Milan Church of Christ
Find us on Facebook or email us today!
  • Home
    • The Church of Christ
  • Bible Class
  • Preacher Corner
    • Dennis' Articles
    • Sermons
  • Missions/Works
  • Photo Gallery
  • Events Calendar
  • Useful Links

Old Paths

1/26/2024

Comments

 
THE OLD PATHS“Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the OLD PATHS, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls…’” (Jer. 6:16)
 
In the above scripture Jeremiah was distressed because Israel had gradually departed from God’s ways in favor of what was desirable, comfortable (and in keeping with the nations around them). His plea was essentially, “Let’s hurry back to God’s good ways.”
 
********************************************************************************************
 
With that in mind, a faithful, aging preacher wrote the following:
 
I like the old paths, when Dads went to work and mothers stayed at home.


Moms prepped the kids for school, then welcomed them when they returned home.
 
Moms could actually cook; Dads could actually fix; and children could actually behave.


Children said “Yes sir” or “Yes ma’am”, and respected the word “no”.


Families met around kitchen tables, not TV sets. The Bible was read, not stored.
 
Cursing was forbidden, drugs were for sickness, and divorce was unthinkable.


The flag was honored; America was beautiful; and the vast majority believed in God.


Schools promoted prayer, quoted from the Bible, and openly condemned sin.
 
On Sunday the stores, stations and markets all closed up tight.
 
But church doors were open and the buildings were frequently full.
 
Women wore dresses, hats and veils, and looked beautiful and reverent.
 
Men dressed in their best, and looked like respectful gentlemen.


The hymns were Godly, the sermons scriptural, and the prayers sincere.


Ministers preached from the Bible, singers sang from the heart, and everyone gave.


God was worshiped; Christ was exalted; and the Holy Spirit was respected.
 
Being an American was worth dying for, and being a Christian was worth living for.


It’s different now. Although our nation has never been perfect, I like the old paths better!
 
Live for the Lord in 2024!
 
Dennis
Comments

Can We Deserve Heaven?

1/20/2024

Comments

 
Earning a Place in Heaven?
 
Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City, once said, “I am telling you, if there is a God, when I get to heaven I’m not stopping to be [judged]. I am heading straight in…I have earned my place in heaven.” Such an assertion was possibly made in light of Bloomberg’s valiant efforts against obesity, smoking and gun control. (Odd that he apparently omitted Jesus Christ entirely from his remarks.)
 
Mr. Bloomberg's comments seem presumptuous and arrogant to Christians, as well they should. According to the Bible, "by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast"  (Eph. 2:8-9). Isaiah observed that our righteous works are as “filthy rags” in the God's sight – Isa. 64:6. Moreover, Jesus declared that we are “unprofitable servants” even if we do everything God asks of us - Luke 17:10.
 
But before jumping on Mr. Bloomberg, perhaps we should examine our own attitude about works and salvation. Do we ever assume that we will be admitted to Heaven because we:
·        Attend church 3 times weekly?
·        Give generously each Sunday?
·        Read our Bibles daily?
·        Pray several times daily?
·        Help the poor?
·        Volunteer to help those in need.
·        Are loyal and loving as husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, etc.?
 
Don't misunderstand – obeying Jesus demonstrates REAL faith - Jam. 2:14ff. But heaven isn’t a matter of attainment, it’s a matter of atonement - 1 John 2:2. Salvation does not result from the good we do, but from the good that Jesus did when He died on the cross - 1 Pet. 2:24.
 
None of us will be admitted to heaven because we “earned” or “deserved” it . We will enter because we GENUINELY believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He paid the debt for our sins - 1 Pet. 3:18.
 
Live for the Lord in 2024!


Dennis
Comments

Get Back IN There

1/9/2024

Comments

 
Get up and Get Back In!
 
“…one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:13-14).
 
During the 1929 Rose Bowl game, Georgia Tech played California. At a crucial point in the first half, a California player, Roy Riegels, recovered a fumble. While avoiding tacklers, he became confused and ran 69 yards the WRONG way. Not hearing the shouts of his coaches and teammates, he was finally stopped by a teammate before scoring a safety (two points) for the opposing team.
 
As his team shuffled into the dressing room at halftime, Roy found a dark spot in a corner and placed a towel over his head. When the team was ready to return to the field, the coach stunned everyone by announcing that Riegels would start the second half. As players began filing out of the  dressing room, Roy didn’t budge.
 
When his coach approached, he could see that young man’s face was soaked with tears. Without looking up, Riegels said, "Coach, I can't do it! I've disgraced the University of California. I can't face the crowd in the stadium." The wise and compassionate coach placed a hand on Roy’s shoulder and said, "Get up and go back in. The game is only half over."
 
The coach was right. Roy Riegels played a stellar second half, including blocking a punt. He was named team captain and earned first team All-America honors.
 
**********************************************************************************
Mistakes - we all make them, plenty of them. Some of our miscues may even hurt or offend fellow Christians. If that occurs, we may be tempted to “leave the field” or “quit the team”.
 
God, however, is well-aware of our flaws and sins. He knows that we have failed Him in the past and will likely do so in the future. But His love for us never changes. As long as we acknowledge our sins and refuse to give up, God is always ready to put us right back into the "game".
 
As long as we have breath in our lungs, the “game” is not over. God is behind us and is cheering us on. With His help, the best is yet to come.
 
Live for the Lord in 2024!
 
Dennis
Comments

Live For The Lord

1/9/2024

Comments

 
HOW TO LIVE FOR THE LORD 
Our theme for the New Year is, Live for the Lord in 2024 (based on Rom. 14:8 “For if we live, we live to the Lord”).
 
Living for the Lord should be our daily objective throughout the new year. A crucial aspect of doing so is spiritual growth. The apostle Peter declared, “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18) . Even the great apostle Paul sought to grow spiritually. “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on…” (Phil 3:12). The following four questions will help us determine our prospects for growing spiritually (and living for the Lord) in 2024.
 
1. AM I READING MY BIBLE DAILY? Although Bible classes and sermons are beneficial, nothing can substitute for daily Bible reading. Jesus declared that His followers live by every word that proceeds from the word of God – Matt. 4:4. Our spiritual growth depends on reading the Bible every day.
 
2. AM I PRESENT AT EVERY WORSHIP ASSEMBLY POSSIBLE? King David wrote, “I was glad when they said to me, Let us go in to the house of the Lord” (Psa 22:1). Should it be any different for us? Worshipping God and fellowshipping with other Christians is more important today than ever. Hebrews 3:13 states, “…exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
 
3. AM I PRAYING MORE THAN BEFORE? Paul exhorted Christians to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17) and “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it” (Col. 4:2). King David wrote, “Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud…” (Psa. 55:17). As with assembling with the saints, prayer is crucial for Christians today.
 
4. AM I GENUINELY INTERESTED IN SAVING LOST SOULS? God desires for every soul to know the truth and be saved (1 Tim. 2:4). To cooperate with God’s plans, growing Christians will not only pray for the lost, but they will also look for opportunities to share Jesus with them.
 
Strive to grow spiritually today so that you can truly live for the Lord in 2024.
 
Live for the Lord in 2024!
 
Dennis

​
Comments

    Preacher's Corner

    Articles & insight provided by Dennis Swindle

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    August 2014
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly