epistles and I have announced well in advance which one I would be covering and have encour aged the people to read it through several times in preparation for the messages. This has proven helpful. Rev. Dennis Kizziar is pastor of Northwest Hills Baptist Church, Corvallis, Oregon.
for such equipment in teacher training and teach ing itself. But we have found a very special use that was o f immeasurable blessing to a particular segment o f our congregation. Using a good, fairly high-priced, video tape recorder, we recorded a special dress-rehearsal o f our Easter cantata, followed by a 15-minute Easter message from the pastor. The audio and video were excellent. The tape was then taken (along with a large-screen receiver) by our laymen to a sched uled route o f our shut-ins and convalescents who are unable to attend the services. They were able, then, to enjoy the music, the full visualization o f the church and the choir, and then, receive a per sonal message from the pastor. Tears o f appre ciation and joy were common receipts. This enabled these people to feel, in a sense, the full participation that they miss. They were all very grateful that the church would go to this extent to make them a part o f the fellowship, and allow them to enjoy this highlight o f the life o f the church. This unique ministry, at special times o f the year, is regularly supplemented by audio tape units (several o f them), with each Sunday’s sermons re corded, and taken to the same schedule o f people. Simple, inexpensive machines are used, left with the person or persons, and picked up several hours later. Thus the person may listen privately, in terrupted as often as necessary, not feeling rushed by the presence o f someone waiting. The cost o f audio tape units is very inexpensive, and i f a video recorder is too costly, one can be rented or borrowed from many sources. Motivated laymen then plan and carry out the ministry. Rev. John MacArthur is pastor of Grace Community Church, Panorama City, California. by Norman Unhurt A little girl assured the visiting pastor that she knew all that was in the family Bible, i When pressed for more details, she replied, “ The Bible contains a picture o f my sister’s boy friend, Mom’s recipe for vanishing cream, a lock o f my hair cut off when I was a baby, and a ticket for Grandpa’s watch.” Many believers have a little better idea o f what is in the Bible, but not much more. While they have a “ hope that is in you” (I Peter 3 :15 ), relatively few o f God’s children are “ ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason o f the hope that is in you” (I Peter 3 :15 ). THE PROBLEM—UNTAUGHT CHRISTIANS Paul’s rebuke to the carnal Corinthians re- F e e d i n g T h e F l o c k
K n o w Y o u r B i b l e
by Kenneth Fischer O NE of th e sweetest sounds to this pastor’s ears is the rustle o f leaves in the Bible as our con gregation, in morning and evening worship, study and search the Scriptures together. Most evangelicals I know hold tenaciously to the inspired Word o f God. We insist on the in fallibility o f the written Word. Challenge its au thority or inspiration and “ Mr. Christian” is ready to fight. Seemingly he would die for it. Here is what is curious. So few are really study ing the Scriptures. Most Christians know little doc trine. Going into the average church on a Sunday morning it has been my experience that less than half the members even bring their Bibles to wor ship. I f you don’t look into the Bible on Sunday, will the other six days be better? Will this enable us to hide God’s Word in our hearts? We have endeavored to encourage our mem bers to be a Bible loving and studying people. While preaching a series o f sermons we have found it helpful to print, in our church bulletin or church newsletter, daily readings which follow closely the subject to be expounded from the pulpit. This way the entire congregation can come alive with ex pectation as to what God will have them learn and understand on the following Lord’s day. One year we read through the Bible together, while the pulpit ministry, morning, evening and Wednesday night covered specific passages o f the weekly read ing. Twelve years o f encouragement has resulted in our people carrying their Bibles to church. We are now working on hiding it in our hearts and obeying it. Rev. Kenneth Fischer is pastor of Magnolia Baptist Church, Anaheim, California.
V i d e o T a p e Y o u r S e r v i c e s
by John MacArthur A mong m an y n ew items, reasonably priced, are i portable audio tape recorders and video tape l units. There is a multiplicity o f possibilities
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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