Just a week away
now (January 19-22) is this year’s lectureship hosted by the Florida School of
Preaching in
More important,
however, is that they have published excellent books for the past several
years. I have purchased (and read) all
of them from 1994 through 2003, and they are all worth having and studying. We will devote some space here to citing some
of the highlights from previous years.
We also want to
encourage those who can to take a day off work, if possible, in order to spend
a day there. Take a long weekend and
visit on Monday, or break up the work week and travel there one of the other
days. Another alternative would be to
attend one of the evening sessions, in which you would be able to profit from
two lectures. Those who work second
shift could get to hear three morning lectures.
There is a
schedule on the bulletin board and a few more in the foyer this morning. Look the schedule over and see when might be
the best time for you to attend. As one
who has hosted such events, I can attest to the fact that these brethren work
hard to provide this pro-gram each year.
We are blessed to have this spiritual feast so close at hand. There are other events in the area
periodically, but this one may be depended upon to invite speakers who are
known for their faithfulness to the Word.
Many of their previous books remain in print, and at $16.00 they are a
bargain (most are 500-600 pages).
The year 1994 marked the beginning of
publication for these books, and the topic that year was The Doc-trine of Christ (487 pages). A thorough review cannot be given. Our procedure will be to note some of the
subjects discussed and provide a few quotations, which must of necessity be
few. Oftentimes there are useful charts
which cannot be reproduced here. This
first book began with a chapter on “Christ And His Doc-trine,” followed by
theological sections on the Godhead, the Bible, Truth, authority, the church,
forgiveness, grace, law, miracles, sin, hell, and heaven. Practical material included Biblical teaching
about civil government, the home, the Christian’s influence, righteous-ness,
materialism, and works.
William E. Wardlaw: If man cannot
know anything for sure, then he could not know that he is in a lost condition
and in need of a Savior. Why then should he be concerned with religion at all
(67)?
Brad Poe: It would be a cruel joke
for God to allow His Son to bear the brute force of His wrath on the cross and
endure the punishment that our sins de-serve, and then act nonchalantly about
punishing those who reject that vicarious act on the cross…. If there is no
hell, then the cross was unnecessary (273).
Richard O’Connor: An unfaithful
Christian…is of no profit to God and cannot be restored to his former
effectiveness unless he is willing to turn in repentance back to the righteous
God who gave him his “saltiness” at the outset (346-47).
Terry M. Hightower: When one reads
the history of God’s people, especially in the 1800’s and 1900’s (e.g. Joe Blue
in
1995’s book was Good News That Troubles the World (506 pages). Some of the chapter titles are: “Jesus
Troubled The World,” “The Good News That Troubles The Indifferent,” “The Good News And Our
Re-ward,” “The Good News Troubles Some Women,” “John The Baptist Troubled The
World,” “Paul Troubled The World,” “We Must Not Make Friends With The World,”
“The Good News Troubles Homosexuals,” and “Trouble In The Church Today.” Some quotations are listed below.
V. P. Black: When we become partakers
of the divine nature of Christ, we have an appetite for those things that are
good, pure, and holy (67). How can one
claim to be a partaker of the divine nature of Christ and refuse to be involved
in the work of the church? (68).
David Watson: Many are those in false
religions who are more faithful to their falsehoods than so called Christians
are to Christianity (242).
Dennis Gulledge: Whereas some are
profoundly disturbed at any teaching which would expose their favorite worldly
enticement, there are others who are unshakable in their disinterest and hardly
give a second thought to anything that the preacher might say on matters
related to morality and spirituality (385).
You Have Heard It Said…But The Bible Says!
was the theme for 1996 (542 pages). Some
of the “You Have Heard It Said” titles are: “It Is Arrogant And Divisive To
Claim To Be In the One True Church,” “God Was Once A Man (Mormonism),” “Man Is
Born In Sin,” “Man Is Saved By Faith Only,” “Baptism Is Not Essential To
Salvation,” “Men Can Work Miracles Today,” “Mechanical Instruments of Music In
Worship Is A Matter Of Opinion,” “Adultery Is Getting A Divorce; It Is Not A
Sexual Sin,” “People in the World Are Not Under Law To Christ.” All of these are religious errors that are
examined and refuted in the book. A few
quotes follow.
Robert R. Taylor, Jr.: On
God himself was once as we are now,
and is an exalted man…. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all
eternity. I will refute that idea…. And you have got to learn how to be Gods
yourselves (146-47).
Robert M. Williams, Jr.: There are
many honest people in denominational churches who do not know what their church
teaches, nor why they practice what they do (166).
Terry M. Hightower: Max [Lucado, gws]
was asked why he does not extend the gospel invitation at the Oak Hills church,
and he said that he did not want to run anyone off! (399).
If the Foundations Be
Destroyed, What Can the Righteous Do? (506 pages) came out in 1997. Some of the chapter titles are: “Foundation
Principles For The Home,” “The Church And The Home,” “How May The Church Assist
Dysfunctional Families?” “If The Foundations Be Destroyed, Who Will Care For
The Helpless: Orphan, Aged, Needy?” “Joseph In Potiphar’s House,” “How May We
Know Who Is A Christian?” “Confusion Over The Authority Of Elders,” “Following
Social Fads Rather Than Divine Principles,” “Is The Foundation of Preaching
Being Destroyed?” and “Developing Strong Congregations.” A few quotes follow.
Darrel Davis: Problems are not
inherited in marriage—the problems are in the people who marry. Our concept of
marriage is so unrealistic—too many people spend all their time getting ready
for the wedding and no time getting ready for the marriage (253).
Joseph Worndle: A “member” of the
church once told me that he had been divorced three times. He had felt so
guilty about this until he found an elder-ship that gave him peace of mind by
allowing him to worship with them and even serve the Lord’s Supper (404).
Flavil Nichols: Our secret sins may
be the most dangerous and damnable sins of which we are guilty! The
elders of the church do not know how to admonish and try to save me—for my sins
are “secret” from them! (444-45).
In 1998 the
overall subject was Meeting the Challenging
Tests of Life (558 pages). Some of
the titles are: “Tests In James Chapter One,” “Tests Come To Those In Positions
of Power,” “Tests Come To Employees,” “Tests Faced In Marriage,” “Crisis Forum:
Loss Of A Child, Mate, Or Parent,” “Loss Of Income,” “Loss Of Health And
Aging,” “Tests Confront Us In The Realms Of Truth And Conscience,” “Tests
Unique To The Young,” “Facing The Tests Of Life,” “Tests Faced In Soul
Winning,” “Tests To Grow Spiritually,” and “Tests Faced In Restoring The
Wayward.” Quotes follow.
Billy Lambert: Today the Lord may not
deliver us from the furnace, but he will get in the furnace with you (Ps. 46:1)
(173-74).
Mike Elledge: We even have a term for
people who are trying to justify not spending enough time with their children.
It is called “Quality Time,” and it is just another invention of wishful
thinkers who are hoping that not spending enough time with their children will
not come back to haunt them (231).
Winford Claiborne: The Methodists had
a conference several years ago out in the State of
What Does It Mean To
Be Christian Like Paul? was the title of the 1999 book (698 pages). Some of the
matters relating to Paul are: “Paul Changed Religions, Could You?” “Paul
An Example To Preachers,” “Did Paul Make A Mistake?” “If Brother Paul Visited
Here,” “How Did Paul Handle Church Funds?” “Did Paul Emphasize Doctrine?” “What
Did Paul Teach About The Church?” “What Did Paul Teach About Water Baptism?” “What
Did Paul Teach About The Second Coming Of Christ?” “How Did Paul Reach The
Lost? By Starting Congregations; By Stabilizing Congregations; By Teaching
Congregations To Help One Another,” “How Did Paul Solve Problems?” “Eating In
The
V. P. Black: Many members are trying
to live the Christian life without being crucified with Christ. There is not
any person strong enough, wise enough, smart enough, to live the Christian life
without being crucified with Jesus (66).
Dale Flowers: So if we have the man
power, if we have the brain power, if we have the technical power, if we have
the Gospel power, if we have the financial power, why is it that those who yearn
to go [missionaries, gws] can’t go? Why is it that those who want to hear don’t
have the opportunity to hear? … Could it be we lack the will power? (466).
Jackie M. Stearsman: A challenge: Let
them [the change agents and the university-in-diversity” bunch, gws] go among
the denominational world and unite them, then let them come home and show us
how they did it (571).
The 2000 lectures
posed the question: Do You Understand
Preaching? (691 pages). Some of the
chapters are: “What Does It Mean To Preach Jesus?” “Preachers Need To Study,”
“Jesus The Master Teacher,” “Demas As A Preacher,” “Preacher, Encourage Us!” “Destroying
Influence,” “Why Do You Want To Preach?” “Do We Need A Pastor?” “Restoring The
Erring,” “Is Preaching Out Of Date?” and “Common Misconceptions About The
Scriptural Role Of Preachers.”
V. P. Black: How long has it been
since you have heard your local minister say anything in one of his sermons
that could not be said in any religious body in the city where you live? (29).
Demar
B. J. Clarke: It used to be the case
that when people evaluated a preacher, they did so primarily on the basis of
his knowledge of the Scriptures and his ability to communicate the same (685).
Another vital
topic was treated in 2001: Do You Understand
Leadership? (573 pages). Some of the
chapters are: “Essentials Of Leadership,” “Following A Leader,” “Leadership And
The Future,” “Men’s Business Meetings,” “Preacher-Elders Agreement On What Constitutes
Error,” “Stopping False Teaching,” “How Do We Honor Leaders?” “Do Elders Have
Authority Only In Example?” and “Training Small Children To Behave Properly In
Worship.” Below are some quotations.
Tom Holland: In fact, if there is any
thing worse than the problem of no leadership, it is the problem of the wrong
kind of leadership… (26-27).
B. J. Clarke (repeating what others
have said): …it is better for the church to be Scripturally unorganized than to
be unscripturally organized (404).
B. J. Clarke: Furthermore, if the
decisions of an eldership are required to submit to the wishes of the
congregation, then why have elders make decisions at all? Why not just take a
congregational vote whenever a decision need to be made? If the wishes of the
congregation are going to ultimately decide the matter anyway, why not just cut
out the middle men, the elders, and save time? (419).
Terry M. Hightower: I have heard
about one pastor who would excuse himself from business meetings for a few
minutes so that he could telephone his wife in order to find out how to vote on
certain questions that had arisen! (435-36).
B. C. Carr: It is sad to note that
today we have so many who occupy our pulpits, in the present crisis, who can
only preach on love. They are afraid to be negative. Everything they preach
must be positive. Instead of using the sword of the Spirit, they are waving a
butter paddle. Can you imagine Jonah going to
2002 brought us Do You Understand Worship? (605 pages). All of the acts of worship we engage in
publicly are covered, as well as unauthorized additions, such as the use of
mechanical instruments of music. Others
are: “Is All Service Worship?” “Does God Care How We Dress in Public Worship?”
“Are Wedding and Funeral Services Worship?” and “Lexicons Can Be Wrong.”
Roy Dicks: Lifting up holy hands is a
figure of speech built on the ancient prayer gesture which expresses purity of
heart and motive (222).
Timothy Kidwell: On one occasion,
while attending a luncheon for ministers of the area churches of Christ, a
minister, addressing the group, said, “Don’t preach Scripture stuff! Especially
on Sunday mornings. People do not want to hear it. If they don’t have fun, they
will not come back.” (234).
Brian R. Kenyon: For example, parents who do not regularly
attend church services teach their children that congregational worship and
Bible study are not really that important (580).
Last year’s book (2003) approached another crucial subject: Do You Understand Fellowship? (635
pages). V. P. Black provides 42 pages of
excellent material on the Beatitudes, which alone would be worth the price of
the book, but there is much more: “Is Eating A Common Meal Fellowship?” “Does
Truth Produce Division? (Pr. 28:4)?” “How Do We Encourage Brethren In A
Splintered Fellowship?” “May One Speak On Programs Where Questionable People
Appear?” ”May Forsaking The Assembly Break Fellowship?” “May One Congregation
Withhold Fellowship From Another?” “Should One’s View Of Marriage, Divorce, And
Remarriage Be A Matter Of Fellowship?” and “May Hand Clapping In Worship Be A
Matter Of Fellowship?” A few quotes
appear below.
V. P. Black: To be “poor in spirit”
is to be willing to be where God places us; to bear what he lays upon us; to go
where he bids us; and to do what he commands us (33).
Jimmy Clark: Third, truth is
consistent with its nature. Truth cannot contradict itself and be the truth
(105). Whenever anyone draws a
conclusion that clearly contradicts another Scripture, it is certain that the
conclusion is wrong (106).
Gene E. Stilwell: Here, again, is
where congregational cooperation is necessary. If fellowship is withdrawn, then
there can be no fellowship extend-ed by any member (2 Thes.
Brian R. Kenyon: The truth of the
matter is that there is as much authority in the New Testament for hand
clapping, mechanical instruments of music, and/or the handling of snakes (572).
The 2004 lectureship book will undoubtedly be
as good as all of those reviewed; its title will be: Do You Under-stand The Grace Of God? If anyone is unable to attend but would like
a copy of the book, I will be glad to bring back some copies with me.
*Send comments or questions concerning this article to Gary Summers. Please
refer to this article as: "Whatever the article name from above is (
Return
To Article Index