Church of Christ of Red Oak

10/17/2024

Todos son cordialmente invitados!!!

04/10/2022

04/04/2022

HUGH'S NEWS & VIEWS
A B C
(Part 2)
Last week we saw how the writer of Hebrews rebuked his readers for their failure to grow in knowledge and for their inability to teach others the way of the Lord. “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (Hebrews 5:12, NKJV). As the New English Bible says, “…you need someone to teach you the ABC of God’s oracles over again.” Phillips’ Modern English translation says, “…you need teachers yourselves to repeat to you the ABC of God’s revelation to men.”
In Part 1, we presented a series of thirty questions to test our readers’ Bible knowledge and said that those who knew the answers to those questions knew as much as Elementary and Middle School children in churches of Christ knew about the Bible back in the 1950s, 1960s, and the 1970s as evidenced by their performance in Summer Vacation Bible Schools. In other words, those who passed last week’s quiz know their ABCs!
This week in Part 2 we set forth thirty more Bible questions to see if we have moved beyond “the first principles of the oracles of God” (the “ABCs” of the Christian faith). Check yourself out on these questions and see how you do. Take off three points for each one to which you do not know the answer. You are given ten points to begin with. This is an open book test, so feel free to use your Bible to answer the questions.
1. What sin did Adam and Eve commit in the Garden of Eden and what was the result to the entire human race? What New Testament texts relate to this question?
2. Why was Cain’s offering displeasing to the Lord? What New Testament texts relate to this question?
3. What is the difference between a generic command and a specific command? How does this relate to the building of Noah’s ark, the acts of Christian worship, etc.?
4. What lessons can be drawn from the ark relative to baptism and God’s scheme of redemption through Christ? What New Testament texts relate to this question?
5. What two promises were given to Abraham?
6. How did the children of Israel get into the land of Egypt and why were they put in bo***ge in Egypt?
7. Compare the bo***ge of Israel in Egypt and their ultimate deliverance with man’s bo***ge in sin and his ultimate deliverance.
8. Trace the general history of the Hebrew (Israelite) people from
Abraham to the coming of Christ?
9. Discuss the merits and demerits of the three kings of the United Kingdom of Israel. List in order the names of those three kings.
10. What place did the Old Testament prophets have in Jewish (Hebrew) history?
11. Are the Ten Commandments binding on people today? Explain your answer.
12. Discuss the Jewish system of worship and make any valid comparisons or contrasts with the Christian system of worship.
13. List the authorized acts of Christian worship with at least one supporting scripture text for each act.
14. What is meant by “Messianic prophecies”?
15. Discuss the work of John the Baptist.
16. Why was Christ baptized?
17. What was the purpose of Christ’s temptation?
18. Who were the apostles and what was their mission?
19. What is a parable? Why did Jesus use parables in His teaching?
20. What was the purpose of the miracles of Christ and His apostles?
21. How long does the New Testament teach that those miracles were to last?
22. Why did Christ have to die? Why could God not save man other than by the death of His Son?
23. Why is the resurrection of Christ important?
24. Discuss the instituting, significance, and importance of the Lord’s Supper.
25. Discuss briefly the church in prophecy, preparation, establishment, and entrance requirements.
26. Discuss the action, candidate, and purpose of baptism from the New Testament viewpoint.
27. What are the two essential elements of the New Birth?
28. Trace the cases of conversion in the Book of Acts, showing what was done in each case to receive remission (pardon) of sins.
29. What are the four primary divisions of the New Testament based on the genre of writing employed?
30. What are some of the important texts regarding the divine origin of the New Testament and it being the standard by which all religious doctrine and practice are to be measured.
How did you do? Admittedly, many of the above questions take some time to answer, either verbally or in writing. All of them ought to be studied in Bible classes in the local church. Middle School, High School, and all adult classes ought to spend time digging into God’s word where the above questions are concerned. Character and application are important, but application of what? Without sound doctrine (teaching/knowledge) there can be no sound application or development of true character (Luke 6:46-49; I Timothy 4:13, 16; II Timothy 4:2-4). For far too long, there has been a tragic neglect of a doctrinal emphasis from both the pulpit and in the Bible classes in too many congregations of the Lord. It is time—past time!—when we need to have something serious expected of us in our Bible classes at church. But first there must be some serious private Bible study at home!
Hugh Fulford
April 5, 2022
Speaking Schedule:
April 10: Smyrna Church of Christ, Cookeville, TN (9 & 10 a.m., 6 p.m.)

03/29/2022

HUGH'S NEWS & VIEWS

A B C
(Part 1)

The inspired writer of the Book of Hebrews chided his readers by saying to them, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (Hebrews 5:12, NKJV). Where the standard English translations use “the first principles of the oracles of God” (or some similar phrase), the New English Bible says, “…you need someone to teach you the ABC of God’s oracles over again.” Phillips’ Modern English translation says, “… you need teachers yourselves to repeat to you the ABC of God’s revelation to men.”

The writer’s point is that many of his readers had failed to grow in knowledge and the ability to teach others, in spite of the fact that they had been Christians for many years. Instead of having developed a deep knowledge of God’s word, they were still in a “kindergarten stage” in which they needed to be taught “the ABC of God’s revelation to men”! Sadly, the same is true of many Christians today. They have been members of the church for many years, but their knowledge of God and His word is still quite shallow and superficial. They are able to digest only the “milk” of God’s word and not the “solid food/strong meat” (ASV; KJV) of God’s word.

Consider the following imaginary case. Your first child reaches school age and you are busy getting him ready for his first day of school. What excitement there is around the house! You get him enrolled and started. Nine months later you take stock of what he has learned. You find out that he has learned his ABCs but nothing else. He cannot count. He cannot print. He cannot do anything but say his ABCs.

He starts the second grade and at the end of it he still knows only his ABCs. He still cannot add, subtract, print his name, or do anything except say his ABCs.

This situation continues throughout elementary school, middle school, and high school. He graduates from high school knowing only his ABCs… nothing else!

He then enrolls in the state university to major in education to prepare himself to teach school. Four years later he graduates with a degree in Education, but still knows only his ABCs… absolutely nothing else! By virtue of his training, he should be able to teach others, but he knows nothing but his ABCs.

You say this situation could not and would not happen. No, it does not happen in our secular school system, but what about in the church of our Lord?

The writer of Hebrews said, “For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers…” (ASV). How many have been in the church five, ten, fifteen, twenty or more years, and still know only their ABCs?

If you think I am exaggerating this problem, take the following Bible quiz and see how well you do. It consists of thirty questions (some have two parts). Take off three points for every one you do not know or miss. You are given ten points to begin with.

1. Who was the first man? The first woman?
2. Who built the ark?
3. Name the three sons of Noah.
4. How many people were saved in the ark?
5. Who was called “the father of the faithful”?
6. Who was given a coat of many colors? (Dolly Parton is incorrect)!
7. Who was hidden in a small basket of bulrushes?
8. Who was the brother of Moses?
9. Who took the place of Moses as the leader of Israel?
10. Who was the first king of Israel?
11. Who was the king of Israel who brought the nation to its greatest height?
12. Who was the weeping prophet?
13. Who was the prophet thrown into the lion’s den?
14. What are the two major divisions of the Bible?
15. How many books are there in the Old Testament? Can you name them in order?
16. How many books are there in the New Testament? Can you name them in order?
17. Who was the mother of Jesus? Who was His earthly father?
18. Who was the man who prepared the way for the coming of Christ?
19. Who climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus?
20. Who preached the Sermon on the Mount? (Billy Graham is not the right answer)!
21. Which apostle betrayed Jesus?
22. Which apostle denied Christ?
23. Who was crucified with Jesus?
24. In whose tomb was Jesus buried?
25. Which apostle took the place of Judas?
26. Who was the first Gentile convert?
27. Who was the special apostle to the Gentiles?
28. How many missionary journeys did Paul take as recorded in the Book of Acts?
29. How many were baptized on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2?
30. Who preached on Pentecost?

How did you do? Did you answer all of the questions correctly? If so, congratulations… you did as well as Elementary and Middle School children did in Summer Vacation Bible Schools in churches of Christ in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s! In other words, you know your ABCs!

Next week in Part 2 we will take another test of thirty questions that go beyond the ABCs. Be looking for it.

Hugh Fulford
March 29, 2022