Life’s Three Most Important Questions

By Ron Bartanen     I can think of no question more important than these three: Who am I? Why am I here? And ... Where am I going? The escalating number of suicides, especially among youth, may be largely attributed to persons not knowing the answers to these questions.  One may pursue wealth, pleasure and fame, only to find that becomes little more than a dead-end-street.      Jesus, more than any other, gives purpose to life.  He demonstrated it in His own life, His life’s purpose was to know the will of the Father, and to do it.  He said, “I must work the works of Him who sent me” (John 9:4); and again, “My meat is to do the will of Him who sent me” (John 4:34).     Being here because God wants us here, and realizing that He desires to grant us eternal life, we find purpose in His Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus said, “I am come that you more abundantly” (John 10:10).       The successful life is not necessarily one of wealth and fame, but finding the will of God and doing it.  God calls us to serve.  With a purpose found in serving God, you will know who you are and why you are here.  Serving God in Christ, you will know also where you are going.

- Ronald Bartanen is a retired minister who for many years served the Lord's church in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. After the passing of his beloved wife, Doris, Ron has relocated from Illinois to Florida where he is near family. He may be contacted at: ron33dor@yahoo.com

Can We Trust the Bible as the Word of God?

By Bob Prichard
    In an age when we have little to trust or rely upon, we may wonder if even the Bible can be trusted. There are many reasons, however, that we can trust the Bible as the word of God. First of all, we can trust the Bible because we trust God and it is God’s book, revealed to mankind, and in perfect harmony with His nature and character. “God is not a man, that he should lie” (Numbers 23:19). Just as Jesus Christ, He is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). What God has produced is true, perfect, and without change, in keeping with His character.    A second reason to trust the Bible is that we know it is inspired by God. Paul wrote to Timothy, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Speaking of the inspired Bible writers, Peter said, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). The message of the biblical writers was not their own message, but the message of the will of God. Since the Bible is God’s inspired book, it is without error and absolutely trustworthy.    A third great reason we should trust the Bible is the vast number of New Testament manuscripts that have been discovered. More than 24,000 manuscripts or parts of manuscripts have been discovered, dating all the way back to the first century. The Dead Sea scrolls, discovered in 1947, included manuscripts of Old Testament books  dating from at least one hundred to one hundred and fifty years before Christ. As scholars began to study the scrolls, they sought to see how much the text of the Bible had changed over the centuries. What they found was that the ancient manuscripts were virtually identical to manuscripts of a thousand years later. Through the careful work of the copyists and the providence of God, the inspired text has been preserved over the centuries.    A fourth great reason to trust the Bible is the truly amazing fulfillment of prophecy within biblical history. This demonstrates clearly that God controlled the writing of the book.  The prophecies fulfilled in the life of Christ alone are enough to show the Bible to be the word of God. The Old Testament prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), would be sold for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13), would be crucified with criminals (Isaiah 53:12), would be buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9), and these are just a few examples of the many other events in the life of Christ which were prophesied. This would not have been possible if the Bible had not been inspired by God.    Since the Bible is trustworthy in these areas, we can know that is is trustworthy in other areas as well. The Bible is the one book that men can trust today. Any apparent contradictions come from our misunderstanding, not from actual problems within the Bible itself, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33).

- Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016. In his forty-five years of preaching he has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.

Serrefine

By Bob Prichard
    13-year-old Evan O’Dorney of Danville, CA took home the 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee championship by spelling the medical term serrefine (small forceps). Spelling bees have been around since before we were children, but seem to be getting new life these days, with the finals of the spelling bee making prime time on ABC. I applaud this, because correct spelling is having a hard time competing with email and text messaging short cuts. [RU4it?]    Jesus commented about spelling: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17-18). The jot referred to is the Hebrew letter yod, the smallest letters in the alphabet. The tittle referred to a small marking that distinguished some Hebrew letters from others. Both served significant purposes for understanding, despite being very small.   Jesus stressed the importance of the law and obedience to it, and that His life and ministry would fulfill the law. His death brought reconciliation. “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” (Ephesians 2:14-16).    “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:13-15). He fulfilled every jot and tittle of the law, just as He promised. His life and death spells hope for us—and that is a spelling bee we all need to win!

- Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016. In his forty-five years of preaching he has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.

Values

By Bob Prichard     Doing some excavating on his North Carolina farm 1799, Conrad Reed discovered a strange rock. Three years later, in 1802, a Fayetteville jeweler offered him $3.50 for the rock. It tuned out that the rock was gold, and had a value of $3,600. This was the beginning of the Reed Gold Mine. In those three years before learning he had a large gold nugget, Reed had been using the rock as a doorstop.     Like Reed, we are often ignorant to the true value of things. We often place the greatest significance on the incidental and neglect the eternal. Not surprisingly, a death, an illness, or another tragedy often makes us stop and think and to consider what is really important.     In explaining to the Christians of Corinth the true meaning and place of spiritual gifts, Paul touched on this point. Though all parts of the body are important, we tend to place the greater emphasis on some parts to the neglect of others. “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another” (1 Corinthians 12:22-25).     As a simple comparison, in a week’s time, how does your time spent in grooming and caring spent in caring for the inner man? Paul prayed for Ephesians that God would grant them “according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16). What is really valuable to you? Do you truly value the eternal over the temporal?

- Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016. In his forty-five years of preaching he has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.

Library Inspiration

By Bob Prichard

Two huge stone lions sit outside the New York public library.   Mayor Fiorello La Guardia named them “Patience” and “Fortitude,” during the midst of the Great Depression, to let New Yorkers know that they could survive the economic disaster.      Patience is key in running the Christian race.  Hebrews 12:1-2 urges, “Seeing we also are compassed about with 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; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”     Fortitude is “strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity with courage.” This is what Paul spoke of when he said “we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:3-5).

- Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016. In his forty-five years of preaching he has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.

Serrefine

By Bob Prichard       13-year-old Evan O’Dorney of Danville, CA took home the 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee championship by spelling the medical term serrefine (small forceps). Spelling bees have been around since before we were children, but seem to be getting new life these days, with the finals of the spelling bee making prime time on ABC. I applaud this, because correct spelling is having a hard time competing with email and text messaging short cuts. [RU4it?]     Jesus commented about spelling: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17-18). The jot referred to is the Hebrew letter yod, the smallest letters in the alphabet. The tittle referred to a small marking that distinguished some Hebrew letters from others. Both served significant purposes for understanding, despite being very small.    Jesus stressed the importance of the law and obedience to it, and that His life and ministry would fulfill the law. His death brought reconciliation. “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” (Ephesians 2:14-16).     “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:13-15). He fulfilled every jot and tittle of the law, just as He promised. His life and death spells hope for us—and that is a spelling bee we all need to win!

- Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016. In his forty-five years of preaching he has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.

Values

By Bob Prichard     Doing some excavating on his North Carolina farm 1799, Conrad Reed discovered a strange rock. Three years later, in 1802, a Fayetteville jeweler offered him $3.50 for the rock. It tuned out that the rock was gold, and had a value of $3,600. This was the beginning of the Reed Gold Mine. In those three years before learning he had a large gold nugget, Reed had been using the rock as a doorstop.     Like Reed, we are often ignorant to the true value of things. We often place the greatest significance on the incidental and neglect the eternal. Not surprisingly, a death, an illness, or another tragedy often makes us stop and think and to consider what is really important.     In explaining to the Christians of Corinth the true meaning and place of spiritual gifts, Paul touched on this point. Though all parts of the body are important, we tend to place the greater emphasis on some parts to the neglect of others. “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another” (1 Corinthians 12:22-25).     As a simple comparison, in a week’s time, how does your time spent in grooming and caring for the body compare to the time spent in caring for the inner man? Paul prayed for Ephesians that God would grant them “according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16). What is really valuable to you? Do you truly value the eternal over the temporal?

- Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016. In his forty-five years of preaching he has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.

How Much does Being a Christian Cost?

By Joe Slater     Eons ago, an elderly brother asked me, “what are my dues?” His physical condition and diminished mental capacity prevented his regular attendance, but on the one occasion his wife brought him to the assembly he wanted to make a financial contribution. I explained as best I could that the amount of any contribution wasn’t up to me or the church; it was between him and the Lord.     I used to be a member of a civic club. I knew exactly what the dues were to maintain my membership. But the Lord’s church isn’t a civic club. When I obeyed the gospel, nobody was standing there with his hand out to receive money. No one asked for my credit card. No one sent me an invoice.     Does it cost anything to be a Christian? No! and Yes! In one sense it costs you nothing; in another sense it costs you everything.     All the gold in Fort Knox couldn’t pay the interest on a down payment for salvation from sin. Jesus’ blood paid the atonement price; how do you put a dollar value on that? God certainly expects His people to finance His work, but we ought never to think of our contribution as purchasing a right relationship with God. Salvation really is by grace!     Yet Jesus Himself cautioned would-be disciples to “count the cost” before committing themselves. He spoke of self-denial and cross-bearing, concluding with these haunting words: “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26-33).     Upon obeying the gospel, one is made free from sin, but also becomes a slave of righteousness (Romans 6:17-18). The song is true: “I am mine no more!”

- Joe Slater serves as minister of the Lakeside Church of Christ in Springfield, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://www.lakesidecoc.us/

Living Out God’s Deliverance (Psalm 40:2-3)

By Jeff Arnette      Many today feel that Psalms 42 and 43 are meant to be read as one cohesive unit because they share themes of longing for God, trust in His deliverance, and confidence in His rewards for godly living. These words should reflect the praise within the hearts of every believer. It could be the song on the lips of all who know Jesus Christ. These words sound like the heart-felt testimony of someone who was lost in sin and through faith saved by the grace of God.     We all know what it feels like to live in the pit of sin and the desperation and despair of life’s many challenges. We know what it’s like to feel stuck and have no hope of moving through. We know because we were trapped in sin like it was quicksand. 2 Peter 2:19 - "They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved." (ESV)     This passage reminds us of the reality of sin's bondage. Without Christ, we are enslaved by our desires and struggles, powerless to free ourselves. The only way out of the pit is through faith in Jesus. Revelation 1:5 - "and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood" (ESV)     He not only saves us but also sets us on the right path in life. He doesn’t rescue us for us to wander aimlessly through life but to walk with purpose and direction. Jesus is our Shepherd and He guides, protects, and leads us to abundant life (John 10:11, 14; 2 Thess. 3:5).     Church, we have an awesome promise. When we live for Christ, others will notice. Not only will they see what He has done for us, but they will see where to put their trust. It is often said, the best witness for Jesus is a simple life lived for Him. As such, our lives should reflect the grace and transformation that Christ brings. It’s important to share what God has done for us, both through our words and actions. Romans 5:15 - "But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many." (ESV)

- Jeff Arnette preaches for the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/

Grace, Obedience and Christian Living

By Jeff Arnette     Recently, we’ve been looking at what the Bible says about God’s grace and salvation. We’ve considered how grace gives us assurance of our salvation. In today’s lesson, we’re going to consider receiving God’s grace in vain. In essence, we will deal with what the Bible says about giving up our salvation. This is not a comprehensive list of every passage that deals with this topic, but these will give you a great starting place. As you study and reflect on this topic add your own verses to the list. Matt 5:13; 13:20-21; 18:32-35; 24:9-13, 42, 48-51; 25:11-12; 18, 24-30. Luke 9:61-62; 22:31-32. Jn. 6:66-69; 15:1-6. Acts 8:22-24. Rom. 8:13; 11:21-24. 1 Cor. 6:9-11; 9:27; 10:12; 15:2. 2 Cor. 5:20; 6:1. Gal. 5:4. Col. 1:21-23. 1 Tim. 1:18-20; 4:1-3; 5:8, 12; 6:10, 11-13, 20-21. 2 Tim. 2:18. Heb. 2:3; 3:12-14; 6:4-6; 10:29; 12:15. James 5:19-20. 2 Peter, 1:10-11; 2:1, 4, 20-22; 3:17. Jude 5-6 Rev. 2:5, 10, 16, 20-23; 3:1-3, 15-16.

- Jeff Arnette preaches for the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/

The Seasons of Life

By Andrew Beasley     As we have moved beyond Thanksgiving and into the Christmas season I think about a story I once heard. It went something like this. There was a man who had four sons and he wanted to teach them not to judge to quickly. So he sent them on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in the summer and the last in the fall. When they had all come back from their respective journey he called them together to recount to him what they had seen.     The first said that the tree was ugly, bent and twisted. A moment later the second son spoke up and disagreed, saying that the tree was green and full of promise. The third son then chimed in, likewise disagreeing and describing the tree as one that was full of sweet smelling blossoms and said it was the most beautiful tree he had ever seen. The last, unsurprisingly, also disagreed saying that the tree was ripe and drooping with fruit. When they quieted from their arguing the old man smiled and told them that they were all right, because they had each seen but one season of the trees life.     He then reminded them that they cannot judge a tree, or a person, only by one season. It is an application that we can make to our own lives. Don’t judge it by one difficult season. Don’t allow the pain of one season destroy the joy of the rest as there is a time and place for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).

- Andrew Beasley serves as a minister with the Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://nwchurchofchrist.com/about/

The Life of Sacrifice

By Brian Mitchell       Self-sacrifice is a word that we, as a society, don’t seem to be familiar with anymore. Most people live by the words of the Sinatra song, “I did it my way.” Consider the following ads which promote selfishness and me-first thinking in our culture. L'Oreal Paris ad "Because you're worth it." Or the famous Burger King slogan “Have It Your Way.” This is the day and age where we are constantly told to get all you get and do what makes you feel happy without even the slightest thought of others.     The world says: "You have needs -- satisfy them. You have as much right as the rich and the mighty. Don't hesitate to satisfy your needs; indeed, expand your needs and demand more." This is the worldly doctrine of today. And they believe that this is freedom. The result for the rich is isolation and suicide, for the poor, envy and murder.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov.     What is Sacrifice? Certainly, we understand the meaning of self-sacrifice. It is not too hard to define—it is the willingness to personally give up something for someone else or for some greater benefit. Frankly, I think the very concept is a bit frightening to most. We understand what it means but it is much harder to embrace and embody in our own personal lives. And yet when we witness self-sacrifice, we are drawn to it. We are amazed by it. Because true sacrifice touches people’s emotions and opens their hearts in ways that few other things can.     How many of you remember the story of Pat Tillman? It is one of those truly genuine and a remarkable story of self-sacrifice: Star athlete walks away from the game in his prime, leaving millions in cash on the table, to put his life at risk in service to his country. And then in May of 2002, just 8 months after the September 11 attacks, Tillman walked away from a $3.6 million contract to join the military.     He enlisted along with his brother, Kevin, who himself gave up the chance of a career in baseball. The two brothers then completed training for the elite Army Ranger school late in 2002 and were then both to the Middle East as part of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Pat was subsequently redeployed to Afghanistan, where, on April 22, 2004, he was killed in action by friendly fire while on patrol.     What People had to Say. The Arizona Cardinals vice president Michael Bidwill said of Tillman, “In sports we have a tendency to overuse terms like courage and bravery and heroes, and then someone like Pat Tillman comes along and reminds us what those terms really mean.” Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said, “Pat Tillman personified all the best values of his country and the NFL. He was an achiever and leader on many levels who always put his team, his community, and his country ahead of his personal interests.”     As I’ve already said, “Sacrifice moves people.” It causes them to stop in their tracks and ask; “Why? Why would someone do something like that?” “What would cause a person to go out of their way for me?” Because sacrificial acts are so rare and powerful, they are rarely forgotten. Sacrifices, of whatever variety, have the ability to impact people for a lifetime. Thus, we through sacrifice, have the ability to influence and impact people in a major way.     What are you doing to attract others to Christ? The Bible says that those of us who follow Christ should live lives that draw those outside of Christ to us. We should live in ways that makes our faith attractive to those outside of the family of God. As both Jesus and Paul say, we should live our lives as shining lights in a world of darkness. So How are We Doing?

- Brian Mitchell serves as a minister with the Jackson Church of Christ in Jackson, MO. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.jacksonchurchofchrist.net

Chance or Opportunity

 

By Joe Slater     Does God give you chances, or does He provide opportunities? We sometimes treat those words as synonyms, but their meanings are quite different! Chance indicates something random, uncertain, even accidental – a roll of the dice, as it were. You have no way to influence the outcome.     Opportunity, by contrast, implies that you play a role in choosing a course of action. You may choose wisely or foolishly, but it remains your choice. It is neither random nor accidental.     Some things do, indeed, happen by chance. Solomon wrote by inspiration, “Time and chance happen to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Sometimes our plans don’t work out no matter what we do. We didn’t plan to become ill or be laid off from work, but it happened. Such is life.     But not everything is subject to chance. God can and does provide opportunities. Paul urged the Galatians to “do good to all” as they had opportunity (Galatians 6:10). He understood when material support from the church at Philippi was delayed: “You surely did care, but you lacked opportunity” (Philippians 4:10).     Our salvation depends not on chance, but on how we use the opportunity God has provided in Christ. Acts 14:27 refers to it as God opening “the door of faith.” As one chooses whether to walk through an open door, so we choose whether to trust Jesus and obey His gospel. This is neither random nor accidental.     Your eternal destiny depends not on chance, but on what you choose to do with the opportunities God has given to you.

- Joe Slater serves as minister of the Church of Christ in Justin, TX. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://justinchurchofchrist.com

The Wheelbarrow in the Garage

 

Bob Prichard     Traveling evangelist Billy Sunday (1862-1935) once said, “Going to church don’t make anybody a Christian, any more than taking a wheelbarrow into a garage makes it an automobile.” There is plenty of truth here. The land is filled with church-going people who are less than they should be. They claim to be Christians, but their lives don’t show it. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne said that “No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true.” The hypocritical life eventually catches up with even the most skillful of hypocrites.     Just “going to church” will not make anyone a Christian, but neither does staying away from church make anyone any better. There are hypocrites at church each Sunday morning, but there are even bigger hypocrites staying home, pretending that what they are doing is more important than meeting with the saints for worship. Even if some of the saints seem more like “ain’ts,” why would anyone who claims to have any interest in the things of God not be in worship?     Hebrews 10:23-25 reminds us of our responsibilities in worship. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” When we assemble together, we must consider one another by provoking to love and good works, as well as exhorting one another. Power words like “provoking” and “exhorting” indicates that this is serious business.     There’s more to the story, though. The verses immediately following in Hebrews 10 warn, “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (10:26-29). It is a serious thing to forsake the assembly of the saints!

Bob Prichard serves as an elder and evangelist for the Hillview Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2016. In his forty-five years of preaching he has served churches in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama.

Your ID

 

By David A. Sargent
    Larry Morganti of Florence, South Carolina, is a Vietnam War Veteran.  He served in the 311th Squadron of the Air Force as a crew chief on a C-123 cargo plane from October 1967 to October 1968.  While serving in that capacity, Morganti lost his “dog tag” – a metal piece of identification for military personnel – during a rocket attack.  Thankfully, even though he lost his military ID, Morganti survived the war.    Over two years ago, Morganti’s dog tag came into the possession of a Swedish construction worker, Kristoffer Hansen.  A friend from Vietnam had discovered the dog tag with his metal detector and sent it to Hansen to add to his collection of military memorabilia.  Recognizing that there was a good chance that its owner was still alive, Hansen began looking for Morganti.  He found him two years later through Facebook.    Last month, Morganti received his dog tag in the mail along with a letter from Hansen thanking him for his service.    “It was real surprising. In fact, for a second, I didn’t believe it,” Morganti told WPDE. “It’s such a far-fetched idea to find tags 56 years old and then another two years to bring them to me.” *    YOU may be surprised to learn that God is looking for you to give you a new identity.    You and every other person in the world have been created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27).  Each of us has marred that image due to our sin (Romans 3:23), and sin has separated us from our Creator (Isaiah 59:1-2).    But God loves us so much that He wants us to be reconciled to Him so that each of us can be a part of His family and have a new identity: child of God.    To be reconciled to God, our debt of sin had to be paid.  God gave His Son Jesus to pay the price for our redemption.  Jesus died on the cross for our sins so that we can be forgiven and be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).    “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).    God will save, add to His family, 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 those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).    The Apostle Paul wrote to Christians in Galatia: “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27 NIV).    In Christ, we have a new identity that brings with it eternal blessings.  We are children of God.    “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1 NIV).    YOU can be a child of God if you will accept His offer on His terms.

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

His Workmanship

 

By Jared Green
    In this past week’s study in Luke, we read Jesus calling Levi, also known as Matthew (the Gospel writer), to discipleship. In the passage just before, when Jesus healed the paralytic, he made clear his ability—as the Son of God—to forgive sins (Luke 5:24). In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus came to forgive and call to discipleship those who are unworthy. He truly came to be Lord of all, and Levi’s call to discipleship makes that clear.     Levi was a tax collector, a Jew hated by Jews because of his dishonest work for the Roman government. Levi’s call to discipleship, and his subsequent feast celebrating his new life of following Christ, made the scribes and Pharisees angry. They could not understand Jesus, a Jewish rabbi, eating with tax collectors and sinners. To them, Jesus’ participation in the feast was blatant acceptance of sinful living. Jesus, however, stated that his purpose in eating with sinners was to redeem them, not to condone their ways of living. He said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (5:31-32).     As we talked about Sunday, this story paints for us a beautiful picture of Christ’s salvation, as well as an example of how to faithfully engage with those living in sin. To add to the lessons we have already studied from this encounter, we also learn what Jesus sees in those he calls to discipleship. When faced with the call to discipleship in our own lives, it is natural for us to feel inadequate. At times, the feelings of inadequacy come from the control sin has had over our lives in the past. Sometimes, we feel as though we have nothing to offer to Christ and his church. Other times, we allow ourselves to believe we can never be the people our Lord calls us to be. These feelings of inadequacy are natural, and they are used by the devil as a tool to keep us right where we are.     The story of Levi’s call to discipleship shows us that “Jesus sees what we can become even when we are lost in our sins. Christ saw in the disfigured life of Levi (tax collector) a Matthew (writer, evangelist, collector of souls)” (R. Kent Hughes, Luke, 190). Levi was a tax collector. Simon was a Zealot. Paul persecuted Christians. From the outside looking in, those called by Christ often seemed unworthy, inadequate candidates. The truth is, however, our Lord sees past our imperfections and inadequacies, and he sees souls made in his image. When he calls us to discipleship, his focus is on who we can become, not who we have been. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). God loves you, and so do I.

Jared Green preaches the Calvert City Church of Christ in Calvert City, KY.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com

Replacing Sin

 

By Jared Green
     Among Jesus’ many great physical healings, he was well-known for casting out demons. In Luke 11, he cast out a demon that was mute, and once the demon was gone, the man was again able to speak. As they normally did, the people who saw the miracle marveled at what Jesus was able to do. The crowd reaction was mixed, however, as some believed Jesus was casting out demons in the name of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, while others sought a sign from heaven (11:14-16). Knowing the thoughts of the crowd, Jesus began to teach that he was casting out demons “by the finger of God” (11:20). At the end of his argument, Jesus taught a powerful lesson that extends well beyond casting out demons. Jesus said:When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first (11:24-26).    While Jesus is not in the business of casting demons from people today, Jesus is in the business of casting out sin. Upon our baptism into Christ, our sins are forgiven (Acts 2:38). While Christ’s grace alone provides forgiveness, we carry an important responsibility in our new Christian walks. It is vital that we replace the sin which once reigned in our lives with Christ-centered, obedient living.     What Jesus taught about the unclean spirits stands true on the topic of sin. When sin is cast from our lives, temptation is bound to return, and when temptation returns, it will undoubtedly be hard to fight against. So, when temptation returns, what will it find? Will temptation find a breeding ground for sin in your “house”? Or will it find that you have replaced the sin in your life with godliness? We must put to death worldly, sinful living (Colossians 3:5) in order that Christ-like living can take hold in our lives (Galatians 5:16-24). God loves you, and so do I. 

- Jared Green preaches the Calvert City Church of Christ in Calvert City, KY. He may be contacted through

Armed for Battle

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By Andrew Beasley     Imagine sending a soldier off to war without any weapon or armor to defend themselves. Would you expect them to last very long against the enemy that they are tasked with fighting? The implication of Paul’s statement in Ephesians 6:11 is that by putting on the full armor of God it is possible for you to go out and to wage war against our enemy, the devil, and to be successful in doing so. Of course the other side of that coin is that if you do not put on the full armor of God, what chance do you have in a fight against him?     There is more to simply putting on the armor that goes into the process as a Christian. We must learn how to use each piece of armor that God has given us to wield. An aspiring football player would not play without first learning how to throw, or carry, the football and without knowing how to put their pads on with an understanding of what each piece does to protect them. Remember when David was preparing to fight Goliath and King Saul offered him his armor (1st Sam. 17:32-40)? David’s response, while gracious, was that he could not use it because he had not tested it out.     Instead, when David went out to fight the battle with Goliath he went out armed with God on his side and the tools that he was accustomed to. It takes time. It takes diligence. But mostly, it takes courage to prepare for the battle that God has called us to, to get ourselves ready, and to put on the full armor that we might wage war against our great enemy, Satan.

- Andrew Beasley serves as a minister with the Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://nwchurchofchrist.com/about/

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Peter’s Final Words

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By Edd Sterchi
    The great apostle and evangelist, Peter did some amazing things in his preaching career. In Acts 2, he delivered the first gospel sermon after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. Acts 2:41 records that an astounding number responded to this and were baptized into Christ – almost 3,000! Peter continued preaching even though arrested several times, beaten, and threatened with his life if he continued to proclaim the name of Christ (cf. Acts 4-5). He was also the first apostle to take the gospel to the Gentiles, with the conversion of Cornelius and his friends and family in Acts 10.    After Acts 15 where Peter is involved in an apostolic gathering, we know very little of his activities. I agree with George DeHoff concerning Peter in that “As the years went by he was mentioned less frequently in the sacred writing probably because he was away from Jerusalem preaching in distant places.” (DeHoff’s Bible Handbook)    Peter, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote two epistles later in life. They were written to encourage Christians, especially new converts, to withstand the trials and persecutions that they were about to encounter. Likely this is in reference to Nero’s persecutions. It is believed that Peter’s second epistle would have been written shortly before his death. If that’s the case, then the last words of the second epistle of Peter would have been his final words of encouragement.    Peter’s last words in chapter 3 of his second epistle are a reminder for all Christians to be diligent to......be sanctified (v.14)...be studying (v.15-16)...be steadfast (v.17)Christians, let’s make sure that we are cleansed by the blood of Christ and living pure and righteous lives, searching and studying the Scriptures for all they’re worth, and remaining faithful and true to God . It’s Peter’s lasting wish for us.“but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ToHim be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” (2 Pet. 3:18)

- 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/

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Overcommitted Lifestyles (Part 1)

By Brian Mitchell     One of the most dangerous tendencies of the average American today is the tendency to over commit themselves. Unfortunately, this is a problem that has affected the Lord’s people as well. Often we commit to too many activities and concerns that are unrelated to the work of the Lord and thus hinder us in our abilities to serve the Lord effectively and fruitfully. Many times we find ourselves in the same predicament as Martha—Lk.10:41-42.     Unlike the other problems we have discussed, the difficulty in dealing with this particular problem, is not that we don’t recognize that we have it. “Being too busy is a lot like the weather; everybody talks about it, but nobody does anything about it.” Overcommitted lives are is one of main culprits in the weakening of our spiritual health and effectiveness. Because our lifestyles are often overcrowded, we have little time for spiritual renewal and growth. Because we are busily engaged in going to and fro we have little time left to commit to that which is most important in life.     Why are we so busy? Two of the primary reasons we are so overloaded is our materialistic addictions and our overemphasis on recreation and entertainment. We spend so much time working, building a career and making money. We spend too much time on entertainment, recreation, sports, travels, and hobbies. Result—we have little time left to devote to the work of the Lord—including building up ourselves spiritually, strengthening our brethren, worshiping the Lord, and seeking the lost.     Are over committed lifestyles really a problem for us? We often tend to make light of the problem of overcrowded lifestyles with the excuse that it is only a temporary situation. The Problem—the situation is usually not temporary. “There is nothing more permanent than a temporary situation.” While we may convince ourselves that we are only working too much, playing too much, and doing everything else under the sun too much for a while; the fact is that we seem to move from one set of busy circumstances to another.     The result is that life often becomes an unbroken chain of temporarily overcommitted situations. Even when our overcrowded lives do only last for a time, the problem is that during those times we often miss many opportunities; some of which we will never get again. Our ability to say no to ourselves in relation to our commitments, in many cases closely resembles addictive behavior. “We are suffering the negative effects of a culture that offers too much choice.” “Rather than mastering our activities, they are mastering us.”     Many Americans, and sadly some Christians, live by two basic and mistaken assumptions. We assume that we have the right to do anything we want to do—we don’t. We believe that there is a way to do everything we want to do without our priorities suffering—there isn’t. The word sacrifice is often not even allowed to enter into our minds when we are contemplating the things we want to do. We often lament that we just don’t have enough time to do everything we need to do, and if something has to get cut from the list, more times than not it is those spiritually related activities we should be involved in.     The fact is that we all get only 168 hours per week and finding the time to do everything we need to do is not a problem of how much time we have, it is a problem with how we spend the time we have. No one can do all of the things they want to do, without shortchanging some of the things they need to do. Some choices have to be made, and some possibilities have to be given up.

- Brian Mitchell serves as a minister with the Jackson Church of Christ in Jackson, MO. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.jacksonchurchofchrist.net