Church of Christ at Oakridge

"The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the
Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." Matthew 9:37-38
Copyright 2009 Oakridge
Church of Christ
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Features
Women in the Word
Our "Women in the Word" page is designed to motivate, encourage, and
strengthen the faith of women in the church. Find out about our ladies class and
much more to help in your Christian walk.
The Milk of the Word
One of the ways that we grow as a child of God is to dig deep into the word of God
in study. Peter says that we should desire it as a baby desires milk. Explore this
page for all of your study needs so that you to can continue to grow.
Church of Christ at Oakridge
1217 Lexington St N.
Birmingham, Al 35224
205-786-3901
oakridgecoc@yahoo.com
Service Times
Sunday
Bible Class
10:00am

Worship
11:15am
1st Sunday
Ladies Bible Class
12:45pm
3rd Sunday
Enrichment Course
12:45pm
Wednesday
Bible Class
6:15pm
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Many efforts are made to try to prove that Baptism is not essential to our salvation. Once such
effort was made by the Middletown Bible Church in an article entitled "Does Water Baptism
Save? A Biblical Refutation of Baptismal Regeneration." I don't normally go to church websites
to write in response to any articles they may have. However, when people try to attack the
"Churches of Christ" and tie the doctrine of baptism to us rather than the Scriptures, it comes a
time that the word of God must be defended.

The fact that Baptism is essential to salvation is not a "Church of Christ" teaching, it is the
"Bible's" teaching. Many people say this to try to prejudice others against the truth but it will not
work. I read the Middletown church's article thoroughly and have written a response to all of
their claims. With much love, paitence, and prayer, I hope the Bible's true message will help
someone seeking. READ MY RESPONSE NOW
Here They Go Again Denying Baptism
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                                Featured Article
A Father’s Spiritual, Parental Guidance
by Tony Edwards- Ephesians 6:4

Children are of great importance to the family. The Psalmist said that they are “…an heritage of
the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” (127:3) It would be a tragic end to all parents
who stand before the Lord and await the words “…enter thou into the joy of thy lord,” and instead
are surprised with the condemnation “…depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared
for the devil and his angels.” What good is it for parents to be successful in their lives and yet
neglect the lives of their children, God’s children, His possessions?

Spiritual Parental Guidance is so important to the success of the family because children are a
part of the equation for success. According to psychologist, Dr. James Dobson, “This busyness of
mothers combined with the noninvolvement of fathers means that too often, there is nobody
home! No wonder boys are such a mess today!” (http://www.focusonyourchildcom/develop/
art1/A0000 670.html)

When the children fail the family fails. Notice these verses:
     •        “A child left to himself brings shame to his mother.” (Proverbs 29:15)
     •        “A wise son makes a glad father, But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.”         
               (Proverbs 10:1)
     •        “He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy…
               A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him.” (Proverbs
               17:21, 25)

Although the Scriptures instruct both parents to guide the children (1 Timothy 5:14; Ephesians 6:
4), the father is the primary figure in God’s scheme. The fact that the father is the head of the
house means that his spiritual qualities can not go lacking. Our culture, however, is declining in
the area of father figures in the family. Today there are more single parent families than ever in
the history of humanity and the lack of a “father figure” is showing.

Kenneth A. Dodge, director of the Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke's Terry Sanford
Institute of Public Policy states:
"We knew that a number of studies had identified the link between absent fathers and risk for
daughters' early sexual activity, but the risk had been ascribed to more generalized family
problems, such as poverty and stress." Dodge goes on to add that "our research shows clearly
that father absence itself during the first five years of life is a unique risk factor." (http://www.
dukenews.duke.edu/2003/06/dodge605_print.hm)

Thus we can see why in our text Paul tells the father to “bring them up in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord.” (6:4)

When fathers bring their children up the way God commands then the results are positive.
Fathers, by the life you live and the lives you lead the Lord will know you. Speaking of Abraham,
Moses records the Word’s of the Lord by saying “For I have known him, in order that he may
command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do
righteousness and justice.” (Genesis 18:19)

Father’s, are you known by God?
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