1. Text: I Thess. 2:4 Scripture Reading: I Thess. 1:6-8 “Swiftly we're turning life's daily pages; Swiftly the hours are turning to years. How are we using God's golden moments? Shall we reap glory? Shall we reap tears?” “Into our hands the gospel is given; Into our hands is given the light. Haste, let us carry God's precious message, Guiding the erring back to the right.”

2. Into Our Hands The Gospel Is Given Even though saints today do not live in the 1 st century, we also are to “Go” and “Teach”  II Tim. 2:2: Timothy was told to teach others who would teach others, and so on…  “Men” = anthrōpos (G444): mankind, human being (both male and female), man.  II Tim. 2:24: Saints (bond-servants, both male and female) must be “able to teach.” Mt. 28:18-20 18. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20. teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." I Thess. 2:4 4. but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.

3. Into Our Hands The Gospel Is Given Tillit Sidney Teddlie (1885-1987): “Into Our Hands” (1939)  The tune was composed by Tillit Sidney Teddlie.  A native of Texas who spent most of his long life in that state, Teddlie was baptized in 1903 and began work as a gospel preacher in 1923, also serving as a superintendent of a children’s home for a couple of years.  He is best remembered as a hymn writer and song-book publisher. His first song was published in 1906.  He wrote 130 hymns and produced 14 songbooks.  “Into Our Hands” was a poem written by Mrs. Ruth Carruth (1900-1985) and purchased by Teddlie for $3. He composed the tune and published it as a hymn in 1939.  Mrs. Carruth was a hymn-writer among churches of Christ, and many of her poems and hymns were composed and published by Teddlie. The responsibility to “Go” and “Teach” is not only for 1 st century saints but for Christians today!

4. Into Our Hands The Gospel Is Given “Swiftly we're turning life's daily pages; Swiftly the hours are turning to years. How are we using God's golden moments? Shall we reap glory? Shall we reap tears?” Mt. 13:45-46 45. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46. and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Jesus commissioned all Christians to teach the gospel to those lost in sin (Mt. 28:18-20):  Rom. 10:14-15: This task will never be achieved; the lost will never hear unless it becomes personal to us – that we care to teach!  The gospel is given into our hands first to obey, then to teach to others (II Tim. 2:24).  Mt. 13:44-46: The “kingdom of heaven” is like a great treasure and a pearl of great price!  For those who have obeyed the gospel and have found such treasure, it ought to be with joy we share it with others!

5. Into Our Hands The Gospel Is Given “Swiftly we're turning life's daily pages; Swiftly the hours are turning to years. How are we using God's golden moments? Shall we reap glory? Shall we reap tears?” I Pet. 3:15 15. but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; How do we use the moments and opportunities God has given us?  Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5: KJV says, “Redeeming the time.” We are to make “the most of our time,” “opportunity” (NAS).  I Pet. 3:15: We are to always be ready to give a defense (answer) of the hope within us. That requires study (II Tim. 2:15) and practice in teaching (Heb. 5:12-14). The gospel is entrusted to us – “How are we using God’s golden moments?”

6. Into Our Hands The Gospel Is Given “Millions are groping without the gospel; Quickly they'll reach eternity's night. Shall we sit idly as they rush onward? Haste, let us hold up Christ the true light.” Time is of the essence:  While we hesitate or deliberate, others remain untaught about Christ and are perhaps swept off into eternity in that condition! (Rom. 10:14-15) II Thess. 2:14 14. It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. II Thess. 2:14: The gospel calls men unto God:  I Thess. 1:6-8: They received the gospel and lived it by example and in teaching others so that it “sounded forth from you” far and wide!  I Thess. 2:13-14: They received the word as from God and were examples of obedience in practice (godly living – Titus 2:11-14) and in teaching others (1:6-8)!

7. Into Our Hands The Gospel Is Given “Millions are groping without the gospel; Quickly they'll reach eternity's night. Shall we sit idly as they rush onward? Haste, let us hold up Christ the true light.” Phil. 2:15 (Mt. 5:16): Saints are to hold up Christ as the true light and imitate Him!  Jn. 1:4-5, 9, 12; 8:12: Jesus is the true “Light of the world!”  He saves those who obey Him (Heb. 5:9) and walk in His light! (II Cor. 4:6) Phil. 2:15 15. so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, Time marches onward – “Haste, let us hold up Christ the true light!”

8. Into Our Hands The Gospel Is Given “Souls that are precious, souls that are dying, While we rejoice our sins are forgiven--Did He not also die for these lost ones? Then let us point the way unto heaven.” Many are seeking for the truth:  They become the seekers (searchers), sometimes not even knowing where to turn because of the devil’s wiles and twists and turns of false messages (Eph. 4:14; II Cor. 4:3-4). Lk. 8:15 15. "But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. II Cor. 6:2:  We should not delay, because now is “the day of salvation!”  Lk. 8:11: We need to be ready and willing to sow the “seed” – to be the Sower!  Lk. 8:15: In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus describes those who are truly seeking as having an “honest and good heart”

9. Into Our Hands The Gospel Is Given “Souls that are precious, souls that are dying, While we rejoice our sins are forgiven--Did He not also die for these lost ones? Then let us point the way unto heaven.” Scriptural preparation for Heaven consists of:  Faith in Christ (Heb. 11:6; Jn. 3:16; 8:24)  True repentance (Acts 17:30)  Confession of faith in Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10)  Baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16)  A life of faithful service (Rom. 12:1-2; Rev. 2:10) Preparations must be made now for eternity – “Let us point the way unto heaven!”

10. Into Our Hands The Gospel Is Given “Into our hands the gospel is given; Into our hands is given the light. Haste, let us carry God's precious message, Guiding the erring back to the right.” I Thess. 2:4 4. but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. “Into our hands the gospel is given” – “Let us point the way unto heaven!”

11. Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17) Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24) Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38) Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10) Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16) Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10) For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9), Pray (Acts 8:22)