The Italian Memorandum

“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and
straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on …”

(Philippians 3:13-14)

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January, 2006 Preaching Schedule

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1-1 Winter in Nicopolis (Tit. 3:12-15)
(Decisions, Desires, and Devotion)

1-8 The Romantic Tradition of Gospel Preaching (1 Pet. 1:12,25; 4:6,17)
(Declaring with Passion)

1-15 The Blinding of Elymas (Acts 13:4-12)
(Dealing with the Diabolical)

1-22 Our Majestic Heritage (1 Tim. 1:17; 6:15-16)
(How to Escape Pessimism)

1-28 Wincing in the Wind (Matt. 14:22-32)
(We’re Often Made to Wonder)

May the Lord bless you in 2006! And, may your commitment to Christ
and His church grow ever deeper (Eph. 3:21; Psalm 1:3).

-Robert M. Housby

(Prologue to 2006)

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”

(Romans 12:21)

A major movie box-office this year is, “The Chronicles of Narnia”, by C. S. Lewis. The story tells of four British children, displaced by the war: Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. In the movie, the children engage in a conflict of good and evil. The white witch sends a winter into the land of Narnia. The snow may appear serene, but in its beauty there is great deception.

It is written in Romans 12:21: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” This simple statement expresses what Christians are to do with their lives. It is always germane to being a Christian to “fight the good fight of the faith”(1 Tim. 6:12). The churches of Christ must be commended for their posture against evil. It will not always gain the plaudits of our peers, or be politically-correct, but righteousness must always be right and can never be wrong. Good must take the fight to Evil.

1. Reject any plan of salvation which is a different gospel (Gal. 1:6-9).

2. Take the fight to evil (Eph. 6:10-20).

3. Don’t stop now! Realize that good is always right (Gal. 6:9; 1 Cor, 15:58).

PLAN NOW TO SERVE THE LORD IN THE NEW YEAR WITH ALL
YOUR MIGHT, AS NEVER BEFORE (Ecclesiatstes 9:10; Matt. 22:37-38).

-Robert M. Housby

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…”

(John 16:13)

“Lead me gently home Father, lead me gently home /
In life’s darkest hours, Father, When life’s troubles come /
Keep my feet from wandering, Lest from Thee I’ll roam /
Lest I fall upon the wayside, Lead me gently home.”

(Will L. Thompson, Lead Me Gently Home, Father)

“Guide” is one of the terms used to convey and portray a function of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 16:13). The statement, “…he will guide you,” was made only to the apostles (Jn. 16:1,2,7,4,10,12; Acts 1:21-26; 22:14; 1 Cor. 15:8,9). That is to say, the apostles were to be the primary recipients of “all the truth” (see 1 Cor. 12:28,29). This body of truth would eventually be relayed to all the world as a constant and continuous resource of gospel information.

Ephesians 6:17 indicates that “the sword of the Spirit” is “the word of God.” It is precisely this medium of the word which provides continuity of apostolic doctrine into the 21st century. The apostle John wrote: “We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 Jn. 4:6). The guidance of the Spirit is the guidance of the Lord, because—“ the Lord is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:17).

To be led by the Spirit of God is possible today (Gal. 5:18; Rom. 8:14; Lk. 1:79). And, the Holy Spirit’s presence is always with his truth: gospel guided and gospel given.

-Robert M. Housby

Christianity, from its beginnings, has always prompted thinking people to question whether “these things be so” (Acts 5:24; 7:1, 54; 17:20; 1 Peter 3:15). Now, there is a debate in American society that involves a fundamental Christian doctrine—the origin of the universe (John. 1:1-3; Rev. 4:11). The purpose of the below points are to explain why this debate matters.

Why Does this Debate Matter?

1. The gospel message includes intelligent design (Acts 7:48-50; 14:14- 17; 17:22-29).

2. The gospel provides a model of criticism against the General Theory of Evolution (Romans 1:18-25).
3. Christian worship includes and demands God as Creator/Redeemer (Revelation 4:11).

4. The question of origin is a thoroughly Christian doctrine (Colossians 1:16-17; Rev. 3:14)

5. Christianity is content controversial and formatted for question and answer (Q&A) (1 Peter 3:15; Acts 28:30-31; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

We do not believe that every Christian needs to become a scientist. We do believe, however, that every Christian must confess Christ before men (Matthew 10:32-33; Philippians 2:9-11).

-Robert M. Housby