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By: Gary L. Hutchens Frequently we’ll respond to something that we consider to be really good with the exclamation “How great is that!”. We might apply that statement to anything from a wonderful experience, to a great play made by some athlete, to a piece of chocolate cake. On the spiritual side of life, the Hebrews writer asked the question, “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him” (Heb. 2:3). He’s talking about our eternal salvation, everlasting life with God and Christ in Heaven. How Great Is That!
By: Gary L. Hutchens Hezekiah was twenty five years old when he became king of Judah. He is described as having done right in the sight of the Lord, trusting in God, so that no other king of Judah was like him, either before or after his reign. He held fast to the Lord, did not depart from following Him and kept His commandments (2 Kgs. 18:1-6). He was an exemplary king.
by: Gary L. Hutchens What elevates man above the animals? Some would say, “Intellect, superior intellect is what elevates man above the animals.” Others would say “Self-awareness. Man has a sense of self-awareness that translates into meaning and purpose in life that animals do not possess.” Pretty good, thoughtful answers, but incorrect. Man is above the animals because God created man, and not the animals, in God’s own image, and He subsequently put the animals under the dominion of man (Gen. 1:26-28; 5:1; 9:1-2).
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.
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January 2020
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