Tag: Water Baptism

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” →

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

 

 

THE BEGINNING OF HUMAN LIFE

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Shelby G. Floyd

After the angel announced to Mary that she would conceive a child of the Holy Spirit, she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was six months with child (Luke 1:36).  When Mary arrived and greeted Elizabeth, twice it is said that “the baby leaped in her womb” (Luke 1:41, 44).

“Baby” Defined 

The word “Baby” translates the Greek word “brephos” and is defined in two ways:

(1) First, it is used only in the two references cited as, “an unborn child, embryo, fetus: Lk. 1:41, 44.”—Thayer, p. 105.

(2) Secondly, it refers to “a new-born child, an infant, a babe: Lk. 2:12, 16; 18:15; Acts 7:19; 1 Pet. 2:2.”—Thayer, p. 105. Continue reading “THE BEGINNING OF HUMAN LIFE” →

EAGLE CHRISTIANS No. 2

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Shelby G. Floyd

 

The people of God are compared to many things in the teaching of Jesus. He used many parables, allegories, and similes to describe the people of God. But one of the most striking images to which servants of God are compared is the Eagle!

THE EAGLE FAMILY

Now let us take a look at the Eagle family. Perhaps we can learn a lot about our family by studying the Eagle family. It is like our Eagle Father and Mother. And the Bible pictures God looking out for his people in many ways like a father and a mother.
God the Father and Mother Eagle Protect Their Children As Christians we begin our spiritual life a lot like baby eagles. And hopefully as we grow and develop in the Christian life, ultimately, we will soar into heaven itself to the presence of God and our Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:1-3).

God the Father Eagle protects his children by covering them with his everlasting wings. King David described God’s care for us under the figure of the Eagle wings:

He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler. (Psalms 91:4 NKJV).
Continue reading “EAGLE CHRISTIANS No. 2” →

PRIORITIES–PUT GOD FIRST

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Shelby G. Floyd

Good morning! It is good to see all of you. We are ready to begin a new year. We pray that God will bless the Heartland church.  Seek to grow numerically and spiritually.

This is the time of the year that we make resolutions. But after a few weeks we forget all about it. I made two resolutions. First, I plan to read my Bible completely in 2024. And the second resolution is I will put God first. I have done that since I first began to preach the gospel about 63 years ago. And yet I fall short each year!

It seems to me that if we keep these two resolutions, we do not need to make a lot of other resolutions. Those two will take care of everything else. Read your Bible and learn what God wants you to do. It is a big book, so it will take discipline to read it completely. And if we put God first, that will take care of most things that we worry about.

Our text is Matthew 6:25-34. There are so many things that ask for our time and attention. And it becomes easy to leave off Bible reading and put other things ahead! Continue reading “PRIORITIES–PUT GOD FIRST” →

JESUS, THE BREAD OF LIFE

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Shelby G. Floyd

Bread is one of our most basic physiological needs of the body. When Lewis and Clark set out on their transcontinental expedition, bread was one of the staples that they prepared enough to take them to the mouth of the Columbia and back to St. Louis. We all need bread—healthy food to have a healthy body. In Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs, bread would be at the foundation, because it is difficult to think about anything else when a person is hungry. But bread alone will not motivate a person to be all they can be and reach their full potential both here and hereafter.

The Work of God is to Believe

In the book of John, Jesus had told the people that “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28-29.) The crowd of people who came out to see and hear Jesus, challenged him to give them a miraculous sign in order that they might believe in him: Continue reading “JESUS, THE BREAD OF LIFE” →

THE DISCIPLES WERE CALLED CHRISTIANS

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Shelby G. Floyd

A name distinguishes, describes or designates a person, place, or thing. Therefore, a name is very important. Approximately 700 B.C. Isaiah, promised a new name for God’s people:

“Even to them I will give in My house
And within My walls a place and a name
Better than that of sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
That shall not be cut off” (Isaiah 56:5).

Just a few chapters later the prophet added these words,

“For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace,
And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,
Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
And her salvation as a lamp that burns.
The Gentiles shall see your righteousness,
And all kings your glory.
You shall be called by a new name,
Which the mouth of the Lord will name. (Isaiah. 62: 1-2). Continue reading “THE DISCIPLES WERE CALLED CHRISTIANS” →

FISHERS OF MEN

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Shelby G. Floyd

Once Jesus said, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17 NKJV). They made their living catching fish out of the Sea of Galilee. Therefore, they understood the figurative statement of Christ. He could make them fishers of men. They also knew the sea was the whole world, the fish represented all humanity, and the net was the gospel.

We Must Become Fishers of Men

Today, we also must fish for men. We like Christ, must endeavor to seek and to save the lost. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19: 10). We are fishers of men because the everlasting souls of men are worth more than the entire world.

We Must Lose Our Life in Service to Christ

Effective soul seekers lose their life in service to God and his kingdom. Jesus said, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul” (Matthew 16: 25-26).

Paradoxically, when we lose our life in service to God, we save our life. Conversely, when we save our physical life, we lose our spiritual life. Therefore, if a man saves his physical earthly life, gains the whole world and loses his own soul, he will not profit in anything.

The Soul is Worth More Than the Whole World

The soul of man, made in the image of God, is worth more than the entire world. Therefore the salvation of the souls of sinners requires us to evangelize those who are lost. The only way that a soul can be saved from death is by converting that soul from error to truth, from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God. James said, “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins (James 5:19-20). God’s people then are the agents in converting souls from death. And the means used to accomplish this end is the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sin Separates Men from God

Sinners are separated from God forever because of their sins and iniquities (Isaiah 59:1-2). The soul made in the image of God, unless converted to Christ, will be banished from God’s presence forever. This should motivate them to come to Christ, for apart from Christ there is no life.

There Are Few Laborers for the Harvest

Jesus had great compassion on the multitudes of people because he saw them scattered abroad as sheep without a shepherd. They were scattered because there were not enough workers to bring them to God. Jesus addressed his disciples, and said, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38).

Today the fields are white unto harvest, but there are few laborers in that harvest to bring souls to God. If we are truly wise and intelligent we will work at winning souls for Christ. We have been won to win others. We have been saved in order to bring others to salvation. Solomon said, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30).

Is there anything else that is better worth,
As along life’s way we plod,
Than to find some wandering soul of earth,
And bring him home to God?

I would rather find a soul that is lost,
And bring him home again,
Than to own what all earth’s acres cost,
Or all the wealth of men.

Wouldn’t I be glad when the day is done,
In breathing my latest breath,
To know some word of mine had won,
And saved a soul from death?”
–Author Unknown

Fishers of Men Teach Publicly and Privately

The New Testament church was a soul winning church. The apostles and the members of the church involved themselves in evangelism. In the book of Acts we read that Peter and John were in prison because they preached Christ and his kingdom to the population of Jerusalem. The opposition threatened and charged them not to teach or preach in his name any longer. “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (Acts 5: 41-42).

We note that New Testament evangelism involved teaching in houses, and preaching publicly the gospel of Jesus Christ. The church today will grow as it once did, when private and public evangelism prevail! This demands the efforts of every member of the body of Christ.

Copyright © 2023 Shelby Floyd All Rights Reserved

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

@sgf1964

shelby@thefloyds.net

THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL

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Shelby G. Floyd

 

Good morning church! It is wonderful to celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We will study God’s word and apply the truth to what is going on in our world.

We are glad that Ronnie Cooper is here today. Vinton and Kathy Morgan of Mount Gilead, Ohio are visiting with us today. Vinton preaches for the Perry Church of Christ that was founded in the 1800s during the Restoration Movement back to New Testament Christianity. It is one of the oldest surviving churches in that area! Please make them feel welcome.

I am speaking on “The Handwriting on the Wall!” We studied the book of Ezekiel for almost three months. So, I thought it good to present a lesson on the complete downfall of Babylon by Cyrus the Great and Darius I of the Medes.

Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple of God about 586 B. C. Nebuchadnezzar carried the Jewish nobility back to Babylon. In ancient times when a nation conquered another nation, they brought the brightest and best educated back to their own country. Then they used them to enhance their own country. So, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshack, and Abed-Nego were added to the wise men of Babylon. But others captured, like Ezekiel, they took in exile down by the Chebar River. Continue reading “THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL” →

ISRAEL’S TEMPLE WORSHIP

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Shelby G. Floyd

After King David captured Jerusalem, he chose Mount Moriah as the site to build the permanent place of worship called the temple.

Solomon’s Temple
Solomon, the son of David would build this temple. David could not build it because he was a man of bloodshed! Solomon finished building the temple in 957 B. C. This building had three rooms. The Most Holy Place was where the Ark of the Covenant rested.

Babylon Destroyed Solomon’s Temple in 586 B. C.
The Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar II destroyed the city of Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple in 587 to 586 B. C. (See 2 Kings 25:8-12). After Jerusalem fell, a man who escaped came to Ezekiel in Babylon and said, “The city has fallen” (Ezekiel 33:21). The Temple treasures and several detachments of Jews were taken to Babylon, including the prophets Ezekiel, Daniel, and Jeremiah. Continue reading “ISRAEL’S TEMPLE WORSHIP” →