Cooperation is a wonderful thing among congregations of the Lord. Opportunities for mutual growth and support within the body of Christ brings us nearer to the ideal church of the New Testament and brings a certain encouragement to members of the church. But, as is the case with many things in this world, the devil tries to rear his ugly head, even in scenarios involving God’s people. One thing that occurs within many areas of local congregations in close proximity is the accusation and facilitation of what is commonly called “sheepstealing.”

What is “sheepstealing” you might ask? It is when one congregation in an entirely superficial effort to bring more attendance (thereby, contributions, influence, etc.) will attempt to steal away members from one faithful congregation to theirs. This is an undermining of the local community and is an action of pride.

So why would a topic like this be under the banner of “iSharpen @ PFP?” Because the aim of this article is to encourage as is the aim of every iSharpen article. We seek to exemplify Proverbs 27:17 – “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” And one way that we can encourage members of the church of Christ and preachers in their local congregations is to warn them of the dangers and appeal to steal away members from sister congregations. It is much easier to steal away a member from a neighboring congregation than it is to evangelize and convert a new member. Instead of dismantling or gimping sister congregations, we ought to bolster them, rally behind them and support them in their endeavors. That is what keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph 4:3) is all about!

In the local congregation, whose sheep are the members? Are they the elder’s sheep? Are they the preacher’s sheep? Are they “church of chister” sheep (that is, do they belong to what people suppose is a denomination)? We would answer no to each of those questions. We would quote the Lord Himself when he said, “I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep, and am known by My own… My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:14, 27). When we read Jesus’ words we are met with overwhelming condemnation of sheep stealing. Jesus does not teach that of the many local congregations we are separate entities working to our own end, but rather teaches that “(He) is the Vine, (we) are the branches” (John 15:1). “We, being many are one  body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Rom. 12:5). Jesus slammed shut the door of opportunity in the minds of any who aim to make profit off the church of Christ in money, power, or notoriety by acquiring members by way of sheepstealing when He declared, “there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16). Nothing is up for debate on how Jesus feels about His sheep.

After nearly 2,000 years, the world is still awaiting the oneness in the church whereby they will see the proof-positive that we are His people. As we go through this world, let us all endeavor to be one in Christ, serving together, arm-in-arm, so they the world though our efforts might be saved. God bless us in that effort all for His glory.

Whatever you call them (Small Groups, Bible Classes, Midweek Bible Studies, Sunday School, etc.), you probably need to rethink your attendance to them! 

Statistically speaking, only about 60% of those who are reading this that attend worship faithfully actually attend a Small Group of some sort during the week. But I am willing to venture that many of the churches of Christ in our country are seeing more along the lines of 40-50% at best! I can actually remember numerous times in the past where me (the adult class teacher), my wife and our children were the only ones there for a Midweek Bible Study. 

The fact is, our classes outside of worship services are lacking numerically and I believe there are some things we need to realize about these meetings that will encourage us to attend them more frequently and they are...

I hope I don't need to write a dissertation on this topic to get us to realize how important our Bible Study habits really are to our personal faith development. If you were raised in a religious environment, I can almost bet that you have memories of being a young whipper snapper sitting in a Bible class of some sort and that the information you learned there has stuck with you. I can vividly remember sitting as a child in a men's enrichment class at church where I first learned the story of Gideon. 


That being said, there is more to it than memorizing the Apostles' names or the books of the Bible. Your attendance to Bible classes allows you to dive much deeper into God's saving Word (James 1:21) and helps you to have the ability to pass that knowledge on to those who are lost. 

Have you ever wondered why some TV commercials are repeated over and over again ad-nauseum? It is because advertisers understand that you are going to need multiple chances to engrain that phone number or product name before you will actually think about it when you are in need. 

Lifeway Research reported that only 1 out of every 6 self-proclaiming Christians would strongly agree that they actively seek out relationships with new people that they meet at church. The fact is, Small Groups provide the perfect place to see that face again, to hear that name again and start a real relationship with that person. 

If the church is a family (Ephesians 2:19), shouldn't we seek every opportunity to know who our family members are? 

Many preachers try to link their Bible classes, sermons and other forms of teaching together in some way (and if you're a preacher and you're not doing that, you need to rethink that decision). That being the case, Wednesday nights provide a very helpful reminder of what was studied on Sunday and helps you to apply that in a better way for the rest of the week. 

Seven days without true study in God's Word (understanding that many of us aren't getting the personal Bible study that we desperately need to remain pure in this world) opens the door for trials and temptations that are easily averted if we have refreshed ourselves on our mission and had the encouragement that is one of the major prerogatives in the assembly of the church (cf. Hebrews 10:24). 


Whatever your reasons were for missing Midweek Bible Study or sliding in between Sunday School and Worship on Sundays, you need to rethink that decision. If not for the encouragement, family relationships or deeper knowledge of God's Word simply for the fact that willful or even rebellious absence from the assembly of the saints is a very serious point of discussion in God's word (Hebrews 10:25-26)!

As a preacher, I'm always searching for new resources to help me teach people about the saving grace of Jesus Christ and His plan for saving His creation. My library is full of rubber-banded stacks of this Bible study course or that tract. I have even contemplated writing my own from time to time.  The PFP has even released a Keynote Bible Study just for helping people teach others! 

But I think I might have found my new favorite!

Sure, it doesn't stream Bible passages together to teach people the truth, it leaves that up to the person who will follow up with the perspective Christian. But what it does do is strike right to the heart of the person reading it and convict, encourage and instruct them about a very real possibility. 

I'm talking about the new book "I Died Last Night" by John Orr (published by Start2Finish Books). 

One person said, "It scared the Hell out of me, literally!" I completely agree! 

I Died Last Night was amazingly blunt in its delivery of some very scary truths! As the story follows the first few moments of a man's life in torments after passing from this life, you read about his first impressions of the place, his encounters with people from his past life and even those who lived long before him. 

The imagery of demons, pain and memories is so vivid that one person said, "Don't read this book before you go to sleep at night!" - I wish I had read that quote before starting to read it at 10PM one night!

John Orr uses Biblical truths and amazing word pictures to take you down into the depths of hell and make you honestly look at your life.  If you read this book, be warned, because it will hurt your ego and destroy your pride!

I highly recommend every single person reads this book and buys copies (that's right, multiples) to give to every person they know!