Tag: Bible

THE DRAWING POWER OF THE CROSS

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Shelby G. Floyd

“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” by Issac Watts was one of the most beautiful hymns ever written. He is one of the best-known and best loved of the British hymn writers. He wrote about 600 hymns in his lifetime. Charles Wesley, who also wrote many hymns, said that he would gladly have exchanged all of his hymns for that one hymn written by Isaac Watts. Watts hymn is based upon Galatians 6:14 where the apostle Paul said, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

GLORYING IN THE CROSS

The cross of Christ is the center of the gospel story. Wherever the apostles and preachers went in the early days of the church, the central theme of their message was the death of Christ upon the cross of Calvary. For instance, Paul worked with the Corinthians a year and a half. Later he wrote a letter to them and said, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:1-2). This meant that “Christ crucified” was the burden of his message. He did not preach the Grecian philosophy or the Roman wisdom of the poets and philosophers. He said his message was Jesus Christ and him crucified.

In the first chapter of the same letter he said, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect” (1 Corinthians 1:17). He said the cross of Christ was a stumbling block to the Jews, and the Greeks looked upon it as foolishness. He added, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

CHRIST ANTICIPATED HIS DEATH

Jesus Christ anticipated his own death. There have been other men who have anticipated their deaths, but not each detail of how and when they would die. The Lord did. In John 3 Jesus had an interview with Nicodemus. When we talk about this interview, we usually talk about the new birth. Many probably do not realize the conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus about the new birth also included the statement, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believe it in him should not periods, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believe it in him should not perish, but have everlasting life: for God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:14-17). This is a part of the interview with Nicodemus. Continue reading “THE DRAWING POWER OF THE CROSS” →

Growing the Church

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Shelby G. Floyd

If the church is to increase and grow, we must all get involved in the law of the seedtime and harvest. Solomon taught that to expect a har­vest we must get up early in the morning and sow the seed and not wait till the evening of life: Sow your seed in the morning and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well (Ecclesiastes 11:6).

In some parables that Jesus taught, God is pic­tured as the owner of a huge farm with an abundant har­vest. But the harvest may be lost be­cause of few workers. Jesus said, “The harvest is truly plenteous, but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37).

God can do whatever pleases him (Psalms 115:3), but it does not please him to circumvent his own plan to save man. Paul outlined God’s plan in his letter to the Ro­mans:

For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “LORD, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:13-17, NKJV).

From this scripture we learn several facts about our task of proclaiming the gospel message:

  1. God saves those who call on the Lord.
  2. Men cannot call on someone they do not believe in.
  3. They cannot believe in one of whom they have not heard.
  4. They cannot hear unless someone preaches the word to them.

Someone must send and someone must go to sow the seed:

The lack of growth is and always has been a lack of workers. Unless we all get involved in making disciples, no one will go. Like the apostle Paul said, “the love of God compels me,” to carry our own load and go forth to do good works.

Copyright © 2024 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

Shelby G. Floyd, Minister, Heartland Church of Christ, 1693 West Main Street, Greenwood, Indiana 46142

 

 

 

 

CRITIC, TALKER, OR DOER

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Are You a Critic, Talker, or Doer?



Critic— “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” —Matthew 7:1
Talker— “For the dream comes through much effort, and the voice of a fool through many words.” —Eccl. 5:3
Doer— “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” —James 1:22

Copyright © 2024 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

Shelby G. Floyd, Minister, Heartland Church of Christ, 1693 West Main Street, Greenwood, Indiana 46142

 

 

WHAT IS TRUTH?

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Shelby G. Floyd

The question asked by Pilate is still a good question, “What is truth?”

What is truth? Said jesting Pilate and would not stay for an answer.
–Francis Bacon

WHAT IS TRUTH?
Today, there are some who deny that we can know what truth is; others believe that truth is relative, that circumstances alter each case, and therefore, truth is not absolute; others believe that various situations determine what truth is. This has led to a state of confusion. Still people are sincerely searching for the truth.

TRUTH IS…
Truth involves the quality or state of being true. Therefore, truth involves such ideas as constancy, veracity, sincerity and genuineness. Truth is that which is represented and corresponds to reality. Truth is that which conforms to an absolute rule of exactness and correctness; it is that which conforms to fact or reality. Truth must conform to what is, has been or must be. The answer to what is truth is best understood by a realization that God is the very essence and nature of truth. God cannot lie, and he has confirmed his word by an oath. God is therefore spoken of in the Bible as the God of truth:

“Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth” (Psalms 31: 5).

We can always trust our God of truth:

“So that he who blesses himself in the earth
Shall bless himself in the God of truth;
And he who swears in the earth
Shall swear by the God of truth;
Because the former troubles are forgotten,
And because they are hidden from My eyes”
(Isaiah 65:16).

GOD ORIGINATES ALL TRUTH

The Father is the originator and giver of all truth. In the fullness of time the Father sent his Son, Jesus Christ, into the world. The Son has personalized the truth of God. Jesus Christ is full of grace and truth (John 1:14). The grace and truth of God came by Jesus Christ (John 1: 17). Jesus Christ then is the very embodiment of God’s truth, for he himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

Copyright © 2019 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

Shelby G. Floyd
Heartland Church of Christ
1693 West Main Street
Greenwood, Indiana 46142

THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST

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Shelby G. Floyd

In Colossians 1:18, the apostle Paul expressed the preeminence that Christ should have over His church when he said, “And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead: that in all things He might have the preeminence.” We must give Christ preeminence in all things and especially we must give Him first place of importance in the church.

When Paul said He is the head of the church, the word “head” means originator, source, leader and ruler. Christ is the head of the church in the sense that He brought the church into being. He is the originator of the church. Christ is the head of the church in the sense that He is the source of the life of the church.

Christ is the head of the church in the sense that He is the ruler of the church. He has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). He has executive authority: He proposes. He has legislative authority: He disposes. He has judicial authority: He judges. So we must give preeminence to Christ as the head of the church, the originator of the church, and the source of all life in the church, the legislator, the executor and the judge of the church.

Concerning Christ Paul says, “Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.” The word “beginning” there does not mean that Christ had a beginning. Christ existed before the creation (John 1:1-4). Christ is the firstborn from the dead. He was not the first to rise from the dead, but the first and the highest rank to rise from the dead. This means he holds the preeminence or highest rank over the church.

Shelby G. Floyd
Heartland Church of Christ
1693 West Main Street
Greenwood, Indiana 46142
shelby@thefloyds.net

Conversion of a Roman Jailor

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Shelby G. Floyd

On the second evangelistic journey Paul and Silas were shamefully treated in Philippi. They were severely flogged and committed to the jailer who was commanded to keep them safely. This he did by putting them in the inner cell and fastening their feet in the stocks (Acts 16:19-24). Continue reading “Conversion of a Roman Jailor” →

THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 6

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Shelby G. Floyd

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
-Galatians 2:9 KJV

THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP

PART THREE

FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRISTIANS Continue reading “THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 6” →

THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 2

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Shelby G. Floyd

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. -Galatians 2:9 KJV

LESSON TWO

FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST

Many persons do not have an accurate understanding of what is involved in fellowship with God and with one another. About the only idea that some have concerning fellowship is a sign over a door in some church building which says, “Fellowship Room.” This lesson is designed to enlighten our understanding concerning our fellowship with Christ the Son of God.

The apostle John said,

“That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1: 3).

Continue reading “THE RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP NO. 2” →

MARRIAGE DESIGNED BY GOD

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Shelby G. Floyd

Credit: Google Images

With the marriage today of Harry and Meagan so visible to the whole world, it is a good time to study the marriage relationship as designed by God in the beginning. The following sermon was presented in 1976, but the truth therein proclaimed is just as true today! Continue reading “MARRIAGE DESIGNED BY GOD” →

SPEAK OR STRIKE THE ROCK?

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Shelby G. Floyd

Someone said, “The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.” Continue reading “SPEAK OR STRIKE THE ROCK?” →