December 8th, weight 7 lb. 9 oz. 20 _” long. Sarge & Scarlett Vasquez are the parents.
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SERMONS FOR JANUARY 11
Morning
Praying For Enemies (Matthew 5:43-45)
Evening
The Church At Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13) Scott Perry
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ATTENTION TEENS:
There will be a Bible Bowl Practice for grades 3 through 12, at 4:00 PM on Sunday, January 11th.
The Teens will eat out after the evening service on January 11th.
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VISITATION REORGANIZATION
There will be a Visitation Reorganization Meeting following the evening service on Sunday, January 18th. This will be for all members of teams from August through November and also anyone else interested in being on a team for February thru May. Please bring finger foods.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
January 11………….Bible Bowl Practice
January 11………………..Teens Eat Out
January 18……Visitation Reorganization
January 25………...New Member Dinner
February 10…All Comers Class Resumes
OUR RECORD JANUARY 4, 2003
A.M. WORSHIP 243
SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY 191
P.M. WORSHIP 159
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY 89
CONTRIBUTION 8050
BUDGET 6845
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MEN TO SERVE
January 11, 2004
Robert Overbey Nicolas Lowe
Nathan Moore Mike Moore
Dale Morris Jeff Linker
Tim King Darrell Orick
Evening Waymon Minor
Jim Mauldin
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WEDNESDAY SONG DIRECTOR
January 14 John Griffin
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USHERS FOR JANUARY
Morning Mike & Nathan Moore
Evening Ray Wehunt & David Gulledge
Wednesday Jim & Shawn Wallace
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GREETERS FOR JANUARY
Jim & Charlene Mauldin
Anita & Jason Griffin
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ELDER CHAIRMAN
January Gene Sullivan
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