By Edd Sterchi Luke’s magnificent account of the storm at
sea in Acts 27 is possibly intended to be more than just a thrilling chapter of
Paul’s life. In verses 23 and 25 we see some interesting words Paul uses that
show his relationship with God and his purpose for being a Christian. Here’s
the relevant portions of the text: “...God to whom I belong and whom I
serve...for I believe God...” Now, notice the three important words: *
Paul belonged to God (v.23). This means that Paul was a Christian. He had been
baptized for the remission of sins (cf. Acts 22:16) and that put him in a
relationship with God. He was a child of God and belonged to God’s family. *
Paul believed God (v.25). If God told him something directly, through an angel,
or through His written word, Paul believed it. He never questioned it, he
simply trusted in it. If God said he would go to Rome, then he knew that he
would make it to Rome, no matter what earthly calamity came. Paul trusted in and
relied upon God’s promises. *
Paul served God (v.23). Paul was totally dedicated to God and, as a result,
served Him faithfully. Paul worshiped God. Paul prayed to God. Paul showed his
love for God by active service to others. The People’s New Testament Commentary
states of v.23, “This short sentence is a sermon. It is the key-note of all
Paul’s ministry.” Paul’s whole life was centered around God – believing,
honoring, and serving Him. We would do well to follow Paul’s example.
We need to examine our minds, hearts, and lives and see if we truly belong to
God, truly believe in His word, and are truly serving in His name. We need to
check and make sure that we are fully dedicated to Him and have an active
relationship with Him. Living like Paul expresses here will help us make it
through whatever storms of life hit. “Therefore I urge you, imitate me.” (Paul,
in 1 Corinthians 4:16) |
- 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/  |
Sunday, April 9, 2023
Paul’s Purpose
Be Safe, Not Sorry
By Ron
Bartanen In some things we may take risks. We may take risks in the stock market, but
the only thing we stand to lose is money.
However, if we take risks with salvation, we stand to lose our souls,
and Jesus said, “What is a man profited if he gain the whole world and lose his
own soul?” (Matthew 16:26). We cannot
afford to take foolish chances about eternal salvation. We are urged, “Give diligence to make your
calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10). To be safe, not sorry, build your life on
the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Jesus
said, “Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken
him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock, and the rain descended,
and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house: and it fell
not, for it was founded upon a rock” (Matthew 7:24-25). To do otherwise is soul-destruction. Look only to God’s word for assurance that
you are on the right path in life. Don’t
depend on how you feel, for “the heart is deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah
17:9). Safe guidance does not come from
within us, but from the Bible. It is His
word that will judge us (John 12:48). |
- 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 |
Sunday, April 2, 2023
An Introduction to the Book of Revelation (Part One)
By Jeff
Arnette The book of Revelation has always been one
of my favorite books in the entire Bible. I have often been asked why and
perhaps the reason lies in its focus. Revelation was written near the end of
the first century in a time when Christians were being persecuted and dying for
their faith in Jesus. To encourage and challenge them to greater faithfulness,
Jesus gives John this series of visions to explain our suffering and more
importantly remind us of our ultimate victory. Throughout the book the message
is always the same: No matter what happens in this life, in the end faithful
Christians will stand victorious with Jesus. True to that purpose, this book
has always given me hope and courage to keep serving Jesus and His people. By the time the letter was written to the
Seven Churches, Christians in most parts of the Roman Empire are being
persecuted and dying for their faith. John is given a series of visions and
told to write it down and send it to the church (Rev. 1:4, 9). Almost without
exception, early Christian writers affirmed the Apostle John as its writer. The setting of the visions is the island of
Patmos (Rev. 1:9) that served as a penal colony for the Roman Empire in the
Aegean Sea. Tradition says that John survived his time here and was released.
He moves to Ephesus and remains there until his death. I do believe, for
practical reasons, that John would have waited until he was in Ephesus to write
the letters since he would have more access to writing materials. The book of Revelation, probably more than
any other book in the Scripture, has produced a wider variety of theories,
interpretations, and sadly more arguments. As such, I believe something needs
to be said here. We need to show grace and understanding with other believer’s
when they differ with us on how to understand this book. We must always show
Christ-likeness in our treatment of all people but especially other believers
who are sincerely trying to understand this difficult book. |
- Jeff Arnette preaches for the Central Haywood church of Christ,
Clyde, NC. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/ |
Mind Control
By Joe
Slater Unscrupulous characters in many walks of
life, including religion, seek to control other people’s minds. Their tactics
include manipulation, brainwashing, and coercion. We ought to reject any and
all efforts by other people to control our minds. God’s word teaches that we control our own minds.
The fact that He tells us to renew our minds and set our minds on specific
things shows that not even God Himself overrides our free will. Why would we need to be transformed by the renewing
of our minds (as per Romans 12:2 and Ephesians 4:23)? Why would Colossians
3:1-2 exhort us to set our minds on things that are above? God’s word provides
the answer from several angles. Before we knew Jesus, we were “alienated
and enemies in your mind by wicked works” (Colossians 1:21). Hostility toward
God begins in the mind! Only by renewal of the mind can we be reconciled to
Him. When people reject knowing God, the Lord “(gives)
them over to a debased (unapproved) mind” (Romans 1:28). Because they don’t
approve Him, He doesn’t approve them! The mind must be renewed before God will
accept them. Enemies of God, not wishing to know Him, naturally
have “corrupt minds” (1 Timothy 6:5). Titus 1:5 makes the same point speaking
of both mind and conscience being “defiled.” Such minds focus not on things
above, but earthly, carnal matters. Unless the mind is renewed and refocused,
eternal destruction surely awaits! |
- 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 |
“Love or Like?”
By
Bill Brandstatter The two words above are confusing to many
people. I can love someone but not like certain practices. I can love someone
because of the soul which God put in them; but, I may not like their life style
or habits. God is a God of love; (1 John 4:18) but God doesn’t like all of
man’s behaviors and practices. He loved Adam and Eve. They were God’s
first human creations. God loved them so much that He gave them a paradise
home. Because He loved them, He gave them some commandments to guide them in
their paradise. They chose not to follow those commands. As a result, they were
expelled from the Garden of Eden and death came on the human race. He didn’t
like what they did, but He loved them. He loved people in Noah’s day. People
became more and more wicked. (Gen. 6:5) God was sorry He made man and was
grieved in His heart. (Gen. 6:6) God still loved mankind, but was sorrowful
about the behavior and lifestyle of those created after His image. So, God
caused a great flood to come upon the earth. Everything was destroyed. The only
survivors were Noah, his wife, his sons & their wives and the animals in
the ark. God didn’t do this because He hated man. He did it because He didn’t
like what they were doing, and they were creating problems for themselves. He loves people today. He wants all men to
be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim. 2:4) God is in the soul
business. Man is in the flesh business. Man wants to justify self. God wants to
save man from sin. So, when man reads the Bible, he thinks in different terms
than God does. (Isa. 55:8, 9) Sometimes that which God condemns, man approves.
That which man approves God often condemns. (Isa. 10:30) |
- Bill Brandstatter preaches for the Marion Church of Christ in
Marion, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://marionchurchofchrist.com/ |
Humility Comes Before Exaltation
By Edd Sterchi Philippians 2:5-11 is a wonderful treatise
on Jesus Christ. He came from heaven as God, but lived upon the earth as human.
He lived a sinless life so that He could be our perfect sin offering. Verses 8
and 9 reveal something that we often miss concerning all of this: “And being
found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to
the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has
highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name”
(emphasis mine). Since Jesus was our perfect example
(Philippians 2:5; 1 Peter 2:21), it is important that we note this formula: Humility
comes before exaltation. If we want God to exalt us, we must first humble
ourselves before Him. To humble ourselves means to put God above every aspect
of our lives, be obedient to His will, and fully trust in Him – just as Jesus
did. If we do this, we are guaranteed exaltation. “And whoever exalts himself will be
humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12) “Humble yourselves in the sight of the
Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10) |
- 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/ |
Who Is In Control?
By
Ron Thomas No one who has ever lived is better known
than Jesus, the man from Nazareth, also called God’s Son. God’s Son? Does God
have a son? This is the message of Jesus, God’s Son who came to this earth to
teach and save people from their sins. In Luke 19:10, the Scripture reads, For
the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost (ASV). The word “sin” is a word that many people
have heard much about, but many of those same people really don’t the meaning
of that word, though they do have some idea. The word “sin” comes from a Greek
word (hamartia) that means to “miss the mark.” In other words, man has a bulls
eye in front of him (so to speak); he aims at a target of doing that which is
right. Doing that which is right is associated with morality, a way of thinking
that corresponds to what he/she thinks is right and wrong. It is a moral compass
given to him by God. Since the time of creation man has aimed at doing that which
is right. God has given man the freedom to chose, and since that time he has
done so. But in the choices he made man has gone his own way, trying to
establish his own wisdom as the moral compass by which he is led. This way of
thinking he has put in place has encouraged him to think he can choose his own
preferred way without regard to the way the Lord desires man to choose. In this
choice made, he hopes God will accept his chosen path. This is similar to the
way of (mistaken) thinking, “There are many paths to God, my son. I hope yours
is not too difficult.” This way of thinking has been humanity’s
disastrous path upon which he is currently walking. The Lord said, For my
thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the
LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than
your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). When people
choose to go their own way, the way of God becomes blocked in his line of
sight. The choices of man have blocked the purity of God’s path, and his desire
to walk God’s path becomes corrupt, diluted and overgrown with weeds. He simply
cannot find his way back to God apart from God. Thus, Jesus came to point for
man “the bright and shining way.” From the English Standard Version (ESV) of
the Bible, we read, Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and
the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). How can Jesus help me with my struggle
since He never struggled with the same things I do? A long time ago, Solomon,
the king over the nation Israel, appealed to the Lord God for the struggle that
each person has. He said this, what prayer and supplication soever be made by
any man, or by all thy people Israel, who shall know every man the plague of
his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house (1 Kings 8:38, ASV).
Note the word “plague,” a word that is a strong enough to convey a great deal
of heartache and struggle. The people long ago are not at all different than
people today. One can easily say the only difference would be in relation to
advancements in technology. They struggled with similar problems. Is your struggle alcohol? Is your struggle
sex? Is your struggle related to drugs? Is your struggle personal relationship?
Is your struggle getting and keeping a job? Is your struggle a sharp tongue? It
may be that I can’t relate precisely with what you struggle, but neither can
you relate precisely with what I struggle. Nevertheless, there is a similarity
in that we both struggle, just as there was in the days of Solomon. Each one of those struggles are in relation
to behavior. It is the mind’s desire to succumb to this or that. The Lord
teaches a new way of thinking, a way of thinking that is a retraining of the
mind. Does the mind control, or is the mind controlled? Notice what Paul said
in his letter to the church in Philippi, Not that I have already obtained this
or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus
has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.
But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what
lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God
in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14). Who controlled Paul’s mind at the time when
he wrote those words? It was Paul who controlled his own mind, but he willingly
allowed the Lord Jesus to be of such great influence that he could easily say
(and he did), I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that
live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live
in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself
up for me (Gal. 2:20). |
- Ron Thomas preaches for the Church of Christ at Rio Grande in Bidwell, OH. He
may be contacted at etsop95@gmail.com |