Mt. Airy church of Christ
  • Home
  • About Us
    • What to Expect
    • Web Links
    • Local Preacher
    • Privacy Policy
  • Directions
  • Words of the Week
    • Words of the Week 2023
    • Words of the Week 2022
    • Words of the Week 2021
    • Words of the Week 2020
    • Words of the Week 2018
    • Words of the Week 2017
    • Words of the Week 2016
    • Words of the Week 2015
    • Words of the Week 2014
    • Words of the Week 2013
    • Words of the Week 2012
    • Words of the Week 2011
    • Words of the Week 2010
    • Words of the Week 2009
    • Words of the Week 2019
    • Words of the Week 2007
    • Words of the Week 2008
    • Words of the Week 2006
    • Words of the Week 2005
    • Words of the Week 2004
    • Words of the Week 2003
    • Words of the Week 2002
    • Words of the Week 2001
  • Monthly Musings
    • Monthly Musings 2023
    • Monthly Musings 2022
    • Monthly Musings 2020-2021
    • Monthly Musings 2013-2019
    • Monthly Musings 2007-2012
  • Five Minutes
    • Five Minutes 2023
    • Five Minutes 2022
    • Five Minutes 2021
    • Five Minutes 2020
    • Five Minutes 2019
    • Five Minutes-2018
  • From a Woman to Women
    • From a Woman to Women 2023
    • From a Woman to Women 2020-2022
  • Sermons

God Created All Creatures, Big and Small

12/13/2009

 
There has always been talk about dinosaurs, and we know they lived because we have their bones in museums. In the beginning, God created all creatures that fly, swim, walk, crawl and breath (Genesis 1:20-26). With a statement like that, we know that dinosaurs were included. So the dinosaurs are like lost cities of old—they are all extinct. But the work of God’s hands can still be seem in gators, lizards, flying mammals like bats or strange looking sea creatures, etc.

Extinction is nothing new, and it takes nothing away from the fact that God created the heavens and earth and all creatures big and small.
​
Hope to hear from you or see you at the services.

Bring These Things to Remembrance

12/6/2009

 
Pearl Harbor day comes every December 7th, and its observance reminds us of what happen on that fateful day in 1944. It is good for the country to remember those who lost their lives and how they fought for our freedoms. However, there are other things that we also need to remember.
The rainbow is not just a freak act of nature; it is a reminder of God’s pledge not to destroy the earth with a flood as He did during Noah’s day (Genesis 9:8-17). The next time that this earth will face destruction is on Judgment Day, when God shall destroy the earth and its works with fire (2 Peter 3:10-13).

In church on Sunday, the communion is the act created by Jesus so that we can remember His death on the cross for the sins of all mankind. By eating the bread and drinking the cup, in memory of His sacrifice, we honor Him (Luke 22:13-20; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 11:23-29).
And last but not least, all young people need to remember that while they are young, that it is the best time to serve their Creator (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Their minds and bodies are fresh, and that is when they can do the most for God. An older person can serve God, but God can get so much more out of a younger person who accepts Him.
​
So let us remember these things along with Pearl Harbor. Hope to hear from you or see you at the services.

Understanding the Message

11/29/2009

 
Did you hear about the fella who was discussing his recent visit to a church service? Someone asked him, ‘What did the preacher preach about?” To which he replied, “I don’t know. He didn’t say!” There could be at least a couple of reasons why a person could attend a religious meeting and come away without having received a meaningful message.

First, it might be that the listener didn’t do his job well. Perhaps he was distracted by other thoughts, and he daydreamed away the time while the preacher was trying to make his points. If this is the case, then more effort needs to be made to listen carefully, and to follow along with the sermon. It sometimes helps to take notes, and it certainly is helpful to look up Scripture references in your own Bible. Concentration is the key—and this is up to each individual hearer. Try to emulate the noble Bereans who “received the word with all readiness of mind” (Acts 17:11).

More often than not, the problem of a person not understanding the message lies with the speaker. It is the task of every preacher to work hard, prepare, plan, practice, and perform his duty in such a way to make his lesson plain and understandable. Paul, though discussing the miraculous manifestation of tongue speaking, made a point that is applicable here. He asked: “If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” (1 Cor. 14:8). If the preacher doesn’t make his points clearly, and if people leave the assembly with doubts as to what was said or meant, then he has failed in his work.

The Jews who were returning from the captivity provide a great example for all of us (Neh. 8:1-8). “Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding . . . and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law . . . (Ezra) read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”
​
We all must do our part in the important process of teaching and learning the Word of God.

Look on the Things of Others

11/22/2009

 
“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:4). Responsibility means that the buck stops here or the cause lies with me. Every man must accept accountability for his own actions, and men must make sure that their actions don’t cause trouble for others. Last week a woman sleeping in her bed, was shot by a bullet coming in from the street, and several days later that woman died. Someone fired the fatal shot, and the action of this person brought grief to the family of the deceased. The shooter got up that morning the same as we all do. The shooter went though his day performing actions the same as we all do. But the firing of guns in the streets was an action which was not done in the best interest of fellow human beings. The shooter was not looking on the things of others, but was looking after his personal interest.

We must be careful with our actions, we need to ask ourselves, will my actions harm or help? Let us resolve to be the kind of person who does nothing to destroy another, and let us use our actions to help make other people better.
​
Hope to hear from you or see you at the services.

Put Bible First, Not Political Correctness

11/15/2009

 
Being politically correct is something that people who stand for truth do not need. Standing for the truth will be hard at times because man has the tendency to lean toward things that are contrary to truth. Now all of us should want to be loved by our fellow citizens, but none of us should sacrifice truth to appease wrong-doing. And just in case we may have forgotten, our nation has Bibles and it claims to be the word of God. If a person believes that the Bible is the word of God, he must stand for what it teaches and not be swayed by the campaigns of men.

Political correctness is telling us to accept the doctrine of Islam, gay marriage, abortion rights, Hollywood influences, etc. And with the recent shooting at Fort Hood, we see an example of how political correctness can blind men’s eyes because this guy was raising all kinds of red flags and the military never caught on to him. Political correctness belongs in the trash can, and those following the Bible cannot accept it. As for the supporters of political correctness, they need to understand that some of us have reasons for rejecting what they are promoting (Numbers 22:18, 38).
​
Hope to hear from you or see you at the services.

Love Others More

11/8/2009

 
The late Michael Jackson had a statement that he would say when fans spoke of their love toward him. Jackson would reply, “I love you more.” And if we think seriously about the power of that statement, we can see just how awesome it is. For men to return more love than they experience is what the writer in 1 John 4:7-12 had in mind.

For the scripture said, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.”

Jesus also said, “this is my commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you, no greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”John 15:12-13.

So let us “love others more” (Matthew 5:46-48; John 3:16).

Hope to hear from you or see you at the services.

Follow God's Directions, Not Modern Culture

10/18/2009

 
A decade ago, a famous NBA player, frustrated by the news media, blurted out “I'm a 90's N**!!#*!!.” (racial epithet) This NBA player should have handled that situation better, but he was saying that he lives life according to the times. When one is hipped to the times, he is probably doing wrong because the ways of men aren’t the ways of God (Isaiah 55:8-9).

In the 90's there was ignorance and apathy toward God. Schools accepted evolution over creationism and encouraged sex by providing condoms to students (Genesis 1:1). Homosexuality rose to a higher level and 20-year-old virgins were considered weird (1 Corinthians 6:18). Parents were told not to discipline their children (Proverbs 29:15). Making money and material things were top priority (Mark 9:36-37). Women laughed at and spoke out against the Bible command to submit to their husbands’ loving-wise rule (Ephesians 5:23). Profane movie stars, athletes, musicians, etc, were considered role models, and some said a good economy was more important than Presidential character (Proverbs 14:34; Psalm 33:12; Prov. 4:10-27).

So to be a 90’s person was to be a follower of these things. However, the word of God will last longer than the Earth (Matthew 24:35). That being true, it is good enough to govern men in any century. So let us be God-fearing people and not people of the times (Acts 10:34-35).
​
Hope to hear from you are see you at the services.

The Bible Defines Divorce

10/11/2009

 
The word of God teaches something about divorce that a huge segment of the population does not know. The reason people don’t know this is, they lack the knowledge of the Bible, and the reason why they lack Bible knowledge is, they have no interest in the Bible. There lies the problem, and that is why people are destroyed because of the lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6).

Divorce as permitted by God, is an innocent spouse deciding to put away a cheating spouse for adultery (Matthew 5:32, 19:9; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18).

That’s it, and no other reason is permitted and all other problems are to be solved by the spouses because marriage is a lock for life (Romans 7:1-3). But what do we see today? We see people getting divorced for any reason. Yes, you name it, they divorce for it. And this places people into sinful marriages in which they must get out of (Matt. 14:4).

Hope to hear from you or see you at the services.

Church's Work Is to Save the Lost

10/4/2009

 
The church of Jesus Christ exists on earth for one purpose, and that is to save men from their sins (Romans 1:16). With that being the case, it is easy to see that the church has no earthly mission (John 18:36, 17:16; 1 Timothy 3:15). Many people believe that the church is supposed to be involved in everything, and when I say everything, I mean just that. For example, some put the church into politics, some put the church into recreation, some put the church into supporting human institutions. Just look at some of the church buildings out there, they have gyms, kitchens, youth centers, ball fields, college fund raisers, spa’s, etc. etc. Are people going to church or a vacation club?

The only thing a church needs to provide are rooms in which to teach the gospel and buy equipment that helps the church perform that work (Ephesians 3:10; Acts 20:28; Hebrews 10:25).

Man needs to let the church be the church, and if he wants recreation, meals, politics, etc; let him do that on his time and leave the Lord’s house out of it (Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 11:34).

Hope to hear from you or see you at the services.

Do Things in Bible Ways

9/27/2009

 
I want you to read this phrase and consider it with the religious people that you meet.

“Let us speak where the Bible speaks, let us remain silent where the Bible is silent. Let us call things by Bible names and to do things in Bible ways.”

This is the way every God-fearing person is supposed to be. So the next time you attend a church service, tell your host what you have learn here and ask them for Bible authority for they what do (Matthew 21:23; Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1; Revelation 2:2).

Hope to hear from you or see you at the services.
<<Previous

    Archives

    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009

    RSS Feed

Mt. Airy church of Christ
7222 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19119
Phone 215.248.2026

James Baker, Preacher
Website by Darin Kennedy
©2018 Mt. Airy church of Christ
Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • About Us
    • What to Expect
    • Web Links
    • Local Preacher
    • Privacy Policy
  • Directions
  • Words of the Week
    • Words of the Week 2023
    • Words of the Week 2022
    • Words of the Week 2021
    • Words of the Week 2020
    • Words of the Week 2018
    • Words of the Week 2017
    • Words of the Week 2016
    • Words of the Week 2015
    • Words of the Week 2014
    • Words of the Week 2013
    • Words of the Week 2012
    • Words of the Week 2011
    • Words of the Week 2010
    • Words of the Week 2009
    • Words of the Week 2019
    • Words of the Week 2007
    • Words of the Week 2008
    • Words of the Week 2006
    • Words of the Week 2005
    • Words of the Week 2004
    • Words of the Week 2003
    • Words of the Week 2002
    • Words of the Week 2001
  • Monthly Musings
    • Monthly Musings 2023
    • Monthly Musings 2022
    • Monthly Musings 2020-2021
    • Monthly Musings 2013-2019
    • Monthly Musings 2007-2012
  • Five Minutes
    • Five Minutes 2023
    • Five Minutes 2022
    • Five Minutes 2021
    • Five Minutes 2020
    • Five Minutes 2019
    • Five Minutes-2018
  • From a Woman to Women
    • From a Woman to Women 2023
    • From a Woman to Women 2020-2022
  • Sermons