Tri-Annual Singing!
October 17, 2026
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Author: Stan Cox
Minister, West Side church of Christ since August of 1989 ........ Editor of Watchman Magazine (1999-2018 Archives available online @ http://watchmanmag.com) ........ Writer, The Patternists: https://www.facebook.com/ThePatternists
The Patternists: Why Will God Condemn Men to Hell?
Time and again we hear objections raised to the concept of hell, based on God’s supposed love for man. “If God loves man so much”, some say, “there is no way He would ever send them to eternal torment!” In this, they misunderstand God’s motivation and capabilities.
First, God does love men, and desires everyone to be saved. God desires every single person (who has ever lived, is living now, and ever will live), to go live with Him in heaven for eternity. This truth is evident in scripture. For example, Paul exhorts Timothy to pray for conditions to allow men to live “quiet and peaceable” lives in “all godliness and reverence.” This exhortation is explained, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
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The Danger of Idleness
There is an interesting correlation between idleness and sin. Most are familiar with the saying, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” Though the origin of the saying is unknown, it’s use dates back to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, and probably had it’s inspiration from principles that are found in scripture.
Proverbs 16:27 says, “An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire.” The Living Bible paraphrase rather inaccurately rendered this scripture, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” But, that is not really what the passage is saying.
Paul did have something to say about idleness, however. In his second letter to the Thessalonians he wrote, “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread” (3:10-12).
Work serves two purposes. It allows for self-sufficiency. It shows a lack of character when you can support your and yours, and you allow others to do it instead. And, it keeps you busy, so that you do not concern yourself with inappropriate things. Truly, “Idle hands are the Devil’s workshop!”
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Sermon: Cannot See Afar Off
Some people are spiritually nearsighted. They cannot see far behind, remembering their former life of sin. They cannot see far ahead, being mindful of their heavenly hope. They cannot see far within, to examine themselves as to whether they are in the faith.
Sermon: The Witnesses for Jesus (5:31-47)
Lesson 12 in series (5:31-47)
John the Baptist, God Himself, and Moses all bear witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Sermon: Is There Anything I Have to Do?
More and more religious people are insistent that man has to do nothing to be saved, save to trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Is this a scriptural concept? No, it is not!
Sermon: What’s Standing Between You and Your Blessing?
Speaker: Justin Carrell
God wants us to receive great and wonderful blessings from Him. If we are not receiving them, then there is obviously something wrong on our end, which needs remedying.
Sermon: Competing for a Crown
Based on 1 Corinthians 9:25, the sermon establishes the importance of self-control, rule following and endurance for the Christian. Using the metaphor of athletic endeavor, which the apostle Paul used as illustration.
Sermon: Life and Judgment in the Son (5:24-30)
Lesson 11 in series (5:24-30)
Jesus in affirming His Sonship, declares Himself to be the righteous judge of manking. He gives life or condemnation in accord with His Father’s will.
The Keys to a Successful Life
Take the time to do a book search at the Amazon site. Type in “successful living”, and look at the myriad titles that come up. Some of them have reference to financial success, some simply happiness, some claim a Biblical basis for their ideas.
How is success defined? The writer of Ecclesiastes sought to answer that very question. Things such as wisdom, pleasure, money, work ethic, perspective, friendship, popularity, honor, laughter and youthfulness were considered and rejected. He came to the realization that life lived without God in the picture is vain. Without God, there can be no success.
The Patternists: The Names of Sin
There a many synonyms used in scripture for sinful actions. Each of these words has it’s own story to tell. Here are a few of them.
Sin — (hamartia) “to be without a share in; to miss the mark; to err, be mistaken; to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong; to wander from the law of God, violate God’s law, sin. (Thayer)
The etymology is helpful here. “to miss the mark” as an archer would miss his target with his arrow. If the target is God’s expectations or will, to miss it is to violate that will, whether by commission, or by omitting what is required.
“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).
The Danger of Close Influences
Every single one of us are influenced by others. It doesn’t matter how strong our character, our faith, our commitment, we can be led in a bad direction by those we care about. This is why it is so important to be careful of the relationships we cultivate.
Solomon, a paragon of wisdom, was influenced by his wives. “But King Solomon loved may foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh; women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites—from the nations of whom the Lord said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.’ Solomon clung to these in love.” (1 Kings 11:1-2). In verse 4 of the text, “For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.”
There are a multitude of examples of such evil influences that can be seen throughout the Old and New Testaments. The pattern is repeated again and again in our own lives. Paul knew this truth, and warned, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’ Awake to righteousness and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame” (1 Corinthians 15:33-34).
Seek out the companionship of other Christian friends, family and spouses. Avoid evil companions. Our souls may very well depend on it!
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Sermon: The Language of Zeal and Apathy
When scripture uses the term zeal, with all its synonyms, it is universally praised when it is exercised toward God. In contrast, the strongest words of condemnation are reserved for those who are apathetic in their attitude toward God.
Just and Fair
“Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven” (Colossians 4:1).
Justness and fairness, expected of a Christian who has servants. In fact, expected of each of us in the relationships we sustain with others. They are important in our interactions as equals, but especially important when we are in a position of authority, as that authority can be easily abused.
The Patternists: To Whom and to What Should We Appeal?
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul expressed the purpose of his ministry and our work as Christians, given by God. “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily” (1:27-29). Paul taught men the doctrine of Christ, and established disciples (learners) of Him. It enabled Paul — and enables us as well — to present to the Lord mature, capable saints.
If we denigrate, alter, or substitute for the gospel of our Lord, what will we become? For those who chafe at the idea of adhering to the pattern of the New Covenant of our Lord, what do you offer? Paul addressed that question in chapters two and three in his letter to the Colossians.
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Greet One Another
“Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you” (Romans 16:16).
At the end of Paul’s letter to the Romans, he gives instructions for the Romans to greet a number of individuals, and then ends with this blanket exhortation.
The holy kiss in this case is not a ritual or specific religious action. Rather, the kiss was a standard greeting among Jews in this time. Peter wrote something similar, “Greet one another with a kiss of love” (1 Peter 5:14). Paul’s descriptor, “holy”, would have reference, as Strong defines the term, to a kiss that was physically pure, morally blameless. As Christians, we are to be affectionate to one another. We are to greet each other, and do so in ways that are physically pure, lacking any inappropriate familiarity.
Paul also stated that the “churches of Christ” greet you. In this, he was telling the Romans that Christians in other congregations wanted them to know of their concern, interest and affection. The plural “churches” indicates various congregations. The preposition “of Christ” indicates their allegiance and submission to their Lord.
Thus, each of us are to both greet, and accept greetings from our brethren in Christ. We are family, and the chaste expression of love (charity) is a function of that relationship. Do you have affection for your brethren? You must!
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