The Italian Memorandum

Two Special Months: Aug. – Sept.

“…and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective…”

(Philemon 6)

Who may participate?
New Testament Christians (Acts 11:26; 19:1-5).

What would I be doing in this “Evangelistic Emphasis” ?
There will be special August and September Tuesday and Thursday night meetings (6:30 p.m. at church bldg.). These meetings will be opportunities to assess where we are with the contacts. It is not necessary that you attend all such meetings to be involved. Depending on your background, some will actually be conducting Bible studies. Others will not be making actual gospel presentations, but will be doing support ministries. Evangelistic Support Ministries (ESM):

E – Enlisting the names of loved ones who need Christ and have yet to make a commitment toward becoming a New Testament Christian.

S – Specific Supplication prayers for this effort.

M – Manage to attend meetings; make recommendations regarding your submitted names; organize our materials; and go with our new-converts into a New Christians Class.

Jesus said, “If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him” (John 12:26).

– Robert M. Housby

“And they will all be taught by God”

(John 6:45)

There are many versions of Christianity in the marketplace today. To most, this is a rather pleasant arrangement, as it allows for a smorgasbord approach to God—take what you want and leave the rest. But, there is a deep problem here. It is the same problem which Isaiah spoke of many years ago:

1. Preferring the word of men above the word of God (Isaiah 29:13).

2. Persevering in a plan that is not God’s plan (Isaiah 30:1).

3. Persistently refusing the Lord’s instruction (Isaiah 30:9).

To be taught by God is not optional (Isaiah 2:1-3; John 6:45;63; Hebrews 8:10-11). Jesus, himself, applied this information to the religious humanists of his day—“…in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men” (Mark 7:7-8).

So, would you be open to new information—information which comes directly from the Bible—without human creed, without human catechism, and without presumptuous human claim of direct revelation (2 Timothy 3:16,17; Galatians 1:6-9)? So, what is your attitude about Bible study?

Are you reachable or unreachable (Isaiah 59:1,2,21)?

-Robert M. Housby

(A Cape Church of Christ Sunday Morning Series in March)

Sunday Morning March 5       “Now is the Favorable Time”
                             (Introduction to 2 Corinthians 6)

Sunday Morning March 12      “Why Is ‘Now’ the Favorable Time’?”
                             (Motivation of 2 Corinthians 6:1-2)

Sunday Morning March 1       “Now is ‘the Favorable Time’ for What?”
                             (Basis for a Redemptive View of Time- 2 Corinthians Ch. 5)

Sunday Morning March 26      This Now-ness and You
                             (Living with a Strong Sense of Contemporaneity)

Sunday  Morning April 2      Lessons Learnt in the Crucible of Time
                             (Bringing Relevance to Reality)

“I’m excited about our evangelistic prospects for the future in the Cape congregation. Now is the favorable time. Does anyone doubt this?

–Robert M. Housby

[Involvement Depends on Interest]

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called …”

(Ephesians 4:1)

There will be little involvement in the Christian faith, if there is but meager interest in the program of the gospel. Greater involvement as service to Christ and his church (Ephesians 3:21) will only happen when Christians are captivated by “the calling.” (Ephesians 4:1). In other words, minimal interest equals minimal involvement.
Ephesians 4:1 speaks of “the calling to which you have been called.” Certainly, the apostle Paul is urging the Ephesians to walk in a worthy manner. Yet, in order to bring this about, Paul knew that he had to get through to the Ephesians. He must break into their thinking (Eph. 4:23). He does this by appealing to the common Christian call— the gospel call (2 Thess. 2:14); the kingdom call; the glory call (1 Thess. 2:12); and, “the upward call” (Phil. 3:14).
If the Christian’s call is not personalized, Christ will only be marginalized, and minimized. Only when there is interest in the gospel, will there be involvement in the gospel. The gospel is captivating enough to both interest and involve you today: “Taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).

-Robert M. Housby

“You are God’s field”

(1 Corinthians 3:9)

What a tremendous thought to envision the Lord our God laboring in a field, and to know that that field is His work among men. The apostle would say to the Corinthian church, “You are God’s field” ( 1 Corinthians 3:9). By extension of this same imagery, we may speak of the planting of the Lord’s church in our own community today.

1. We are standing in the very field and heritage of the early church. This would include the legacy of Paul, Sosthenes, and Apollos, for example (1 Cor. 1:1; 3:6).

2. While our human labor is certainly not of a meritorius kind (1 Cor. 3:7), still, it’ s said to have “wages” (1 Cor. 3:8).

3. Concerning these ” wages,” 1 Corinthians 3:8 relates that ” …each will receive is wages according to his labor.“

4. Notice the unity and camaraderie involved in doing church work: ” …He who plants and he who waters are one” (1 Cor. 3:8).

5. Comprehend, also, that God is interested in church ” growth” ( 1 Cor. 3:7).

6. In fact, God is the supreme giver of church growth (1 Cor. 3:6,7).

Yes, we will come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves. Be assured, God does know of your labors, and he will never forget every little thing you do in his name. You are God’s field! And, may you do with your acre what he expects; nothing more and nothing less.

-Robert M. Housby

“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