The Italian Memorandum

“Will you not tell it today?”

(Jesse Browns Pounds, Will You Not Tell It Today?, 1887)

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord”

(2 Timothy 1:8)

Milton wrote “Lycidas” in 1637. The poem contains an event that would forever change him. Edward King, for whom the poem is about, was Milton’s learned friend who had drowned in his passage from Chester on the Irish Seas. “Lycidas” has been called the high-water mark of English poetry in the form of elegy—the lament and praise for the dead. In. the first portion of the poem, Milton memorializes his dead schoolfellow. Then, in each of the three movements thereafter we find a pagan lament beginning each section, and a Christian triumph. ending these sections. Line 10 reads: “Who would not sing for Lycidas?” John Milton had a Christian heart; a Christian friend; and, now, a Christian sadness coupled with hope.

This English poem calls to mind our own allegiance to the Lord Jesus. The gospel, itself, is both a lament and a triumph. The apostle Paul reminds us regarding the communion—“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). This theme of lament and triumph is also contained in an early Christian hymn of 1 Timothy 3:16: “He was manifested in the flesh, / vindicated by the Spirit, / seen by angels, / proclaimed among the nations, / believed on in the world, / taken up in glory.”

Who would not sing for Jesus? Will you not tell it today?

-Robert M. Housby

“…because he did not give God the glory…”

(Acts of the Apostles 12:23)

Introduction: The events leading up to the death of Herod Agrippa I, as depicted in Acts 12:20-24, comprise a study in glory. Even today, there are still but two choices: personal insurrection or Jesus’ resurrection.

I. Acts 12:20 – glory is always ____________________.

II. Acts 12:21 – glory is about who’s on the __________.

III. Acts 12:22 – glory deserves a ___________________.

IV. Acts 12:23 – glory rightly belongs to _____________.

Conclusion: “Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day / Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away / Change and decay in all around I see / O Thou who changest not, abide with me” (Abide With Me, Alfred Tennyson).

Acts 12:24 suggests that the word of God is primary; Herodian glory transitory. Now, glory demands a response.

Years ago, brother Walter Scott, wrote in his periodical, The Evangelist (1840) [reprinted by College Press, Joplin, Missouri] a series entitled, Cleansing of the Sanctuary. In this series, Scott enumerates the great points of the Plea for Restoration:

1. The Bible Alone.
2. The True Gospel.
3. The Name Christian.
4. The Apostolic Order of the Church
5. The Perfection of Individual Character.

Walter Scott would eventually qualify these main points of restoration (Vol. VIII. Cincinnati, Ohio, December 1, 1840. No. 12) by saying: “It is important in all our attempts at reformation that ends and means be carefully distinguished from each other. In the following schedule of reform the first four elements are means; the last is an end.

1. The Bible
2. The Gospel
3. The Name
4. The Order, and
5. The Perfection of Character

The Bible is our sole authority—neither human creed; church catechism; nor, extra-biblical revelation is above it. The gospel, as revealed in the Bible, is our only plan of salvation. The name, Christian, is the desirable name of all followers of Christ. The New Testament order of worship and procedure in faith and practice (sometimes called the ancient order) is, in fact, the only authorized and approved method of pleasing God today. And, one’s personal and spiritual devotion is required holiness (Matthew 5:48; Hebrews 12:14). -Robert M. Housby

“And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation. So those who received his word were baptized…”

(Acts 2:40,41)

The Book of Acts documents that the early gospel preachers, including the original apostles, consistently offered the gospel invitation—an opportunity to respond to the gospel message (2:40-41; 11:19-21; 17:30-34; 18:8). There were other types of responses to the gospel as well:

1. Restoration (see Acts 8:14-24). Here we see that Simon needed restoration due to his heart not being right before God (8:21). Simon was directed to repent (8:22a) and pray (8:22b) for forgiveness (8:22c).
2. Placed Membership (9:26).
3. Edification (16:5; 20:32-38).
4. Rejection (17:5-6), and,
5. Conversion, of course (18:8).

The Gospel Invitation is based upon the old Jewish heritage where the Man of God calls upon the people to decide in favor of the true and living God (see Jeremiah 10:10): Moses before the Israelites (Ex. 32:26); Joshua before the Promised Land (Josh 24:15); and Ezra before the exiles (Ezra 10:10-11); and, of course, Jesus (Matt. 23:27-39; 11:28-30).

-Robert M. Housby

(from the Gospel of John)

“And many more believed because of his word”

(John 4:41)

Introduction: We feel for those who do not know how to make a living, but pity those who do not know how to make a life.

I. The criterion of a __________ ____________ with God (1:12; 6:29; 3:16-18; 20:30-31).

II. N.T. belief is stronger than the ________________
(6:69).

III. N. T. belief is ______________ determined (1:1-3,14;12:32; 14:1,11).

IV. The _____________ of John 20:29.

Conclusion: Four major components make Christianity different from all other belief systems: (1) Creation (2) Incarnation (3) Crucifixion, and (4) Resurrection (11:25-26; 3:36). R.S.V.P.

“…do not throw your pearls before pigs”

                (Matthew 7:6)

We recently heard about a parrot named George who was missing a leg.  Accordingly, London, Feb 24 (ANI) reports: “A one-legged parrot is perching on a scientific breakthrough, for it is about to be fitted with a wooden leg.  George the parrot, a ten-year-old African Grey, lost a claw after being attacked by a wild animal, which broke into his cage…The birdie’s owner was concerned for him, and so advice was sought from experts at the University of Salford.”  The prosthetic leg procedure went off well.  Unfortunately, as of February 25, we heard on the radio that George had chewed off his new prosthetic leg.

This seemingly anti-cooperative action on George’s part raises questions.  But, for our purpose, we must not allow George’s parrot behavior to coincide with our own human response to the unfortunate incident.  After all, we are not bird brains (for the most part; see Matt. 7:6).  Still, there is a sense of ungratefulness when we as the Lord’s people fail to appreciate what has been done on our behalf.

1.    Ungratefulness surfaces when we fail to return thanks and praise God (see the Cleansing of the Ten Lepers, Luke 17:11-19).

2.    Ungratefulness surfaces when we separate ourselves from the body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12:21-25).

3.  Ungratefulness occurs when the Lord’s Supper is treated as a common meal (1 Corinthians 10:14-22; 11:27).

George would not know how to appreciate the experts at the University of Salford.  But you and I may know.   Will you not give thanks properly to the Lord today?                                                                            -Robert M. Housby

“More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of”

(Alfred Tennyson, The Idylls of the King. The Passing of Arthur, I. 414)

Introduction: Our resource for this lesson is 1 Timothy.

A. Why 1 Timothy?

B. “O man of God” (6:11) –

1. 6:6-10 – Prayer calls for a breakthrough in one’s thinking about _____________.

2. 2:1 – Prayer gives ___________ (proseuchomai).

3. 4:15, 5; 5:5 – The _____________ of prayer

4. Re: These things…

a. Understand these things
b. Practice these things
c. Command these things

Conclusion: “A good man’s prayer is powerful and effective” (James 5:16, REB).