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By: Gary L. Hutchens What challenge are you wrestling with right now? Life seems to present us with a never ending series of challenges of one kind or another. We work through one challenge and give a sigh of relief, thankful that it’s over with. But just out of sight and around the bend, life’s next challenge is already on its way. Most of the time we don’t know what that next challenge will be, but we can be assured that it’s coming.
By: Gary L. Hutchens A lot of preaching, teaching and writing focuses on the cross, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Rightly so. Jesus’ death on the cross was central to God’s plan for man’s redemption from sin (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8; Heb. 7:27; 9:26-28). Without the resurrection, however, Jesus’ death on the cross would be meaningless.
by: Gary L. Hutchens Concerning the resurrection the apostle Paul wrote, “Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty” (1 Cor. 15:12-14). If we read over this text quickly, we might not pick up all of the significance of what Paul said.
by: Gary L. Hutchens What does the crucifixion of Christ mean to me? That’s about as serious a question as could be asked. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ went to the cross and died in order to pay the debt for our sins. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8). We are all sinners (Rom. 3:9-10, 23), and “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).
by: Gary L. Hutchens Who are the churches of Christ? The only identity we desire is to be the church you read about in the Bible, nothing more, nothing less and nothing else! We are not a denomination. Our Lord came to this earth to establish His church (Matthew 16:18), not a denomination devised and organized by man. We diligently strive to fill our role as “the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).
By: Gary L. Hutchens Sixty-two year old William Hyatt walked twenty-two miles across the Mojave Desert after his car broke down. He crawled the last two miles before dying face down in the sand from thirst and exhaustion. Just over the hill, just a half mile away was Saratoga Springs. He “Almost” made it to safety, but he died before he got there.
By: Gary L. Hutchens Is it OK to be almost right, almost successful in an endeavor undertaken, almost safe in the face of potential danger? We know the answer, don’t we? Almost getting that job you wanted means you did not get it. Almost winning means you lost. Almost succeeding means you failed. Almost making it across the street without getting hit by that oncoming car means you got hit! Somebody has said, “almost only works with horseshoes and hand grenades.”
By: Gary L. Hutchens “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). When considering doctrines (“teachings”) that are absolutely fundamental to Christianity, faith in God would have to head the list. Either God is the creator and designer of the universe, or He is not. Either He is the author of all life in this world, or He is not. Either He is the source for eternal life for mankind, or He is not. There is no middle ground on these matters. Faith in God, as God, is basic to our spiritual identity. Without faith in God all other teachings pertaining to Christianity are meaningless.
By: Gary L. Hutchens The face of our culture is changing before our eyes. The evidence of this fact can be observed by looking in a number of different directions. Computerized technology and the internet may be the biggest influences affecting and shaping much of the change. It seems that only our imaginations limit us as to what continued changes lay ahead.
Editor’s Note: I seldom post articles from other writers in our bulletin. I really enjoy writing! However, I came across this article just this past week that relates so well to the sermon I preached last Sunday on “Unconditional Love,” from First Corinthians 13. It explains the principles from that text in a more contemporary style that I believe helps bring out their meaning more clearly. Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher hold the record for the longest marriage in American history: 86 years, 290 days. When asked to explain their secret, Zelmyra said, “There is no secret. It’s God who has kept us together.” She was not implying that marriage was always easy. It isn’t. Great marriages take hard work, but they are far from impossible. Consider the following keys to a great marriage.
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March 2021
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