The Auburn Beacon
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

A Website dedicated to the Restoration of New Testament Christianity
 

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Thoughts To Ponder

And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." ...
(1 Kings 18:21)


University church of Christ

 

Assembly Times

 Sunday

   Bible Classes (9:30)

   AM Worship (10:20)

   PM Worship (6:00 pm)

 Wednesday

   Bible Classes
(7:00 PM)

 

Location

449 North Gay Street

Auburn, AL 36830
Click Here for Specific Directions

 

Elders

Larry Rouse
1174 Terrace Acres Drive
Auburn, AL 36830

Cell:    (334) 734-2133
Home:
(334) 209-9165

Walker Davis
1653 Millbranch Drive,
Auburn, AL 36832

Cell:    (334) 703-0050
Home: (334) 826-3690


Contact Us

 University
church of Christ

449 North Gay Street

Auburn, AL 36830

 

Or directly e-mail us at:
larryrouse@aubeacon.com


A Study of the Local Church
Wed. Night Adult Bible Class by Larry Rouse
Download the outlines:
Lesson1 - Attitudes Towards Open Study and Resolving Differences
Lesson 2 - The Need to Find Bible Authority
Lesson 3 - The Local Church and the Individual Christian
Lesson 4 - The Work of a Local Church
Lesson 5 - The Organization of a Local Church
Lesson 6 - The Fellowship of a Christian

Click Here for Audio and Other Files

 

Click Here to Hear:

A Friendly Discussion on Mormonism

Held at the University church of Christ -
February 17, 2011

 


Following the Footsteps of Jesus
Bible Class by Larry Rouse

Download the current outlines:
Lesson1 - Follow the Footsteps of Jesus in Baptism
Lesson 2 - Follow the Footsteps of Jesus in Praying
Lesson 3 - Follow the Footsteps of Jesus in Teaching
Lesson4 - Follow the Footsteps of Jesus to the Cross

Lesson 5 - Follow the Footsteps of Jesus to Heaven

Click Here for Audio and Other Files
 


Building a Biblical  Faith

College Class

 Click Here for Outlines, Audio and Other Files

 

A Study of Evangelism
(Studies in the Cross of Christ)
College Bible Class by Larry Rouse

 

A Study of the Life of Joseph



Adult Bible Class by Larry Rouse

Click Here for Audio and PowerPoint Files
 

Building a Biblical Home Bible Class Series

Click Here for Audio and PowerPoint Files

 

 

A Godly View of Sin     
 

by Sewell Hall

 

“What happened to sin?" This question, occasionally asked these days, can be answered with another question: "Whatever happened to God?” When people lose sight of God, sin cannot be far behind. 

The World's View Of Sin: -- Worldly people usually have in mind some vague definition of sin. In their view murder is sin because it hurts other people. If you asked the average person to name a sinner, he might well name Saddam Hussein; look how many people he has hurt! On the other hand a psychology professor I knew insisted that sexual relations between two unmarried consenting adults is no more than a handshake if no one gets hurt. 

Some take another step to call things sin if they hurt the one who does them. These days some people think of smoking as sinful because it harms the body. At the same time, drunkenness is winked at as long as one does not harm himself or drive under the influence. 

Things may be thought sinful once they become socially unacceptable; speaking against homosexuality is just about the most heinous sin some people can imagine. Illegal things are considered sinful if one is caught and, if not, they become clever. And, of course, anything that makes you feel bad about yourself is probably a sin for you. 

Notice that all of these involve horizontal relationships. Sin is defined in purely human terms. The only authority acknowledged is human authority. The guilt or innocence of any action is judged by its visible and foreseeable effect on people here and now. God is not in the picture. 

The Godly View: -- As godliness is defined, however, everything is judged in reference to God. The word sin, as used in the Bible, is "missing the mark." Crime is missing the mark set by men: sin is missing the mark set by God (1 Jn. 3:4). Murder is sin, not because it is illegal or because it hurts someone but because God has forbidden it. The mark God has set may be missed by going beyond it (1 Jn 5:17; 2 Jn. 9) of by coming short of it (Jas. 4:17; Rom. 3:23)

The act by which "sin entered into the world" (Rom. 5:12) was an act that few people in our godless age would call sin. In fact, I am asked sometimes, "What do you think that Adam and Eve really did?" Well, what they really did was eat a piece of fruit (Gen. 3:6), and it was sin because God had forbidden it. Whether men see anything wrong in their action is beside the point. 

When God told Abraham to offer his son on an altar (Gen.  22:2), he would have sinned if he had failed to obey. His faith was demonstrated in his willingness to do what God said, regardless of his own human sense of right and wrong. 

Fornication, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, covetousness, drunkenness, and extortion were socially acceptable in Corinth, but the Holy Spirit through Paul insisted that those practicing such things would not "inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Cor. 6:9,10). "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience" (Eph. 5:6)

Even worship can be sin if it is not what God desires (Matt. 7:21-23), and a failure to worship is also sin (Jas. 4:17)

God And Sin: -- Once God is brought into the picture it becomes clear that sin is man's greatest problem. "For the wrath of God is revealed form heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men..." (Rom. 1:18). What man on his own can escape the wrath of God? Since sin is an offense against God, only God can forgive it. And forgiving sin is not easy even for God. It cost Him the life of His Son. 

The just penalty attached to sin by a just God is death; consequently, justice demands that the penalty be paid if sins are to be forgiven. If the sinner paid it he would be forever separated from God. But "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (Jn. 3:16). He allowed His Son to be "cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of My people, to whom the stroke was due" (Isa. 53:8).

Whenever we are tempted to sin, even in ways that the world considers innocent, we should ask with Joseph, "How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" (Gen. 39:9). And when even the world pronounces us guilty, we still must confess to God along with David, "Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight..." (Psa. 51:4)

 

 

 

 

Other Articles by Sewell Hall

Rearing Unselfish Children
Five Smooth Stones of Parenting

Why Do Churches of Christ Differ So Widely?
Is Only One Church Right?
Confusion and Transgression
Dangerous Preaching
Churches -- God-Centered or Man-Centered

 

For Past Auburn Beacons go to:

www.aubeacon.com/Bulletins.htm

 

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The Assembly of the Saints

Adult Bible Class by Larry Rouse
Download the current outlines:
Lesson 1 - How Can We Know What God Wants?
Lesson 2 - What Is a Local church?
Lesson 3 - The Lord's Supper

Lesson 4 - Should Women Speak in the Assembly?
Lesson 5 - What is the Place and Purpose of the Contribution?
Lesson 6 - Misconceptions about the Assembly

 


Studies by David Tant at the University church of Christ

Click Here for Audio and PowerPoint Files

 


How to Study the Bible
College Class

Click Here for Audio and PowerPoint Files

 


You are Invited to Hear
Dee Bowman of Pasadena, Texas

In a Series of Bible Lectures
August 21-24, Sunday - Wednesday
at the University church of Christ in Auburn, AL

 

For More Details Click Here

 


Messianic Prophecies in the Book of Isaiah
Adult Bible Class by Larry Rouse
Sunday Mornings at 9:30
Download the current outlines:
Lesson 1 - The Time and Reign of the Messiah
Lesson 2 - The Servant Songs (Isaiah 42)
Lesson 3 - The Servant Songs (Isaiah 49)
Lesson 4 - The Servant Songs (Isaiah 50)
Lesson 5 - The Servant Songs (Isaiah 52-53)
Lesson 6 - The Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7)

Click Here for Audio and Other Files

 


Sermon Series on the Book of 1 John
by Robert Harkrider

Click Here for Audio and Other Files

 

Hear Mark Broyles on "Marriage as God Designed It"

Click Here for Audio and PowerPoint Files

 

A Study of Religious Beliefs

Wednesday Night College Bible Class

Download the current outlines:
Lesson 1 - Introduction and Approach
Lesson 2 - The Roman Catholic Church
Lesson 3 - An Overview of Islam
Lesson 4 - An Overview of Mormonism
Lesson 5 - An Overview of Pentecostalism
Lesson 6 - An Overview of Calvinism

 


Student Sunday Night Home Study and Singing

 

 

For Additional Information and Past Audio and Outlines Click Here
 

 
 
 
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