What God Wants

Yesterday, we linked a list of "10 ways to be miserable" type of article and asked in jest, "Don't you want to be miserable?" In all truth, God wants you to have at least these 10 things in your life, and get this...misery isn't on His list.

Don't you want to be miserable?

Bro. Carl B. Garner shows you 10 ways to do just that in, "How to be Perfectly Miserable."

Are you hungry?

Have you eaten today? Are you hungry? It may be that the hunger you feel is for spiritual food.

Here are two articles that address the importance of digesting the Bible and striving toward spiritual fitness.

• Food for the Soul, a quick bite of an article from the Dripping Springs Church of Christ in Dripping Springs, Texas.
• Where is the Scripture?, a meal with more courses of an article, found on the website of the Bellview Church of Christ, in Pensacola, Florida.

Here's a thought for this week: “Soul-winning is simply one hungry beggar telling another hungry beggar where to find food.”—Paul Devanandam

(Quote found in the Cawson Street Church of Christ bulletin, Hopewell, Virginia, November 2008.)

Race to the Cross

Recently, the Jefferson Street congregation participated in an Area Wide Fellowship/series of talks on racial unity, "Race to the Cross." The West Broad Church of Christ in Richmond posted pictures of and details about the event here.

Looking Closely at I Peter 5

Today, we'll only post one of our questions for I Peter chapter 5. That question is:

Why must Christians be watchful?

Surely, we're going to have a wonderful study, and again, we invite you to join in on our study this Wednesday evening, from 7-8 pm.

Here are a few articles that address the topic of the elders/shepherds/bishops that I Peter 5:1-4 shows us that God wants a healthy church to have. Here also are links to a few articles about submitting to God and resisting the devil, as we're instructed to do in I Peter 5:5-11.

Searches across the brotherhood for articles referencing I Peter 5 yield an abundance of articles and sermon outlines. Knowing that there are students and doers of the Bible who use their abilities to write and teach others is an encouragement.

Here are links to a few of the sound resources/articles we found, as we wrap up our study of I Peter 5.

1. From Bible InfoNet: The New Testament Church Is Divine In Organization, by Louis Rushmore, is an article that not only addresses the role of elders in the church, it talks about the God's divine organization of the church: from heaven, to elders, to the deacons, preachers, and teachers in the Lord's church. Though many, many more Bible verses such as I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-11 are covered in the piece, it certainly references verses 1-4 of First Peter 5.


2. I Peter 5:1-2 is referenced on the House to House/Heart to Heart article, "The Organization of the New Testament Church."


3. In "The Paradox of Anxiety," Wayne Jackson references (at different points in the article), I Peter 5:6&7. There's negative anxiety and positive anxiety, both of which give us all the more reason to practice "casting all (our) care upon (Jesus) as I Peter 5:7 instructs us to do.


4. Why is Satan So Successful? Source: The Bible.Net. This article mentions briefly I Peter 5:8-9, in the sections of the article called, "The devil is successful in his work of deceiving men because he fully understands what he wants to accomplish," and "Satan never rests."


5. I Peter 5:8 is also one of the key verses in the short article, "Beware the Hook," which appeared on Teen Mail Bible Study in April 2009.

Wow! There's so much to read and learn about God's Word. Come. Learn with us as we continue to study and learn to be better servants of the Lord!

4 Things We Want to Know About I Peter 4

As a congregation, we are thoroughly enjoying our study of the book of First Peter. If you missed them, check out a few of the questions we went over in our studies of I Peter 1, I Peter 2, and I Peter 3.

Now, here are four questions--or, we could say, four things we want to know--about the fourth chapter of I Peter.

1) When Christians cease to "run" with the unrighteous, what will the sinners think? (Read verses 3-4)

2) What will cover a multitude of sins and how does it cover a multitude of sins? (I Peter 4:8)

3) Peter tells us "do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you." (I Peter 4:12 NIV). Should Christians be exempt from sufferings because we are God's children? Why or why not? (See also Romans 8:16-17.)

4) Discuss the benefits we as Christians receive when we suffer for our convictions.

Our key Bible verse, or our memory verse for this week is I Peter 4:16, which reads: "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter."

3 Questions: I Peter 3

As always, you're invited to join us for our midweek Bible study. This week we're in the third chapter of First Peter.

Here are three questions (out of a list of 11) that we hope to consider in our study. Drop by tomorrow evening (Wednesday July 1st) at seven o'clock to participate in our discussion of these and the other 8 questions.

1) How should Christian brethren treat one another? (See I Peter 3:8-12.)

2) How can we, as Christians, apply I Peter 3:15 in our lives?

3) How can we promote and maintain unity in the Lord's Church?

5 Questions on I Peter 2

Two weeks ago, we posted a list of three questions on I Peter 1. We did begin our study of the second chapter of First Peter. Take a gander at 5 of the questions we addressed in our study of I Peter 2 last week.

1) What must Christians desire in order to grow, and why? (See I Peter 2:2-3)

2) How should we conduct ourselves around authority figures? (I Peter 2:13-17)

3) How should our conversations be honest according to verse 12? (Also, see Hebrews 13:5)

4) Peter (verse 5) and Paul (Romans 12:1) remind us that we are "as lively stones" and are "to offer up spiritual sacrifice." How do we as Christians offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God by Jesus Christ?

5) Whose perfect steps should we follow? (See I Peter 2:21-22)

Oops. We almost forgot to post the memory verse.

Here's I Peter 2:9, both the NKJV and the CEV versions:

New King James Version:
"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light..."

Contemporary English Version:

"But you are God's chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done..."

Jesus, The Suffering Servant: Isaiah 53

This Sunday's Sunday school lesson comes from Isaiah 53, prophecy about the coming Jesus the Christ and his ultimate sacrifice for our sins.

Our adult Sunday school lesson (Gospel Advocate's Companion 2008-2009 series on Great Texts of the Bible), "The Suffering Servant," is broken down in the following ways:


In talking about Jesus Christ as the Servant of the Lord:


His Origins (Isaiah 53:1-3)

1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.

3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

His Ordeal (Isaiah 53:4-9)

4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.


5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.


6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.


7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.


8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.


9 And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.



His Offering (Isaiah 53:10-12)


10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.


11 He shall see the labor of His soul,and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.


12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.


There is no topic more important or interesting than Jesus, our Saviour. At Jefferson Street, our studies and Bible discussions get very interesting. (Maybe it's just interesting to us, but you won't know until you stop by now, will you?)

We invite you to come and learn with us.


Since we'll be discussing this portion of the Bible in our class on Sunday morning, we thought we'd post a few links to articles from the brotherhood that reference this chapter of Isaiah, as well as the New Testament accounts.


This is just a small sample. Since the death, burial and resurrection are the foundation for Christianity, there is certainly far more material and helpful commentary in helping us to get a clear understanding of the scriptures.

• The Predicted Messiah (from Apologetics Press)
• The Crucifixion of Christ (from the Salisbury Church of Christ in NC)
• Salvation: The Blood of Christ (from Bible InfoNet/Firm Foundation)
• Understanding the Cross of Christ: Parts One, Two, and Three (from Forthright)
• The Death of Christ (from theBible.net) (His death, and of course, His burial, and resurrection.)

Do You Need Prayer? Effective or Effectual, Fervent Prayer?

This Wednesday: Song and Prayer Night.

Normally, the last Wednesday night of the month, the adult class, the youth class, and now, our new converts class, all come together for an hour of singing and praying. There is such sweet fellowship when the brothers lead the congregation in various songs, hymns, and spiritual songs, and when the brothers take turns leading the congregation in prayer.

Of course we always pray, but on song and prayer night, there's something more intimate about it. Each brother asks if there are any prayer requests, and prays for all of our needs.

For this brief hour of fellowship and service, a person knows that when he or she has an immediate need or request, almost immediately their needs are known and being prayed for by their Christian family.

The singing (between prayers) to the Lord provides a harmonious encouraging "soundtrack" or "playlist," if you will, to help each person remember (via songs, hymns, and spiritual songs) that God is greater than any problem we're asking prayers for.

What about you? Do you need prayer? Do you need folks who are trying to be righteous to pray for you?

Please let us know. Lord willing, we'll be at the building Wednesday night at our usual time from 7:00 PM to just after 8:00 PM. We hope you can be here!

Ephesians 5:19-20 (King James Version)
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

James 5:13-17 (New King James Version)
"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months."

Proverbs 15:29 (New International Version)
"The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous."

What the Grownups are Learning in Sunday School

Sunday school isn't just for kids; it's for grownups, too.

The adult class recently reached a portion of our Sunday school book called, “Great Texts of the Bible.” It's the summer quarter of the Companion 2008-2009 from Gospel Advocate. These lessons run simultaneouly with the Foundations lessons, but are more in depth.)

If you haven’t been here, you’re missing a treat.

Last week we were in Deuteronomy 6:1-15 and this Sunday we're discussing the 23rd Psalm. Still to come this quarter (according to our Sunday School books), lessons from Ecclesiastes 12:1-12, Isaiah 53:1-12, Luke 15:11-32 and many more texts.

Please come. Your presence encourages our teacher, our classmates, and ultimately, you’ll find, you, yourself are encouraged, too.

3 Questions About I Peter 1

Wednesday night, our adult class finished studying the first chapter of First Peter. We covered a lot of ground in those two weeks of study. Jesse, one of our teachers, got the class hyped and seriously thinking about this portion of God's Word, with questions like these three questions from the 10 on the I Peter handout:

1) Question 3: The people Peter wrote to were suffering persecution. How are we to handle persecution in our lives? (See James 1:2-4; I Peter 3:17, and Romans 12:14.)

2) Question 4: How do we as Christians have an "inheritance" (verses 3-4)?

3) Question 6: Is is possible to be holy as Jesus is holy? And how can we go about living holy lives? (See verses 15 and 16 for help.)

Due to work scheduling, Jesse passed the teachers' baton to Mark, Lord willing, will continue with the second chapter of I Peter this coming Wednesday, June 17.

We hope to see you there!

3 Reasons We Welcome You to Visit Us Tonight

It's been an amazing few weeks since we last posted here. Though things have been quiet here online, Jefferson Street is still alive IRL. We still invite you to visit with us for our Sunday Bible study, Sunday worship services and our 7:00 PM Wednesday night Bible study.

One of the reasons we welcome you to stop by is to share in our recent joy. We've rejoiced to see two souls put the Lord on in baptism, bringing this year's baptismal response count to four souls!!! (We had two baptisms in April, one baptism the last Sunday in May, and one baptism last week.) We'd be excited even if we were a larger congregation.

As we mentioned before, every soul we reach with the gospel is important. Though the 4 souls didn't arrive via the blog/web ministry, visitors arrived a couple of weeks ago because they found us through the blog. All this good news (baptisms and visitors) reminds us that God is able!

A second reason to stop by the "church house" on Wednesday nights is to participate in our study of the book of I Peter. Mark and Jesse (not Mark, the apostle, and not Jesse, father of David in the Old Testament) are working together to carry our adult class through the Book of First Peter.

Last week Brother Jesse began teaching from I Peter 1. The class enjoyed the discussion so much that we ran out of time to finish the chapter. Tonight, the adult class plans to finish up chapter 1.

According to the handouts, our key verses (actually, they're labeled memory verses, but we encourage you to come even if you haven't memorized them) is I Peter 1:15-16:

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”--I Peter 1:15-16

A third reason...Yes, there is a third reason we want you to know that you're welcome to stop by this evening and study God's Word with us. We want to get to know you. We hope you want to get to know us.

If you come, and you get to know us, you can also match some faces with some of the articles we posted earlier this year. If you read "Remain Unmovable" or "Gentleness in the Lives of Christians," or "Are We Loving?," you may want to discuss the scriptures the articles mentioned.

Sure, you could do that with comments. But wouldn't it be better to go over the scriptures together, with Bibles in our palms, side by side, getting to know if what we say is what God says? Wouldn't it be better to find out for yourself is those folks at the Church of Christ on Jefferson Street are really loving?

Well, there are just a few more hours until Bible study starts. If you need directions, you're welcome to give us a call at 804-733-9356. Or if you're more comfortable, use Google or MapQuest to help you navigate your way here. (Phone calls are always better.)

Though you're always welcome, we hope to see you tonight!

Are you stuck in a rut?

Are you digging your heels deeper trying to do things your own way? Do you need a biblical example of how to get out of that rut? Here's an interesting article, "Stuck in a Rut?" from the Dale Ridge Church of Christ in Botetourt County, on the other side of Virginia.

Resurrected Life!

A brief, yet thought-provoking article about the Resurrection at Teen Mail Bible Study.

Please join us this Sunday for our regular Bible study for all ages at 9am, and worship services at 10 am and 6 pm. Click here for directions to our building.

We look forward to seeing you!

Church of Christ
604 South Jefferson Street
Petersburg, VA 23803
Phone: 804-733-9356

Characteristics of a Growing Church

Interesting 3-point article on Forthright: Characteristics of a Growing Church

We may be right, but are we humble?

Interesting Forthright article from October 2006: The Burden of Being Right. Being right carries responsibilities, not the least of which is humility.

Confession good for soul, but not enough

Proverbs 28:13 says: "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."

In religious circles, we often hear the phrase, "Confession is good for the soul." But confession alone is not enough. There must be a change in the behavior one has admitted to.

Nadab and Abihu: Sincere Worship?

Does it really matter what we do in worship if we are sincere?

Read an article addressing this question by Bob Prichard on House to House/Heart to Heart's website.

You Never Know

"You never know when someone observed an act or heard a message or allowed a seed planted in his or her heart to grow. You may go for years thinking that you have failed to reach or touch someone you love, only to find that your love and efforts have made a difference.

When should we quit praying for the lost?"

Click to continue reading this article by Phil Sanders on Forthright Magazine's website.

Are your prayers acceptable to God?

Here's a helpful older article about prayer on Bible InfoNet--"Prayer," by Louis Rushmore. Here's the first paragraph:

"God communicates with mankind today through the
Bible. Christians speak to God through prayer. Further, prayer is an expression
of the heart to God and may include praise, requests and thanksgiving. However,
not all prayers are acceptable to God."

Click here to continue reading article.

Polishing the Pulpit

The 2009 Polishing the Pulpit Conference will be held Sevierville Events Center, August 28-September 3. Here's the tentative schedule and more information about past conferences.

Problem Solutions: Training Preachers

Of course if one is going to mention the idea of preacher problems, one has to offer up problem solutions. Some things must be taught before a brother is hired to fill the pulpit.

There are schools of preaching across the brotherhood. Here are links to a few preaching schools affiliated with or overseen by the eldership of different congregations of the churches of Christ.

1. Brown Trail School of Preaching, Bedford, TX
2. East Tennessee School of Preaching, Knoxville, TN
3. Florida School of Preaching, Lakeland, FL
4. Memphis School of Preaching, Memphis, TN
5. West Virginia School of Preaching, Moundsville, WV

Preacher Problems

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”-Isaiah 52:7

Yes preachers' feet are beautiful, so beautiful in fact that this idea is repeated in Romans 10:15. Sometimes, though the feet get ugly. Here's a great article by Bill Nicks on how both a pulpit minister and the congregation should handle their problems, presented in this Carolina Messenger article, Preacher Problems.

Church folks laughing at ourselves...(or You Might Be a Member If...)

This post from the February 2006 edition of The Christian Chronicle is still funny three years later. (You Might Be a Member (of the Church of Christ) If...)

A few items from the list were read aloud during our church announcements on Sunday Morning. Amazingly...

• Many of us do know the first and third verse of most every song.

• Lots of us know about that "ready recollection" and being "guide-guarded-and directed" between the end of service and "the next appointed time."


• Of course, the Bible questions on Jeopardy aren't challenging. (Or as the Chronicle put it..."You think the Bible questions on Jeopardy are way too easy.")


• And, as you can tell by this blog, though we are the church of Christ, or the Lord's church, area congregations do refer to us as the Jefferson Street Church of Christ.

Enjoy the whole list of "You Might Be a Member If..." (compiled by Bobby Ross, Jr.), at the Christian Chronicle's website. See if more than half the list doesn't have you laughing with tears.

Quality Christians

Last week Brother Patterson’s lesson, “Quality Christians,” was tied into Matthew 4:18-22, with a concentration on verse 19: “Then He (Jesus) said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’”

Here are a several points from his sermon:

• “One thing about having quality—if you don’t have it, you can’t give it.”



• “We are quality. We are prime. We are the best for God.”


• “To use proper lure and endure discomfort…these are some things we must go through.”


• “When you get out on the battlefield and folks are shooting back at you, you need to be qualified. You need to get qualified.”


• “Quality counts in the church.”


• “Some folks try to focus on quantity, but quality counts.”


• “Heaven is big enough for all of us. That’s why we’re working together making one another quality Christians.”


• “You’ve got some who don’t want to be taught. Just like you’ve got some who only want to teach all the time. Be able to be taught.”


• “We need to be quality Christians, teaching one another to be the best we can be.”


• “If God can’t depend on us, who can He depend on?”

Brother Patterson also read Titus 2:1-15, which gives instruction for sound doctrine, sound living, behavior and relationships for people in all walks of life. He also referenced Matthew 9:37-38 about how the “Harvest is great but the laborers are few…"

Are We Loving?

Are We Loving?

I Corinthians 13:4-8

"4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it
is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails…"

Are we patient in the grocery store line, or slow moving traffic, or with elderly or disabled people? I Thessalonians 5:14 tells us to “encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”

Are we kind even to our enemies?” Luke 6:27-36 explains how to love and treat everyone because that is how we want God to be with us, merciful, “kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.”

Are we envious of our neighbors’ new cars, or of Sister Sally’s extravagant wardrobe, or our recently promoted co-workers? I Timothy 6:6-10 states “(6) But Godliness with contentment is great gain. (7) For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it, (8) But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

Are we boastful or arrogant about our circumstances, accomplishments, or possessions? James 4:6, 10—“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

Are we rude? Follow Matthew 7:12, also known as “the Golden Rule.” Even when we correct each other, we are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15-16) We should never belittle or tear each other down. We should edify and build each other up (Ephesians 4:29-32)

Are we self-seeking? Is it all about us or is it all about God? Philippians 2:3 says “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Verses 1-11 talk about how even Jesus, who was crucified for our sins, gave God the glory.

Are we easily angered? Are we quick-tempered? Remember what James 1:19-20 says: “…Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”

Are we keeping records of wrongs? Are we holding grudges or not forgiving people who offended us today or 10 years ago? Matthew 18:21-22 tells us to constantly forgive people—so that we will also be forgiven by God for our own offenses.

Do we delight in evil or do we rejoice with the truth? Are we happy with our enemies’ misfortunes? Study Romans 12:9-21—“(9) Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good…(14) Bless those who persecute you and do not curse.(15) Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn…(21) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

I John 4:10-12: “ This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.”

As Christians, we should make sure our definition for love matches the scriptures, and that our actions show love—not just speak about love. I John 3:18 states “Let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.”

--S.J. Harris, January 2009

One on One: Bible Verses

"One on One” Verses of the Bible

• HAVE PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER. (MARK 9:50)
  LOVE ONE ANOTHER (JOHN 13:34-35; I PETER 1:22; 1 JOHN 4:7-12).
• GIVE PREFERENCE TO ONE ANOTHER (ROM.12:10).
• RECEIVE ONE ANOTHER (ROMANS 15:17).
• ADMONISH ONE ANOTHER (ROMANS 15:14; COLOSSIANS 3:16).
• GREET ONE ANOTHER (ROMANS16:16; 1 CORINTHIANS16:20; 2 CORINTHIANS13:12).
• HAVE THE SAME CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER (1CORINTHIANS 12:25)
• SERVE ONE ANOTHER (GALATIANS 5:13; 1 PETER 5:5).
• BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER. (EPHESIANS 4:32).
• FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER (EPHESIANS 4:32).
• SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER (EPHESIANS 5:19-20).
• BE SUBJECT TO ONE ANOTHER (EPHESIANS 5:21).
• BE TRUTHFUL WITH ONE ANOTHER (COLOSSIANS 3:9).

• COMFORT ONE ANOTHER (1THESSALONIANS 4:18).


• EDIFY ONE ANOTHER (1THESS. 5:11)


• EXHORT ONE ANOTHER (HEB. 3:13).


• CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER (HEB. 10:24).


• REFUSE TO SPEAK EVIL OF OR GRUMBLE AGAINST ONE ANOTHER (JAMES 4:11; 5:9)


• CONFESS OUR TRESPASSES TO ONE ANOTHER (JAMES 5:16)


• BE HOSPITABLE TO ONE ANOTHER (1 PETER 4:9).


• HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER (1 JOHN 1:7).
  
  MAY YOU HAVE ENOUGH HAPPINESS TO MAKE YOU SWEET,
  ENOUGH TRIALS TO MAKE YOU STRONG,
  ENOUGH SORROW TO KEEP YOU HUMAN AND
  ENOUGH HOPE TO MAKE YOU HAPPY.
  
  --G. White

God is in Charge

"God Is In Charge"

People feel times are hard because of the recession we are in. People are losing their jobs (it seems like daily), and food prices are rising, too.

But through it all we must always remember to put God first. God is still the Alpha and Omega, and the trials we go through should make our faith even stronger.

Psalms 27:1 states, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

If our faith is grounded and we are committed to the Lord, no matter what is thrown in our direction we must stay faithful.

Philippians 4:6-7 is a constant remainder of the kind of Christians we must be. It states:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and mind through Christ
Jesus.”

We must give God the trials and tribulations we go through. God has not forgotten or forsaken us. So don't throw in the towel but always be prayerful, and remember God loves you no matter what you are going through.

---M. Smith

Remain Unmovable

We live in a society where things are constantly changing. Every time you turn around technology is changing. There’s Bluetooth, laptops, Blackberries…the list goes on and on.

One thing I’m glad does not change is the Bible. First Corinthians 15:58 says it best: “Therefore my brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable always abiding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

We must stay constant in our faith. Things may change. Technology may change, but our obedience to God’s Word, the Bible, must remain the same in order to gain eternal life.

Once we start compromising the Word, we are in danger of losing our souls. Sometimes we may have to stand alone in the truth.

In I Cor. 1.10, the Bible states, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."

Death is something we don't like to talk about but someday we all must answer that call. Will you be ready when the Lord calls us? We must always be studying and teaching the Word to others.

II Tim. 4:6-8 says it best: "For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

–-Mark Smith

Gentleness in the Lives of Christians

Gentleness is defined as the virtuous quality by which we treat all men with perfect courtesy, with a kind and humble demeanor, that we can rebuke without rancor, that we can face the truth without resentment, that we can be gentle and not weak.

A. In Particular…

1) Christians are to receive the Word of God with meekness. (James 1:21)

2) We must approach brethren in error with a spirit of gentleness. (Galatians 6:1)

3) We must correct those in opposition with humility. (2 Tim 2:24-25)

4) We are to answer inquiries concerning our hope with meekness. (I Pet. 3:15)

B. In General…

1) Gentleness is necessary for the Christian man who would be wise.

2) Gentleness is necessary for the Christian woman who would be precious in the sight of God. (I Peter 3:1-3)

Conclusion: One who is walking by the Spirit is going to be a gentle person, even in the most trying circumstances…not because of weakness or cowardice, but because of humility, coupled with the inner strength to control one’s behavior.

Our Lord demonstrated gentleness and a lowly heart at all times. (Matt 11:29.)

1) Let those who claim to be Jesus’ disciples seek to emulate His example.

2) Let there be found in us that fruit of the Spirit which was found in our Lord as well.

--Brenda White Jordan

The Cost of Discipleship

“When He (Jesus) had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, he said to them, ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”—Mark 8:34 (NKJV)

“The Cost of Discipleship”

The first Sunday morning of this year, Brother Patterson, preached the lesson, “The Cost of Being Disciples.” His text was Luke 14: 25-33, concentrating on verse 28. A few key points:

• “In order to be disciples [we] must love (Christ) supremely.”
• “If you don’t put God first, it won’t work.”
• “When we plan…our plan needs to proceed (begin?) with Jesus, and our plan needs to end with Jesus.”
• “We plan to fail when we plan without Christ.”
• “To move this church to another level, we must (have a plan) that includes Christ.”
• “Learn to plan and plan to learn.”

---Notes from Kenneth Patterson’s January 4, 2009 Sunday morning lesson.

These practical lessons along with the verses in Luke 14:25-33 and Mark 8:34-38 remind us of the seriousness involved with following Jesus Christ.

Lectureship Photos

Several weeks ago, Sister Wyche spoke to our ladies' class about her trip to Nigeria for the 1st Annual Nigerian Churches of Christ National Lectureship. The Arlington Road Church of Christ has posted a link, showing photographs from the lectureship.

What are you thinking about?

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”--Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Just a thought: It is important for Christians to focus on holy things, and not allow ourselves to be more influenced by the world than by God’s Word.

One obvious way to stay focused on God is to study our Bibles. Other ways to keep our thoughts pure and to continue being transformed and renewed as we’re instructed to be in Romans 12:2, are to read books and articles by sound, faithful members of the body of Christ, and to listen to (and sing along with) spiritually uplifting songs.

What you put in is what you will think about. What you think about, is what will come out.

No Other Help I Know...

"Father I stretch my hands to Thee; no other help I know. If Thou withdraw thyself from me, Ah, wither shall I go?"

It’s hard to hear these old hymn lyrics without thinking of one our deceased brothers in Christ, Brother Johnson, who worshipped with the congregation at Jefferson Street until his death in the 1990s. He always spoke the lyrics before his prayers.

God, the Father, is the “THEE” of this hymn. The words help us to keep our focus on God, and remind us that we are able to do nothing without His help. We, His children, must remember to go to him for any and every kind of help, no matter how small we may think it is.

Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” The Bible is clear in letting us know that God wants us to depend on Him. He already knows what we need (Matthew 6:8). He wants us to reach up and rely on Him.

Thought for the Week

“When potential is used, it becomes our purpose…but if we hold in our potential, we kill ourselves.”—Kenneth Patterson, 12/14/08 sermon, “We Have Potential Because We Have Faith.”

“Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.”—Ecclesiastes 11:6 (NIV)