I have heard it said by some, "you will never grow numerically useless you get rid of that "old paths mentality." The Change Agents and Liberals within the church would like to see "old paths preaching' die and never raise its head again. But what do people mean when they say "let's get back to old paths preaching?"

These are the members of the church that like book, chapter, and verse preaching.

These are the ones who like calling Bible things by Bible names and doing Bible things in Bible ways. Some among us believe that this kind of preaching will never allow the church to grow but instead members will move and go elsewhere and no one will ever be converted if you stand where they stood in New Testament times in regards to the practice and obedience to the Word of God..

But to the contrary--the Church of Christ has experienced a great deal of numerical growth as well as spiritual growth over the past two years. Not only have we grown in this way but our offering has also increased.

Many who read this will be surprised to find out that we right now have 75 people taking Bible Correspondence Courses. Why do we have such a large number enrolled in such courses? Because the members have been challenged by "old paths preaching" and they have responded by going into the communities in which they live and they have set up these courses with people who are not members of the church. This means we have a possibility of some 62 people obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ and becoming New Testament Christians. We ask all Christians to be praying for these who have never obeyed the gospel.

"The Old Paths Mentality Preaching" is alive and well at Garden City. We believe in passages like 2 Tim.3:16,17; I Peter 4:1 1; 2 Tim.2:15; etc,. My sermons for the past year or so have been as follows:

I . Morality - Gambling; Homosexuality; Dancing; Social Drinking; Pornography; Immodest Apparel; to name a few. Members' have responded by living right.

2. Doctrine - Why we don't use the instrument in worship; the Lord's Supper on Sundays only; Church of Christ is the one church; to name a few. Our members are not ashamed to do what God said do and the way He said do it. We like what God said, why change it.

3. Evangelism - Several sermons a year showing how God challenges us to go and sow the seed of the kingdom. Members have taken the word out of the church building and into the homes of the people within their own communities. There is also a renewed interest in Mission Work.

4. Benevolence - Not only is there concern about our own members and members of the church everywhere but all men in general. Programs operating now and new ones in the future.

5. Edification - Bible school teachers who love the word of God and are not ashamed to teach it and teachers who love their students. Preaching from the pulpit that pricks the hearts of men and challenges us to do what God said do. No social gospel allowed. People are challenged to take their Bible and check for themselves the many passages of scripture that are used in every sermon. Visitors are challenged with a "thus saith the Lord." Something many of them have never heard.

6. Love - all of the above are seasoned with love. Lessons showing the love of God in all the matters listed above. After all, when you do what God said do and do it the way God said to do it are you not showing God how much you love Him and His Son Jesus Christ and all the people of the world. And besides all of this, we do not bid Godspeed to those practicing error. No support of the Nashville, Jubilee; no support of the Tulsa Workshop or any other gathering of those that teach error. We will oppose it here in Detroit and everywhere else error raises it's ugly head.

Are we losing members because of our stand for truth. No, No, No and a thousand times No. God will bless the faithful. He has blessed us with so many spiritual blessings. Let us continue to use these blessing to bring glory to His name. We love "Old Paths Preaching."