Marketing the Church with One Word

By Adam Faughn     If you were asked to describe the church with one word, what would you choose? Maybe a better question would be, if you only had one word to try to get people to come to worship with you, which word would you choose?     Now, to be fair, that is a very difficult thing to do. The Lord’s Church is a multi-faceted entity and trying to summarize it in one word is tremendously challenging.     And, to be sure, we will rarely have only one word to invite a friend a neighbor to worship with us.     Recently, though, I saw where a church had tried to do just that. It was on a billboard near their building and they had summarized everything down to a single four-word sentence, but the “marketing” was found in just the final word.     Other than the name of the church, the location, and the time for worship, the billboard contained just the following four words: “Church Can Be Fun.” Fun? That is the invitation? That is the description? That is the marketing idea?     That is not only tragic, it is tremendously short-sighted.     I hope we all see why it is tragic. To be sure, church can have some things that are fun at times. I’m certainly not against fun and I think it is great when a congregation laughs together. But our focus is not on fun. Our focus is on God. Our focus is on holiness. Our focus is on devotion to the Lord.     But that little marketing campaign is also so short-sighted because the church will never “out-fun” the world. If someone wants to have fun, they can just go to the amusement park, the ball game, or stay home and play games with their family. And the world will keep ratcheting up how much fun a person can have. A church will never keep up if that is their focus, and then they will wonder where all the people went.     I am glad that we have fun at church sometimes. It is a joy!     But church is not about my amusement. The marketing campaign of the church is not about how much frivolity we can put into a worship service.     The Church is the blood-bought family of God, and it is meant to honor Him as He directs. That may not be as slick of a marketing campaign, and it may not draw as many people, but that is the only thing that will help them get to heaven…where not fun, but joy, will never fade.

- Adam Faughn preaches for the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: uVisit the Faughn Family blog, A Legacy of Faith

Rejoice in the God of our Salvation

 

By Jared Green    In most Old Testament books of prophecy, God provided prophets with a message to preach to his people. At times, prophets were tasked with preaching messages of repentance when God’s people were living in sin. At times, prophets provided messages of hope when God’s people were struggling. But in the book of Habakkuk, we find a prophet who seemed to work in reverse order. Rather than being God’s mouthpiece to the people, Habakkuk served as the people’s mouthpiece to God.     We do not know much about Habakkuk, but it is believed by many that his ministry was around that of Jeremiah, specifically in the time leading up to the Israelites’ Babylonian captivity. The first two chapters of the prophecy reveal a two-part discourse between Habakkuk and God in which Habakkuk brought a complaint to God followed by God’s response. In Habakkuk’s first complaint, he posed a common question asked of God: How long? Habakkuk looked out among God’s people and saw violence (1:2) and iniquity (1:3), which led to this conclusion: “So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted” (1:4). As we know, God’s people were in grave sin before the Babylonian exile, and Habakkuk called on God to intervene.     In his first answer, God promised divine intervention. He said, “Look among the nations and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told” (1:5). As great as that answer sounds on the surface, God went on to explain that he was planning to use the Babylonians to bring about judgement on his wicked people. Habakkuk was appalled. To summarize and paraphrase Habakkuk’s second complaint to God, he said: How could you use a more wicked nation to punish your people, a less wicked nation? In God’s final response to Habakkuk, he provided the most well-known passage from the book, one that is quoted by Paul in the New Testament: “…the righteous shall live by his faith” (2:4b).     While God may not have provided the answers Habakkuk seemed to be seeking, they are important answers for all God’s people to consider: I am doing a work that you would not understand, and the righteous shall live by his faith. Upon hearing God’s final answers, the prophecy closes with Habakkuk’s prayer of faith. At the end of his prayer, using language common in an agricultural society, Habakkuk made it clear that even if he experienced the worst physical pain imaginable, he would rejoice and trust in the Lord. In his words: “…yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places (3:18-19). No matter what life situations we find ourselves in, may we always find our joy and strength in the God of our salvation. 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

Maybe It’s Our Time

By David R. Ferguson       In writing to the church at Ephesus, the Apostle Paul stated, 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call – 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, Who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6 [ESV])     One of the most difficult things to do is watch a beloved parent, who in former years you looked upon as a stalwart of strength, slowly lose the vitality he or she formerly possessed, and witness their former vigor sapped away through the slowly encroaching years. As the ensuing years pass by, hard decisions need to be made. One of my longtime friends shared with me recently a similar situation his family was facing regarding his own father. This is how he described it.     The tension in the room was palpable. It could be literally felt. His elderly father was in the living room, and his mother, the loyal wife of 67 years, was frustrated because my friend’s sister and brother had suggested that their father should stop driving. As they continued their discussion, my friend prayed for words that would help. When the tension eased for a moment, and emotions had calmed down, my friend felt the time was right for him to approach his father. Understanding that his father had been a proud man, and never looked for a handout or wanted to be a burden to anyone, my friend began the conversation by talking about the ways his father had helped people throughout the years. He finally asked his father if helping others had been a burden to him. His father thought for a moment as a smile creased his face, and he replied, “No, it was never a burden. In fact, I always felt it was a great blessing to help others that brought him great joy.” My friend responded with a smile of his own, saying gently to his father, “Then might I suggest that maybe the time has come for others to experience that same joy by helping you.” His father agreed, saying he had not thought of it this way before.     Many of us go through life determined to do everything ourselves. In our family, at work, and perhaps especially as we age, we are determined to go it alone and not to be a burden to others. However, God has created us to live in fellowship with one another. Over time our roles change. Sometimes we are the ones who help, and sometimes we are the ones who receive help. This is the beauty of fellowship in God. But don’t be afraid to ask for help of those who are your brothers and sisters in the Lord. That’s what we are here for.

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com

Are You Glad?

By Joe Slater   “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go unto the house of the Lord’” (Psalm 122:1).     David wrote this psalm before the Jerusalem Temple existed. He only recently had brought the Ark of the Covenant into the city, placing it into the Tabernacle (tent) he had prepared for it (either the Tabernacle that had been made after the Exodus or one David made of that design), 2 Samuel 6:17. Referring to the Tabernacle as the “house of the Lord” was entirely appropriate; it was the designated place where God’s people came to worship, and Jerusalem was the recognized city where the they observed the three major annual feasts.     Question: Are you glad when it’s time to assemble for worship? We understand that it’s not the meeting house but the Christians meeting in it that are the “house of God.” But Christians do, indeed, meet! The very word “church” means “assembly.” So, my question remains: “Are you glad when it’s time to assemble for worship?”     Psalm 122 (quoted above) is a “song of ascents,” one of the songs the Israelites sang as they ascended to Zion (Jerusalem) for one of the feast days. For Christians, the first day of each week is a feast day. But the focus of our feast isn’t satisfying our stomachs with food and drink; it’s remembering the body and blood of our Savior by eating unleavened bread and drinking the fruit of the vine in memory of Him. We also celebrate our oneness in Christ as we observe this spiritual feast together.     I was greatly edified a short time back when one of our young men, while leading a prayer, mentioned that “we are happy to be here.” That certainly was David’s attitude as he penned the psalm, and it ought to be ours as well.

- 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

A Reason to Celebrate

By David A. Sargent      Brendan Harrison is a high school teacher and varsity boys’ baseball coach in Saginaw, Michigan.  “Coach Bubba” is what his baseball players call him.     In October 2022, Harrison was diagnosed with colon cancer.  A doctor performed surgery to remove a cancerous mass.  After recovering from surgery, he began receiving chemotherapy treatments.     On May 8, Harrison finally completed his 12th and final chemotherapy treatment.  As he exited the health care facility, he was greeted by a large crowd of family, friends, students, and his baseball team.  With tears of gratitude, Coach Harrison rang a bell signifying the completion of his treatments and embraced his family, friends and students that had come to celebrate with him. *     What a wonderful reason to celebrate!     There is another celebration in which we will all want to share…     In Luke 15 in the Bible, Jesus, the Son of God, tells three parables.  In each of them, something is lost and is found.  When the lost object is found – a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son – there is great rejoicing, a celebration!     Here is Jesus’ application of His three stories: “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10; see also v. 7, 22-24).     Because of our sins, we are lost (Romans 3:23; 6:23).  But God loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to “find” us and to save us (John 3:16).  Jesus died on the cross for our sins so that we can receive forgiveness and the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 1:7).     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 those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).     And when one of us accepts God’s offer on His terms, there is rejoicing in heaven (Luke 15:10) and on earth.  In heaven, God and the angels rejoice.  On earth, the family of God (the church, those who have also embraced the grace of God by trusting and obeying Jesus) rejoices because God has added another saved soul to their midst (Acts 2:41, 47).     Now that’s a reason to celebrate!     If YOU will accept God’s offer, heaven and earth are ready to celebrate with you!

- 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 * Information gleaned from “Michigan teacher brought to tears as students, family surprise him after final round of chemo” by Sydney Borchers of Fox News, www.foxnews.com.

Rejoice in the Lord

By Ronald Bartanen

 

    Have you had much cause for rejoicing lately? Maybe you’ve recently lost a loved one or a dear friend, and the days since have been filled with grief?  Or perhaps you or a family-member has been diagnosed with some dreaded disease?  Or have you lost your employment, and don’t know where to look for another job? If these unwelcome situations have invaded your life, you likely will find it difficult to even “put on a happy face” for a few minutes.  If you are facing none of these tragedies, you may still find life frustrating and disappointing.  Life may be good, but we always seem to anticipate a situation where it could be better.  We may go to great efforts to make it better, only to find that satisfaction with life is always elusive..

    It reminds me of a “ Nancy ” cartoon of several years ago, where we find Nancy seated at her school-desk.  She says, “If I were out on the playground right now, I’d be happy.”  In the next caption we find her on the playground, thinking, “If I were playing on the swings, I’d be happy.”  When on a swing, she says, “Where is everybody? If a bunch of us had a baseball game going, I’d be happy.”  When she gets on the ball field, she says, “If somebody would hit a ball over here, I’d be happy.”  When a ball does bounce toward her, she says, “If I were sitting in a nice, cool classroom, I’d be happy.”  In the last caption she is again seated in her classroom, thinking, “If I were out on the playground right now, “I’d be happy.”  The cartoonist thus pointed out a common failing—true joy in life is not so dependent upon where we are or what we are doing as it is upon the state of one’s heart.

    Happiness, by its definition, depends upon what happens.  Good circumstances give us times of wellbeing, even elation.  Bad circumstances drag us down emotionally.  Better words for the Christian are words such as “joy” and “rejoice.”  True joy is possible even in the most adverse circumstances of life.  When Christ’s apostles were persecuted, being beaten and told to cease preaching in His name, we find them “rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer shame for his name” (Acts 5:41).   It was while Paul was in prison that he wrote the Christians at Philippi , “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice” (Phil. 4:4).   Some might object that it is not natural to rejoice in times of trouble, and they’re right.  Rejoicing of this nature is only “in the Lord.”  It is second only to love in the list of the “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22.   He enables us to focus. not on the circumstances we face in a fallen world, but on the unseen, as we “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).      Whether situations in life are esteemed good or bad, we can take assurance in Jesus’ admonition to His followers: “Rejoice, for your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).  After his acceptance of Christ in baptism, the Ethiopian of Acts 8 was able to go “on his way rejoicing” (v. 39).  The psalmist, David, prayed, "Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You” (Psa. 5:11).  Whatever else happens in our world or in our individual lives, we have cause for much rejoicing in Christ and His promises.

- Ronald Bartanen is a retired minister who for many years served the Lord's church in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. He may be contacted at: ron33dor@yahoo.com

Reasons to Rejoice

By Jeff Arnette

    There are those in the church today who have lost sight of their joy. Indeed, several things in this world tend to rob us of our happiness. In Philippians 4:1-9, the apostle Paul speaks to us on the subject of joy. He is qualified to talk about the issue of pleasure, for in spite of his hardships and persecutions, he found the secret of real Christian Joy. In fact, he was in prison when he wrote the words of our text, but even that could not rob him of his joy. The secret is in the words, “In the Lord.”
    Often, the reason we have not found joy is that we have looked for it in all the wrong places. We look for it in education, in wealth, in power, and even in philosophy. However, real joy is always found in the Lord. John 15:11 relates to us the words of Jesus when he said, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (ESV Study Bible, pg. 2055). It is only in Jesus that we find real joy, true purpose, and true meaning to our lives.
    I want to encourage you to rejoice in the Lord, to lay hold of that joy that can be ours. I will give you four reasons to rejoice. Let’s look at each of these.
    First, Paul tells us in verse 3 that we should rejoice because our names are written in heaven. This is such a great thing that Jesus used this same thought to encourage his disciples in Luke 10:20. When we obey the gospel and become Christians, God adds us to the church, and our names are written in heaven. This should give us joy and comfort.
    Second, Paul says in verse 5 that we should rejoice because the Lord is near. This should cause us to rejoice to know that the Lord is near to his people. We find joy in knowing that Jesus is coming back someday to right all the wrongs done to his people and to reward us for our faithful service.
    Third, Paul says in verse 6 that we should rejoice because of the privilege of prayer. Indeed, our father in heaven is anxious for us to talk with him. As Christians, we are commanded to pray instead of worry about what life brings us. As Tom Miller once said, “Prayer lifts life’s loads and gives us joy.” Casting our cares upon God helps to lift that load, and it reminds us that God does care.
    Lastly, Paul says in verse 9 that we should rejoice because of our opportunities to serve.  Inactivity hinders our joy. Even modern psychology tells us that the first thing we should do for emotional problems is to get busy. We should consider it a great joy to be able to serve the Lord in any area that he needs us. This helps us to feel important, needed, and most often gives us great joy. When we serve others, we are truly serving Jesus.
    The Christian life begins and ends with joy, and it follows that the Christian life should be a life filled with joy. I hope I have convinced you to lay hold of the blessing God has given you. Don’t sit by any longer and wonder why your joy is not full. Do these things, and your joy will be full. 

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

Joy Unspeakable

By Donna Wittlif

      Have you ever had a joy so heartfelt that you burst into song? A joy so deep that you felt there was no way you could express your thanksgiving to God except to sing? Paul and Silas did.
      "But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God..." Where were Paul and Silas? Acts 16:23 tells us they were in prison. Not only were they in prison with their feet held fast in stocks, but the magistrates had torn their garments off them and had beaten them with many stripes.
      Can you imagine sitting in a cold and dank Roman prison with your feet in stocks and blood sliding down your back? The pain in your back would be bad enough to make you sick to your stomach. Your body might be in shock. What would you be doing if you had just been beaten and thrown into prison?
      Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God loudly enough that the other prisoners could hear them. Might this cause them to receive a worse punishment? That didn't frighten them because their trust was in God, and God rescued them. An earthquake shook the prison, the stocks holding them loosened, and the prison doors were opened.
      Paul and Silas had a joy buried so deeply in their hearts that they rejoiced no matter the circumstances that beset them. That joy was based on their faith in Jesus Christ, their obedience to Him, and the promises He had given them.
      Like Paul and Silas, may we have such great joy in the spiritual blessings that we have in Christ that we have to tell others. Our reason is the joy unspeakable we feel because of our belief in Christ.
Whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though how ye see him not, ye rejoice greatly with joy inexpressible and full

- 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/

Be Filled With Joy … the Lord Has Come

By Joe Chesser

       
     I think I am safe to say that the song “Joy to the World” is a favorite among all of us any time of the year. It certainly is one of my favorites. “Joy to the world, the Lord is come! … Repeat the sounding joy!” First published in 1719, Isaac Watts’ lyrics teamed with music attributed to Handel have produced the most published Christmas hymn in North America. It might be difficult to find any Christmas album that did not include this song. And rightly so.
     After millenniums of promise and hope and expectation for a coming Messiah through whom the entire world would be blessed (Genesis 12.3), the time had finally come!  While John the Baptist was still in his mother’s womb, he leapt for joy in anticipation of the coming of Jesus (Luke 1.44)! When the angel of the Lord announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, the angel said, “Do not be afraid. I will bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2.10). 2000 plus years later we are still being filled with joy when we think of the birth of Jesus.
     Why? The answer is obvious, isn’t it? The depth of joy Jesus brought to the world was unlike anything known before. Before Jesus, the forgiveness of sins was merely a shadow, a promise to be fulfilled in the future, a distant hope. The Old Testament Law itself was but a “shadow of good things to come instead of the true form of these realities” (Hebrews 10.1). At its best, hope was always for better things yet to come.
     But in Jesus, that kind of hope was suddenly transformed into an ever-present reality. No more wishful thinking. Although not as expected, the Savior has come (Matthew 1.21). The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world is finally here (John 1.29) to seek and save the lost (Luke 19.10). The blood he shed on the cross not only forgives our sins initially (Ephesians 1.7, Revelation 1.5, Romans 6.3-4), it also continually forgives our sins as we walk in the light (1 John 1.7). In Jesus, light and life have come (John 1.4). Only Jesus can show us the way to the Father (John 14.6).
     And that, my friends, is the source of inexpressible joy.  In the words of Bernard of Clairvaux, “Jesus, the very thought of thee, with sweetness fills the breast, o hope of every contrite heart, o joy of all the meek … Jesus, our only joy be thou, as thou our prize wilt be; Jesus, be thou our glory now, and through eternity.”
     Because Jesus has come we triumphantly sing, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart … I’ve got the peace that passes understanding down in my heart, down in my heart to stay … and if the devil doesn’t like it he can sit on a tack!”
                                                                                                               
- Joe Chesser preaches for the Fruitland Church of Christ, Fruitland, MO.  He may be contacted at joeandareva@yahoo.com

Crown of Rejoicing

By  Kevin Rutherford

     What is your hope? Perhaps you have hopes for your family and friends. You might even carry within your heart the hope of an eternal home in heaven with God.
     What is your joy? Do you have joy in that which is pure and good and holy? Do you have joy in the sight of Christian families raising their children to love the Lord?
     Paul wrote, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy (I Thessalonians 2:19-20).” Paul’s crown of rejoicing would be seeing his beloved fellow Christians in the presence of Jesus Christ as His  coming. Let us rejoice not only in our own salvation, but also in the salvation of our brothers and sisters in Christ. 
     This powerful statement from Paul expressed a deep love for brethren. There is no doubt he wrote these words in sincerity and conviction. What do you suppose could bring Paul to have such strong love and concern for fellow Christians? Is it just that God commands us to love our brethren (I Thessalonians 4:9-10)? No doubt that is part of it, but that love becomes deeper, stronger, more devoted and more committed when we pray for our brethren, fellowship our brethren, and in particular when we serve our brethren.
     Paul poured himself out in his service to fellow Christians (1 Thessalonians 2:14-18). Paul came to the people of Thessalonica with sincerity, with the truth, without seeking glory, and without making demands. He served these people with gentleness and affection all while exhorting comforting and charging them as a father does his own children. This kind of dedicated service to fellow Christians increased the depth of Paul’s love and devotion to them. The more we learn to serve others, the more we will love them.
     Let us grow in the strength of our love for one another by serving one another. Let us look for ways to lift one another up and push each other forward. Let us be able to say with heartfelt conviction that our hope, joy, and crown of rejoicing at the coming of Christ will be to see our Christian brothers and sisters with the Lord. May God bless you! To God be the glory!

- Kevin Rutherford preaches for the Warners Chapel church of Christ in Clemmons, NC. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://warnerschapelchurchofchrist.org/

“Rejoice In The Lord”

By Mac Deaver

    In Phil. 4:4 Paul wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice.”  --But what are some circumstances that call forth the joy of which Paul speaks?
    We ought to rejoice in our salvation.  After the Ethiopian officer’s conversion, he went on his way rejoicing (Acts 8:39).  After the seventy returned from their mission, Jesus told them to rejoice that their names were written in heaven (Lk. 10:20).  If one’s sins are forgiven and his name is written in the Lamb’s book of life, he certainly ought to rejoice.
    We ought to rejoice as we realize that God is in control of world affairs.  Sometimes the catastrophic events throughout the world cause us all great concern.  But we must not despair, realizing that God is aware of all, and is in control of all.  (Rom. 13:1-4; Isaiah 6:1).  And even if we must suffer for right-doing, there is occasion for rejoicing (Acts 5:41; 1 Peter 2:20).
    We ought to rejoice in the knowledge that all will work out to the ultimate good of the faithful.  “And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).  All things revolve around the good of the church.  Paul also said, “The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom….” (2 Tim. 4:18).
    Indeed, the Christian has every reason to rejoice in the Lord.

- Ronald Bartanen preaches for Arthur Church of Christ, Arthur, IL.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com

REMEMBERING THE JOY

   “These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me.  For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God, with the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival” (Psa. 42:4).
   David spent a lot of time in exile away from Jerusalem , and he wasn’t able to be at the temple worshiping God.  He really missed it.  His soul was thirsting for God, like a deer pants for water (Psa. 42:1), and he was longing to be in worship again.  He remembered how great it was to be in worship and rejoiced when he could get back.  When we make our lives around worshiping the Lord, the loss of worship time will leave a big hole in our lives.  Let’s not fill that hole with something else.  Let’s get back to God before it is too late.

- Grace for Your Spirit ,via THE SOWER, a weekly publication of the Arthur church of Christ, Arthur, IL. Ron Bartanen, who serves as minister and editor, may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com 

Joy

By Ron Bartanen

We are given an amazing picture in Acts 22:25 of two men—the apostle Paul and his fellow-laborer, Silas, as they “prayed and sang praises unto God.” What is so amazing about it is that they had been unmercifully scourged, put in chains and then thrown into a prison cell. Who would expect to see a joyful prayer-and-praise service in such an environment and under such circumstances! Paul and Silas had found what everybody desires—JOY. As a result, Luke records God’s response: an earthquake that sets them free, and a jailor and his household believed in Christ and were baptized.

Part of my ministry as a preacher of the Gospel is to point people to the true source of joy—Jesus Christ. Paul wrote the church at Philippi , “I shall continue with you all for your…joy of faith: that your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:25-26), and encouraged them to “rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, rejoice” (Phil. 4:4). He had found joy in Christ, and shared that joy with others.

True joy is not found in the passing pleasures of this world, but in Him who said, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:11). As someone once observed, “Joy grows on the Christian tree.” Have you found this joy?

- via THE SOWER, a weekly publication of the Arthur church of Christ, Arthur, IL. Ron Bartanen, who serves as minister and editor, may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com

Full of Joy

By Jeff Johnson

The world can be depressing at times, but God wants His people to be happy. Over 20,000 Americans commit suicide each year. To some, life is simply not worth living. Often as we watch the daily news, the only thing we see is bad news. None of us want to hear or see bad news; we want to see and hear the things that make us happy. A former president of Harvard University said: "The world is looking for a creed to believe, and a song to sing."

Joy is the emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; it is gladness or delight. Christians in the early church rejoiced.

When we read Acts 2:46, we notice that the saints had glad hearts. They had daily teaching programs (5:42); they had consistent lives (2:42); but, most of all, they loved coming together for they had glad hearts.

Numerous examples fill the New Testament. Phillip, when preaching Christ in Samaria, caused great joy in the city (Acts 8:5-8). The eunuch went on his way rejoicing after his conversion into Christ (Acts 8:39). The disciples were filled with joy in Antioch (Acts 13:52), and the jailor rejoiced (Acts 16:34). The brethren had their trials, temptations, burdens, persecutions, and pressures of life but still found time to rejoice. They did not have wonder drugs and hospitals. They did not have the modern conveniences, but they did have the one thing that kept them going: God. God's people are urged to rejoice. Further examples are the saints at Philippi, who were told to rejoice (Phil. 4:4). The church was born in the midst of persecution. If they were in the Lord, they were fit for heaven (Col. 1:12). If they were in the Lord, they were redeemed from sin (Col. 1:14). They were then delivered from Satan's power (Col. 1:13), and they were chosen in Christ (Eph. 1:4), for they now had an inheritance in heaven (1 Peter 1:3-5).

The Thessalonian Christians were instructed to rejoice evermore (1 Thess. 5:16). The church in Thessalonica was born in the midst of persecution, but they could rejoice in spite of their problems, trials, and persecutions. Similarly, God's people at Rome could also rejoice in hope while they were patient in tribulation.

One thing to remember is that the angel brought "good tidings of great joy" when he told the shepherds that Jesus was born. During the last twenty-four hours of His life on earth, Jesus spoke often of joy and peace. Anyone who doubts that God wanted His creation to be happy should read the Genesis account of Eden before sin came. God did not mean for us to be miserable even though the bad news we see depicts the world at its worst. God simply wants His children to be happy. "Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord." (Ps. 144:15).

- Jeff Johnson; via the Lake Hills Letter, weekly bulletin of the Lake Hills church of Christ in Chattanooga, TN. Shane Robinson preaches for the congregation, and he may be contacted through their website at http://www.lakehillschurchofchrist.org/