Tag: christianity

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

 

 

SELF-CONTROL

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Shelby G. Floyd

In his second letter the apostle Peter wrote, “Add to your faith…self-control” (2 Peter 1:6).  Every Christian therefore is to learn self-control.  Self control or temperance is “to control the mind and body with all of the lusts.” Satan is a wily foe and seeks to destroy our souls through the three avenues of temptation — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:15-17). Self-control is of God because it is the fruit of the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:22-23).

Our society today is being bombarded with every motivation possible for the people to fulfill any and all illicit sexual desires.  Just as some members of the church at Corinth were caught up in the immorality rampant in the ancient Greek society, so are some religious people today caught up in the old immorality displayed in the long-ago (Cf. 1 Corinthians 5:1-3; 2 Cor. 7:1-5, 8-9). It is important therefore that we learn to exercise self-control. Continue reading “SELF-CONTROL” →

GOD HAS SPOKEN NO. 2

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Shelby G. Floyd

God Has Spoken

The scriptures declare, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways” (Hebrews 1:1). We note that the text says this divine communication was done in “in the past.” Continue reading “GOD HAS SPOKEN NO. 2” →

CONCERNING CHRIST AND THE CHURCH

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Shelby G. Floyd

In Ephesians 5:22-33, the apostle Paul sets forth the nature of the church and its relationship to Christ. He says in one place,

“This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:32).

What did Paul mean when he said, “I speak concerning Christ and the church”? Continue reading “CONCERNING CHRIST AND THE CHURCH” →

TEST THE SPIRITS

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Shelby G. Floyd

The author of the letter to the church at Ephesus is Jesus Christ (Revelation 2:1-3). This letter is a part of the Revelation which God gave to Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ gave to an Angel, and the Angel signified it to John, John wrote it down in a book and sent it to the churches (Revelation 1:1-2). A great blessing is pronounced upon those who read (aloud), hear and keep those things which are written in the last book of the Bible (Revelation 1:3). John received this wonderful disclosure while he was on the Isle of Patmos. He heard a great voice behind him as the voice of a trumpet, loud, distinct and clear. When he turned to see who was speaking, he saw seven Golden candlesticks; and in the midst of those Golden candlesticks he saw the glorified Christ, like unto the Son of Man, and he had in his right hand seven stars (Revelation 1:9-19). Continue reading “TEST THE SPIRITS” →

SOWING AND REAPING

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Shelby G. Floyd

Wheat ears in the hands. Harvest concept

In the beginning, when the Almighty created the heavens and the earth, he established a rule or principle of life which is absolute, and which still holds true to this day; it is the law of sowing and reaping. God ordained that each species of the fauna and flora would always reproduce after their kind. For instance, in connection with the grass and herbs of the field, God said,

“Let the earth bring forth grass, The herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:11-12).

Continue reading “SOWING AND REAPING” →

WORSHIP THAT COST SOMETHING

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Shelby G. Floyd

worship-cost-something

King David once said, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing” (2 Sam. 24:24). He then bought the threshing floor of Araunah at a price and made his offering unto the Lord:

“So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings” (2 Sam. 24:24-25).

Continue reading “WORSHIP THAT COST SOMETHING” →

NOT ASHAMED CHRISTIANS

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Shelby G. Floyd

not-ashamed

The church that Jesus promised to build started in Jerusalem. The gospel was to be preached first in Jerusalem, then in Judea and Samaria. Finally it was to be taken to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8). Later we have the record of Cornelius the Gentile being converted (Acts 10:1-48). From there the disciples preached in Phoenicia, the island of Cyprus and Antioch in Syria (Acts 11:19).

When the church in Jerusalem heard about the wonderful results, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. He did a great work, but realized he needed some help. So he went to Tarsus in Celica and brought Paul back to the church at Antioch. The hand of God was with the disciples in Antioch in Syria.

FIRST CALLED CHRISTIANS IN ANTIOCH

According to Acts 11:26, Barnabas and Saul assembled themselves with the church for a year. These two men also taught a great many people. “And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Who called them Christians? The same people who assembled with the church for a year and taught much people, were the ones who called the disciples Christians first in Antioch.

THE NAME CHRISTIAN IS NEW NAME OF ISAIAH

The name Christian is of divine origin. God gave this name through the inspired apostle Paul and Barnabas. It is the new name promised by Isaiah the prophet:

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your vindication, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you (Isaiah 62:1-4).

CHRISTIAN = OF OR BELONGING TO CHRIST

The word Christian means one who is of or belongs to the Lord. Whenever the suffix “ian” is added to a noun in connotes “of or belonging to.” For example an American is one who is of or belonging to America! Therefore a “Christian” is one who is “of or belonging” to Christ. It is a name that we should wear proudly.

Christian people today are being persecuted and put to death in many parts of the world. This also happened shortly after the first century in the Pagan Roman Empire. In many ways the nations today are becoming paganist and hostile to Christians. But the apostle Peter addressed the suffering people of God in the first century:

“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter” (1 Pet. 4:16 NKJV).

Let us all glorify our God as a “Christian!”

Copyright © 2016 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

heartland-church-assembly

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