DISCIPLE

Donald L. Norbie (1923-2017) The apostle Paul, in his last letters to Timothy, is deeply concerned that the doctrine which he and the other apostles had taught should be preserved and passed on faithfully. The verse above (2 Tim. 3.10) emphasizes the importance of this. Paul had taught Timothy faithfully. Timothy had listened carefully, watched Paul's life and understood the message. His life had been molded by that doctrine and characterized by obedience. Paul's last plea to Timothy is to maintain the purity of that doctrine: "Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine..." (1 Tim. 4.2-3 NKJV).      There are many lessons to learn from Church history. It is interesting to note how so many movements begin with a strong emphasis on the purity of the Gospel and obedience to the Word of God. The Word of God is emphasized in all of its...

On the occasion of my oldest son’s fourteenth birthday a much beloved friend – now an octogenarian – whose life and testimony in Christ have been a great blessing to our family, sent him a card with the following “teen commandments”: 1. Don’t let your parents down; they brought you up. 2. Choose your companions with care; you tend to become what they are. 3. Be master of your habits or they will master you. 4. Treasure your time; don’t spend it; invest it. 5. Stand for something or you’ll fall for anything. 6. Don’t date around, pray and wait for God’s choice for a mate. 7. See what you can do for others, not what they can do for you. 8. Guard your thoughts; what you think, you are. 9. Don’t fill up on the world’s crumbs; feed your soul on the Living Bread. 10. Give your all to Christ; He gave His all for you. Ross Rainey, “Ministry in Focus”, July-August 1975