Posts by Midtown Church of Christ (Page 4)

The Christian life can certainly be difficult, and maintaining a strong faith in our service to the Lord is often challenging. For some children of God, it is more challenging than for others. This is not intended as a derogatory characterization, but the reality is that there are many Christians around us who are “weak”—not physically, but spiritually. The Greek word that is used in the New Testament for “weak” is used for both a physical condition (i.e., sickness, as…

On two occasions, Jesus used little children to deliver some of the clearest truths about the kind of heart we must have to enter heaven. These occasions are found in Matthew 18 and Matthew 19 and also in other gospel accounts. Look at what He so vividly taught us about what God wants us to become. Jesus loves the little children of the world. We may have sung these words, but Jesus lived them. As He was busy teaching adults,…

What kind of attitude do you put on toward others each day? There are several that could be easy to put on, such as angry outbursts in traffic when on the way to work or an impatient attitude in the grocery store. There are so many ways we can feel within our hearts, and even outwardly treat others, if we are not careful. What attitudes does the Bible say we need to create within ourselves and show towards others? A…

Sometimes when you meet a person there is just something about them that sets them apart from others. There are those negative people who impact us in such a way that we find it difficult to see their souls and the potential they may have in Christ. On the other hand, there are those to whom we are immediately attracted, and we want to get to know them better. When God became man, He was like us in so many…

It is easy to get caught up in completing what is required of us. We have many different roles and each demand certain basic requirements in order to maintain good standing. When it comes to our service to God, there is more to it than that. On several occasions Jesus scorned the Pharisees for their legalistic focus and neglecting the weightier matters of the law (Matt. 23:23; 9:13; 12:6-7). Let us consider some weightier matters connected to our obedience. The…

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11) “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others…” (Matthew 5:14-16) Through scripture God tells us that we should let the light of the truth of the Gospel shine through us to the sinner, to light a path for him, to be able to come out of the darkness that he is in. When someone sins, and we don’t try to…

James describes the kind of heart we need in order to profit from studying the Bible. Read His words carefully. “Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (Jas. 1:21 -22). Every time we read the Bible, listen to Bible teaching or are studying the word, we must receive it with meekness. Sometimes there are individuals who have great knowledge about the Bible…

An antiseptic is defined by the dictionary as “a substance that destroys or inhibits the growth or action of microorganisms (such as bacteria) especially in or on living tissue” (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary). This medicinal substance is vital when trying to reduce the threat of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction on a person’s open wound, such as during a surgery. Today, we have a variety of antiseptics such as mouthwash, alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide, which can be readily purchased at a local…

Paul, in his address to the Areopagus, spoke of the need for all men to repent and that a day has been appointed for judgment; those statements came with the assurance or proof in the resurrection of the Christ (Acts 17:30- 31). We overlook the gift of having an assurance from God. We want assurances when it comes to things we buy or promises made. With God, these assurances are a blessing. We can come to realize this assurance as…

When Jesus foretold the time when not a single stone of that majestic temple in Jerusalem would rest upon another, the disciples asked for signs which would precede the destruction of that temple and the end of Judaism (Mark 13:4; Luke 21:7). The Lord gave at least eight distinct signs which would come before that event. He then foretold of another event which would happen for which there was one single sign to announce its coming. Jesus spoke of a…

When we say yes to God’s plan of salvation for us, we have to say no to our old unsaved ways of life. I’ll explain this by looking at God’s plan of salvation. #1 Hear the gospel. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) When we first hear the gospel, our faith grows and we start to trust God’s ways for us. To be able to live a life of trusting God…

As we live our lives from day to day, there are actions or behaviors that become a regular part of our routine. These repetitive actions that we decide to do for ourselves become second nature and can develop into habits. These habits (physical or spiritual) can be good habits or bad habits depending upon the effect or the outcome that the action produces. To paint a clearer picture in our minds, we probably think of many habits that we perform…