Month: December 2015
From the Preacher’s Pen: Our Immutable God
Much is written about God’s attributes. We rejoice in His omnipotence and omniscience. It is because God is all powerful and all knowing that we have this wonderful universe in which to live. The complexity and wonder of the cosmos is beyond man’s comprehension, and we acknowledge that God is “higher” than us. “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25).
Another attribute of God that is worthy of our consideration is His immutability. James wrote, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). God does not change.
Change can be a good thing. We rejoice in the development of a child as they grow physically and socially. We consider maturation a good thing. Also, consider the need for man to change from a sinful life to one of righteousness. He must repent. Jesus said, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).
However, God is perfect. He is mature, wise, righteous and good. He has established a relationship with man that allows us to depend upon that mercy, goodness and justness. The fact that God never changes allows us to rest in the assurance of His promises to the faithful. Because it is “impossible for God to lie” we have “strong consolation” (Hebrews 6:18). For this we are thankful.
In the News: Consciousness & God
A common question in science and common theme of science fiction is the potential of robots to become sufficiently complex to become conscious. That is, have self-awareness. In a sense, it would mean that they are alive, would have self-will, and (as happens often in Sci-Fi novels and shows) perhaps would rise up in revolt against mankind (cf. Terminator, among others). Like I said, science fiction.
There is a theory out there about how the brain works, called Quantum Brain Dynamics (it’s a real theory). It states that our brains not only give us the ability to hear, see, taste, feel, etc., — our brains also use quantum mechanics to create consciousness in us.
FB: The House of God
“But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).
The church of the living God is a house. The word house does not refer to a structure, but a family. God is the Father (Ephesians 3:14). Jesus is the Son over that house (Hebrews 3:6). Christians too are children, by adoption (Romans 8:15-17), and as such heirs of eternal life.
As a family, we have many blessings. These blessings are based upon our relationship with God. Among these blessings are the relationships we have with one another as fellow heirs. There is a primary obligation we have to one another, which is spelled out by John:
“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21).
Do you love your brethren? You should. We are part of a wonderful family!
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The Patternists: The Undenominational Church
Recently I came across the phrase, “congregations of the Churches of Christ.” I am sad to say that it was not a member of some religious denomination, but a baptized believer who used the words. There is so much talk about offensive speech in our day. Well let me tell you that those words offended me.
First, I am offended by the ignorance. The phrase is redundant. The phrase “churches of Christ” is used only once in the New Testament, in Romans 16:16, “Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.” In that verse, the word “churches” has reference to congregations. So, in the offensive phrase above, it could be rendered, “congregations of the congregations of Christ.” Such silliness is similar to the popular phrase “born again Christian.” By definition a Christian is one who is born again. There is no such thing as a Christian who has not been born again. So, the phrase is redundant, “a born again born again person.” But, I digress.
The second, and most offensive aspect of the phrase “congregations of the Churches of Christ” is that it indicates a denominational concept of Christianity. In other words, it differentiates between congregations of the “Churches of Christ” denomination, as contrasted with congregations of say, the Baptist denomination, or congregations of the Methodist denomination. This denominational concept of Christianity is clearly condemned in scripture (John 17:20-21; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13).
Scripture reveals that there is only one church, established by Jesus Christ, (Matthew 16:18). That church is made up of those INDIVIDUALS who are saved, (Acts 2:47). That church is organized in one way, and one way only, into local congregations, (1 Corinthians 1:1-3). If your concept of the church is different, then you are part of a big problem.
Denominationalism (Many churches instead of one) is abhorrent to the One who founded His church. I refuse to be a part of any denomination, or to describe the Lord’s church using any denominational terms. Words mean things, and it is offensive for Christ’s church to be referred to in such an obviously unscriptural way. It may be simple ignorance, or it may be a willful departure from God’s pattern that fosters these words. Regardless, our Lord deserves more respect.
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Sermon: Great is the Mystery of Godliness
The sermon is a discussion of the great mystery discusssed by the apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 3:16.
Sermon: Antipathy Towards Autonomy
A recent petition that circulated online addressing members of the church of Christ contains language that is so sectarian it clearly indicates the impact institutionalism has had upon God’s people.
This sermon examines the language and sentiments used in that petition, contrasting them with God’s word.
Advocacy & Propitiation
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2).
John’s words reveal two different (though connected) blessings we have as believers in Jesus Christ. And, as we will later emphasize, these blessings are only available to those who are believers in Him (cf. John 14:6). Having said that, the terms used by John are challenging, and need to be explained to those who are not familiar with the language of scripture.
From the Preacher’s Pen: Greatness Through Service
In Philippians 2:8 we read that as our Lord came to earth as a man, He humbled himself to the point of dying on the cross. We are so thankful for that humility, as it is the basis of our own reconciliation with God.
Interestingly, Paul wrote that because Jesus did what He did, the Father in heaven rewarded Him. “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (2:9-11). This is in keeping with what scripture teaches us concerning God. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
It is a lesson we would do well to learn. It is a lesson Jesus taught His disciples by example (by washing their feet), and by His words, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:14-17).
In the Kingdom of Christ, “he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves” (Luke 22:26). Greatness is found through service, and glory is found through humility before God and men.
Invitation: The One Body
Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox
In 1 Corinthians 12 the apostle Paul uses the concept of a physical body as a metaphor for the church. The lesson teaches the necessity of each member, and the care each should show toward one another.
Sermon: Praise the Lord!
Psalm 111 states that God’s works are great, honorable, glorious, true, just, enduring and upright. He is truly worthy of praise, and those who are righteous will have pleasure in the works of God.
Sermon: The High Cost of Sin
The account of Samson’s fall and imprisonment by the Philistines teaches some important truths about sin:
1) Sin will always take you farther than you want to go.
2) Sin will always keep you longer than you want to stay.
3) Sin will always cost you more than you intended to pay.
“God Isn’t Fixing This” ???
Another mass shooting took place on Wednesday morning, in San Bernardino, CA. Two shooters killed 14 and injured 17 others. At this writing, authorities are looking into the motivation and circumstances behind the killing.
We are living in fractious times. Each scary situation foments partisan rhetoric, and America is deeply divided as to how to deal with mass shootings and terrorist activity in our nation. It seems that ideologues are breathlessly waiting for that moment when they can triumphantly proclaim each incident as “domestic” or “Islamic” terrorism. It is as if the motivations of violent and often deranged criminals serve to validate their narrative. This is sad.
Invitation: Working at Prayer
Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox
In Colossians 4:12-13 Paul identifies Epaphras as a friend to the Colossians. He said he was always “laboring fervently for you in prayers.” An interesting way to describe the act of prayer – as labor.
