Many different teachings exist on the subject of the souls of men.  One thing that many agree upon is that man does have a soul.  The Bible is irrefutable on that question.  The disagreements occur around the questions of what the soul is and if it will cease to exist with the death of the flesh.  Is man like Rover, when he dies he is dead all over?

    Our Lord stated: (Matthew 10:28) “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”  Cleary Jesus Christ taught that man is made up of more than flesh and bones.  He taught that there was something that lives beyond the flesh.  The Apostle Peter wrote that our bodies are tabernacles and that he was ready to put off his tabernacle.  (II Peter 1:13-14) “Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.”  If our bodies are tabernacles [dwelling places], what dwells in them?  Interestingly some people think all we have inside our flesh is organs, blood, bones, tissue, etc.  Yet, the word of God works on more than organs, it divides soul and spirit (Hebrews 4:12).  Surely we can see we are more than flesh and bones.  Now the question to weigh is what happens to our souls when we die in the flesh.

    Our flesh will perish, but our souls will not.  In the parable of the Foolish Rich Man (Luke 12:16-21), this statement is made: “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee… (v.20).”  When we leave this life bodies [flesh] are disposed of, but our souls go on.  The teaching Jesus gave in the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man clearly point this truth out (Luke 16:19-31).  Paul taught that the outward man [our flesh] was perishing, but the inward [our soul] is not,  (II Corinthians 4:16-18) “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 

    Jesus posed a question and a teaching following that question that adds clarity to our question at hand.  (Matthew 16:26-27) “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”  Here we find that there is a choice we have in regards to the destination of our soul.  We learn that there are things in this life that can cause us to lose our souls.  Then the application of that passage is made that we will be judged and rewarded based on our works.  Whether our works are good unto life eternal or bad unto eternal punishment (Matthew 25:31-46).  The life eternal would be with God in Heaven (Revelation 21:3-7), while the eternal punishment would be with Satan and his angels in Hell (Revelation 21:8 and Matthew 25:41).

    The Bible is clear that we all have souls.  The Bible is also clear that our souls are not going to die with our bodies.  When Jesus was put to death His flesh no longer was alive (Matthew 27:50).  When Jesus was put to death His soul was not left in Hades (Acts 2:31).  Both of these points clearly demonstrate to us that life goes beyond the flesh.  When we die we will be resurrected just as Christ and we will be made eternal (I Corinthians 15:47-53).  Our choice is not whether or not we will survive beyond this life, but where will we survive beyond this life.  If we obey the Lord we will be in Heaven (Matthew 7:21).  If we do not obey we will pay the eternal price (II Thessalonians 1:8-9 and Revelation 21:8).  Where will your soul spend eternity?
 

Those Serving Today
A.M. Song Leader –  Mike Lockwood
Lord’s Table – Jay Wagner
Assisting –  Steve Burgoon and George Papp
Opening Prayer – Bill Graham
Closing Prayer –  Brian Yeager
 
Those Needing Our Prayers
Roger Lookabaugh (Katrina’s grandfather had a heart attack), Lester Fleeger,  Betty Brown has broken her foot in 3 places, Mike Lockwood is also having a problem with the heel of his foot, Ann Holt, John & Olive Anderson, Joan Croyle, Marge McClaire (has cancer), and Bill Croyle (Joan’s son who is suffering from lung problems).

Thank You
We should be thankful that we have two men willing to teach and preach in my absence.  Thanks to Bill and Mike for taking on these tasks.  Preaching is something that takes time to prepare for.

I’m Back
It is good to be back at home, as I surely missed my family and the local work here.  It was great to meet sound brethren in Abilene and Alvin, TX.  It looks like I will be going back to Abilene in the Spring of 2004 to preach a gospel meeting.  It was however sad to be in Abilene and see what ACU has done to that town.  Out of many of the church buildings that said “church of Christ” I can tell you that there were few that I would call our brethren.  Many of those folks should identify themselves as something else.  The church at Northpark where Wayne Goforth preaches surely has it tough standing for the truth virtually alone.  Abilene stands as proof to what happens when a college starts to run the church.  It makes a secular institution the head of the body of Christ and truly destroys what Christ died to establish (Acts 20:28 and Ephesians 5:25).  Let’s keep our faithful brethren at Northpark in our prayers as the battle extreme liberalism and and outright denominationalism hiding under the name of the Lord’s church.  The time I had in Texas was well spent.

Your invited...
To the Yeager’s on Sunday the 28th for fellowship, singing, and studying after services.

Ladies Class
Kim is hosting a ladies class in her home today at 2:00.  She asks that the ladies do lesson one and be prepared to discuss it in the workbook the ladies have obtained.

Future Sermon Note Handouts
Beginning next week the sermon note handout sheet will be attached to the bulletin.  Please do not forget to grab your copy of the bulletin before services so that you can take advantage of this tool.