Author: Stan Cox

I remember when playing sports in high school, one of the coaches referred to the fatigue after a workout as being a “good tired.” There was a feeling of accomplishment, and the realization that while the muscles were fatigued, progress had been made.

I must confess after the last month to feeling a “good tired” spiritually. Having preached several gospel meetings, listened to a week of preaching at the feet of brother Jerry Fite, and then attending meetings in Stonewall, LA, and at Woodmont, we then had our quarterly singing last night. So, I am ready to take a breath, and rest for a little while. But, it is a good tired. We have had many opportunities the past several weeks to exercise our spiritual muscles, and I hope that you too have taken advantage!

The apostle Paul once wrote, “But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance” (1 Timothy 4:7-9).

How do you exercise yourself toward godliness? Meetings, Bible study, singing and prayer are all important. However, in the context, the contrast is between godliness and the profane. It is in the application of God’s standard of righteousness that spiritual muscles are strengthened. Think of how silly it would be for someone to read about exercise, and think the reading to be sufficient to build physical muscles. You have to apply the principles by actually doing the work! The same is true with applying the principles from God’s word (cf. James 1:25). Try it, it’s a “good tired!”.

Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

Galatians 3:28, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. All are one in Christ. Colossians 3:10-ff, all Christians should live godly, because Christ is the overriding influence in our lives.

Audio

Luke 17:11-ff. In a village of Samaria, Jesus healed 10 lepers of their disease. The text teaches the importance of expressing thanks for the blessings given by God.

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A lesson discussing the significance of the Lord’s Resurrection. It:

• Proves Jesus is the Son of God
• Validates our Faith
• Assures us of future judgment

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Powerpoint Slides

The following wonderful lessons were preached by Jerry Fite at the West Side church from November 2-7, 2013. There were 9 lessons in all, with sermon audio and PPTX files supplied for each.

Unity in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12)
(Saturday, November 2, 2013)

• A study of 1 Corinthians 12 explaining in the context of spiritual gifts, that the purpose of a unified spiritual body is edification. The Corinthians were to exercise their spiritual gifts to edify all, as they were united in loving care for one another.

Audio

Powerpoint Slides

The New Testament Canon
(Sunday Bible Class, November 3, 2013)

• The lesson discusses the canon of scripture, and how it is obtained. The point is made that the church did not determine what books were conanical. Rather, they acknowledged what all understood to be true.

Audio

Powerpoint Slides

Why Do You Do Good Works? (Ephesians 2:10)
(Sunday AM Worship, November 3, 2013)

• We are to do good works as a second opportunity to truly live. We are alive by the grace of God, and therefore should be zealous for good works.

Audio

Powerpoint Slides

Applying the Minister’s Checklist (1 Timothy 4:15-16)
(Sunday PM Worship, November 3, 2013)

• Paul revealed to Timothy certain things that should be present for him to be effective as an evangelist. In application, brother Fite asks, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every child of God in the local church observed the checklist as well?

Audio

Powerpoint Slides

Hold to the Pattern of Sound Words (2 Timothy 1:13)
(Monday, November 4, 2013)

• In application, brother Fites calls for faithfulness to the gospel pattern in areas such as Music in worship, Benevolence, Evangelism and the plan of Salvation.

Audio

Powerpoint Slides

Must I Forgive? Then How?
(Tuesday, November 5, 2013)

• Jesus indicated in Matthew 6 that we must forgive others if we wish to be forgiven. The lesson examines the obligation to forgive, and what to do if a person is unwilling to ask forgiveness of us.

Audio

Powerpoint Slides

Pay Attention to Your Speech (James 3:1-12)
(Wednesday AM Class, November 6, 2013)

• An expository lesson discussing James 3. Brother Fite calls for us to pay attention to our speech. Our speech should bless, edify, give grace to those who hear, and be full of thanksgiving.

Audio

Powerpoint Slides

A Plan for Raising Children to be Joyous Christians
(Wednesday PM, November 6, 2013)

• How do we raise joyous children? By helping them to know: The Lord is the Creator of all; their Savior from sin; their High priest; and the presenter of the Crown of Eternal Life.

Audio

Powerpoint Slides

Before the Judgment Seat
(Thursday, November 7, 2013)

• When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, some will be surprised. Because they are classed among the wicked; they will be the last rather than the first, they will be lost because they were not abounding in the work of the Lord. Live so that you will not be surprised at the judgment seat of Christ.

Audio

Powerpoint Slides

Sermon by Josh Cox.

Josh discusses the hope that we have as Christians for an eternity in heaven.

Audio

Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

The Christians were called Christians first in Antioch, cf. Acts 11:26. In 1 Peter 4:13, Peter uses the term in the context of suffering for the cause of Christ. We should not be ashamed of wearing the name of the Lord.

Audio

Divorce is common. Though the rate in America has lessened slightly in the last few decades, it is estimated that 40-50 percent of all marriages will end in a divorce.

We are not the only ones that suffer from that scourge. In Jesus’ day it was common for Jewish men to divorce their wives. The Pharisees asked Jesus about it in Matthew 19. Note his answer:

“Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reasona 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” (4-6).

This is God’s pattern for marriage: One MAN, joined to one WOMAN, for LIFE. Those who violate this pattern disobey God. Homosexual marriage is invalidated by Jesus, as is the common practice of divorcing, and remarrying another.

This is borne out by Jesus’ statement in verse 9, “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”

You may note the single exception to the rule. One may divorce and remarry if they divorce for the cause of sexual immorality. (The greek term indicates any type of illicit sexual intercourse). No other reason is acceptable for divorce.

Men commonly violate this pattern. Some couldn’t care less about God’s pattern. Others offer various rationale to explain why it doesn’t apply to them. It does, to all mankind. One man, one woman, for a lifetime. Only one exception. God’s pattern for marriage.

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Colossians 3:12- 4:6. In the latter part of Colossians 3, Paul describes various aspects of the Christian’s character which will impact his life daily.

Audio

Invitation delivered by: Ben Schmidt

When we witness an unexpected death, we realize that life is a vapor. (James 4:14). Since this is so, where are we laying up our treasures?

Audio

It is common for denominations to have a centralized authority structure and organization. The Catholic Church has a supreme authority figure in the Pope. The Mormon looks ultimately to Salt Lake City for direction. Even Southern Baptists have an annual convention, the expressed purpose of which is “…eliciting, combining, and directing the energies of the Baptist denomination of Christians, for the propagation of the gospel, any law, usage, or custom to the contrary notwithstanding” (sbc.net/missionvision.asp).

In this, these and others depart from the New Testament pattern. In scripture, each congregation was responsible for its own benevolence, edification and evangelism. There was no hierarchical structure. Each congregation was autonomous. Outside of the authority of Christ Himself, and the finished work of the apostles, the highest authority found in New Testament churches was the work of oversight, where a plurality of qualified men (cf. 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9) guided, protected and fed the congregation of which they were a part. “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God WHICH IS AMONG YOU, serving as overseers…” (1 Peter 5:1-2a).

The word “autonomy” is commonly defined as self-government. As applied to local congregations, this does not mean that every congregation is free to do as it wishes. Rather, autonomy ensures that no outside agent will compel any congregation to depart from Christ’s will (cf. Matthew 28:18).

Man’s compulsion to centralize authority has always led to apostasy. It is unscriptural – an example of men exalting their wisdom above God’s (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:25).

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Sermon by Armando Vera.

Armando discusses the teenage years, with admonitions and exhortations.

Audio

Sermon by Josh Cox.

In this lesson, Josh indicates the responsibility we have to be receptive to the word of God. Also discussed are certain suggestions on readying ourselves, and concerns that arise regarding inappropriate attitudes and practices concerning God’s word.

Audio

The Bible emphasizes the work of benevolence. To be benevolent to another is an expression of love. Jesus taught in Luke 10 the importance of benevolence by recounting a certain Samaritan’s actions. The man encountered an unfortunate traveler who had been mugged and left for dead. He bandaged his wounds, took care of him, and made provision for further care. Jesus instructs us to “Go and do likewise” (25-37, esp. 37).

James wrote, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (1:27). Though we must not reward indolence (cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:10), Christians are to take advantage of the opportunities we have to relieve suffering or want.

God expects benevolence to be accomplished primarily by individuals. He has limited what the church is collectively to do in the practice of benevolence. In every instance where congregational benevolence is practiced, it is directed to indigent saints, (for example, those hit by famine in Judea, Acts 11:29-30. See also, “the collection FOR THE SAINTS,” 1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

This limitation is clearly affirmed by Paul (1 Timothy 5). Though certain qualified Christian widows were to be cared for by the church, those who had believing children were to be cared for BY THE CHILDREN, “and do not let the church be burdened” (3-16, esp. 16).

The work of benevolence is primarily an individual responsibility. The work of congregational benevolence is limited only to certain needy saints. A failure to recognize and respect this pattern has led to apostasy, division and sin.

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2 Corinthians 12 & 13. A series of admonitions and expressions of love to the church at Corinth, a congregation that greatly vexed the apostle.

Audio