Preaching-Before, During and After…Jan. 25th

The scripture, through Paul’s inspired pen, gives this firm proclamation, “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction.” (II Timothy 4: 1, 2) Preach the word! We’ve known this command and for years many of us have listened to the preacher ‘preach the word.’ But from the audience’s point of view, as ‘spectators,’ what goes into ‘preaching?’

This coming Sunday morning Christians across our nation (the globe actually) will attend worship services to hear the gospel preached. They will walk into the auditorium, find their seat, and worship together. But what will happen after the preaching? How will each member sitting in the crowd react to the message? Some, undoubtedly will listen intently, then walk out unaffected by the message. Others, content with their presence, will sit quietly, and not listen to the message at all. And still others will hear the message and be moved to respond. But what about those who listen to the message, are moved to respond, but never do. Their hearts have been pricked, like those in Acts 2, but the step forward never comes. They have done everything necessary before and during the preaching but the final step. What comes after the preaching is left in the pew. Join us Sunday morning as we consider preaching…before, during and after!

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, January 25, 2015

You’ll notice the following songs come from the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“Our God, He Is Alive” – 23

Remember when this was found on page 728B? Few may still have this song book, but most of us will never forget this ‘church of Christ Anthem.’ The men lead the chorus as we proclaim, “There is a God, He is alive, in Him we live and we survive…”

“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” – 315

Taking this old spiritual song/hymn from Isaac Watts, we sing the poetry of Christ’s death. When I survey the cross, I see His head, His hands and His feet. One of the ‘lost’ verses we’ll be singing on Sunday includes these words; “His dying crimson, like a robe, spreads o’er His body on the tree. Then am I dead to all the globe, and all the globe is dead to me.” This morning we’ll sing verse 1-3 before the bread, verse 4 before the fruit of the vine and verse 5 before the contribution. Notice the message with each verse and you’ll see how well they fit together.

“Christ Above Me” – no book

During the passing of the collection plate we’ll sing this new, contemporary song about the all encompassing role Christ plays in our life. “Christ above me, Christ beside me, Christ within me, ever guiding. Christ behind me (not subordinate but rather supportive), Christ before, Christ my love, my life, my Lord.”

“Sing to Me of Heaven” – 716

Our song before the lesson is one that dates back 100 years. But the timeless message of this spiritual song calls us to encourage one another with songs of heaven. Notice each verse is a reminder of how and when we sing of heaven. How, “…tenderly and low, till the shadows over me rise and swiftly go…” And when, “…as I walk alone, dreaming of the comrades (a fellow soldier of Christ who has gone on to his reward) that so long have gone.” These songs of heaven are ‘songs of peace’ that will release us from the toils (a net to trap something) that bind us. Let’s sing of heaven!

“Almost Persuaded” – no book

Our invitation song is one we don’t sing often, but some find it’s basis in Acts 26 when Paul asked, “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do.” Reading verse 28 in the King James Version we find our theme for this morning’s lesson, “Almost persuaded, now to believe. Almost persuaded, Christ to receive…” . Robert’s ‘preaching’ this morning will include a before, during and after. What are you doing before he preaches, while (during) he’s preaching and after he preaches? When the invitation is offered, will you almost be persuaded?

“Let Me Live Close to Thee” – 831

This is one of my favorite proclamations of how I want to live my life! Perhaps it’s the second verse that strikes me so clearly as we consider it’s correlation to Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men…” Notice the words from verse 2; “Not the crown nor renown that the world might see, I would work, never shirk, blessed Lord, for Thee. But to know where I go that my soul is free, let me live close to Thee each day.”

1, October 25, 20131, October 25, 2013

He Who Has Ears, Let Him Hear…Oct. 27th

Have you ever considered the difference between hearing and listening? We hear the sound of the traffic on the highway, but we listen when the driver behind us honks. In frustration some may say, “Yeah, I hear you!” But though their ears have heard the voice, the mind hasn’t processed (or even rejects) the message. Many today would say, “I hear you, but I’m not listening to you.” This can be a dangerous mistake for sure.

This Sunday morning we’re blessed to ‘listen’ to another lesson presented by one of our own ministers, Robert Taylor. Come join us for worship and do more than just hear a good sermon, open your ears and listen to the message from God’s holy word? Join us as we explore God’s Word and consider how we’ll use our ears!

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, October 27, 2013

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“What a Mighty God We Serve” -993

Technically, this isn’t a difficult song. The words are repetitive and the message is a basic reminder; “What a mighty God we serve! What a mighty God we serve! Angels bow before Him, heaven and earth adore Him. What a mighty God we serve!” You hear the message, but are you listening to what you’re saying? He IS mighty and He is worthy to be served…but HOW are you serving Him?

“O Thou Fount of Every Blessing” – 226

This author has talked in depth of the interpretation of this hymn written in old English Robert Robinson in the mid-1700’s. Words like “Ebenezer”, “fetter” and “interpose” have left many to discard this song as antiquated. But we must do more than just sing (hear) this message from yesteryear. Listen to the meaning when you sing verse three; “O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! {I know, and can never forget, the grace God gives me every day will never be repaid} Let Thy goodness like a fetter bind my wandering heart to Thee; {Father, please keep your loving kindness tied around my heart} Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. {I am all to liable to wander away from you, like a little child, please keep close to You}. Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.” {As a matter of fact, take my heart and keep it in Your care until you call me home.}

“In Christ Alone” – no book

Consider this song of encouragement as we prepare our minds to commemorate our Lord’s death, burial and resurrection. We begin this song recognizing our Cornerstone, solid ground and Comforter as Christ…alone. Verse two takes us from His birth to His crucifixion and for those who know this song ‘listen’ to the emotion found in the third verse. And though we begin softly singing of His burial, our voices ‘burst forth’ as we proclaim His resurrection. The final verse gives us the assurance of our security in Christ. Children of God understand that, “…no power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand…”

“I Am Mine No More” – 683

Though the author and composer of this song are unknown, the message is very clear. Would that we do more than just say, “I am mine no more…”, but that our lives would reflect a change in our priority. When you say something is more important than something else, it’s only proven by your next step. The difference between hearing and listening…

“Open Our Eyes Lord” – 766

Written in 1976, this song calls us to open our eyes and see how Jesus is alive in our world. But Robert Cull goes a step further as he penned the next verse; “Open our eyes, Lord and help us to listen…” My daddy would tell us boys, ‘You have one mouth and two ears…you should listen twice as much as you talk’ We might not be bigger talkers, but how are we with looking for God and listening to His words?

“Heaven Came Down” – 517

As we prepare for this morning’s lesson, let’s sing this spiritual song about living a Christian life. A beautiful message but notice the second verse; “Born of the Spirit with life from above into God’s family divine. Justified fully through Calvary’s love, O what a standing is mine! And the transaction so quickly was made, when as a sinner I came. Took of the offer of grace He did proffer, He saved me! O praise His dear name…” To proffer is to give a gift expecting an answer, either accept it or not. He has given us salvation. What will you do with His offer? Everyone in the auditorium will hear the offer, but will you listen to the message?

“Only a Step” – 940

How far away from God do you think you are? What kind of step(s) do you need to take to get right with Christ? Our invitation song begins with the call to “Hear the sweet voice of Jesus…” It all starts with hearing the message, but how many will listen to the ‘call?’ In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way…No one comes to the Father except through Me.” The writer of this song encourages us with the understanding that Jesus is only a step away. Those who have been baptized into Christ at one time stepped into the watery grave of baptism. If you are not a child of God and you wonder how far away is He? The answer is simple…He’s only a step away.

“I’ll Be Listening” – 988

As a young boy, when my mother called…I had better answer. If I heard her and choose not to respond (refuse to listen), the consequences might include holding my dad’s hand. All the while he held a switch with his other. We hear God’s call and many have listened to His message of salvation. He will call again at the end of time, but though ‘every knee will bow’ (everyone will listen then), only those who have been faithful will be received. “When the Savior calls, I will answer…I’ll be somewhere listening for my name!”

1, May 17, 20121, May 18, 2012

Are You Listening?

Remember those early years in your life when playing outside until dusk was a common occurrence? Staying out and playing from early morning until late in the day was simply not a problem? My mother would simply open the front door and yell out my name, “Myron, it’s time to come home!” (By the way, only the fool hearty would ignore that call…) It’s funny, but I was never so far from home that I didn’t hear my mother calling. Unfortunately, many today not only have wander far away from home, they aren’t even listening for the call to come back home. Let me suggest, the longer we stay out, the darker it will become.

For many, the idea of needing help indicates weakness and a lack of control. We understand and believe in pulling ourselves up by the bootstraps, but without doubt all of us need help every now and again. So perhaps the question really is, are we willing to admit we need some help?

Notice what Paul says in Romans 1:5, 6, “…Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;” When we obey the calling of Christ, we are joined into the family of God, we come into His fellowship. Many say, they want to follow Christ and others take the steps to be His child and yet when we fall short of His glory (when we sin), He calls us back. If we are listening to (reading) His word we hear His voice calling us home. It’s like the old hymn…

“When my Savior calls I will answer,
When He calls for me, I will hear.
When my Savior calls I will answer,
I’ll be somewhere listen for my name.”

Give Him your life and stay close to His will. We often leave the safety of His embrace because we want to ‘play outside’. But when you hear the call to come in you’d better answer it. Folks, it’s getting dark out, listen for your Savior’s voice and come home!