OceanSide church of Christ

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THE THEME FOR OCEANSIDE – 2023

Lesson #1

 

Reaching Back & Reaching Out

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     For many years now, OceanSide has begun the New Year with a new theme.

1.       Sometimes the theme ignites us, and we say focused on it.

2.       Sometimes, the theme starts with a bang and ends with a flutter.

3.       Last year’s theme and our commitment to it was one of the best, but it is behind us now.

 

B.      The theme of 2023 is a simple theme:  “Reaching Back, Reaching Out, Reaching In, and Reaching Up.”

1.       Our lessons this morning will be used to set the theme before us from a Biblical perspective.

a.       In this hour, we will look at the first two thoughts:  “Reaching Back and Reaching Out.”

b.      In the second worship service, we will examine the last two thoughts:  “Reaching In and Reaching Up.”

2.       During our Bible Class hour, we will look at a topic that caused the OceanSide congregation to be formed in September 1984.

 

C.     Our title for this lesson is:  “Reaching Back and Reaching Out.”

 

I.                    THE WORD “REACH”

 

A.     As we developed our theme for 2023, we were torn between two words that begin the wording:  “look” and “reach.”

 

B.      The Bible uses both terms in challenging ways:

1.       Look (2 Cor. 4:18)

 

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:  for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

 

2.       Reach (Phil. 3:13-14)

 

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:  but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

C.     We chose the word “reach” because it seems to indicate more effort and activity on our part than does the word “look.”

1.       Looking is not a passive action, but it does not require a lot of energy.

2.       To reach involves looking, but it also requires some energy on the part of the individual.

 

D.     God does not want us passively doing His will.  He wants us energized.  He wants to exercise ourselves in His service.

1.       Romans 12:11

 

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.

2.       1 Corinthians 15:58

 

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

 

II.                 REACHING BACK

 

A.     Reaching back means that we want to keep ourselves tied to the past.

1.       The past gives us a foundation.

2.       The past gives us appreciation for what we have now.

3.       The past gives us some of our purpose.

4.       The past teaches us lessons, both positive and negative.

5.       The past can keep us focused properly on the future.

 

B.      Romans 15:4

 

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

 

C.     There is hardly a book in the New Testament that does not reach back into the Old Testament for teaching and examples.

1.       When teaching about marriage, Jesus took the Pharisees back to the very beginning (Matt. 19:4).

 

And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female.

 

2.       On another occasion, Jesus told His listeners:  “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32).

3.       Paul told the Corinthians that the events of the wilderness wandering were their example (1 Cor. 10:6, 10).

 

Now these things were our examples…Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples:  and they are written for our admonition…

 

4.       Paul told the false teachers who were attempting to bind the Law of Moses on the Gentiles to hear the law (Gal. 4:21).

 

Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

 

D.     From time to time in 2023, we will be reaching back to the past. 

1.       In our Bible Class today we will reach back to a very important subject.

2.       In September, we have brother Sam Long, a former preacher for this congregation, coming to speak at all of the services. 

 

III.              REACHING OUT

 

A.     The church is a divine institution with a divine mission to reach out to the world (Mark 16:15).

 

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

 

B.      The first century church reached out to the world.

1.       Early on, they filled Jerusalem with their doctrine (Acts 5:28).

 

Saying, did not we straitly charge you that ye should not teach in this name?  and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.

 

2.       When Paul taught in the city of Thessalonica, an uproar was created by the Jews.  Their assertion was:  “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also” (Acts 17:6).

3.       And, Paul said the gospel “was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister” (Col. 1:23).

 

C.     In our budget, we will continue to reach out to the works we have supported in the past:  the Florida Prison Ministry, Mt. Dora Children’s Home, Raintree Village Children’s Home.

 

D.     But, we are also going to support three additional works at various months this year.

1.       We will do like we did this year.  We will take all of the funds over the budgeted amount and contribute them to these works.

2.       The works:

a.       February:  Jason Moore, The Four Seas Bible College in Malaysia

b.      June:  The Chimala Mission, Tanzania Africa

c.       October:  Georgia School of Theology, Preacher Training School

 

E.      To reach out effectively, we must:

1.       Be concerned for the lost.

a.        Jesus for Jerusalem (Luke 19:41)

 

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it.

 

b.      Paul for the Jews (Rom. 9:3)

 

For I could wish that myself were accused from Christ for my brethren, my kinsman, according to the flesh.

 

2.       Be informed about the works

a.       At the beginning of each of the months, we will present information on each of the works we will be supporting.

b.      If possible, we might try to get someone from the work to come and speak to us about their efforts.

3.       Be willing to give bountifully (Ex., the Philippians on behalf of Paul, Phil. 4:18).

 

But I have all, and abound, I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     The elders want all of us to put in some effort in serving our Lord this year.

 

B.      We need to reach back and make the past meaningful in our lives.

 

C.     We need to reach out and make our lives meaningful to others.