"And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed
you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house" (Acts 20:20).
The Apostle Paul was a true soul winner. This is manifested by the
statement above revealing that wherever he went he taught people the gospel
of Jesus Christ. That is what a true soul winner does. Regardless of where
he is, if there are souls present, he (or she) is seeking opportunity to ask
them about their soul. This may be done in a variety of ways depending on
how or what is comfortable for the personal worker to say or do. Notice I
said depending on what the Christian prefers to say or do, not if something
should be said or done. It is the responsibility of every child of God to
harvest the souls of the lost for Christ or God cuts you out of the vine
(John 15:2).
When a child of God does not learn and then actively implement
evangelistic knowledge into his life, he is sinning against God. Not
everyone can do certain kinds of work, but everyone can and must do
something to reach the lost in addition to his daily example of Christian
living. Are you volunteering and learning ways to reach the lost? Overcoming
our fears and other hindrances will bring discomfort, but the change is
worth it. If you are not evangelistically active, will you make the decision
today to stop "keeping back that which is profitable" to lost souls?

THE MODE OF BAPTISM
Wayne Jackson

More than one hundred times the New Testament mentions the rite of
baptism. The word "baptize" is actually an Anglicized form of the Greek verb
baptizo, meaning "to immerse." New Testament baptism is immersion in water
(John 3:5; Rom. 6:3, 4). Some religious groups, of course, insist upon
allowing the practice of "sprinkling" as a substitute for biblical
immersion. And some drastic attempts have been made to prove that the
apostles of Christ endorsed this practice. In 1857, J.A. Alexander, the
great scholar of Princeton, whom many considered to be the finest mind of
American Presbyterianism, authored his famous Commentary on the Acts of the
Apostles. Therein he contended that 3,000 persons could not have been
immersed on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41) since "Jerusalem has always
been remarkably destitute of water, the fountain of Siloam being its only
constant source." This is a classic example of a man¹s theology getting in
the way of objective examination of the text. However, twenty-two years
later (1879), Professor J. W. McGarvey visited Jerusalem and made extensive
studies of the pools of that city. His careful research completely destroyed
the assertion that Jerusalem was "remarkably destitute of water." In his
book, Lands of the Bible, which was declared by critics to be the most
valuable work yet published on Palestine, and which was used in several
theological seminaries as a textbook, McGarvey devoted an entire section of
one chapter to a thorough discussion of the "Pools of Jerusalem." The
following is a brief summarization of some of the material that he
presented: ". . . The pool of Siloam is 50 feet long, 14 1/2 feet wide at
its south end; 17 feet at its north end; it would hold a depth of 3 to 4
feet of water. Lower Gihon is on an average 592 feet long, with an average
width of 260 feet. The pool covers about 3 1/2 acres, with an average depth
of 42 1/2 feet when clear of deposits. Upper Gihon is 316 feet long by 218
feet wide, with an average depth of about 20 feet. The Pool of Hezekiah is
240 feet long and 144 wide; its bottom is about 10 feet below street level.
The Pool of Bethesda is about 360 feet by 130 feet, with a neck about 140
feet by 42 feet; its entire area is about 5, 853 yards and it is some 80
feet deep."
In the March, 1981 issue of Ministry, Dr. George Rice of Andrews
University observes: "The evolution of Christian baptism through the
centuries has been recorded in mortar and bricks, paint and mosaics. Among
the ruins of early Christian structures, and also in ancient churches still
in use, the history of Christian baptism can be traced. Paintings in
catacombs and churches, mosaics on floors, walls, and ceilings, sculptured
reliefs, and drawings in ancient New Testament manuscripts details to this
history, as well as raising interesting questions that need further
investigation. The record left by these various witnesses overwhelmingly
testifies to immersion as the normal mode of baptism in ten to fourteen
centuries" [ emp. WJ].

VOLUME 39 NUMBER 36 SEPTEMBER 9, 2002

OUR SICK

Alan Caudle was in the hospital last week but came home on Sunday.
Also continue to remember Jr. Stracener and Ray Wehunt in your prayers as
they recover from surgery.
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RESPONSES

Kim Walsh was baptized on Wednesday, September 4th. Her address is 14021 E.
Polk Road, Alexander, AR 72002, phone 847-3126.
Caty Douglas, daughter of Ron & Lori Douglas was baptized on Sunday evening,
September 8th.
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THANK YOU

We will really miss all of you. We appreciate our time there and all the
kindness shown us. Our new address will be 2807 Horseshoe Bend Road,
Randleman, NC 27217. The move went well and John is doing OK. John & Retha
Colbert.
Thank you to Robert Overbey for installing a telephone in Wayne Brewer¹s
office. We appreciate his time and effort.
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TEEN SING

The Teen Sing will be after the evening service on Sunday, September 15th at
the home of Jim & Tawni Wallace. Boys bring drinks and girls bring chips.
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SERMONS FOR SEPTEMBER 15

Morning
Why Is The Christian¹s Life The Best Life (Acts 24:14-15)

Evening
Alan Diles will report on the work in Prague in the Czech Republic
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SEARCH
Week of September 15
THE MEANING OF THE NEW BIRTH

Jesus¹ teaching about being "born again" is absolutely vital and fundamental
to the Christian faith. Yet it is often confused by denominational dogmas
which render it invalid. Let us simply take Jesus at His word. What did He
actually say about being born again? Join us, we shall see.

EVENTS OF INTEREST

September 10.....All Comers Class
September 15.....Teen Sing
September 17.....All Comers Class
September 24.....All Comers Class

OUR RECORD SEPTEMBER 8, 2002

A.M. WORSHIP 229
SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY 180
P.M. WORSHIP 222
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY 124

CONTRIBUTION 6673
BUDGET 5570
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MEN TO SERVE
September 15, 2002

Richard Butler Eddie Black
Cliff Boyd Bill Boyd
Johnny Boyd Henry Brooks
Ken Bittle Wally Davis

Evening Ray Bryan
Alan Caudle
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WEDNESDAY SONG DIRECTOR

September 18 John Griffin
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USHERS FOR SEPTEMBER

Morning John Griffin
Evening Wally Davis
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GREETERS FOR SEPTEMBER

Richard & Beth Butler
Olive Dove & Marvie Smith
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ELDER CHAIRMAN

September Johnny Boyd
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