>> Today we are blessed
with a wonderful gift

from God, the Bible.

This book is God's living word.

In its pages we are told,

"For the Word of God
is living and powerful

and sharper than any
two edged sword."

It is in this book of books

that we find the answers to all
of men's questions and need.

This morning, your area
Churches of Christ welcome you

to a program committed
to that perfect law of Liberty.

[ Choir singing ]

As we present
The Living Word.

Now here is your host,
Ray Sullins.

>> Good morning,
and let me welcome each of you

to our program
on this wondrous Lord's day.

It is always a privilege
to have you with us,

to hear the living Word of God.

And we're excited that you
have chosen to give this time

to your creator

as we offer these sacrifices
before his throne.

I want you to take advantage of
every opportunity this morning

to give your own reverence
to God,

as we together offer this time
of worship before his throne,

and may all things be done
to God,

for God,
and ultimately unto his glory.

As we begin our offering to God
this day,

will you bow with me
before his throne in prayer?

Our God and Father in heaven,

we are so thankful
for this another day of life,

this the Lord's day.

And father, we thank you
that we have the privilege

to gather as those who love you

and to worship you
in spirit and truth.

And father, help us always
to give you the very best.

Father, we also are thankful
for the greatest of all gifts,

the sacrifice of your Son,
Jesus,

and what that means
to each of us,

that we might not only
be found justified today

through his blood,

but ultimately justified
eternally.

And father, we thank you
for the promise of heaven.

And in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

How blessed we are this day
to have the opportunity

also to sing praises to God
in song.

So this morning,

why don't you begin
with a song that reminds us

that God is always calling for
the salvation of all men?

I hope you'll join in with
the congregation at this time

as we sing together
"Zion's Call".

>> ♪ Zion's call sweetly rings ♪

♪ Over land and sea ♪

♪ Bidding us look to realms
above ♪

♪ While the light from the
throne shines for you and me ♪

♪ Let us list to the call of
love ♪

♪ Zion's call is ringing ♪
♪ Zion's call ♪

♪ Coming from the throne
above ♪

♪ In heav'n above ♪

♪ While we hear it ringing ♪
♪ Clearly ringing ♪

♪ Let us heed the call of love ♪

♪ Perfect love ♪

♪ On the road to the goal,
burdens we must bear ♪

♪ But we have help from the
realms above ♪

♪ We receive courage new when we
kneel is pray'r ♪

♪ Let us list to the call of
love ♪

♪ Zion's call is ringing ♪
♪ Zion's call ♪

♪ Coming from the throne
above ♪

♪ In heav'n above ♪

♪ While we hear it ringing ♪
♪ Clearly ringing ♪

♪ Let us heed the call of love ♪

♪ Perfect love ♪

♪ While we tarry below,
there's work to do ♪

♪ And our strength cometh from
above ♪

♪ As we labor and wait we must
all be true ♪

♪ Let us list to the call of
love ♪

♪ Zion's call is ringing ♪
♪ Zion's call ♪

♪ Coming from the throne
above ♪

♪ In heav'n above ♪

♪ While we hear it ringing ♪
♪ Clearly ringing ♪

♪ Let us heed the call of love ♪

♪ Perfect love ♪

>> In Matthew chapter 13,
verse 44, we read,

the kingdom of heaven is like
a treasure hidden in a field

which a man found and hid,

and for joy over it goes
and sells all that he has

and buys the field.

When was the last time
you considered how valuable

and special God's
kingdom truly is?

I love the words of Jesus
that we just read a moment ago,

because they not only tell us

that Jesus was going to build
a kingdom,

but that he did build it.

And furthermore,
according to the scriptures,

we know that it is a precious
and glorious institution.

Let me ask you, first of all,

how many of us would be
willing to die for someone else?

Now let's take it
a step further.

How many of us would be
willing to die for someone

that we don't even like,

or someone who might
be considered an enemy of us?

What about your enemies
who have done you wrong

and have harmed you in some way?

How many of you

would be willing to step on
the chopping block for them?

You see,
the reality is Jesus Christ,

our Savior was willing
to do this very thing

for all of mankind.

Even those who rejected him
and even those who hated him,

they were given the blessed hope
of redemption

as we are through the shedding
of his perfect blood.

But why did he do it?

Because he loves us
and he cares for us.

And he,

as we are
the created individuals

that are made by him
directly,

loved us enough to even
go so far as to become a man

and to give his own life

that we might be redeemed.

He wanted us to be
able to be true followers,

not because we have to,

but because we choose to
and want to.

Are you willing to serve God
and to be one

who has true devotion to the
father today, the father above?

And why not be one who does so?

Because of what we've even seen
earlier in the statement

by Jesus Christ Himself that
the kingdom of God is a very,

very valuable thing,

something that we can be
a part of even today.

But just how valuable
did Jesus say it was?

It is so valuable
that a man actually sold all

that he had to obtain
or to buy it.

How many of us, in like manner,
would be willing to give up,

or to sell all that we have
in order

that we might have the kingdom
of God?

You see, the question
we must consider today?

Just how important is
the kingdom of God to us?

And are we willing
to do whatever it takes,

that we might be translated
out of darkness

and put into this kingdom
of the love of God,

as has been given to us?

As we read in Colossians
chapter one and verse 13.

Are you a part of such a
precious institution made by God

today, purchased by the blood
of His Son?

And are you one today

who is going to live
in such a way

that you'll be found
acceptable in his side,

knowing that in doing so,
you'll not only be blessed now,

but richly blessed eternally?

Give your best to God
this morning.

As far as our discussion
this day,

we are continuing our study
which is entitled by the truth

and sell it not.

Our specific
topic of the day will cover

how do you deal with those
who oppose the truth of God?

So please stay with us and
after our next song together,

we will be led in these
lesson thoughts of the morning.

As far as our guest speaker,

we are happy to again have
Brother Cory Orr

with us this day.

Brother Cory is the minister

for the Bona Church
of Christ in Bona, Missouri.

He's also one of our instructors

at the Bible Institute
of Missouri here in Springfield,

and we always are thankful
when he has joined us,

and we look forward to him
leading our thoughts

from God's Word
after our next song together.

So for now, let's join
in that second hymn of the day,

the name of the song,
"Sing Hallelujah to the Lord".

>> ♪ Sing Hallelujah to the
Lord! ♪

♪ Sing Hallelujah to the
Lord! ♪

♪ Sing Hallelujah to the
Lord! ♪

♪ Sing Hallelujah ♪

♪ Sing hallelujah,
sing hallelujah ♪

♪ Sing Hallelujah to the
Lord! ♪

♪ Sing Hallelujah to
the Lord! ♪

♪ Jesus is risen from the dead ♪

♪ Jesus is risen from the
dead ♪

♪ Jesus is risen from the dead ♪

♪ Jesus is risen ♪

♪ Jesus is risen,
Jesus is risen ♪

♪ Jesus is risen from the dead ♪

♪ Jesus is risen from the
dead ♪

♪ Jesus is living in His
church ♪

♪ Jesus is living in
His church ♪

♪ Jesus is living in His
church ♪

♪ Jesus is living ♪

♪ Jesus is living,
Jesus is living ♪

♪ Jesus is living in His
church ♪

♪ Jesus is living in
His church ♪

♪ Jesus is Lord of heav'n and
earth ♪

♪ Jesus is Lord of heav'n
and earth ♪

♪ Jesus is Lord of heav'n and
earth ♪

♪ Jesus is Lord ♪

♪ Jesus is Lord,
Jesus is Lord ♪

♪ Jesus is Lord of heav'n and
earth ♪

♪ Jesus is Lord of heav'n
and earth ♪

♪ He's coming back to claim His
own ♪

♪ He's coming back to claim
His own ♪

♪ He's coming back to claim His
own ♪

♪ He's coming back ♪

♪ He's coming back,
he's coming back ♪

♪ He's coming back to claim His
own ♪

♪ He's coming back to claim
His own ♪

♪ Sing Hallelujah to the
Lord! ♪

♪ Sing Hallelujah to
the Lord! ♪

♪ Sing Hallelujah to the
Lord! ♪

♪ Sing Hallelujah ♪

♪ Sing hallelujah,
sing hallelujah ♪

♪ Sing Hallelujah to the
Lord! ♪

♪ Sing Hallelujah to
the Lord! ♪

>> Thank you so much
for joining us today

and choosing to tune in and
watch our program with us today.

And I hope that you have
brought your Bibles with you,

perhaps even a piece of paper

and a pencil
to be able to take some notes.

The thing that we are
going to get to look at today

is the Word of God.

And it's exciting
as we get to open His word

and to study from it,

and to be able to help us make
that application to our lives.

The theme that we have going on
right now is to buy the truth

and do not sell it.

We find this in the book
of Proverbs,

and one of the things that
we're going to look at today is,

how do I deal with those
who oppose the truth?

And so in the case of Proverbs,

where we buy the truth
and do not sell it,

one of the things that
we must understand in our life

is that we don't sell out on it,

because God has expectations.

Our text this morning,

if you would like
to please open your Bible,

we will be in Second
Timothy chapter two,

and we will take a look at
Paul's letter to Timothy.

And noticing a responsibility

that we have to those
in the world around us

to make sure that
we are teaching them the truth,

helping to show them what
the truth is.

There was a preacher when
I was a kid who I listened to

and he had this to say,
and I've carried this through

or tried to carry this
through to make sure

that I live this out every day.

He said, you may be the only
Bible that somebody ever reads.

And so what do you want
them to read?

What do you want them
to see in your life?

When they pick up a Bible,

when they look at your life,
what are you showing them?

Are we showing them what
God would have us to show them?

Or are we showing them something
that God would not put up with,

that God would not be okay with?

Here in second Timothy chapter
two,

beginning in verse number 24,

notice here what Paul writes.

He says, "And a servant
of the Lord must not quarrel,

but be gentle to all, able
to teach, patient in humility,

correcting those
who are in opposition.

If God perhaps will grant
them repentance,

so that they may know the truth,

and that they may come
to their senses

and escape the snare
of the devil,

having been taken captive by him
to do his will."

You know, when we think about
the responsibility

that we have as Christians here,

we first look at the fact
that God has a desire.

As Paul writes to Timothy,
a servant of the Lord.

There's the responsibility
that we have,

but we must first also
understand

that God has expectations.

God has a desire.

In fact,
in first Timothy chapter two,

there in verse number four,
Paul writes to Timothy

and he says this, beginning
in verse three,

"For this is good and acceptable
in the sight of God our Savior,

who desires all men to be saved

and to come to the knowledge
of the truth."

God desires all men to be saved.

God desires all men to come
to a knowledge of the truth.

We think about the knowledge
that we have in our lives

and even with
biblical knowledge aside,

take a look at what we know
in the world.

As we are born into this world,

what do we know?

We know nothing.

We are taught.

You see,
Christianity is no different.

Christianity is to be taught.

We are not born
with this perfect knowledge

of what God would have us to do,

but rather we see it.

We are taught it.

We are shown it just
like anything else in our life.

We are taught, we are shown.

And then what are we expected
to do?

Especially think about the job
that you do or the job

that you have,
or maybe that you used to have.

Think about this.

Did you show up day one,

knowing exactly what you
were supposed to do in your job?

Or did somebody have to show
you, somebody taught you?

And then the expectation was,

as you learned,
you put those things

that you learned into practice.

It's no different here,
no different with God.

God expects us to take
the things that we learn,

the things that we are taught,

and to make application to put
them into practice in our lives.

Because as we see here, God
doesn't desire anyone to perish.

What he desires instead
is everyone

to come to a knowledge
of the truth.

If you look with me
at Second Peter chapter three,

notice there
in verse number nine

that there is an expectation
again

that God has, an expectation

that God wants to be followed
through on.

Second Peter chapter
three and verse nine says,

"The Lord is not slack
concerning his promise,

as some count slackness,

but is longsuffering toward us,

not willing
that any should perish,

but that all should come
to repentance."

Again, that's a desire
that God has,

and he is not slack
concerning his promise.

It's that God is longsuffering,
patient,

and he is patient
with endurance.

That's what that says about God
as a characteristic of his.

Why?

Because he desires no one
to perish.

But just like he wanted
all to come to a knowledge

of the truth,

he wants everyone to be able to
repent of that sin in their life

and to have eternal life.

That's what God desires.

And so what happens for those
that say,

well, that's your truth.

It's not mine.
That's your truth.

I want you to think about this.

We've got to have a standard
of truth.

If I were to walk outside, and
the sky on a cloudless day,

is bright
and sunny and blue,

and I told you
that that sky was bright orange,

you would look at me
and say, that's not true.

We know that the sky is blue.

We have a standard
of what that color is.

We can know exactly what
that color is.

And so we can't just
make up things as we go along

and have that be
your truth is that it's blue,

my truth is that it's
bright orange.

That doesn't get to be
our truth.

We have to have a standard.

Here, this is the standard of
truth

to be able to look at
the Word of God.

John chapter 17,
notice in verse number 17,

this is the prayer of Jesus
as he is praying to the father,

John 17 and verse 17,

Jesus says these words,
"Sanctify them by your truth.

Your word is truth."

So we have that standard
of truth

that we are to be following.

Go back to Second
Timothy chapter two.

And we see now the expectation
that we have as those

who are following the truth,
the Word of God.

There's an expectation
that we have for those

who choose not to obey,

or perhaps even do
not want to obey the truth.

They have made a decision
and a choice,

and perhaps even they
have become those in opposition.

They oppose the truth.

They stand in stark contrast
to it.

They choose not to practice
what it has to say.

They have zero desire
to follow what it has to say.

Notice here the responsibility

that God gives to those
willing to follow His Word.

Number one, he says,

we are to be a servant
of the Lord, a servant.

We serve God. This is by choice.

This is a decision that we
have made to be a child of God,

to follow after him,
making sure first

and foremost that he comes
first in our lives.

Sometimes we want just
to be right for the sake

of being right, don't we?

And we try to at times pound

that perhaps down somebody's
throat just to make sure

that we are right.

A lot of times

when we get into a discussion
with others in order

for them to know exactly just
how right we are,

we raise our voice and we try
to shout them down, don't we?

It's not okay.

You see, as Paul writes
to Timothy here, that

we must not quarrel.

We are not out looking for
a fight.

We're not out trying just to be
able to prove that we are right

and somebody else is wrong.
It's not okay.

You know, we didn't ever see
Jesus in his life on this earth

doing that to people.
It wasn't what he chose to do.

Instead, what we saw was
the fact that

Jesus was going to tell them
what the Word of God had to say.

Their responsibility was
to put it into practice.

Ours is no different.

Our responsibility is not to be
out looking for that fight,

to be looking, uh, to stand toe
to toe with somebody.

Instead, we need to
be practicing the truth,

the word of God.

And when we practice that truth,

not only are we not looking for
a fight or a quarrel,

but instead we're looking
to be gentle, to be kind,

to make sure that what
we are doing as a servant

of God's word,
as a servant of the Lord,

is to help others,
to see it and to understand it.

Well, how am I going to do that?

If you back up here
in second Timothy chapter two

to verse number 15,
Paul writes and says,

"Be diligent to show your -- to
present yourself

approved to God, a worker
who does not need to be ashamed,

rightly dividing
or handling the word of truth."

Notice who we show ourself
approved to.

It's not to each other.

We show ourselves approved
unto God.

There's the responsibility
a servant of the Lord has.

As a servant of the Lord,
we are seeking to please God.

We are seeking to be right
with God.

And when we seek to be
right with God,

we're not going to seek
to put others in their place.

We're not going to seek out, uh,
adversity.

We're not going to seek
out these arguments and ways

to make ourselves look
good.

Instead, we are going to seek
out, to be gentle, to be kind,

to be at peace,

to be able to show
and help others understand

and see the truth
of the Word of God

and what God would have
them to do.

I can't do that though,
if I don't know God's Word.

I have got to be diligent,

put forth effort to know
God's Word so that I can show,

so that I can demonstrate,

so that I can teach
others what the Word of God

is, to be kind to them.

Notice next there
in Second Timothy chapter two

and verse 24,
we are to be able to teach,

able to teach means first,

we have got to have
the desire to teach.

We've got to make sure

that we are willing
to show others what it means

to be a child of God,

and what it means to follow
after His Word.

That's the responsibility.

We have to make sure
that we are able to teach.

Meaning, I've got to know

and have an understanding
of the Word of God,

not ready to quarrel.

Instead, we can look at places

like
Second Corinthians chapter ten

and see
that we have a responsibility,

as Paul writes to the church
at Corinth,

beginning in verse number three

of Second Corinthians chapter
ten,

"For though we walk in the
flesh,

we do not war according
to the flesh.

For the weapons of our warfare
are not carnal,

but mighty in God
for pulling down strongholds,

casting down arguments
and everything

that exalts itself
against the knowledge of God,

bringing every thought
into captivity

to the obedience of Christ."

Even our thoughts come
into captivity in Christ.

I don't go into name-calling.

I don't go into treating
people the way

that they would treat me.

Instead, I've got to be
really ready

and willing to teach them.

Those that oppose,

in verse 25, "They stand
against the word of God."

We've got to show them.

A lot of times
it's in ignorance.

Some of the times
it's on purpose.

But we have to be willing,
as children of God,

to demonstrate and show,

to teach what God would have
us to do

and what God would have
them to do to be right with him.

There's the responsibility
of a Christian in humility,

not prideful, not arrogant.

We've got to swallow that pride.

Be diligent about seeking
and saving the lost,

because that's in the --

At the end of the day,

that's all God wants is
for them to go to heaven.

The absolute best for them.

That's what we should want
as well,

to teach and to demonstrate,
to show,

help them to see
the responsibility

that we have not to oppose God,
but to stand for God,

not to do it in a haughty
and upright voice,

but instead meekly,
kindly, and in love.

♪ Someday you'll stand at the
bar on high ♪

♪ Someday your record you'll
see ♪

♪ Someday you'll answer the
question of life ♪

♪ What will your answer be? ♪

♪ What will it be?
What will it be? ♪

♪ Where will you spend your
eternity? ♪

♪ What will it be,
oh, what will it be? ♪

♪ What will your answer be? ♪
♪ What will it be? ♪

♪ Sadly you'll stand if you're
unprepared ♪

♪ Trembling, you'll fall on your
knee ♪

♪ Facing the sentence of life or
of death ♪

♪ What will that sentence be? ♪

♪ What will it be?
What will it be? ♪

♪ Where will you spend your
eternity? ♪

♪ What will it be,
oh, what will it be? ♪

♪ What will your answer be? ♪
♪ What will it be? ♪

♪ Now is the time to prepare, my
friend ♪

♪ Make your soul spotless and
free ♪

♪ Washed in the blood of the
Crucified One ♪

♪ He will your answer be ♪

♪ What will it be?
What will it be? ♪

♪ Where will you spend your
eternity? ♪

♪ What will it be,
oh, what will it be? ♪

♪ What will your answer be? ♪
♪ What will it be? ♪

>> Thank you again for choosing
to be with us this day

and giving this time to God.

I hope our time together
has been an encouragement

and a blessing to us all,

and we invite you back
every Lord's Day morning at 7:30

as we commit ourselves
to this service and offering

before his throne.

But for now,

let me ask if you have
any questions or comments

about today's lesson.

Maybe like a free transcript
or free CD DVD of the program,

or possibly we could assist you

with free Bible correspondence
courses or free Bible materials.

Whatever your need is,

please feel free to contact us
at the following address.

The Living Word, 2540
North Kansas Expressway,

Springfield, Missouri 65803.

Many of these items are
also available on our website,

as well as archived videos
of this program.

These are available
at TheLivingWordProgram.com.

Or, if you prefer,
you may call us at

417-869-2284.

Thanks be to God
for his perfect word,

which guides us in all truth,

so that we may stand strongly
with him in all things.

Therefore, may we always oppose
those who stand against truth,

and make sure that they hear
the truth of God's Word.

And furthermore, let's do so
that others may not be deceived.

The question are you faithful
to your God and His truth today?

>> Our prayer is to help
the world know more about God

through this television program.

The Living Word has
been brought to you

under the oversight
of the elders

of the Kansas Expressway Church
of Christ

in Springfield, Missouri, with
the assistance

of the following area churches
of Christ.

[ Choir singing ]