Email Us

Find a Congregation Near You!

 The Cornerstone 

This is the Stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the Chief Conerstone." Acts 4:11

Pulbished to Support the Work of the West End Church of Christ, Richmond, Virginia

Volume 6 *   Number 16*   April 16,  2006

Daily

Around one thousand miles later and we are safely home. My family and I prayed for safe travel. The congregation in Austintown, Ohio has prayed for our safe arrival. The congregations here has prayed for our safe travel. What is wonderful about all this is that our prayers have been answered. Isn’t it wonderful to know that God answers our prayers and daily takes care of us.

While thinking about our trip it occurred to me that we often go about each day as though it is a given that we will do what we need or want to do. We should be mindful of our travels each day, and we should give thanks for the Lord’s providential care at the end each day. Should the number of miles matter? Statistics show that most accidents occur locally and often not far from one’s own home.

Therefore we need to be reminded that life can be very short and be thankful for God’s daily care. "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. "For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." James 4:14-15

We need to know that the sufficiency of evil is present each and every day. We can sin on any given day of the week. "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Matthew 6:34

We need to watch and be prepared each day for the coming of our Lord. We do not know when Christ will return. "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." Matthew 24:42

Daily God cares for us, and daily we should be thankful for His care. Daily temptations are present, and daily we should walk with care. On any day Christ can come again, and daily we need to be prepared.

Stacy Crim

&

The Necessity of Obedience

L. A. Stauffer

Obedience, in any realm, involves three elements. One, it recognizes authority, whether a child to his parents, a citizens to his government, or a servant to his master. Two, it includes listening to learn what is required. And, three, it demands submission to what is commanded.

All of these elements are true of Bible obedience. The Greek word for obedience in our New Testaments combines a prefix, hupo, which means "under," with the word, akouo, which means "to hear." Together the word means "to come under what one hears."

This is so apparent in the command for children to "obey your parents in the Lord" (Eph 6:1). Parents are the authorities in the family. God has authorized them to teach and train their children in the nurture and admonition of his word. Children are to recognize that authority, listen to what the parents say, and then submit to or bring their lives under that instruction.

Sinners need to grasp this truth about their relationship to God the Creator. All men have been made in God's image and must recognize his authority over his creation (Genesis 1:26-27). Accepting that authority, they must open their hearts and ears to hear and understand what God has taught. Beyond that, they must submit to his teaching.

This learning process begins with the view that Jesus has "all authority," and that they must confess him as Lord (see Matthew 28:18; Romans 10:9-10). It follows with the wisdom to "hear these words of mine," as Jesus taught in the story of the "wise" and "foolish" men (Matthew 7:24-27). The "wise man," though, is not only he that "hears" these words but he that "doeth them" - meaning to submit to the teaching of Jesus.

The importance of this is that salvation is conditioned upon obedience. "Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). Jesus, as the Hebrew writer says, is the "author of eternal salvation" to "all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:9). And he will render vengeance to "them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus" (2 Thessalonians 1:8).

The sinner who thinks he can merely call on the name of the Lord by faith alone has missed the significant element of obedience in baptism that puts him into Christ where he becomes a child of God and a new creature (see Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-4). There, as a result of the obedience of faith (see Romans 1:5; 16:26), he has forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 1:3-5).

www.kirkwoodcoc.org &

 

Are You Confused Over The Choices Of Churches?

Phillip Mullins

On any given street, you can find a variety of churches teaching and practicing different things. The choices indeed are staggering. Many people become confused because of all the different denominations. Some even become discouraged and give up completely on finding the church of which they need to be a part.

If you are in that state, confused over the choices, then consider the following points before you give up.

1) There is a church that truly belongs to

Christ. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus promised to build His church and He did that very thing. The New Testament tells us about that church through history and letters.

2) There are churches out there that do

not truly belong to Christ. "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves" (Acts 20:30). Since the early days of the church, there have been people who have changed the original teachings of Christ and thus formed a multitude of religious organizations. There are churches who claim to follow Christ who are in fact following the teachings of men.

3) Use the Bible to find the church that

truly belongs to Christ. In the pages of the New Testament is the description of Christ's church. When a group's practices and teachings cannot be found in the Scriptures, then you can write them off as merely a man made organization. Scrutinize churches under the magnifying glass of the Bible

4) Don't just look for a church that pleases

you, find the one that pleases God. There are all flavors of churches out there, and there is one to suit your personal tastes and lifestyle. However, the church is to be a body of people that serves God, and not a group of people that serve themselves (I Peter 2:5).

5) Don't give up looking for the true

church. "...seek and you will find..." (Matthew 7:7). God is not going to hide from you what you need in order to know Him, be close to Him, and serve Him faithfully.

Kingsport, TN &

 

"People seldom change towards being more conservative or more strict in adherence to the Scripture. It seems they are ten times more afraid of being narrow than they are of being unscriptural. They are more afraid of being out of step with the crowds than out of step with Christ."

- Gardner S. Hall

  Back to Current Year Bulletins