LifeLine is a weekly newsletter from the New Hope church of Christ which is edited and published by Shannon Shaffer.

1. Volume 7 Issue 7 February 28, 2010
“In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.” (John 1:4)
Determining the Will of God
A
s the gospel began to spread from not have to keep the Law of Moses
Jerusalem and was preached to in order to be saved. He related how
Gentiles (Acts 10:24-48, 11:20) God had chosen that by his mouth the
Judaizing Christians from Jerusalem, went Gentiles would hear the gospel and
about teaching that Gentiles could not
believe (15:7). In this passage Peter
be saved unless they were circumcised
and keep the Law of Moses (15:1, 5, 24).
is lumping together a series of events
These false teachers were “troubling” the that ultimately lead him to believe that
Gentiles (15:24) who had put their faith “God shows no partiality. But in every
in Jesus Christ in order to be justified, nation whoever fears Him and works
not in the works of the law (Gal 2:16). righteousness is accepted by Him”
(Act 10:34-35). These events were:
After Paul and Barnabas “had no his vision of the sheet with clean/
small dissension and dispute” with unclean animals (10:9-16), the voice
these false teachers, the church at of the Spirit saying that He had sent
Antioch determined to send them, and men to take him to Cornelius (Act
Please fill out a card certain others, to Jerusalem to resolve 10:19-23), and the fact that Cornelius
located in the seat in why these men were teaching the false had been visited by an angel (10:30-
front of you so we doctrine that Gentiles had to keep 33). As further proof that God makes
can get to know the law of Moses in order to be saved no distinction between circumcised
you by name. (15:2). Jew and uncircumcised Gentile, Peter
In Jerusalem, the apostles, the el- tells reminds the group that God gave
ders came together to discuss whether Cornelius and the other Gentiles the
or not Gentiles had to be circumcised Holy Spirit just has he had done to the
and keep the Law of Moses in order apostles on the Day of Pentecost (Act
to be saved. What is presented for us 15:8-9, 10:44-48, 2:1-4).
in Acts 15:6-21 is text book case on With this evidence, Peter concludes
establishing Bible authority for how we that since Gentiles can be saved
are to make decisions regarding mat- apart from circumcision and the Law
ters of the faith. of Moses then the burden of keep-
ing it should not be forced upon the
Inescapable Conclusions
Gentiles. This was the only conclusion
First, Peter used necessary conclu-
that could be drawn from his experi-
sion to establish that Gentiles did
c o n t i n u e d o n pa g e 2
LifeLine Page 1 January 4, 2009

2. CheCk Your Spiritual heart rate!
c o n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e 1
ence. He then goes on to say that Jews ity of elders. As mentioned above the
who would be saved would be saved Lord’s Supper be taken only on Sunday
in the same manner as the Gentiles, would be an approved example of Acts
“through the grace of the Lord Jesus 20:7.
Christ” (Act 15:11).
Direct Command
Inescapable conclusion is one way to Following Barnabas and Paul, James
establish Bible authority for the things takes what he has heard from Peter
we do as churches and Christians. and the rest and aligns in the direct
Take for example the Lord’s Supper, command of scripture that “the rest
Jesus commanded that the His supper of mankind may seek the Lord, even
would be taken as a remembrance of all the Gentiles who are called by [His]
Him (Mat 26:26-30). But when and name” (Acts 15:17). James quotes
with what? These are all good ques- portions of Amo 9:11-12 as scriptural
Audio tions and can only be answered with commands that Gentiles were be
inescapable conclusion. We take the included in the community of believers
recordings of Lord’s Supper every Sunday because since they are called by God. James
all sermons are that’s the inescapable conclusion from
Acts 20:7. We use unleavened bread
then concluded, based on this com-
mand, that the Gentiles should not be
available. and “fruit of the vine” (grape juice) be- troubled by keeping the Law of Moses,
cause that is what Jesus used when He and that a letter should be sent to the
instituted His supper (Luk 22:14-23). Gentiles explaining that the church in
Jerusalem gave no command for these
Just ask Approved Example things to be taught.
As the discussion in Acts 15 contin-
Clayton Gordon ued, Barnabas and Paul used ap- Direct command is another way of
proved example to show that Gentiles establishing Bible authority. Direct
or Jr. Sullivan for did not have to keep the Law of Moses commands are the simplest way to
in order to be saved (15:12). They establish something as being autho-
a CD or related to the group how God worked rized or not authorized. For example,
cassette! many miracles and wonders through
them while preaching among the
“repent and be baptized” (Act 2:38) is
a straightforward command that all be-
Gentiles. These would have possible lievers are to repent and be baptized.
occurred at Antioch and on their first “Abstain from sexual immorality” (1
missionary journey. Barnabas and Thess. 4:3) is another direct command
Paul were appealing to the example of for the believer to abstain from illicit
God’s blessing among the Gentiles as sexual conduct.
approval that they were accepted by
Him without keeping the Law of Moses. To recap, we must have Bible author-
ity for all that we teach and practice as
Approved Example is another way to churches and Christians. We establish
establish Bible authority for the things that authority the same way the author-
that we do as churches and as Chris- ity, to not subject the Gentiles to the
tians. For example, churches are to Law of Moses, was established in Acts
have a plurality of elders, never a single 15 through: inescapable conclusions,
elder (Tit 1:5 et. al). When referencing approved conclusions, and direct com-
the elders of the local church it is al- mands. &
ways plural. The approved example for
church leadership is to have a plural- -Clay Gentry
LifeLine
LifeLine 2
Page 2 February 28, 2009
January 4, 2009

3. neW hope FamilY neWS
VISIT Our SHuT-InS...
Frankie Howell
Ida Hudgins
Brownie Pruitt
& Annie Knalls
Buddy Harrison remains in Baptist Our HEArTS rEJOICE...
Hospital following his back surgery. ...because Shelby Hafley was
He has had some fever, his oxygen baptized into Christ this past Thursday
level has been down and he is quite evening. Encourage all new Christians.
weak. Pray for him! Please check with Serving
Brenda before visiting to make sure VISITATIOn GrOuP 4...
the previous night they got some rest. ...will meet this evening after our wor- in March...
Buddy has been quite restless. ship service. Group 4 includes:
Oscar Shepard heals from surgery. Roger Davidson
Phyllis Jones as she recovers from Communion
Brian Williams
hip replacement surgery. Lori Davidson
Preparation
Liz Binkley who is having some Kaysie, Luke Glenda Mullens
health issues. Laney & Bobbie Frizzell & Dana Shaffer
Gilbert Anderson with some heart Dina Gordon
issues. He may have a pace maker Jan Hughes
inserted. Calvin Kennedy Organize Meals for Sick:
Roger Davidson’s mother Barbara Sandra Lampley Dana Shaffer
has some health issues. Jean Sullivan
Mr. & Mrs. Starc friends of Marsha Pauline Welch
Hudgins have been hospitalized. Norrie Williams Building Cleaning
in February:
7th - Paulette Green
Week 9 • Hebrews 11 14th - D. Gordon/ T. Shortt
• Hebrews 9 • Hebrews 12 21st - Ross Hudgins
• Hebrews 10 • Hebrews 13 28th - Brad Hudson
Serving in WorShip todaY WedneSdaY
Announce:
Sunday AM Sunday PM Jr. Sullivan
Announcements: Jr. Sullivan Announcements: Jr. Sullivan Reader:
Song Leader: Nathan Varden Curtis Hafley
Song Leader: Jerry McCarty
Scripture:
First Prayer: Cecil Varden First Prayer: TBA 1 John 2:15-17
Reader: Jerry McCarty Reader: Gary Barnes Song Leader:
Scripture: H Scripture: Hebrews 1 Scott Shaffer
Lord’s Table: Curtis Hafley Lord’s Table: Tim Anderson Invitation:
Brian Williams Seth Shaffer Nathan Varden
Tim Anderson Closing Prayer:
Closing Prayer: Cecil Varden
Seth Shaffer Gary Barnes
Closing Prayer: Clayton Gordon
LifeLine Page 3 February 28, 2009

4. editor’S Corner
Judgment Day Excuses That Won’t Work
We can imagine that on “the judgment of Remember, something is not right in God’s
the great day” (Jude 6), there will be many sight just because a lot of people are doing
excuses. Let’s consider some. it.
“But, Lord, what about all of the good “But, Lord, I was always so busy with
that I have done?” This sounds like Mat- work and everything that I didn’t have
thew 7:22: “Many will say to me in that day, time for church.” A more truthful state- evangeliSt & editor
Lord, Lord, have we not . . . done many ment is that one does not make time. Shannon Shaffer
wonderful works?” But what will Jesus say? Jesus warned: “And the cares of this world, Cell: (615) 289-1721
“I never knew you: depart from me, ye that and the deceitfulness of riches, and the Shannon@newhopecoc.com
work iniquity” (7:23). What was their short- lusts of other things entering in, choke the
coming? They failed to do the Father’s will word” (Mark 4:19). Free oFFerS For You!
(7:21). The Lord wants us to be “zealous of “Lord, I am sorry for the way that I • Bible Course by Mail
good works” (Titus 2:14), but all the good lived. If I had a chance to do it again, I • Tracts & Booklets
works in the world cannot cover sin. would do better.” None gets a second • Personal or Small Group
“But, Lord, I was just doing what other chance. “It is appointed unto men once to Bible Studies
folks were doing.” Christ taught that this die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews • Biblical Counseling
course of action leads to destruction: 9:27). Our life on earth is a one-shot deal Schedule of Services:
“Enter ye in at the strait [narrow] gate: for (Titus 2:12). Sunday:
wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that Let us all be certain that we are pre- Bible study for all ages............9:00 AM
leadeth to destruction, and many there pared for that day, so we won’t need any Praise, Prayer & Preaching...10:00 AM
be which go in thereat” (Matthew 7:13). excuses. —Selected & 6:00 PM
Wednesday:
viSit uS online @ WWW . neWhopeCoC . Com Bible study for all ages............7:00 PM
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5. LifeLine
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Buillding Cleaning: 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 - Paulette Green
14 - Gordon & Shortt
21 - Ross Hudgins
28 - Brad Hudson
BD: Austin Hafley
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
BD: Mickey Varden &
Mabry Williams
Page 7
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Daylight Savings Time Ann: Buddy & Brenda
Begins Harrison BD: Kaysie Cummings BD: Marsha Hudgins First Day of Spring
Waterford
2 PM 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
BD: Amanda Gordon BD: Scott Shaffer BD: Angie Varden
April 2010
S M T W T F S
28 29 30 31 Communion Prep:
1 2 3
Mullens & Shaffer
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Meal List: 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
January 4, 2009
Dana Shaffer 25 26 27 28 29 30