by: Gary L. Hutchens What should be our focus as to making the most of our time as Christians, pertaining both to our personal lives and to those of this world who are spiritually lost? In the broader view of things, we really have little time. Many texts in God’s word deal with this principle, but two call for particularly careful thoughtfulness in considering how we should use our time (Eph. 5:15-18; Col. 4:3-6). Both texts emphasize making the most of our time, and both admonish using our time wisely. What are some specific steps we can take to use our time wisely, in regards to both our personal spiritual well being and to considering how we can help the lost find salvation?
by: Gary L. Hutchens God has given us the greatest lifestyle system the world has ever seen- Christianity! No other discipline even begins to measure up to the quality and promise of the Christian lifestyle. Everything the world has come up with on its own pales by comparison. In fact, any philosophy devised by man that removes God as its central tenet generally brings misery and is doomed to failure.
by: Gary L. Hutchens Often, we feel unable to do something that needs to be done. This line of reasoning is constantly used by individuals and congregations in relation to serving God. In some cases we say we don’t have time to serve God as we would like. Sometimes we state that we just don’t have the ability to do some good work that needs to be done. In other cases we claim to not have sufficient resources to the get the job done.
By: Gary L. Hutchens Who are we? What are we? What are we doing? Here at Sunny Slope we repeatedly emphasize, at the risk of sounding redundant, that we are determined to simply be the church that everybody reads about in the Bible, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.
by: Gary L. Hutchens It is impossible to fully believe in Christ without also believing in the church, since the church is His body (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18, 24). It is impossible to faithfully follow Christ without being a part of His church, because into the church is where He adds the saved (Acts 2:47). It is impossible to fully know the teachings of Christ without also knowing the teachings of His church (1 Tim. 3:15). And, it is impossible to be properly dedicated to Christ without being properly dedicated to His church, since the two, Christ and the church, are inseparable.
by: Gary L. Hutchens I’m afraid many people have a somewhat clouded understanding of the church. Who are we? What are we here for? What are we supposed to do? What is my responsibility as a member of the church? What is our mission?
by: Gary L. Hutchens “Reconcile.” A technical sounding word little used in common conversation, it seems to be utilized in more formal communication. The word can have various meanings based upon the immediate application: “Restore friendly relations between,” could refer to a formal relationship such as in business dealings. “Cause to coexist in harmony; make or show to be compatible,” would apply to a marriage relationship that has been on rocky ground. “To restore to friendship or harmony,” would be the case in a close personal relationship. It is this last meaning that will primarily apply in this article.
by: Gary L. Hutchens During Aug. 16-22 of this year, 2019, my wife and I were blessed to be able to attend the Polishing The Pulpit Lectureship in Sevierville, TN. This was the fifth time for me and the fourth for my wife. We had not been to PTP since 2014. We both were so positively effected that she quickly expressed her determination that we need to be there every year from now on. We were encouraged spiritually, strengthened in our faith, instructed in God’s word and motivated in our dedication tremendously.
by: Gary L. Hutchens How many times have we heard the caution, “Be careful what you wish for, you might get it.” There has always been an atheistic element within our society, firm in their belief that there is no God. Less committed are the skeptics and agnostics, unsure whether God exists but leaning in the direction of the atheists.
by: Gary L. Hutchens Most people believe in God. But, as noted in previous articles in this series, there are those who disbelieve- atheists,- and there are others who doubt- agnostics and skeptics. There are a great many more whose belief in God is less than solid. Atheists, agnostics and skeptics would pretty much disregard the proofs for God’s existence contained in the Bible. But some who are still in the process of developing a firm, absolute faith in God might also find it difficult to place full confidence in scripture. That’s unfortunate since the teachings of scripture are the basis from which faith develops (Rom. 10:17).
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