In our continued study of “Why I am a member of the Church of Christ”, this week in the pre-teen class we reviewed what the members of the church are called. We first looked at names that are based on the Bible but are not scriptural ways to identify members of the church.

I am sure that practices and methods should be used to complete the Lord’s work, but we are not to be called Methodists.

We agree that it takes immersion under water to complete the act of baptism, but we are not to be called Baptists.

The church should have bishops (Greek word episcopos) or deacons to do the work of the church, but we are not to be called Episcopalians.

The church should have elders (Greek work being presbuteros) to oversee the flock, but we are not to be called Presbyterians.

According to Acts 20:7, disciples, which are learners or followers, came together to break bread upon the first day of the week.

1 Corinthians 1:2 describes the members at Corinth as saints, denoting they were saved from past sins.

1 Corinthians 15:6 uses the name brethren, which suggests a relationship to each other in Christ.

In Acts 11:26, the followers of Christ were given a new name, Christians.

To be scriptural, we must identify both the church and its members as scripture directs. Man-made names should be avoided, and the name of Christ adopted.

This week I went to the Doctor to check up on a potential genetic problem. As a result, I found out that I was low in Vitamin D. However, as soon as I found that out, I researched and started the solution. I did not wait for the Doctor to call back.

Similarly, when we read God’s Word it tells us what is wrong and presents us with the solution. For instance, in Matthew 12:33-37, Jesus tells us we can determine our spiritual health by observing what comes out of our mouths. Is it good or evil?

If we are proud and selfish, we will be constantly producing bad fruit like fighting and quarreling; missing or misdirected prayers; lovers of the world; grieving the Holy Spirit; slandering; or boasting about the future (James 4:1-17).

However, if we are humble and generous, we will be constantly producing good fruit like submitting to God; resisting the Devil; repenting; and depending on God for our future (James 4:1-17).

Friend, your heart is sick if you are constantly frustrated. If you are frustrated, then almost certainly you are living the victim and blaming everyone while making excuses. However, your heart is healthy if you are constantly appreciative. Living with appreciation in your heart, even towards your enemies, allows God to give you grace (James 4:6) and to lift you up (James 4:10).

Let’s talk about love.  Valentine’s Day is a day to recognize the special love in your life. (Valentine’s Day is also my Dad’s birthday.)  I hope you had a great day!

 If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  1 John 2:15 

Where do we spend all of our time?  This was a question David Shannon asked during the Elder’s Workshop at Freed Hardeman.  David said, ”Show me your calendars, show me your bank statement, and what you talk about, and these three things will tell us what we love.”

Is your calendar filled with sporting events, travel, parties, etc.?  Do you book activities during worship times? Do you schedule and attend fellowship activities?  Looking at your calendar will tell you where you spend all of your time! 

What will your bank statement tell you?  Is it to support your calendar habits?   When is the last time you invested in your soul?  How long since you attended a Marriage Enrichment Seminar, Youth Rally, Retreat, or bought a good book on the Church?  How many entries will be to support your Church?

What are your conversations about?  Do you talk about current events, politics, sports?  What kind of jokes do you tell?  If someone overheard your conversation, would they know you are a Christian; can they tell that you love the Lord?

Brothers and Sisters, the Bible tells us in Mark 12:30 to “love the Lord our God with all of our heart, with all of our soul, with all of our mind.” 

· Think about loving God with all of our heart (That is what your calendar will tell you)   

· Think about loving God with all of our soul (That is what your bank statement will tell us)  

· Think about loving God with all of our mind (That is what your conversation will tell you)                 

God Is Love!

How do we still hear God’s message with all the “white noise” drowning it out? I have helped many people over the years become daily Bible readers by utilizing a very simple technique. Do it first thing when you wake up in the morning!

Begin by having the Bible ready to play. How? Download the YouVersion ap. Sign in with your email and password. Go to Discover Plans and select a Whole Bible plan – like the ESV Study Bible.

But what happens if you don’t have a smart phone? One of our members, Lloyd Eastham, found a great work around. He bought a Wonder Bible. It is an Old and New Testament audio KJV player.

Why should you listen to your Bible first thing in the morning? The number one reason people don’t read/listen to the bible anymore is time. However, first thing in the morning, while getting dressed, etc., is complete wasted time – unless you use it to read your bible through every year.

I recently asked my son, Ben Buchanan, how he checks his mail every day, in Alaska. He must use a lighter to heat up the lock for 1 ½ minutes.

Friend, we have it so easy when it comes to accessing God’s Word. There is no excuse.

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰ And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. ⁴¹ And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. – Matthew 5:38-42

These verses spoken by Christ in Matthew 5 are hard to live by.  It is believed that the context of verse 41 is from a Roman law that required a Jewish citizen to carry a Roman soldier’s gear for a mile, if asked.  Can you imagine already being subjected to an unjust law and now your Lord God has told you that you should do more than what the law mandates?   It is from this verse that the term “going the extra mile” was coined. It isn’t difficult to understand, it is just difficult to live. 

We know the good Samaritan went the extra mile in Luke 10:30-37. He did more than what was expected, or required, in the culture of the time to help the man who was beaten and left on the side of the road. As children of God and followers of Christ we should always strive to give more than we are expected or required to by today’s societal standards.  This applies to all aspects of our life.  We are to be generous with our time, our talents, our possessions and our money in ways modern society cannot really understand. God calls us to be merciful, compassionate, gracious and forgiving in a dark world. In this way, we can show the light of Christ and plant seeds for the Kingdom. While this is not an easy task, the blessings we receive from going the “extra mile” are probably as great or greater than those received by the recipient of our effort. For example, extending forgiveness to someone who has not asked for it, and by all worldly standards does not deserve it, blesses us because it frees us from the burden of holding onto that unforgiveness. “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” – Matthew 6:14

It had been a tough time for John. Because he had stood up for the truth, he was thrown into jail. John’s “offense” was calling out King Herod on the issue of Marriage and Divorce. You see, Herod had married Herodias, Philip’s wife. I am sure it had seemed to all the world “above board”. But not in the eyes of God. Divorce is only allowed for adultery. And like any sin, (homosexuality, adultery, gossip, etc.) repentance was needed. So, Herodias needed to stop being an adulterous and return to her husband, Philip. Well that was not about to happen.

So, John sends a question to Jesus (Matthew 11:2–3): “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

When we become discouraged it affects even the most positive areas of our lives.

Friend, are you feeling discouraged? Then listen to Jesus answer: Matthew 11:4–6 (ESV) … the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. …”

Jesus tells us to see the growth around us. For instance: Yesterday we had a baptism; Many are being reached from Summit with WBS, counseling, & “Muscle and a Shovel”; etc.

Friend, are you seeing the growth?

In our continued study of “Why I am a Member of the Church of Christ” in the pre-teen class last week, we reviewed how the church was founded by the scriptural builder, Christ.

In Matthew 16:18, Christ promises, “…and upon this rock I will build my church…”

I = personal

Will = is in the future and definite

Build = construction and/or establish

My = possessive and demonstrates ownership

Church = congregation and/or assembly

We also reviewed how the church was founded on the scriptural foundation, Christ.

Eph. 2:20 = Christ as the corner stone

1 Cor. 3:11 = Exclusive foundation, “which is Jesus Christ”

No church can be scriptural unless it was founded by the scriptural builder, Christ.

No church can be scriptural unless it has the scriptural foundation, Christ.

We know that Christ founded the scriptural church, and that the scriptural church must have a scriptural foundation, or otherwise it would not be scriptural. For a church to be scriptural, is must be built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ.

The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. –  Genesis 6:5-6

Sin is almost never seen for what it really is, until it is too late.  Instead, it is portrayed as a choice, a lifestyle, a personal liberty, or a harmless diversion.  It is glamorized, justified, even celebrated.  Christians know better; sin brings death and separation, not happiness. 

Of course, God makes no distinction between big sin and little sin.  Every sinful act is rebellion against God’s authority in our lives.  Even so, the destructive futility of sin is easier to see in some acts than others.  Nowhere is the destruction and slavery of sin more visible than with the heroin epidemic sweeping our area.  Lives of the guilty and the innocent are daily being destroyed in horrific crashes, overdoses and neglect.  The usual remedies of legislation, punishment, education and treatment just don’t seem to work on this.  Witnessing the destruction of lives and being helpless to change it tempts good hearted people to throw up their hands in frustration and disillusionment.  How can something with such power to enslave ever be stopped?  Those caught in the addiction are so often unwilling and unable to break free, frustrating those who want to help.  What a mess!

Seeing the ugliness and futility of this situation gives us a bit of a view from God’s perspective.  Imagine God’s frustration as he saw his beautiful creation being enslaved over and over following the sin of Adam and Eve – seeing the destruction of sin passed from generation to generation with no end and no remedy.  Praise God that he dove headfirst into our mess and made the only way of salvation. 

We, the church, have been called out of the mire to be witnesses to the way of salvation.  Having been rescued from the pit, we are duty bound to help those still sinking to see the way of salvation.  Let’s not grow weary in that eternally important task!  I pray that the Church will be faithful lights in the darkness pointing the lost and dying world to Christ.