Encourager March 19, 2000

A weekly source of encouragement & news from:
Family Bible Church & Biblical Family Soulcare

Sid Galloway, Teaching pastor, N.W.J (Nothing Without Jesus)
church@soulcare.org www.soulcare.org

"[We] bow [our] knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named."
Ephesians 3:14-15

Covenant-Courtship vs. Trial & Error Dating
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Last week we listed a number of crucial questions about courtship. Whether you're a single adult or a parent with children heading toward adulthood, you need to have a Biblical strategy for finding a mate, God's Way. Modern dating was never the way of God's people until this century. It's one of Lucifer's masterful deceptions (Prov 14:12). The process of intimately trying out many different people insufficiently protects from the unnecessary hurt of emotional and sexual fornication, fails to provide the Lord's foundation for a home, and actually prepares people to reject, separate, and divorce. In a minimal effort to change, some folks have merely put the label, "courtship", over the same process of dating, and then proceed to intimately "court" a long series of people.

I've chosen to call God's plan, Covenant-Courtship. It's my effort to highlight our Father's romance principles, which protect, provide, and prepare for His holy, beautiful covenant of marriage (Mat 7:24-27; Eph 5:31-33). Next week we'll look at more of the specifics of Covenant-Courtship. Remember, don't believe me - check the Word diligently.

Discerning Liberalism & Legalism from God's Balance:

As we learned in last week's sermon on Gen 3, (http://www.soulcare.org/Genesis-Devil-Dialogue.html) everyone is tempted to swing to one of the two classic extremes. Our pendulums are rarely resting on God's perfect balance, so we must always reevaluate our beliefs and practices in the light of a careful study of Scripture. I put together a little acrostic to help you apply Scripture in determining which practices you and your family will choose to embrace: © C-A-B (Commanded? Allowed? Best?).

When examining a particular practice, ask three questions:

Is this practice commanded, according to Scripture?
(Ex: Baptism is commanded, homeschooling is not.)

- If it's commanded for New Testament Christians, then we must obey it.

Is this practice allowed, according to Scripture?
(Ex: Movies, youth & singles groups are allowable.)

- Check to see if the Bible prohibits or condemns the practice, or cautions against it in certain circumstances.

Is this practice best, according to Scripture?
(Ex: Parental training & couple mentoring vs. youth & singles groups)

- Many things are good and edifying, but not God's best to accomplish His goals (Holiness for His glory).

Sermons Online - The Bible: One Bite at a Time www.soulcare.org/articles.htm

Sunday's Message =
Denying Death:
Hope that Disappoints

Men, prepare for Worship:
Thanks again, for your participation, which models God's own male authority.

"Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak;
but they are to be submissive, as the law also says". (1 Cor 14:34-35)

Expositor's Commentary (Vol 10, p. 276)-
"The command seems absolute: Women are not to do any public speaking in the church."

MacArthur's Commentary (p. 392) -
"Paul was emphasizing the fact that the principle . . . was not local, geographical, or cultural, but universal. . . . ."
(p. 393) - "There are times in informal ... Bible studies where it is entirely proper for men and women to share equally . . . . But when the church comes together as a body to worship God, His standards are clear: the role of leadership is reserved for men."

Spirit-led worship can and should be flexibly ordered -
Praise (10:00-10:20), Prayer (10:20-10:40), Lord's Supper (10:40-11:00)

Guidelines: As the Lord leads, bring a praise report, suggest a song or hymn, read a Scripture, pray, etc..
Keep your inputs few & brief so the other men can participate.
* Keep your children reasonably quite & still, and remove them for effective discipline when they will not.

- Church meetings in March will be at the Stahl's house. Thanks Craig and Lanae!

- Sunday Afternoon's Practical Study: "Peacemaker", by Ken Sande (www.HisPeace.org)

- Men's Meeting - March 25 Saturday Morning 9 AM

- Pray Submissively - Work Diligently - Love Always

- Biblical Discipleship Counseling: (BDC 101 - The Principles) March to August

Thanks!! Your brother and fellow servant of the Lord,

Sid Galloway, N.W.J. (Nothing Without Jesus)