Forest Park church of Christ

When God chose to reveal His law to the children of Israel He did so by writing them down on tables of stone. Exodus 32:16 says, “Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on the tablets.” He instructed Moses to deliver these engraved tablets to the children of Israel for the purpose of teaching them. But he failed to deliver those stones as God had instructed. He cast them down and broke them when he saw the idolatry of the people. The next time Moses had to provide his own stationary, 2 tables of stone like the first, carry them back up the mountain, where God wrote His commands again (Exodus 34:1-4). This time Moses delivered them as God had instructed Him to do.

Listen to God’s words in Jeremiah 36:2-3. “Take a scroll of a book and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah even to this day. It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the adversities which I purpose to bring upon them, that everyone may turn from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.”

In the New Testament Luke wrote, “Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed” (Luke 1:1-4).

Listen to the reason that John gave for writing his account of the gospel. “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31).

Throughout history God has used engraved stones, scrolls, papyrus and ink, He even used fingers of a man’s hand to write on a plastered wall in the kings palace (Daniel 5:5) to help spread His words, commandments, and His message of salvation to the masses. He understands the power of the printed page to help people come to know Him and to gain a greater understanding of His ways. The Bible itself is testimony to God’s reliance on the printed page to get His message out.

The challenge the elders are laying at your feet this month is to sign up one person in the Bible Correspondence Course. It could be a friend or a neighbor or a relative that you would like to know more about God, Jesus and the church that He purchased with His blood. It would be good if it was someone that you see often and can encourage to continue taking the course.

Several members are presently active in teaching the Bible Correspondence Courses. They are: Alicia Bettis; Carole Ann and Tom Edging; Andrea Garnett; Rosie Graham; Daniel King; Noni Maner; Marilyn and Max Newby; Robin Newby; Anthony Ravenell; Bobby Redd; Gene and Loretta Russell.

One way, of course, is to allow the person to take the course on his or her own. Another way could be that you invite the friend or neighbor over to you home and sit down and each of you do the lessons together, discussing the questions as you go through the lesson. Then set a date each week to continue with the lessons.

The Bible Correspondence Course lessons are a simple, no pressure way of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with those around you. But as with any correspondence there must be the delivery in order for it to accomplish what it was intended to do. Moses “dropped the ball” with the first tables of stone. But God’s message still needed to be delivered. So Moses climbed the mountain again.

God’s message still needs to be delivered today to those people with whom you are coming in contact. Will you drop the ball?