Author: Bryan Gibson

Weekly Bulletin
January 24, 2021

What the Experts Say
by Steve Klein
In every area of life, experts are sometimes mistaken. While it is admirable to respect the knowledge of those who have applied themselves to learning in a given field, it is unwise to trust completely everything they say. Whether it’s medicine, technology, entertainment, or academics, those supposed to be in the know often aren’t. The following quotes illustrate the point:
“The radio craze will soon die out.”— Thomas Edison
“You ain’t goin’ nowhere, son. You ought to go back to drivin’ a truck.”—Jim Denny, Manager of “Grand Ole Opry”, to Elvis Presley, 1954
“I’m sorry, Mr. Kipling, but you just don’t know how to use the English language.”—Editor of the San Francisco Examiner, to Rudyard Kipling, 1889
“I don’t need bodyguards.”—Jimmy Hoffa
“If excessive smoking actually plays a role in the production of lung cancer, it seems to be a minor one.”—Dr. W. C. Heuper, National Cancer Institute, 1954
“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.”—Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
The above examples of experts who were badly mistaken could be multiplied by the thousands. Most of us have learned to take the opinions of experts with a grain of salt. That same care and more should be applied in spiritual matters as well.
Sometimes the self-proclaimed Bible experts just don’t know what they are talking about. Paul described those who “desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm” (1 Timothy 1:7, ASV). We’ve often heard televangelists explaining things like the end times and the second coming of Christ while ignoring many plain passages on the subject. They confidently twist and misuse more difficult passages “to their own destruction” (cf. 2 Peter 3:16).
Sometimes the experts don’t want you to learn the truth. Their reason may be that if you learn it you will discover that they are wrong, and then you won’t trust and follow them anymore. In Luke 11:52, Jesus warned the experts of the law with these words: “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”
We can certainly learn from others who are more knowledgeable than ourselves. The writers of Bible commentaries and other respected Bible scholars may help us understand God’s truth. But it is a mistake to keep our minds so open to the teaching of experts that our brains fall out. Jesus instructs us to “take heed how you hear” (Luke 8:18). We should learn to listen critically—to think, question and study for ourselves. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
One in Doctrine
by Bryan Gibson
Jesus and the Father are one in DOCTRINE. Jesus affirmed over and over again that what He taught came from His Father, that His words were the Father’s words (John 7:14-18; 8:26-29, 40; 12:47-50; 14:24; 17:8, 14). That being the case, for us to be one in them (John 17:20-21), we must teach only what Jesus taught. And that’s exactly what these passages plainly state: “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 1:9). “Therefore, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father” (1 John 2:24). There’s no getting around it—what we teach must be ONE with what Jesus taught.

Contact Information
	P.O. Box 680872 / Prattville, AL 36067
	(334) 365-5887 / (334) 868-0801
	prattmont@gmail.com / prattmontchurchofchrist.org

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The Prattmont Church of Christ is just what the name suggests, a church that belongs to Christ. We are not a denomination; we are simply a group of Christians trying very hard to practice the teachings of our Head, Jesus Christ. The New Testament offers a complete pattern for what each local church should be like—its organization, its worship, its work, etc. We are committed to following that pattern. We cordially invite you to attend our services. We would also welcome any comments or questions about this bulletin.

TIMES OF SERVICES:
(temporary during pandemic)
Sunday
Worship 10:00 A.M.
Wednesday:
Bible Study 7:00 P.M.