Bulletin Articles

As we continue to see the divorce rate increasing, we strongly encourage and plead with individuals to seek Godly counsel BEFORE they marry. Marriage is a beautiful, yet serious institution created by God (Genesis 2:21-24).

The world and even peer pressure from others can cause people (young and old) to make a foolish decision. Here are some practical reasons NOT to get married:

1. “One should never marry for financial reasons.” Sound advice! It is a grave mistake to marry someone for money. Despite what our society may convey, money cannot buy happiness. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10).
2. “Do not marry for fear of getting too old.” It is troubling to see people panic due to age and grab the first prospect that comes along. Then they find themselves “stuck” in an unhappy marriage.
3. “Don’t get married simply to get away from home.” Troubles between teenagers and their parents are certainly not uncommon. But to hastily marry just to get away from one’s parents can be like going “from the frying pan into the fire!”
4. “Never marry to punish someone.” Marrying to prove a point, or to spite someone will only lead to a miserable state of affairs. And might I add it can be very costly.
5. “Don’t marry because all your friends are doing it.” When friends and classmates start tying the knot, pressure is felt to do the same. Running off to get married as a neat thing to do may turn out to not be so neat as one may think.
6. “Don’t get married just to cover a mistake.” When a marriage is formed simply out of guilt, fear, or panic, it is off to a very shaky start.
7. “Do not marry solely on the basis of physical attraction.” If a marriage is based on nothing more than physical attraction and sexual desire, it is not founded upon a foundation that will endure.

There is nothing more beautiful than to see two children of God commit to God and each other (Ephesians 5:21). Marriage is not to be taken lightly.

Count the cost before you build….and remember, there is no better foundation to build upon than Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).

As we continue to study leadership here at Miami Gardens, we must teach our children and the single adults about God’s plan for marriage. Whether someone becomes an elder or deacon has become many people’s only reference to marriage. If we look to God’s Word about this sacred institution, we will see that it is not to be taken lightly, but reverently.

Marriage was the first institution, which God established in the beginning for all mankind. Since God is its author, God has given the regulations to govern it. Concerning marriage, Jesus said in Matthew 19:5-6, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So then they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Marriage is a lifelong commitment. Marriage is one man, for one wife, for life.

A proper observance of the principle of “shall be one flesh” will solve most every problem in the marriage relationship. Each will treat their spouse, as they would treat their own flesh. When a man and woman marry the union is spoken of as “what God has joined together.” Marriage is a covenant made with both one’s spouse and with God. What should the husband and wife relationship be? In Ephesians 5:24-25 we read, “Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.” Love causes us to be kind. Love knows no limit to its endurance and no end in its trust.

When two people marry they are bound together by God for as long as the other shall live. As we read in 1 Corinthians 7:39, “A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.” God placed strong protective laws around the home. Also notice that she is to marry only a Christian. Marriage is sacred and holy, because God instituted marriage, not man. In our permissive age, let us hold fast to the sacredness of marriage and the home. Our wedding vows must be “for better, for worse, till death us do part”. The Bible clearly spells out exactly what our Lord expects of us in marriage. Man cannot put marriage asunder except at the risk of his own soul.

Count the cost BEFORE you build…..

The Bible indicates that we were created for the purpose of glorifying our Maker (Isaiah 43:7). The whole purpose of man’s existence is to have reverence for God and obey his commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). We ought to want to honor our Creator and lovingly serve him.

Any person who does not acknowledge this truth lives as a rebel and flaunts the very reason for his existence. How tragic it is, though, that many use their lives in a vain, egotistical fashion. Too many entertain the views of the infidel poet William E. Henley, as expressed in his haughty composition “Invictus”: “…I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.”

A wise person once said: “For we must needs die, and are as water spilt upon the ground, which cannot be gathered up again” (2 Samuel 14:14). Life is a period of preparation for eternity. Abraham recognized that life is but a sojourn that eventually leads to the eternal beyond, and so he cast his eyes toward the city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:9-10). We would be wise ourselves to “walk in the steps of that faith” which characterized Abraham (Romans 4:12).

In the Lord’s parable of the wise and foolish virgins, the key element that separated the two groups was that of preparation. Those prepared were received into the wedding feast; those unprepared were not (Matthew 25:1-13). There is no reincarnation whereby one can return to this planet to “get it right.” There is no purgatory in which one can expiate his sins. There is no baptism-for-the-dead by which the reward of obedience can be transferred.

Now – in this life – is the time for preparation. What is your life?

Are you a faithful steward?

A sincere Christian posed this question: “Why don’t we use instruments of music in our worship?”

Tragically, so many members of the Lord’s church appear to be untaught as to exactly why churches of Christ refrain from instrumental accompaniment in their worship. The simplest, most concise answer is this: It is a matter of authority. There is no authority for the use of a mechanical instrument in Christian worship. We are not concerned with how the ancient pagan worshipped his gods. Nor is the Hebrew method of worship germane, since that system was abrogated by the death of Christ (Romans 7:4; Galatians 3:24-25; Colossians 2:14).

For this age, the crucial question is: How is the Christian authorized to worship? In his letter to the Colossians, Paul wrote: “And whatsoever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (3:17). The expression “word or deed” encompasses two realms – teaching and practice. Our teaching and practice must be “in the name of the Lord.”

The Greek expression en onoma, signifies “in the power of” or “by the authority of” (J.T. Mueller, Wycliffe Dictionary of Theology, 371). Too, the designation “Lord” emphasizes the Savior’s authority (cf. Matthew 28:18) in matters of faith and practice. The child of God must operate only within the bounds of Christ’s authority (see John 4:24; 17:17; 1 Corinthians 4:6 ASV; 2 John 9).

If the auto mechanic is instructed to do a “tune-up,” that does not mean he is authorized to rebuild the transmission. If a physician authorizes a certain medication, the pharmacist is not at liberty to improvise otherwise. The “wheel chair” symbol authorizes a handicapped person to park in a certain place; there are heavy fines for ignoring this authority designation. Each day, in different ways, we are required to respect the limitations of authority.

So it is with worship; we are authorized to sing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). We are not authorized to “play.” It is a matter of authority. Some folks respect the authority of the New Testament; others do not. They yield to the impulse of “will-worship” – the practice of which embraces both that which is “forbidden” and “unbidden” (W.E. Vine, Expository Dictionary). Such disobedience brings only condemnation. This term “will-worship” condemns the use of mechanical instruments in Christian worship. The devout Christian, who wishes to respect the Lord’s authority, will worship in song (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16) – without the encumbrance of mechanical instruments.

Miami Gardens, let us be thankful to have the opportunity to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

Keep the faith!

The wise man in the book of Proverbs admonishes us to “buy the truth, and do not sell it” (Proverbs 23:23). Truth is to be a valuable commodity in our lives — we are to obtain it at all costs and once obtained, never let it slip from our hands. It is the truth that sets us free from the shackles of sin (John 8:32).

If we think that all people value the truth in the same way (even Christians), we will face a harsh reality. If everyone valued the truth, then we should be able to go out and tell people the truth and see them jump at the chance to go wherever it led. However, some people love darkness more than light, because their deeds are evil (John 3:19).

It is a false assumption that all the people claiming to be Christians were really striving to find out what God required of them — I’m talking about people who occupy the pews in buildings where true gospel preaching is heard. A lot of people want “the truth” as long as it does not disturb them or present any challenges in their lives. What about you? Can you honestly say that you love the truth? When it comes to religious matters, do you want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? In this article, I want to examine how people react to the truth.

Some People React With Anger
King Saul was told to utterly destroy the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:3) Saul did most of what God had commanded, but he spared king Agag and the best of the sheep and oxen (1 Samuel 15:8-9). Later, when Saul saw the prophet Samuel walking towards him he said, “Blessed are you of the Lord! I have performed the commandment of the Lord” (1 Samuel 15:13). The truth of the matter is that Saul had not obeyed the voice of God, and Samuel rebuked him for it (1 Samuel 15:14). Saul protested in anger and Samuel told him to be quiet (1 Samuel 15:20-23). Samuel then departed from the presence of Saul, never to see him again in this life (1 Samuel 15:34-35).

Paul preached to a Jewish mob in the city of Jerusalem (Acts 22:1-21). He taught the truth about Jesus, but when he mentioned his own mission to the Gentiles, they got angry. “And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!’ Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air” (Acts 22:22-23).

Some People Attack The Messenger
Ahab, king of Israel, was a very wicked king. He married Jezebel, a woman guilty of murdering God’s own prophets. He worshipped and served Baal, and even built an altar and a temple for Baal in Samaria.

“Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him” (1 Kings 16:33).

The great prophet Elijah proclaimed a drought as punishment for the sins of Ahab — and it lasted three years (1 Kings 17:1; 18:1). One of the most interesting points of the story is the reaction of Ahab when he met Elijah. “Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, ‘Is that you, O troubler of Israel?'” (1 Kings 18:17). Ahab caused the drought in the land of Israel because of his sins, but he blamed the messenger!

John the Baptist lost his life because of his stand on marriage, divorce and remarriage (Matthew 14:1-10). John had informed Herod that he was living in sin because he married Herodias, a woman he had no lawful right to marry. At Herod’s birthday party, he promised the daughter of Herodias that she could have anything she wanted. After being prompted by her mother, she requested the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

The truth is the ONLY thing that can set us free (John 8:32).

What does the truth mean to you?

The Bible speaks of how women are to conduct themselves in worship. In 1 Timothy 2:11-13 we read, “Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve.” God’s word says it is not permitted which means it is forbidden. When we do things that are forbidden by God it is sin. It is sin, which separates man from God and sin will cause people to be lost eternally. In Genesis 3 we see what happened when Eve took the spiritual leadership over her husband and what happened when Adam failed to exercise spiritual leadership over his wife. Because of this Satan was able to introduce sin into the world.

During the worship of the church, women are not permitted by the Lord to preach, lead prayer or lead singing. 1 Corinthians 14:34 says, “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but they are to be submissive.” This does not preclude women from singing in the worship service or teaching children or ladies in the Bible classes. But they are not to take a leading role over man in the worship service. Many people do not approve of what God has done, but this is still God’s business. Who are we to question God?

God intends for women to be subordinate to men in worship. When a woman gets up before the church with men present to teach, preach, lead prayer, or lead singing, she is in violation of what God has commanded. She is perverting the worship of God. As a result of this rebellion, God is not worshipped in spirit and in truth. Worship becomes vain or useless when we follow the desires of men instead of what God has specified (Mark 7:7). For us to ignore what God has said, on this matter or any other, is spiritual anarchy and will result in horrible consequences. God’s word is clear on the spiritual chain of command in 1 Corinthians 11:3.

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.” God did not leave any aspect without a head or seat of authority. I find it interesting (and spiritually disturbing) that we live in a time where women are referred to as bishops in certain religious organizations-THIS IS FALSE DOCTRINE. Case and point, what qualifications does the Bible give regarding a Bishop or Pastor? (I’m glad you asked): 1 Timothy 3:-ff: “This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop must be blameless, the husband of one wife….” A woman is not a man, and certainly not a husband, and therefore, NOT a bishop or Pastor. Men must rise to the occasion and be faithful workers for the Lord.

God put man in the position of leadership, therefore, we MUST lead. Let’s always follow the Bible. Going to Heaven must be our number one priority in this life. God is still looking for a few Good Men.

If you were to die today do you know for certain, without a doubt, that you would go to heaven and be with the Lord forever? Jesus says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Our number one priority in this life must be to go to heaven. Nothing is as important as this. We cannot afford to miss Heaven.

Our Lord tells us in Matthew 7:13-14 that only few people will go to Heaven, but the vast majority will be eternally lost in the burning fires of Hell. This is not a pleasant thought. But all of us will make the choice as to where we will spend eternity. The only way, to even grasp how long eternity will be, is to think that after we have been in Heaven or Hell a billion years, eternity will have just begun.

Our soul is the most precious thing we possess. “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). Our soul is worth more than the whole world put together. If we lose our soul in Hell, we lose it all.

Jesus wants us to pay attention to what He is trying to tell us. He says in Matthew 13:41-43, “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom (the church, that’s us) all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He, who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Our Lord is trying to warn us if we will only listen. He has already paid the awful price for our salvation and He doesn’t want to see it wasted.

For a child of God, sin in our life will keep us out of Heaven. Because of unrepented sins, our name will be taken out of God’s Book of Life. Revelation 22:19 says, “God shall take away his part from the Book of Life and from the holy city.” Has your name been taken out of God’s Book of Life? If it has, then this is a very serious matter. Revelation 20:15, “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” God wants to forgive us. As a Christian, how do we get our name put back into the Book of Life? “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Jesus has promised, “Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of Life” (Revelation 2:10).

If you are not a Christian, how do you get your name into God’s Book of Life, so you can be saved and go to Heaven? Our Lord says in Luke 13:3, “Except you repent you will all likewise perish.” Jesus also says, “Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will confess before My Father who is in Heaven” (Matthew 10:32). Our Lord then tells us, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). If a person misses Heaven, he will only have himself to blame.

Please know that tomorrow is not promised…be saved today!