Author: Stan Cox

Typically, the apostle Paul begins his epistle with praise to God. He proclaims God to be the font of all spiritual blessings, and affirms these blessings are accomplished in the person of Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ life, death and resurrection the favor of God is complete.

What is interesting in this text is Paul’s reference to foreordination and predestination. This means that God’s scheme of redemption was a fait accompli before the universe was ever created.

When we talk about predestination, we must understand such predestination is not individual in nature. The affirmation that God chose us individually would negate the concept of free will and personal responsibility. It would make passages such as Mark 16:16 — (“He that believes and is baptized will be saved, he that believes not will be condemned”) — nonsensical.

God predestined that those who were among the sanctified —those who were among those adopted as sons — would be accepted. He gives us the choice as to whether we wish to be in that group or not. God is no respecter of persons.

(Note: P.A. and Tippy Foster are charter members of the West Side congregation. P.A. serves as on of the elders of our congregation. They are two wonderful and godly individuals).

Last Tuesday Debbie and I had the distinct privilege of attending a reception honoring P.A. and Tippy Foster among a group of about 80 World War II veterans. In that group was a survivor of the Bataan death march, who remained a prisoner of war for three and one half years. There were also several who had stormed the beach at Normandy on D-Day. Tippy had the distinction of being the only lady among those honored. P.A. and Tippy both served in the Navy during the war.

Several of the men told of their experiences during the war. Some of these stories were humorous, but in all of them there was the recognition of just how horrific war is, and how great were the sacrifices of both those who survived the conflict, and those who lost their lives in service to their country and humanity.

Continue reading “In the News: Honoring Sacrifice” →

(This article originally appeared as a paid ad in March 2012 in the newspapers published by Suburban Newspapers, Inc. The papers cover five small communities in the Forth Worth area).

Many religious people say that God doesn’t care what your doctrine is, as long as you believe in Christ. But, the apostle John wrote, “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9).

Many religious people say they are glad that there are so many different churches where men may go and worship as they please. But, Jesus prayed to His Father in heaven, “That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:21).

Many religious people protest that objective truth is unknowable. However, Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Further, the apostle Paul promised concerning the revelation he had received from the Holy Spirit, “when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:4).

Many religious people are simply unwilling to work at knowing God’s will, and limiting themselves to His directions for them in their lives. The brethren at West Side know how important it is to study God’s word, and to use it as the blueprint they follow in their daily lives. Would you like to know and understand God’s will for you? Come visit the West Side church of Christ.
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(This article originally appeared as a paid ad in February 2012 in the newspapers published by Suburban Newspapers, Inc. The papers cover five small communities in the Forth Worth area).

Over the past 100 years or so, many churches in America have changed their emphasis from saving souls to effecting change in secular society. The soup kitchen replaced the pulpit as the primary focus of the church, and the preaching of the gospel, God’s “power to save” (cf. Rom. 1:16), is no longer the central activity of professed Christians.

This “Social Gospel” has recently devolved from the effecting of social change to simply socializing! Churches today emphasize the “fun” to be had through entertainment and recreational activities offered as an appeal to the community. Catchwords such as “casual”, “contemporary”, and “dynamic” have replaced words such as “reverence”, “devotion” and “sacrifice.”

Dear friend, the “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (cf. Phil. 4:7), is not to be found in recreation and entertainment. The Lord’s church is to be involved in the evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-16), and the edification of its members (Eph. 4:11-16).

Most people are mainly interested in the social things, and choose their church accordingly. However, if you are interested in a sacrificial life of devotion to the Master, and wish to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” we can help. Come visit the West Side church and see for yourself.
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Invitation delivered by: Justin Carrell

Justin notes that all we have belongs to God. We are merely stewards. If we recognize this, whether it is our money our our heart, all decisions we make will be made with God at the forefront of our mind.

Audio

Last Sunday I used the phrase “the proof is in the pudding” while preaching. It is a phrase I had long heard, but some were wondering about it’s origin and meaning. So, I looked it up.

The phrase is actually a misquote of the phrase “the proof of the pudding” (which is fairly nonsensical), but is a shortened form of the phrase, “the proof of the pudding is in the eating,” which makes more sense. It means that to fully test something you need to experience it yourself. There are examples of the phrase being used early in the 17th century.

When I use it I intend a similar idea. That it is possible to claim something to be true, but claiming is not the same as demonstrating it to be so. There are numerous applications of this in scripture. For example, in the area of repentance. The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 7:11 about the Corinthians proving of themselves, “For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”

When it comes to repentance, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. It is not enough to say you are sorry for your sin, you must prove it in your life. Makes sense!

The West Side congregation helped in brother Chip Foster’s support for his recent preaching trip to the Philippines. On the evening of February 19, 2012, brother Foster came to West Side and gave a report of the work done.

Audio (18 MB, 1 hour, 20 minutes)

Powerpoint Slides (54 MB)

The sermon uses Paul’s exhortation to godly living in 1 Timothy 4:7-9 as a basis for needed admonitions. Paul contrasted godly living with physical exercise. Things such as physical exercise, money, education and tradition all have a “little profit.” However, they are also subject to abuse. In contrast, godliness is “profitable for all things.”

Audio

Powerpoint Slides

Invitation delivered by: Dennis Craig

Dennis uses the text of Psalm 90, the prayer of Moses near the end of a generation’s wandering in the wilderness, to discuss the frailty and duration of our life on earth.

Audio

Last Tuesday was Valentine’s Day, originally a Catholic holiday celebrating the burial of a Roman bishop by that name on the Via Flaminia, (one of the most famous roads in ancient Rome), on February 14 in or around A.D. 296. Of course, the holiday, like many others, has become secularized in our time. It was not until the 14th century that the day had any link to the romantic love that is currently celebrated by cards, candy and flowers.

While we should be aware of the sectarian history of the holiday, I find nothing wrong with observing the day in a secular way. It is interesting, however, while hearing so much criticism about the secularization of Christmas (which started as a pagan holiday), or the observance of Halloween, most seem to have forgotten that Valentine’s Day had a religious origin.

Continue reading “In the News: St. Valentine’s Day and Love” →

In the first portion of his letter to the Galatians, Paul emphasized that his apostleship was authorized by God. He asserts the fact in verse 1, and argues the assertion in verses 11-17.

When a careful study is made of Paul’s actions from the time of his conversion, his claims are corroborated. After Paul was converted, as recorded by the historian Luke in Acts 9, he immediately began to preach the gospel of Christ in the synagogues (cf. Acts 9:20). Though the book of Acts does not record the trip to Arabia, it does note that “many days were past” (9:23), and emphasized the preaching done in Damascus. So, as Paul wrote, he did not “immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus” (vs. 16-17).

Why is this significant? First, Paul did not need the apostle’s blessing to begin or accomplish his ministry. The charge he obtained was directly from the Lord (cf. Acts 22:15). Second, the message he preached was not of his own devising, but was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 9:15,17; 22:14, Galatians 1:11-12).

(Note: At the time this was written, the Saturday quarterly singing had not happened. We recognize that life is a vapor!, and that we have no promise of tomorrow. After all, the Lord could come at any time. Nevertheless, I desired to emphasize the significance of the event, and have it published the day following. This accounts for the language of the first paragraph).

Last night we had a wonderful opportunity to come together, and spend 90 minutes praising God in song. Singing is such a blessing and opportunity. All who were there were blessed in their worship. Why do we sing? The Psalms tell us why!

We sing because God is righteous: “I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High” (17:1).

We sing because God is generous. “I will sing to the LORD, Because He has dealt bountifully with me” (13:6).

We sing because God is powerful. “Be exalted, O LORD, in Your own strength! We will sing and praise Your power” (21:13).

We sing because God is merciful. “Sing praise to the LORD, You saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning” (30:4-5).

“Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding” (47:6-7).

Using the text of 1 Kings 12, and examining the events which led to the rebellion against Rehoboam, we see his culpability in the division of the kingdom, and make applications to our own lives.

Audio

Powerpoint Slides

Invitation delivered by: Joshua Jackson

We take baths each day to cleanse ourselves physically, and yet so many are unwilling to wash in water to cleanse ourselves from the filth of sin. Why is that? Baptism is necessary for salvation.

Audio

The sermon, based on a sermon chart by Steve Hudgins, seeks to answer the following questions that appear in the Bible: 1) “Where Art Thou”; 2) “To Whom Shall We Go?”; 3) “Lord What Will You Have Me to Do?”; 4) “What Must I Do to be Saved”; and 5) “What Doth Hinder Me?”

Note: In addition to the audio link, there is a link to a zip file which extracts to a self-contained Prezi presentation. Also, there is a link to a handout that was included in the sermon as a hardcopy reminder of the material.

Audio

Prezi Zip File

Sermon Handout