Publishing Peace
A monthly journal published by West Virginia School of Preaching
under the oversight of the elders of Hillview Terrace Church of Christ,
Moundsville, WV 26041 (304) 845-8001
Vol. 13 No. 2
February 2017
“Behold on the mountains
Student Spotlight:
Caleb McAnulty
the feet of him who brings
good tidings, who proclaims
peace!...” (Nahum 1:15)
From the Director’s Pen
by Andy Robison
Caleb McAnulty began his studies with the West Virginia School of Preaching in August of 2015. At
the time, his older brother Joshua was enrolled as a second-year student. To my recollection, it is the only
time we have had brothers simultaneously enrolled at WVSOP.
Caleb is the son of Jonathan and Sandra McAnulty. Jonathan is the minister for the Chapel Hill church
of Christ in Gallipolis, Ohio. Caleb is one of four siblings, including Joshua, and his sisters, Leah, and Hannah. All four were brought up in a home-school atmosphere.
While being raised, Caleb showed a lot of interest in hobbies involving gaming, and knows the gaming
world and its intricacies more than most of us would imagine! He has a good working knowledge of historical
weaponry from the Roman period onward, having studied the uses of many of the weapons of wars used by
societies since that time. Also, while at home, he was employed at Rio Valley Stables, caring for horses. Rio
Valley Stables leases property from the Bob Evans farm, and works closely in connection with the farm.
Then, during the summer break last year, he was employed by the Gallia County Government in lawn work.
Caleb first applied for admission to the West Virginia School of Preaching upon the completion of his
home school curriculum. However, at the time, we thought him to be a bit young, so he patiently waited for a
year, keeping up his employment at home.
While at WVSOP, Caleb has shown a good base of knowledge in the Bible and related topics. He has
recently been taking on more Sunday preaching appointments. Caleb is a bright young man with the potential
to use his talents for the Lord in years to come. We wish him the very best.
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Announcement: Honoring Fay & Kay Bissett
At our annual commencement exercises, it is customary for us to honor some of God’s servants, showing our
appreciation for their work in service to His church and the school. This year, we will honor Fay & Kay Bissett. Anyone remotely familiar with the Hillview congregation knows of Fay’s and Kay’s devotion to the
Lord and their expression of it in humble, behind-the-scenes ways. They are selfless, generous workers in the
kingdom. Come on June 16, to help us honor them and our graduates.
2017 Gradua on Banquet
June 16, 2017, 6:00 p.m.
Quick Quips
Ed
l
a
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r
ito
Andy Robison
Luke 3 opens with a story set
purposely in a historical context. Luke says in
verses 1-2: “Now in the fifteenth year of the reign
of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of
Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother
Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas
and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God
came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.” There are the names of seven governing officials from the time frame claimed by the author.
Why is this significant? If one were writing a fraudulent document trying to fool people,
he would not include the names of officials that
could be checked with other historical records.
The Bible, though, never shies away from setting
itself in a definite, checkable historical context.
The more archaeological records that are discovered, the more the historical nature of the Bible is
proven.
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In the Old Testament, it was prophesied that
someone would come as a prophet and prepare the
way for Christ. He is called “Elijah” in Malachi
4:5-6. The New Testament records that John the
Baptist came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17). Jesus said plainly of John, “And
if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to
come” (Matt. 17:14).
Elijah had been a fiery prophet of the Old
Testament. He challenged Israel, in a time of overwhelming idolatry, to be faithful to the Lord. In the
New Testament, John did not mince any words.
His message was not soft and mealy-mouthed, but
rather a bold and firm, “Repent” (Matt. 3:2).
The day is past for divinely inspired prophets, but Bible study might lead teachers to conclude that the best message for a culture sometimes is simply, “Repent.”
2
In the Old Testament, the prophet Elijah
sought to do right, and was persecuted by a ruling
woman named Jezebel. In the New Testament,
John the Baptist stood firm about the truth of certain things, and was hated by a King’s wife. Herodias plotted to get John the Baptist killed. She had
her daughter perform lustily in front of a bunch of
men, including the king, and tricked the king into
ordering that John be killed (Mark 6:14-29).
Sometimes, standing for truth will get one in
a lot of trouble. Romans 1:18 speaks of those
groups of people who “suppress the truth in unrighteousness”. So what is a fellow to do? If he
knows truth, and most people, including rulers go
against it, is he to capitulate or hold to truth? Proverbs 23:23 admonishes, “Buy the truth, and do not
sell it...”
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Proverbs 22:1 states, “A good name is to be
chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather
than silver and gold.” Notice the challenge of the
statement. Culture might tempt people to sacrifice
character and integrity in order to get ahead financially. A godly challenge is to hold onto character
first.
Notice the blessing of the statement. In a
good name is often found “loving favor”, at least by
some. While some people hate the truth and its
speakers, loving favor will be found in the sight of
God and others who follow God’s will.
Notice the definition of the statement. What
makes a good name? Not monetary success. Not
riches. Not a good name among men, but a good
name with the Maker of men. A good name is given one who strives to be right with God. That name
will be found in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3).
Fa
Fea
l
The Privilege of Teaching
Emanuel Daugherty
Teaching the Bible is a wonderful privilege–
whether to children or adults. It is God's way of expanding the borders of the Kingdom. How different
is true Christianity from other religions in that respect! Islam is spread by the sword. Catholicism/
Protestantism conquered nations by the sword. But
the sword of the Christian “is the word of
God” (Eph 6:17). The marching orders of the
church are "go teach all nations" (Matthew 28:19).
Jesus said, "They shall all be taught of God..." (John
6: 44-45). Nehemiah states the objective of every
teacher: “So they read in the book in the law of God
distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to
understand the reading” (Neh 8:8).
1. It is a privilege to be a Bible teacher because
not everyone can do so, for many reasons: improper temperament, lack of knowledge and skills, inability to practice what they preach, lack of zeal for
the task, to name a few. James (3:1) says "be not
many of you teachers, knowing ye shall receive the
greater judgment." Teachers are special people–love
them, honor them, stand with them, support them
for their work’s sake.
2. Teaching is a privilege because of the One for
whom we labor. God is the Bible School Superintendent. We teach what He desires. How marvelous
and wonderful that God should want to use frail,
many times inept, human beings to accomplish the
greatest task in the world–the teaching of another to
the saving of their soul! How privileged we are to
be "fellow laborers together with God." (1 Corinthians 3:9).
3. It is a privilege to be a teacher because of what
we are striving to accomplish. To win the hearts,
minds, and souls of men, women, boys and girls to
Christ. “Jesus came to seek and save the lost” (Luke
19:10). This is also our task (2 Tim 2:2). Teachers
change our communities and the way people live.
Their example and training spills over from the
classroom into our homes, communities, and individuals. God wills it so. This is an expression of our
light shining and our salt influencing those about us
(Matt 5:13, 16).
Every teacher must remember the overall goal is
to bring the soul home to God. The classroom is
your pulpit. The end result of your efforts is salva-
3
tion! The lifetime spent in teaching others in the
classroom, pulpit, or home must end in increase of
the kingdom. We should not be satisfied as a teacher until we can see our students living the first and
second commandments to "love the Lord thy God,
with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy
mind, with all they strength,” and "to love thy
neighbor as thy self." (Mark 12:29-31).
4. Teaching is a privilege because of its great rewards. One of those rewards is inner peace. You
are fighting on the Lord's side in the greatest of all
battles. What satisfaction to know that you have
prepared others to fight, tended their wounds,
helped them win a victory over the devil. There is
also the knowledge that you are doing what you can
to make the world a better place: giving peace,
hope, safety and harmony to a world that is seeking
to destroy itself. And, there is the ultimate reward
of the faithful. “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set
you over much. Enter into the joy of your
Lord” (Matthew 25:21).
Oh teachers of God's word do not despair! Yours is
the greatest task on earth, “And let us not grow
weary of doing good, for in due season we will
reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
Keep on keeping on! As G.P. Bowser, the great
black preacher said about the potential of his students, “He could be a diamond in the rough, and
with a little polishing a diamond sure enough!”
Other 2017 Dates to Remember
Future Preacher Training Camp
June 23-25
Annual Pie Fling & Sing
August 18
WVSOP Victory Lectures
October 22-26
Alumni Feature
WES T VIRGINIA S CHO OL O F PREACHING
Squirrels and Evangelism
Rodney Nulph
Spiritual lessons sometimes come in the last place one would consider. Recently, a spiritual lesson became crystal clear as I watched a pair of God’s bushytailed creatures. A few days ago, I found myself literally enthralled with a
pair of fox squirrels that were busying themselves with the needed preparations for winter. As I watched these two critters, three spiritual lessons regarding evangelism “jumped” out at me.
Firstly, like squirrels, evangelism requires diligence. These two bushy tails jumped from tree to tree and from
branch to branch for hours on end without stopping. They were industrious and quite active in the task that was before
them! What a lesson for Christians regarding spreading the message of Jesus! Honestly, how busy are most Christians
when it comes to evangelizing the world? Our first century brothers and sisters seemed to have the proper diligence; they
“…went every where preaching the word” (Acts 8:4b; cf. 11:19). Paul was so diligent in evangelism that he traveled all
over the eastern world carrying the saving message of Christ crucified (cf. Acts 13-14; 16; 18ff). As I observed these two
squirrels, I could not help but think how much the church belonging to Jesus could accomplish, if we were just half as
diligent! Like squirrels, evangelism requires diligence!
Secondly, like squirrels, evangelism requires assurance. Squirrels do not concern themselves with “every” aspect
of nut gathering. For example, squirrels do not intentionally plant, prune and prepare trees for harvest. They rely on God
to take care of these parts, and they simply do the part that they have been assigned. What a lesson for us! Our part in
evangelism is simply to plant and water the Gospel message (1 Corinthians 3:6), but God and God alone gives the increase! We must rely on God to open doors and melt hearts (with the Gospel)! Do we really have the confidence in God
to perform His part? God is faithful and will never fail to do that which He promised! God’s Word never returns unto
Him void (Isaiah 55:11)! Do we really believe that? Evangelism requires assurance!
Thirdly, like squirrels, evangelism requires endurance. One thing that really impressed me about these two fox
squirrels was their endurance. They worked all evening, for several hours and never appeared to grow weary. What a
lesson! How often do we grow weary, faint and become distraught at spreading the message of salvation? Paul reminded
Christians to “…not be weary in well doing…” (Galatians 6:9). We are to always abound in God’s work (1 Corinthians
15:58). It is the Christian who endures to the end that is given the crown of life (Revelation 2:10). Evangelism requires
endurance! Jesus’ supreme goal for His church is outreach! Are we reaching out to others with the Gospel? Henry
Crocker summed it up well:
Give us a watchword for the hour, a thrilling word, a word of power;
A battle cry, a flaming breath, that calls to conquest or to death;
A word to rouse the church from rest, to heed her Master’s high behest;
The call is given; Ye host arise, our watchword is evangelize!
To dying men, a fallen race, Make known the gift of gospel grace;
The world that now in darkness lies, O Church of Christ, evangelize!
Amen and Amen!
Hillview Terrace Church of Christ
West Virginia School of Preaching
PO Box 785
Moundsville, WV 26041
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