DISCIPLE

Donald L. Norbie When a ship comes into port it must be kept from drifting. The tides ebb and flow, causing a ship to drift. A storm may drive a ship onto the beach, causing extensive damage. A ship may moor to a pier and be secure. Or the captain may order the anchor lowered to keep the ship from drifting.     Religions emphasize emotion as an indication of spirituality. Then, leaders will seek to whip up emotion. This may be done through ritual, singing, shouting or meditation. At times repetition of a phrase will work up a crowd’s emotions. Even an Islamic crowd can become intensely emotional, shouting the praises of Allah. A man here once said to me, ‘I love to go to that church to get high on Jesus’. But emotions come and go. It is impossible to sustain a ‘high’ indefinitely.     How can one know that he is right with God? How can one be sure of forgiveness and of God’s commitment to him? A Christian who is relying on his emotions for sat...

continued from Christian Devotedness by Anthony Norris Groves (1795-1853)   WE SHOULD SHARE WITH OTHERS WHATEVER WE RECEIVE IN EXCESS OF OUR PRESENT NEEDS.       Such conduct does not necessarily involve the institution of some common fund. Rather it can be brought about by each individual blending himself with the whole household of faith, feeling their wants, and rejoicing in their welfare, as his own.  This sympathy of the members of the holy family toward each other is strongly enforced and beautifully illustrated by St. Paul: “Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor,  that ye through his poverty might be rich.  I mean not that other men may be eased, and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want, that there may be equality; as it is written, ‘He that gathered much ...

     Recently UK politicians have been grappling with the decision as to whether there should be a second referendum, a ‘people’s vote’, regarding the recently negotiated Brexit deal between the UK and the other twenty-seven members of the EU. The UK Prime Minister and others argued strongly that the people had already spoken in 2016 and a majority had made it clearly known that they wanted to leave the EU. Such are the demands of democracy: the people must have their say!      In John 19.15 we read of a very serious choice that was made by the people who thronged the narrow streets around the Praetorium on the day the Lord Jesus was being tried by the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. Convinced that the ‘prisoner’ before him was completely innocent of every charge made against Him, and therefore totally undeserving of punishment of any kind, let alone death, Pilate attempted to gain a favourable response from the baying mobs...

by Donald Norbie       Today when one thinks of a church he immediately pictures a minister or a priest as the leader. People will ask, "Who is your minister?" or "...pastor?" And many are attracted to a church by the personality of the minister. If a church has problems the minister is blamed and a replacement is scouted.      A minister is a clergyman. The term clergy today, according to Webster, means "men ordained for religious service, as ministers, priests, rabbis, etc." A minister is "authorized to carry out the spiritual functions of a church, usually Protestant, conduct worship, administer sacraments, preach, etc.      For most people church and clergy go together like husband and wife. You cannot have the one without the other. Who will conduct the services, baptize and administer the Lord's Supper if there is no minister?      The question arises: Has this always been true?  ...

by J. Boyd Nicholson Sr. The mind, that citadel of the personality, is under attack! While governments encourage the building of shelters to preserve a percentage of the population from the devastation of atomic warfare; the great enemy of mankind, the devil is already in the process of using a more subtle and terrifying form of destruction. It is slow. It is sinister, and in so many cases, tragically effective. It is for the control of the MIND.     There was a time when it was the body he attacked. The lions, the rack, the stake and the sword all took their toll of faithful saints. Yet the voice of the martyrs’ blood called saints to greater godliness and ready sacrifice.     Now, it’s different. The enemy knows that if he can embattle the mind ‘til it wearies in the fray, he will have reduced a saint to a place of uselessness and discouragement. Doubts and fears will pervade the personality and the impact of a life for God will be well nigh lost....

 He does not lead my year by year, Nor even day by day, But step by step my path unfolds; My Lord directs my way. Tomorrow's plan I do not know; I only know this minute; But He will say, "This is the way; By faith now walk ye in it." And I am glad that it is so. Today's enough to bear; And when tomorrow comes, His grace Shall far exceed its care. What need to worry then, or fret? The God who gave His Son Holds all my moments in His hand, And gives them one by one. author unknown

  by Donald L Norbie      Every man who begins a church has some model in mind. There is an ideal in his thinking that motivates him. Various denominations have different models.     As Paul went into Corinth he had a goal to build a temple for God. He too had a model, a plan, to follow. He later wrote, “According to the grace of God which is given unto me as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereon” (1 Cor. 3:10).     In the 1880's, as the assembly movement took root in Canada and the United States, those pioneering preachers too had a model. They felt very keenly that they must follow the simple plan of the early churches.     What were some characteristics of the model they envisaged? The true Gospel of grace must be preached. Baptism should follow a profession of faith. The local assembly should we...

The religious world as a whole treats church work as a business. Money is solicited; pledges are taken and budgets are made up. Church workers are hired and may be fired. Polls and surveys are taken to discover what the public wants in a church service. Religion is a product to be sold. Success is then measured by how rapidly both building and congregation grow. A megachurch is viewed as the pinnacle of success.     It is all a far cry from the simplicity of the New Testament. Jesus Himself modeled a life of simple faith in His Father. He never asked for money and lived a frugal life of dependence upon His God.. No one could accuse Jesus of greed or covetousness. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (II Cor. 8:9 NKJ). Those who believed in Him and His message opened their hearts and homes to Him and met His needs. What a beautiful life of faith it w...

Not necessarily dollars. It could be pesos, euros, francs, marks, pounds, yen, rands, liras, etc. Any of these may well serve for the glory of God. Think of a young person who determines to please the Lord. 1. God supplies his needs and he gives thanks. God is glorified. 2. He sets aside the surplus and still more, giving sacrificially, what he really needed himself. This reminds God of His Son, who gave Himself as the great Sacrifice. God is pleased. 3. He gives this on Lord's Day, 1 Corinthians 16:2, again God is honored. 4. He prays about the allocation, and obeys the Holy Spirit. God is glorified. 5. The recipient was trusting God for his need. God is glorified. 6. He receives this gift and praises the Lord. God is glorified. 7. He uses it in his work, spreading the Gospel. God is pleased. 8. Souls are saved and blessed, and many will give glory to God. 9. They join in spreading the Good News and so it continues in ever-expanding circles. ...