OceanSide church of Christ

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ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY at OCEANSIDE

 

Foundations of the OceanSide church of Christ

9-26-21

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Very few in this audience were at the first service of the OceanSide church of Christ on September 30, 1984.

 

B.      We have merely been the beneficiaries of those who loved and stood for the truth in the Beaches’ community.

 

C.     Each year on the last Sunday of September, we have our Anniversary Sunday.  Today marks our 37th year in existence as a congregation of the Lord’s people. 

 

D.    Today, we want to celebrate this day with a lesson entitled:  “Foundations of the OceanSide church of Christ.”  During the course of this lesson, you will hear about some of the history of OceanSide from our two elders:  Bill Horne and Larry Paulk.

 

I.                   FOUNDATION #1:  Sound Doctrine

 

A.    Words like “doctrine” and “dogma” have an evil connotation in the minds of some individuals. 

 

B.      In the Bible, these words are not evil.   They simply mean “teaching.”

 

C.     The Scriptures exhort us to be sound in doctrine.

1.      II Timothy 1:13

 

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

 

2.      Titus 2:1

 

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.

 

D.    The New Testament also commands us to be opposed to doctrines that oppose the doctrine of Christ (I Tim. 1:3, see also I Tim. 6:3-4).

 

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightiest charge some that they teach no other doctrine.

 

E.      It was this mindset that caused OceanSide to be established.  Those who formed this congregation:

1.      Loved the truth.

2.      Wanted the truth preached.

3.      Wanted the truth practiced.

4.      And, were willing to defend the truth.

 

 

 

II.                FOUNDATION #2:  Qualified and Capable Leadership

 

A.    In any organization, there must be qualified and capable leadership at the helm.

1.      These men have vision.

2.      These men know how to make decisions.

3.      These men know how to solve problems.

4.      These men know how to communicate.

5.      These men know how to inspire others.

6.      These men possess many positive traits such as faith, courage, patience, compassion, steadfastness, and integrity.

 

B.      One of the greatest leaders in the Bible in my mind was Moses.

1.      He was trained in the courts of Pharaoh and in the wilderness of the shepherd.

2.      He was called out of obscurity to lead a nation of people to the Promised Land.

3.      His speech was not perfect, but he was bold as a lion.

4.      He took every challenge that came his way and overcame.

5.      He brought the children of Israel to the shores of the Jordan River.

 

C.     Two passages give us some wonderful insight into this successful leader of Israel.

1.      Deuteronomy 34:10

 

And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.

 

2.      Hebrews 3:5

 

And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after.

 

D.    OceanSide has been blessed with several men who were leaders.  One of our elders will now provide us with some information about some of these individuals.

 

III.             FOUNDATION #3:  The Providence of God

 

A.    In the religious world, there are many people who are fascinated by miracles.

 

B.      It is true that miracles were extremely fascinating happenings.  But, there is another power of God that is greater than miraculous intervention.  It is God’s providence.

1.      The word “providence” has as its root word, the term “provide.”  This is what providence involves, God’s providing for His people.

2.      As we study providence, two things are interesting.

a.      God does not work a miracle to bring Hs will to pass.

b.      God uses man’s free moral agency to bring His will to pass.

 

C.     One of the most intriguing examples of God’s providence is when God brought Saul to Samuel to be anointed as king over Israel (I Sam. 9-10).

1.      Saul’s father had lost his donkeys.

2.      Saul and one servant searched but could find them.

3.      When Saul wanted to call off the search, this servant knew where Samuel, the prophet of God was.

4.      When Saul did not have a gift to give the prophet, this servant had a fourth part of a shekel of silver to give him.

5.      When they arrived in the city, they asked a man where the prophet was.  Interestingly, the man they asked was the prophet himself.

6.      Samuel eventually took Saul into his house and anointed him the next day to be the first king of Israel.

7.      The prophet also assured Saul that his father’s donkeys had been found and were fine.

8.      NOTE:  When I hear of stories like this, I am reminded of the words:  “It just so happened…”

 

D.    In the history of the OceanSide congregation, there were some “It just so happened…” moments that our elders can describe to us.  Let’s listen to a couple of these stories.

 

IV.             FOUNDATION #4:  Fellowship, the Assistance of Other Congregations

 

A.    In the New Testament, we often read of one or more congregations assisting other congregations in their work.

 

B.      Example: 

1.      In Acts 11, we find Barnabas and Saul had joined themselves with the church in Antioch (Acts 11:26b).

 

…And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people…

 

2.      In verses 27, 28, we learn that prophets from Jerusalem came to Antioch.  One of those prophets named Agabus prophesied “that there should be a great dearth throughout the world:  which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cesar.”

 

3.      The church at Antioch immediately “…determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea:  which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul” (Acts 11:29-30).

 

C.     The OceanSide church had the assistance of several sister congregations in her early years.  Larry and Bill will now inform us of some of the assistance that was received in those early days.

 

V.                FOUNDATION #5:  Good Works

 

A.    Local congregations have been designed with two main purposes in mind:  to preach the gospel in the area wherein they are located and to do good works which bring glory to the Father’s name.

1.      Titus had been left on the isle of Crete to make certain that the churches that were established there functioned properly.  In Titus 3:8, Paul gave this instruction to the young evangelist.

 

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.  These things are good and profitable unto men.

 

2.      The writer of Hebrews exhorts us with these words in Hebrews 10:24.

 

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.

 

B.      Since it was established, the OceanSide congregation has sought to do many good works.  Our elders are going to tell us about some of the good works this church has engaged in throughout the years.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    We have looked at five of the “foundations” of the OceanSide church of Christ.

1.      Sound Doctrine

2.      Qualified and Capable Leadership

3.      The Providence of God

4.      Fellowship from Sister Congregations

5.      Good Works

 

B.      There is one other foundational element that we have not discussed, that is, faithful, diligent, loving, giving, and sacrificial members.

1.      Members are the ones supporting the leadership.

2.      Members are the ones giving of their means.

3.      Members are the ones who are investing their time and talents in the work.

4.      Members are the one helping to spread the gospel and do the good works.

5.      When Paul thought back on his time at the church in Thessalonica, this is what he said he remembered (I Thess. 1:3).

 

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.

 

C.     Thirty-seven years is short compared to the lives of other congregations.  But, those 37 years for OceanSide have been profitable.  Our prayer is that God will bless this church with at least 37 more years to labor and serve and spread the gospel in this community.