Author: gcoc

Welcome to the Groveland Church of Christ.

In this section, you will find announcements of upcoming congregation events and fellowship activities as well as articles of spiritual interest and encouragement.

SUNDAY SCHOOL           LEAD SINGING        OPENING PRAYER      LORD’S SUPPER

1        Paul Pickren             Jean Celestin             Tim Smith                         Sam, Aaron, Paul G.

8       Jean Celestin           Aaron Pickren            Zak Williams                   Kenny, Calvin, Anthony

15      Aaron Pickren        Glenn Perry                 Keith Connell                 Keith K., Jean, Don

22      Paul Pickren           Don Gray                      Sam Boykin                      Zak, Glenn, Kenny

29     Jean Celestin          Jean Celestin               Keith Klinger                   Keith C., Tim, Anthony

Rob Redden via Bulletin Gold

For you once were not a people, but now you are the people
of God: you had net received mercy, but now you have
received mercy”. (1 Peter 2:10 NAS)

The Jews looked down on the Gentiles, the Gentiles loathed
the Jews and the Pharisees despised the Jewish common folk.
There was plenty of loathing back then as there is today. But the
Lord makes a difference, changing self-loathing people into
valued souls. Jesus died for sinners.

The Broadway musical Man of LaMancha, with its theme
song. To Dream the Impossible Dream,” featured a ridiculous
knight named Don Quixote. He rides through the Spanish
countryside mistaking windmills for giants During his
adventures he meets a cheap woman in a tavern. Any man can
have this woman for one night, but no man wants her for life.
Then Don Quixote rides into town. The people treat her like dirt.
But Don Quixote bows before her as though she were a queen.
She puts herself down, but he lifts her up. When she finally is
convinced that he really believes in her, she begins to believe in
herself. She found a friend who says she is priceless even when
she feels worthless.

This story was told several times at a Marriage Encounter
seminar Linda and I attended many years ago; it has left an
indelible impression on us. We are here to help others to see themselves
as lovable souls and give them hope. We may make a difference in the
lives of those who sadly see themselves as losers.

Christian, let’s look past the veneer and see how damaged a
precious soul is because of his or her past, and see that just a
caring, loving helping hand may change a soul’s life for the Lord.

All Posted

By Dan C. Bailey Via Bulletin Gold

When Jesus was upon the rugged cross of Calvary, He
prayed for those who were responsible for His
crucifixion saying, “Father, forgive them; for they know
not what they do..” (Luke 23:34). The prayer came
forth from the only sinlessly perfect man to ever live. It
was prayed from a heart of love and spoken without
malice. Yes, my friend, Jesus loved their souls and was
concerned about their forgiveness.

On the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ,
Peter told many of the same crowd to “Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). “Then they that gladly
received his word were baptized: and the same day there
were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts
2:41).

Yes, Jesus prayed for their forgiveness and His
prayer was answered when the people repented of their
sins and were baptized into Jesus Christ. Let us never
forget that forgiveness involves not only our Lord, but
also ourselves. Jesus wants us to be forgiven just as
much as ever. The only question is, are we willing to
obey Him in all things? “He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall
be damned” (Mark 16:16). “If ye love me, keep my
commandments” (John 14:15).

By Joe Slater Via Bulletin Gold

Does God give you chances, or does He provide
opportunities? We sometimes treat those words as
synonyms, but their meanings are quite different! Chance
indicates something random, uncertain, even accidental -a
roll of the dice, as it were. You have no way to influence the
outcome. Opportunity, by contrast, implies that you play
a role in choosing a course of action. You may choose
wisely or foolishly, but it remains your choice. It is neither
random nor accidental.

Some things do, indeed, happen by chance. Solomon
wrote by inspiration, “Time and chance happen to them all”
(Ecclesiastes 9:11). Sometimes our plans don’t work out no
matter what we do. We didn’t plan to become ill or be laid
off from work, but it happened. Such is life.

But not everything is subject to chance. God can and does
provide opportunities. Paul urged the Galatians to do good
to all” as they had opportunity (Galatians 6:10). He
understood when material support from the church at
Philippi was delayed: “You surely did care, but you lacked
opportunity” (Philippians 4:10).

Our salvation depends not on chance, but on how we use
the opportunity God has provided in Christ. Acts 14:27
refers to it as God opening “the door of faith.” As one
chooses whether to walk through an open door, so we
choose whether to trust Jesus and obey His gospel. This is
neither random nor accidental.

Your eternal destiny depends not on chance, but on what
you choose to do with the opportunities God has given to
you.

By Jeff Arnette Via Bulletin Gold

Can you believe we’re already halfway through the year? It seems
like just yesterday we were celebrating New Years Eve and now, here
we are, six months later. As we move into the second half of our year,
I want to take a moment to reflect on where we’ve been and look
ahead to where we’re going.

The first half of the year has been a journey for all of us. We’ve had
our ups and downs, faced huge challenges, and celebrated victories.
Through it all, we’ve grown together as a church family. Each Sunday,
we gather to worship, learn, and support one another. It’s a beautiful
thing to see how our faith community has strengthened and
deepened.

But as we move forward, I want to challenge each of us to think
about how we can share this journey with others. There are so many
people in our lives-friends, family, coworkers-who might be looking
for the very thing we’ve found here: a place to belong, a place to grow,
and a place to find hope.

Inviting someone to church can feel daunting. We worry about
being rejected or making things awkward. ButI want to encourage
you to see it as an act of love. When we invite someone to church,
we’re not just inviting them to a building or a service; we’re inviting
them to experience the love of God and the support of a community
that cares.

Here are a few simple ways to extend that invitation:

1. Be Genuine: Share why church is important to you. Your personal
story can be powerful and relatable.

2. Be Casual: Sometimes a simple, “Hey, want to join me for church
this Sunday?” is all it takes. No need to overthink it.

3. Be Persistent: If they say no the first time, don’t be discouraged.
Keep the invitation open and let them know they’re always welcome.

4. Be Supportive: Offer to go with them, sit with them, and introduce
them to others, Sometimes, the fear of the unknown can be the biggest barrier.

As we journey through the rest of this year, let’s make it a priority
to reach out and invite others to join us. There’s no better time than
now to extend the love and grace we’ve found to those around us.

Let’s fill the second half of 2024 with new faces and new friends, all
growing together in faith. Remember, it’s not about growing the
numbers-it’s about growing the Kingdom and sharing the incredible
gift of God’s love.

By Clifton Angel Via Bulletin Gold

From 1980 to 2001 (and now brought back in 2023), the popular
recruiting slogan has been used to positively encourage that it is only
in the United States Army that you can “Be All You Can Be.” While
the U.S. Army is pertinent to our nation, it is not the army where one
truly can reach his fullest capacity. Rather, the Lord’s Army is the only
place where you truly can “Be All You Can Be.”

First, it is only in the Lord’s Army that the Captain of the Host is
perfect (cf. Josh 5:14; Heb 2:10). He’s been through the drills; He’s
passed every test. He has experienced every temptation that His
soldiers can experience, and yet remained without error through it all.
He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15).

Furthermore, it is only in the Lord’s Amy that the Captain of the
Host has all power. No doubt, captains in the U.S. Army have great
authority and ability, but they do not have complete authority and
ability. In the Lord’s Army, the Captain has ALLL power. He is on
record as saying to some of his soldiers, “All power is given unto me
in heaven and in earth” (Matt 28:18). For this reason, Paul wrote,
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his
might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil” (Eph 6:10-11).

Finally, it is pertinent that we understand that it is only in the Lord’s
Army that the Captain of the Host offers ultimate protection. The U.S.
Army is strong, but protection lacks in comparison to the Lord’s Army.
Even with the great strength of the U.S. Army, the faithful soldier can
lose and the entire nation can lose. Such is not so in the Lord’s Army.
For, He is the Captain of our eternal salvation from sin (Heb 2:10), and
He has guaranteed victory for the faithful soldier: To him that
Overcometh will I grant to sit with me in mny throne, even as I also
Overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Rev 3:21).

Faith, repentance, confession, and baptism for remission of sins grants
you an entrance into the Lord’s Army. Are you in His Army? If yes, are you
endeavoring to “Be All You Can Be”? “Whatsoever ye do in word
or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
and the Father by him” (Col 3:17). As we sing, “I may never march
in the infantry, ride in the cavalry, shoot the artillery; I may never fly
over the enemy, but I’m in the Lord’s Army.”

By Andrew Beaseley Via Bulletin Gold

On a number of occasions, the Bible depicts storms as
being a terrifying ordeal that can cause havoc in ones
life. One might think of Jonah’s ordeal before being
swallowed by the great fish, or the disciples as they
were tossed about while Jesus slept as a reference point.
While there are some in the world who teach that if you
are a Christian, then you will be blessed with an
abundance of wealth and good health. This teaching is
patently untrue. That is not to say that Christians will
not be blessed with health and wealth, but it is not a
guarantee. What seemingly is guaranteed is that every
individual, regardless of the safety of their soul, will
face storms in their life.

How will we respond? During those storms will we
become bitter like Jonah? Will our faith falter in the
way that the disciples did? Or will we reflect on the fact
that we have a Savior who can calm the storm (Lk. 8:22-25)?
Will we remember that we have a Father who
created all things and set them in their place (Psa. 19)?
Whether our lives follow in the footsteps of Jonah, the
disciples, or some other path one fact remains
unchanged. In the midst of storms, we have hope in Him.

By Al Behel Via Bulletin Gold

We must obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29)
When the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 its
founders were declaring independence from an earthly power
while making a clear declaration of dependence upon Almighty
God. The closing words of this historic document declares
solemnly:

With a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we
mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our
sacred honor.”

The founding fathers of this nation recognized the need for
divine guidance. Relying on the providence of God they pledged
their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to the mutual
good of the citizens of this new nation. Their declaration was one
of dependence on God while exercising freedom from foreign
domination.

Pledging allegiance to our national flag represents our mutual
commitment to preserve our sacred honor under divine
leadership and guidance. We recognize the position God holds
far above governmental leaders and that all nations stand or fall
as He wills.

As Christians our allegiance extends beyond flags and
declarations of independence. Our God is supreme over all
nations, all peoples, and all cultures. He stands untouched by the
corruption and greed of rulers gone bad, or governments whose
leaders refuse to bow before Him. Arsenals of mass destruction
pale under His power. Our allegiance is to the King of Kings and

the Lord of Lords.

By Mac Deaver Via Bulletin Gold

In Phil. 4:4 Paul wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always: again
I will say, Rejoice.” –But what are some circumstances that
call forth the joy of which Paul speaks?

We ought to rejoice in our salvation. After the Ethiopian
officer’s conversion, he went on his way rejoicing (Acts
8:39). After the seventy returned from their mission, Jesus
told them to rejoice that their names were written in heaven
(Lk. 10:20). If one’s sins are forgiven and his name is
written in the Lamb’s book of life, he certainly ought to
rejoice.

We ought to rejoice as we realize that God is in control of
Sometimes the catastrophic events
throughout the world cause us all great concern. But we
must not despair, realizing that God is aware of all, and is in
control of all. (Rom. 13:1-4; Isaiah 6:1l). And even if we
must suffer for right-doing, there is occasion for rejoicing
world affairs. (Acts 5:41; 1 Peter 2:20).

We ought to rejoice in the knowledge that all will work
out to the ultimate good of the faithful. “And we know that
to them that love God all things work together for good,
even to them that are called according to his purpose” (Rom.
8:28). All things revolve around the good of the church.
Paul also said, “The Lord will deliver me from every evil
work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom….” (2Tim. 4:18).

Indeed, the Christian has every reason to rejoice in the Lord.