Raymond Elliott – How often have we heard that statement from a brother in Christ? And it is to be admitted that we often fail in fulfilling the many obligations that God has given us. But there are some pertinent observations that need to be made relative to this broad statement. First of all, we could say that the brother who makes such an accusation has taken to himself some of the attributes that are considered belonging only to God. In Psalm 139 we learn that God is omnipresent and omniscient. Thus, for a brother...
Category: Church
You Can Still Find the Church of the Bible
There are identifying marks on everything that we buy. The same is true of everything that we own. Identifying marks also are what we used to tell animals apart. It may be numbers. It might be spots. It could even be scratches that are on our item by which we could identify that item. Dents can also identify an automobile. There may be marks that identify people as well. One could have a birthmark that identifies them. One could have a scar that now identifies them. Identifying marks are all over the place. This illustration...Continue reading
Can One Be Saved and not Be a Member of the Church?
Some in the religious community have said that a person can be saved and not be a member of the church. Here is what they are saying. Someone can have their religion and never get up and go to any services of the church. This is a religion of convenience rather than conviction. Do you think that the above is true? Let us think about the title of this article. What is said is that the Blood of Christ is unimportant. If Christ purchased the church with His Own Blood, and that institution which He...Continue reading
You Can Still Find the Church of the Bible
There are identifying marks on everything that we buy. The same is true of everything that we own. Identifying marks also are what we used to tell animals apart. It may be numbers. It might be spots. It could even be scratches that are on our item by which we could identify that item. Dents can also identify an automobile. There may be marks that identify people as well. One could have a birthmark that identifies them. One could have a scar that now identifies them. Identifying marks are all over the place. This illustration...Continue reading
Encouraging News
Some say churches of Christ are graying and dying, but are these claims true? While some congregations have a majority of members that are retired, many more are filled with children and young adults. Churches of Christ actually have a larger percentage of young adults than the national average. In fact, we rank #3 among religious groups having the most adults aged 18-29. Statistician Flavil Yeakley, Jr. confidently says these things about churches of Christ: (1) We are the twelfth-largest religious group in America; (2) we are the sixth-fastest growing church in America; (3) we...
No Man Is An Island
“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself” (Romans 14:7). Jesus taught, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto...Continue reading
What Am I Worth to the Church?
There is the tendency during the last few years; it seems, to build up the church numerically, without giving much consideration to the genuiness of conversions. This practice has resulted in many unconverted people being deceived into thinking that they are really Christians. To be a Christian means more than merely having one’s name on a church register. Almost every congregation is carrying a certain amount of “dead weight” in the persons of inactive church members. Consider carefully Matthew 3:10; “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every...Continue reading
Every Member Matters!
In the twelfth chapter of the book of 1 Corinthians one finds the church compared to the physical body. Within that chapter one will find the foot, the hand, the ear, the eye all mentioned. The Holy Spirit through Paul states that all of these are necessary. What if the body were made up of a foot? What if the entire body were a hand, or an ear, or an eye? How would such a body function? Each and every part of the physical body is important, and each member of the church, the Lord’s...Continue reading
Who Needs the Church?
In the book “What’s so Amazing about Grace?” by Philip Yancy a story is told of a woman who was down on her luck. She was having a miserable time and things in her life did not look like they would get any better. She was asked if she had ever thought about going to church for and with her problems. Her reply was, “why would I ever go there? I was already feeling terrible about myself. They’d just make me feel worse.” If someone was having problems in their life came to the services...Continue reading
Every Member Matters!
In the twelfth chapter of the book of 1 Corinthians one finds the church compared to the physical body. Within that chapter one will find the foot, the hand, the ear, the eye all mentioned. The Holy Spirit through Paul states that all of these are necessary. What if the body were made up of a foot? What if the entire body were a hand, or an ear, or an eye? How would such a body function? Each and every part of the physical body is important, and each member of the church, the Lord’s...Continue reading