By David Bragg
On December 4, 1965 King Solomon of
Old Testament fame, the successor of David (the man
after God’s own heart; Acts 13:22) and the wisest man
who ever lived had the number one song on the Billboard
Hot 100 chart. His song, Turn! Turn! Turn! (To
Everything There Is a Season), can be found in
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
Solomon, who received no royalties
for his composition, has folk singer/songwriter and
anti-war activist Pete Seeger to thank for his
long-delayed success. Seeger contributed only six words
at the end of the song, seven if you count the title:
Turn! Turn! Turn! It was first recorded in 1959 by
Seeger, then in 1962 by the Limeliters, and most
successfully by the Bryds in 1965 when it became an
international hit which holds the record for the oldest
lyrics of any number one song.
In Ecclesiastes 3 Solomon writes of
the ever-changing phases of life as we face, by chance,
various emotions and circumstances (“a time to every
purpose under the heaven”). Seeger’s song, an anti-war
anthem, emphasized that there was “a time of war, and a
time of peace.” But consider this observation: “There is
a time to laugh; a time to mourn.” What an appropriate
snapshot of daily life mixed with happy moments and
crushingly sad ones. Isn’t it great that, in Christ, we
can weather these constantly shifting emotions with a
deeply rooted joy? Persecuted. Tempted. Tried.
Christians can rejoice in all those times because of the
joy in Christ that enables us to “Rejoice in the
Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”
- David Bragg serves as one of the ministers at the
Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC and is
co-editor of BulletinGold. He may be contacted through
the congregation's website: http://www.nwchurchofchrist.com/
or his blog: http://davidbragg.blogspot.com/
By David R. Ferguson
In 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 the Apostle
Paul writes, “For I delivered to you as of first
importance what I also received: that Christ died for
our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was
buried, that He was raised on the third day in
accordance with the Scriptures, and that He appeared to
Cephas, then to the twelve.” It may come as a surprise
to some of you, but if you would try to find the passage
in the Old Testament that says specifically, “The
Messiah will be raised from the dead on the third day,”
guess what? You’re not going to find it. But it’s
positively true, nonetheless, that according to
Scripture, the Law of Moses does make this prophecy,
just as Paul says. But to find it requires study, which
is exactly what Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15
[ESV], “Do your best to present yourself to God as one
approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed,
rightly handling the word of truth.”
Remember how John cried out, “Behold,
the Lamb of God!” in John 1:36 when he saw Jesus walking
one day? Paul showed how Jesus fulfilled the Passover in
1 Corinthians 5:7-8 [ESV] when he wrote, “Cleanse out
the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really
are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been
sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not
with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but
with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
Jesus not only was our Passover, but
He was also the Firstfruits! And Paul ties the
firstfruits specifically to the resurrection: “But in
fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the
Firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1
Corinthians 15:20 [ESV]). In verse 23 [ESV] of that
chapter, Paul writes, “But each in his own order: Christ
the Firstfruits, then at His coming those who belong to
Christ.” No wonder, then, that Paul wrote so confidently
about the resurrection occurring on the third day
according to the Scriptures! No wonder that Jesus stated
this so emphatically time after time! Christ rose from
the dead as the Firstfruits of those that slept. He was
the antitype of the wave sheaf, and His resurrection
took place on the very day that the wave sheaf was to be
presented before the Lord, which was the third day
following Passover (Leviticus 23:5-11)!
It is my continued hope and prayer
that the Lord will bless you and your family!
- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Lakeland Church of
Christ in Mattoon, IL. He may be contacted through
the congregation's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lakelandchurchofchrist/
or davidferguson61@yahoo.com
By Caleb J. Rutherford
Have you ever eaten honey? Or how
about honeycomb? See, I am not a fan of either. The only
way I will eat honey is if it is drizzled over a hot
biscuit. But I do know, however, the sweetness that
comes with honey and the honeycomb. It is something that
is quite pleasant to many people, and something that
would be considered a treat to eat.
I think about the book of Proverbs,
and how so often, the plea for its readers is to adhere
to the wisdom and the knowledge of God. To remember the
advice of the Father, to apply it to our lives, so that
we might be able to make the best decisions possible in
the coming future. I specifically think about chapter 24
and vs. 13 - “My son, eat honey because it is good, and
the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste; (14) So
shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; If you
have found it, there is a prospect, and your hope will
not be cut off.” No one likes to put something that
tastes bad in our mouths. If someone does not like
broccoli, he will not seek out broccoli to eat. But
honey, it is sweet, it is good to the taste (for some
people), and it is something that most would seek out,
in order to eat it. Well the same should be with
knowledge and wisdom. It ought to be something that we
hunger for. It ought to be something to strive for.
It should be something that is sweet
to our lives, because we know it will better our lives.
So often, people do not want help. Many people in our
world today think we have it all figured out; and, “who
are you to tell me that I need advice on how to deal
with this or that.” And yet so often, we make mistake
after mistake after wrong choice after wrong choice,
simply because we did not listen to the wisdom and
advice that someone has to offer. If we know that
someone can help us in a situation, we ought to be
people who will swallow our pride, get rid of our
arrogance, and listen to the advice. Well the same is
true with us spiritually. We know that the Word of God
has everything that we need in order to be the best
Christian that we can be (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Therefore,
why would we not allow it to shape and change our lives?
Why would we not allow the wisdom and the knowledge of
our God, help form us into the best servants for Him?
Let’s be individuals who seek out the wisdom of God, and
not only seek it, but then apply it to our everyday
lives.
- Caleb J. Rutherford is the Associate Preacher
for the Warners Chapel church of Christ in Clemmons, NC.
He may be contacted through the congregation's website:
http://warnerschapelchurchofchrist.org/
By Al Behel
A teenager took a rope and hanged
himself in the family’s shed, depressed about his
relationship with his girlfriend. A two year old is
beaten with belts, her head repeatedly dunked into cold
bath water, and is thrown to the floor because she
doesn’t consistently say “please” and “thank you.” She
dies from her injuries.
These examples of troubled hearts are
extreme, but frightening familiar. Most people don’t
take their frustrations out in such violent ways. They
may become depressed, have difficulty sleeping, eat too
much, or turn to substance abuse to numb the pain. They
may react in anger or internalize their stress. They are
still very troubled, nonetheless. They have lost their
sense of balance and meaning.
We are told that everyone has a
breaking point though few of us reach it. We ask how it
could happen and why we didn’t see it coming. Could we
have prevented it? What would have made a difference in
the outcome?
King David found the answer when he
confronted his own enemies. He said, “In my distress I
called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From
his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached
his ears” (Psalms 18:6). He went on to tell of God’s
powerful response in delivering him.
Depression and despair that is borne
of anger is like a brain cancer that eats away our
peace. David continued, “Yea, you light my lamp; the
Lord my God lightens my darkness” (18:28). The darkness
of despair is made bright as day when we place our
confidence in God. Unfortunately, many people never come
to know the peace God provides.
Where do you go when you are
discouraged or troubled in heart? Do you turn to
destructive actions or become bitter? Or do you sit
quietly and call on the Lord? Do you lift Him up in your
heart and listen to His voice? He will lift you up.
By R.W. McAlister
In an age where modesty is
disappearing, especially in regard to how we dress, it’s
important that we remember how to distinguish between
modest and immodest dress.
In Titus 2:5, the Bible says
that older women are to teach younger women, “To be
discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to
their own husbands, that the word of God be not
blasphemed.” Discreet, chaste – I Timothy 2:9 says women
should be adorned in “...modest apparel, with
shamefacedness, and sobriety...” If you have any doubts
about the clothing you’re considering wearing, ask
yourself, “Can I wear this with shamefacedness?”
Shamefacedness means, “with a sense of shame.” Clothing
which doesn’t reflect a shame of one’s nakedness is not
modest clothing. In other words, clothing that glorifies
or puts on display much of the body is not something
anyone can wear with shamefacedness. Consider these
questions:
Can I wear this with sobriety?
Sobriety means, “Sound judgment.” Clothing which doesn’t
reflect sound judgment of how God would have us to dress
is not modest clothing. If your state of dress indicates
that you might be willing to engage in activity that in
reality, you have no intention of being part of, then
you need to dress differently – you need to dress with
sobriety.
Can I wear this with
discreteness? Discreteness means, “self-control.”
Clothing which doesn’t reflect a sense of self-control
or which causes others to experience a lapse of
self-control is not modest clothing and should never be
worn in public! Again, this idea applies to putting on
less cotton than you find in the top of the aspirin
bottle and it also apples to the other extreme of
excessively fancy clothing, heavy makeup, or
ostentatious hairstyles.
When you’re getting ready go
out, especially to come to worship God, spend your time
getting ready spiritually more than physically.
Remember, real beauty comes from within and is measured
by the size of your inward self (Eph. 3:14-19).
Can I wear this and at the same
time be chaste? Chaste means, “pure from carnality.”
Clothing which excites the passions and lusts of the
flesh is not modest apparel and no one could so dress
and remain chaste as per Titus 2:5!
Thanks be to God for giving us
these guidelines and making it plain how we ought to
dress and present ourselves before others and before the
Creator of the universe! May we all strive to honor God
in all that we do.
- R. W. McAlister preaches for the Anna Church of Christ
in Anna, IL.He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://www.annachurchofchrist.com/
By Ron Bartanen
As a ship would need an anchor to
prevent it from being driven by the wind and waves onto
a rugged, rock-infested shore and destroyed, without
exception we all need an anchor for our lives to keep us
from the storms of life that would destroy us. Our faith
in Christ is just such an anchor—and especially we would
view the resurrection of Christ in this regard. While
all religions have their revered founders and gurus, all
are powerless against the winds of time that would drive
us onto the shores of God’s judgment. Only Christianity
has a founder who died for our sins and been raised from
the dead. Death is not the ultimate conqueror. Though
even Jesus, in death, willingly gave up His spirit into
the Father’s hands, yet, as a verse in one of our hymns
declares, “Death could not keep his prey.” He arose in
triumph over death, and holds within His hands “the keys
of hell (hades) and of death” (Rev. 1:18). Ours is not a
dead savior, but the Living One. Without the assurance
of a living Savior, we would be at the mercy of all that
is spiritually destructive to our souls. We would not
even be assured of who Jesus is—the Son of God. After
all, anyone could make the claim. Of Jesus alone can it
be said that He was “declared to be the Son of God with
power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the
resurrection of Jesus from the dead” (Romans 1:4). We
know who He is because of His resurrection.
Without His resurrection we would
have no assurance of our own. Death would be the great
ultimate destroyer. But because He was raised, we, too,
will be raised. In 1 Corinthians 15, the apostle Paul
linked our resurrection to His, saying, “If Christ be
not raised, your faith is vain: ye are yet in your sins.
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are
perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ,
we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ
risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them
that slept. For since by man (Adam) came death, by man
(Christ) came also the resurrection of the dead”
(15:17-20). Hebrews 6:19-20a compares His resurrection
to the believer’s anchor, declaring, “which hope we have
as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and
which entereth into that within the veil, whither the
forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus.” This hope is
secure—“within the veil,” that is, beyond the veil of
death into heaven itself, where the risen Christ has
entered as the “forerunner”, preparing the way for our
resurrection. Our eternal welfare is established only in
the crucified, risen and glorified Son of God. For the
believer, it is as one hymn declares: “We have an anchor
that keeps the soul, Steadfast and sure while the ages
roll….”
The greatest question we could ask
is: Is your faith anchored and made secure in Christ.
Have you accepted Him, who, by the grace of God, “tasted
death for every man?” (Hebrews 2:9) Have you identified
yourself with Him in being “buried with Him in baptism”
and raised with Him to walk “in newness of life” (Rom.
6:3-4). Is it your hope to continue that walk till you
share in “the likeness of His resurrection” (6:5)?—to
share His
glory?
- Ronald Bartanen preaches for Arthur Church of Christ,
Arthur, IL. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://arthurcoc.com/
By Johnny Hester
Luke 23:44-46, Now it was about
the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the
earth until the ninth hour.
Then the sun was darkened, and
the veil of the temple was torn in two.
And when Jesus had cried out
with a loud voice, He said,
“Father, ‘into Your hands I
commit My spirit’.”
Having said this, He breathed
His last.
“He breathed His last.” Those words
cause one’s heart to sink. When Jesus exhaled for
a final time on the cross, all the minions of Hell may
well have thought that the battle was over and that
victory belonged to Satan their evil commander. But how
wrong they were! And how horrified they must have been
just a short time later! Yes, Jesus suffered and died.
He was buried. But then “He rose again the third day,
according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4)!
Furthermore, “He [The Father] has put all things under
His feet” (v. 27)! Think for a moment about the
wonderful implications of that truth that should compel
us to praise, worship and live for God.
“He has put all things under His
feet” (v. 27). Do you ever feel that you are in way over
your head with problems? That may be the case, but Jesus
is over all things. He is in Heaven, interceding on your
behalf! A glorious fact is powerfully declared in Romans
8:34, “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died,
and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right
hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”
Where are your problems? “Under His feet”! Jesus is
alive! He is in control! Jesus is coming again!
Beloved, is there someone in your
life who is hurting, suffering, struggling? Consider
sending that person a note of encouragement and be sure
to use Romans 8:34 as a closing verse of hope. Letting
one know that Christ is alive, above, active and working
on the behalf of His people can bring a comfort and
strength that nothing else can produce.
- Johnny Hester preaches for the Matthews Church of
Christ in Matthews, MO. He may be contacted at johnnyhester@yahoo.com
By Rob Albright
Herod wanted to put Jesus
to death (Matthew 2:13). The people from Jesus’ home
town rejected Him (Lk.4:16-30). The apostles, chosen by
Jesus to take His message to the world, were generally
not admired. The early disciples who started to follow
Jesus were often treated with contempt.
Those of us today who
have decided to follow Jesus and become a Christ-like
individual still face various challenges. Peter’s words
encourage us to be steadfast and always be ready to give
an answer to everyone who asks us about the hope we have
and the life we live (1 Peter 3:13-16). Unjust suffering
for being a Christian and doing good, still happens in
our world today.
We may be tempted to give
up .But stop and think who we are following. Jesus was
God in the flesh (John 1:1,14). He is the Savior and the
Lord. I know, there were some who thought when he died
on the cross (John 19:32-33) that the talk about Him
would cease. Well – on that Sunday morning (Matthew
28:1-9) Jesus was raised from the dead and appeared to
many people over the next 40 days. This is the greatest
proof that Jesus is Savior and
Lord.
- Rob Albright serves as one of the ministers at
the Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC. He may
be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.nwchurchofchrist.com/
By
Edd Sterchi
During a time when our
nation should be coming
together to battle a common enemy
(cornavirus), it seems that we are more divided than
ever(politically and socially). Unfortunately a
big part of this is racism. This is not God’s
plan for man.
God designed humanity – all of
humanity – to be made in His image (Gen. 1:26; Acts
17:28-29). There should be no prejudice against
any human, as they are a creation of and made in the
likeness of God and all consist of one race – the
human race.
When Jesus designed the church, He
made it a place that was to be without race, social
status, or gender. “There is neither Jew nor
Greek, there isneither slave nor free, there is
neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ
Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28).
God’s plan for the church is that
people from all backgrounds come together and are
equal. The saved in heaven (which were the
church upon the earth)are described in Rev. 7:9 as
coming “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples
and languages.” They were all equal in God’s
eyes.
Peter, through inspiration,
referenced the church as “a chosen race” in 1Pet.
2:9. This shows the church as perfectly unified
with no “outsiders.” Think about it, God declares that
in His church, there are not different ethnic groups,
but they all consist of one ethnic group regardless of
background,upbringing, or geographic origin.
In essence, we could look at it
this way: In the church, we are made to be one race –
and within one race there can be no racism.
Thus, in the church, we must
condemn all forms of racism, bigotry,prejudice, and
discrimination. We must call it for what it is:
sin! Racial injustice is incompatible with the
message of the gospel in which Jesus came and died for
all (Heb. 7:27; 1 John 2:2).
It’s time to look beyond politics
and prejudices and see people. People that God
created. People that can be made one through the
gospel.
- Edd Sterchi preaches for the Broadway Church of Christ
in Campbellsville, KY. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://www.broadwaychurchofchrist.net/
By Donna Wittlif
“And my God shall supply every need of yours
according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”
(Philippians 4:19).
What do you need? A bigger house? A
new car? Wellness and health of body and mind? Perhaps
it is in everyone’s nature to desire material things
that he thinks he needs. Many covet things that will
make life easier or give them a longer and more
comfortable life. But what do we really need?
Philippians 4:19 promises that God
will supply our every need. We have to remember that
this is God talking, not man. God does not view things
as we do. He did not send His Son to give us things.
Jesus did not come to make man rich, or healthy, or
sane, although He did lots of healing of people’s bodies
and minds while He was on Earth.
Jesus came to give our soul
everything it needs. If we were hungry, we would think
we need food. If we had no house, we would believe we
need a place to live. If we were so poor we could not
pay for the comforts of life, we would desire money.
But what if the doctor told you that
you had a week to live? Or what if Jesus were to come
today? What would you need? Would it be something
material? No. Your biggest need would be for God—for His
presence, His comfort, His care, and His promise that
you will be with Him for eternity. In the end, all that
would matter is that you have God.
The most precious possession we can
have is friendship with God. Psalm 118 says, “Oh give
thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his
lovingkindness endures forever.” The rest of the psalm
tells why. We cannot live without God. He is our
greatest need.
Hymn: “I Need Thee Every Hour”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, let us never
forget that we need You and to know that You are there
for us and that You will help us when we call on You in
prayer. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
- Donna
Wittlif, the founder and first editor of BulletinGold,
lives in Denver, CO. Donna is also a writer of
fiction. Her novels, World Eternal: Promises
and World Eternal: Proselytes, and World
Eternal: Perils, and her newest book, Finding
Her Heart, are available on Amazon, Barnes
& Noble, and other book outlets. For more
information visit her website. http://www.donnarwittlif.com/
By Joe Chesser
This week our great nation is
celebrating its independence. For 244 years now we have
been a free nation. We are blessed in countless ways as
citizens of the United States of America. Far too often
these blessings are taken for granted. A new wave of
patriotism and awareness of our blessings swept the
country following the terrorists’ attacks on September
11, 2001. Though not as obvious as then, patriotism is
still strong.
Patriotism is defined as “love of
country and a willingness to sacrifice for it.” Other
words related to the idea patriotism are loyalty,
devotion, self-sacrifice, and brotherhood. Because of
their love of our country and the people who populate
it, men and women willingly risk their lives to protect
and defend our liberties and freedoms. At this time of
year, patriotism swells within us a sense of pride and
renews our devotion when we hear our national anthem or
when we simply notice our beautiful flag flying in the
breeze. This is a perfect time to display our
patriotism. Fly your flags. Decorate your cars and
yards. Pray for America.
As Christians we have the privilege
of taking the idea of patriotism to an even higher and
greater plane, to the spiritual level. One of the
analogies the Bible uses to describe the people of God
is as a kingdom or a nation. In fact, the kingdom was
the central image Jesus used to relate his gospel to us.
He began his ministry by declaring, “The kingdom of God
is near. Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15).
Jesus spoke many kingdom parables. The very heart of the
words messiah and Christ is that Jesus is the King of
his spiritual nation. Of Christians Peter wrote, “You
are a chosen people ... a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9).
Whenever and wherever people surrender to the rule of
God, there will be the kingdom of God, the church of
God.
But note. Many of us have deep
feelings of patriotism towards America. We love the USA,
and we give our time, energy and money to participate in
patriotic events and organizations. All this is good. It
has its place. But how much better it is to love the
Lord’s kingdom and sacrifice your time, energy and money
for it.
As great as America is, it will not
last forever. It may be overpowered someday by a more
powerful nation. Our economy may someday crumble and
fall. The examples of the great Roman and Alexandrian
empires vividly demonstrate this possibility. But the
Lord’s kingdom will never be destroyed (Daniel 2:44).
Even Satan with his demonic forces cannot destroy the
kingdom of God (Matthew 16:18).
Do you feel as patriotic towards the
church as you do America? Do you have feelings of pride,
loyalty and devotion for the church? Are you willing to
sacrifice for the Lord’s kingdom with your time, energy
and resources? If so, show it! Don’t hide your light
under a bushel. Don’t limit your Christian activities to
within the walls of a church building. Let everybody
know you are a citizen of the Kingdom of God!
- Joe Chesser preaches for the Fruitland Church of
Christ, Fruitland, MO. He may be contacted at joeandareva@yahoo.com
By David A. Sargent
When John Todd, a nineteenth-century
clergyman, was six years old, both of his parents died.
A kind-hearted aunt raised him until he left home to
study for the ministry. Later, this aunt became
seriously ill, and in distress she wrote Todd a letter.
“Would death mean the end of everything, or could she
hope for something beyond?” Here, condensed from The
Autobiography of John Todd, is the letter he sent
in reply:
It is now thirty-five years
since I, as a boy of six, was left quite alone in the
world. You sent me word you would give me a home and
be a kind mother to me. I have never forgotten the day
I made the long journey to your house. I can still
recall my disappointment when, instead of coming for
me yourself, you sent your servant, Caesar, to fetch
me.
I remember my tears and anxiety as,
perched high on your horse and clinging tight to
Caesar, I rode off to my new home. Night fell before
we finished the journey, and I became lonely and
afraid. “Do you think she’ll go to bed before we get
there?” I asked Caesar.
“Oh no!” he said reassuringly, “She’ll
stay up for you. When we get out o’ these here woods,
you’ll see her candle shinin’ in the window.”
Presently we did ride out into the
clearing, and there, sure enough, was your candle. I
remember you were waiting at the door, that you put
your arms close about me — a tired and bewildered
little boy. You had a fire burning on the hearth, a
hot supper waiting on the stove. After supper you took
me to my new room, heard me say my prayers, and then
sat beside me till I fell asleep.
Some day soon God will send for you, to
take you to a new home. Don’t fear the summons, the
strange journey, or the messenger of death. God can be
trusted to do as much for you as you were kind enough
to do for me so many years ago. At the end of the road
you will find love and a welcome awaiting, and you
will be safe in God’s care. *
The
words of John Todd reflect the hope that one has in
Christ.
The Apostle Paul was a Roman prisoner
not knowing the outcome of his impending trial. He
considered the possibilities (please read Philippians
1:21-24). If he were acquitted, then he could continue
to serve God. If he were to be given the death penalty,
then he would look forward to going to heaven to be with
Christ, “which is far better.”
Eternal life beyond the grave with
God in heaven – this is the eternal hope of a Christian.
That hope is a living hope, because
Jesus died for our sins on the cross, was buried, and He
rose again.
“Praise be to the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given
us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection
of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance
that can never perish, spoil or fade -- kept in heaven
for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power
until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be
revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5 NIV).
God will save and give eternal life
to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts
16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10),
and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the
forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will continue to
cleanse from sin and prepare for heaven those who
continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John
1:7-9).
A warm welcome awaits the child of
God in the resurrection.
Won’t YOU accept God’s offer of
salvation, sonship, and eternal life?
- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at
Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an
electronic devotional entitled "Living Water." To learn more about
this excellent resource contact David via their website:
http://www.creekwoodcc.org
* As quoted by Vernon Grounds, www.bible.org
By Edd Sterchi
From a rather obscure person from a
generally overlooked section of Scripture comes an
important biblical principle. After giving His
Sermon on the Mount, Jesus healed a leper (Matt.
8:1-4) and a centurion’s servant (Matt. 8:5-13).
Then in verses 14 and 15 of Matthew chapter 8, we
read, “Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He
saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever.
So He touched her hand, and the fever left her.
And she arose and served them.” From the actions
of Peter’s unnamed mother-in-law, we learn this
principle: We are saved to serve.
Burton Coffman in his commentary of
Matthew says of this incident: “Peter’s mother-in-law
attested the completeness of her healing by rising at
once to minister to the Lord. No blessing of any
kind, physical or spiritual, is intended solely for
the benefit of the recipient. People are saved
to save others. Those who were healed were
healed to serve others!”
This principle is also clearly
brought forth in Eph. 2:8-10: “For by grace you have
been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone
should boast. For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand that we should walk in
them.” We are not saved to sit, we were saved to
be active. We are not saved to be served, we are
saved to serve. Indeed, let us always remember that we
were created anew in Christ so that we may show the
love of Christ to others. The world may
never see Christ until they see Him living through our
love and service.
Has God blessed you? Then
bestow blessings upon others. Has God helped
you? Then heap helpings upon others. Has
God delivered you? Has God been good to
you? Then deliver goodness to others.
Jesus said that the second greatest commandment was
closely tied to the first: to love your neighbor as
you love yourself (Matt. 22:39). Let’s all make
better efforts at better serving in the name of
Christ.
“For God is not unjust to forget
your work and labor of love which you have shown
toward His name, in that you have ministered to the
saints, and do minister.” (Heb. 6:10)
- Edd Sterchi preaches for the Broadway Church of
Christ in Campbellsville, KY. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website.
By
Ronald Bartanen
“Then the whole multitude of the
country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to
depart from them: for they were taken with great
fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned
back again” (Luke 8:37).
Jesus Christ will not impose
Himself upon anyone. He won’t stay where he’s
unwanted. The Gadarenes were so upset with Jesus
when He cast a legion of demons from a man and sent
them into nearby hogs. To them, the hogs were of
more value than the man, so they “besought him to
depart from them.” In our world today there is an
increasing animosity towards Jesus as He seemingly
intrudes into men’s comfort-zones. Even the mention
of His name in prayer is not considered appropriate
in schools, the military, etc. His word is
considered out-of-date and irrelevant.
Some would purposely exclude Him
from their lives. These would tell us there should
be no positive mention of Him in school or public
activities. He is even being written out of school
history books.
Some would exclude Him in their
choice of life-style. Evil so fills their hearts and
lives, it is impossible for Christ to take up
residence in them. He is excluded from their lives.
Some would crowd Him out—not
purposely, but simply by filling their lives with
material things. Such find no time for Christ, Bible
reading or church. Other things clamor for their
attention.
What about you? Would you be
among those to send Him away? Or would you welcome
Him into your life?
- Ronald Bartanen preaches for Arthur Church of
Christ, Arthur, IL. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website.
By
Ron Adams
Hebrews chapter 11 is often
referred to as “The Role Call
of the Old Testament
Faithful” and rightly so. And there are other
individuals that are often mentioned in the New
Testament: the Apostles, Paul, Timothy, Titus,
Mark, Luke, Barnabas. But many other Christians were
busy doing what they could
where they were. In Romans chapter
16, we are given the names of some. I
prefer to call this
the “Roll Call of Ordinary
Christians” – true foot
soldiers of the cross.
Phoebe, who
is a servant of the
church which is at Cenchrea . . . Prisca and
Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ
Jesus, who for my life risked
their own necks . .
. Epaenetus, my beloved, who is
the first convert to Christ from Asia . . . Mary,
who has worked hard for you … Andronicus and
Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners,
who are outstanding among the apostles, who also
were in Christ before me … Ampliatus,
my beloved in the Lord
… Urbanus, our fellow
worker in Christ … Stachys
my beloved . . . Apelles, the approved in Christ . .
. the household of Aristobulus … Herodion,
my kinsman . . . the household of Narcissus,
who are in the Lord . . . Tryphaena and
Tryphosa, workers in the Lord
… Persis the beloved, who has worked
hard in the Lord . . . Rufus, a choice man
in the Lord, also his mother and mine .
. . Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes,
Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them .
. . Philologus and Julia . . . Nereus and
his sister . . . Olympas . . . and all
the saints who are with them.
Today, many Christians are busy
doing what they can where they are. We may never
know them or hear what
they have done, but their
work makes a difference. They don’t do it to be
praised by men but by God. Thank God for the “foot
soldiers” in each congregation – including this one.
“Have you heard . . .?”
- F.Y.C. is a monthly publication by Ron Adams.
Bible references are from the NASB except where
another translation is referenced. Back issues are
archived at http://ra10ar.com
Be thoughtful and kind. All rights reserved. © 2016
By
Ron Thomas
In the July 27th (2014)
edition of Parade Magazine there is an article on
the happily married (“Happily Ever After”). The gist
of the article is accentuating the positives in
marriage to make it last until “death do us part.”
Some 40 years ago, after some research on the topic,
psychologist John Gottman identified, with 90%
accuracy, four things that encourage (or move)
marriages to end in divorce (p. 8). They are:
criticism, defensiveness, contempt (rolling one’s
eyes), and stonewalling (or, the silence treatment).
That which contributes toward such behavior is
stress. If you reflect for a moment you will easily
recognize these things to be so.
What are some suggestions
for a happy marriage then? Once again, there are
four things identified. Offer some tenderness. Not
always easy to do, and one may have to travel
further than the other, but its usefulness is
obvious. Second, soften conflict with humor.
Wisdom and experience helps one (or the other) to
know when to make use of it. Third, support, but
don’t smother. Especially when there are problems,
or there is a problem; when the other knows his
(her) spouse is there to help and support through
the weakness (that is, helping to overcome), then
the marriage is strengthened. Fourth, share the
emotions of the other. When there is joy in one,
share it. When there is sorrow, share it.
As I reflect on these pieces of
practical advice, I note the Lord said such things
long ago, and He did so in fewer words than marital
counselors make use of today. In Matthew 7:12 one
reads: “In everything, treat others as you would
want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law
and the prophets” (NET). Later in His ministry, when
asked about the greatest command, Jesus started
first with love toward God, then love toward one’s
neighbor (Matthew 22:34-40). If these were
implemented in each and every marriage, under what
conditions would that marriage (or any marriage)
fail?
- Ron Thomas preacher for the Sunrush Church
of Christ, Chillicothe, OH. He may be
contacted at etsop95@gmail.com
By
Gerald Cowan
A certain man planned a great
dinner party and invited a number of people (Luke
14:16-33). Many evidently accepted the invitation
and so he went ahead with the preparation. When
things were ready he sent a servant to remind the
guests of their obligation to come. But they began,
one and all, to excuse themselves. One had a real
estate deal he wanted to investigate. Another wanted
to test some hew farm equipment. One couldn’t leave
his wife, and apparently did not want to bring her
along. And so it went. All offered apologies and
were sorry for any inconvenience to the host, but
... “You know how it is. A fellow just can’t do all
he wants to do when he wants to do it.” Well, you
can imagine that the host was pretty well put out by
the whole thing. So he said, “Those people had their
chance and missed it. Someone else will enjoy what
they have refused.” There is no indication that he
gave any of them a second chance.
What is the lesson? Just
this: If you are going to accept the Lord’s
invitation, count the cost and do not say yes unless
you mean to follow through. Do not think you can
commit yourself now and back out later with some
flimsy selfish excuse. Asking to be excused then
does not mean you will be forgiven.
- Gerald Cowan, a longtime preacher and missionary,
is retired from full-time pulpit preaching. Gerald
publishes an e-mail newsletter entitled GERALD
COWAN’S PERSONAL PERIODICAL WRITINGS. He is
available for Gospel Meetings and he may be
contacted at Geraldcowan1931@aol.com
By
Clifton Angel
Children are precious. They are
so precious that Jesus references how that
immediately after a mother gives birth to a child,
“she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a
man is born into the world” (John 16:21). Children
truly are a gift from God (Psalm 127), and though I
am yet to be a father, my heart is made merry by
observing their simplicity, energy, and seeming
innocency.
With that said, none of the above
proves that a child is sinless. If we reference a
child’s preciousness and seeming innocency, we are
only making an emotional appeal and not a Biblical
one. On the other extreme, if we reference a child’s
seeming disobedience, crying, and strain on the
parents to try to prove that they sin, we are only
making an emotional appeal and not a Biblical one.
And yes, I have heard of some referring to a
infant’s crying as evidence for that infant having
sin. Maybe you are reading this, and you believe
that. The question is, what does the Bible teach?
Some say that a child has sin
because it was passed down from his parents. Others
say that a child has sin because it was passed down
from Adam. But the Bible says this: “The soul that
sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the
iniquity of the father, neither shall the father
bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of
the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness
of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezekiel 18:20).
Sin is not transferable; it is one’s own
transgression of God’s laws (1 John 3:4). Can a
young child transgress God’s laws?
Implied in the act of sinning is
the mental ability to understand God’s laws. Implied
in the Gospel plan of salvation is the mental
ability to believe that one has sinned and that
Jesus bore our sins on the cross, which faith comes
from hearing God’s Word (Romans 10:17; Mark 16:16).
Implied in the Gospel plan of salvation is the
mental ability to repent—determining in one’s mind
that he will abandon a life of sin and embrace the
Savior (Acts 2:38); many adults do not understand
this one, much less a child. Implied in the Gospel
plan of salvation is the mental ability to submit
oneself to immersion in water for the forgiveness of
sins (Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3–4). Sprinkling an
infant is not Biblical immersion, nor is it the
infant’s decision.
According to the Bible, the title
for this article is an oxymoron—contradicting words
used in conjunction. Infants are not born with sin,
nor do they sin. “Jesus called a little child unto
him, and set him in the midst of them, and said,
Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and
become as little children, ye shall not enter into
the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:2–3). When a
person is converted, he is made pure—free from
sin—just as a child (Acts 3:19). Have you been
converted?
- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of
Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through
that congregation's website.
By
Alan Smith
Someone has compiled the
following list of the all-time worst Country &
Western song titles (These are actual songs):
- Her
Teeth Were Stained, But Her Heart Was Pure
- I
Liked You Better Before I Knew You So Well
- I
Still Miss You, Baby, But My Aim's Gettin'
Better
- I'm
So Miserable Without You, It's Like Having You
Here
- If
The Phone Don't Ring, Baby, You'll Know It's Me
- How
Can You Believe Me When I Say I Love You When
You Know I've Been A Liar All My Life?
- I
Keep Forgettin' I Forgot About You
- I
Would Have Wrote You A Letter, But I Couldn't
Spell Yuck
- I
Wouldn't Take Her To A Dawg Fight, Cause I'm
Afraid She'd Win
- If
You Don't Leave Me Alone, I'll Go And Find
Someone Else Who Will
- My
John Deere Was Breaking Your Field, While Your
Dear John Was Breaking My Heart
- Oh,
I've Got Hair Oil On My Ears And My Glasses Are
Slipping Down But Baby I Can See Through You
- They
May Put Me In Prison, But They Can't Stop My
Face From Breakin' Out
- You
Can't Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd
- If
My Nose Were Full of Nickels, I'd Blow It All On
You
- You're
The Reason Our Kids Are So Ugly
- How
Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away?
- If
You Leave Me, Can I Come Too?
Those are some strange titles! But the last
one reminds me of a conversation Jesus had with his
disciples the night before his crucifixion. In John
14-17, Jesus talked with his disciples about what to
expect after his death. Not surprisingly, the
disciples had a hard time understanding. Jesus kept
talking about "going away," but they didn't want to
be separated. Jesus tried to comfort them with
these words:
"And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again and receive you to
Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
(John 14:3)
It was hard for the
apostles to let go of Jesus. They couldn't
imagine life without him. But Jesus assured
them that though his departure was necessary, he
would be back to get his followers. If he left
them, they could one day come, too. Their
parting was a time a sorrow, but there were (and
are) joyful times ahead (John 16:20)! What a
great thought for all of God's children!
Jesus, can I come too?
Have a great day!
- Alan Smith, author of the popular "Thought For
Today," and minister for the Cruciform Church of
Christ in Spring Lake, North Carolina, may be
contacted at alansmith.servant@gmail.com or through
the congregation's website.
By
Jeff Arnette
"God is spirit, and those who
worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”" (ESV,
John 4:24)
For years I have heard this
passage used as justification for why we worship the
way we do. We cite this verse and then talk about
worshiping "in truth" with a focus on what we can or
cannot do in worship to God and Christ.
Does God care about your worship?
Does he care what you do? Of course he does but that
still misses a bigger point. We are so concerned
about the form of worship and what is being done
that we seem to miss the point of why we worship in
the first place. To focus on the truth of worship
(form and action) without the spirit of worship
(motivation and heart) still fails as worship in
God's eyes. Not only that but it fails as worship
for us too. Too many times our worship services fail
to impress upon us the greatness of what we are
doing. It fails to impress upon our hearts the joy
and excitement that should come as a result of being
in the presence of God and worshiping him. The end
result of worship that is missing the heart, the
spirit of worship, is everyone walks away not
feeling like they have worshiped God.
I want you to notice what David
said about what God really wants from us. "For
you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give
it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a
broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not
despise." Psalm 51:16-17 David reminds us
that what God really wants is our hearts. If going
through the motions of worship, if sacrifice and
burnt offerings were all that God was concerned
about that would be easy. God wants a broken spirit,
a broken and contrite heart. That is what God wants
and he will not despise or reject that.
This problem is spoken about
often in the New Testament. The problem is that we
are really good at following rules but not so good
at giving our hearts to God. In Matthew 15:7-9,
Jesus says that people are good at lip service but
their hearts are still far from God. In other words
we are good at going through the motions and still
not connecting our hearts to our worship of God.
When our hearts are far from God our worship is
vain, pointless, and ultimately unsatisfying to
everyone involved.
So what should we do about this?
How can we ensure that what we give God is our
hearts and not just lip service? We must give him
our entire heart and let that be the motivating
force of all that we do. "And now, Israel, what
does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear
the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to
love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your
heart and with all your soul, and to keep the
commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am
commanding you today for your good?" Deuteronomy
10:12–13
- Jeff Arnette preaches for the Central Haywood
church of Christ, Clyde, NC. He may be
contacted through the congregation's website.
By David Bragg
Her voice is pleasant, but
authoritative, as she leads countless people every day
to their destinations. "Bear right." "Turn left."
"Stay in the left lane." "Make a u-turn." Even when it
goes against our better judgment, the temptation is
always present to blindly follow her.
Perhaps that is precisely what an
Illinois man was thinking in 2015 as he and his wife
were traveling through Indiana. Authorities admitted
that the driver was so focused on his GPS device that
he ignored barricades, orange barrels, cones, and
large signs declaring that not only was the road
closed but the bridge no longer existed (it was
demolished in 2009). Still the 64-year-old driver took
the ramp up and off what formerly was the Cline Bridge
(cnet.com). While he survived the 37 foot plunge, his
wife was not so fortunate.
As we navigate life it is crucial
for us to know who it is that we are following. In
every generation much heartache and loss could have
been avoided if only people had not blindly followed
the crowd. Yet, people still suffer for the "everyone
is doing it" mentality.
The danger is prevalent even today.
We are encouraged by the crowds to ignore the
old-fashioned commands to high moral standards of
Christianity. Yet the Bible admonishes us to stop and
consider who it is that we are following and just
where are we being led (1 Cor. 11:1Eph. 5:1-2; 1 Peter
2:21). God has warned us through the inspired writers
of the New Testament that, when it comes to our
spiritual journey, be careful who you follow.
- David Bragg serves as one of the ministers at the
Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC and is
co-editor of BulletinGold. He may be contacted through
the congregation's website.
