Recognizing the reality of betrayal within the church is an essential first step in addressing the pain and hurt experienced by believers. While it may seem paradoxical that such betrayal can occur within a community of faith, it is a sad truth that interpersonal conflicts and hurtful actions can emerge even among those who share a common belief in Christ.
Continue reading “What to do when you are hurt by another Christian: recognize the reality of betrayal.”The term “church” often conjures images of grand spires, stained glass windows, and echoing halls of worship. However, beyond the architectural marvels and historical significance, lies the heart and soul of what truly defines a church: its community. In an age where individualism often reigns supreme, understanding the true essence of the church becomes pivotal. It’s not just a physical space but a living, breathing entity forged from the bonds of its believers.
Continue reading “Bored in Church: The Evolving Concept of ‘Church’”In our modern age, the church remains a sanctuary of faith, unity, and introspection. Within we come in search of solace, understanding, and a deepened connection with God. Yet, in a world brimming with distractions and an ever-shortening attention span, the sacred hush of the church can sometimes be mistaken for monotony. When worshipers drift into feelings of boredom and detachment, a complex dilemma arises. Is this boredom a reflection of a fleeting human emotion or a deeper disconnect with divine communion?
Continue reading “Bored in Church: The Dilemma of Boredom in Church.”6. “I gave the money for that, so I’ll make the decision as to how it’s to be used.”
Once our gifts are in the offering plate, they belong to the Lord and His church. The donor relinquishes all control and is entitled to nothing as a result. (Even the IRS agrees with that. Money given to a mission program or to benevolence cannot be dictated by the donor. Church procedure decides how it will be used.)
Continue reading “10 Things Christians should never say (part 2).”Part 1
1. “The preacher/elders are not meeting my needs.”
Believe it or not he’s not there to meet your needs. Jesus does that. They are there as a shepherd to watch over the entire flock and to see that healthy food is available and safe procedures are in place. They are there to help you be holy, not happy.
Continue reading “10 Things Christians Should Never Say.”Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ begins with repentance and faith when we acknowledge our sinfulness and our need for God’s forgiveness and salvation. We must believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead.
Continue reading “How can we become disciples of Jesus Christ?”Christian discipleship is the process of following Jesus Christ and becoming more like him in every aspect of life. It is not a one-time decision, but a lifelong journey of learning, growing, serving, and sharing the gospel with others.
Continue reading “Christian discipleship and why is it important?”Baptism is a sacred act and foundational to the teachings of Jesus. In it we find the forgiveness of sins and the transformative power of faith. Two key passages, Acts 2:38 and Romans 6:3-4, shed light on the profound significance of baptism.
Continue reading “The Transformative Power of Baptism: Forgiveness and Renewal”One of the key teachings of the Bible is that faith is essential to pleasing God. In Hebrews 11:6, we read: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” This verse shows us two important aspects of faith: belief and action.
Continue reading “The Necessity of Believing in Jesus.”Today, I want to introduce a new series in our Bulletin articles. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a while, and I’m excited about the opportunity to finally start it. In this series of articles, we are going to explore God’s plan of salvation. Each week we will cover a step in the plan, digging into the various issues that surround each step. My plan for this series is to introduce the subject in the Bulletin and then preach on that same subject.
Continue reading “The Plan of Salvation.”The past few weeks have been hard on all of us, especially the families of Marcus Carrington and Adam Haygood. We’ve all struggled with feelings of loss and being overwhelmed with the hurt and pain of losing people we care about.
Continue reading “Servants of Jesus Christ.”In today’s article, we’re going to start a journey that I hope will help each of us develop a closer walk with Jesus. We will cover topics where we consider our view of God versus who he really is, the problem of cultural Christianity, our relationship to Jesus, our motives, surrender, the struggles of life, how to develop our character, and our relationships with others.
Continue reading “Walking with Jesus Christ.”The promise that Jesus will walk with us is found throughout the Bible. One of the most well-known passages is found in Matthew 28:20, where Jesus says to his disciples, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” This promise comes at the end of the Gospel of Matthew, after Jesus has been resurrected from the dead and has given his disciples the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations.
Continue reading “Jesus walks with us.”Bright and shiny light bulbs! What an invention the light bulb. Every time I need to see what is in the darkness I can flip that switch and that bulb shines brightly. Yet is that bulb actually shining? Nope, actually the bulb is just protecting the filament that has been carefully placed within the bulb that causes it to shine.
Continue reading “The Element Within!”In today’s bulletin, I want to talk about my beliefs on church activity. Now, let me say right up front that this has drastically changed over the years. There was a time when I believed that a church was failing in its responsibilities if it wasn’t always busy doing something. What we were doing didn’t matter as much as long as the church was doing something. That all changed when I learned the phrase, “Holiness doesn’t equal holiness.” That truth drove me back to the Bible and Jesus as my example. I saw that Jesus was always busy but even then, what he was doing mattered more than simply being busy. He always prioritized people over busyness and if he was interrupted he took the time to see the person and their needs. Just as important, he always took time for himself, rested, and encouraged his disciples to do the same.
Continue reading “Patience, family, and church work.”
Central Haywood Church of Christ 