RE-DEFINING OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS BIBLE STUDIES Christianity is a teaching as well as a doing religion. It is a religion that demands intensive research in order to enhance effectiveness and practicality. Paul knew this, thereby he wrote to Timothy "Study to show thyself approved unto God.." 2Timothy 2:15. HOW IS OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS STUDIES? Our attitude is poor. This is seen in the fact that a number of Christians today do not seat down to intensively reason together. Most of us are unconcern about Bible studies, receiving ourselves that we all are teachers. We most note that teaching is different from giving a piece of advice-sermon. There is no zeal towards studies. We often read about the Berean Christians, who zealously study to know if what they were taught were true. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO STUDY? To take a course or courses on a subject matter. To acquire knowledge on a subject. It is an artwork made in order to practice or demonstrate a subject or technique WHY MUST WE STUDY? To Be Approved unto God and Man That we can rightly and properly handle God's word That we may be qualify to lead His Church as Elders, Deacon, Preachers and teachers 1Timothy 3:2 That we may not be ashamed because of lack of knowledge of what to teach the Church and the Defence to give "whenever we are asked of the reason of our faith in Christ We Must study in Order to Properly Deal with Conflicting Issues that are Killing the Brotherhood We Must Study Because is a Literature and it has principals and rules for its interpretation So That We Will Not Be Arguing the Word of God blindly 2Timothy 2:14 So As to be godly 2Timothy 2:16 HOW SHOULD WE STUDY? Systematically Deductively Most local congregations are crying for proper leadership, and we can never have it unless we bend down and study. Let's redefine our attitude. The field is ripe, but the harvesters are few.

As found on Wikipedia

Churches of Christ are autonomous Christian congregations associated with one another through common beliefs and practices. They seek to base doctrine and practice on the Bible alone in order to be the church described in the New Testament. Churches of Christ teach that God saves and adds to His church those who hear of and believe in Christ, repent of sin, confess Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and are baptized for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:36-47).
Churches of Christ in the United States have heritage in the American Restoration Movement. This evangelistic and Bible-based effort began in various places as several people sought a return to the original teachings and practices of the New Testament. Christian leaders including Robert Sandeman, Abner Jones, Elias Smith, James O'Kelly, Rice Haggard, Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, Walter Scott, and Barton W. Stone were trailblazers of similar movements that impacted the eventual phenomenon known as the American Restoration Movement. This was also similar to Puritan movements in the colonial times of America. It was also similar and somewhat connected to earlier restoration efforts in Europe that were associated with Christians such as John Glas, Robert Haldane, and James Haldane. Several like-minded Christians, although often independent of one another, had declared independence from their various denominations and the traditional creeds, seeking a fresh start to restore the doctrines and practices of the New Testament church. They did not see themselves as establishing a new church, but rather sought "the unification of all Christians in a single body patterned after the original church of the New Testament."^[2]:54 The names "Church of Christ," "Christian Church," and "Disciples of Christ" were adopted by the movement because they believed these terms to be biblical, rather than denominational.
Prior to the U.S. Religious Census of 1906, all congregations associated with the Restoration Movement had been reported together by the Census Bureau. But as the movement developed, tensions grew between those who emphasized unity and those who emphasized restoration, resulting in a division between those who used musical instruments in worship (known as the Christian Church) and those who chose to sing a cappella. The congregations in the a cappella tradition are the subject of this article. While this was the most visible distinction between the two groups, there was also disagreement over the appropriateness of organizational structures above the congregational level such as missionary societies.^[3]
Both issues highlighted differences in the groups' underlying approaches to Biblical interpretation. For the Churches of Christ, practices not present in accounts of New Testament worship were not permissible in the church, and they could find no New Testament documentation of the use of instrumental music in worship. For the Christian Churches, any practice not expressly forbidden could be considered.^{[4]:242–247} Though not officially recognized as distinct movements until 1906, the separation of the Churches of Christ and the Christian Churches had been taking place gradually for decades.
The Restoration Movement was not a purely North American phenomenon, and active mission efforts began in the 18th century.^[5] There are now Churches of Christ in Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, Central America, and Europe.

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BACK TO THE BIBLE

Paul, while instructing Timothy said, "All scripture is given by inspiration if God..." He made clear that this inspired work has great purposes: Is profitable for
1. doctrine
2. Reproof
3. Correction
4. Instruction in righteousness.
So that with all of these, "the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good works" 2Timothy 3:16-17.
Things to note about this God-Inspired Work:
(1) It consists two religions
(2) The Old Testament consists the theology and history of Judaism
(3) The New Testament embodies the theology and history of Christianity
(4) The New Testament replaces the Old Testament.

Christianity has been called a "counterculture," since it often finds itself in opposition to the folkways and mores of established culture and society. Followers of Christ make no apology for this since we follow Him who is responsible for the creation of man and therefore knows the best practice for those He created. John says of Him: "In the beginning was the Word Jesus Christ, before His incarnation as flesh into the world, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him; and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being" - John 1:1-3 My fellow country people, don't we think we should embrace it (Christianity) better by shunning all of the cultural practices that it stands in opposition with? Consider this and be blessed.

Post by NDONGESIT EFFEH

INTRODUCTION