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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 9 * Number 30* July 29, 2007
I Plainly Declare!
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:13-16
These great men and women of faith declared plainly that they were seeking their own homeland. By their words and actions they confessed to the world that they were nothing more than strangers and pilgrims passing through this physical land.
Brethren, this world is not our home and we too must declare plainly by our words and actions that we are just passing through this life in search of a better country. The text before us, gives us two important truths that we must keep in mind.
First, they were not mindful of the land they were leaving behind. If they dwelt on what was behind them, they might have found opportunity to go right on back, it never crossed their mind. They knew exactly where they were heading.
Second, they had desire. They desired a better land, a land not apart of this world which dwells within the heavenly realm. That is what they longed for; this is what they pursued.
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” Philippians 3:20-21
Do you plainly declare where you are going? Stacy Crim
Peddling the Word of God
Kipp Campbell
Without a doubt, the apostle Paul was one who took his work seriously. Whether it was in persecuting Christians (Acts 8:3; 9:1-2) or in preaching the gospel after his conversion (Acts 9:19-20), Paul always gave it his best effort. With that in mind, consider his comments to the Corinthian Christians, “For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God” (2 Cor. 3:17). Apparently there were some whom Paul felt were not sincere in their teaching of the gospel. He felt compelled to tell them preaching the gospel is to be done with sincerity. Peddling the word of God is a serious charge and one that demands our attention, even today. Let’s look at some ways we can peddle God’s word if we’re not careful.
When we don’t take seriously its commands. The word of God is a book that must be taken seriously by all people, especially Christians. Sadly, too many in this world view the Bible as a book that can (and probably should) be obeyed, but doesn’t have to be obeyed. However, Jesus clearly stated that if we expect to be called a friend of His, we must do what He says, “You are my friends, if you do what I command you” (Jn. 15:14). The Bible is not a book in which we can pick and choose which commands we will follow and which ones we can’t. Unless we fully commit ourselves to following the Lord’s commands, we cannot be called His disciples (2 Jn. 9).
When we don’t believe in its power. This author knows of people who will not try and teach others simply because they think those people they are trying to reach won’t be affected by the message they bring. The apostle Paul knew how strong and powerful the gospel is when he said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). Paul knew it wasn’t in the presentation of the gospel, nor was it in his personal opinion for people to be saved, but rather the power was within the gospel that could change the lives of people. Another good example is found in Acts 2 at the establishment of the church. Over 3,000 Jews believed the things spoken by Peter and obeyed from the heart those things that were right, all because the gospel was spoken to them in such a way as for them to understand it. Being a good speaker is ok and using various means to get people’s attention is ok, but let us never forget where the true power of God comes from.
When we don’t give it our best effort. Being a Christian demands we give it our best effort in every aspect of our spiritual life. Especially in the area of living our lives by the commandments contained within the scriptures. Paul wrote, “Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12-14). In order for Paul, and us, to reach that prize, he had to continually obey the commandments of the Lord. Without so doing, he would have no hope of spending eternity in heaven (Matt. 7:21ff).
Let us be careful in not treating the Bible as a casual suggestion to life, but rather as a serious look into the mind of God (I Cor. 2:10-12). It is a mind that will eventually judge each and every one of us in a coming Day. Prepare yourself now to stand before Him with confidence knowing you did everything He asked of you during your time here on earth. Clarksville Beacon
Are You Attached?
Steve Klein
The amputation of a part of ones body is at best an unpleasant consideration. Just trying to imagine having an arm or leg cut off probably makes most of us a little squeamish. No one wants to have a part of their body permanently severed. Amputation invariably handicaps the body and destroys the part that is amputated. Our body parts must stay connected to our bodies for the benefit of the body and the life of the parts!
The church is a body. The body parts are the church members. "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:12). But some members think, act and speak as if they've been amputated.
4 They think that their presence isn't necessary in assemblies. A church functions as a body in its assemblies. It worships, it edifies and it communes. What if all the parts of the body felt that they didn't need to assemble? Would the body be able to function without all of its parts coming together? Would it not be more like a lifeless carcass, mutilated in some chain saw massacre with its parts strewn all over? The body is made up of parts, and every part must maintain its connection to the body! "For in fact the body is not one member but many" (1 Corinthians 12:14).
4 They talk as if they are not part of the church. They'll refer to the church that they are supposed to be a member of in the third person. Instead of saying "We had a gospel meeting" or "Our attendance was good" they'll say, "They had a meeting" and "Their attendance was good." But just because a member talks like he is detached from the body, doesn't mean that he is. "If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body?" (1 Corinthians 12:15-16).
4 They act as if the church can do just as well without them. Every part of the body has some function. Some parts may appear to be more important than others, but EVERY PART has a role to play if the body is to be at its best. "The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary" (1 Corinthians 12:21-22).
These things being true, why would any church member stay "detached" from the church? Are you attached?
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