Worshiping While on Vacation

By Kyle Pope

As you travel from place to place the next time you’re on vacation think about some of the reasons it is important to take the time to find a faithful group of Christians to worship with while you are away.

It encourages other Christians. All over the world Christians struggle with faithfulness, both as individuals and as congregations. Especially in congregations it can offer a real “shot in the arm” to brethren to meet those who love the Lord from other places.

It teaches our children. Taking the time to find a local church to worship with teaches our children who travel with us that while vacations may be fun there is also a place for the Lord in our times of relaxation.

It teaches those who are with us. Often vacations involve time with friends or family who do not share our faith. It can have a strong impact on these we love to see us happily and anxiously set aside our entertainment for a while to focus on spiritual things.

It edifies us. Brethren in other places are doing a great work. They have great insights, energy and zeal. Learning from their strengths and weaknesses can help us better serve the congregation we work with and [in some cases] be more thankful for what we have.

It pleases the Lord. When the Lord instructs us in Hebrews 10:25 “to consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (NKJV), He is talking about the way we should live our lives all year round. We should never adopt a mentality that looks for the “minimum daily requirements,” that fulfill these instructions. While worship on the Lord’s day with the local church where we regularly worship is important, that is not all that Hebrews 10:24,25 addresses. Mid-week studies, gospel meetings in the area, and worship services in other places are all assemblies of God’s people striving to grow. We must remember that fellowship with the Lord means that we have fellowship with His people, whether locally or in other places (1 John 1:1-4). & [Truth Magazine, August 24, 2003, via Topics for Thought, August 31, 2003]

Barnabas, the Exhorter

By Bob Myhan

Because of intense prejudice between Jews and Gentiles in the first century, there was a need for someone who could gain acceptance by both groups, and encourage them to be reconciled to God, through the Gospel. “Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement),” rose to the occasion.

The nickname, “Barnabas,” was evidently given to Joseph because he exhorted others (Acts 4:36). It is, then, no small wonder that he befriended Saul of Tarsus, when no one else seemed to trust this former persecutor of the church (Acts 9:26-28). Neither is it surprising that, when the church in Jerusalem heard of a great number of conversions in Antioch of Syria, “they sent Barnabas,” who “exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose” (Acts 11:19-23). Apparently seeing a need that was greater than he alone could fill—and another opportunity to encourage Saul—he went to Tarsus looking for him. “And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch,” and together they “taught a great many people” (verses 25,26).

Later, Barnabas was chosen by the Holy Spirit to accompany Saul on a missionary journey (Acts 13:1-3). While Paul seems to have done most of the preaching (Acts 14:12), it was probably Barnabas who took the lead on the return trip, as they were “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God’” (Acts 14:22). When Paul and Barnabas discussed a return visit to the areas they had evangelized, they disagreed as to whether to take John Mark (Acts 15:36-38). “So Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus” (Acts 15:39). Perhaps Mark just needed the encouragement of Barnabas in order to rise to his full potential. It is he to whom the second Gospel is attributed.

Barnabas had his weak moments, to be sure (Gal. 2:11-13), but he was still an encouragement to many. Have you ever lacked the courage to do what you knew to be the Lord’s will, at a time when there was no one there to encourage you? Barnabas would have been there for you! Let’s all try to be like Barnabas! &

“Words Fitly Spoken”

By Eddie R. Littrell

The Proverbs, like other books of the Bible, used to be considered a vital part of a young person’s education, but today the abrupt, pithy sayings of this inspired book are generally neglected in favor of newspaper columns giving advice on the age-old problems of the human heart and the conduct of one’s life.

 This ancient book of sage counsel deserves to be better known than it is today, for its warnings, pleadings, and wisdom are as suitable and timely now as in grandfather’s day or any other period in history. Many of the precepts in Proverbs—especially its teachings on self-control, child guidance, and concern for the poor—are particularly appropriate in this unsettled time. In Proverbs, the beauty of certain expressions is carefully noted and praised thusly:

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” (25:11, NKJ)

This passage illustrates the truth that brevity and a fitting figure can produce enduring beauty. Thus, for ages this short couplet has been quoted to show that apt phrasing leaves a deep and pleasing impression. This little commentary on eloquence or force also illustrates a favorite device among the Hebrews: clothing an abstraction in clear, sharp, concrete terms making the idea beautiful through use of appropriate figures. Here gold and silver, the most precious of metals, are fashioned into apples [golden apples, beautiful words] and into a fine network [interlaced silver, the setting for the precious words]. &

Hell: A Word Study

By Bob Myhan

The King James Version of the Bible has much to commend it. Unfortunately, however, it uses the one English word, “hell,” to translate three different Greek words.

The first word is Gehenna, which is used only by Jesus and James and always refers to the final abode of the wicked and impenitent. It is “the fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41). It was apparently named for “a place in the Valley of Hinnom south of Jerusalem where human sacrifice had been offered [Jer. 7:31] and where continuous burning of rubbish made it a fit illustration of the lake of fire” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty).

The second word is Hades (literally, “the unseen”), which refers “to the abode of the dead between death and the resurrection. In it the souls of the wicked are in torment, and those of the righteous enjoy a paradise” (The Fourfold Gospel: or A Harmony of the Four Gospels by J.W. McGarvey). That Hades includes paradise seems obvious by comparing Luke 23:43 and Acts 2:22-31. Paradise seems to be equivalent to “Abraham’s bosom,” which is mentioned only in Luke 16:22. McGarvey observes,

The joys of Paradise were conceived of as those of a feast, and the expression “Abraham's bosom” is taken from the custom of reclining on couches at feasts. As a guest leaned upon his left arm, his neighbor on his left might easily lean upon his bosom. Such a position of respect to the master of the house was one of special honor, and indicated great intimacy (John 1:18; 13:23). What higher honor or joy could the Jew conceive of than such a condition of intimacy and fellowship with Abraham, the great founder of their race?—Matt. 8:11. (The Fourfold Gospel: or A Harmony of the Four Gospels)

The third word is Tartarus, which is used exclusively by Peter (2 Pet. 2:4) and refers to the place of confinement of “the angels who sinned” till “the judgment of the great day” (Jude 6). Tartarus would seem to be the place of torment across the great gulf from Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:22) &