Changes are Coming!

Expedient – adjective; serving to promote a desired end; suitable, advisable, or proper under the circumstances.
Expediency – noun; the state or quality of being expedient; fitness or appropriateness under given circumstances.

The word ‘expedient’ is related to the word ‘expedite.’ To expedite something is to speed up a process or aid in accomplishing something. Whenever God gives a command, the expediencies are the matters of choice or option that must be decided to speed up or help us to obey the command.

EXAMPLES:

Command – Go preach the gospel to the whole world.
Expediencies
∙ method of transport (walking, mule back, or jet plane)
∙ where to go first (family, neighbor, community, foreign land, etc.)

Command – teach and admonish with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
Expediencies
∙ which song?
∙ what order of songs?
∙ which pitch?
∙ which pace?

Expediencies are not decided as a matter of what is right or wrong in and of itself; they are decided on the basis of what is helpful or best in accomplishing that which is right or wrong. God has delegated authority to men to decide necessary expediencies.
That authority is to be exercised only in the realm it is given. Who decides what is to be done in matters of expediency? In personal matters – each person. In family matters – man. In congregational matters – elders, or those they designate.

CHANGES

1. Scripture reading – Our elders have decided that at each of our Sunday AM services we will have a scripture reading as part of our worship. This is part of the act of worship we refer to as preaching/teaching. Scriptures which authorize the public reading of scripture are Revelation 1:3 and Colossians 4:16. This reading will take place just before the sermon. It is expedient because it gives men a chance to lead in worship who may not feel comfortable doing other things.

2. Lord’s supper on Sunday evening – Our elders have also decided to ask those who partake of the Lord’s supper on Sunday evening to go down front at the appropriate time and sit on the front pew. This is expedient because in this way we will need only one server, not two. It has been difficult lately to get people to serve in this way, and one server will be easier to get than two.

3. Appropriate dress for worship and for serving in worship – In their concern that we all set the right tone for worship, the right example for our young people, and the right level of respect for our visitors to see, the elders have made suggestions for how we dress for worship, and guidelines for the dress of those who lead in worship. Those guidelines were passed out in class Wednesday. If you did not get them, there are copies on the table in the foyer.

THE RULE OVER US
God demands that we respect our elders. The decisions they make are not arbitrary, not overly burdensome, and we have an obligation to submit to them and support them as they try to lead us in doing God’s will. If you have questions or concerns about any of these changes, it is appropriate for you to go talk to our elders. It is not appropriate to be defiant or to gossip about their decisions among yourselves.
Let us esteem our elders very highly in love for their work’s sake (1 Thess 5:12-13).

Family Bulletin Board

Remember those who have chronic illnesses: Delsie Bishop, Reva Brewer, Ella Brumitt, Eloise Deaton, Jamie Farmer, Francis Ferren, Elizabeth Fowler, Savannah Green, Lola Mae Hamlett, Louise Hunt, and Edith Lechenet.

RUSTY AND LAURA are in Tennessee for a lectureship. They will return on October 25th. Many others are
traveling this week as well. Please keep them all in your prayers.

REMINDER: Daylight Savings Time ends next weekend. Don’t forget to set your clocks one hour earlier so you will be here at the correct time.