Category: Bulletin Articles

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.

Andrew Beaseley Via Bulletin Gold

Being a know-it-all is not something we usually
consider a good thing. In school if someone calls you a
know-it-all there is implication of smug assurance.
Sometimes, it is said that individuals are just too smart
for their own good. Yet we value knowledge. You
would not want to go to a doctor who was not well
versed in biology. You would not want to get on an
airplane with a pilot who was not knowledgeable of the
controls. Most people spend their lives gaining
knowledge in one field or another, and the more
knowledge that is gained the more we hope (and
sometimes expect) to be trusted in the field with which
we have expertise.

Yet, possessing knowledge of all things is something
beyond human ability. I might know myself very well,
and yet I can never know the number of hairs that are
on my head. I might gaze up into the night sky and count
the stars for hours, but I will never be able to count them
all. I may spend a lifetime getting to know you on a
close, personal level but I can never truly know your
heart.

All these pieces of knowledge are at our God’s
fingertips. We get a glimpse at the breadth of God’s
knowledge in his confrontation with Job, at the end of
his book, where God tells him to prepare to answer the
questions that were coming (Job 38:3-7).

Take a few moments each day to consider the all-
encompassing nature of God’s omniscience and behold
Him. Appreciate Him. Adore Him

Andrew Beaseley Via Bulletin Gold
 
There have been times in my life where I have felt
hopeless. When one thinks of biblical hope one may
think of confident expectation. That helps to illustrate
what hopelessness truly is. An absence of confident
expectation of good things to come. In the long term one
might think of salvation, but in the short term it is
applicable to good things in life. For those who have not
experienced hopelessness to an extreme degree it is
hard to comprehend why someone might hurt
themselves or go to even greater, more devastating
lengths.
 
In moments of hopelessness the words of the 23 rd
psalm may come to mind. Tho I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are
with me. While we may not fear evil, and while the Lord
certainly is with us, there are times when evil still wins.
There are times when doubts creep in and cause our
confident expectation to falter. I hope that if you are
reading this, and the hope you have within you is
faltering, you know that you are not alone. I have been
there. Others have been there. And most importantly,
even though you have faltered, the Lord has not.
 
Even in the valley of the shadow of death, He is there.
Just as He remained steadfast when Peter started to sink
after walking on the water out to Him (Matt. 14:22-33),
He remains steadfast for you. And our hope is built on
nothing less than His blood and righteousness.

Alan Smith Via Bulletin Gold
 
The story is told of a man in a fancy restaurant who
started to choke on a bone. A doctor rushed over.
identified himself as a doctor, and reassured the man
that he was going to be all right. He performed the
Heimlich maneuver and the bone popped out.
 
As the man’s breath and voice returned he said, “I’m
ever so grateful, doctor, how can I ever repay you?”
 
The doctor smiled and said, “Ill settle for one-tenth
of what you were willing to pay while you were
choking.”
 
It’s true, isn’t it, that when you’re facing a crisis
(especially a life-threatening crisis), you would give
everything you have to get through it. Money is no
object!
 
We do the same thing on a spiritual level. How
many times have you faced hardship and prayed, “Lord,
if you’ll just see me through this, I’ll serve you faithfully
the rest of my life!” or something similar? But what
happens when the crisis passes? Those feelings of
urgency about serving God pass as well. If we could
commit ourselves to doing one-tenth of what we’re
willing to do in those moments, most of us would
ascend to a new level of commitment. 
 
Paul wrote, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is
gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
 
Father, there are moments in my life when I am reminded
of how much I need you and how urgent it is that I commit
my life to you. All too often, though, those feelings
disappear, and I quickly revert back to a less-than-
satisfactory level of commitment. Please forgive me and
strengthen me in my resolve to reach the point where I can
say with the apostle Paul,”To me, to live is Christ.” In
Jesus’ name, amen.
 
Have a great day!

Edd Sterchi Via Bulletin Gold

Nestled in the little New Testament book of Philemon
is a wonderful jewel of example and instruction.
First, let’s look at a little background. A Christian in
Colossae by the name of Philemon owned a slave that
had run away from him. Ending up in Rome, the slave,
Onesimus, had become converted to Christ by the great
apostle Paul (v.10). Paul wrote to his friend Philemon
encouraging him to now take Onesimus back.

And now the jewel. Paul writes to Philemon of
Onesimus that he was once was unprofitable to you,
but now is profitable to you and to me” (v.11). The
jewel is learned when we understand what the name
“Onesimus “means. In the Greek it literally means
“profitable” or “useful.” If I may paraphrase Paul, he
was saying, “Onesimus is now living up to his name.”
Onesimus had become a Christian and was now useful
to God and to the church.

Christian, are you living up to your name? The word
“Christian” literally means belongs to Christ.” In
everything that you do, every decision you make, every
word that you speak, and every place that you are seen,
are you living up to that holy name that bears the
identity of Christ? Do you show the dark world the light
of Christ in your conduct, character, and conversation?
The reputation we gain calls attention to the name we
profess.

Do all know that you belong to Jesus Christ?

.A good name is to be chosen rather than riches”
(Pro. 22:1)

• And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name
of the Lord Jesus..” (Col. 3:17)

. “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be
ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”
(1 Pet. 4:16)

•”Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you
are called?” (Jas.2:7)

Mark Adams Via Bulletin Gold
 
In 1877, James A. Harding (for whom Harding University
is named) went to Clark County, Kentucky, where he held a
gospel meeting. When asked how the meeting went, one of
the elders at the congregation responded, “It was not much
of a meeting.
 
Oh, brother Harding did his usual powerful preaching,
the attendance was fair, but the results were negligible. Only
little Jimmy Shepherd was baptized.”
God doesn’t always perceive things the way that we do.
When we work hard to serve people in the name of Christ
and few respond to our message, it is easy to think, “The
results of my work are negligible.”
 
But we must never underestimate the power of one seed
that really takes root. In the case of little Jimmy Shepherd,
the sole response to Harding’s preaching in that guospel
meeting, he stayed dedicated to the cause of Christ all of his
life. He is better known to some as James W. Shepherd.
While he was in college, he began preaching. In 1883, he
helped to establish the Berea Church of Christ in Madison
County. In 1888, he left with his family to do mission work
in New Zealand for several years, preaching all around the
country, as well as in Australia.
 
Upon returning to the states, he worked from 1905 to
1912 as the office editor of the Gospel Advocate, where he
both wrote and edited some works that have been treasured
for decades.
 
In Luke 8:8, Jesus is teaching a parable about a sower.
Though much seed might never take root or grow, the seed
which does take root can produce “one hundred times”
what has been sown. Every seed you plant matters, because
only God knows just how much good can be done when a
person plants a seed through a single act of Christian
conviction.

Bob Spurlin Via Bulletin Gold
 
Recently I enjoyed an interesting conversation with a
brother and former elder in the church. We mutually agreed
that our communities and society at large is becoming
morally bankrupt. Many factors have contributed to such a
coarsening of morals in our neighborhoods, not the least of
which is a failure of the church to reaffirm the basic
fundamentals of the Bible. As a child of the 50s and 60s the
basic fundamentals of right and wrong were articulated with
clarity. We see these basic truths slipping away when we
fail to keep these principles deeply rooted before the church,
family, and our communities. In far too many 
neighborhoods, and in the church we see have seen the
absolute standards of right and wrong lowered before our
eyes.
 
Observe the following basic principles that need serious
consideration for our time: (1) A belief in the existence in
God; (2) A belief in the inspiration of the Bible; (3) A belief
in the authority of the scriptures; (4) A revival of the home
as God mandates; (5) A clear understanding of sin and its
consequences; (6) A belief in the undenominational nature
of the church of Christ. These are elementary, simple, and
fundamental points that have been neglected far too long.
 
We would not want to omit the fundamentals of
mathematics, English, history, and science in the education
of our children. These subjects are basic and primary to the
instruction of all students. Likewise a return to the basic
fundamentals of the Bible will bring us to an understanding
of God’s will.

Edd Sterchi Via Bulletin Gold
 
Prayer amplifies our feelings,
certifies our relationship,
clarifies our desires,
dignifies our Christianity.
 
Prayer exemplifies our commitment,
fortifies our faith,
notifies our Father,
satisfies our longings.
 
Prayer signifies our thanksgiving,
solidifies our duty,
testifies our adoration,
verifies our security.
identifies our needs,
intensifies our emotions.
 
Prayer justifies our belief,
magnifies our hopes,
nullifies our fears.
 
Prayer pacifies our worries,
ratifies our conviction,
sanctifies our lives,
 

Dale J. Babinsky Via Bulletin Gold

In the Book of James, we are told that “Mercy triumphs
over judgment” (James 2:13). This is a profound
statement that contains the essence of Christian
teaching. This verse reminds believers of the
importance of showing mnercy to others, as it reflects
God’s own merciful nature, which is evident in Jesus’
Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:7). It is the merciful
who will receive God’s mercy. In the context of James
2, verse 13 emphasizes the dangers of favoritism and
the call to love one’s neighbor as oneself.

The verse also warns that judgment without mercy
will be shown to those who have not been merciful. It
serves as a call to action, urging us to have compassion
and a forgiving attitude in our interactions. Mercy, in
this sense, is not just an act of kindness but a reflection
of God’s divine grace that overcomes the harshness of
judgment.

In a world that is often quick to judge (especially
regarding politics), this verse challenges us to prioritize
understanding and empathy. It encourages a shift from
a mindset of condemnation to one of reconciliation and
peace. By practicing mercy, we align ourselves with
God’s will and make this world a little bit better.
We absolutely must teach people the truth of God’s
word but let us do so in a manner of love and mercy that
is becoming the child of God. After all, what will we
want on Judgment Day: justice or mercy?