"A New Song" October 2025

“Almost A Christian”


Bible Study

     

                                                 

 A NEW SONG                                                                                                                               

Dear fellow worker of the Christian Worship Hour:

From the writings of Pastor Salem:

One day, in Old Jerusalem, Jesus said to a scribe (a scribe was an expert in Old Testament Law),

“Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.” Mark 12:34

Just look at that, this man was almost in the kingdom of God, almost saved, ever so close---but lost eternally!

Let’s take a look at him:

v HE BELIEVED IN GOD BUT WAS NOT SAVED. He knew there was but one God, he openly confessed that to Jesus, no question about it. I have known people who think they are going to heaven because they believe in God. St. James points out the fact that believing in God is no big deal because the Devil does and he is the son of perdition! (James 2:19). Only the fools believe there is no God. (Psalm 14:1). Just believing there is a God never saved a soul! Believing in God is not enough, we must believe in Jesus! (John 14:6).

v HE KNEW HE WAS A SINNER, AND WAS NOT SAVED. For all of his religiosity he was not at peace with God, he was not saved. He was searching and he came to Jesus for the answer. Nicodemus did the same thing. (John 3:2). Both men knew there was a disconnect between them and God. Before a person can be saved, he must confess he is a sinner and needs a Savior. (Romans 10:9).

v HE READ THE BIBLE BUT WAS NOT SAVED. As a matter of fact, it was his profession to know the Bible backwards and forwards. But, for all of that, he was not saved. He was near the kingdom but not in! Just because you read the Bible does not mean you are going to heaven. You must accept Jesus! (John 3:18). Remember, the dirty, old Devil quoted Scripture! (Matthew 4:6).

v HE WENT TO CHURCH BUT WAS NOT SAVED. He was in the temple every day! He didn’t go just at Passover and Pentecost, he went daily. If going to church saved a man, this scribe would have been in the kingdom a long time ago. But going to church doesn’t make us a Christian any more than going into a garage make us a car. I believe in going to church, but salvation comes only through accepting Jesus personally into our heart. (Revelation 3:20).

v HE HELPED OTHERS BUT WAS NOT SAVED. As a good Jew, this scribe would have obeyed the law to help the poor. (Psalm 41:1). He would have given at least 10% of his income to God’s work. But he could have worked his head off and still gone to hell because nobody, and I mean nobody, enters the kingdom by works. (Ephesians 2:8,9). I pray to God that you are not counting on works to be saved. (Isaiah 64:6).

v HE WAS SINCERE BUT WAS NOT SAVED. I hear it over and over, if a person is just sincere, he will get to heaven. The only problem was that sort of thinking is the fact that we can be sincerely wrong. God clearly warns us that “there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 16:25). The broad road that leads to hell is filled with sincere people! (Matthew 7:13,14). Sincerity will never save you!

THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY INTO THE KINGDOM, INTO SALVATION, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 14:6). We must personally ask Him to come into our heart, our life. (John 1:12). That is the only message the Christian Worship Hour has, simply, ask Jesus to come into your heart and cleanse you of all your sins. Promise to follow Him as best you can and be sure to tell others when you accept Jesus. (John 5:24).

In our Savior’s love,

Pastor Salem

Memorials

In Loving Memory of…

ANN & JAY BRANDT, my parents, by JUDIE DEBREY, OR, $20

BECKY BUTH, my cousin, by LYNETTE SWEENEY, ND, $50

BETTY LILJENQUIST, by JAMIE LILJENQUIST, ND, $550

BETTY, my precious wife, by WAYNE WETZEL, FL, $1,000

BILL PULLMAN, my first cousin, by DENNIS PULLMAN, SD, $100

BUD & LORRAINE ANDERSON, my mom & dad, by BARBARA KYROLA, MN, $25

CAROL GRIEGER, our mother, by KAREN FOSBERG, ND, $500

CHAD HOLZ, my son, by KAREN HOLZ, MN, $40

CHERRY LEE URWILER, my sister, remembering her 90th Birthday, by JOAN, NE, $20

CLAYTON B. LEE and HILARY ANN LEE, by JESSE LEE, SD, $1,000

DALE LA BELLE, by MARINA LA BELLE, MI, $100

DANIEL CAFFEJIAN, by SAMANTHA CLARK, NV, $40

DANIEL MCFATE, my husband, by DIANE MCFATE, MO, $40

DAVID & ALMA PULLMAN, by DENNIS PULLMAN, SD, $100

DAVID MUHLE, by ROGER STREBLOW, NE, $25

DEBORAH PRESZLER, my loving wife, by RONALD PRESZLER, ID, $100

DEE SENN, by DARLA CONSTABLE, MN, $10

DELORIS A. CHILTON, my precious wife of 66 years, by WILLIAM CHILTON, IN, $50

DEREK C. VALENTINE, my beloved son of 32 years, by JEFFREY DEREK VALENTINE, FL, $20

DIANE LOVEJOY, my sister, by CHERYL GOLLA, MN, $50

DOLORES MULL, my mother, by SHELLY THORNTON, IA, $1,000

DONNY SKYBER, by GREG NELSON, MN, $25

DORA RUBY LEDBETTER GILLIAM, by RICHARD GILLIAM, MI, $200

DORA RUBY SMUTEK, my mom, by RICK GILLIAM, MI, $100

DORIS HARRIS, my mom, by MICHAEL WYATT, IA, $5

DR. & MRS. S.H. CHU, by JOHN & GRACE TURNER, IA, $100

EDWARD MYERS, my husband, by BEVERLY M. MYERS, PA, $40

GEORGE ANDERSON, my husband, by JOYCE ANDERSON, SD, $300

GERALDINE THOMAS, my twin sister, TRAVIS SWEEDEN, our grandson and KENNY and JIM DIXON, brothers, by THE SWEEDEN FAMILY, CA, $50

GLENN & DORIS LARSON, by DONOWAN LARSON, SD, $100

GLENN ZABEL, my husband, by TRUDY ZABEL and our son, DARRELL, MN, $100

GREGORY J. WALSH, remembering his Birthday, by PATTI LAUGHLIN, his wife, MN, $300

HARLEY & ROSIE SCHLEMMER, my brother and his wife, by MARTHA SPETMAN, IA, $50

HEATH ALLEN, my beloved son, by MAMA MARY, IA, $45

HELENA, by HARRIETT SIMPSON, SC, $250

HERMAN (JR) STUBBE, by ROGER & JANELLE KOOIKER, IA, $30

HOWARD MILLIS, by LINDA HEATH, SD, $25

IRMA DEAL, by MONIQUE ROYAL, NM, $50

JACK & JANE WEBB, by JOHN STAUFFER, NC, $50

JAMES, my beloved husband, and MARION COYLE, my mother-in-law, by CHARLOTTE M. COYLE, NE, $50

JAN & GERALD GOETZINGER, by MIKE GOETZINGER, SD, $100

JANIE, my mom, by JOHN WOLF, TN, $100

JASMINE, by MIKE NATIONS, WA, $10

JAYNE, by JONI & DAN, NE, $150

JERALD SCHULZ, my wonderful husband, by GWENDOLYN SCHULZ, SD, $150

JERRI and LORI, infant twin sisters, by ANONYMOUS, SD, $5

JOANNE L. SKOG, my wife, by LELAND SKOG, WI, $500

JOHN S. JACK, my husband, ROLANDE MARGARET PRONOVOST, my sister and WALLACE PRONOVOST, my brother, by LILLIAN JACK, FL, $25

JOHN, my beloved husband, remembering his Birthday, by JACI DANIELSON, MN, $50

JONATHON (JON) HANDY, by DONN HANDY, MI, $400

JOYCE & DEAN WEBER, by LESLI KAY BEECHER, WY, $200

KARIN LEMENAGER, by RONALD LEMENAGER, MN, $50

LES LUND, by GISELA LUND, WI, $25

LESTER LONGTINE, my dad, and GLADYS & TONY JOHNSON, my mom & stepdad, by FAYE POLEJEWSKI, MN, $100

LORELII ODLAND, by DALE & MARY SHEARER, SD, $100

LORELII ODLAND, by JOHN & KELLY CLARK, SD, $100

LORENE, my wife, with Jesus for 12 years, by BOB GREEN, MO, $100

LOUIS CAPLOVITZ, my husband, GENEVA SHANNON, my mother, and ETTA MAY AMIS, my aunt, by PHYLISS CAPLOVITZ, WA, $25

LUCILLE & KEVIN WOODSON, by JERRY & ELIZABETH BROWN, MO, $20

MARGARET ANDERSON, by LYNDON ANDERSON, MN, $50

MARIA PIRES, by CARLOS PIRES, MA, $50

MARLYS ANN LARSON, my wife, by DONOWAN LARSON, SD, $100

MARSHA SOVAK, my loving wife, by EUGENE SOVAK, PA, $200

MAURICE STEIGER, my beloved husband, by JUNE STEIGER, MN, $100

MAXINE, my sister, by GAIL D. LARSON, MN, $100

MOM & DAD, by MERLENE MADDOX, WY, $100

MOM and SUSIE, by FRANCIE TONEY, MO, $25

MY FAMILY, who are now with Jesus, our Lord, by MYRNA SHINPAUGH, FL, $75

MY MOM, DAD, DAUGHTER and HUSBAND, by REBECCA SWEATT, WA, $50

MY PARENTS, by CLAUDIA HOPKEY, IA, $25

NEIL R. HEIMAN, by VERA HEIMAN, SD, $50

NELSON & EVELYN MUNDT, by ARTHUR SILL, MI, $25

OUR PARENTS, by VICKI PANGRAC, MN, $300

PASTOR SALEM:

ANTONIO DECRESCENTIS, NY, $35

BARBARA CUMMINS, MO, $10

BARBARA HARTWELL, NH, $100

JERRY & VICKI SKIDMORE, AZ, $50

JOYCE SOTTONG, IN, $100

JUDY FELLERS, OK, $30

LAWRENCE PLEVA, MI, $25

MICHAEL CROUCHER, MN, $100

NORMA JEAN BAIRD, MN, $100

PAUL GLOVER, FL, $25

PHYLLIS BIRTH, IL, $20

SANDI ANTHONY, MO, $50

SYLVIA OKERSTROM, MN, $50

THOMAS MCCLENDON, GA, $75

UNIV BC OUTREACH, AR, $100

WAYNE NESS, SD, $100

PAYTON SUTTON, my great-grandson, by BARBARA CUMMINS, MO, $10

PHYLLIS VILLEMURE, my wife, by RICHARD VILLEMURE, MO, $200

RAY, my husband, and STEPHANIE, my sister, by GERI EGGERT, MO, $500

RICHARD THOMAS, by FRANCES THOMAS, OH, $25

RUBY EINSPAHR, my grandmother, by JOHN WULF, SD, $100

SAMUEL GRIFFITHS & TINA GRIFFITHS, our son and daughter, by WILLIAM & MARIA GRIFFITHS, SD, $400

SELVA NICKELS, my wife, by ROBERT NICKELS, FL, $200

SNEAKER, by MIKE NATIONS, WA, $25

SONJA ALEXANDER, my mother, by DASHIEL WHAM, WA, $1,000

SYLVIA FLESHER, my mother, by BUFFY FLESHER, GA, $200

VERGIL BENZ, my loving husband, by DELORES BENZ, SD, $200

W.G. (BILL) KORVER, my husband, and ABIGAIL FRANCES, my granddaughter, by FRAN KORVER, OK, $150

WILLIAM FILYAN, our friend, by JAMES & MARY WINDHAM III, GA, $100

WINT HARRIS, my husband, by MARLA HARRIS, CO, $500

WM. F. WEGNER, my father, by PATRICIA WITT, NE, $40

Any Memorials or Dedications after 9/10/2025 will be listed in the November New Song

Dedications

In Honor of…

ARLEN & ANNE MOKE, celebrating our 50th Wedding Anniversary, SD, $50

CHARLES & ELIZABETH HOLM, my parents, by CHARLOTTE KUENNING, WI, $25

CHARLOTTE, my mom, by DAVID PETERSON, ND, $28

DARRYL, my husband, celebrating his Birthday, by JANICE SACK, MT, $100

DONALD, celebrating the survival of a bad accident 55 years ago, MN, $55

EDNA BLYTHE YOUDERIAN BURR, my mother who showed me who God is, by LAURA HAZELL, MO, $25

EVA STEPHANIE BATEZ WASHINGTON, CHRISTOPHER WULF, CARLOS SANTIAGO, LIZBETH COULTER, KELLY MATSUI, EUGENE MATSUDA and MICHAEL VALACH, by TERRY WASHINGTON, IL, $20

FAMILY BIRTHDAYS IN JULY & AUGUST, by KEVIN & BECKY DALLMANN, ND, $200

FLOYD KOSKI, by JANET KOSKI, MN, $15

GIUSEPPA ZAPPALA, by PAOLO ZAPPALA, FL, $20

GOD, by TAMMI AYCOTH, TX, $25

GOD, JESUS OUR LORD & HOLY SPIRIT, by MARY, IA, $165

HARRIET, DEAN, LUANN and JOEL, by CASEY WRIGHT, NE, $20

JAXSON, HUDSON and MAVERICK, my grandsons, by MARILYNN PETERSON, SD, $100

JESUS, by RAYMOND REDFORD, MN, $25

KAREN CARLSON, my mom, celebrating her October Birthday, by JENNIFER JONES, MI, $200

MY HUSBAND, celebrating 63 years with the man I still love, by MARY L. WINDHAM III, GA, $100

MY MOTHER, by DOLORES GONZALVES, NV, $400

OUR ANNIVERSARY MONTH, by EDISON BLOEM, COSTA RICA, $100

PATRICIA MOODY, by WAYNE SPEAS, MI, $30

PINKI, my granddaughter, celebrating her 16th Birthday, by JANICE SACK, MT, $100

REESA HARRIS, my neighbor who truly loves the Lord, by RUSSELL GROFF, PA, $225

ROBERT & LORETTA JONES and MARTIN & JENATTE KRAMER, by DARMON & JANICE JONES, MN, $75

THE CWH MINISTRY, by ANDREA MARTINEZ, AZ, $25

WESLEY L. FRITZ, by CARLENE FRITZ, TX, $100

Any Memorials or Dedications after 9/10/2025 will be listed in the November New Song

This Month's Weekly Sermon Schedule

60 Minute Service

OCTOBER 05   “WHOSE CHILD IS THIS?”   MARK 10:13-16

OCTOBER 12   “TITHING: WHOSE IDEA WAS IT?”   MALACHI 3:7-11

OCTOBER 19   “ANGELS: YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT”   ACTS 12:5-11

OCTOBER 26   “ANGELS: GOD’S SECRET AGENTS”   PSALM 91:1-11

30 Minute Service

OCTOBER 05   “WHOSE CHILD IS THIS?”   MARK 10:13-16

OCTOBER 12   “TITHING: WHOSE IDEA WAS IT?”   MALACHI 3:7-11

OCTOBER 19   “ANGELS: YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT”   ACTS 12:5-11

OCTOBER 26   “ANGELS: GOD’S SECRET AGENTS”   PSALM 91:1-11

Devotional Book

Resources: Publications, CDs and DVDs

Sermons are available upon request in CD or DVD format.

Please specify Date, Title, and 30- or 60-minute sermon when ordering.

Free will offering is appreciated.