The Italian Memorandum

“How To Welcome New Members”

“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk,
that by it you may grow up to salvation”

(1 Peter 2:2,ESV)

This article will serve to remind the Cape congregation that as new members come into our fellowship, it is extremely important that every member show the love of Christ to them. Below are some updates and suggestions for each member to understand:

1. Enfolding new Christians is the responsibility of every member:
a. Never let them sit alone.
b. Introduce them to other members.
c. Phone them during the week.
d. Take them to area gospel meetings, camps, ladies’ days, etc.
e. Invite them to lunch.
f. Verbalize your appreciation.
g. Listen to them.

2. Remember the five basic needs of new Christians –
a. Help them to understand that they have been born again into a family.
b. Befriend them that they might belong.
c. Encourage them to learn the Scriptures (Bible Class).
d. They will need to find a ministry for themselves in which to contribute.
e. They will need the watchful care of other Christians (your concern).

Basic Scriptures which support the above recommendations:

1 Cor. 12:12-26; Eph. 4:15,16; Rom. 12:3-21.

The spring campaign continues. Pray for further success. And, may God bless us, as we develop ourselves, by putting others first, and realizing that church leadership awaits the next generation of the faithful to carry on the Lord’s work (1 Cor. 15:58).

-Robert M. Housby

“Thus saith the Lord”

1. The Bible is a firm, fixed point of reference. For example, in Daniel 9:2,
Daniel searchs in “the books” to determine the length of captivity before the
Jews would return to their Jerusalem homeland. Then, hundreds of years later,
the apostle Paul would encourage Timothy to remain firm to “the sacred
writings” (2 Tim. 3:14,15). Today, the Christian has access, not only to the Old
Testament treasury of sacred writings, but also to the New Testament repository
of apostolic letters and gospel accounts (1 Cor. 14:37; Lk. 1:1-4). Truly, the
Psalmist was correct in his appraisal of the Bible: “Forever, O LORD, your word
is firmly fixed in the heavens” (Ps. 119:89). The Bible is a user’s manual for the
will of God via the word of God. The Bible is, therefore, the standard of
religious reference to which all men are directed (2 Tim. 2:3,4).
2. The Bible is a Witness to the Coming of the Christ. For example, in John
5:39 Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you
have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me…” Here we have an
unmistakable association of the Scriptures as a witness to Christ. The Old
Testament said that someone was coming (Matt. 21:9); the New Testament says
that he has come (Jn. 4:26); and the Epistles say that he is coming again (Heb.
9:28). To go back to the Bible is to affirm the coming of the Christ.
3. The Bible Alone Without Human Tradition is the Word of God. It has
been our experience to encounter many who attend some particular
denomination, and who also affirm that they use the Bible. Yet, after an
interview, it becomes rather evident that while these do indeed “use the
Bible,” they use it in conjunction with their church creed or denominational
catechism, or, supposed special revelation. It is therefore subject to the criticism
of Jesus as expressed in Mark 7:13 “…making void the word of God by your
tradition”.
To go back to the Bible, is to return to the Christ of the Bible; the church of the
Bible, and to accept the Bible alone as the Bible. Anything less than this is
explicitly condemned (Deut. 4:2; Gal. 1:6-8; Rev. 22;18,19).

-Robert M. Housby

[Adapted and revised by Robert M. Housby, from a July 12, 2003, America Online: e-mail, PVO KID; Entitled, Close To, Round About, Or Nearby]

One Sunday, a denominational minister gave a sermon on baptism. The sermon was obscured, however, by his attempt to avoid the actual meaning of baptism as immersion, with the substitution of sprinkling. He proceeded by talking about the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. It did not mean “in,” he protested, but rather, “close to, round about, or nearby.” Again, he continued, when the Bible speaks of Philip baptizing the Eunuch in Acts 8, it did not mean “in the water,” but rather, “close to, round about, or nearby.”
After the sermon, a man approached the speaker and declared how great the essage was, and how it had cleared up many mysteries for him. For instance, he said, the story about Jonah getting swallowed by the whale has always othered me. Now, I see that Jonah was not really in the belly of the fish, but, close to, round about, or nearby. Then, there is the story of the three Hebrew oys thrown into the fiery furnace, but were not burned. Now, I see that they ere really not in the furnace, but, close to, round about, or nearby, keeping arm. Then, there is the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. I see that he was not in” the lions’ den, but, close to, round about, or nearby, like at a zoo.
He continued with delight, these explanations have been a great comfort to me, eeing that I’m a wicked man. Now, I am grateful to know that I won’t be in hell, just close to, round about, or nearby. And, next Sunday, I won’t need to be in church, but close to, round about, or nearby. Thank you so much! You have ut my mind at ease.
The reader is urged to consult Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18,19, which plainly states not to add to, nor subtract from the word of God.

-Robert M. Housby

“Very few things matter and nothing matters very much.”

(F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Last Tycoon)

Sometimes we encounter those who have given up, or are considering giving up. But, from this low spiritual condition, man raises a profound question— “What matters anymore?“, or, a kindred question—“Does anything matter anymore?” In the religious reforms of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, othere is redirection from this spiritual malaise:

1. Seeking God Matters (2 Chron. 19:3).
2. Bringing People “Back to the Lord” Matters (2 Chron. 19:4).
3. The “Matters of the Lord” Matter (2 Chron. 19:11).
4. Prayer to “the Lord God” Matters (2 Chron. 20:5-12).
5. The Biblical Philosophy: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” Matters (2 Chron. 20:12).

These reforms matter. So, when the price index of energy goes sky high, and you’re running on empty, and about to give up, give in, or go inward, hear again the reforms of 2 Chronicles 19-20. We reject the secular adage, “Very few things matter and nothing matters very much.” There is a crossroads in Palestine which once-and-for-all time answers the question, “What matters anymore?” You matter–and the cross says that you matter very much (Romans 5:6-11)..

-Robert M. Housby