Tri-Annual Singing!
February 21, 2026
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Category: Attendance
Subject: Attendance
(6 of 13) Strengthening Each Other
An examination of Ephesians 4:29 helps to explain the premise of our article. “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Important concepts here are edification and grace. Edification defined is “to build up…the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, piety, holiness, happiness.” Such efforts to edify are required by God. Grace is defined as “that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech.” Our language toward one another should be to build up, to be that which will make us better and promote loveliness and righteousness rather than strife.
This is key — this job, this obligation to one another. It is a responsibility every child of God has to strengthen his brothers or sisters. Anything violating such an effort has no place, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth.” The next time you are tempted to speak without carefully considering to how it will impact your brother, you need to refrain. God expects us to take great care in how we speak. Continue reading “(6 of 13) Strengthening Each Other”
What You Get from a Meeting
Next Saturday our meeting begins with brother Bruce Reeves of Conway, AR ~ (October 18-23). Considering this effort we examine the purpose of these scheduled events that happen in the spring and fall of each year.
You get a different voice sharing important scriptural truths from God’s word. We invite capable men whose preeminent desire and purpose is to preach the will of God, His Son, and His Spirit. Bruce Reeves will do a wonderful job and probably will reveal those truths in ways, arguments, and illustrations that you have not heard before. (Each man is unique in his presentation as he shares our common faith).
You will receive an extended opportunity to worship God through prayer and song. Each week is a spiritual feast. If you approach the week in this way you may get tired physically, but your spirit will soar with encouragement and revitalization.
You will receive an opportunity to express hospitality and fellowship to one who is preaching the message of the cross. While Bruce will benefit from this show of love and fellowship, you will be blessed even more. As Paul said, “but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account” (Philippians 4:17).
You will receive the opportunity to share God’s words with the lost. Invite friends and family! They need the Lord’s gospel!
Sermon: Dealing with Distractions
In our distraction filled society, the Christian needs to be sure not to be distracted from serving God. Four items are discussed: Morality, Attendance, Worship and Study.
Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:
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A Zealous People
An important lesson and admonition discussing the requirement of God for us to show true zeal in our Christian life, and stating especially the response of God if we as a congregation are apathetic in our service.
Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:
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Sermon: Conflating Church Worship with Home Worship
In the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, arguments are being made by faithful Christians that are not true to the scriptures. Whatever the motivation, we must continue to proclaim the principles concerning the authority of God’s word to protect ourselves from digression.
COVID-19 (14) Do You Miss Your Brethren?
Many typically active participants in worship and fellowship have not seen their brethren in a month. Preachers are standing in empty buildings or sitting in their own homes, sharing messages through the internet. But, in most cases Christians are not together.
Even the few who remain able or willing to meet on the Lord’s day have limited their time together to a single hour once a week. Staying at arm’s length and leaving quickly, the loving closeness of a spiritual family is greatly missed. It is obvious to some that a “virtual” assembly is a pale imitation of a congregational meeting to worship God. If others were not aware of the great disadvantages of these electronic communications, it is becoming obvious as the pandemic lingers.
The Patternists: What NOT to Do in These Unique Times
We are certainly in the midst of a challenging situation with the current COVID-19 pandemic. It is unique in our lifetimes, and it has brethren scrambling to study their Bibles to determine the proper response to questions regarding assembly, obedience to civil authority, and worship.
There is insufficient room to answer these questions in this short article. Suffice to say that this writer is likewise studying and seeking to make proper applications that will please our Lord. “For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:4).
However, this writer has observed some bad argumentation being used by advocates for a particular position, and accepted seemingly without hesitation or examination by their readers or hearers. This is dangerous. Admonition is needed to be as the noble Bereans, who “searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
Continue reading “The Patternists: What NOT to Do in These Unique Times”
FB: Edification – A Shared Stewardship
Paul took seriously God’s call for him to preach the gospel of Christ, saying, “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). While that passage specifically references Paul’s stewardship as Christ’s apostle, the principle regarding stewardship is valid, not matter the responsibility given.
One responsibility we all have is to edify (cf. Ephesians 4:16). Every part must do its share in the work of edification. It is only in this way that the body of Christ can grow in the way God intends.
Consider this truth in light of the Holy Spirit’s call to assemble. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
While it is personally beneficial to attend worship services consistently, that is not the Hebrew writer’s point. Rather, he is referring to the stewardship of edification. We have a responsibility to encourage and build up our brethren! God has supplied the assembly to help us to accomplish this task. To forsake the “assembling of ourselves together” is to be unfaithful in that stewardship.
Let’s say that you are a part of a congregation that has 100 members. When you come to assemble, you do so with the primary purpose of edifying the other 99. The wonderful part of God’s plan is that while you do so, you have 99 brothers and sisters in Christ whose primary purpose is to edify you!
Click below to…
The Importance of Assembling
When God created man, he made him to be a social being. Throughout history, men have typically gathered together in communities. In fact, the institution of marriage was established by God as He determined “It is not good that man should be alone.” So, God said, “I will make him a helper comparable to him” (Genesis 2:28).
“Come over … and help us”
While in Troas during his second preaching tour, the apostle Paul had a vision in the night. In the vision, “A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us’” (Acts 16:9). The text reveals that Paul was obedient to the vision, Luke recording him as having concluded “that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them” (10).
The journey took Paul and his companions to Philippi, where they were beaten with rods, and placed into prison (cf. 16:22-24). After traveling through Amphipolis and Apollonia they went to Thessalonica, where again they fell afoul of the enemies of the cross (17:5). This necessitated a departure under cover of darkness to Berea. Some from Thessalonica followed them, and stirred up the crowds against Paul yet again (17:13). Finally Paul traveled to Athens, where his message was met with mocking (17:32).
From the Preacher’s Pen: On Worship and Football
I have read, heard and even opined myself on the willingness of so many to attend a football game, or other sporting event or entertainment event, and willingly suffer from weather or other discomforts for the joy of the occasion.
People routinely get up in the wee hours of the morning, or stand in long lines, or suffer through extremes of heat, cold or other weather related trials to cheer on their teams, or play their games, or listen to their music. And, if the game or concert were to go into “overtime”, they consider it a positive development.
In contrast, they may view a 9:00 am Bible study to be too early, a bit warm or slightly cool auditorium not sufficiently comfortable, and a 45 minute lesson an inappropriate imposition upon their time and attention.
The issue is not the relative entertainment value. I know well that a nip and tuck football game is far more entertaining than a long winded preacher. The issue is the extent of your desire to be with God and His people!
So, how about it? Can you say with David, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord'” (Psalm 122:1)?
Attending to Exhortation
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
The preceding text is often used to emphasize the importance of being present at the worship assemblies. While such a use is legitimate, the 24th verse best expresses the writer’s intent in the exhortation — “let us consider one another.”
