1) Something Greater (David Gibson) 12\/8\/24
2) Philippians 2:9-11 (Bible) 12\/8\/24
3) The Passion of Christ (Mike Willis) 12\/8\/24
4) A Changed Man: The Story of King Manasseh (Bryan Gibson) 12\/8\/24
5) Come Hungry (Boyd King) 12\/8\/24
6) Sword Tips #26 (Joe R. Price) 12\/8\/24
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n-1-<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Something Greater<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
David Gibson<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Jesus claimed for Himself<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One of the challenges Jesus faced during His ministry on earth was helping people understand who He really was and what He had come to accomplish for their eternal welfare. He was so much greater than they could imagine. John the Baptist testified, \u201c. . . he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry . . .\u201d \u201cAnd I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 3:11; John 1:34). “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (NASB). -2-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mike Willis -3-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bryan Gibson -4-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Boyd King -5- Joe R. Price 1) Hear <\/strong>the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31). Tebeau Street “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).——————– Contents: 1) Something Greater (David Gibson) 12\/8\/242) Philippians 2:9-11 (Bible) 12\/8\/243) The Passion of Christ (Mike Willis) 12\/8\/244) A Changed Man: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2898","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2898","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2898"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2898\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2935,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2898\/revisions\/2935"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2898"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2898"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2898"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Referring to Himself, He said, \u201c. . . something greater than the temple is here. . .something greater than Jonah is here . . . something greater than Solomon is here\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 12:6, 41, 42). His purpose in saying this was not to exalt Himself but to emphasize what wonderful things God was accomplishing through Him for our benefit.
Jesus repeatedly showed Himself to be the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (Luke 24:44-46). He claimed to be the light of the world, the only way to the Father, the truth, and the source of life (John 8:12; 14:6).<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Others Said of Him<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Peter, who still had much to learn about Jesus, was right in saying, \u201cLord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God\u201d <\/em>(John 6:68-69). On two other occasions, he acknowledged Him as the Son of God (Matthew 14:33; 16:16). In time, Peter would be given evidence heaped upon evidence that Jesus is indeed everything He claims to be. Later, Peter would be willing to forfeit his life to maintain his testimony to the truth of Jesus\u2019 claims.
As the author of Hebrews says, Jesus is greater than the angels, greater than Moses, greater than the Levitical priesthood. As our eternal High Priest, \u201c. . . he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them\u201d <\/em>(Hebrews 7:25).
Peter\u2019s question still stands, \u201cLord, to whom shall we go?\u201d<\/em>
\u2014 Via Articles<\/em> from the La Vista church of Christ, November 4, 2024
——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\nPhilippians 2:9-11<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Passion of Christ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The word \u201cpassion\u201d when used with reference to the \u201cpassion of Christ\u201d means \u201cthe agony and sufferings of Jesus during the Crucifixion.\u201d This issue of Truth Magazine is a study of the passion of Jesus Christ.
The passion narrative for this issue begins with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Following the generally accepted chronology, this must have occurred late Thursday night (10 p.m. or after). There Jesus agonized in his spirit as he submitted his will to the will of the Father. The intensity of his agony is manifest from his strong crying and tears (Heb. 5:7) and the sweat dropping like blood (Luke 22:44). Having finished his prayers, Jesus returned to the waiting disciples where he was arrested (probably near midnight).
Crossing the Kidron Valley, the mob led Jesus to the house of Annas and then Caiaphas where Jesus was tried before the Jewish authorities. The Sanhedrin assembled late that Thursday night to try Jesus, concluding that he was guilty of blasphemy and should be executed. The verdict probably was reaching the verdict about 3 a.m. Shortly afterward, Peter denied the Lord and the cock crowed (which gives some indication of the time).
Early in the morning at daybreak (Luke 22:66; John 18:28), the Jewish authorities led Jesus to Pilate for trial. In the hours that intervened, Jesus was tried by Pilate, Herod Antipas, and a second time by Pilate. He was on the cross by the \u201cthird hour of the day\u201d (Mark 15:25) on that Friday morning. Jesus\u2019 trials in each incidence must have been short and the action moved quickly. His scourging, which in itself nearly killed a person, left him so weak that he stumbled beneath the weight of the cross.
The ritual of crucifixion, so familiar to first century men, to us is a strange manner of administering the death penalty. We have taken the time to relate what usually happened in crucifixion in its gory details so that one can appreciate the sacrifice that Jesus made for our sins.
After Jesus died at 3 p.m., he was buried in Joseph\u2019s tomb. There he lay through the Sabbath rest until he was raised on Sunday morning.
These hours in Jesus\u2019 life are so significant a portion of the gospel narrative that all of the evangelists give considerable emphasis to them (Matthew gives chapters 26-28; Mark gives chapters 14-16; Luke gives chapters 22-24; John gives chapters 18-20). The fact that they give such a large percentage of their narrative to his crucifixion gives us some idea of how much we should emphasize it. Such a study will certainly point us to the conclusion that we are saved by grace! Paul said, \u201cFor when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us\u201d (Rom. 5:6-8). Jesus suffered death, even the death of crucifixion, to make atonement for our sins.
Let us join that majestic chorus who sing, \u201cWorthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing\u201d (Rev. 5:12). May this special issue evoke such praise of our Savior in each of us.
\u2014 Via Truth Magazine,<\/em> Vol. XLIV: 1 p. 1, January 2000
https:\/\/www.truthmagazine.com\/archives\/volume44\/v440106005.htm
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA Changed Man: The Story of King Manasseh<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
And a drastic or dramatic change it was, because at one point King Manasseh of Judah was about as evil as a man could be. He built altars and images for all kinds of false gods, and even placed some of them in the temple (2 Kings 21:3-7). He \u201cmade his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums\u201d (2 Kings 21:6). He \u201cshed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to the other\u201d (2 Kings 21:16). His evil was even greater because of the influence he had on his people\u2014\u201cManasseh seduced them to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel\u201d (2 Kings 21:9). King Manasseh made a mess of his life, and he dragged a lot of people down with him. In fact, Manasseh was largely responsible for the Babylonian captivity His people suffered (Jeremiah 15:4).
Thankfully, the story doesn\u2019t end there. To punish Manasseh, God sent \u201cthe captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him off to Babylon\u201d (2 Chronicles 33:11). Talk about a wake-up call! \u201cNow when he was in affliction, he implored the LORD His God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God\u201d (2 Chronicles 33:12-13). Despite all the evil Manasseh had done, when he repented, God forgave him and restored him to his kingdom. Manasseh then spent the rest of his life serving the Lord (2 Chronicles 33:14-17).
It\u2019s a sad story, but it does have a happy ending. Here are a few things Manasseh might like to say to us\u2014if he were here today. And yes, there is a way in which the dead still speak (Hebrews 11:4).
Don\u2019t live like I did\u2014before I came to my senses. I hurt myself, as well as a lot of other people. Yes, I was forgiven, and yes, I was restored to my kingdom, but I (and MANY others) still had to live with the consequences of my actions. I served the Lord faithfully in my later years, but think about how much good I could have done if I had started much earlier (and I did know better then).
If you have given yourself over to sin like I did, quit! You don\u2019t have to stay in that same rut. Even if you\u2019re just dabbling in it, stop. You may not get the same kind of wake-up call I got (dragged off with nose hooks), so consider this your wake-up call\u2014this very article. With God\u2019s help, I made a drastic change in my life, and so can you.
God\u2019s grace is a marvelous thing indeed. No matter what you\u2019ve done, no matter how many people you\u2019ve hurt, no matter how many times you\u2019ve provoked Him to anger, He is willing to forgive. Yes, I humbled myself before Him, and yes, I repented, but I still didn\u2019t deserve what He gave me. You don\u2019t deserve it neither, but you would be foolish not to take it. Repent of your sins, and seek His forgiveness\u2014and don\u2019t wait; please do it today!
\u2014 Via Plain Words from God\u2019s Word,<\/em> November 29, 2024
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCome Hungry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBlessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied\u201d (Matthew 5:6).
Righteousness is a verdict of approval or an acceptable condition. All reasonable people desire righteousness; but it is the one who hungers and thirsts for righteousness who will be blessed with satisfaction.
We would like to live in a righteous environment,<\/em> yet we live in a fallen world.\u00a0 We would like to have righteous leadership, <\/em>yet frailties invade even the best of human administrations.\u00a0 We would like to be righteous souls,<\/em> yet our fleshly lusts and pride betray us. It should not come as a surprise that man hungers for a good society, good leaders, and a good self.\u00a0 After all, we were created to be inhabitants of Eden, companions of our Creator, upright souls formed in His image. Now look at us \u2013 it is no wonder both our Maker and we find our current condition unacceptable, unsatisfactory, unrighteous.\u00a0 Still, Jesus promises blessedness in the eager pursuit of righteousness and a satisfying conclusion to our search.
Do you hunger for a righteous world? God promises \u201ca new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells\u201d (2Peter 3:13). In this new, righteous world, \u201cthey shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, for the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water\u201d (Revelation 7:16-17).
Do you hunger for righteous leaders? God has enthroned a righteous King, one both wise and powerful, who is called \u201cWonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness\u201d (Isaiah 55:6-7).
Do you hunger to be righteous? God has established a way for us to be counted by God as righteous, despite the guilt of our sin. This righteousness is not \u201ca righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith\u201d (Philippians 3:9). It was bought and paid for by God (2Cor 5:21), revealed to man by God (Romans 1:16-17), and is sustained by God\u2019s faithful justice and merciful forgiveness (1John 1:9).
A feast of righteousness which will satisfy our hunger is set. A hungry person comes to the table; he eats what is set before him; he delights in the meal.\u00a0 God cries out, \u201cCome, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David\u201d (Isaiah 55:1-3).
Come and hear; come hungry! I will never forget the May 28, 2017 assembly. It was a very special occasion for me.\u00a0 That Sunday morning, as I sat beside my brother, Aaron, his kind, smiling \u201cGood morning\u201d somehow seemed more pleasant and welcoming than ever.\u00a0 As Jason led us in prayer, I listened carefully; when he interceded on behalf of those suffering, tears welled in my eyes.\u00a0 I had just spoken to two sisters whose physical infirmities were weighing more heavily on my heart than before.\u00a0 Ryan led us in a medley of songs which ended with How Deep The Father\u2019s Love. <\/em>For some reason, the songs were somehow more encouraging, sweeter than the other times I had sung them.\u00a0 Conrad had me spellbound as he read about and commented on the centurion at Calvary.\u00a0 The Supper seemed more poignant and personal. Rickie spoke to us about excelling in our knowledge of God\u2019s Word.\u00a0\u00a0 His exhortations seemed more applicable to my needs than ever.\u00a0 What was happening here?\u00a0 Were the prayers and songs and communion and sermon somehow different on this day?
I had entered this assembly under a personal cloud. I had been told by my employer that I would have to work seven days a week for at least the next two months.\u00a0 I was stressed about the challenges of the job, but much more distressing was the prospect of not being able to assemble with my brethren for many Sundays and Wednesdays to come. Why hadn\u2019t I listened as intently prior to this Sunday?\u00a0 Why hadn\u2019t I sung with more joy and passion before?\u00a0 Why hadn\u2019t I wept about my Lord\u2019s suffering or my brethren’s struggles the previous Sundays?
Before that Sunday, my attitude about the assembly had been that there would be another assembly next Sunday, and each Sunday after that.\u00a0 I knew where and when my next meal would be. Sundays were pleasant, but I just wasn\u2019t all that\u2026hungry.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t until I faced the likelihood that assemblies would be few and far between for a while that every aspect and activity in the assembly became delicious to me.
Had I become complacent, jaded, self-assured, and neglectful to the point of just going through the motions?\u00a0 I suppose I thought I had mastered worship.\u00a0 What a fool I was.\u00a0 I had forgotten that what I needed was for worship to master me.
Joni Mitchell sang, \u201cDon\u2019t it always seem to go, that you don\u2019t know what you\u2019ve got \u2018til it\u2019s gone.\u201d\u00a0 I had paved paradise, made it all level and comfortable and easily navigated.\u00a0 But on May 28, 2017, I came to the Throne with a hunger for His righteousness. That Sunday, I brought only my brokenness for my Lord to heal.\u00a0 I came empty, needy, hungry and thirsty. And I remember that Sunday, because I left filled.
What if every Sunday was like that for you and me?\u00a0 It would change us individually. It would change us as a congregation. We know about other times and other places where assemblies have been restricted or forbidden. We have now experienced that even in America, assembling on Sunday is not to be taken for granted.\u00a0 The lesson from 2020:\u00a0 Come hungry to be filled!
—\u00a0 Via Focus Online, <\/em>December 9, 2020
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\u201cAnd take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God\u201d<\/em> (Eph. 6:17).<\/p>\n\n\n\nSword Tips #26<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right?\u201d<\/em> (Luke 12:57)
Ironically, many people judge all forms of judgment to be wrong. Yet, Jesus expects us to judge what is right!
He demands that our judgment be righteous and not hypocritical (see Jno. 7:24; Matt. 7:1-5).
To do that, our judgments must conform to the word of God.
By using Christ\u2019s word to judge what is right, you can know what pleases God.
Use the Bible to judge what is right, and then do what pleases God.
——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2) Believe <\/strong>in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent <\/strong>of sins. For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30). For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).
4) Confess faith <\/strong>in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized <\/strong>in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27). For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so \u201cthrough faith in the working of God\u201d (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to\u2026
6) Continue in the faith <\/strong>by <\/strong>living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday:<\/strong> 9 a.m<\/strong>. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. <\/strong>Worship Service
Wednesday (all but the first):<\/strong> 7 p.m.<\/strong> Bible Classes
First Wednesday of the month: 7 p.m. <\/strong>Congregational Song Service (about 45 minutes of singing, followed by a short talk)
evangelist\/editor: <\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/go\/all.htm<\/a> (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"