Welcome

1. Welcome To The Services Of The Dunlap Church of Christ We Are Delighted You Are Here!

2. Welcome To The Services Of The Dunlap Church of Christ Questions? Just Let Us Know!

3. Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 “All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongethhis life in his wickedness. (16) Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?”

4. (17) Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? (18) It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.”

5. Maintaining BALANCE Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 Balance: Avoid Extreme Attitudes Vs. 15 Can’t Solve Every Question, Enigma, & Difficulty Vs. 16 To Claim To Be Capable Of Deciding All Such Matters? That’s An Exaggerated Level of Righteousness Vs. 17 Opposite Extreme: Use Enigmas As Excuse For Willful Sin Vs. 18 True Faith: Focus On Revealed Truth & Duty, Avoid Extremes

6. Don’t Deny The Obvious, Which Is Itself A Condemned Extreme Position!

7. Matthew 7:13-15 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (15) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

8. Maintaining BALANCE Balance or Lack of It in Modern Controversies 1.Many Examples of Apostate Movements • Patterns in Cycles of Apostasy • Unchanging Principles of Truth • Remnant Established In Truth, Resists Apostasy • Growing In Knowledge • Make Judgments In Applying Truth • Recognize Areas Of Personal Conscience, Scruples • Apostasy: Subtle Steps, Corrupt More & More • Compromise: Not Embrace, Not Openly Fight • Overreaction: Bind In Areas Of Growth & Scruples — Press Them To Point Of Division

9. 2. APOSTASY 3. COMPROMISE • PRINCIPLES OF TRUTH Grow in Knowledge Judgments Personal Scruples 4. DANGER OF OVERREACTION: Bind, Press Differences in Growth, Judgments, Scruples To Point of Division

10. Maintaining BALANCE Balance or Lack of It in Modern Controversies Controversies & Divisions 1850-1930 • Overreaction (1900-30): • Daniel Sommer (1850-1940) Factional On No Located Preacher, No Bible College • Sommer: Strong Influence On Carl Ketcherside (1908-89) • Such Issues Not Divide As Matters of Growth, Judgment, & Personal Scruple • Sommer’s Later Years Reflect Phil.1:9-11; 4:5

11. His Family Published American Christian Review — He Asked “Can’t We Agree OnSomething?” “Brethren united on “THE NEW TESTAMENT PLAN” must leave room for individual judgments on such issues. “This…is written in behalf of the thousands who desire to reach that Better Land, and who never will know, and never can understand, ‘the finer points’ in our arguments for and against some things that have disrupted us” (6-21-32).

12. 2. APOSTASY 3. COMPROMISE • PRINCIPLES OF TRUTH Grow in Knowledge Judgments Personal Scruples 4. DANGER OF OVERREACTION: Bind, Press Differences in Growth, Judgments, Scruples To Point of Division

13. Maintaining BALANCE • Danger of Overreaction: Some Bind & Press, But Generally Not to Point of Division • No Bible College • No Foundation to Publish Bible Study Materials • Several Views Contra Typical P.M. Lord’s Supper • No Funerals in Church Building • No Weddings in Church Building • No Church Songbooks For Home Singing • Long-term Issues: Oaths, War, Vote, Veil, Etc. • Such Issues Not Divide As Matters of Growth, Judgment, & Personal Scruple • Discuss Many Years—No Apostate Movement Corrupting More & More • Study Helpful, NOT Charges, Fighting, Factions

14. 2. APOSTASY 3. COMPROMISE • PRINCIPLES OF TRUTH Grow in Knowledge Judgments Personal Scruples 4. DANGER OF OVERREACTION: Bind, Press Differences in Growth, Judgments, Scruples To Point of Division

15. Maintaining BALANCE Balance Or Lack Of It In Modern Controversies Controversy Over Marriage, Fellowship, & Other Issues 1970’s-Present • Another Cycle of Apostasy: • J. Bales, H. Hailey: Deny Christ’s Marriage Law Applies to All • L. Hale: Divorced Fornicator Marry New Mate • O. Hicks: All Divorced People Marry New Mate • D. Billingsley: MMLJ Not Part Of New Covenant • J. Clayton: Deny Creation in Six Literal Days & Universal Flood in Gen. 6-9 • L. Smith: Deny Eternal Punishment • Walling, Shelly, Lucado , Winterfest – Deny The Essential Distinctiveness of Lord’s Church

16. Maintaining BALANCE Balance or Lack of It in Modern Controversies Controversy Over Marriage, Fellowship, & Other Issues 1970’s-Present • Another Cycle of Apostasy • Remnant Established In Truth, Resisting Apostasy • Compromise: “Unity In Diversity” Tolerates Contradictory Teachings & Practices On Important Moral & Doctrinal Questions • Danger of Overreaction: Bind, Areas of Growth, Scruple—Press to Point of Division

17. Maintaining BALANCE Balance or Lack of It in Modern Controversies Controversy Over Marriage, Fellowship, & Other Issues 1988-Present • Danger of Overreaction: Bind Areas of Growth, Scruple—Press To Point Of Division • No Divorce For Any Cause • No Divorce Unless Witnesses To Fornication • Innocent Mate Must Initiate Civil Divorce • Innocent Mate Must Counter-Sue If Guilty Sues • Cannot Reconcile After Divorce For Fornication • Divorced Fornicator Not Remarry After 1st Mate Dies • If Prospective Fornicator Gets Divorce Paper & Then Commits Adultery, Faithful Mate Not Remarry.

18. 2. APOSTASY 3. COMPROMISE • PRINCIPLES OF TRUTH Grow in Knowledge Judgments Personal Scruples 4. DANGER OF OVERREACTION: Bind, Press Differences in Growth, Judgments, Scruples To Point of Division

19. Maintaining BALANCE Phil. 1:9-11; 4:5 Pray As Paul: Spiritual Growth, Maturity, Well-Balanced Attitude • Grow in Love, Knowledge, Discernment • See What Things Are Relatively, Most Important & Put The Emphasis In The Right Place • “Moderation:”Noble Generosity & Gentleness, Forbearance & Fairness, Reasonable & Patient • Not Overreact, Not Thrown Off Balance • Poise, Patience in All Cases • Act in View of Christ

20. This Ought To Be Us!!! Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John 5:39

21. The Simple Plan • HEAR – Rom.10:17; Jno.20:30,31 • BELIEVE – John 8:24; Hebrews 11:6 • REPENT – Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30,31 • CONFESS – Romans 10:10; Acts 8:37 • BE BAPTIZED – Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16 • ADDED TO CHURCH (Acts 2:41,47)

22. The Simple Plan • HEAR – Rom.10:17; Jno.20:30,31 • BELIEVE – John 8:24; Hebrews 11:6 • REPENT – Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30,31 • CONFESS – Romans 10:10; Acts 8:37 • BE BAPTIZED – Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16 • ADDED TO CHURCH (Acts 2:41,47)

23. Are You Wayward? “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” (Acts 8:22) “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)