Volume  3    Issue   39   August 3rd, 2003

A publication of the:
Butler church of Christ

Our meeting location is:
201 5th Ave.
Butler, PA 16001
724-287-0628 (building) / 724-282-9417 (home/office)

Assembling Times:
Sunday Bible Class - 9:30 AM
Sunday Worship – 10:30 AM
Wednesday Bible Class – 7:00 PM
 

Editor / Preacher –
Brian A. Yeager
 

Check out the web site:

http://www.wordsoftruth.net

    A lot has been covered in our series thus far.  We have covered what “sound” means, we have covered unscriptural worship, the social gospel, soft teaching, benevolence, and the Bible version question as identifying marks of an unsound congregation.   At this point is would be very good to touch on a way to ask some questions when observing a congregation with which one may consider worshipping.  We are certainly not trying to come up with a “brotherhood questionnaire” or anything close to that, but some suggested questions that may be asked on the phone, by letter, or in person to identify a sound congregation.  This list will be brief and will not cover all aspects, but simply ask questions based on what we have learned in our series thus far.

1. Does this congregation worship God in song without the accompaniment of mechanical instruments of music (Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16)?

2. Does this congregation believe it would be okay or practice sending the Lord’s money to any human Institutions such as Orphan Homes, etc. (Colossians 3:17)?

3. What version of the Bible does the preacher preach from and what version is in the pews (Deuteronomy 12:32, Galatians 1:6-12, and Revelation 22:18-19)?

4. Does your congregation believe it is authorized to give the Lord’s Money to non-Christians for benevolent reasons (I Corinthians 16:1-3)?

5. Does your congregation have parties, entertainment, social gatherings, etc. in the building (John 6: 25-26)?

6. Does your congregation believe in calling sin what it is and marking false teachers from the pulpit (Ezekiel 3:18, I Timothy 1:20 and Romans 16:17-18)?

7. Are the elders, preacher, and other members willing to answer any questions I may have about the worship or work your congregation is involved in (I Peter 3:15; 4:11)?

8. Does your congregation believe that you can just overlook doctrinal disagreements and try to have unity in diversity (Amos 3:3 and II John 9-11)?

    This brief questionnaire serves as a simple review of what we have learned and can be asked to a congregation you might attend.  They are pointed questions, but ones in which sound brethren would not fear in answering.  We are told to test (I John 4:1), therefore we have certain authority to ask questions of our brethren.  Next, we will move on to some divisive doctrines and divisive attitudes that can make many congregations (that would be otherwise sound) unsound.
 

Quick Notes

Those Serving Today:
Announcements – Brian Yeager
A.M. Song Leader – Terry Nannie
Lord’s Table – George Papp
Assisting – Brian Yeager and Terry Nannie
First Prayer – Jay Wagner
Closing Prayer – Steve Burgoon
 

Those In Need of Our Prayers:
Tony Sassano (going through chemotherapy), Joan Croyle, Marie Glunt (a friend of the Papp’s who is suffering from cancer), Brenda Graham (having knee problems), Kathleen Santana, Beth Deemer, and Julie Rado (a friend of the Graham’s who has been diagnosed with breast cancer).