"Vas You Dere, Sharley?"
I have in my library a book entitled, "Why I Am A Member of the Church of Christ." But if I had been writing on this theme, it would have been a tract, instead of a book. I would write about as follows, because I do not think we are saved because we are members of the church of the Lord, but are members of this church because we are saved, because we have been redeemed. And we are redeemed because we are in Christ Jesus: Ephesians 1:7. We are "in Christ Jesus because we by faith have been baptized into Him: Galatians 3:26, 27.
I think that many preachers are frightened by such wise cracks as this: "Sermonettes are delivered by Preacherettes." But I had rather preach on this assumption, that just because I am preaching the everlasting gospel is no reason why the sermons should be eternal. One doesn't have to preach out his hour, does he? It's true that some subjects require more time than others.
I think that the Bible is very clear about what was preached on the first Pentecost after Jesus was raised from the dead: I Peter 1:9-12. Well, do you want me to copy this and other passages for you? or will you read them in your Bible?
When Peter preached the gospel on that Pentecost, he really began at Acts 2:22, and concluded with Acts 2:36. Then those who heard his preaching were pricked in their heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then, in Acts 2:38 Peter told them what the Holy Ghost had commanded for them to do. There was no doubt about this: it's perfectly clear. The Holy Ghost had guided the apostles to preach this: I Peter 1:9-12; John 16:12-15. When the apostles had done this, they had done all that they could do; it was now up to those who heard this gospel. And when those who heard the apostles had done what they were told to do by the Holy Ghost, it was now entirely up to the Lord; and He added them to the church, after He had saved them, or at the time He saved them: Acts 2:41 and 47. Please read these verses in the American Standard Version.
Such people are redeemed and saved, if they continue in Jesus Christ: Romans 8:1-4. We abide in the love of Jesus by keeping His commandments: John 15:10.
— Dora, Alabama