Bible
Doctrines
In
the book of Matthew chapter twenty five and verse fifteen the
Bible says, "And unto one he gave five talents, to another
two, and to another one; to every man according to his several
ability; and straightway took his journey." I believe that
God gives different abilities to men as he sees fit to do so.
For myself, I believe God blessed me with the ability to win
people and build churches. My entire ministry has been in the
field of Evangelism, building and church planting. You win people,
add them to the church and teach them to observe all things.
This not only involves winning people to Jesus but training
them in Bible knowledge and doctrine. I pastored in an age when
doctrinal and evangelistic preaching was predominate.
Again
we seem to be leaving our roots and really do not know what
the Bible teaches. And yet, the Bible tells us in First Peter
chapter three and verse fifteen, "But sanctify the Lord
God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to
every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you
with meekness and fear". The only way that we can tell
others of the faith that is in us is to know what the Bible
teaches and we call this, Bible Doctrine. This is the reason
I believe it is important for us to study the Bible and understand
its doctrines. Remember Paul said to young Timothy in Second
Timothy chapter two and verse fifteen, "Study to show thyself
approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth." Therefore my main
reason for writing this book about, Biblical Doctrines, is so
we may know and be able to share with others the faith that
is within us. Also I have been asked by the Malindi Baptist
Association of Malindi, Kenya to write a book about Bible Doctrines.
I appreciate my Sunday school teacher at Racine, Missouri
who taught us the Bible and encouraged us to live by its precepts.
I could not forget Rev. A. L. Lowther and Rev. J.E. Outlaw,
my fathers in the ministry. They are with the Lord today but
they taught me to preach doctrinal sermons and to win the lost.
I also must remember Dr. Uncle Jimmy Owens who was my Bible
instructor at Oklahoma Baptist University. He instructed every
young preacher boy to preach the Bible and to be doctrinally
sound in his theology. I also need to give a great deal of credit
to Dr. Hendricks my Theology professor at Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary at Ft.Worth, Texas. He informed us that
in order to graduate from his class we must know Bible Doctrines.
He informed us that when we stood up to preach that we should
teach and preach Biblical Doctrine. I also must give credit
to E. Y. Mullins, Dr. Scarborough, Dr. George W. Truett, Dr.
R. G. Lee, Dr. Hershall Hobbs and many others for instilling
in me a love of Bible Doctrine.
Therefore, I dedicate this book to all of my friends in
Kenya, Africa, and to those who have meant so much to me and
encouraged me through the years. To my former pastor, Dr. Warren
Hultgren, who supported me and encouraged me as I continued
to serve the Lord. To my wife, Margaret and my daughter Connie
Jean Alsop, and to my grandchildren, Alicia, Melissa, and Ryan
Alsop.
I also dedicate this book to all of those who lived, served
with distinction, and died for the faith once delivered to our
fathers. To all of those great saints of God who have meant
so much to me I dedicate this book. I am sure that the Lord
has already said to them, "Well done thou good and faithful
servant." And they today are in that great cloud of witnesses
spoken of in the Bible. In Hebrews chapter twelve and verse
one he says, "Wherefore, seeing we are compassed about
by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with
patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus
the Author and Finisher of our Faith." I am writing this
book to remind us that no matter what we say and do the Bible
is still the Christians only road map. Study it, feed on its
precepts, and let her doctrines become a vital part of your
life. If the church would be great again I challenge all of
us to take a stand for the faith once delivered to the Saints.
